February 2011
81 posts
Can Being a Vegetarian Make You Smarter? It Helped...
Which came first; the vegetarian or the genius? We are all smart enough to know that it’s better for the planet to go all veg head, but did you know that some of the world’s greatest geniuses were herbivores? Yep, even before it was cool to not eat “anything with a face,” these pioneers of smart were burning the midnight oil with snacks of fruits and veggies. Can’t you just image Einstein...
What the heck is COFFEE-MATE, anyway?
COFFEE-MATE was introduced in 1961 as the first “non-dairy creamer” on the market, and today it remains the most popular such product in the world. Manufactured by Nestlé out of Glendale, California, COFFEE-MATE comes in over 25 flavors including gingerbread, Parisian almond crème and peppermint mocha.
But what the hell IS COFFEE-MATE? Mostly, it’s sugar and partially hydrogenated...
Herbs & Spices: Uh, What's The Difference?
Though used interchangeably, herbs and spices are two very different things—and they should be used in different ways in the kitchen. Do you know the difference? Buff up on your foodie know-how so you can better utilize that parsley and sage you’ve been growing on your apartment windowsill all season.
\READ THE REST…...
Growing Your Own Herbal Tea Garden
There’s nothing quite as soothing as a cup of hot herbal tea. Add a little honey and a squeeze of lemon, and herbal teas can calm you down for a good night’s sleep, relieve a sore throat, ease cold or flu symptoms and build your immune system up. Plus, deliciously so. Herbal teas also make fabulous iced tea in the summer for a refreshing, healthy drink that’s not too sweet....
Growing Your Own Herbal Tea Garden
There’s nothing quite as soothing as a cup of hot herbal tea. Add a little honey and a squeeze of lemon, and herbal teas can calm you down for a good night’s sleep, relieve a sore throat, ease cold or flu symptoms and build your immune system up. Plus, deliciously so. Herbal teas also make fabulous iced tea in the summer for a refreshing, healthy drink that’s not too sweet....
New Study: Processed Food Drops Kids’ IQ Levels
http://dlvr.it/HZnnk
Poisoned Pets: How Household Chemicals Can Affect...
My dogs want to eat everything that isn’t nailed down, as well as some things that are. This tendency can be frustrating; why do they always go after my shoes and not my husband’s? It can also be amusing, like the time my mother thought the toy she bought them would last more than a day. They seemed to take that as a direct challenge. But ultimately, your dog’s chewing tendencies can be...
Winter Composting How-to for Spring Success
OK, so it is freezing cold outside and you need to do something good with all your kitchen scraps. So what if you could keep making compost over the cold season and have it ready for spring’s thaw? That would be awesome, because compost is one of the very best tools available for the organic gardener. And guess what? You can compost without fuss in all but the coldest regions, so let’s...
Is Roasted Squash Oil the New Olive Oil?
So long olive oil; there’s a brand new oil in town and it comes from a favorite winter veggie, squash.
\READ THE REST… [http://www.organicauthority.com/foodie-buzz/is-roasted-squash-oil-the-new-olive-oil.html] http://dlvr.it/HV5WS
Algae Turns Wastewater into Biodiesel
Scientists at the Rochester Institute of Technology are working to use microalgae to clean wastewater and produce biodiesel simultaneously; the school announced in a press release last week.
Purifying wastewater before sending it back into the ecosystem would reduce or eliminate pollutants, such as nitrates, phosphates, bacteria, and toxins. Microalgae consume these materials and then the...
5 Kitchen Essentials Every Foodie Should Own
Are you a self-proclaimed, bonafide foodie? Make sure you’re pantry is stocked with these five culinary essentials in their most gourmet, healthy and pure of forms, and get one step closer to mastering your home chef skills. They’ll take your level 1 Home Cookery to level 3 Top Cheffery.
\READ THE REST…...
A Cast-Iron Skillet to Last a Lifetime
Part of the journey in returning to a simpler, artisanal kitchen is attained by getting in touch with better sources of foods. And the kitchen equipment we cook our foods with can be just as big a part of that journey as the food itself.
Donate all of your nonstick pans and celebrity-endorsed skillets to charity; you’re investing in cookware that beats them all: the cast-iron skillet. And...
