Category: Articles

Green Tea: The Powerfood That Rules the World

Green Tea: The Powerfood That Rules the World

Author
 

“We haven’t had any tea for a week The bottom is out of the universe “

Rudyard Kipling Natural Theology

Why is Green Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, second only to water itself?

Why is green tea is the most popular health drink on the planet?

How has green tea has influenced the lifestyles, politics and temperament of world superpowers, including United States, China, Japan and Britain.

1.  Green tea is the king of teas:

There are many different kinds of tea including: green tea, black tea, white tea, and oolong. They all start out as green leaves from the Camielia sinensis plant.

The only difference is which part of the plant is used, where and how it grows and how it is processed. Oolong teas have perhaps the most extensive tastes, green tea and enhansed green tea has the most benefits for the least cost.

2.  Green tea helps you lose weight.

The International Journal of Obesity cites green tea as having polyphenols which produce extra heat in the body and burn calories.

Weight loss experts and dietians agree that this promotion of thermogenesis will help dieters lose pounds.

3.  Green tea has possible benefits for cancer.

The Journal of the National Cancer Institute published study in 1994 indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent.

4.  Green tea has possible benefits for heart disease.

Research shows that research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

One of the beneficial compounds in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant which inhibits the growth of cancer cells, and kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.

EGCG is twice as powerful an anti-oxidant as resveratrol, a polyphenol found in grapes and wine and which is speculated to protect the French from their high fat diet.

5. Green Tea Cleanses the Body and the Soul

Green Tea originated as a large tree growing in the Himalayan jungles.

It was cultured into the short bushes grown throughout the world now, by Chinese monks who had discovered its many benefits.

The Taoists claimed green tea as an important ingredient of the elixir of immortality.

The Buddhists used it extensively to prevent drowsiness during their long hours of meditation.

The first bowl moistens my lips and throat; The second bowl banishes all loneliness; The third bowl clears my mind of words and books. The fourth cup, I begin to perspire, Life’s troubles evaporate through my pores. The firth cup cleanses my entire being. Six cups – ah, but I can drink no more: I can only feel the gentle breeze blowing through my sleeves, Wafting me away to the Isle of Immortality!

Lu ton, Eight-century Chinese Poet, from In Gratitude for a Gift of Fresh Tea

6.  Green Tea is MONEY:

In the twelfth century when China began exporting tea , TEA BRICKS became the often preferred form of currency. It was light, valuable and in desperate need you could even eat the bricks. Tea contains, along with its many other nutrients, small amounts of protein.

7.  Green Tea Transformed Japan’s Culture

Green Tea was said to be introduced into Japan in 1191 by the monk Eisaid when he returned to Japan with Buddhism. The cult of tea began after Eisai helped cure the famous shogun of Japan Minamoto.

The whole culture of the country evolved around the Japanese Tea Ceremony which uses very finely ground green tea leaves in an elaborate ceremony lasting many hours.

The Tea Ceremony was a worship of the art of life,  an appreciation of refinement and purity, a process to go beyond the dreary waste of existence.

8.  Green Tea Transformed British Culture

In Britain, tea rapidly replaced much of the beer, ale and alcohol consumption with a beverage that was actually good for you. The British were transformed from an aggressive, meat and bear drinking mass to a more gentle, civilized people.

For the middle class of Britain, the tea parties and tea gardens allowed women and children to get out and socialize for the first time in their history. Many movements such as missionaries, charities and the girl guides started as tea groups.

For the lower class of Britain, tea breaks made life bearable –  the tea gave them energy and a lift of spirits which other beverages could not. They spent HALF their food budget on tea (and sugar to put in it) for good reason.

9.  Green Tea is Patriotic.

For Americans,  tea is a reminder of the Boston Tea Party,  a key event in the the American Revolution. Americans resisted  the taxation by the British of tea and other goods without representation. This resistance was symbolized by throwing a shipload of black tea into the Boston harbour.

10.  Green Tea is Loved By Everyone:

What happened to my green tea?”

Joe Torre  famous former Professional baseball player and current Major League Baseball’s executive vice president of baseball operations.

From hard working workers needing energy to homemakers wanting health to professionals wanting mental clarity – green tea can be enjoyed by everyone.

4 Dangerous Drugs Doctors Gave Your Grandparents

4 Dangerous Drugs Doctors Gave Your Grandparents

Written by Randy Fritz, co-creator with Diana Herrington at Real Food for Life

Many of the drugs that we know are illegal and dangerous, like heroin, were  once easily bought at the corner drugstore and recommended by doctors. When you  see the old advertisements for these substances, sometimes you cringe, and  sometimes you can’t help but laugh!

