Whole Foods Market became the first certified organic national retail chain in 2003—and again when procedures changed in 2009—and now, Mile High Organics based in Boulder, Colorado has become the first certified organic online retailer to achieve certified organic status. http://dlvr.it/1VkBTK
It’s not enough that we just make healthy food choices for our families and ourselves. We must take into consideration our impact on the earth if we wish to see the perpetuation of our species and the preservation of countless more species in jeopardy. Period. Our food choices play a critical role in the health of the air, water and soil, and the diverse ecosystems dependent upon them. So what foods are the most sustainable, and are they making up a large portion of your diet?
Back in March, we told you all about the seventh wonder of the supermarket: The bulk aisle. Its eco-friendly, money-saving glory are not to be passed upon when shopping for organic, dry goods. And now, spice lovers can rejoice, too! Your favorite seasonings, from cinnamon to paprika, are also available in bulk.
A large chunk of our time is spent in the bathroom. We apply our makeup, shave, shower and, um, take care of other kinds of unseemly business every day in the bathroom. Since we spend so much time in this hallowed room, we figure it’s fitting to throw out a few ideas that will help you green your bathroom routine.
For the second time in two months, a customer has collapsed at the sensational Las Vegas restaurant, Heart Attack Grill, helping the controversial establishment live up to its name. http://dlvr.it/1VQd19
Earlier this week, Burger King announced major shifts in its egg and pig products, stating that the company will be sourcing only from cage-free suppliers by 2017 as it becomes the first major fast-food chain to make such a commitment. http://dlvr.it/1VDrRm
The Genetically Engineered Food Labeling Initiative in California has reached its target goal of 850,000 signatures needed to get the issue on the state’s November 2012 ballot, reports the campaign. http://dlvr.it/1V6kSF
Step away from the chips and put down the margarine. It turns out that trans fats may make you more irritable—a theory you may have experienced first hand if you’ve ever had a case of the post-donut grumps. According to a study conducted by the University of California, San Diego’s School of Medicine, the consumption of dietary trans fatty acids increases feelings of aggression, irritability and impatience.
Marking the first case of mad cow disease in the U.S. since 2006, California officials announced the discovery earlier this week when a dead dairy cow tested positive for the fatal disease as part of a routine testing protocol. http://dlvr.it/1TtygF
Is your doctor a little on the chubby side or sporting negative six percent body fat? The answer could influence the way he or she sees your weight and diet. In a study published early this year in the journal _Obesity_, researchers found that a doctor’s weight had an influence on the way he or she diagnosed and treated patients with obesity.
In the heart of the bustling Hollywood Farmers Market sits The Farmer’s Kitchen: a farm-to-table cafe as well as a commercial teaching, processing and retail kitchen offering affordable, healthy foods for patrons at all income levels. We chatted with chef Ernest Miller about the concept of The Farmer’s Kitchen, the importance of eating “food in context” and the selfish reasons why Americans should be getting to know their farmers.
If there are two statements we can make with any certainty about Americans, they are: 1) We love our television, and 2) We have food issues. It’s only natural then that the two shall meet in hopes that the former can be used to help alleviate the latter. Meet ”Food Forward,” the new television documentary series highlighting the changes at hand (er, mouth?) in our challenge to becoming a healthier nation.
A recent study found that when it comes to weight loss, fad diets don’t work nearly as well as the most natural methods: eat less, eat healthier, exercise more. Whether you’re working to lose a significant amount of body fat or just slimming down a bit more for warmer weather, staying the course can be incredibly challenging (thanks billion-dollar fast-food marketing budgets!). But, there is another natural and effective tool in curbing appetite and reducing cravings while boosting your energy levels: Essential oils.
Warm weather brings more than flowers and joyful birds. As early as April, you’ll probably start seeing aphids in your garden. These garden pests are just a minor nuisance in small numbers, but they reproduce fast. One female can produce 70 to 80 offspring in a week, and they take just one more week to grow to maturity. And guess what they like to eat? Sweet, tender flowers and juicy leaves. Aphids can seriously damage a garden if left unmanaged, so protect your young seedlings and always stay vigilant.
Darel Watts is a third generation farmer at Sugarfoot Organic Farms, a family micro-farm in South Carolina. His goal is to follow in the footsteps of his parents and grandparents, creating a working farm that is 100% organic, sustainable and humane in order to produce and share all-natural produce.
A new study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine suggests strong evidence exists to support skipping fad diets and gimmicks and opting instead for ‘old-fashioned’ approaches to sustainable weight loss. http://dlvr.it/1TWKgZ
Nothing beats the smell of a fresh bouquet of flowers. Every bundle of bright purple, red and yellow blooms beckons any nose to submit to a few sniffs. Unfortunately, many store-bought flowers are grown with the help of pesticides and are transported with less than sustainable methods. ”Factory flowers” are grown by a $40 billion, worldwide floriculture industry. The industries goal? Uniformity and durability.
Today, organic farming is booming, but just a few years ago — as many of us remember — there were much fewer opportunities to buy organic. What you might not be aware of are the opportunities, or lack thereof, that were available to growers themselves: Otto Kramm, today of Earthbound Farm in Salinas, California, worked for years as a conventional grower, relying on pesticides and chemicals in order to raise his crops.
When considering healthy diet choices, fruit is often the first thing that comes to mind. Fruit is wholesome, full of flavor, and there’s so much variety! It’s an easy choice when faced with a cookie or a piece of fruit to choose the latter as the healthy option (if you’re going that route). And while fruit is certainly the better choice than the cookie, not all fruits are created equal. In fact, some of them resemble the cookie more than they do a truly nutritious snack.
Add the serious degenerative neurological condition Parkinson’s disease to the list of Monsanto-related illnesses, says a new study published in the journal Neurotoxicology & Teratology. http://dlvr.it/1TH8CP
