Natural and Sustainable

• THE THREE DOSHAS:
To benefit from ayurvedic practice, natural practices, it help to know the basics. Ayurveda hold the nature’s five elements-water, earth, fire, air and space. They are all present in the body as three constitutional types, or doshas, which govern the body’s functions: vata (space and air, pitta (water and fire), and kapha (earth and water). Vata regulates movement, pitta governs metabolism, and kapha is responsible for physical atructure. When the doshas are in balance you feel healthy. When they are not, there is trouble.

DOSHA TABLE:

VATA: Thin and wiry body frame; loses weight easily. Hair is usually curly and coarse; prone to drynes. Eyes are often either dark or blue; quick, darting. Skin is pale, dry, delicate, prone to fine lines.

PITTA: Medium build; sometimes athletic body frame. Hair is normally thin, straight, fine hair, can be oily. Eyes are often green or hazel; penetrating gaze. Skin is oily, irritable, sensitive to sun; prone to freckling, rashes, and rosacea.

KAPHA: Large, solid body frame; gains weight easily. Hair is normally dark, thick, lustrous. Large eyes with thick, dark lashes; calm and loving glare. Skin is thick’ cool to the touch, can be prone to congestion (cystic acne).

THE FOUR TOOLS:
The most powerful treatments, in the ayurvedic view, are dosha-specific adjustments to your diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits, accompanied by regular meditation. You can put these tools to work anytime, anywhere.

1. DIET: Fresh organic vegetarian food is the foundation of ayurvedic cooking. It brings back the life force. On the other hand, produces a buildup of toxins (know as ama). And leftovers, are considered dead food. To phase in an ayurvedic diet, build your meals around its three most important ingredients: A good grain (such as rice or flatbread), a legume-based soup (like mung dahl, lentil, or gree split pea), and freash vegeatbles cooked with olive oil or ghee, which is butter that’s been melted, boiled, and strained. Try to include all six tastes-sweet, sour, alty, bitter, pungent (ginger, basil), and astringent (tumeric, rosemary)-in every meal. And focus on foods that are particularly beneficial for your primary dosha.

If you are veta: Eat sweet fruits such as berries, cherries, and plums; sour fruits are all right too, except for raw apples and dried fruit. Vegetables should be cooked with an emphasis on carrots, cucumbers, green beans, and peas. Dairy products are fine for vata types, as a ghee and most oils (sesame and olive are ideal though). Good grain choices are cooked oats and quinoa. Avoid dry or cold foods, ice water, dried or un ripe fruits, red meats, and caffeine.

If you are pitta: Stick to sweet fruits such as melons, raisins, and dates, and nix any fruits that are sour. Focus on sweet and bitter vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, squash, and leafy greens. For dairy, choosecow’s milk, unsalted butter, and soft cheeses that aren’t aged. For grains, pick amaranth, barley and basmati rice. Sunflower, canola, and olive oils, along with ghee, are preferred to corn or sesame oils. Pass of spicy foods, even if you crave them

If you are kapha: The watchwoods are dry an light. Fruits like apples, raisin, dried figs, and pears are favored over that that are highly sweet or sour. Lean toward pungent and bitter vegetables, such as eggplant, cabbage, cauliflower, and cooked tomato. Dairy is best avoided, though a bit of skim goat’s milk or diluted yogurt is acceptable. Preferred grains are buckwheat and barley. For oils, use corn, conaols, or sunflower in minimal amounts. Warming, invigorating spices and condiments are advised for kaphas; enjoy black pepper, horseradish, mustard, or just about anything else except salt. Steer clear of nuts, tofu, hot cerals, foods that are very sweet or oily, and practically anything from the drive-through.

2. EXERCISE: Ayurveda’s favorite exercise is one that is beneficial for all. Beginners can start slowly; once or twice a day for 10 to 15 minutes a session. It’s all about developing enlightment. To get even more from your exercise, select an activity, and a form of yoga. That’s right for your dosha.