This is why I am cautious with any “new” health advance that has not yet  stood the test of time. I will explain more on this later.

Many of the medicines of the 19th and early 20th century contained  psychoactive drugs – alcohol, opium, and cocaine. Doctors didn’t know how these  drugs worked but they gave some small relief since you were actually slightly  high or drunk. Meanwhile nature took it’s course and if it could, the body  naturally healed as it would have anyway without the medicine.

1.  Heroin

 

The German company Bayer, which now produces one of the most popular pain  medications on earth, aspirin, also developed heroin and sold it at your local  drugstore.

In fact, when a chemist first developed ASA (aspirin) and presented it to  Bayer, management was not interested right away.  They were more excited  with another drug they had rediscovered – diacetylmorphine. They trademarked  this drug “heroin” because early testers said it made them feel heroisch (a  German word for heroic).

Heroin was marketed as a non-addictive morphine substitute  and cough suppressant. Medicines containing “smack” were sold  in stores just as aspirin is today. The American Medical Association gave heroin  its stamp of approval in 1907.

According to a Bayer watchdog group, Bayer promoted heroin for use in  children suffering from coughs, colds and “irritation”  as late as 1912.

Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup contained 65 mg of morphine, another opiate  analgesic, per fluid ounce and was used “for children teething.”

This seems amazing to us now because we know so much more, but people somehow  survived! The body is amazing.

Natural Alternatives:

For coughs:  Honey and finely ground black pepper is a time tested  ayurvedic remedy for cough and sore throat used for  centuries.

For colds: Many powerfoods are rich in antioxidants  necessary to prevent colds and infections before they happen. They also support  the immune system once you have a cold. There are many examples:

  • Broccoli: is a rich source of the premier antioxidant  nutrient—vitamin C,  plus the flavonoids that allow vitamin C to recycle  effectively, plus carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene,  other powerful antioxidants.
  • All alkaline foods: create balance in the body.  An  acidid body is an inflamed, unsettled body with unbalanced immunity.  Alkaline-forming foods include lemons, spinach, zucchini, watermelon, millet, almonds, and raspberries and even weeds like dandelions. Each one of these foods offers a host of  powerful health benefits which you can enjoy with no long list of side  effects.

2. Cocaine

In the US, cocaine was sold over the counter until 1914 and was commonly  found in products like toothache drops, dandruff remedies, and medicinal  tonics.

Coca leaves, which can be transformed into the more concentrated cocaine,  have been used for centuries in native cultures in South America for day to day  remedies and religious ceremonies.

In America and Europe, the coca leaves were combined with wine “to invigorate  the mind and decrease depression and sleepiness.” It was suggested that you  should take a full glass with or after every meal. Children should only take  half a glass.

Coca-Cola was invented in the late 1800s as a “coca wine,”  but the alcohol and cocaine were later replaced with syrup and coca leaves,  respectively.

It was considered “a valuable brain tonic, and a cure for all nervous  affections — sick head-ache, neuralgia, hysteria, melancholy.”

Natural alternatives for energy and mental  clarity:

Green tea: the second most popular beverage  on earth enlivens the body, mind,  and spirit without overstimulating it. It  also helps with weight loss, cancer and heart disease,

All fruits are smart carbs and thus contain natural sugars for  energy, but are full of the micronutrients which actually make you smarter and  balanced instead of just high on white sugar and chemicals.

3.  Opium

Opium poppy seed (from which heroin is processed) has been cultivated for  food, anesthesia, and ritual purposes since at least the new stone age.

In the 18th century, opium was found to be a good remedy for nervous  disorders: to quiet the mind, help the insane, and to treat insomnia.  In  the American Civil War, the Union Army used 2.8 million ounces of opium  tincture and powder and about 500,000 opium pills. It was called “God’s Own  Medicine.”

Until 1970, Paregoric, whose main ingredient was powdered opium, could be  purchased at a pharmacy without a medical prescription.

4.  Cigarettes

Cigarettes with unknown contents claimed to provide temporary relief for  everything from asthma to colds, canker sores, and bad  breath. They were “not recommended for children under 6.” As the effects of  nicotine became more apparent, cigarette companies had to be more subtle in  their marketing.

During World War II, soldiers were issued free cigarettes, courtesy of the  tobacco companies, resulting in millions of nicotine-addicted G.I.s returning home after the  war.

