Monday, November 29, 2010

An Energy Alternative: Free Energy

Okay, we're going to get a little bit "nerdy" on you today, and talk about science, but hang in there - I'll try to make it understandable! It's an interesting topic, and one which has plenty of debate on both sides. Feel free to comment if you feel inspired!

There has been much debate about what is often called “free” energy—energy that can supposedly, with the right technology, be drawn straight out of the atmosphere, and in very abundant supply. The debates are about whether the stuff actually exists or not, what it would actually cost were it to be harnessed, and if it does exist is it truly as abundant and efficient as it's being made out to be by proponents of research and development into this potential alternative energy source.

Wilbur makes a turn using wing-warping and the...Image via WikipediaWhen one hears the phrase “free energy device”, one might be hearing about one of several different concepts. This might mean a device for collecting and transmitting energy from some source that orthodox science does not recognize; a device which collects energy at absolutely no cost; or an example of the legendary perpetual motion machine. Needless to say, a perpetual motion machine—a machine which drives itself, forever, once turned on, therefore needing no energy input ever again and never running out of energy—is impossible. However, it is not so simple to say that a new technology for harnessing the energy “floating” in the atmosphere is impossible. New technologies replace old ones all the time with abilities that had just been “impossible”. Harnessing the power of the atom for providing huge amounts of energy was “impossible” until the 1940s. Flying human beings were an “impossible” thing until the turn of the 20th century and the Wright Brothers' flight. 

The biggest claim of the proponents of “free” energy is that enormous amounts of energy can be drawn from the Zero Point Field. This is a quantum mechanical state of matter for a defined system which is attained when the system is at the lowest possible energy state that it can be in. This is called the “ground state” of the system. Zero Point Energy (ZPE) is sometimes referred to as “residual” energy and it was first proposed to be usable as an alternative form of energy way back in 1913 by Otto Stern and Albert Einstein. It is also referred to as “vacuum energy” in studies of quantum mechanics, and it is supposed to represent the energy of totally empty space. This energy field within the vacuum has been likened to the froth at the base of a waterfall by one of the principal researchers into and proponents of Hal Puthof. Puthof also explains, the term 'zero-point' simply means that if the universe were cooled down to absolute zero where all thermal agitation effects would be frozen out, this energy would still remain.

What is not as well known, however, even among practicing physicists, are all the implications that derive from this known aspect of quantum physics. However, there are a group of physicists at several research labs and universities who are examining the details, asking such questions as whether it might be possible to 'mine' this reservoir of energy for use as an alternative energy source, or whether this background energy field might be responsible for inertia and gravity. These questions are of interest because it is known that this energy can be manipulated, and therefore there is the possibility that the control of this energy, and possibly inertia and gravity, might yield to engineering solutions. Some progress has been made in a subcategory of this field (cavity quantum electrodynamics) with regard to controlling the emission rates of excited atoms and molecules, of interest in laser research and elsewhere.

Don't expect to power your home with "free energy" anytime soon, but it certainly has interesting implications for future research!

Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, November 26, 2010

Book Review: The Great Physician's Rx for Health & Wellness

Today I thought I'd do a quick review of one of my favorite books about living a healthy and non-toxic life. Jordan Rubin is also the author of several other books on health & wellness, including The Maker's Diet, and Patient Heal Thyself, as well as a number of training tools and health resources. Although his books take a Christian perspective, they can be helpful to those of any faith (and he is a Messianic Jew, so those seeking a kosher lifestyle and diet will also be well served).

I have not read his other books (though I plan to), so his take was new to me, but fascinating. To think that so many health-tips are contained in one of the world's oldest books (the Bible) somehow validates what we are trying to do here (get back to the basics and live a healthier and happier life), and I found this book a treasure trove of great ideas and suggestions.

The subtitle of The Great Physician's Rx for Health and Wellness is "Seven Keys to Unlock Your Health Potential." These keys are bibically based, but applicable to our modern lives.

