Posts Tagged ‘organic’

So, winter’s nearly here and many are fighting off that first seasonal cold and some are dreading the flu.  I have many friends that get it every year, sometimes more than once and some are constantly battling sicknesses throughout the autumn and winter seasons.   With my friends in mind and for those looking for a more natural way to boost your immune system without getting vaccines,  I’ve collected a few lists from reputable sites sharing foods that are known “Immunity Boosters”.  Remember to always eat the best foods possible, organic farmed produce, wild fishes and like, grass-fed beef, bison, free-range chickens and eggs and cook the food as little as possible.

This first list is from Mercola.com.  It contains a few items that are a bit more difficult to find in some areas but try your best for they are by far the most effective.  You can read the full article with complete explanations here: Top 12 Foods for Healthy Immune Response

1. Unpasteurized Grass-Fed Organic Milk; or Whey Protein as an Alternative

2. Fermented foods such as kefir, natto, kimchee, miso, tempeh, pickles, sauerkraut, yogurt (watch for sugar), and olives.

3. Raw Organic Eggs from Free-Range Chickens

4. Grass-Fed Beef or Organ Meats

5. Coconuts and Coconut Oil

6. Locally Grown Organic Vegetables Appropriate for Your Nutritional Type the amount and type of vegetables you should eat daily will depend on your nutritional type.

7. Blueberries and Raspberries

8. Mushrooms

9. Chlorella [Chlorella water..Yum!  Seriously, I enjoy it a lot]

10. Propolis

11. Teas [Green and Tulsi]

12. Herbs and Spices [click here for the list]

The 15 best foods for your Immune System from AlterNet.Org. This list may be a bit more practical for most.  I myself find that my daily diet incorporates items from both lists.  Again, follow the link for the full article and explanations. 

1. Oysters; Yep.  Oysters produce cytokines, a protein that’s known to ward off illnesses.

2. Yogurt

3. Green Tea

4. Oranges

5. Crab; Like oysters, crab meat is rich in selenium, a nutrient that strengthens your immune system.

6. Garlic

7. Carrots

8. Spinach

9. Sweet Potatoes

10. Mushrooms

11. Salmon

12. Kiwi

13. Bell Peppers

14. Broccoli

15. Oats & Barley

Ok, before you read this, stop.  Go and get your shampoo, conditioner, body wash, facial cleaner, shaving cream and toothpaste.  Go ahead, I’ll give you a few minutes.  Look at the ingredients.   Do you see either Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) listed? Or one of their cousins: Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Myreth Sulfate, etc.?  Did you know SLS is so strong that it’s also used to scrub garage floors?  It caught my attention too.

Nearly two years ago now, my husband and I started removing anything in our personal care items that contained SLS (or its relative SLES).  We had read numerous reports that they are cheap chemicals found in our personal care products that are exactly the same as you would find in a car wash or even a garage, where it is used to degrease car engines-just a lower percentage is found in our personal products.  Earlier this year we noticed it was even in our ‘natural’, ‘safe’ toothpaste to our surprise.

I sat down earlier this week to write this article but I wanted to research both sides of the story for I found it amazing that this toxic chemical would be found in so many everyday beauty/health products, even in “green” products.  So, I began my search and wow, what a whirl wind of confusion for a few hours.  Whom does one believe?  Some sources make outrageous claims to scare you one way or another, some try to give you just the “facts” to support their claims and others are clearly trying to sell you a product.  What I found even more frustrating was that to my surprise many of the trusted sources I usually turn to had completely different outlooks on the subject.

So, I am not going to tell you it is terrible for you NOR am I telling you to continue to use it.  I want you to do the research yourself and make up your own mind. But here is what I have decided on.  SLS and SLES will NOT be allowed into my home again.  We decided as a family earlier this year to live as toxin free as we could.  We are not willing to knowingly put anything that ‘could’ be hazardous to our health into or onto our bodies, especially when there are safe alternatives.   I have gathered the more complete sources, a few with additional links you should review, and have posted them below for you to begin your research.  Here’s an excerpt [and my main argument for not bringing these chemicals into my home] from the first source listed below:

“SLS and SLES are esters of Sulphuric acid – SLS is also known as “Sulfuric acid monododecyl ester sodium salt”, however there are over 150 different names by which it is known – see them here. In fact, SLES is commonly contaminated with dioxane, a known carcinogen.