Natural approaches to asthma:

Asthma is primarily an inflammatory condition so any whole foods that  decreases inflammation helps.

Studies have shown that intakes of apples, tomatoes, carrots, green leafy vegetables and generally lots of fresh  fruit and vegetables reduces the prevalence of asthma.

Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and asthma. Omega-3s are found in  flax seeds, walnuts, beans and winter squash. Each of these foods have amazing additional  benefits – again without side effects.

But We Know Better Now, Don’t We?

We certainly have come a long way since the era of patent medicines. Our  understanding of how chemistry interacts with our bodies is increasing daily.  But is it far enough?  Future generations may well laugh at our present day  advertisements for Viagra and sleep medication and we already cringe at the  destructive effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

I don’t want to pick on any doctors specifically or in general. They just  tend to represent (sometimes unknowingly) the established medical and  pharmaceutical industries.

Sometimes the same thing happens in the natural health field; new discoveries  which at the beginning sound like the cure for everything turn out to be not  appropriate for everyone and in some cases are even harmful.

As I said before though, I am very cautious of any new discovery that has not  been verified by time. By “time” I don’t mean months or years of testing but  rather decades or centuries of use!

At Real Food For Life, we understand that peak health has been enjoyed by  millions over the centuries using only simple whole foods traditional in their  culture. We call these power  foods and they are probably in your kitchen right now.

It is up to us to take responsibility for our own health and educate  ourselves. We can’t expect a government organization to do it all for us.

This is what many of the people are doing within Care2: learning and sharing  and participating. We congratulate you on your efforts.

I’m sure you know of other deadly medications and procedures that have been  offered to the public.

 

7 Reasons to Cut Back on Coffee

7 Reasons to Cut Back on Coffee

Written by Randy Fritz, co-creator with Diana Herrington at Real Food for Life

Coffee is for Bugs not Your Body!

Caffeine is a natural insecticide that plants have been using to  protect themselves from insects for thousands of years!

That caffeine in your steaming cup of coffee has been put to much better use  in driving away or killing insects in your backyard, rather than  getting you going in the morning.

7 Reasons to Cut Down on Your Coffee or Caffeine Consumption 

1. Caffeine was developed as a poison.

Over millions of years, plants have developed various powerful compounds to  stop insects from stripping away every bit of greenery from the planet. Many  plants are obviously poisonous or extremely inedible to protect themselves.  Other examples of slightly toxic substances include oxalic acid in  leafy greens and capsaicin in chili peppers. When you consider the fact that we  consume 12,000 tons of caffeine a year, the amounts in these other foods are  miniscule in comparison. A good rule of thumb for health is to avoid or reduce  poisons.

2. Caffeine exhausts the adrenals.

Whereas a dose of caffeine in a small insect may stun or even kill it, in  humans it just gives us a little “buzz.” This stimulation is what many people  depend on to get themselves going with their morning coffee, but it is short  lived.

Since it really is just stimulation, an excitement of the nervous and  glandular system, it’s not producing any long term energy; and as soon as that  little high wears off, you are reaching for another shot.  Do this enough  times and your nervous and glandular system, particularly the adrenal gland, is  exhausted.  You have to keep increasing the “dose” to have energy and  eventually nothing works and you crash.

3.  Caffeine is addictive.

The fact that you can get caffeine withdrawal symptoms if you stop is an  obvious symptom of addiction. Most people don’t want to be addicted to  anything!

You probably think you don’t drink enough to be addicted, but research shows  you probably already are. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine showed  that low to moderate caffeine intake (as little as one small cup of coffee per  day) can quickly produce withdrawal symptoms.

4.  Caffeine often comes with sugar and other health hazards. 

Raw coffee beans by themselves don’t taste good, so sweeteners are  usually  added. This is usually white sugar or some artificial chemical  that tastes  sweet.

Some people consider white sugar to also be a chemical poison.

At the very least, sugar is definitely a dumb carb and not a smart carb.  Other than the  simple sugars, it has no micronutrients like vitamins or  minerals to help your  body. Also it has a high glycemic index so it  goes quickly into the system,  creating insulin spikes and insulin  resistance, which eventually leads to  weight gain.

5.  Caffeine toxicity has been linked to, well, almost  everything.

The above four points are pretty well known. Caffeine toxicity, on the other  hand, doesn’t seem to be as commonly discussed. If you do a  medical search for  “caffeine toxicity” on Google Scholar, you get 44,000 entries.