Briefly listed, these seven keys are:
1. Eat to live (healthy, whole, natural, and fresh/non-processed foods were what our bodies were meant to subsist on)
2. Use whole food nutrition supplements (yes, he sells supplements on his website, but don't take this as a "sales pitch" - he freely discloses the brands and sources of all his recommendations - you are free to purchase from him or elsewhere; the truth is the American diet is sadly - if not horrifyingly - devoid of nutrients needed for a healthy body; supplements are becoming a way of life for those seeking complete nutrition)
3. Practice advanced hygiene (proper cleansing of various parts of the body - particularly the face - can help prevent disease more than you might think)
4. Condition your body with exercise (daily movement is essential for maintaining bodily function, and sadly most of us don't get nearly enough)
5. Reduce toxins in your environment (if you're been reading our blog or website, you know how important this is!)
6. Avoid deadly emotions (this has mostly to do with relieving stress, but also with working on yourself and your inner being to become more balanced and better at letting go of "toxic" emotions that can cause health problems)
7. Live a life of prayer and purpose (regardless of your spiritual beliefs, more and more evidence is surfacing regarding the importance of having a connection to the world and the universal at large, so this is also an important part of living a holistically balanced life)

This book really brings together all the different aspects required to live a healthy and balanced life. (In fact, he might even have called it "The Great Physician's Rx for Holistic Living"!)

Some chapters really weren't fleshed out as much as others, so you can tell where his passion really lies. The food chapter was the longest, and was very interesting and I agreed with many of his positions. The one thing I really did not like was that he did not focus enough on locally-produced foods, which is a big issue for me.

For one thing, eating local is great for the local community as well as the environment at large. For another, he seemed to be saying how great it is to be able to get every kind of food at every time of year, at the grocery store. Not only is this expensive, but it also is not as healthy as you might think, since most grocery store produce is sadly devoid of nutrients (due to either growing methods or sitting on the shelf for so long), and it is not healthy for the planet, either, to be eating food produced and transported from half a world away.

That was probably my main beef with the book, though I also felt that the exercise chapter could have been more detailed and comprehensive.

Regardless, this is a great book on health for anyone, and if you are a Christian, it will be even more valuable to learn how to live a healthy lifestyle based on God's word. (If you would like to check Rubin's books out, you can find any of them quite cheaply on Amazon.com, or see below for his most popular ones.)




Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Where To Find the Best All-Natural Skin Care Products

We've talked a lot about natural skin care lately, but how do you find the really good stuff? Since so many products are labeled "natural" these days, and so few actually are, it can be difficult and confusing to find truly good, natural, and non-toxic skin care products that really work well, are TRULY 100% natural, and don't cost an arm and a leg.

To figure out a way through the "natural" beauty product jungle, you may want to see our earlier blog post on evaluating natural product labels.

However, when it comes to specific products, we've found two manufacturers that make consistently top-quality, 100% natural and non-toxic beauty and personal care products. (There are a lot of other good ones out there, and we aren't saying these are the ONLY good products to buy, but they are consistently good, and have become our favorites.)

These are Aubrey Organics, and Miessence. (Both, by the way, are recommended in Jordan Rubin's book, "The Great Physician's Rx for Health and Wellness," one of our favorite books on healthy and non-toxic living.)

Logo of the Natural Products Association.Image via WikipediaAubrey Organics has been in business for over 40 years, and is one of the leading natural and organic personal care manufacturers today. They make all their products in small individual batches to ensure freshness (which is especially important with natural products), and they carry a number of certifications, including Natural Products Association, Certified Natural Cosmetics, and USDA Organic, among others. They are also cruelty-free, and some of their products are vegan. Personally I LOVE their products - I find them extremely effective, gentle, kind to my skin, and also not that hard on my wallet. Plus they have one of the largest lines of natural personal care products I have found - from deodorants and hair products, to skin care, lotions, shave creams, and (really really nice) cosmetics. They also have a men's line. 

Organic certificationImage via Wikipedia
 Miessence is a newer Australian manufacturer. They have a smaller product line, and some products are a bit more pricey (though not all), but still comparable in price to high-quality commercial (aka chemical-laden) brands, and are extremely high quality, and made with mostly organic ingredients. They also have a few items that Aubrey doesn't carry, so it's nice to have another option you can trust. They also make my absolute favorite all-natural toothpaste - free of not only fluoride, but all artificial chemical foaming agents, sugars, and even glycerin (which some say coats the teeth, preventing them from remineralizing properly). It also tastes great (in my opinion; I like the Mint), and whenever I run out I feel deprived, as nothing else really compares!