If you are vata: You’re easily scattered, so try momement that brings you more into your center. Grunding styles of yoga are a good choice. Iyengar yoga are suitable options; you will also benefit by taking classes in Pilates, tai chi, or qigong.

If you are pitta: Noncompetitive exercise to release the pressure that builds up from your need for precision and prefection. Go swimming or ride a bike instead of engaging in a squash or tennis game. Relaxing forms of yoga help high-strung pittas cool off from the heat or the day. Most yoga studios offer classes in resorative yoga, candlelight yoga or the like.

If you are kapha: You are constantly battling your tendency toward inertia. High-intensity exercise is best for this type. A brisk walk, jogging, or an upbeat aerobics class. Vigorous forms of yoga, such as Ashtanga, Bikram, or flow-style classes, are the perfect ways to get a kapha moving.

3. HABITS: How you appraoch your like and plan your daily scedule has an impact on your emotional and physical well-being. By making small changes, establishing healthy routines, and counterbalancing some of the negative tendencies of your primary dosha, you can restore inner balance.

If you are a vata: You will resist regularity. However, introducing more predictability into your life can keep your dosha from getting excessively turbulent. As a result, you will spend less time feeling anxious, unfocused and unproductive. Eating meals at a regular time, which vatas are notourious meal skippers. Taking the same path to work each day and looking for other ways to make like more deliberate.

If you are pitta: You respond with aggression when things don’t go according to plan. That’s partly because pittas tell themselves they will never get everything done. Go against your nature by leaving breathing room in your fay., Pittas have a need for precision. They will scedule things back to back. Allowing yourself some space can help you avoid blowing up when a schedule change happens or you have to wait in line longer than you expected. Use this extra time for meditation or breathing exercises.

If you are kapha: Try to fight your natural inertia. Kaphas don’t like to rock the boat and have a tendency to withdraw when the going gets tough. But they can take tolerance too far, remaining in unhappy situations too long. When the urge to fight comes into play you have to tell yourself and enforce it upon yourself to breath and step away and think logically. If that is not an option then remove yourself from the scene altogether. Doing counting meditation is a great way to remove your self mentally when you can’t remove yourself physically. (Source: Some information pulled from NH 2006)
**Over at Parenting Under The Stars, Sandra Williams talks about how to make kids that are picky eaters, eat foods they normally would put up a fuss about, by making a game out of it or making the food choice fun. Read how here.**

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Go carbon-neutral for a week, then try 2 weeks, then try a month, then go for 3 months, etc. Encourage your family, your friends, your co-workers, your mail carrier even to go carbon-neutral with you. Make a game out of it even. All in the name of Mother Earth.

The single best thing you can do to keep the flu out of your home is to get vaccinated. There should be plenty of vaccine to go around, so don’t feel like you will be taking away from someone else. Two-thirds of the population are recommended to get one. That two-thirds includes people 50 and over, children between six months and their 5th birthday, anyone in close contact with young children, anyone with chronic disease of heart, liver, lungs, or kidneys, people with diabetes, and health care workers.

If shots give you the willies, there is another option. A vaccine in the form of nasal mist has been approaved since last year and is approved for use in healthy people between the ages of 5 and 50. The nasal spray is made from live, but weakened virus (whereas the traditional shot is made from killed virus).

Whichever vaccine you choose, remember that neither is 100 precent effective because the virus that causes flu can mutate very quickly. So make sure you also practice good winter hygiene. Wash you hands whenever you come in from any contact with the outside world and carry some baby wipes or anti-bacterial wipes in your purse or handbag or car so that you can wash up even when you are away from water.

**Into cars? Movies? How about horror flicks involving cars? Over at Automotive Blogger, M. Mayder talks about all the great horror movies involving cars. And just in time for Halloween too.**

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Take your lunch to work or school in reuseable containers and have a no-garbage lunch. Which in turn creates zero waste for the landfill.

