I really believe that the beneficiaries of our consumption of nutritionally void produce is the supplements industry. Over the last 20 years I can only imagine the increase in sales of multivitamins. The depletion of the nutrients in our soils plus the rise of GMO crops is leading to flavorless, nutritionally robbed produce; consequently forcing us to consume synthetic vitamins to bridge the gap. My solution? Shop local. I visit the Farmer’s Market twice a week and have since developed a relationship with the local, organic farmers from whom I purchase produce. It gives more meaning to your food to see the face of the person growing it. If you have the opportunity in your area give it a try. You can’t beat the taste of a fresh carrot!

I came across this interesting article referenced by Dr. Mercola:

According to new research, produce in the U.S. not only tastes worse than it did in your grandparents’ days, but also contains fewer nutrients. In fact, the average vegetable found in today’s supermarket is anywhere from 5 percent to 40 percent lower in minerals such as magnesium, iron, calcium and zinc than those harvested just 50 years ago.

Continue reading Veggies Just Aren’t as Healthy as They Used to Be

Our home. The one place in the world where we should feel safe and secure. Only problem is there are poisons lurking in the air in our homes that often makes it more polluted than outdoor air. According to Health Canada: Canadians spend close to 90% of our time inside; at home, at work and in recreational environments. Most people, however, are unaware of the effects that poor indoor air quality can have on their health. They go on to suggest that the following can be found in the air within our homes:

• Formaldehyde
• Carbon monoxide
• Radon
• Asthma and allergies
• Other Major indoor air pollutants such as VOC’s offgasing from personal care products etc…

At another time I plan to fully explore the cause of some of these pollutants but for I now I would like to take a proactive stance and share one of the easiest ways for each of us to improve the air in our homes…with plants.

It is suggested that one plant should be allowed for approximately 10 square yards of floor space, assuming average ceiling heights of 8 to 9 feet. This means that you need two or three plants to contribute to good air quality in the average domestic living room of about 20 to 25 square yards.

Research has shown that these 10 plants are the most effective all-around in counteracting offgased chemicals and contributing to balanced internal humidity.

• Areca palm
• Reed palm
• Dwarf date palm
• Boston fern
• Janet Craig dracaena
• English ivy
• Australian sword fern
• Peace Lily
• Rubber plant
• Weeping fig

Treehugger.com suggests the peace lily, bamboo palm, English ivy, mums, and gerbera daisies, all of which are both easy to find and easy to care for, so even if you don’t have a green thumb, you can still have a green home or office.

My plan for the weekend is to buy a few plants. For whatever reason, plants don’t seem to last in my care. My plan this time is to research the heck out of each particular plant that I purchase to ensure that I provide them with enough sunlight, water and food. Wish me luck!

I think everyone can agree that soda in general is never a healthy choice on so many levels, but diet soda is even worse.

Diet soda first debuted in 1959 as an alternative for those with diabetes. The first diet sodas were sweetened with saccharin. According to Wikipedia in the United States saccharin is often found in restaurants in pink packets; the most popular brand is “Sweet’N Low“. A small number of soft drinks are sweetened with saccharin, the most popular being the Coca-Cola Company’s cola drink Tab, introduced in 1963 as a diet cola soft drink.

86% of Americans use diet products, including low-calorie, reduced-sugar, or sugar-free foods and beverages. In the U.S., consumers spend about $21 billion per year on these drinks. By comparison, these same consumers only spend $14 billion on organic food.

Precision Nutrition offers this breakdown of diet colas:

Continue reading What you NEED to know about diet soda

I just came across this article written by Dr. Mercola that I had to share. I wish I had read it before I went out and bought some Green & Black’s Organic Easter Chocolate for my children!

Burt’s Bees lip balm was originally sold at independently owned health food stores. But more recently, Burt’s Bees products have appeared everywhere — in grocery stores, drug stores, and big-box stores like Target and Wal-Mart. That’s because Burt’s Bees is now owned by Clorox, a massive corporation that has historically cared very little about the environment.

Continue reading ‘Natural’ Brands May Not Be What They Seem

With the warmer weather hopefully here to stay, I’m itching to just open up all the windows in the house and let the fresh air in. Spring around my house goes hand in hand with cleaning, almost like a purge of all traces of winter.

I used to blindly go about my cleaning using mainstream products like Lysol and Mr. Clean. I was horrified to find out that I was actually leaving chemical residue allover the surfaces I thought I was cleaning. After much research and talking with my Grandmother, I came up with a whole arsenal of homemade cleaning products. Now I save money and preserve our health and environment.

Here are my favorites:

Continue reading Spring Cleaning the Mommy Greenest Way!