Not All Fruits & Veggies Are Created Equal

Ahhh, Spring has Sprung ! And with Spring, comes fruits and vegetables.... EVERYWHERE !!

With the availability of many gorgeous fruits and vegetables, a lot of us start looking to increase our daily intake of these wonderful natural products. Not just because they taste so good, but because we know they are good for us and most are low in fat and calories.

But, there's "the other side" of the story to these beautiful creations. And that being that usually all fruits and vegetables are treated with pesticides and some of them have a very high level of toxins, which can be dangerous to our health? Yes, there are also toxins in the cleaners we use, the air we breath, but today I just thought I'd focus on fruits and vegetables.

Some of them we can eat in large quantities and be happy about it, but some of them it is better to avoid eating non-organic because they can do more harm than good for our health.

Have in mind that organic produce doesn’t mean pesticide free. Organically grown fruits and vegetables are grown on better soils and have less pesticides level. Well, and these pesticides are less dangerous to our health, but they are still pesticides, maybe only better quality.

So as you can see, it is very important to know which fruits and vegetables are less desirable, (less beneficial to our overall health). If peaches, strawberries, cherries contain a very high level of pesticides, we have to think twice before buying them non-organic. Would you like to add more dangerous toxins to your system? I don’t. There are always other choices: you can buy organic only a smaller amount (if the price is high), you can buy local (if you know that the farm is small and they care about their produce), or you don’t buy at all.

So, to help you to remember why not all fruits and veggies are equal, here is a list of the “dirtiest” and the “cleanest” fruits and vegetables for 2009 based on an Environmental Working Group Survey.

In 2009 these fruits and vegetables you should buy organic:

1. Peaches 100

2. Apples 93

3. Bell Pepper- 83

4. Celery - 82

5. Nectarines - 81

6. Strawberries - 80

7. Cherries - 73

8. Kale - 69

9. Lettuce - 67

10. Grapes - Imported from outside U.S. - 66

11. Carrot - 63

12. Pear - 63

This is a list of fruits and vegetables you don’t have to buy organic:

Onion - 1
Avocado - 1
Sweet corn - 2
Pine Apple - 7
Mango - 9
Asparagus - 10
Sweet peas - 10
Kiwi - 13
Cabbage - 17
Eggplant - 20
Papaya - 20
Watermelon - 26
Broccoli - 28
Tomato - 29
Sweet Potato - 29
Grapefruit - 29
Honeydew Melon - 30

I first learned about this subject from reading my friend, Irina Wardes' blog. (Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert). She graciously granted me permission to use portions of her blog post, so I could pass this information along to others like you. Please go to her wonderful website and blog for tons of more great health information like this!

Earth Day Festivities in California

The "Govenator", attended multiple Earth Day events on April 22nd. One such event was the planting of the one millionth tree in Pleasanton, CA.

Shaklee Corporation, along with it's sales force and customers, had made a commitment three years ago to plant one million trees through a program called, "A Million Trees. A Million Dreams™" Campaign . Earth Day was the culmination of that project, when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai, and Shaklee Chairman and CEO, Roger Barnett, planted the one millionth tree.

"A Million Healthier Lives In 2009" is now Shaklee's newest campaign. It is the Company's sincere attempt to empower people to better their financial situation, while improving the environment simultaneously. Shaklee CEO, Roger Barnett's speech at this event, is available on California's website.

You can view the entire article and video from the event from this post. Also, to read more about Shaklee's environmental accomplishments, please check here.

Founded in 1956, Shaklee is the first company in the world to obtain Climate Neutral certification and totally offset its C02 emissions, resulting in a net zero impact on the environment. This is a company that "walks the walk".

Swine Flu aka H1N1

Some people that I know, believe that all the commotion about Swine Flu (H1N1), is exaggerated more than the reality of the situation. Of course, none of these folks that I know, are experts in the health arena, nor am I! But, it never hurts to be proactive when it comes to your health. So, I looked around for some basic, common sense, information on this topic.

My first questions was, "What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people"? After all, I'd like to know what this invisible beast looks like. Per the CDC (Center For Disease Control & Prevention), the symptoms are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

Emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention in children included:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

Emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention in adults included:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

What you can do to protect yourself?:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

As I mentioned above, being proactive towards your health, is the best medicine that anyone can practice. Common knowledge these days, tells us that the foods that we consume don't provide enough natural supplementation that most folks need. That's why it's a good idea to research and consider natural health supplements to improve one's overall health. Additionally, a good immune booster wouldn't be a bad addition, especially with everything going on right now. Lastly, don't forget to separate/remove yourself, from as many toxins as you reasonably can.