Caffeine has been associated with studies in a lot of conditions  including:

  • irregular heartbeat
  • insomnia
  • psychosis
  • anorexia
  • sleeplessness
  • headaches
  • nervousness
  • irritability
  • depression
  • bedwetting
  • birth defects in rodents

6.  Caffeine is used as an insecticide.

Back to my original point. Over 20 years ago James Nathanson,  assistant  professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, reported in Science magazine of this  important function of caffeine. The study determined that  caffeine  combined with other insecticides increases their killing power. In one  test, a small dose of caffeine increased known pesticides potency by 10  times. Caffeine appears to produce the destructive effect by  suppressing certain enzymes in the insects’ nervous systems. In man, caffeine is  now classified by many scientists as a neurotoxin. That means it is definitely  not “good” for your nerves.

Do you think that maybe you have other pesticides in your system that  caffeine could react with?

7.  Coffee cups destroy the environment.

The world drinks 400 billion coffees a year. We toss away 100 million cups a  year which, if we are careful with our trash, ends up in landfills.

The paper in landfills, like all organic matter, decomposes without oxygen,  and thus produces methane which has 23 times the heat trapping power of CO2.

The plastic coating of the paper and the polystyrene coffee cup lid, after  its minutes-long use, will continue to exist for hundreds of years. Plastic  coffee cup lids contain the toxic substances styrene and benzene, which have  been documented as suspected carcinogens and neurotoxins. That’s also bad!

You Could Choose Worse!

If you are going to choose a drug, caffeine is certainly better than alcohol,  nicotine, cocaine or narcotics.  Narcotics used to be readily available in  the drugstore but new understanding has caused their restriction, so most people  have moved into caffeine and alcohol.

Coffee does some have specific uses: They would tend to be medicinal.  Caffeine, for example, is added to many cold and pain medications to increase  their speed and potency.  This decreases overall medicine use.

Coffee also has some great social benefits. The coffee shops around the world  seem to fulfill a universal urge to come together to talk and eat and drink. In  the crazy world we live in, coffee shops are often a tiny oasis of comfort and  calm. That being said, perhaps we could be drinking alternate beverages with  less caffeine.

You Could Choose Better: 5 Caffeine Alternatives

1. Green Tea

Green tea has one-half to one-sixth the caffeine of regular brewed coffee. It  has about half the caffeine as a Coke or Pepsi. Some specialty green teas have  even less caffeine than this.

What green tea has more of is all kinds of health benefits,  including prevention in cancer and  heart disease. Maybe this is why green  tea is the second most popular beverage in the world (after water) and the  most popular health beverage. Green tea is considered a critical element in  the development of the British middle class, women’s liberation, girl guides,  charity organizations, and the American Revolution.

2. Herbal Beverages

Other than in bars, it is now socially acceptable to drink herbal drinks in  public!  They are often called “herbal teas” although technically they are  not.

3.  Ice Cold Orange Juice or Lemon Water

Both will give you smart carbs with natural energy and will also reduce your  risk of heart disease. Most other fruit juices have additional health benefits.  Lemon water is also highly alkalizing. It will take a bit more time or energy to  have fresh juice but you won’t be spending time making coffee.

4.  Dandelion Coffee

The nice thing about this is that it can be absolutely free. Dandelion root  has a host of health benefits.

5.  Power Foods:  Pick One, Any One

There are whole foods that will give you the energy and clarity that you are  trying to get with coffee. They are probably in your kitchen right now. Below is  a list of great choices for breakfast or a snack. Take your pick from the list  and enjoy the energy and health benefits!

  • Apples: One of these per day will keep the doctor  away!
  • Bananas
  • Raspberries Contains the anti-carcinogenic  substance, ellagic acid.
  • Almonds
  • Walnuts: The crinkly  powerfood with the highest antioxidant activity of any nut.
  • Pumpkin Seeds: The alkalizing seed.
  • Quinoa: This nutty-flavored powerfood is pronounced  keen–wa.
  • Oatmeal  Much more health benefits than just fiber.

 

9 Essential Oils with Huge Health Benefits

9 Essential Oils with Huge Health Benefits

Samantha, selected from TreeHugger

 

Essential  oils have their place secured in a natural beauty routine: They’re   natural, chemical-free alternatives to everything from traditional  cosmetics to  potentially toxic fragrances.   But many can do a lot more than just smell good:  While we can’t say  with authority the 10 oils highlighted here are miracle  cures,  throughout history they’ve been credited with treating problems   including digestion issues and acne; increasing concentration; killing  germs  and much more.