You can find some other natural and non-toxic product recommendations on our website at http://www.newholisticliving.com/toxicload.html, but you really can't go wrong with either of the companies listed above. (Feel free to post your own favorites below - our other readers will certainly appreciate it!)
Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday, November 22, 2010

Natural Skin Care News and Ideas

As a follow up to last week's topic of natural skin care, here are a few resources to help you learn more abotut taking care of your skin in a natural and non-toxic way.


Learn 4 Ways to Find Natural Anti Aging Skin Care Products ...
Lately, it seems everyone is searching the market for the best anti aging natural skin care products. I know I have been, and it is because I am tired of chemically induced cures that leave my skin feeling raw, burnt, sensitive, ...
Publish Date: 11/21/2010 14:04
http://www.new-entertainment.net/beauty-tips/learn-4-ways-to-find-natural-anti-aging-skin-care-products/

She Reality » Blog Archive » Natural Skincare Products You'll Love
If you're concerned about what kinds of chemicals you put on your face, these natural skincare products are just what you've been looking for. No matter what your skin concern, there's a natural product that will work for you. ...
Publish Date: 04/20/2010 10:00
http://shereality.com/natural-skincare-products-youll-love/

5 Most Effective Natural Organic Skin Care Tips | Skin Organic
Natural organic skin care is quickly gaining in popularity because of its effectiveness. It is not only easy to follow since many natural skin care recipes can be easily prepared at home, but it is also effective in the sense that it ...
Publish Date: 11/21/2010 0:34
http://skinorganic.mildblog.co.cc/5-most-effective-natural-organic-skin-care-tips/
Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, November 19, 2010

Natural Skin Care Video

Here is an interesting video on a great way to clean your skin using oil. It may seem counter-intuitive, but certain oils can actually not only nourish your skin, but also break up oil and dirt deposits. And it's a nice non-toxic way to clean your skin with all natural (and cheap!) ingredients.

This video gives a good overview of the process, but for a demonstration, you may also want to check out the second link as well.

Natural Skin Care : Castor Oil for Skin Problems
Castor oil can help treat skin problems like oily skin, as castor oil is similar to the oil our skin produces naturally. Understand how castor oil helps to break down the natural oil in the skin to remove dirt and impurities with beauty advice from a...



For an actual demonstration of the method, go here for another video:

ALL NATURAL SKINCARE: OIL CLEANSING METHOD | Entertainment Tonight
This video is being sponsored by fashionwithfifi.com How to Clean Your Face Naturally The Oil-Cleansing Method (OCM) Alright,
Publish Date: 11/14/2010 4:10
http://www.new-entertainment.net/beauty-tips/all-natural-skincare-oil-cleansing-method/
Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

What is Natural skin care?

Put simply, ‘natural skin care’ is caring for your skin in a natural and chemical-free way. ‘Natural skin care’ advocates enabling the skin to take care of itself (without any assistance from synthetic materials/ chemicals). ‘Natural skin care’ is about inclusion of good habits in the way you lead your day to day life. A lot of natural skin care measures are actually the same as those for body care in general.

A picture to illustrate pigmentation of human ...Image via WikipediSo let’s see what these natural skin care measures are.

The first and the foremost natural skin care measure is – ‘Drink a lot of water’.  Around 8 glasses of water is a must everyday, for most people (for children or large adults, this number can vary). Water helps flush out the toxins from the body, in a natural way. It helps in the overall upkeep of the body and promotes good health for all organs (not just skin).

General cleanliness is another inexpensive type of natural skin care.  A daily shower (in clean, non-chlorinated water, since chlorine can irritate and dry the skin, and introduce toxins into your body), wearing clean clothes and sleeping on a clean mattress/pillow are all part of general cleanliness. After all, clean skin is the key to keeping the skin disorders at bay.

Regular exercise is the next thing on the cards. Exercise increases the flow of blood that helps in getting rid of body toxins and keeping you healthy, and also flushes toxins out through your skin via sweating.  Exercise also helps in beating stress which is the worst enemy of good health.

