11 Eco-Friendly Pet Care Tips

With all of the issues of late with pets dying from the food they eat, a lot of people have begun looking at alternative ways to care for their pets. This even extends to the kind of flea collars that are used and toys that are bought for them. We want to keep our beloved furry friends healthy and around for a long time, but you can help the environment, too, while keeping your pets healthier. Here are some tips for going green with your pets.

(Photo credit: vijairaj)

1. Use biodegradable doggy bags for the poop. As a responsible dog owner, you know that when you take your dog for a walk you have to clean up the poop. But if you use biodegradable bags, then you'll be helping out the planet as well as the neighborhood.

2. When it comes to bath time, use an earth-friendly soap on your pet. It's better for your pet because it doesn't have all of the chemicals and toxins that most pet washes do, and that also makes it better for the environment. Often they are gentler on your pet's skin as well, and may help with itching or allergies. These soaps break down in the drain easier and are better for septic systems. An added bonus is they usually smell nice, too.

3. Clean up with vinegar. Not only does it clean, but it also deodorizes. Use it to get up the hairballs in the carpet, drool on the couch, poo accidents or throw up... (Because let's face it, even the best trained pet has an accident once in a while.) It's better than bleach and still removes the mold and bacteria all the same. So instead of reaching for the bleach, try using vinegar to clean up pet messes.

4. Towel dry your pet after baths instead of using the blow dryer. While the blow dryer is fast and convenient, it's not good for the environment and it can dry out your animal's skin anyways, or frighten him. So dry him off well with a towel and then let him air dry the rest of the way.

Just make sure to keep him inside until he's really dry, especially if it's cold out. Not only do you not want your just bathed wet dog rolling around in the dirt, you also don't want him to get sick.

5. Use rags instead of paper towels for clean ups. You'll produce less waste by using rags for cleaning up any messes your pet makes. You'll also save yourself money by not having to buy paper towels all the time.

Paws and More No Kill Animal Shelter in Washington, Iowa. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

6. Recycle your old pet towels by washing and donating them to a shelter. Towels, blankets, or whatever linens you don't need anymore can be great and very much needed at your local animal shelter. They are always in need of things like that. That goes for that old rawhide chew toy your dog won't play with, too. Instead of throwing it away, pass it on to someone who can use it. The collar and leash that your dog outgrew can be passed on to the local animal shelter.

7. Make your own fertilizer for your garden with your pet's waste. This makes for a great and natural fertilizer and you will use fewer bags throwing it away. (Note: Don't use pet feces on any area of the garden used for growing vegetables to eat, as disease can be spread this way. But it's fine to compost it with other items for flower beds, shrubs, trees, etc.)

8. For your cat, stop using clay kitty litters. Trade it in for an eco-friendly kitty litter - there are many on the market today.

9. Don't give your pet bottled water. Use the faucet. If your water is not very good, add a filter to your faucet or get a separate filtration system - you'll be healthier too!

10. Instead of driving to the dog park, walk if you can. Or better yet, walk around the neighborhood with your dog. The exercise will be good for both of you! If you really want to get your dog out and socializing at the dog park and don't live in walking distance, then see if you can carpool with another one of your dog park buddies.

11. Use a natural flea repellent instead of flea collars. Things like rosemary, lavender, apple cider vinegar, or a lemon spray all naturally deter fleas. And you don't have the added waste of the collar and the toxic chemicals of the flea collar touching your pet and being emitted into the air - not to mention polluting your home.

Following these eco-friendly tips when it comes to pet care can be great for your wallet and they will make you feel good about what you're doing for the environment, too. It's also better for your pet, and it often will save you money. So try some of these tips, and go green with your pets today!

Nature-Inspired Spring Decorating Ideas for Your Home

Nature provides some amazing decorating options. And if you’re environmentally conscious or simply inspired by the out-of-doors there’s nothing better than bringing a bit of it indoors. Decorate with nature this spring, and bring a touch of spring's beauty into your home after this long, cold winter!

Flowers

Yellow and White Flowers in Glass Vase (Photo credit: Michael Kappel)

The simplest way to decorate with flowers is to cut them from your garden and bring them indoors. You can get creative with the container or vase to add flair. For example, an old bucket packed with large blooms can be quite striking.

