May 2012
104 posts
Could The AMA Change Your Mind About GMOs?
While pressure by multinational corporations purporting that genetically modified crops could help to eradicate hunger and provide fuel alternatives to petroleum lean heavily on government agencies, the debate over the safety of GMOs has been steadily intensifying. A recent petition submitted to the FDA included the most signatures in the agency’s history, and the nearly 1 million...
8 Habits of Healthy People (Besides What They...
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, and it can also help keep the blues at a good distance, too. What we eat greatly impacts our moods and emotional health, but it’s not the only factor in finding and maintaining a joyous life. In fact, several critical non-food factors can greatly increase your daily happiness. Just ask a happy person how much time they spend doing the following.
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5 Healthy Snacks When You're on the Open Road
The car is packed with your overnight bag, floppy sun hat and digital camera. Your hair is tied back and your sunglasses are on. It’s just you, your best buddies and the open road ahead. Summer road tripping is officially a go. Before you pull out of the driveway and make for the hills, be sure you’ve got your snack pack all prepared! Here are 5 healthy road trip snacks to pack this summer...
7 Secrets to Cut Down Your Sugar Intake
Sugar is a type of poison with negative effects on the human body that are both widespread and well known. Unfortunately, it tastes _so good, _so much so that many people struggle saying no to the sweet stuff – and savor saying yes!
Read more… http://dlvr.it/1fBdmT
GMO Salmon Closer to Approval, Senate Votes...
Although it has been 15 years since AquaBounty Technologies began the approval application process for its genetically engineered AquAdvantage salmon, the controversial fish appears to now be inching closer to a firm approval as the Senate just voted against a measure that would require more testing on the human health and environmental safety of the fish before approved. http://dlvr.it/1f4nTc
Root Out Garden Pests Naturally With DIY Solutions
Caterpillars, beetles and other crawlies may be fun to look at, but they are hungry little beasts. Anyone who’s had a garden knows what japanese beetles, tomato hornworms, earwigs and countless other pests can do to your crops. A serious invasion can kill your plants, but spraying poisonous, toxic insecticides all over your food isn’t a smart solution. Instead, adopt an attitude of...
GMO Apples That Won’t Brown Could be Hitting...
We first told you about Okanagan Specialty Fruits developing genetically modified apple varieties designed to never go brown back in 2010, and it looks like the Canadian biotech company is closer than ever to getting approval for launching the apples into the market as soon as 2014. http://dlvr.it/1dnWBX
Gardening in The Gutter, Literally
Just because you’re short on yard space doesn’t mean that you can’t grow an amazing garden. With the aid of reclaimed gutters and a little imagination, you can design a vertical garden for very little money and grow all kinds of plants, flowers and vegetables. Ideal for small patios and balconies, these space-saving, sustainable gardens provide a green outlet for those stuck in smaller living...
3 Steps to Solve Your Picky Eater Problem
It might be one of the most frustrating moments in a young parent’s life: your once-amiable baby who would eat anything you spooned into their chubby cherub mouth suddenly clamps her jaw shut, shakes her head and shrieks, “NO!” at everything you offer. Turns out, your picky eating problem might be a sensory problem, especially if your child has shown signs of having sensory...
Greenpeace Targets KFC for Harvesting Endangered...
Concerned over the use of wood harvested from Indonesia’s threatened rainforest in its chicken buckets, activists with Greenpeace International scaled the KFC HQ in Louisville, Kentucky last week and hung up a giant banner that read, “KFC Stop Trashing My Home,” to encourage the restaurant chain to find a more sustainable option. http://dlvr.it/1dTpNZ
Are These 27 Adrenal-Boosting Foods & Herbs...
One too many cups of coffee. Traffic. Late nights. Evil bosses. Screaming babies. More traffic… Chances are you’re on a first-name basis with one or more of these scenarios, and so are you adrenal glands—those important stress regulators hanging out atop your kidneys.
Read more… http://dlvr.it/1dNwYw
7 Ways Your Summer Brews Can Give Your Garden a...
It’s time to hang up your trusty winter-y mugs and dust off your summer sippers, because spring is rapidly turning into summer. Yes, the temperature is surging extra early this year (well, for some of us), but that doesn’t mean you should stop drinking the caffeinated beverages you thrive on, and love! Both tea and coffee are delightful in various chilled forms, too. Also, extra bonus –...