Healthy food and eating habits are also recommended for natural skin care.  Some types of food (e.g. high-fat, oily, and sugary food) is know to cause acne and should be avoided as much as possible. Your diet should be a healthy mix of various nutrient providing foods. Raw fruits and vegetables are known to provide the most nutrients to your body and help in getting rid of body toxins.

A good sleep is also instrumental in maintaining good health and in beating stress. Most adults require at least 8 hours of sleep per night to stay healthy (children may require more), and a night of restful sleep allows your body to heal skin blemishes and calm and relax your muscles, allowing your skin to stay firm and youthful.
Reducing stress is another natural skin care therapy. Stress causes overall damage to body and health.

Drinking a lot of water, getting sound sleep and regular exercise, which have already been mentioned, are great stress busters. Indulging in a warm bubble bath, listening to music and playing your favorite sport are also good ways of beating stress. Yoga is yet another way of beating stress; it can provide both exercise and relaxation at the same time.

Avoiding excessive exposure to sun (by wearing long sleeved clothes, hat and umbrella, etc), is another natural skin care strategy. Sunscreen lotions may be helpful for prolonged sun exposure, but are not typically recommended, as they may contribute to your toxic load and also may not be as effective as we have been led to believe (see this interesting article for more info: http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/). 

Photograph of Pure Steam Distilled Lavender Es...Image via WikipediaA lot of traditional and home made natural skin care products/ measures are also known to be very effective. Such measures are not only natural and easy-to-follow, but also relatively inexpensive.

Besides that, a lot of natural skin care products are available in the commercial market. We have some great recommendations for these on our website at: http://www.newholisticliving.com/toxicload.html.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday, November 15, 2010

Procedures For Natural Body Detox

Setting up a cleansing or detox program may seem to be a daunting task. You may need to undergo various procedures, which can include health history evaluation, physical examinations, biochemistry tests, mineral level tests, dietary analysis and other related specific tests to diagnose your entire health status. These are helpful in determining the appropriate natural procedure that you should take to clean up your body.

Aloe vera.Image via Wikipedia Analyzing your present health status, disease, and symptoms as a result of your lifestyle, familial or inherent patterns, and diets can help in creating a body detox plan that is best suited for you. Remember, any healing procedure needs a plan that must be followed accordingly to achieve positive results. However, if you start with just a few major areas of your life, you can make positive changes rather quickly, and by doing this one step at a time, it can be easier to implement these changes.


1.    Proper Diet. People who are lacking energy and nutrients need a diet which is high in protein and nutrients for improving their health. Mineral deficiencies, fatigue, and low functions of organs may need a much more supportive diet. However, in this particular circumstance, short cleaning of the body for three days can help in eliminating old debris. It also prepares your body for building a healthier immune system in the long term.

If you feel congested with travel, stresses, and different foods, try to drink only water and natural juices, and eat lightly for a few days. You may be surprised at the difference this can make. If you are ready to make a bigger change, you could also try eating high protein natural foods, or high fiber, raw, or vegetarian foods for a couple of years. Mild detox can consist of vegetable meals which add proteins in your body. Fresh fish with a lot of vegetables can also energize you.

2.    Using natural herbs. There are different body organs which are prone to the high development of toxins. One of them is your colon. Keep in mind that large intestines can accommodate much toxicity which can result to its sluggish functioning. Many detox programs are created to solve this problem (you can find some suggestions on our website at http://www.newholisticliving.com/toxicload.html). Fiber supplements and a cleansing diet are incorporated for cleaning and toning colons. This can include herbal laxatives like psyllium seed husk used alone or combined with agents such as betonite clay, acidophilus culture, and Aloe Vera powder. Enemas using herbs, diluted coffee, or water can be used for cleaning your liver, another important organ of your body.

3.    Regular exercise. Exercise stimulates sweating, thus eliminating toxic wastes through your skin. It also improves general metabolism and aids in your overall detoxification. Aerobic exercise done regularly can help  your body to stay non-toxic because it stimulates your immune support systems. However, exercising can also increase toxic load within your body, because it helps release toxins that have been trapped in your muscle tissue, so it should always be accompanied with antioxidants, adequate fluids, mineral and vitamins replenishment as well as other related detox principles. (For more ideas on fun easy ways to get more exercise, feel free to visit our new fun ways to exercise blog.)