Although SLES is somewhat less irritating than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, it cannot be metabolised by the liver and its effects are therefore much longer-lasting.

A report published in the Journal of The American College of Toxicology in 1983 showed that concentrations as low as 0.5% could cause irritation and concentrations of 10-30% caused skin corrosion and severe irritation. National Institutes of Health “Household Products Directory” of chemical ingredients lists over 80 products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate. Some soaps have concentrations of up to 30%, which the ACT report called “highly irritating and dangerous“.  Read more about the potential implications of SLS and SLES on Human Health

So please, follow the links in this article, do your research and decide for yourself what you are comfortable with.  All I wish for is that you and your family live as healthy as possible and you can only do that by making intelligent decisions, not by just doing the ‘norm’, convenient or expected behavior.

Natural Health Information Center

Hall Gold

Mercola

The Natural Skin Care Company

Ingredient Myths

Seventh Generation Q&A

American Cancer Society

Snopes

NICNAS of Australia

So, it’s that time again…spending your hard earned money ON SOMEONE ELSE! Oh, I’m just joking. It can be very rewarding to find that perfect gift for someone else and to see their faces light up. So, this season I’ve put together a collection of shopping guides, stores and holiday specials for you. A few will change after Black Friday or Black Monday so, be sure to come on back and take a look at the new items.

Read Up First

First, start with this quick article from the Environmental Stewardship Committee at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. It has tips for shoppers who want to help the environment by conserving resources. It contains gift ideas, shopping tips, and wrapping, decorating and entertainment ideas. The article is a bit old, but the information is still quite relevant.

Buying Guides

National Geographic’s official Green Buying Guide

The Holiday Green Guide
This unique and interactive online coupon resource is COMPLETELY FREE for consumers who are looking to save HUGE dollars on eco friendly products from online retailers. The publication is filled with thousands of dollars in savings to make the holidays a little greener for shoppers, retailers and the environment.

The Holiday Green Guide is live and available to consumers from November 2– December 31 2009.

Stores and Discounts

UncommonGoods.com
UncommonGoods is one of my all time places to shop, for others as well as myself!  I’m sure you’ll find something fun and unique this year here.  “We have worked hard to build an online marketplace offering creatively designed, high-quality merchandise at affordable prices. We are combining the treasures of a specialty boutique, the great finds of a craft show, discoveries from a faraway bazaar, along with some enduring classics.”

Hay House Inc.
Hay House is offering stunning new gifts items, discounts up to 70% and free gifts to celebrate the Christmas Season. With the economy the way it is, everyone could use a little inspiration and Hay House products provide just that! During these difficult times, we are excited to pass along more savings to your customers.  Click the picture for the link.

SPECIAL OFFER: Free Shipping* Site Wide!
One Day Only – Cyber Monday, Nov 30th
We will kick-off the online holiday shopping season with free shipping site wide with no minimum purchase. *Offer will be valid one day only and expires on Monday 11/30 at midnight Pacific Time. Valid for online purchases only shipped within the continental U.S.  CLICK HERE ON MONDAY, NOV. 30TH.

EcoExpress.com
I enjoy finding nice, appropriate gifts for people I either don’t know very well or that I just can’t figure out what to get for them. EcoExpress creates natural and organic gifts that are unique, memorable and high quality. You can send beautiful gifts and support the environment with their wide assortment of earth friendly gourmet, fruit, spa and rainforest green gifts and baskets.

iHerb
You’d be amazed at all of the products iHerb has to offer. Here I purchase supplements, home cleaning products [when needed], pantry items and bath and cosmetic products from time to time. If you shop with them, remember to SAVE $5 on your first purchase by using my COUPON CODE: OMA603

Lavera
Lavera is having a TON of various sales, but this one is by far the biggest saver. Keep in mind the page will not be available until BLACK FRIDAY, 12:01AM NOVEMBER 27TH.   I will have updated links to other holiday specials as soon as Sunday, November 29th.  Click the picture for the link.