Peppermint

The bright scent of peppermint does more than freshen your breath: It is also  used to soothe nausea and other stomach issues, help stop itching, and cool  overworked  muscles (thanks to the menthol).Add drops of peppermint oil to a  bowl of hot water and breathe in the  steam to fight congestion, or rub diluted  oil into sore muscles. And  that’s not all: Peppermint is a key ingredient in oil mixtures that fight  PMS, act as an  all-natural alternative to VapoRub, cool sore throats, and quiet  headaches — and it’s often credited with increasing concentration, so  ideal  for a mid-afternoon alternative to coffee pick-me-up.

Lavender

For Anita Boen, who runs an organic farm that provides  herbs and oils to  upscale spas, lavender is a go-to oil for almost any situation: Not only  is it one of the few  oils that is gentle enough to use undiluted, it’s a  “virtual first aid  kit in a bottle.”The antibacterial  properties allow it to fight germs (which is  why it’s also such an  important ingredient in many all-natural  cleaning products for home and body), and, like  peppermint, it’s  often credited with aiding digestion and helping fight  headaches.

Lavender oil’s soft scent is said to help calm the nervous system,  improve  sleep quality, combat joint pain, and fight everything from  urinary disorders  and respiratory problems to high blood pressure and acne.

Sesame

Sesame  oil may be best known for its moisturizing  qualities, which make it  a favorite ingredient for hair  and skin treatments.But the health benefits go beyond  beauty: Sesame oil has a slight SPF  factor, contains fatty acids believed to  lower stress and blood  pressure, and has been shown to help  slow the growth of cancer in cells.

Rose

This rose by any name will smell as sweet: Look for it  labeled as Rose Otto,  rose oil, or rose  essential oil, and choose oils produced in Bulgaria  and Turkey for  the highest quality. These slightly-distilled oils won’t have  the strong  scents of oils used for perfumes, but they are more popular with   aromatherapists.  Nature’s  Gift calls rose oil “the ultimate woman’s oil,”  because it has a  reputation for improving hormone balance, treating PMS and  menopause,  counteracting problems in the bedroom, and improving the look and  health  of your skin.

Geranium

Planet Green suggests including geranium  oil as an ingredient in a PMS-fighting  solution,  but it’s also  well-known for its astringent properties —  which allow it to  refresh  skin — and its styptic aspects, which calm  inflammations and stop   hemorrhaging.You can also use geranium  oil to treat acne, and oily skin, boost   circulation, and decrease  bloating. The oil can reduce the appearance  of scars  and blemishes, get  rid of body odor, and contract  blood  vessels to diminish the appearance of lines  and wrinkles.

Pine

The sharp tang of pine   oil may call up Christmas trees and rugged aftershaves, but this   tree’s  needles also offer antiseptic, antibacterial, and analgesic   properties that  make it a favorite of holistic health experts.Pine oil  is said to help treat  skin issues — including psoriasis,  eczema, and  pimples; speed up metabolism;  act as an antidote to food  poisoning;  ease joint pain and arthritis; kill  germs; and battle  respiratory  problems that go along with cough and cold  season.

Clove

Spicy clove  oil is one of the main ingredients in Tiger  Balm, an all-natural remedy said to temper hangover  headaches —  but holistic health practitioners find other uses for it, too.It’s  a popular choice for dental issues, including tooth and gum  pain, and some  sites recommend using it for bad breath (although whether  you’d rather have  your breath smell like cloves is up to you).

Clove  oil is also antiseptic, so diluted versions can treat  bug bites,  cuts, and scrapes; other suggested treatments help clear up  earaches,  digestion problems, nasal congestion, stomachaches, and headaches. As  an  added bonus, it’s an aphrodisiac — and therefore a popular form of  stress  relief.

Black Pepper

It might not be as  sweet-smelling as the more floral entries on this list,  but black  pepper oil still has its place in your natural health  arsenal.Pepper had its day as one of the world’s most valuable spices, in  part  because of its healing properties, which include aiding digestion,  undoing  cramps and convulsions, warming muscles to ease joint pain and  arthritis, and  curing bacterial infections.

Lemon Balm

Lemon  balm essential oil, also known as Melissa essential  oil after the  plant’s Latin name, Melissa officinalis, doesn’t look  like much,  but it has plenty of benefits. It’s an antidepressant, it keeps your  nervous  system working smoothly, it calms anxiety and inflammation, it   counteracts insomnia, it heals ulcers, it fights bacterial infections,  and has  been credited with treating herpes, headaches, and high blood  pressure.