4.    Regular bathing.  It is essential to clean your skin of accumulated toxins on a regular basis. Your skin is your largest bodily organ, and is responsible for expelling toxins in your body more than any other system except for the digestive system. Sweats and saunas are often used in purifying your body via more enhanced skin elimination. Dry brushing your skin using a good skin brush is often suggested before bathing.

Man giving a woman a massage, Starlight Mounta...Image via Wikipedia5.    Massage therapy. This method is very useful in supporting detox programs. It stimulates body functions and elimination, and releases toxins trapped in your muscle tissue. To rid your body of these, make sure to drink lots of water, as after exercise! Massage also creates a relaxed feeling, clearing you from worries, tensions, and mental stresses, which are a part of your toxic load.

6.    Recharging, relaxing, and resting. This is important in the rejuvenation process. It helps your body in rebalancing your attitude and mind which sometimes interferes in natural homeostasis. Practicing yoga is a powerful exercise related to breathing regulation and awareness helping you to obtain a more balanced and active aura, and also helps with the exercise aspect.

Choose and incorporate the right procedure for you to clean your body from toxins in the proper way. It can make you feel much better and healthier.

For more in on reducing your toxic load, and balancing your life in a healthy non-toxic way, feel free to visit our website at: http://www.newholisticliving.com/index.html.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, November 12, 2010

4 Reasons Why You Should Buy a Home Air Purifier

If you use the internet, read magazines, or watch television, there is a good chance that you have heard of air purifiers before. This is due in part to the fact that air purifiers have increased in popularity over the past few years. Despite the increase in popularity, you may be wondering if you really need to buy an air purifier. Even if you do not really need to have one, there are still a number of benefits to making a purchase. In fact, four reasons why you should buy an air purifier are outlined below.

A Sharp FU-888SV Plasmacluster air purifier.Image via Wikipedia1 – Air Purifiers Produce Clean Air
Air purifiers are designed to clean the air by removing harmful toxins and other pollutants. These pollutants, if left in the air, can be dangerous. For example, cigarette smoke that lingers in the air has a number of dangers, including an increased risk of lung cancer. An air purifier can help to keep a home’s air clean.

As cited as an example above, many air purifiers eliminate harmful and potentially dangerous toxins and pollutants from secondhand cigarette smoke. Did you know though that there is so much more that air purifiers can clean as well? Air purifiers also clean pollen, mold and mildew, and animal dander, helping to reduce allergy symptoms.

2 – Air Purifiers Make Your Home More Healthy
As it was previously stated, air purifiers work to capture and eliminate many harmful pollutants and toxins from the air, including pet dander, secondhand tobacco smoke, pollen, mold, and mildew. The presence of these harmful and potentially dangerous toxins and pollutants can make a home a dangerous place to be. For example, pet dander can be dangerous for those who have severe pet allergies. As for secondhand tobacco smoke, it is dangerous for everyone.

In addition to making your home much healthier, air purifiers can also make your home a happier place to be, for all residents and even guests.

3 – Air Purifiers Help Those with Allergies and Asthma
As previously stated, there are many toxins and pollutants that fill most homes. In fact, did you know that most homes contain many more pollutants than the air outdoors? Since the invention of cheap air-conditioning devices, many people now keep their windows closed year-round. This doesn’t allow much opportunity for fresh air to enter the home or for polluted air to leave. Depending on the climate where you live, you may be able to open some windows to get some air flow, at least for part of the year. But in areas where this is not possible, toxin buildup in the home can become a serious problem.

Long-term exposure to household pollutants and toxins isn’t good for anyone, but it can be harmful or even deadly for those suffering from a number of medical conditions. Two of these conditions include allergies or asthma. If you suffer from asthma or allergies or if you have a family member who does, you are encouraged to use air purifiers as a way to seek relief.

4 – Air Purifiers Are Easy to Find and Buy
As it was previously stated, air purifiers have increased in popularity. This is because many individuals are becoming more concerned with their health and many see air purifiers as a step in the right direction. This means that there are more air purifiers for sale and more retailers are starting to offer them for sale. In addition to having a number of air purifier makes and models to choose from, you also have a number of different air purifiers to choose from. Air purifiers are sold online, at local home improvement stores, as well as in many department stores.