The fabrics you pick for your upholstery pieces and the lighting fixtures you place overhead and at tabletop height can make a room sparkle or fall flat. Hi-sheen fabrics like chenille or silk, jewel-like materials and lots and lots of lighting to bring a space to life. Special touches such as classic nail a space to accentuate upholstery profiles and several lighting fixtures with mother-a-pearl and glass beads for sheer iridescence. With each room makeover, ask yourself, Where is the sparkle? Here’s how to get that question answered:

FABRIC: Drawing attention to a focal piece. Determine which upholstery silhouette to accentuate. Choose a design detail on one or two pieces that you want to draw attention to, such as a dramatic rolled arm or multibutton tufts, and selecting fabrics with some sheen. You want to let the details shine in a luxuriously shiny fabric. To give the room added interest, incorporate contrasting elements throughout, like textured rather than shiny fabrics on the accompanying upholstry or a rugged coffee table or wall cabinet. Contrast brings depth and balance to the décor. You don’t want every piece in the room to have some sort of shine to it. It’s too much. So pick and choose which upholstered piece to wrap in a luminescent fabric and let the lighting do the rest.

LIGHTING: The most important element, of any renovation is lighting. Without it, décor falls short of the sparkle factor, and the project budget is wasted. To determine the layout, look at the space from a theatrical stand point-like a stage with a good lighting plan. Position recessed lighting to hit the folds of a drapery panel or the pin-cushioned seat back of a sofa. For tabeltop lamps and wall sconces that add to the room’s glistening glamour, try fixtures that incorporate materials like the mother-of-pearl and maybe some beach glass.

FIXTURES: Play up the lighting. Use traditional fixtures and incorporate reflective materials for signature sparkle. Don’t be afraid to bring fixtures into your décor of contrasting materials. Equally brillant and bright are fixtures constructed of unlikely combinations of sleek and not-so-sleek materials like mother-of-pearl, which has a iridescent color quality to it, with dark wood or leather. It’s about playing up to the surrounding décor.

BULBS: Use ones that truely flatter. Halogen bulbs are the designer’s No. 1 choice in overhead, or recessed, lighting. Place them at the perimeter of the wall to light up things. “Can” lights do the same things but those on a “track” get the job done as well. Halogen bulbs are a good choice for the remainder of the lighting. They produce true colors and tend to be more flattering, giving off a natural white light. Stay away from iridescent or incandescent light bulbs, they produce a yellow tint and often make the décor look dull. They are also worse on your electric bill. For more natural decorating tips go to Norwalk Furniture or Aflighting.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women. Read how you can help with the cause and protect yourself or your loved ones from this silence killer, here.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Cover pots on the stove to avoid losing excess heat and wasting energy.

Fruits and Passion Body Splash.

Fresh Body Market’s Skin Yogurt.

Mad Gabs Bear Foot Balm.

V’tae’s Damage Soothers, body mists and repair lotions.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Want to get in on the wind-power alternative lifestyle? Then purchase a windmachine. Here are too options that can fit any budget.

• Be sure and ask your power company for alternative energy sources.

Need A Lift?

There is a new craze sweeping across the San Fransico Bay area and many other areas, it’s called CarShare. What is it?

City CarShare is a Bay Area nonprofit on a mission to provide convenient, affordable access to cars so that we can reduce individual car ownership—and improve the environment and quality of life in our cities.

They continually strive to make their service so convenient, so reliable, and so affordable that people will prefer using their cars to owning their own. In doing so, their members are helping to reduce traffic, parking problems, and dependence on oil—while promoting cleaner air, quieter streets, and more open space.

In 2001 a group of Bay Area transportation activists launched City CarShare with the help of several local nonprofits and the cities of San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. They have enjoyed strong community support from the beginning and have partnered successfully with local transportation agencies and other community groups. In 2006, the for-profit companies Zipcar and Flexcar entered the market, validating City CarShare’s success.