Beautorium
I enjoy the variety of higher end organic/natural products available with Beautorium. I can not get these locally and shopping with Beautorium has been terrific. Check them out and find amazing lines such as Dr. Hauschka, Trilogy, Saaf, John Masters and Red Flower. Save 15% on all featured lines until January 1st, 2010.  Click the picture for the link.

Did you know that most of your common household cleaning products contain potentially toxic chemicals?  The website EnvironmentalHealthNews.org states that the typical American home contains 3-10 gallons of hazardous materials and uses and stores more than 60 hazardous household products.  Most of these toxic chemicals can be easily absorbed through your skin and you can breathe them into your lungs and these toxins build up in your system over time.  Some of the health effects of ingredients in common household products are:

     Respiratory problems
     Eye irritation
     Cancer
     Disruption of the endocrine system

With the holidays approaching most of us will be hosting guests for parties or for extended stay in our homes.  This means…it’s time to roll up the sleeves and get to scrubbing.  This year do your holiday cleaning with safer, time-tested ingredients you already have in your cupboards and closets while avoiding toxic products that cause indoor air pollution, endanger children and disrupt the environment.

EnvironmentalHealthNews.org is a fantastic site that has fact sheets, science journals and news articles on chemicals in household products including guides to safer home cleaning recipes, expert contacts and a plethora of resources for additional information.  It can be a bit overwhelming if you are unfamiliar with research online but just dig in and stay persistent.

Here’s a head start…Go to: household toxic cleaning products

Using home cleaning recipes, such as those found at EarthEasy.com, can reduce numerous environment impacts.  Your home cleaning recipes will reduce the manufacture, packaging and shipment of commercial products, since home cleaning recipes use ingredients which are safe to buy in bulk and which ounce for ounce go a lot farther than commercial products.

For example:

All-Purpose Cleaner

Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda
(or 2 teaspoons borax) into
1/2 gallon (2 liters) water.
Store and keep.
Use for removal of water deposit stains
on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome
fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.

You can find this recipe and many, many more here: http://www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

Here’s a simple starter list of what you need to make your own natural cleaning products:

Baking soda
White vinegar
Lemon Juice
Hydrogen peroxide
Liquid castile soap
Organic essential oils [optional]
Mixing bowls
Spray bottles
Micro fiber cloths

Well, perhaps you simple prefer to use a manufactured, store bought product, which is an alternative, but beware!  Not all “green” or “natural” cleaning products are as safe as they lead you to believe.

The terms “green” and “natural” are becoming more and more common but they are nothing more than a marketing trend and they do not automatically equal safety.  The market is still very much unregulated and have you ever noticed how very few manufacturers list the ingredients?  Cleaning product manufacturers are not required by law to disclose all of their ingredients on their labels.

Many responsible manufacturers [like Seventh Generation and Ecover] will put as many ingredients on their packaging as possible or provide you with contact information on where to find out more.  If you should find a label, dangerous ingredients to look out for include:

*petroleum distillates like “benzene” or 1,4 dioxane – both can cause cancer and 1,4 dioxane is a suspected kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant and respiratory toxicant.
*phospates – cause algae proliferation in bodies of water, killing marine life
*nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE’s) – cause reproductive defects, liver and kidney damage
*volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) including 1,4 dichlorobenzene – cause nose and throat irritation, dizziness and asthma
*glycol ethers
*ammonia
*chlorine
*ethanolamines

Natural chemicals that can cause allergic reaction and should be avoided include:

*limonene (a citrus based oil)
*pine oil
*coconut diethanolamide

I agree all of this can be overwhelming and I admit that it took me a while to “give in” and try the home recipes but I [and my wallet] am so thankful I have.  I think you will be to.

I wish you luck in your endeavor to remove the GALLONS of unnecessary toxins from your home by finding alternatives to standard cleaning products and for further research I have listed a few links below for you.

Sites for research:

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/

EarthEasy.com

Debra Lynn Dadd http://www.dld123.com/homesafehome.html

Quick reviews on in-store Eco-friendly/natural cleaning products:

House and Home [Local to this site]

Articles on topic:

“Natural doesn’t always mean safe” – EWG

“How Safe Are Green Cleaning Products?” – Mercola.com

“You Can Avoid Hazardous Chemicals” – Washington Post

“Some skip commercial cleaners for those made from pantry” – USA Today

“Going Green When You Clean” – CBSNews

“Can you clean and still be green?” – Santa Cruz Sentinel

My Personal Tip…Stop Focusing on Losing Weight!