Dried flowers can be used to create interesting elements to your home. You can laminate them and create coasters, placemats and even wall art.

A single large bloom cut from its stem can be added to a decorative bowl filled with water. Add a few floating candles and you have a serene centerpiece.

Rocks, Shells, or Pine Cones

Fill a basket with large pine cones for a smile lodge feel. Add drama by painting the pine cones with glitter, silver or gold spray paint.

River rocks can fill a tall glass vase or be used to surround a candle in glass holder. Likewise small shells can be used to fill a vase or hold a candle. Larger rocks or shells can be used independently as a focal point. Large shells or rocks can be used as bookends as well.

Plants

Plants are of course an easy way to bring nature inside your home. However, rather than simply putting a plant in a decorative pot you can get creative. For example, you might craft a basket out of chicken wire. Using a plastic liner you could fill it with dirt, place several succulents or cacti in the dirt and then place decorative river stones or sand to conceal the dirt.

Pussy willow branches (Photo credit: Chris Devers)

Sticks & Branches

Bamboo stalks leaning in a corner add a nice, simple touch. You might find a few larger branches and mount them on your wall. Or bundle sticks together to create a centerpiece or wall hanging. You might also weave small green sticks into a bowl or a basket to hold other natural items.

Of course you can also keep it simple and place a few ornate branches in a decorative vase. In the spring pussy willow branches add a nice touch. Their soft buds add an unusual texture and contrast to the rough branches.

When it comes to bringing nature indoors, you’re only limited by your imagination. Keep décor basics in mind. Scale, balance and theme all help to make sure your outdoor items look natural indoors too.

How to Achieve Spiritual Health and Balance in Your Life

Life can certainly seem off-balance and out of control at times. In fact, sometimes it seems like harmony is forever out of reach. It seems that we are always juggling too many things, and trying to keep them all in order is an impossible task. There are some things you can incorporate into your life, however, that can help you achieve spiritual health and balance. Here are some suggestions to consider to bring balance back into your life.

* Control - Identify what you can control, and what you can't. Once you recognize that you don't have to be solely in charge of keeping every ball in the air in your daily juggling act, you can let some of them go and focus on the ones that you can control. Diet, exercise, and learning new things are all activities and lifestyle choices you can influence and control.

Fresh vegetables are important components of a healthy diet. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

* Diet - Instead of obsessing over weight loss and what the latest superfood is, take an honest look at your diet and make some healthy adjustments. Start small, incorporating real, whole, fresh foods and work toward a balanced diet. It's amazing how much more balanced your life can feel when your diet is.

* Exercise - Any exercise is good as long as it is regular, but if you really want to enhance your spiritual health and achieve balance, engage in exercise that promotes that. Martial arts, Yoga, Pilates, Qigong, and other meditative, stretching exercises benefit the mind, body and spirit.

* A higher power - Engage in prayer and/or meditation on a daily basis. It helps shift your focus off of your problems and onto the spiritual world. It puts things in perspective.

* Herbal tea - Drinking herbal teas can help you toward your healthful goals. Perhaps you need a relaxing blend, or maybe a stimulating one. Tea drinking is actually part of the religious ceremonies in some countries. It connects you to nature and promotes a peaceful spirit.

* Gratitude - Try to cultivate a sense of gratitude in your life. When you are grateful for what you have, it makes what you don't have much less of a concern.

* Sleep - Getting adequate sleep is important for mental, physical, and emotional health. It is a key component of achieving balance in your life.

* Mantras - Internalize a wise saying, verse of scripture, philosophical phrase, or whatever inspires you. Write it down and put it on your bathroom mirror, coffee maker, by your computer monitor, or wherever you will see it every day.

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

* Nature - Get out into nature. Many of us suffer from an inadequate "dose" of the outdoors, making our lives an imbalanced experience of indoor-only living. Connection with nature helps the spirit, too, and enhances spiritual health. When you can, incorporate elements of nature into your indoor living space too - such as potted plants, flowers, and more. (See Thursday's post for some ideas for incorporating nature into your indoor decor.)


And for more on balanced, holistic living, visit www.newholisticliving.com. 