They are a nonprofit because they feel that is the best way to provide great service to their members for the long-term, while staying focused on our mission. City CarShare remains dedicated to socially responsible car sharing and, true to their purpose and mission, continues to work with community, government and private companies to support the growth and expansion of car sharing.

Best of all, they also have the support of the many thousands of members—a group that is growing fast!

How it works is:

Want to be a part of the mission? Join them, support them or read their guide to starting up car sharing in your community:
• long version (PDF format)
• Short version (PDF format)

(Source: City CarShare.org)

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Tupperware® has been in people’s kitchens since the beginning of time. Okay, well maybe not that long, but Tupperware® and other plastics have been around for over 70 years and it’s time to say BYE BYE. Plastic storage containers are one way to store leftovers that is a no-brainer, but is it the smartest move? In a recent study there were foods left in plastics, one being a Tupperware bowl and contaiminates from the plastic leached into the food itself. PVC (look for #3 inside the recycle symbol on the container) and polystyrene (#6), contain hormone disruptors and other nasty chemicals. This is true for many plastics we use for food and beverage storage on an everyday basis, such as baby bottles. The more you know about plastics the more you can learn about how harmful they are for food storage. The better option is glassware or ceramic because ceramic and glass go from fridge to microwave and back again without leaching toxins. And you should never microwave plastics.

Getting Ready For The Frozen Ground

It’s almost time for the ground to start getting colder and before you know it it will begin to freeze. Don’t worry though, I found these awesome plantings that will last all year, well, until spring when you face-plant them in the ground.

They are called Plant-Me Pets and they were designed by a Spanish designer named Marti Guixé. They are made from compostable natural latex rubber, and they are the cutest little things. They come in tomato, melon, or pumpkin seed.

They can serve as a squeeky toy till planting season rolls around and pop them right into the ground (face-down). And all in good “mother-nature” time they will begin to disappear.

Purchase one here for about $20.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Always turn your computer to “sleep-mode” during the day when you aren’t using it and turn it completely off at night. This practice will save energy, as well as CO2.

Cooking With Flax:

Flax Fried Rice:

Serves 4 to 5

2 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves galic, sliced thinly
6 slices fresh garlic, cut thinly into matchsticks
1 red onion, cut thinly into half moons
Soy sauce to taste
Generous pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1 carrot, cut thinly into matchsticks
5-6 fresh scallions, sliced thinly on the diagonal
8 ounces extra-firm tofu, cut into small cubes
2 cups cooked brown basamti rice
2 heads baby bok choy, sliced thinly lengthwise
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/3 cup flaxseeds

1. Place oil in skillet over medium heat and add garlic, ginger and onion. When the onion begins to sizzle, add a splash of soy suace, then red pepper flakes, and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in scallions; sauté for another minute.

2. Arrange the tofu cubes on top of the veggies, then top with cooked rice and finally with bok choy. Season with soy sauce. Add about 1/2 cup water, cover, reduce heat to low, and steam for 5 to 7 minutes, until bok choy is cooked and liquid has absorved into the rice. Remove from heat and sprinkle with lemon juice and flaxseeds. Transfer to a serving platter and serve hot.

(per serving: 294 cal. , 37% fat (13g; 1.4 g sat. fat), 49% carbs (38g), 14% protein (11g), 8g fiber, 311 mg calsium, 249 mg iron, 155 mg sodium.)

Lentil & Flax Soup:

Serves 6

2 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves fresh garlic, finely minced
1 small red onion, diced
Sea salt to taste
Pinch of crushed red peper flakes
2 stalks celery, diced
1 carrot, diced
16 ounces canned diced tomatoes
1 cup spring or filtered water
1 bay leaf
1/3 cup orzo (or other small pasta)
1/3 cup ground flaxseeds
Flaxseed oil
5-6 leaves fresh bazil, shredded

1. Place olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat; add garlic and onion. When the onion begins to sizzle, add a pinch of salt, then red pepper flakes; sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the celery and carrot; sauté for 1 to 2 minutes. Add tomaotes and sauté for 1 minutes.