Plastic Straws - Baby Steps That Will Make A Difference

A few weeks ago, I was sent an invitation on Facebook to join a Group called "No Plastic Straws (Plastic Straws are For Suckers)". I checked out the Group's description and thought that this was a worthly group to be associated with, and so I joined.

Now, some of you reading this may think that it's really no big deal whether one uses a plastic straw or not, but this is just another one of those "baby steps" that can, in the long run, make a huge positive impact to our environment and planet. Already, joining the Group has actually helped me be more conscientous about plastic straws.

Last week, the husband and I were out for dinner, and a plastic straw (with plastic wrapper), was provided to me during our meal. Not only was a plastic straw provided for my water, but also for my adult beverage, (I like the foofoo drinks).

In the past, I would of automatically tore open that wrapper and popped my plastic straw down into my glass. But not this time, as I remembered my new consciousness regarding plastic straws. Believe it or not, I was able to drink my strawless beverages without any problems !

The below is the beginning of the "No Plastic Straws (Straws Are For Suckers)" Group description. Please take 5 minutes to go to their Group and read the entire thought process. We really can make a difference, one straw at a time:

"What would happen if everyone who ordered a drink politely added "And no plastic straw, please!" ? What would happen is this...". Please follow this link to read what could happen.

Cheers!

Let Earth Day Be Every Day

Well, as I write this Earth Day post, I am moved to reflect more on this designated day's meaning. And as I do, I am humbled to think that every day is Earth Day. For, without an Earth, there wouldn't be ME !

So, I'd like to share a link to an inspiring Earth Day video that I received this week. There are tidbits of thoughts and perceptions of many people in the video, about what being environmentally conscious means to them.

Some of the comments that really stood out to me were:

- Ripple Effect
- Take Responsibility For Yourself
- Do 1 New Thing For The Planet Each Day
- The Environment is Us
- Ethical Lifestyle
- Be A More Thoughtful Consumer
- Be A More Thoughtful Human Being
- We Are Borrowing The Earth
- What Are We Leaving Our Children?

Please view the short video and let's continue to make everyday: Earth's Day.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer - Do You Know What It Is?

A very dear friend sent me an email with a link to a news story. The subject line of her email was, "PLEASE! WATCH THIS VIDEO and forward it to the ALL women you know"

Inflammatory Breast Cancer often goes undiagnosed or improperly diagnosed. You'll see in the video story, that even some cancer centers contacted during the story, were uneducated on the subject. After watching the video and learning something that I've never really heard about, I decided this information was well worth passing on. Please share it with every woman you know and even every man.

There is also a lot more information available online. A good resource that explains this disease is the National Cancer Institute's website. On their site, it explains Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) as:

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare but very aggressive type of breast cancer in which the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. This type of breast cancer is called “inflammatory” because the breast often looks swollen and red, or “inflamed.” IBC accounts for 1 to 5 percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States (1). It tends to be diagnosed in younger women compared to non-IBC breast cancer. It occurs more frequently and at a younger age in African Americans than in Whites. Like other types of breast cancer, IBC can occur in men, but usually at an older age than in women. Some studies have shown an association between family history of breast cancer and IBC, but more studies are needed to draw firm conclusions (2).

The National Cancer Institute's site also addresses the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of the Inflammatory Breast Cancer.

Here's the video for you to view:

Go Green, Save Green

Incorporating some easy green practices into your life can benefit you in a multitude of ways. True, going green is good for you and the planet, but did you know it can also save you a huge amount of money down the road? Shaklee Get Clean® products offers you safe, powerful, and budget-friendly cleaning solutions that can help you and your family live happier, healthier lives. Here are a few back-to-basics tips to help get you going:

Use Less – Spend Less
Get Clean products are super concentrated, saving you thousands of dollars —ounce for ounce for products that outperform or match 15 national brands! You would have to spend more than $3,400 on conventional, ready-to-use products from major name brands to get the same amount of clean you’ll find in the Get Clean Starter Kit.†

†Based on comparing number of uses on labels of conventional, ready-to-use cleaners.

Go Green AND Save Money
The one and only Basic H2® is a versatile, super concentrated cleaner with a thousand uses. Ninety-nine percent natural and 100-percent powerful, Basic H2 replaces many of the cleaners you’re probably buying now — window cleaners, all-purpose cleaners, degreasers, floor cleaners, tub and tile cleaners, and more — saving you money and space. Get Clean Basic H is the ultimate multi-tasking cleaner! Look how much you would have to spend to get the equivalent cleaning uses!