Breastfeeding vs. BOOBS
Thanks to a recent TIME Magazine cover that features a young mother breastfeeding her three year-old child, there has been an elevated amount of online buzz about the appropriateness of public breastfeeding in a civilized society.
Read more… http://dlvr.it/1dNwYW
Banned! Los Angeles Nation’s Largest City to...
The highly anticipated decision by the city of Los Angeles on whether or not to ban the single use plastic bag from retail stores and restaurants was announced last Wednesday, with an overwhelming 13 to 1 vote in favor of the ban, making Los Angeles the nation’s largest city to prohibit plastic bags and the state’s 48th city overall, joining San Francisco, San Jose and Long Beach....
Microbes and Weight: Do Gut Bacteria Influence How...
Did you know that you’re an ecosystem? Our bodies are host to trillions of microbes, with bacterial cells outnumbering our own 10 to 1. The highest concentration of bacteria is in the colon and small intestine, where food is broken down into energy and nutrients we can use. The bacteria passed on from our parents, plus external factors like diet, hygiene and antibiotic use, give us each a...
Poultry Industry Trying to Take Inspection Into...
A proposed rule that would give the poultry industry the authority to inspect its own birds at record speed for safety and health issues during slaughter is receiving major backlash from industry watchdog group, the Center for Food Safety. http://dlvr.it/1d1zF5
Nix 3 Common Cleaners In Favor of Nature's...
There’s nothing better than a freshly cleaned home. The smell of, well, nothing, is absolutely outstanding! But don’t let that lovely, sparkling clean come at a totally-not-worth-it price. Conventional household cleaning products (as you probably already know) can harm our delicate bodies (think chlorine – it can irritate lungs, and respiratory systems). Moreover, many cleaning products harm...
Is Your Home a VOC-Haven? 9 Ways to Avoid These...
Your sofa may slowly be poisoning you, your wallpaper could be making you cough, and your carpet might be the source of your sniffles. VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are polluting your indoor air quality, and it is likely that you have never even noticed, or known exactly what is going on in the air space inside your home.
Read more… http://dlvr.it/1cjJfn
The Sunscreen It List: 21 Safe Brands to Pick From
When it comes to summer sun, you know you should stick on a hat and cover your delicate skin as much as possible. Outdoor activities, fun in the water and the longing for a killer tan tend to hinder your good beauty intentions somewhat. One area where you don’t skimp, though, is on sunscreen. Hopefully.
Read more… http://dlvr.it/1cjJdS
9-Year-Old Blogger Making Changes In School...
Kids today. Don’t underestimate the power of our internet tools when wielded by the hands of children. A nine-year old Scottish girl has created quite a buzz with her blog, NeverSeconds. http://dlvr.it/1chBN4
Judge’s Ruling on POM Wonderful’s Bold Claims...
Pom Wonderful’s bold ads for its pomegranate juice and supplement products are not legitimate treatment options for preventing or reducing the risk of serious health conditions including heart disease, cancer and even erectile dysfunction, ruled the courts last week. http://dlvr.it/1cYZjp
Do It The Old-Fashioned Way: A Real Strawberry...
It wasn’t until my 20s that I was first introduced to authentic strawberry shortcak. No pound cake, no fake whipped “topping,” no saccharine strawberry syrup. Instead, old-fashioned strawberry shortcake is made of crumbly, buttery biscuits, fresh whipped cream and whole strawberries. The real deal, needless to say, is a world apart from the stuff most of us had as a kid. Here’s my personal...
Challenge Your Foodprint: 4 Ways to Reduce Food...
Many people think food waste is the safest thing to throw in the garbage. It all rots, right? Wrong! For food waste to compost properly, it needs light and air—of which there is very little in a landfill. So just like those plastic gee-gaws you can’t recycle, it’s going to sit there for a long, long time. Follow these four easy steps to reduce your food waste.
Read more…...
Beyond Kale: The 9 Best Green Foods to Eat
My grandfather enjoyed scoffing at my dinner plate and earnestly telling me that he simply would _not _eat anything that was green, save a juicy honeydew melon at the peak of summer. Nevertheless, we both agreed to just agree that the other person was completely insane, and left it at that. I watched him eat his steak and potatoes as if it were his patriotic duty, and he not-so-quietly left me...