So many of us are focused on losing weight and why not?  The obesity rate in America today is among the highest in the world.  According to the CDC, in 2008, only one state (Colorado) had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-two states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; six of these states (Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia) had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 30%.  Should current trends continue, 75% of adults in the US are projected to be overweight and 41% obese by 2015. [read more on that here]

No wonder so many of us have loosing weight on our mind, we need to!

But what we really need to be focusing on is becoming healthier…total health, not just seeing a number on the scale we are happier with or being able to get into that dress or suit before the big event.

So, continuing the conversation from last week’s post “The Fundamentals of Changing Your Health”, there are 4 basic fundamentals to experiencing true health and wellness.  To refresh your memory they were 1, to minimize the use of drugs, other toxins in our life and surgery-which we spoke about last week in the post “Stop Poisoning Yourself!”; 2, to eat as best we can to ensure ourselves quality nutrition; 3, to maximize oxygen and lean muscle through regular exercise; 4, to live a life of peace with positive and strong relationships; and my 5th, maximize nerve supply through chiropractic maintenance.  Remember, each of these fundamentals is important and they all work optimally together.

Now, why am I telling you to stop focusing on losing weight?  Well, again, what we need to focus on is total wellness for the mind, body and spirit and when you do and are honestly living the lifestyle, the weight will just melt off, naturally.  I’m just a normal person that much like you, has struggled to be “in shape” or to feel as if I look as good as that sickening fit person across the room…and I’m sure that many of you, like me, can feel like a failure at times when I don’t meet those lofty dreams or feel guilty at times when I eat something that isn’t in my ‘diet’.  I got tired of feeling like a failure, like I didn’t have what it takes to be “thin” and “in shape”…and instead I focused on just being healthy…and you know what?  The weight finally just melted off.

Here is a bit of history on my constant struggle with weight loss.  As a young child I was thin and tall, but once I hit puberty and my hormones kicked in, my body started absorbing everything and storing it between my hips and knees.  From then on I have always been a bit “thick”.  My grandfather used to say I was a true healthy southern girl.  When I was dancing with a local prestigious ballet academy I was constantly being weighed and scorned for getting too “big”.  In my high school years, my dad used to call me “Thunder Thighs” [Yeah I know-great for my self esteem right?].  Now, I wasn’t fat, just thick…and I struggled with this all my days.  As a young woman I started trying the fad diets.  Nothing worked.  Atkins made me gain weight, the Special K diet just starved me and caused me to binge from time to time and the Weight Watchers was too confusing back then and let’s face it, just too much work keeping track of all the various points.  The only thing that I did find to make a difference a few years ago was Zig-Zag dieting; changing your calorie intake on a daily basis.  You can read more on what a Zig-Zag is exactly, just click here, and if you do a Google search for the term “zig zag diet” you will find many calculators and menu plans.  Just be sure to check a few sites, not just the first one you go to.  For me though, the zig-zag diet was good while I was working part time because I had time to prepare the meals but once I started working full time again I no longer had the time to measure out every item I was going to put into my mouth, little by little I drifted from the plan.

So, how did I take of 15 pounds this year in less than 3 months and have kept it off easily?  By following the fundamentals mentioned earlier and most importantly…by eating pure, organic, all-natural foods.  I did exercise a few times a week when I had the time, but what really did it for me was getting rid of all, and I mean ALL, processed, man touched foods.  If you read the “How I Removed the Poisons from My Home.” post, then you know how I started this process…if not, let me quickly elaborate on this now.