 

7 Ways to Make Your Living Space Smell Nice

7 Ways to Make Your Living Space Smell Nice

by Megan, selected from Intent.com

Rather than spraying chemical-laden air fresheners, choose one of these seven  natural ways to make your living space smell a little nicer.

1. Invest in houseplants. Have your favorite plants and  herbs growing in your kitchen, living room and bathroom in small pots. The  presence of green plants will help reduce indoor air pollution and keep clean  air circulating in your space.

2. Save your citrus fruit skins. Save the peels of oranges,  lemons, limes and other citrus- fruits. You can place them in boiling water to  have a fresh scent in the kitchen, or run them in your garbage disposal with  boiling water. Lastly, put some citrus skins in your vacuum bag the next time  you vacuum your carpet.

3. Dilute essential oil with water in a spray bottle. You  can spray your furniture and carpet to make the whole room smell a specific  scent. To diversify, you can have different scents for different areas of your  home. For example: lavender for the living room, sandalwood for your bedroom and  peppermint for the bathroom.

4. Place bowls of white vinegar in corners of the room. The  vinegar will neutralize and absorb any offending odors.

5. Place fabric softener in your shoes and closet. It will  take away any stale clothing smells. For another closet air freshener, place a  cedar block at the bottom of your closet. Use sandpaper for a new layer once a  year.

6. Light soy candles instead of regular candles. Soy candles  are longer-lasting, better for the environment and have a more robust smell.  (They are also safer than carcinogen-emitting candles.)

7. Bake bread or cook your own meals. Few things are as  welcoming as the smell of freshly baked bread or the herbs of a home-cooked  dinner.

Clean Air Alternatives to Aerosol Spray

Clean Air Alternatives to Aerosol Spray

by Cherise Udell

This is probably not a surprise to you if you have ever used an aerosol spray  can, but these little stinkers are often dangerously toxic to you and the  environment. All you have to do is read the warning label to realize you just  may have a time-bomb in your hand. We all know that if allowed to heat-up, that  pressurized aerosol can actually become a real bomb and explode. But did you  also know that the fine vapor mist, along with the inevitable chemical cocktail  of some aerosol products, has been linked to cancer, brain damage and even death  for the user? Furthermore, aerosols are at the root of some big environmental problems  such as air pollution and global warming.

Next to injections, breathing fine vapor mist is the fastest way to absorb a  chemical into your body. For someone having a massive asthma attack, medicinal  delivery through a fine mist is a godsend. For children getting their annual flu  shot, the new flu mist, in lieu of a needle, is also something to be celebrated.  But for the rest of us just trying to get ready for the day, clean our homes or  finish a project, the user-friendly aerosol can often requires a deal with the  devil. Just as asthma medication is quickly inhaled via aerosol spraying, so are  the hundreds of questionable chemicals that come in other types of aerosol  cans.

Fortunately, there are numerous alternatives to that highly flammable, often  highly polluting, potentially cancer-causing aerosol can.

Sunscreen

The spray-on sunscreen is mighty tempting; who likes the  greasy feeling of hand-applying suntan lotion? I know I don’t and neither do my  kids. But it is very likely your lungs or your children’s lungs like the fine  particle spray laced with numerous dubious chemicals even less. Furthermore, why  trade the possibility of skin cancer from the sun for the possibility of another  type of cancer somewhere inside your body? Do your body and the air a favor and  return to the hand-applied sunscreens — or find a “stick” alternative such as  California Baby.

Odor Removal

We all enjoy a fresh-smelling home, car and office. Yet diaper pails, pet  odors, and food odors are notoriously difficult to dispel….unless you know about  vinegar.  Vinegar has an extraordinary capacity to wipe-out even the  strongest, most persistent odors. All you need to do is mix water with white vinegar (I like 2/3 vinegar and 1/3 water) in a spray  bottle and mist as you would with an air freshener. You will smell the strong  scent of vinegar for about five minutes, but then it dissipates, taking along  the offensive order with it! I spray trash bins, shoes, pet areas, the kitchen,  my car and laundry room with vinegar on a regular basis and without the guilt  and risk of using toxic aerosols. Another plus to vinegar — it is very  inexpensive, especially if you buy the big jugs at Costco.