Inviting Influenza: Top 10 Ways to Catch THE FLU
It’s flu season, and almost everyone has experienced this infectious disease (also known as influenza) at some point in his or her life. Like a gift that keeps on giving, the flu brings sore muscles, sweat-covered chills, nausea, fever, scratchy throat, headache, coughing, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue and a general feeling of death warmed over.
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Homemade Face Wash for Your Skin Type
Cleansing is as vital to skincare as strawberries are to summer (can’t wait!). Consider the pollutants, dust, oil, dirt and particles our gorgeous skin is blitzed with on the daily… need we say more? In addition to cleaning, cleansers exfoliate the skin surface to promote circulation and skin renewal. But we have to be careful not to use harsh chemiclas that will strip the face of...
Brooklyn Grange Grows Into Urban Farming...
As we head into March, New York’s biggest rooftop farm - the Brooklyn Grange - gears up for a fresh load of crops with the knowledge of what works and needs improvement for year two.
\READ THE REST… [http://www.organicauthority.com/organic-gardening/brooklyn-grange-nyc-urban-rooftop-garden.html] http://dlvr.it/HMzDZ
Whole Foods ‘Whole Paycheck’ Myth Debunked?
http://dlvr.it/HMzDz
NYC Greenmarket Food Stamp Purchases Doubled in...
With high unemployment and high grocery prices, even the most successful New Yorkers are taking a hit, so you can imagine what kind of state the low income families are in. It’s no secret that many low income neighborhoods lack in fresh food markets and for that reason have been linked to obesity for years. So in an effort to supplement wholesome, fresh meals to low income families, New York...
Restaurants Get A Rating for Dog Friendliness
Ever take your dog to dinner and get rude looks, crazy rules, or even been asked to leave? We know, we know, you can’t take dogs in restaurants. But in the warmer months it’s legal to have a dog sit outside with you. Even then, not all establishments are stoked on the idea. Luckily, there is a new site called Eddie Eats Out that tells you all about and rates the service that dogs and their...
4 Kitchen Remedies for Anxiety
The feeling of anxiety is somewhat unavoidable in this life - that is if you go anywhere and do anything and challenge yourself in any new ways. Why, even watching some Grey’s Anatomy could elicit a little anxiety! But when anxiety becomes a longstanding, perpetual problem it can lead to more serious health problems. Plus, calming those jumpy nerves of yours naturally feels good....
1500 Peruvian Potato Varieties Latest Addition to...
In a historic moment for Peruvian biodiversity last week, Quechua farmers sent 1,500 potato seed varieties to a ‘seed vault’ to protect these staple South American foods. http://dlvr.it/HCBmW
Minty Clementine-Infused Vodka
Take advantage of two seasonal ingredients available wherever you’re living — fresh mint and clementines. Infused in vodka, the resulting spirit is an invigorating, fruity mixer perfect for winter warming cocktails.
\READ THE REST… [http://www.organicauthority.com/spirits-and-drinks/minty-clementine-infused-vodka.html] http://dlvr.it/HCBmS
Energy Drink Breakdown: What’s in a Red Bull,...
In 1987, a wealthy Austrian entrepreneur named Dietrich Mateschitz arrived in Thailand with a killer case of jet lag. He tried a traditional drink known as _Krating Daeng_ to cut through the brain smog and give him an energy boost… Mr. Mateschitz is now one of the richest people in the world, and his drink known as Red Bull is consumed by everyone from soccer moms who need a jolt to...
De-Icing & Your Dog: What You Need to Know
With snow covering much of the United States, many of us are waging a war against ice, a safety hazard for humans and dogs alike. But before you pull out the de-icer you used last year, consider whether or not the method is actually safe. Many chemical de-icers cause harm to your dog, as well as the environment. Even some natural ones do! Not to worry; we’ve got everything you need to...
3 Eco Kids Craft Ideas
Beyond having a recycle bin in the kitchen, how can you help your kids learn to live in a more sustainable way? One way is by simply encouraging them to use their own natural creativity in a greener way. Every kid loves arts and crafts, but it’s not exactly sustainable to purchase a mountain of construction paper and a river of glitter every month. Here are a few craft ideas to get you -...
New Study Shows Diet Sodas Increase Stroke Risk
2011 has not been off to the most effervescent start for the soda industry. The latest fizzle comes by way of a recent study presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference, suggesting that daily diet soda drinkers have at least a 60 percent increased risk of having a stroke or heart attack compared with non-soda drinkers. http://dlvr.it/H3Lff
Best Books for the Organic Mama-to-Be
There’s nothing more fun than dreaming about that newborn you’ll soon be holding, and flipping through the pages of _What to Expect While You’re Expecting _or watching _Baby Story._ But for green mamas-to-be, there’s a wealth of information that can not only give you entertainment when baby’s kicks keep you awake, but can also equip you to build a green life with...