To get the same amount of clean as one 16-ounce bottle of Basic H2, you would have to spend:
• Nearly $482 for the equivalent amount of all-purpose cleaner
• $12,250 for the equivalent amount of window cleaner
• $144 for the equivalent amount of degreaser

Run Dishwasher Only When Full
Make the best use of that nifty appliance that makes life easier—our friend the dishwasher. You can save a boatload of water, energy, and money by running the dishwasher only when it’s full—especially if it’s Energy Star-approved. Throw in a concentrated, phosphate-free detergent such as Automatic Dish Wash Concentrate that is so powerful that a pre-rinse isn’t required, and voila! There you go saving money and the earth yet again.

Give up Paper Towels
Remember that old tie dyed shirt you wore once and hid in the back of your closet? Put it to good use. Rather than going through rolls of paper towels, cut up old t-shirts and athletic socks and use them as cleaning rags to wipe up spills. Or, if DIY isn’t your cup of tea, try our Super Microfiber Cleaning and Window Cloths that are super-absorbent and can be washed and reused hundreds of times.

Ditch Bottled Water
We all know water bottles pile up in landfills and pollute our planet. They also have financial implications—meaning they can be expensive when you add it all up. By switching to filtered water, not only are you keeping waste out of the landfills, you’re also saving big bucks. The BestWater® PerfectPitcher® is NSF-certified and serves up delicious, clean water that can be poured into a glass to be enjoyed at home, or a portable, reusable water bottle if you’re on the go.

Reusable Bags - Paid For Themselves Over & Over

Well, it was 2 years ago this month, that I watched the Earth Day Show that Oprah aired. That was also my launch pad into becoming more environmentally conscious and focusing on my family's health and well being.

I have made a lot of changes (transitions) in my lifestyle since then, and one of them was purchasing and using reusable bags for shopping. I must admit that its taken me awhile to get into the habit of using them, but it's become a pretty solid one these days.

I'm still using the same reusable bags that I purchased online from EcoBags, two years ago. My initial order included four canvas/cotton tote bags and an assorted pack of string vegetable bags. I'm careful not to overload the reusable bags, and because of that, they're like brand new.

All my EcoBags are still in pristine condition. No rips, tears, discoloration, nothing ! And a bonus that I really like is that string bags are very stretchable. So, when I've purchased more at the market than will fit in my canvas totes, I can spillover into the string bags.

Besides keeping plastic bags out of the oceans and landfills, I was able to more than recoup my initial expense for them, when stores were offering a .05 cent credit, for bringing your own bags to the store. But, even if I hadn't received that great unexpected rebate, I'm still helping the planet and making it Earth Day, everytime I go to the store!

Great Reads For Earth Day

My new friend, Alix Gnoske Davila, from Recycle Me Organic Cotton T-Shirts, has a blog post this week that lists some great reading material on environmental issues and pioneers of the environmental movement. While at her blog, please check out the very cute Eco Chic T's that she offers.

Another great book that I've previously mentioned in this blog, is Green Goes With Everything by Sloan Barnett. A New York Times Best Seller, the book has some easy suggestions and is very educational.

And then, check out the Green Goes With Everything website, and calculate your Body Burden score. This test shows you about the pollution exposures to your body. After calculating your score, you can use the tips in Sloan Barnett's book to reduce your exposures.

April 22 Is Earth Day

The beginning foundations of what is celebrated as Earth Day, began in 1969. Gaylord Nelson, a Wisconsin senator, spearheaded the Earth Day movement. His desire was to harness the same type of energy that was going into Vietnam anti-war protests, and redirect it in a positive manner, towards protecting the environment.

A quote from Nelson regarding Earth Day:

"Earth Day achieved what I had hoped for. The objective was to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake the political arena. It was a gamble, but it worked. An estimated 20 million people participated in peaceful demonstrations all across the country. Ten thousand grade schools and high schools, two thousand colleges, and one thousand communities were involved .... That was the remarkable thing that became Earth Day."

So, almost 40 years since Earth Day's inception, people are really just starting to wrap their minds around the concept that taking care of the planet is our responsibility. What are you doing and what else can you do, to make an even bigger impact? Earth 911's website has some great suggestions and fun ways to incorporate new habits that will positively benefit our beautiful planet.

We've only got one Earth, it's up to us, to take care of it.