2. Add lentils, water, and bay leaf; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook until lentils are soft. 45 minutes to 1 hour should do it.

3. Stir in orzo, add salt, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Serve garnished with a sprinkle of flaxseed, a drizzle of flax oil, and fresh basil.

(per serving: 268 calories, 33% fat (10g; 1g sat. fat.), 49% carbs (34g), 18% protein (13g), 9g fiber, 58mg calcium, 4mg iron, 127mg sodium.)

Orange Flax Seed Muffins:

Makes 12 standard muffins

1 cup oat bran
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup semolina flour
Generous pinch of sea salt
1 tbs. baking powder
1/2 cup avacodo oil
1 tsp. pur vanilla extract
1 cup honey or brown rice syrup
1 tsp. brown rice vinegar
1-2 cups vanilla soymilk
2 navel oranges, peeled, seeded, and coarsley chopped
1/3 cup walnut pieces
1 cup golden raisins

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly oil a 12-cup standard (or 24 cup mini) muffin tin.

2. Combine bran, flours, salt, flax seed, and baking powder in a mixing bowl, whisking well. Mix in oil, vanilla, honey or brown rice syrup, and brown rice vinegar; slowly add just enough soymilk to create a spoonable batter.

3. Fold in chopped oranges, walnut pieces, and raisins. Spoon the batter into muffin tins and bake until the tops of the muffins spring back to the touch, about 25 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes in the tin before transfering to a cooling rack.

(per serving: 394 calories, 36% fat (17g; 1.8g sat. fat), 57% carbs (60g), 7% protein (7g), 7g fiber, 153 mg calcium, 2.7 mg iron, 142 mg sodium.)

**To get more Flax in your diet try these tips**
1. Sprinkle ground seeds onto hot or cold cereal
2. Add a pinch of seeds to muffin, cookie, or bread recipes.
3. Pump up breakfast smoothies with 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil.
4. Dust cooked veggies with ground seeds. (Add flax after cooking to prevent its soluble fiber from thickening.)

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: The facts on Flax. For digestibility and nutritional value, flaxseeds are best eaten after they’ve been ground up. You can purchase ground flax meal, but whole flaxseeds last longer, and are easy to prepare in coffee or seed grinder. Refrigerate leftovers to preserve freshness.

Flax oil has a sweet, nutty flavor, but it’s perishable and must be kept refrigerated. Heating undermines the omega-3 content, so add flaxseed oil to foods after they’ve been cooked.
(Source: Cook Light 2004 issue)

Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise Recipes For Natural Living

•Lemony Green Beans:

1 1/2 lb. green beans, trimmed, or three 9-oz. pkg. frozen whole green beans.

3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil.

3 large shallots, cut in thin wedges.

6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced.

1 Tbsp. finely shredded lemon peel.

1/2 tsp. salt.

1/8 tsp. ground black pepper.

Lemon wedges.

1. In a 12-inch skillet cook beans in lightly salted boiling water for 2 to 5 minutes or until barely crisp-tender. Drain; rinse benas with cold water. Set aside.

2. In same skillet heat oil over medium-high heat. Add shallots and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes or until softened and beginning to brown. Add green beans. Toss for 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon peel, salt, and pepper. Serve with lemon wedges. Makes 8 servings.
(Each serving: 80 cal., 5 g fat (1g sat. fat), 152 mg sodium, 9g carbo, 3 g fiber, 2g protein. Daily values: 12% vit. A, 41% vit. C, 4% calcium, 6% iron.)

•Jeweled Spaghetti Squash:

1 3-to 3 1/2 lb. spaghetti squash.

1/2 cup water.

1/2 cup orange juice.

3/4 cup dried tart cherries.

2 Tbsp. butter.

1/4 cup chopped walnuts.

1/4 cup snipped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley.

1/2 tsp. salt.

1/8 tsp. ground black pepper.

