Easy Steps To A Healthy Diet

Sharing a great article from my friend, Irina Wardas, website. Please click on the hyperlinks below each topic, for more great info from her website.

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.-- Annie Dillard

1. COOK AT HOME

The food we take into our mouth goes into our stomach where it gets digested and eventually assimilated into the bloodstream. Our blood is what creates our cells, our tissues, our organs, our skin, our hair, our brains and our thoughts and feelings. Learning to cook high quality food for yourselves and those you love can change everything.
Healthier Substitutions for Your Recipes
Soup Time to Feel and Look Fabulous
Asparagus, Beets and Chicken Salad Recipes
Sweet Eats for More Energy

2. EAT THE RIGHT FOODS

- drink more water;
One Extra Glass of Water to Drink and Extra 500 Calories to Burn the Easy Way
- start with a breakfast
Video Tip: How to Make a 3-min Nutritious Breakfast to Feel Fabulous All Day
Healthy Breakfast to Feel and Look Fabulous
Healthy Pancakes
- incorporate more fruits, vegetables, legumes, beans, grains, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices into your diet;
4 Reason to Eat Apples
"11 Reasons to Eat Beets
Eight Reasons to Eat Squashes
Detox, Weight Loss, Glowing Skin and Other Reasons to Eat Radishes
Heart Healing Foods
Immunity Boosting Spices Recipe
Simple Detox with Cleansing Herbs
Lentils Recipes to Fight Seasonal Depression
- switch to only healthy fats with omega-3 fatty acids you can find in olive oil, salmon (chose fish carefully because it can be highly contaminated with toxic chemicals like mercury and PCBs), walnuts, flax seeds;
Salmon and Avocado Recipes

3. WATCH WHAT YOU EAT

Avoid super unhealthy processed foods which add more stress on our system and are super harmful for our health.
Super Foods to Avoid in Order to Stay Healthy
Listen to Your Body and Be Crave Smart

4. READ LABELS

We read all labels carefully looking for ingredients we cannot pronounce or don’t know the meaning of. There are too many preservative, chemicals, artificial colors we must avoid in order to stay healthy. Even more careful we have to be with labels on meat and diary products because most of the terms mean not exactly what we think.
Sugar and Caloric Overload Foods
How to Read Labels and Find Hidden Sugar
Video Tip: Sugar Surprise – How Much Sugar You Think You Eat

5. GO U.S.D.A. ORGANIC

Did you know that the worst toxins we can ingest are put into our foods as additives and preservatives? Organic foods are supposed to be produced without synthetic growth hormones, genetically engineered organisms, antibiotics, chemical fertilizers or chemical pesticides.
Why Strawberries, Peaches and Cherries Can Be Dangerous for Our Health
Is Your Mouthwash Cancer Proof
How You Can Reduce Your Risk of Cancer

6. GO LOCAL & EAT IN SEASON

To eat local and in season means that food was stored for less time and traveled not far. You get it fresher and more nutritious. Did I mention, that it will be cheaper?
Go local and find Farmer’s Markets near you at www.LocalHarvest.org

7. DE-STRESS

Stress is #1 cause of all our illnesses. If we want to be healthier, sleep longer and feel better we need to take care of out stress overload first.
Video Tip: Simple Exercise for Detox, Weight Loss and Better Sleep-Part I
Foot Massage for Detox, Stress, Sleep, Constipation and Headaches
Instant Mood Boosters – MP3 mini-class
Video Tip: How to Fall Asleep Faster and Sleep Longer
What Sex, Garlic and Swearing Have in Common
Video Tip: Three Instant Mood Boosters that Work