Artificial Caramel Coloring in Soft Drinks Linked...
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has submitted another blow to the soda industry in a petition with the FDA to ban ingredients commonly known as “caramel coloring” found in many sodas and snack food items due to the increased risk of cancer caused by these colorants. http://dlvr.it/GyTHf
Jojoba at Home
We recently featured this natural beauty jem in our DIY recipes for a _Sweet Scrub for a Sexy Body_ and in our_ Pedicure Gift Set. _People were so thrilled, we thought, let’s delve into jojoba a little more and join in on the action (of extolling its virtues that is).
\READ THE REST… [http://www.organicauthority.com/delicious-beauty/jojoba-oil-benefits-at-home-diy.html]...
Mom's Chicken Noodle Soup Made Easy
A classic comfort food, chicken soup has been prescribed for body aches and ills since the times of ancient Egypt, and since then has been recommended to treat everything from hemorrhoids to leprosy.
\READ THE REST… [http://www.organicauthority.com/soups/homemade-quick-and-easy-chicken-soup.html] http://dlvr.it/Gtmnj
New Study Reveals 30 Pesticides Disrupt Male...
A peer-reviewed British study published in the current issue of the scientific journal, _Environmental Health Perspectives_, revealed that 30 out of 37 of the most common pesticides block or mimic male hormones. http://dlvr.it/Gtmnf
The Perfect Wintery Vegan Risotto Recipe
The winter has hit its stride. You know the feeling—you try hard to blind your eyes to the snowy darkness and to imagine yourself on a warm, sunny beach, but somehow it’s impossible to picture yourself as feeling really, truly warm ever again.
\READ THE REST… [http://www.organicauthority.com/main-courses/the-perfect-wintery-vegan-risotto-recipe.html] http://dlvr.it/Gtmnb
The Best Homemade All Natural Toothpaste
The average American will use three toothpaste tubes a year—sending hundreds of millions of them to sit in overcrowded landfills. Commercial toothpaste, and many so-called natural alternatives are loaded with unnatural chemicals and fillers, such as white mica, fluoride, sodium lauryl sulfate and triclosan.
\READ THE REST…...
8 Ways to Clean Green With Salt
Run out of cleaner? Grab your salt shaker because we’ve got the top 8 ways to clean with this common mineral. It’s non-toxic, it’s cheap, and it really works. Just grab the most inexpensive container of table salt (_not_ the fancy kind like kosher or sea) you can find and get to work.
\READ THE REST… [http://www.organicauthority.com/sanctuary/8-ways-to-clean-with-salt.html]...
Watch Roseanne Grow Macadamia Nuts On Her New...
Roseanne started out as a housewife, went on to become a standup comic, got her own a sitcom, starred in movies, sang arguably the worst rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner ever, became Roseanne Arnold, then back to Roseanne Barr, hosted her own talk show, and now, she grows nuts in Hawaii.
It’s an unlikely next step for the former loudmouth comedian, but Roseanne’s new life...
Returning American Soldiers Prefer Seeds to...
Returning veterans unsure about their future may find themselves bunkered down in compost and soil. Programs like Combat Boots to Cowboy Boots, a new program for veterans at the University of Nebraska’s College of Technical Agriculture, offer soldiers—including wounded veterans—a six-week introductory farming training program. http://dlvr.it/GnC1y
Go With The Flow: Feminine Hygiene Products Go...
Half of the American population—some 150 million women—will menstruate over the course of approximately forty years of their life. You can do the math (but here’s some help: that’s roughly 17,000 pads or tampons per woman per lifetime). That equals a lot of feminine products either ending up in landfills or being flushed into our water waste systems. But the waste isn’t even...
The Best Homemade Eye Cream, Ever
It’s that skin around the eyes; a dead giveaway you’re of age for a rental car… and say goodbye to the glory days of being carded for cocktails. Sure, embracing our age as we weather with both grace and wisdom is an awesome intention. But the skin around your eyes contains very few sebaceous and sweat glands coupled with very thin skin. What results? The _first_ tell tale...