1. Halve squash lengthwise, discard seeds. Place one squash half, cut side down, in microwave-safe baking dish with 1/4 cup water. Cover with plastic wrap, turning back a corner of wrap to allow steam to escape. Micro-cook, covered, on high (100% power) for 20 to 22 minutes or until tender, turning once. Keep warm. Replace water; repeat with remaining squash.

2. Using a fork, scrape stringy squash pulp from shells into a bowl. Discard shell.

3. In saucepan bring orange juice to boiling. Remove from heat. Add cherries; let stand 10 minutes. In skillet cook nuts in hot butter over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes or until toasted, stirring occasionally.

4. Add cherries and juice, toasted walnuts, parsley, salt and pepper to squash pulp. Toss to coat. Serve warm. Makes 8 (about 2/3 cup) servings.
(Each serving: 135 cal., 6g fat (2 g sat. fat), 8 mg chol., 190 mg sodium, 20 g carbo, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein, Daily values: 14% vit A, 21% vit. C, 4 % calcium, 5% iron.)

•Rosemary Beef Tenderloin:

1 recipe of Dijon Spread…(in a small bowl cobine 2 tbs. Dijon style mustard; 1 tbs. EVOO, 1 tbs. snipped fresh rosemary; 3 cloves of garlic, minced; 3/4 tsp. salt; and 1/4 tsp. pepper)

1 2 1/2 to 3 lb. center-cut beef tenderloin roast or boneledd pork top loin roast. (order a center-cut tenderloin from the butcher or meat counter ahead of time. The center cut holds its shape best during roasting.)

1 4 to 6 oz. log garlic and herb goast cheese (chèvre), cut crosswise in 8 slices, or half an 8-oz tub cream cheese spread with chive and onion.

Snipped fresh rosemary.

Garnishes such as figs, additional rosemary, steamed beets, or steamed baby artichokes.

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Prepare Dijon Spread. Spread over roast. Place roast on rack in shallow roasting pan.

2. Place roast in oven. For medium rare doneness, roast the beef, uncovered, for 35 to 40 minutes or until internal temperature registers 135°F on an instant-read thermometer. Cover with foil; let stand 15 minutes before slicing. Meat temperature will rise about 10°F on standing. (For medium doneness, roast, uncovered, for 45 to 50 minutes or until meat reaches 150°F. Cover and let stand as directed above.

3. Cut roast into 8 slices about 1 to 1 1/2 inch apart, cutting to, nut not through, bottom of the meat. Tuck a slice of goat cheese into each cut (or spoon 1 tablespoon cream cheese into each cut). Sprinlle with additional rosemary. To serve, slice through the meat between each cheese portion. Serve roast with figs, steamed beets, and steamed baby artichokes. Makes 8 servings.
(Each serving: 275 cal., 14 g fat, (6

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Make yourself try one new things a week, be it a new drink or a new activity. Even if it turns out to be gross or not your cup of tea, it was worth it to give it a go. Never short-change yourself the opportunity to try something you wouldn’t otherwise, who knows you might find your “new” regular drink or routine.

Caf or Decaf?

Java drinkers who guzzle three to six cups of coffee daily for three months will find that decaf, not regular, will boost nonesterified fatty acids in the blood, which can raise harmful LDL cholesterol. Because the decaffenation process can strip away flavor, companies often use stronger-tasting beans with high levels of fats. Coffee drinkers need to limit themselves to one cup of decaf or enjoy the real thing.

Also when possible, look for coffee that is triple certified as fair trade, organic, and shade grown at your local coffee shop.

Shade grown coffees are more ecologically and economically conservative, sport greater biodiversity, and are thus more “sustainable” than non-shade coffee farms. In terms of ecological conservation, shade trees serve as a sun screen for the coffee plants, provide a nitrogen-rich mulch as their leaves fall and decompose on the ground, and aid soil moisture conservation, suppression of weed growth, and prevention of soil runoff during the rainy season. The result is a lessened if not non-existent need for chemical fertilizers and herbicides.