As you can see, there are a number of benefits to buying and using an air purifier in your home.  As a reminder, you have a number of different air purifiers to choose from, so be sure to read ratings and reviews online. This can help to ensure that you choose the air purifier that is best for you and your needs.

(For some more suggestions for reducing toxins in your home, visit the Toxic Load page of our website.)
Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Recent Environmental News

Oregon Voters' Pamphlet, May 2008 Primary elec...Image via WikipediaWith mid-term elections over, we are no longer barraged by constant political ad campaigns every time we turn on the TV or radio, but some of the more important environmental issues may not have gotten much press. While many blogs have focused on the setbacks, we prefer to take a more positive view, as there were a few victories in this area this campaign season. Below are some environmental areas where recent headway has been made, and hopefully will continue as the year progresses!

Greenversations » Thank you 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, you ...
This fall marks the 20th anniversary of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments and as an avid horsewoman, the anniversary highlights why autumn is still my favorite time of year. I'm able to get out on the trails with my horse and enjoy all ...
Publish Date: 11/01/2010 10:30
http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2010/11/01/thank-you-1990-clean-air-act-amendments-you-have-enhanced-my-autumn-experiences-on-the-back-of-an-appaloosa/

Danna - Clean air wins, marijuana smoke loses in CA elections
Clean air wins, marijuana smoke loses in CA elections. Nov. 7th, 2010 at 12:07 AM. California voters have a history of setting national trends in their elections. Two ballot measures within the California elections drew nationwide ...
Publish Date: 11/07/2010 3:07
http://dannahoover.livejournal.com/198605.html

Our Mother Earth: Americans Vote "Yes" for Conservation
ARLINGTON, VA — November 3, 2010 —In an election where many Americans expressed their desire for change, they also maintained their long-standing support for conservation by voting to dedicate hundreds of millions of dollars a year for ... “People value clean water and healthy land and are willing to invest to protect them. Congress should follow the voters' lead and pass conservation legislation before the end of the year.” The Conservancy strongly supported several ...
Publish Date: 11/05/2010 2:32
http://motherearthwatch.blogspot.com/2010/11/americans-vote-yes-for-conservation.html


Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday, November 8, 2010

10 Small Ways To Go Easier on the Environment

It's true that we now see the need for being green and we support other peoples' efforts, but are we doing all we can at home to walk the walk? Here are some of the easier ways to do your part in being kind to the environment:

1. Use cloth hankies to blow your nose instead of disposable tissues. Hankies are big, so either use it more than once before washing or cut it into smaller sized hankies and send it to the wash after each single use.

Sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydrogencarbonate, ...Image via Wikipedia2. Use cleaners you can make at home with items such as vinegar, baking soda, lemons, and borax. There are numerous recipes online for all types of cleaners using simple household products. Some of these may require you use a little more elbow grease, but consider it much safer for your health and the environment - and a good little calorie-burner too!

3. Use a broom and dustpan, duster, and regular mop instead of all the throwaway products currently on the market. It may seem like such a small thing, but consider how many of these are thrown away each day. It adds up in the landfills.

Battery chargerImage via Wikipedia4. Get yourself some rechargeable batteries and a recharger instead of always using and throwing out batteries. Even better, get a solar-powered recharger! Some of these can also recharge your cell phones, iPods, and games by simply using the sun.

5. Instead of reaching for the paper napkins, try using cloth napkins. Not only will you be doing your part to save trees, but you will add a special elegance to your mealtime.

6. Change out your plastic food storage containers for glass containers. Glass is better for your health, it lasts longer than plastic, it can be cooked in, and you can see what you are storing in the container without staring into the fridge trying to figure out what you have there.

7. Buy in bulk when you can as this uses less packaging. This doesn't mean buying a case of canned soup as that's still the same amount of packaging. Buy in bulk when you can get a 20 pound bag of rice, rather than in bulk where you get 20 pounds of rice in 20 boxes.

8. Look at anything you're going to throw out and determine if it can have a second life before going to the landfill. For example, reuse a commercial cleaning bottle by cleaning it out and filling it with a homemade cleaner.