My husband and I began eating all organic, local produce and grass-fed beef, bison and free-range chicken.  Our meal menu did change slightly, but the main change was simply the ingredients.  Even our condiments, if we use any, are now homemade or organic products from the store.  We even took this a bit further and tried the Healing Diet.  Absolutely no sugars in the foods and drinks we consumed, good fats, and plenty of protein and we did a detoxification system (recommended by our doctor) called NeuroCleanse to help pull out additional toxins that had built up in our systems.  We followed this plan for two month and even though we were still eating as much as before, I had lost 15 pounds and my husband even more.  [He never weighs himself but the physical change in his body is obvious.]  To be perfectly honest we did this following the 80/20 rule.  We followed the “diet” very closely 80% of the time and allowed ourselves to eat or drink something not-so-good 20% of the time.  By the end of the two months we found that it was terribly easy and we didn’t crave the old bad foods any longer.  Once the two months finished, [the length of time on the Healing Diet is different for everyone] we slowly started to return natural sugars back into our meals.

We are now entering month eight of our big change and I find myself needing less and less to fill myself at meal time.  I also have the freedom in my schedule now to exercise everyday as much as I want and although I am walking 20+ miles and practicing about 3 hours of yoga a week and I am not loosing weight any longer my body is still changing and becoming leaner and stronger.  This tells me I may be at my optimal body weight.  I’m always getting compliments and my old clothes just fall right off.  I have dropped 4 pants sizes and am almost comfortably in the next size down.  It’s a great feeling.  Although the scale may not be at my dream number just yet, I feel fantastic and can’t wait to see where I am in another two months.

Try it for yourself.  Stop worrying about the weight loss.  Accept the fact that you are what you are, love yourself and remember that what is most important is that you live a long and healthy life, free of medications, pain and complications.  The best way to do that is by following all of the fundamentals-trust me, you won’t regret it!

Suggested Reading:

Where I started:

“Maximized Living Makeover” by Dr. Ben Lerner, Dr. Greg Loman, Dr. Charles Majors

The link above will tell you where you can find the book locally.

Where I get my motivation and additional ideas to add to the Maximized Makeover:

Inside-Out Wellness The Wisdom of Mind/Body Healing by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Dr. Christiane Northrup

Recipes for Health Bliss Using NatureFoods & Lifestyle Choices to Rejuvenate Your Body & Life by Susan Smith Jones

Lighten Up! The Authentic and Fun Way to Lose Your Weight and Your Worries by Loretta LaRoche

How I removed the poisons from my home.

A quick review…removing toxins from your life as much as possible will make a huge impact on your health.  Common everyday toxins can cause such problems as:

• Neurological disorders (Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, depression, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, etc.)
• Cancer
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Hormonal imbalances
• Enzyme dysfunction
• Altered metabolism
• Reproductive disorders
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Obesity
• Muscle and vision problems
• Immune system depression
• Allergies/Asthma
• Endocrine disorders
• Chronic viral infections
• Less ability to tolerate/handle stress

We are bombarded everyday with numerous toxins that our body’s normal healing functions can’t keep up with.  When my husband and I decided to make the change and remove as many toxins from our lifestyle as possible, I admit I was overwhelmed with the information.  I didn’t know where to start first.  It was my Chiropractor and his wellness team that assisted my husband and me in getting started.

Step 1.  We started with our foods.

Although we ate pretty “healthy”; no fast foods, no sodas, no fried foods, used olive oil, tons of veggies…we weren’t eating and thinking green/organic.  We immediately changed our produce to organic.  Found it to be much cheaper to buy directly from the farmers at the farmer’s market than by shopping at the grocers or by ordering in bulk online.  Luckily Savannah has two farmer’s markets; one on Saturdays and one on Wednesdays.  It makes it very convenient to always have “farm fresh” produce.

We then started researching grass-fed beef and free range poultry.  It was very difficult to find these items locally and when we did there was very little variety and supply, and it was very expensive.  My husband followed a suggestion from our Chiropractor and looked into ordering our meats online.  There we found excellent suppliers of what we needed and then some!  We always try to find suppliers that are as close to GA as possible and we have found that by buying in bulk (thankfully we have a storage freezer) we save so much more money than if we were buying similar items from the few grocers in town.

You can research places to purchase organic foods from the “List” here.

Now this does not mean that we never eat out anymore.  Luckily we do have a handful of organic restaurants in our town and when possible we go to them, but they are pricey.  We do however like to go out with friends and we do not force our views on them-we’ll eat nearly anywhere in town, but we are very selective about what we eat.  Once you get the hang of eating organic, farm fresh foods, you learn what you can get by on in while eating out with friends.

Step 2.  We cleaned up our water.