Shaded coffee farms act as a sanctuary for resident and migratory bird and animal life. Since the mid 1970’s, rain forests and orchards have been decimated at an alarming rate in South and Central America. As the forest disappears, the shaded coffee farm becomes a sort of tropical refuge and sanctuary for the forest dwelling fauna, mainly birds. Experts from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center have documented sightings of up to 150 different bird species in a shaded coffee farm; in unshaded coffee farms, however, only five to twenty species were counted. While this is great news for members of the Audubon Society, it is actually significant for the coffee farmer because a diverse and large bird population can often be an excellent source of insect and pest control. In general, an increase in biodiversity results in a far lower risk of infestation, plague, and disease in the coffee farm. Thus, less need for insecticides - more sustainability for the farmer.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Always try to purchase cage-free eggs, there is a brand called Trader Joe’s that has the best reputation for showing compassion with their chickens that are egg-laying. The way that chickens are treated is animal abuse so the better quality life that chickens have that are layig eggs the better the egg. Most hens are subjected to battery cages, stacked wire enclosures that typically cram up to eight birds per cage, depriving them of room to spread their wings, the day they are born. Lets end this cycle and make it a better quality life for these birds. If we bought cage free Trader Joe’s brand it would keep up to 380,000 hens out of battery cages annually, reports the Humane Society of the United States.

Train Your Brain

The brain is always learning new feats and responding to the stimulation it receives. Reenforcing brain function is always a postive thing no matter what age. So here are some techniques to keep the brain in tip, top learning condition.

1. Coaching The Brain: Coaching focuses on building developmental strategies to attain goals in life. When people develope strategies that support working memory and functioning, they start to see sustainable success.

2. Tai Chi For The Brain: tai chi may reintroduce the brain and nervous system of the brain to a state of concentration. Taking at least two 30-minute classes of tai chi a week, or even practicing tai chi at home reduces feelings on anxiety, daydreaming, and hyperactivity.

3. Meurofeedback For The Brain: Neurofeedback has an effect comparable to stimulant medication in helping regulate brain activity. This unique technique uses monitoring equipment to display a visual representation of your brain state. You tend to learn and differentiate between brain wave types, and brain wave activity to increase concentration and focus.

4. Interactive Metronome Therapy For The Brain: A method used to deal with cognitive challenges of the mind. It’s a computer-based program where sensors measure accuracy as you attempt to synchronize hand and feet movements with a beat. This therapy helps develop focus, and helps filter out distractions. It also has been known to improve self monitoring, as well as mental and phsyical actions in a person.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: When buying school supplies this year for your school-age children be sure to consider the products your children are going to be using on an everyday -basis, and especially consider the products some of your school age children with be sticking in their mouths. There are products out on the market that offer natural ingredients and are not only save for the environment but also okay for preschoolers to nibble on and some older kids to bite while taking those tests. Here are some producst to consider:

•Green Line Paper

Keeping Your Mind Sharp:

There is no denying that our minds get less and less “on-top” of things as we age, but if we practice simple taechniques we can keep our brains in check to stay sharp no matter what age.

Working your brain with challenging ways stimulates the production of neurotrophins, which are nutrients that make brain cells more resistant to the effects of aging. Here are three idea to help boost mental fitness with “neurobic” exercises.

•In The Morning
Brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand, including opening the tube can dispensing the toothpaste. You can adapt this technique to any a.m. activity, such as styling your hair, applying makeup, buttoning clothes, or eating.

•In The Car
Close your eyes and use only your sense of touch and spatial memory to find your car key on your key chain, unlock the car door, slide into the seat, buckle your seatbelt, insert the key into the ignition, and locate familiar controls like the radio, heater, or windshield wipers, then open your eyes and drive.

