Daily Natural Health Tip #1

A huge mistake that a lot of people make is not eating enough green leafy vegetables in their diet.

I remember when I was young and my mom gave us salad every night with dinner, which was great for my health, but I got so sick of the same old salads night after night that I ended up not eating it for years.

Try to keep it interesting so that your whole family can enjoy this vital ingredient. There are dozens and dozens of types of salad dressings from the classic vinaigrette to creamy dressings and even yogurt based ones. There is no reason you cannot have several different kinds on hand so that each night the family can choose for themselves.

One of my favorite meals is healthy and delicious and most importantly easy and fast to make. It’s a simple and yummy chicken and tortellini salad.

Here is the basic full meal salad recipe, more an idea really because you can have as much of the ingredients as you prefer:

• Regular green leafy or romaine lettuce
• Rainbow Tortillini
• Chicken, you can cut it up in chunks and cook it on the stove or slice chicken breast as thick or thin as you like
• Toasted slivered almonds
• You can cut up some mozzarella cheese if you like but I usually don’t bother.
• Ranch dressing

I usually cook the pasta early in the day and refrigerate it until dinnertime. It’s delicious cold, it’s like a pasta salad with lettuce or visa versa.

By simply incorporating more leafy greens and whole fruits into your overall diet you are going to slash type 2 diabetes risk drastically.

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Send Summer Gifts starting under $50 – Visit us at Cherylandco.com and order one today!

Summer has to be the best season and in terms of special occasions like the 4th of July it’s easy to make sure that your party has the ultimate in yummy, fresh made cookies, cakes and bars. You can click the link and find scrumptious Gifts under $30 from Cheryl & Co.. You’ll get to choose from a vast selection of boxes and tins filled with delicious bars, fresh cookies and cakes as well as all kinds of other goodies.

Not only can you use the fresh baked goods from Cheryl & Co to cater a party or picnic you can also give their fresh baked goods as gifts all throughout summer. You just know that you are going to get invited to a ton of barbecues and pool parties, so why not give these Summer cookies and bars as hostess gifts? It’s a great idea, especially since we are talking about fresh baked, all natural goods. YUM!

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Buy Eco-Friendly and Green Keetsa Mattresses

Water, food and sleep is all we really need to live, clothes would be nice too but when it comes to shove, it’s at the bottom of this short list. If you are committed to getting a good nights sleep on an eco friendly mattress as well as saving as much money as possible, the line of environmentally friendly beds from Keetsa is well worth learning more about.

This green company is offering not only high quality bedding, but it’s selling their bed products at affordable prices. I don’t know when you went shopping for a new bed recently, but the prices are out of this world. I have seen some that cost as much as small cars! Seriously, it’s nuts!

Keetsa is constantly reevaluating what they do to find more and more earth friendly products, and new ways to bring us their comfortable, quality products with the least possible impact on our eco systems. They are one of the few companies that are deadly serious about cutting their (and by association ours) carbon footprint.

The very vast majority of their bedding products are made of recycled materials, if it can be recycled they use it. They have pillows too among other top selling luxury items.

My favorite thing about their mattresses? They are made so durable that they arepurchased in a box, a surprisingly small box. These beds roll up and when you get it home you just free it from the box, let it sit for a couple of hours to fully puff up and you’re ready for bed.

This save you money and the planet at the same time. You don’t have to get it shipping to you from a warehouse saving a ton of cash you would have had to shell out for the old fashioned way, and it means less traveling on behalf of your purchase too. Of course that is great for the environment, the more we can keep vehicles off the roads the better.

The packaging that Keetsa mattresses come in and are small and made of eco friendly materials too. I think the box even has wheels so it’s easier to get to the car etc. There is literally no reason to buy any other bed an the market, this is tops.It’s nice to see a company so dedicated to doing their part to help the environment.

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Keeping your body hydrated is one of the most important things you can do and the Camelbak packs ensure that you always have water within reach of your lips.

Not only does water help your body flush out any toxins that would otherwise be building up, it also helps your skin stay more supple and youthful. Water is truly the best anti aging skin care product available today, and it’s free!

The more you exercise and move around the more water you need to drink to keep hydrated. When you are working out it’s a good idea to sip water throughout your entire routine. You don’t need to gulp it back, but steady sipping is easy on the stomach and helps you to stay as healthy as possible.