8. DETOX

Toxins can be poisons, heavy metals, pesticides, fungicides, cleaning solvents, smog, and many substances that we don’t even know are leeching into our bodies via our clothing our furniture, and even out carpets. We need to detox with the seasonal fruits and vegetables to stay healthy. It is also very important to avoid chemicals and pesticides not only in foods but also in skin care products, make up, cleaning products, etc.
Simple Detox with Cleansing Spices
Spring Detox and Beauty Recipes
Three Detox Recipes
Video Tip: Detox Recipe: Super Simple and Healthy Turmeric Dressing
Detox Recipe: Kale with Cranberries and Sesame Seeds
Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have.–Winston Churchill
If you feel you might need help with one of my Holistic Health and Nutrition Programs for Women, let me know, and let us talk…

And don’t forget to always breathe, smile and try to be happy.
© Irina Wardas, HHC
Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert
NaturalCounselor.com

Food Standards & Integrity Addressed In Food, Inc., The Movie

On July 20th, I posted about the documentary, Food, Inc. I was finally able to get to the Flicks last week and watch the film. It was definitely more than I expected. In fact, I might even say that I almost got more on my plate, than my stomach could handle.

The documentary is a MUST SEE for anyone who consumes any meat products. Yes, I am currently a carnivore, but have been 98% pork free for about 2 years. Now, after watching the food handling standards and exposures for food contamination in Food, Inc., I have begun to plan my fazing out, of any and all commercially processed meat products. In addition, I have embarked on some serious research in a vegetarian diet for my family. (No, I haven't told the husband yet, SSHH, don't say anything!).

Watching the "hidden camera" clips of food handling in the meat processing plants in this country and chicken farms, was stomach wrenching. Now, I'm no sissy when it comes to watching the processing of meats and foods. But, when I find out how the recent salmonella poisonings and other food contamination crisis' occurred, and could have been prevented, then I do begin to feel ill.

I also learned about Monsanto's role in the control of farmers and what they can and cannot do, once the farmer has acquired Monsanto's "patented" seeds. Today, I also read an article about Monsanto's negligence right here in my home state of Idaho. Basically, they (Monsanto), have already caused much environmental devastation in Southeastern Idaho's high country, and want carte blanche to start another mine, without cleaning up their earlier messes. The scary thing is, that many EPA & FDA officials, were previously employed by Monsanto, at one time or another. I don't see any conflict of interest there, do you?

There were numerous facts & disclosures discussed in the documentary and the narration by Michael Pollen was fantastic. I can't do justice to the film by giving you the below tidbits, you'll have to see the movie for yourself. But, here's a few things I wanted to share:

1. Just a few years ago, apx 80 meat processing plants provided 20% of the meat that Americans consumed. Today, 13 meat processing plants provide 80% of the meat that we consume.

2. It takes 75 gallons of diesel to bring a steer to slaughter.

3. It is illegal to make disparaging remarks about the beef industry in Colorado. (Remember Oprah?).

4. One American farmer used to feed apx 628 people. Now, he feeds apx 128 people and huge companies/subsidiaries feed the rest.

5. One in three people born after the year 2000, will get diabetes.

The final message of the film was that we, as consumers, have a vote by what we do and do not purchase. One farmer that was interviewed, pled with the viewing audience to make our voices heard. He said that the farmers want to do the right thing, but so many hands are tied by big industry, that they can't do it by themselves.

Some of my votes will include a more conscientious effort to purchase food products grown/manufactured within a 150 mile radius of where I live. Farmers markets; here I come! I also need to start my plan for my raised bed gardens. Also, I've made my feelings clear to my husband about Monsanto products in our home/property.

My list continues, but I'd like others to share what they are already doing or planning to do, to cast a vote for improved food handling and standards by the food industry and within our own homes.

Vitamin D Supplements For Kids Health

It's no secret these days, that Vitamin D Supplements are quickly becoming recognized as a necessary ingredient for kids health. Researchers have found that 9 percent, or 7.6million children across the country, were vitamin D deficient and another 61 percent, or 50.8 million, were vitamin D insufficient.

Rickets, a bone disease sometimes found in infants, is also caused by a Vitamin D deficiency.