9. Compost your food scraps. When food goes to the landfills, bacteria does a number on it and heat-trapping methane gas is released. Composting is easy, plus it makes wonderful soil for your garden. (For more on composting, visit our Sustainable Gardening blog - we have a lot of info there on making your own compost.)

10. Did you know sunlight is nature's favorite stain remover? Try drying your clothes on a line outside. In the winter you can use a drying rack inside.

Even if you can't do these things 100 percent of the time, aim to do as much as you can most of the time because every little bit helps.

And remember to stop by our new holistic living website and get your free checklist for making your home cleaner and greener!
Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, November 5, 2010

Affordable Green Living Tips to Make Your Home Eco-Friendly

Here are some great and affordable tips to "green" your home and help improve both your health and the health of the world around you at the same time. While most people tend to think of "green living" as involving buying a bunch of expensive products, and therefore something that is too costly to attempt, in reality the opposite is often true.

Many or even most tips on living greener and being more eco-friendly are actually money-savers as well! This is a great article that gives some good info on various ways to make your home more environmentally friendly, while saving money at the same time.

Affordable Green Living Tips to Make Your Home Eco-Friendly
Any family can take steps toward green living with simple, affordable changes. Many eco-friendly home improvements require little if any money. ... Affordable Green Living Tips to Make Your Home Eco-Friendly ... some consumers think an environmentally friendly lifestyle is financially out of reach. Many small ways of going green make a positive impact on the environment and your health. Small, cost-effective green lifestyle changes add up to significant savings over time. ...
Publish Date: 10/24/2010 20:14
http://www.suite101.com/content/affordable-green-living-tips-to-make-your-home-eco-friendly-a300463


And remember to subscribe to our green living newsletter, and get your free checklist for ways to reduce toxins in your home!
Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Video-Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and Toxic Load

You may never have heard of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, but it can be a terrifying experience. This syndrome develops when the body becomes so sensitized to environmental toxins that the person is no longer able to stand any type of exposure -- even the most mild chemical in the air, water, or home can trigger severe allergic reactions, or even death. Often the onset is sudden, and the person (and doctors) don't even know what triggered it.  (If you haven't seen the movie "Safe", with Julianne Moore, it gives a good idea of what it is like to develop and live with this, and it will give you a lot to think about.)

The video below gives a brief overview of the syndrome, and discusses the importance of reducing our toxic load before it gets to the point that we suffer from this dreadful condition. (The video is in Spanish, but it is subtitled, and is only 5 minutes long - definitely worth a watch.)

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: The importance of reducing the toxic load
Video on the importance of reducing the toxic load in your life by Eva Caballé (Spanish with English subtitles). The video was first aired at a conference in Spain on healthy cosmetics (May 2010). Text here: www.thecanaryreport.org No Fun: nofun-eva....



For more tips and a free checklist for reducing your toxic load, be sure to visit our website at http://www.newholisticliving.com/toxicload.html.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday, November 1, 2010

Does it cost more to "go organic"?

Many people think that shopping for organic or natural products is going to cost them a bundle, so they don't even take a serious look at such products. However, eating and/or buying organic may not be as expensive as you think (or it doesn't have to be, if you go about it the right way). The article below discusses 12 tips for living cleaner and greener, while saving money at the same time.

(When it comes to food, we will also be discussing the real cost of eating organic and local food on our cooking from scratch blog later this week, so be sure to stop by and check it out! You may be surprised by the results.)

How to Be Organic on a Budget | Gaiam Life
Think you can't afford organic? Think again. Here's 12 expert tips for living the organic life for less. ... The cost of making products from them is about one-tenth that of their commercial equivalents. Add up what you spend every month on cleaning products — you might be surprised at how much money you can save here. 11. Get your lawn off drugs. ... Excerpted from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organic Living by Eliza Sarasohn with Sonia Weiss. ...
Publish Date: 04/16/2010 3:00
http://life.gaiam.com/article/12-ways-be-organic-budget


And remember to visit our holistic living website and get your copy of the free home checklist for reducing your toxic load! Many of the suggestions listed are free or low-cost, and we only recommend good quality, truly natural and/or organic products where applicable.
Enhanced by Zemanta