Half A Million Salmon Quarantined in Vancouver
http://dlvr.it/1cGk3Q
Super Creamy Raw Tahini Hummus Recipe
Hummus has been a staple throughout Mediterranean cultures for millennia. Light, creamy and full of flavor, this raw hummus recipe omits the chickpeas and focuses instead on the nutty and super rich flavor of the sesame seed tahini. It is perfect as a dip or spread, or as a dressing for making tangy, ranchy-flavored dehydrated kale chips.
Read more… http://dlvr.it/1c8LDv
6 Ways to Connect to Your Inner Dancer
There is no more perfect exercise than to dance. The act of dancing can be the ideal combination of aerobic exertion, mental transcendence and social connection. Humans have been bouncing to drum beats around campfires for hundreds of thousands of years, and it has only been in recent centuries that we have taken dancing out of our lives. If you have relegated dancing to the realm of children...
I Grow Kale...A Love Story
Often I wonder why it is that certain foods rise to popularity while others linger in utter obscurity. Certainly processed food marketing prowess is an obvious perpetrator when it comes to building excitement for foodstuffs destined for heat lamps, microwaves and all sorts of strange packaging, but what about when it comes to those unlabeled, unpackaged fruits and vegetables? Why is it...
5 Ways to Eat for a Healthier Planet
There’s no two ways about it: what you eat impacts the environment in a big way, especially when you eat meat and dairy. That also means that a few small, totally doable diet swaps (we’re not saying you have to go vegan!) can also help protect the environment, big time.
Read more… http://dlvr.it/1c8LB5
Organic Authority Nominated for "Best Blog" By...
Organic Authority is thrilled, honored and absolutely gushing to announce that we’ve been nominated for “Best Blog” in the first annual ALIVE health and environmental award!
Read more… http://dlvr.it/1bt020
3 Great Garden Tools to Build a Luscious Organic...
In order to do any high quality, top-notch, one-of-a-kind (we could go on) work, a person needs the right tools! This rings especially true when researching and assembling tools to build an organic garden. If you’re building a new, sustainable garden from scratch, or just looking to add some snazzy new implements to your gardener’s box, do consider the following gardening tools.
Read...
Want to Live Longer? Cook at Home, Says New Study
New research published in the recent issue of the journal Public Health Nutrition found significant health benefits could exist for people who prepare home-cooked meals at least five times per week, pointing to a noteworthy connection between not just what we eat, but whether or not we’re actively participating in the process. http://dlvr.it/1bs7r6
2 NY Dairy Farmers On Their Delicious, Local...
We’re continuing our stroll through local cheesemakers of America, but we’re not quite ready to leave New York State yet! Last week, we discovered New York goat cheese, but goats are not the only animals supplying high-quality milk to cheesemakers in the Empire State: today, we’re talking about cows.
Read more… http://dlvr.it/1bmvDn
BPA In Your Garden? Maybe, If You Use These...
You work hard to keep harmful pesticides and chemicals out of your organic garden. From preparing your garden with organic soil to choosing heirloom seeds to digging in organic fertilizer, your green thumb takes on more than one meaning: You’re good at growing plants AND you’re an eco-conscious gardener, too!
Wouldn’t it just irk you more than a bunch of weeds then to find out that the...
Mario Batali Protests Food Stamp Cuts With...
Chef Mario Batali, along with his wife and two teenage sons, has taken the challenge to protest the pending cuts that could drastically affect families on the food stamp program. If approved by Congress, the cuts could reduce the amount of support to just $31 per person per week, less than $1.50 per meal.
Read more… http://dlvr.it/1bbZnC
California, Say Sayonara to Foie Gras!
In 2004, Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law a ban on force-feeding geese to produce foie gras and a ban on selling foie gras in California. But the law was designed not to go into effect until July of 2012 to give California producers time to propose and implement alternative production methods. It seems procrastination ruled the day, however, and although the newly formed Coalition for...
3 Tips to Ensure Your Baby's Eating The Best
Knowing the “right” thing to feed your baby is a little bit like knowing what is the “best” diet: low-fat, low-cal, low-carb, high-protein… breast milk, formula, baby food, fresh food… At the end of the day, though, both things boil down to common sense. As with feeding yourself, when feeding your baby, all-natural is best. Here are some tips on making sure...