What causes this deficiency? Most commonly it is poor diet and lack of sunlight. Again, it's no secret that the average American household, does not get enough natural vitamins and minerals to maintain the body properly. And then, there's the sedentary lifestyle of so many young people these days. With online networking and highly entertaining computer games, many people don't get too far from the sofa anymore.

There are Vitamin D sources that contain natural nutrients that young children need. Do the research and see for yourself. You will find that our daily intake of steak & potatoes, just isn't enough to feed our body and organs properly. Add safe baby and children's vitamins to improve kid's health...and yours too!

Is Perfume Toxic To You?

With continued research, scientists are continuing to correlate many common allergies, allergies to mold, migraine headaches, and breathing disorders to the "everyday" products used in our homes and offices.

From the perfumes we wear, to the construction materials in our furniture, we are exposed daily to small amounts of chemicals, which can ultimately be toxic for our bodies. Many cleaning products are widely known to contain ingredients that are associated with contributing factors of some forms of cancer to symptoms of allergies.

My favorite non toxic cleaner is Shaklee's, Basic H2. It's an organic, natural cleaning surfactant, that comes in a concentrated form. One 16-ounce bottle, can make over 200 bottles of all-purpose spray cleaner. The dilution levels of Basic H2, vary for the level of cleaning.

Two drops of Basic H2 in 16-ounces of water, will make over 5,000 bottles of window and glass cleaner. One & one-half teaspoons makes a degreaser cleaner, that easily tackled the grease film build-up, on the top of my kitchen cupboards.

Most of us can't remove ourselves from all the toxic chemicals that we are exposed to on a daily basis. One person that was forced to find a way to do this though, is Kathy Hemenway of Snowflake, Arizona. From childhood, she was sensitive to exposures of perfume, fabrics, cleaning products, etc. As she grew into adulthood, it only got worse.

Some of the modifications that Kathy Hemenway made to her home and environment, were pretty drastic. But, she educated herself and made the necessary changes to secure a better quality of life for herself.

Education is the key and that's one of the primary reasons for my blog. By sharing this information, I endeavour to bring environmental and health options to my readers.

I hope you'll take the time to read the L.A. Times article about Kathy Hemenway's search for a Non Toxic Home and also the useful link entitled Beware These Household Chemicals.

Also, for more safe cleaning options that are Safe for You, Your Home, and Your Planet™, please check out the Safe, Powerful, Green & Smart cleaning products offered by Shaklee.

Planting Trees - Building A Future

In my short journey of learning how to take better care of the environment, I learned of Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Dr Wangari Maathai. She had a vision to change the lives for Kenyans, and thus was born, "The Greenbelt Movement".

Planting trees for fuel, shade, and food is not something that anyone would imagine as the first step toward winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Yet with that simple act Wangari Maathai, a woman born in rural Kenya, started down the path that reclaimed her country’s land from 100 years of deforestation, provided new sources of food and income to rural communities, gave previously impoverished and powerless women a vital political role in their country, and ultimately helped to bring down Kenya's twenty-four-year dictatorship.

Shaklee Corporation has been a huge proponent of Dr Maathai. So in 2006, was birthed one of Shaklee's many environmental causes, "A Million Trees - A Million Dreams". Three years later, on Earth Day this year, she along with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger helped plant the one millionth tree at Shaklee's headquarters in Pleasanton, California.

I am so looking forward to seeing the documentary, Taking Root; The Vision of Wangari Maathai. She is more than inspirational !

Food,Inc., The Movie

Did you know that the average food product travels about 1,500 miles to get to your grocery store? And that transporting food accounts for 30,800 tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year?

The movie, Food, Inc., was released last month, but it hasn't come to my area yet :-( But, in looking over the website and checking out it's resources, I am very anxious to see it and learn more about our food supply and the food industry.

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

Be sure and watch the trailer for the movie, but please don't stop there. There's numerous recommendations on the website about getting involved in making positive changes with our food sources.

2009 Idaho Green Expo Is This Weekend

Well, it's finally here! The 2009 Idaho Green Expo is being held July 18th & 19th at the Boise Centre On The Grove, in Boise, Idaho. Admission is free and the resources are almost ENDLESS !