We had been drinking bottled water in the home for ages using tap water only for cooking.  We found out about cleaning your drinking water with reverse osmosis or using carbon filters and even by distilling it (very acidic-eventually removes the minerals from your body, you need to neutralize it after distilling it or take a mineral supplement) you can have “healthy water” at home.

Once we figured out what to do with our drinking water, we turned to our bathroom shower head.  We ordered a new shower head with replaceable carbon filters for our main bathroom. Why?  Remember that our skin is our body’s largest organ.  Anything that touches the skin will be absorbed.  Think about how much time we spend in the shower or bath in our lifetime.  That is a ton of chemicals being absorbed.   I am amazed with the difference in the quality of our shower water.  I’ve always had difficulty with dry skin, my husband as well in the cooler months, and our skin has become baby soft.  No more flaking, no more super sensitivity.  The change was really made clear to us recently.  We broke the shower head in the bath we use most often.  We quickly ordered a new one but it was on back order and we went nearly three weeks on a standard shower head.  Within a few days (less than a week) we both had dry skin, constant itchiness and I had developed dandruff for the first time.  We now have a filtered system in both bathrooms.

You can research filters from the “Lists” here.

Step 3.  We removed all toxic health and beauty and cleaning products from the home.

This took a little longer than the previous steps.  Cosmetics and bath and body products are expensive in general, there was no way I could empty out the house and replace everything in one day.

To begin my research on cleaning out my cosmetics and our bath and body items I turned to the Environmental Workers Group, also known as the EWG.  They are an amazing resource and even have a cosmetic database called SkinDeep where you can get a toxin rating on most cosmetic and bath and body products.

With their help I started researching companies that I could buy from worry free and found a few I am very happy with so far.  Two in particular are:
Beautorium.comand   Lavera

You can find them and more on the “Lists” here.

There are also numerous sites that give you information on cleaning products.  You can start your search from the “Lists” here.

I stared finding products that were recommended by Debra Lynn Dadd in the book “Home Safe Home”.  You can find her website in the “Lists” or here.

I am now experimenting with natural cleaning homemade recipes from various online sources.  I haven’t posted that information yet, I’m still testing them out.  Once I have a stronger opinion on the results I’ll be happy to share the information with you.

Step 4.  Clean out the body by pulling out the toxins.

We started a detoxification system (recommended by our doctor) called NeuroCleanse .  It was simple and easy to use and we felt wonderful on it.  For approximately two months we followed the plan (not everyone needs to use it for so long) and we sincerely recommend it to anyone interested.  This was not one of those celebrity fad detox systems.  This was a true cellular detoxification product.  We ate healthy, didn’t starve ourselves, nor did we pump our bodies full of other chemicals to ‘detox’.

Step 5.  Removed our amalgams.

Actually my husband had his removed a little over a year earlier.  Neither of us are on any type of medication so luckily that was not an issue for us, but some time ago, a relative gave us research material on the dangers of mercury used in dentistry and we dove into the subject more.  I, at the time, did not have insurance that would cover such treatments as amalgam removal, so as soon as we could (by the end of month two and right in the middle of our detoxification program) I had everything worked out and I had my amalgams properly removed.  So, again…people ask why.  Metal fillings are a major source of mercury. Be sure to have the removal done by a qualified biological dentist. Although nearly any dentist is technically qualified to replace your amalgam fillings, very few have any clue on how to do it properly so your risk of mercury exposure is minimized. Do it right the first time and save yourself the expense and grief. If you don’t personally know a qualified biological dentist, many people find one by contacting several of the health food stores in their area and asking the employees who they know. This is typically an excellent resource as they are usually networked quite well in the local health community.  You can also use the Dental Wellness Institute website to try and find an appropriate dentist in your area.

So that’s how we did it in my home.  I hope this information was insightful and useful.  You can also go to Dr. Mercola’s site for more information on this topic and much more.

My husband and I have been ordering meats via the internet since February of this year and it has been such an amazing convenience. Selections for grass fed, organic meats in our location are slim to none and this option is perfect for our lifestyle. Greensbury Market has the answer if you are in a similar situation. Everyone likes to get their meats directly from farms that do things the right way, but don’t have the time to make lengthy trips out to the farm, or make weekly trips to the farmers’ market or each grocer or health food store in town. Greensbury Market makes it easy for everyone to shop for premium-quality meats that also are good for the environment. And now with the addition of their new promotional offer of 20% Off the Greensbury Variety Pack, now is the time to give them a try!