The Velocity™ from Camelpak water pack is ideal for those who live active lives. It is small enough to be comfortable even when filled with water, it’s just the solution you need to be sure you keep your body hydrated no matter where you are or what you’re doing.

You can easily keep your wallet, sunglasses, camera or any other things you don’t want to leave home without in the handy pockets of the Camelbak pack.

The clever harness converts from sling to backpack and the water backpack has a soft lining that will prevent chafing while providing ventilation.

The Camelbak pack is lightweight and incredibly durable. It even comes with a lifetime guarantee.

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inhabitliving.com – On SALE

Contrary to popular belief, us consumers have a lot to say in terms of what companies manufacture and don’t manufacture. If we all stopped buying the poisonous cleaners that are churned out year after year, and start buying more earth friendly cleaners and products, those guys in their fancy chairs and lofty offices are going to have no choice but to get with the program.

Obviously there are some things we need that are not the most eco-friendly, but more and more green options are available and it’s our job to snap them up to send a message to the money grubbers that we care about the world and we want it to live and continue to support life a little longer.

But how can we tell which “green” products aren’t toxic to the planet?

If you live in Canada I wrote a similar piece about their Environmental Choice Eco-Logo and how that makes healthy household cleaners, detergents and the like. The list below takes things one step further.

It’s going to help you make the purchases that are better for the environment. Any product that has 2 or less checks on the list are a good choice, those that have more checks, not so much:

ONE- Is the item made using recycled materials?

TWO- Does it have recyclable packaging or is it made from it?

THREE- Is it made within 150 kilometres of where you live?

FOUR- On the packaging or bottle do you see a logo from a major environmental program, such as the Environmental Choice or Energy Star logo, or that of the Forest Stewardship Council or the Marine Stewardship Council?

FIVE- Is the product durable and able to be reused?

SIX- If there is anything left after use is it compostable or recyclable?

SEVEN- Does it do the work of several products? (eg. all purpose cleaners cuts the need to have so many bottles of cleaners around the house. Less use less waste)

EIGHT- Are replacement parts available so you can maintain the product without having to buy a new one?

NINE- Was the product manufactured using a renewable energy source? (eg. solar, wind or sustainable hydro)

TEN- Are the materials those that can be sustainably grown and harvested? (eg. bamboo is better than wood)

ELEVEN- Is the product free of toxic and/or harmful materials? (eg. volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, heavy metals, antibacterial chemicals or phosphates –lots of soap has phosphates)

Print out this handy check list and keep it in your purse or wallet and use it the next time you go shopping. It’s a fast and easy way for you to determine with household (and beyond) products are eco-friendly and actually not harmful to the planet.

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Co-Q-Omega: CoQ10 and Omega-3 Fish Oil Formula

Most people think that if something is natural it is automatically good for you and this is not necessarily the case. Most of the time though, it’s not so much what you take as it is how much. Many of the herbal remedies out there can help you live a cleaner and healthier life.

There are plenty of “natural” supplements and minerals that could kill you if you aren’t careful, that’s why I cannot stress enough that people need to read the bottles and follow directions and even go so far as to talk to their doctor about which would be best for them and their particular issues.

Here are 5 herbs and supplements that you should be careful when taking:

1. St. John’s wort

This has been a popular herb for a long time now. Many people take it to relieve depression, but it happens to be one of the more dangerous natural remedies. This is definitely one to talk to your doctor about before you start taking it because of how it interacts with other medications you may be taking. This drug interaction can cause serious side effects and even increase or decrease the potency of any prescriptions you may be taking.

The Mayo Clinic recommends that people who are already taking any of the following should avoid St. John’s wort supplements:

* antidepressants
* anti-blood-clotting drugs
* certain asthma drugs
* immune-suppressing medications
* steroids

2. Kava kava

This one of the sedative herbs, and on top of helping you fall asleep faster some claim it can boost your mood as well. Unfortunately, it turns out that kava has been linked with serious liver problems. Even people who took it for only a short time have developed liver problems according to the Mayo Clinic.

If you are taking the following drugs definitely steer clear of kava:

* medication to lower cholesterol

3. Fish oil capsules

Heart healthy fats are something the vast majority of us don’t get enough of and taking fish oil capsules is an excellent idea, it’s important to know just how much you should should be taking each.