If just removing the stinky smells is not enough and you want some lovely  scents to escort you through your day, try pure essential oils. You can apply the scent of your choice in a  number of ways: a) just sprinkle a few drops on your carpet, bed linens or wood  floors; b) mix a few drops of the essential oil in a spray bottle filled with  water and spray; c) use a water-based diffuser or d) use a candle diffuser. Try  lemon, lavender, rose and/or cinnamon for some fresh clean scents. Personally, I  love Do Terra essential oils for their purity and high medicinal grade – and  thus recommend these highly.

Clothing Starch

Some people love their clothes starched to keep them extra  crisp and fresh. If you are one of these well-dressed individuals, try ditching  the aerosol spray and use a mixture of cornstarch and water in a spray bottle  instead. Mix one tablespoon of cornstarch for each pint of water. Test the blend  on a dish towel and add more cornstarch if needed (a 1/2 teaspoon or less at a  time), to get the crispness you desire.

Furniture and Stainless Steel Polish

Try olive oil or any cooking oil as a wood furniture polish. Olive oil also  works well with stainless steel. If you prefer a scented polish, again, just add  a few drops of a pure essential oil such as lavender or lemon. Be sure to use a  little elbow grease to polish the oil to create a nice sheen and remove any oily  residue left behind.

Hair Spray

Farrah Fawcett probably could not have managed her signature hairdo if it  weren’t for aerosol hair spray, but fortunately having two shellacked wings of  hair framing your face is no longer in style. That is not to say that some of us  still don’t rely on a little help with our locks. If you need hairspray, ditch  the aerosol can and choose a pump hair spray instead. Early forms of aerosol  hairspray contained vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen, as well as, CFCs which  were very effective at eating the ozone in our atmosphere, and therefore a big  culprit in global warming. Fortunately, both CFCs and vinyl chloride were banned  in hairspray products in the 1970s. However, according to a PBS website, even  without the vinyl chloride, it is not known whether the ingredients currently  used in hairspray are safe for human use.

Food Can Nourish the Spirit

Food Can Nourish the Spirit

by Sarah Cooke

Today, a friend and I had a conversation about the role that relationships  can play in our enjoyment of food. For example, when I prepare dishes using my  mother’s recipes, the flavor is the same but the experience is often less  fulfilling than enjoying a meal she has prepared for me. Similarly, when I  prepare a meal for my fiancé and myself, I often enjoy the dish more than I do  when I am the only one eating.

It is not only the flavor of a dish or the quality of the ingredients that  contributes to our enjoyment. It is the energy surrounding the food – and the  consumption of it. When a meal is prepared and eaten with love,  it is generally more enjoyable.

Yes, this phenomenon can lead to emotional  eating when we try to recreate the positive memories and feelings associated  with particular foods. But it also has the potential to be quite beneficial.  When we enjoy food on the level of the spirit, we are often more likely to feel  more fulfilled, meaning we consume fewer empty calories than we do when we eat  processed foods, which are less fulfilling. When we eat processed food, we often  must eat more to feel fulfilled. In addition, when we learn to appreciate the  deep, emotional nourishment that food can offer us in a balanced way, we are  likely to choose high quality foods that can offer that kind of sustenance.

 

Is Gluten Bad For You?

Is Gluten Bad For You?

Gluten-free diets are  being touted as the  solution to everything from digestive troubles to  excess fat. But before you  hop on the bandwagon, read this

By Karen Ansel, R.D., Women’s Health
Chelsea Clinton’s wedding got a lot of press play a few months ago for  the  gorgeous locale, the esteemed guests, and her beautiful dress. But  what also  took the cake in terms of media coverage was, well, the cake.  The gluten-free  cake.

Just 10 years ago, barely anyone knew what the word gluten meant, let  alone  gave any thought to avoiding it. But now gluten-free diet menus are all the  rage, and high-profile stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow,  Rachel Weisz, and  Victoria Beckham have been linked to the gluten-free  lifestyle, which is said  to contribute to increased energy, thinner  thighs, and reduced belly bloat.

What It Is, Exactly Gluten is a protein found in the  grains wheat, barley, and rye. Most of  us unknowingly love it, because gluten  gives our favorite foods that  special touch: It makes pizza dough stretchy,  gives bread its spongy  texture, and is used to thicken sauces and soups.

Gluten-free eating has a basis in science, and it does help a genuine  health  problem. To people with a chronic digestive disorder called  celiac disease,  gluten is truly evil: Their bodies regard even a tiny  crumb of it as a  malicious invader and mount an immune response, says  Alessio Fasano, M.D.,  medical director of the University of Maryland  Center for Celiac Research in  Baltimore. Problem is, this immune  reaction ends up damaging the small  intestine, which causes both great  gastrointestinal distress and nutritional  deficiencies. If untreated,  these responses can then lead to intestinal cancers  as well as  complications such as infertility and osteoporosis.