Besides numerous Green Exhibitors this year, The Expo will be presenting "Sustainable U". This will be a self-guided exploration of what a green home, garden and office actually look like. By walking through these exhibits, you can see for yourself how you can make small, and sometimes, not so small changes that will usually lead to saving energy, saving money, improving your health and are also good for the environment.

Then, there's a quality line-up of Speakers at the Idaho Green Expo. Mayor David Bieter of Boise will be in great company with a panel of Idaho Mayors. Also, Scott Schliebe, will speak on the fate of the polar bear. Jim Evanoff, "Yellowstone's" Green Ranger is scheduled to speak along with several other great speakers and topics.

Another first for the Idaho Green Expo is the Eco Brew Festival on Saturday & Sunday. Local and sustainable beer, wine, food and music will be available. Check out the 2009 Idaho Green Expo website for times and all vendor information. Location is "On The Grove", of course!

I'll be one of over 140 Exhibitors at the 2009 Idaho Green Expo and will be set up in Booth #85. Please stop by and visit, when you're there.

This venue is more than exceptional. Please don't miss it. The folks at GreenWorks Idaho do a stellar job in bringing Idaho a prestigious array of green and sustainable resources and information.

Cleaning With A Toxic Brew - Forget About The Monsters Under Your Bed !

The "monsters" are right there on the grocery store shelves just waiting to "clean up" your home, school or office!!

That's right, sitting there all prim and proper, polished and priced; are a plethora of cleaning products, (aka Monsters), ready to come into your personal spaces and gobble up all those terrible germs and gunk! But, in the process of "cleaning up" your spaces, they may also be leaving behind a toxic brew.

These toxins may be absorbed by inhalation, ingestion, or contact. Some of the ingredients have been found to be associated factors of one or many health conditions. Asthma, Chronic Fatigue, Reactive Airway Dysfunction, Skin Allergies and more, may be affected or enhanced by the toxic brew of products that you're "cleaning" with.

You have options. Natural and non-toxic products are available and can be just as effective as the Name Brand products. Many of these products are concentrated and not any more costly than the Name Brand products. There are also recipes available to make up your own homemade solutions.

To find out more about the toxic brew lurking under your sink, check out a short Toxic Brew video at http://www.4greenplanetsolutions.com/ . At that site, you can also order a free, Home Cleaners Toxin Checklist, to check out the contents of some commonly used Brand Name products.

Remove the "Monsters" and replace them with products that are safe for you, your home and the planet.

My Step #3 To Combat Climate Change

I’m in the process of sharing my personal journey to reduce my personal carbon footprint, on the planet. I was initially inspired by reading the World Environment Day website and their Twelve Steps To Unite To Combat Climate Change.

In June, I addressed Step Number One; which was Commitment , and also, Set Number Two; which was Assess Where You Stand.* Now, it's time to move onto Step Number 3. This is "where the rubber meets the road", as they say.

Step Number Three is: Decide And Plan Where You Want To Go

During my assessment* in Step #2, I completed a survey on the website, One Million Acts of Green. In this process, I selected areas called “Acts of Green” that I already have done, and then Pledged to make changes in numerous other Acts. I have a lot of areas that are in the “Pledged” category still, and this is the resource that I can use to work on Step #3; Deciding and planning where I want to go.

Therefore, I will be using my uncompleted Acts of Green (or Pledges), to calculate how I am progressing on my carbon footprint reduction. I plan on referring back to my Pledges at least once a week, and using it as a reminder of things to work on and a place to update my accomplishments.

I’m will be sharing my accomplishments and hurdles, (hopefully there are very few of those), with everyone via this blog. Please feel free to share with the other readers and myself, what areas are more difficult for you to conquer. Maybe together, we can help each other accomplish our common goal in reducing our greenhouse emissions, fighting global warming and just plain being good stewards.

Can't Thank Them Enough !