Too much isn’t going to kill you or anything but it can have a blood thinning affect. for example, those who do take large doses can find they bleed a bit more if they get a cut.

There’s no reason to take more than 5 grams – or 5,000 milligrams – of fish oil per day.

4. Artemisinin

Whoa! This one sounds like a dangerous herb to start taking. Last week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (which btw is put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) talked about a man who developed hepatitis due to taking the herb artemisinin for his stomach problems.

They found no other reason for him to have developed hepatitis and once he stopped taking the herb the disease disappeared. This is certainly one of those herbal supplements to speak to your doctor about before you start taking it.

5. Herbs and supplements before surgery

Dr. David Rowe, a notable plastic surgeon, was performing an operation on a patient when he noticed an unusual amount of bleeding.

“The tissue was just oozing, and we couldn’t figure out why,” he remembered, noting that the patient had told him he wasn’t taking any supplements. “After the surgery I asked the patient, ‘Are you sure you’re not taking anything?’ and he said, ‘Oh, yes, I’m taking this, this and this.’ ”

In the Aesthetic Surgery Journal there are a number of herbs and supplements that yous hold not take within two weeks of your surgery, no matter what kind of operation you are going in for.

Some of these herbs you need to avoid are common ones like:

* garlic
* ginseng
* echinacea

Different herbs do different things to the body that can affect the way your surgery goes. Like some will lead to excessive bleeding while others affect the heart and some interfere with anesthesia or other drugs you may have to take.

It’s absolutely VITAL that you make your surgeon aware of any and all natural remedies you have been taking, even if you haven’t taken it for a couple of weeks. Multiple studies have shown that upwards of 60 to 70 percent of patients don’t have this conversation with their doctors and surgeons.

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Green Tea Plus – The Most Powerful Antioxidant Protection
ORAC Value of over 7,800 units per serving.

You probably haven’t heard of quercetin before, I know I hadn’t, but new research is showing that this antioxidant can give you a great energy boost and keep you in fighting shape longer. To incorporate this anti oxidant into your diet you can eat onions, apples and broccoli as well as drink tea.

The study was done by putting equally healthy college students on stationary bikes. Half of them took placebos and the other half were given quercetin supplements and neither knew which it was they were given.

Those who took the quercetin pedaled 14% longer than the placebo group. BUT the doses they were given were very high, upwards of 500 milligrams two times a day. You could not get that much in your diet naturally, you would have to take a supplement.

Giving you a much needed boost of energy isn’t the only thing that quercetin is good for. Here are some of the other health benefits of this antioxidant:

Due to all these positive health benefits you may want to consider stocking up on onions, apples and sit back and sip some yummy tea. Who doesn’t need an energy boost? Take the antioxidant quercetin, you’re body will thank you for it!

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Live your Passion – Altrec Outdoors

I’m not a camper personally, I like the outdoors but I prefer to see it from behind a big wall of glass in a cozy air conditioned compartment AKA a hotel room, BUT I know that millions upon millions of families all over the world are ga ga for camping.

It is for you silly ducks who are brave enough to fight off cougars and bears and bugs the size of my head that I write this post. I’m here to help you keep your camping experience fun while also keeping it as green and nature friendly as possible.

Here are some great green camping tips you can use to protect the environment while you enjoy it to the fullest:

1. Buy used camping supplies
If you are only starting to get into the true spirit of staying outdoors, you will no doubt be tempted to pick up the essentials to take along with you, like sleeping bags, camping stoves, lamps, tents and so forth and so on. Well, why buy new when there is plenty of used camping gear for you to buy cheap? It’s the ultimate in recycling.

2. Choose a previously established campsite
This is something I would never have thought of but it’s a fantastic tip. Assuming you are not going to stay at one of the main campgrounds, where you pay for space, choose a spot where others have spent the night. By picking your spot this way you will disturb less wildlife. Don’t go into the forest and start tearing up the ground and disturbing plants, keep the damage to nature down and try your best to leave the forest or lakeside camping spot exactly the way you found it.

3. Use rechargeable lamps or those with hand cranks

Flashlights and lamps are a vital part of your camping experience. You don’t want to start losing your people as the night wears on. It’s easy to get lost when it’s pitch black out and chances are you’re gonna have to pee sometime. Use lamps that take rechargeable batteries or those flashlights where you crank or shake them to power them. Solar lamps are another great eco friendly camping option as well.