Experts once thought celiac disease was a rare disorder, believed to  affect  one in every 10,000 people. But an Archives of Internal Medicine  study in 2003  suggests that celiac disease is far more prevalent than  anyone had suspected,  affecting one in 133 Americans. With increased  testing and awareness, more  people realized why they felt sick after  eating a piece of bread, and food  companies discovered a new market.

Now another problem is emerging, and experts are referring to it as   nonceliac gluten sensitivity. Gluten sensitivity can lead to similar  celiac  symptoms such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, and bloating. But  unlike celiac,  sensitivity doesn’t damage the intestine. For years,  health professionals  didn’t believe nonceliac gluten sensitivity  existed, but experts are beginning  to acknowledge that it may affect as  many as 20 million Americans, says  Fasano.

The Health Hype Thanks to the increase in diagnosed  celiac and gluten sensitivity cases,  and the corresponding uptick in foods  marketed to sufferers,  “gluten-free diets have emerged from obscurity, and now  the pendulum has  swung completely in the other direction,” says Fasano. And  with this  popularity push, people have latched on to avoiding gluten as a  cure-all  for many conditions aside from celiac, including migraines,   fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. While some have found  relief, that  doesn’t mean a gluten free diet will work in all cases.

And then there’s the idea that a gluten-free existence is the ticket to   speedy weight loss. But, says Mark DeMeo, M.D., director of  gastroenterology  and nutrition at the Adult Celiac Disease Program at  Rush University Medical  Center in Chicago, “there’s nothing magical  about a gluten-free diet that’s  going to help you lose weight.” What’s  really at work: Gluten-free dining can  seriously limit the number of  foods you can eat. With fewer choices, you’re a  lot less likely to  overeat, says Shelley Case, R.D., author of Gluten-Free  Diet: A  Comprehensive Resource Guide and a medical advisory board member  for the  Celiac Disease Foundation.

But it can backfire too, because gluten-free doesn’t mean fat-free or  calorie-free.

“Without gluten to bind food together, food manufacturers often use more  fat  and sugar to make the product more palatable,” says Case. Consider  pretzels: A  serving of regular pretzels has about 110 calories and just  one gram of fat.  Swap them for gluten-free pretzels and you could get  140 caloriesand six grams  of fat.

Should You Go Gluten-Free? If you have celiac disease or  gluten sensitivity, the answer is easy:  Yes, you have to. But  if you just want  to give the diet a spin, know this: It’s a giant pain  in the butt. Giving up  gluten may sound as basic as cutting out bread or  eating less pasta, but this  isn’t just another version of the low-carb  craze. Because gluten makes foods  thick and tasty, it is added to  everything from salad dressing to soy sauce to  seasonings.

Besides the hassle, you can end up with serious nutritional  deficiencies.  “Gluten-free doesn’t necessarily equal healthy, especially  when people yank  vitamin-enriched and wholegrain foods from their diets  and replace them with  gluten free brownies,” says Case. In fact,  research suggests that those who  forgo gluten may be more likely to miss  out on important nutrients such as  iron, B vitamins, and fiber.

This is where careful meal planning comes in, which may explain why some   people feel so good when they go G-free: They’re eating real food  instead of  ultraprocessed packaged fare. “If you skip the gluten-free  goodies and focus on  fruits, vegetables, lean protein, dairy, and gluten  free grains like amaranth  and quinoa, this can be a very healthy way of  eating,” says Marlisa Brown,  R.D., author of Gluten-Free, Hassle Free. “But you can’t just wing  it.”

Six Signs of Gluten Sensitivity More than 2.5 million  people may have celiac disease, yet only an  estimated 150,000 have been  diagnosed. That’s because people can be  asymptomatic for years, and the  symptoms of celiac disease can also  overlap with other medical problems, so it  often confuses both patients  and doctors alike. That said, if you think you  might have a problem,  don’t ax gluten from your diet before being screened by a  specialist. If  you go off gluten entirely before having a test done, your  results may  come back negative even if you have the disease.

Celiac disease has hundreds of recognized symptoms, according to the  Celiac  Sprue Association, a nonprofit for those with the disease. Here  are some common  problems:

• Chronic diarrhea or constipation
• Abdominal pain and bloating
• Unexplained weight loss
• Anemia
• Fatigue
• Infertility