SPECIAL OFFER: 20% Off Greensbury Variety Pack

CODE: n/a

DURATION: Now – 09/30/09
Eat healthy! Greensbury Market certified organic grass-fed beef. Buy now and save 20%.

Reasons for choosing Greensbury Market:

• * Absolutely no antibiotics or synthetic hormones

• * Humanely raised and vegetarian-fed

• * Every Item individually sealed and delivered to the customer’s front door in environmentally responsible packaging

• * Our 100% grass-fed beef has less calories and saturated fat than conventional beef, plus added health benefits of omega-3s and CLAs

• * Our beef comes directly from Natural Acres, which has been featured on Oprah and Jon & Kate plus 8

• * We support sustainable agriculture, family farms and organic practices that produce healthy, environmentally friendly food

If you wish to check out additional meat providers, be sure to check out “Foods” in  “The Lists”. There you will find additional information on meat and poultry providers I have also used.

Don’t Miss It: September 26, 2009 Thrive A Carry Out Cafe  10:30am ~ 11:30am; Whitemarsh Island, Savannah GA.
Thrive A Carry Out Cafe and Debbie McIncrow are teaming up at the Cafe for an enchanting hour of woman strength, health and well-being. During our time together we will discuss eating healthy, …living lighter and finding further peace and balance in your life.

Keep up with Thrive events on Facebook.

I recently found out that Lavera is doing a special event where if you send them your old lipstick, they will color match it with a Lavera Organic Lipstick and email you a promo code for $10 (50%) off your next liptsick purchase.  I’ going to give it a try.  I’ll share with you my results.  If you’d like to try for yourself before I report back, you can follow this link:

Lavera all natural paraben-free skin care and makeup
Or click on the image below. 

If you have trouble finding the address to send it to, join the mailing list and I’ll share it with you.  We would also love to hear your results, so come back and leave us a comment.  Cheers!

Not interested in ‘just’ the lipstick?  Use this coupon code for your shopping: Save 10% and Get Free Shipping on Trend All Natural Cosmetics When You Spend $75. Use Promo Code: TRENDKIT at checkout.

I was sitting here about to write up the pros and cons of going natural and organic for your health and beauty products in order to live a more toxin-free life when I visited one of my favorite pages, Lavera, and found they had an article on a very similar subject.  I enjoyed the article and since it covered many of the topics I wished to discuss today, I want to share it with you.  Here is a bit of it.  Please follow the link at the bottom to finish the article.

Going Natural and Organic – What You Need to Know

Written by Ulrike Jacob

Wednesday, 19 August 2009 14:35

We all know the benefits of eating organic foods and using organic cleaning products in the home—fewer toxins, environmental responsibility, saving natural resources and more. The same is true for your skincare and makeup. Organic beauty products effectively work in harmony with your skin’s natural functions to make you look and feel your absolute best. And they work! Consumers in Europe have bought into organics—Lavera holds 1/5th of all natural skincare sales in Europe—and they are certainly increasing in popularity here in the U.S. as consumers are learning that what you put on your body can be just as harmful as what you put in your body.

Why is it so important to choose natural and organic products that are free of toxins? Well, for starters, your body absorbs up to 60 percent of what is applied to the skin into the bloodstream—which includes those not-so-good for you, unpronounceable ingredients that could be doing your body harm. By going organic, you avoid absorbing ingredients linked to allergies, hormonal changes, cancer and other conditions and diseases.

Since natural and organic products contain a higher concentration of natural actives, they are better able to support the skin’s natural processes of cell renewal, hydration, oxygenation and protection. All Lavera products are made from 100 percent natural ingredients and follow the strict BDIH standards in Europe. Wherever possible, these ingredients are sourced from certified organic agriculture. In circumstances where a product is not all-organic, it’s because certain organic ingredients don’t have year-round availability or the ingredient is not ever available from an organic source.

You may be wondering what qualifies a product as organic or natural and what the differences are….read more here.