Alarming Levels of Mercury Found in California...
In a covert 2010 investigation titled “Operation Safe Seafood” [http://www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/fish/mercuryhealthfacts.html], GotMercury.org, a non-profit advocacy group working to protect people and the environment from mercury, revealed startling levels of the toxin found in fish served in restaurants and grocery stores across California. The recently released report also noted...
To Cleanse or Not to Cleanse, Your Palate
You don’t have to be a chef or major foodie to mellow out your mouth between courses. Many people cleanse their palates at super fancy restaurants, at wine tastings or if they are sick, but you can do it at any restaurant (even your local pub) and at home. Why is it important? Because taste buds are tiny sensory organs on the tongue that pick up sweet, salty, sour and bitter flavors, then send...
Restaurants Go Communal: Are You In?
You enter the restaurant, ready for a mind-blowing dinner experience at the hottest new place in town, only to see a lack of two-tops for private dining; instead, long wooden tables span wall to wall, and they’re filled with strangers eating elbow to elbow, all dining together on the same plane of supper consciousness. You’ve just entered: the communal dining zone.
\READ THE REST…...
Jamie Oliver Rejoices: 3 Weeks of LA School Meal...
Perhaps it was Jamie Oliver’s insistence or a stroke of good luck, or maybe it was the guilty conscience of the Los Angeles Unified School District that has resulted in Dennis Barrett, the district’s director of food services, inviting the host of ”The Food Revolution” to propose a 3-week menu of healthy meals for LA students.
\READ THE REST…...
5 Natural Remedies for Constipation
Perhaps not our most glamorous topic… but useful, nonetheless. For - at one time or another - things seem to get backed up in those intestines of ours, leaving us feeling bloated, uncomfortable and just plain old gross. Before you reach for the ex-lax, which has the habit of becoming habit forming and can actually damage your goods for good, give one of these natural laxatives a chance....
New GMO Corn Variety for Ethanol Production Gets...
A genetically modified (GM) corn variety developed exclusively for ethanol use in fuel was approved last week by Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, amidst a chorus of food manufacturers concerned the biotech corn will contaminate non-GMO crops. http://dlvr.it/GZWYs
Mark Bittman's 'Food Manifesto': Outrageous or...
Food journalist and author, Mark Bittman, made headlines earlier this year when he closed out his beloved NY Times “Minimalist,” a column focused largely on recipes, and replaced it with a “Food Manifesto” on February 1st calling for big change—or rather, a big move toward “smaller” food; and he was not necessarily talking about portion size.
...
Is Fabric Softener Toxic? (Hell Yes It Is!)
Many moons ago, we were all convinced by the consumer gods that in addition to washing and drying our clothes, we needed to “soften” them too with a newfangled product: fabric softener. Not only would they keep our clothes from being hard and crunchy, but they would also save us from the mortifying circumstance of static cling.
\READ THE REST…...
7 Ways to a Heavenly Vegan Brunch
One of the greatest things about brunch is that it is designed to be a feel-good meal. It’s got a relaxed European atmosphere necessary to accommodate condensing two meals into one. People don’t tend to brunch alone, so it’s also a most wonderful way to connect with friends and family to make delicious, lasting memories.
\READ THE REST…...
Clorox Discloses Full List of Toxic Ingredients
The Clorox Co. has become the first mainstream company to disclose all ingredients in all of their products, including dyes, preservatives and a master list of fragrance ingredients. http://dlvr.it/GMn9X
Former McDonald’s President to Open Healthy...
Two ex-McDonald’s executives including the former president and chief operations officer, Mike Roberts, have teamed up with Oprah’s celebrity chefs in a healthy fast food restaurant chain concept called Lyfe Kitchen, an acronym for Love Your Food Everyday. http://dlvr.it/GJ9n4
Farm to (Massage) Table
We’ve done farm-to-table, rooftop-farm-to-table, and now the latest trend is farm-to-massage-table. For centuries, DIYers have been using farm-fresh ingredients like avocados, oatmeal, yogurt, cucumber, honey and more for at-home body treatments and facials. Now spas are getting in on the action by using super local (like grown on site, local) and organic fruits and veggies in their spa...
Organic Chocolates We Love to Love
Roses are red, violets are blue, it’s Valentine’s Day - so you better bring me lots of organic chocolate truffles, or we are _so _breaking up!
\READ THE REST… http://dlvr.it/GHCCH