•At Work
Rearrange the location of all your familiar objects that you temd to use and reach for without thinking. Stapler, tape, pens, paper, stamps, etc.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Instead of using water and hosing down your driveway, try sweeping it and putting trash where it belongs, since using the water hose causes water waste and run off of litter. Junk that you hose off your driveway can eventually get to waterways. Water hoses use 25 gallons every five minutes. You’ll burn about 173 cals an hour sweeping versus 86 when using a water hose.

I am going to start to bring some interesting topics into my blog for a spicy change of pace. On Fridays I am going to do a posting on something that is “off the topic” so to speak. The topics will still deal with being good to your self and the Earth, but it will be off the topic of Natural and Sustainable Living. It will be more about Whole Living and what you can do to yourself and the people, places and things around you to live a more whole life. I will start this Friday off with a great little learning curve about the bedroom. Enjoy!

Transforming Your Bedroom Into A More Peaceful Place….The Way It Should Be. Here Are 10 Ways How!

1. SOFTEN THE COLORS: Bedrooms are meant to be “yin rooms”, which facilitate passive, feminine spirit rather than generate active masculine yang energy. Yin rooms should be clam so you can walk into them and relax.

2. CLEAR THE CLUTTER: You need not sleep in a Zen den, but a clean, open space allows you to rest better at night. Throw out, or put away items you haven’t read, worn, or looked at in a few years. If you don’t love it and you haven’t used it in several years, get rid of it. Reducing clutter is modern day alchemy. Anything you don’t love only drags you down more.

3. PURIFY YOUR PILLOWS: One of the best ways to purify your sleeping space is also the cheapest. Replace your current pillow with an organic cotton or wool pillow or cushion. Your nose is right there breathing in fumes from the foam. For less than $60, you can make a significant change in your health.

4. TAME THE DECOR: Displaying photos of loved ones brings positive energy into a bedroom, as long as the wall décor is kept simple. Don’t put up too many pictures. One per wall is plenty, and avoid art with violent or chaotic imagery. In feng shui, the first thing you see when you wake up is very important. If it’s a great piece of modern art, but the imagery is jagged, that’s not great for your energy upon waking.

5. DIM THE LIGHTS: Streetlamps and other outdoor lighting can wreak havoc on your sleep cycle because melatonin, the hormone that helps govern sleep, responds to light and darkness. For the soundest snoozing, din your bedroom at night with a think, dark cotton canvas, and let in the morning sun when it’s time to wake; this will help you stay synchronized with your own body rhythms.

6. SEND IN THE SCENT: Filling the air with a luscious yet subtle fragrance makes your bedroon nearly spa-like. Add a few drops of calming essentail oil like neroli, rose, and/or jasmine to an aromatherapy diffuser. Or try a combination of chamomile, lavender, or clary sage.

7. CLEAR THE AIR: Keeping your windows open works wonders toward purifying indoor air and dust, mold, pet dander, and chemicals from household cleaners. Fresh outdoor air is essential for good health.

8. POWER DOWN: Television pictures tubes, wireless Internet connections, electrical wiring, and cell phones emit electromagnetic fields that may contribute to frequent waking, aches and pains, and muscle spasms. To reduce your EMF load, remove electric cords and devices from the bedroom or at least from within 8 to 10 feet of the bed. And disconnect Wi-Fi and multihandset cordless phones.

9. MODIFY THE MATTRESS: The bed is where your go to spend your key rejuvenating time, it’s where your wipe the slate clean. But you do know what’s underneath you. A typical foam matress is made from petrochemical derivatives with fire retardants and other chemicals added, all of which can be absorbed through the skin. A matress made of organic cotton, pure grown wool and natural rubber is prefered for a better nights sleep.

10. REMAKE YOUR BED: When shopping for new bedding, look for 100 percent natural fibers, ideally organic cotton or organic hemp. To avoid chemically treated linens, make sure your purchases aren’t labeled “permanant press”.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Grow your own herbs inside your home. The plants will add happiness and harmony to your kitchen or bedroom and will also provide you with an abundance of natural, pesticide-free addings to your cooking.