2011 Biggest Year for Bottled Water Ever
Despite growing concerns over exposure to the toxic chemical BPA (bisphenol-A) widely found in plastic bottles and the excessive costs coupled with mounting waste associated with bottled water, Americans are drinking more of it than ever, cites sales figures reported by Beverage Marketing Corp. http://dlvr.it/1bZj9z
8 Great Finger Foods for Mini Foodies
When toddlers reach the stage of wanting to feed themselves, it’s tempting to reach for those squeeze packs of pureed fruits and veggies, or baby-friendly crackers and crisps. But you don’t have to go processed to give them great finger foods. Try these healthy alternatives instead.
Read more… http://dlvr.it/1bMvGJ
5 Ways To Decorate With Mismatched Dishes
Who actually wants to be all matchy-matchy anyway, right? Sometimes dishes in a set get broken or you just accumulate random plates, bowls, cups and saucers until you have a random assortment of dishes that you’re not sure what to do with. Make use of those mismatched dishes stashed in the back of your kitchen cupboards by repurposing them with these five ideas.
Read more…...
1 More Cup of Joe Before I (Don’t!) Die: Coffee...
It loves me… It loves me not… It loves me… Our relationship with coffee can feel like a back and forth romantic drama of bad-and-good for us all at once. And now, more evidence that coffee loves you, well, sort of. A new study suggests coffee drinkers live longer than non-coffee drinkers. http://dlvr.it/1bLxkx
Restaurant Menu Items Grossly Exceed USDA...
A new study published in the journal Public Health Review sheds shocking light on the quality of restaurant menu items served at the nation’s most popular restaurant chains. The findings concluded that most menu items lack compliance with the USDA’s recommended daily intakes of calories, fats and sodium. http://dlvr.it/1bDn2B
DIY Ideas for An Under The Sea Party-scape
Theme parties are fun opportunities to get creative, whether you’re 5 or 35. An under-the-sea theme offers a lot of ways to re-create a seascape with easy-to-find or recycled materials and some imagination. Kids can join the fun with crafts and homemade decorations inspired by their favorite marine life. Just in time for summer birthdays, here are some do-it-yourself ways to turn your living...
Kissed by the Sun: 3 Ways to Give Yourself Natural...
You walk outside one day and just like that, it’s summer. Doesn’t that warm air and sunshine make you feel all glowy inside? Get that same summery radiance on the outside by giving your hair fresh highlights. But, you certainly don’t need toxic salon chemicals to give your tresses a sun-kissed glow. These three homemade highlighting methods will get your mane looking beach-ready (even if you...
“Organic Watergate”: Major Accusations Point to...
A “conspiracy” between corporate agribusiness and the USDA is being dubbed “The Organic Watergate” by the nation’s leading organic farming watchdog, The Cornucopia Institute. http://dlvr.it/1b5ZxW
Enchanted Garden: Grow A Hanging Vegetable Arbor
Is your backyard tight on garden space and a bit too sunny? Try this incredibly clever and simply gorgeous solution: Build an arbor or trellis for your vine crops, and let them provide you with shade as they spread across the frame, producing flowers, grapes, cucumbers, melons, squash and gourds that hang overhead — to stunning effect.
Read more… http://dlvr.it/1ZvSJf
Reality Check: Picture Perfect Portion Sizes
Picture this: A small fast food French fries today is three times the size it was 40 years ago, and a restaurant serving of pasta can be as much as _seven times_ the serving size you’d find on the side of a box of spaghetti. One of the biggest contributors to our nation’s obesity epidemic is our problem with portion distortion. Portion sizes have grown exponentially, but do you even...
Viva La Revolución! Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution...
Chef Jamie Oliver has designated May 19th as the first-ever ‘Food Revolution Day’ in order for communities to come together to share information, talent, resources—and most importantly—to bring awareness to the food issues our world faces. Events will be taking place all across the globe, and it’s not too late to host your own!
Read more… http://dlvr.it/1ZvSGz
Eating Healthy Better for Your Bank Account, Too,...
The USDA recently released an agency-conducted study comparing the costs of healthy food versus processed junk foods high in fat, sugar and salt, and found that despite the myth that healthy foods typically cost more, they actually do not. http://dlvr.it/1Zv21k
New Research Finds Sugar Decreases Critical Brain...
More evidence shows that excessive sugar consumption leads to health problems as new research published in the Journal of Physiology shows a strong connection between sugar and the brain’s ability to learn and remember. http://dlvr.it/1ZmR5m