4. Don’t force a trail
When you are out there soaking up nature hiking, stay on established trails, it disturbs less wildlife and keeps nature balanced the way it needs to.

5. Choose Environmentally Friendly ways to keep bugs at bay

Lots of bug sprays and creams are pretty toxic to you and the environment, so this green camping tip is important. Use natural bug deterrents like citronella candles and patches.

These important camping tips will help you enjoy your vacation in nature without wreaking havoc at the same time. Yay!

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Here’s a shocking fact for you, school children contribute 1.2 billion pounds of lunch waste to the landfill each years? This garbage is generated mostly from the single use packages like Ziploc sandwich bags, wax paper and pre-packages lunches that you get at the supermarket. You know, those Lunchables and similar items. All of that wrapping and packaging adds up and is terrible for the environment. And this is where Bento Boxes come into play, or where they should anyway.

I don’t know about your kids but oftentimes when mine get home they have a ton of food they didn’t even eat. Lunchtimes are crammed, kids want to eat fast and get out and play outside, so the food they can open easiest and fastest is what they eat. Packaging is bad in so many ways, so why not look for a lunch solution that eliminates wasted time and resources?

Bento Boxes or Laptop Lunch Boxes are the new wave of the future. They come in all kinds of unique shapes and colors and there is no separate packaging to struggle with. It has one tray with walled sections and one single lid. Pop the top and eat away, so fast, so easy and great for the environment. There is ZERO WASTE! You can’t do better than that, I mean getting rid of all that excess waste is a big deal.

With a new school year starting in a few weeks now is the time to learn about and buy some bento boxes for your kids lunchboxes.

You can even get them in fun shapes like panda heads or bananas, they are one of the most unique and exciting ways for kids to enjoy actually eating lunch again. It’s important to eliminate lunchtime packaging and waste as much as possible and we should all start teaching our kids about excess waste too.

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Find all of your organic gardening solutions here, at Arbico-Organics.com

I don’t know about you but I want to live longer, live happier and healthier than my parents and their parents. I know the world is full of dangerous, toxic things but that doesn’t mean it’s hopeless. Nope. In fact there are all kinds of things you can do to avoid illness and even stave off the threat of cancer.

Research has clearly show that staying active through exercise is the key to living longer. it’s not like you have to do a major workout every single day or anything, just keep your body moving and get some good clean fresh air. You will feel better, guaranteed.

There was a Japanese study done with almost 80,000 adults, and in this report the researchers found that active women were 16 percent less likely to develop cancer–and this is any kind of cancer– over a period of 5 to 10 years. Males on the other hand lowered their risk of getting cancer by approximately 13 percent.

One of the most relaxing, yet healthy hobbies is gardening. By nurturing your green thumb you will be able to nourish not just the body but the soul as well.

There is a book that I recommend to everyone I know called The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest. It’s written by Dan Buettner and he says about spending time working in the garden: “It’s a source of daily physical activity that exercises the body with a wide range of motion and helps reduce stress”

Take a little time, plant a garden, whether you choose veggies, berries or colorful flowers, it doesn’t matter.

Buettner make some great points in his book, such as:

* Free built in food: If you choose to grow vegetables you will be able to reap the benefits in terms of healthy eating as well. Grow Organic and you’ll know that your home grown foods are not poisoned with toxic fertilizers or polished to a hardwood floor shine with disgusting body clogging waxes. You (and your family) can lose weight and feel better all around when you grow your own food.

* Sunlight and Vitamin D: When you spend time outdoors on a sunny day, whether you are gardening or hiking, your body is producing Vitamin D. This happens when you are exposed to sunlight and it’s a powerful vitamin. It affects everything from the strength of your bones to your mood. It is great for helping the body to fight cancer as well.

* Consider growing some spices: Mugwort, ginger, and turmeric are big parts of Japanese gardens and foods. They are all great for helping you live longer and they have proven medicinal qualities.

Being healthy and able to enjoy life to the fullest is the best thing you can do for both you and your family. Get outdoors and get active, even if it’s mild exercise it is going to help your body improve literally everything about yourself both inside and out.

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