Nutritional Solutions for Crohn's Patients

When the small intestine is inflamed -- as it often is with Crohn's disease -- the intestine becomes less able to fully digest and absorb the nutrients from food. Such nutrients, as well as unabsorbed bile salts, can escape into the large intestine to varying degrees, depending on how extensively the small intestine has been injured by inflammation. This is one reason why people with Crohn's disease become malnourished, in addition to just not having much appetite. Furthermore, incompletely digested foods that travel through the large intestine interfere with water conservation, even if the colon itself is not damaged. Thus, when Crohn's disease affects the small intestine, it may cause diarrhea as well as malnutrition. Should the large intestine also be inflamed, the diarrhea may become even more extreme.

Crohn's disease - esophagus - intermed mag.jpg (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

People with Crohn's disease whose small intestine is affected, are prone to becoming malnourished due to loss of appetite, poor digestion and malabsorption, and the fact that a chronic disease such as Crohn’s tends to increase the caloric needs of the body due to the energy the body consumes during a flare-up.

Good nutrition is one of the ways the body restores and heals itself. Therefore, every effort must be made to avoid becoming malnourished. Protein is a key nutritional element in the recovery process. Consume healthy proteins such as lean cuts of chicken and fish. A protein deficiency can lead to fatigue, insulin resistance, and loss of muscle mass.

Iron deficiency is fairly common in people with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's colitis and less common in those with small intestine disease. It results from blood loss following inflammation and ulceration of the colon.

Try teaming iron-rich foods such as poultry, naturally fermented soy foods, and some fortified foods such as whole grain cereals with fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamin C like potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, red and green bell peppers, and cabbage. This food partnership improves the iron absorption rate, and the vitamin C gives the immune system a boost.

Restrict your consumption of certain high-fiber foods such as nuts, seeds, corn. High-fiber foods also provoke contractions once they enter the large intestine and can cause cramping as a result. They may also cause diarrhea, since they are not completely digested by the small intestine. Sometimes a low-fiber diet is necessary minimize abdominal pain and cramping symptoms.

It may also be necessary to supplement your diet with nutritional supplements to ensure your body is getting the proper amount of vitamins and minerals needed.

Nutrition is one of the best ways to combat disease of all types, and Crohn's is no exception. It can be a very trying disease, to say the least, but eating the right foods in the right combination can help make your life a bit better - and your body healthier.

The Hay Diet for Good Health

Dr. William Howard Hay introduced food combining in 1911. After 16 yrs of medical practice his own health began to deteriorate, and he developed high blood pressure, Brights disease (now more commonly known as acute or chronic nephritis, a kidney disease) and a dilated heart. There being no treatment available for dilated heart at the time, Dr. Hay was inspired to treat his own symptoms. His basic premise is that there is one underlying cause for health problems and that is the wrong chemical condition in the body (also sometimes caused by toxic load).

Chart from How to Always Be Well, Dr. William Howard Hay (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

He did this by eating 'fundamentally' as he called it; taking foods in a natural form and not mixing proteins and starches at the same meal. The wrong chemical condition is acidity which is caused by the manufacture and accumulation of acid from the products of digestion and metabolism in amounts greater than the body can eliminate. 

Along with dietary changes, Dr. Hay also advised fresh air, exercise and general lifestyle changes. The basic rules of this diet are: starches and sugar should not be eaten with proteins and acid fruits at the same meal; vegetables, salads and fruits should play a major part in the diet; proteins, starches and fats should be eaten in small quantities and only whole-grain unprocessed starches should be used; and finally at least 4 hours should elapse between meals of different food groups. It is also known as the "food combining" diet. 

Acid foods are protein rich, meat, fish, dairy, etc., and alkaline the carbohydrate-rich starch foods like rice, grains and potatoes.

Following the simple rules of the Hay Diet has shown great potential in reversing chronic and degenerative conditions such as constipation, indigestion and arthritis. It can be beneficial to asthma and allergy sufferers. It can also stimulate natural weight loss, thus reducing the health risks linked to obesity, such as diabetes, gallstones and coronary heart disease. 

 To Learn More About the Hay Diet, Consult These Resources:

   

 

How Can Foods Contribute to Cleansing & Detoxification?

Cleansing the body of toxins is a popular topic these days, and for good reason.  We do, in fact, live in an environment where our bodies are bombarded with toxic substances on a daily basis. 

Exercise, supplement programs, fasts, meditation, yoga, etc. are employed to varying degrees in order to bring cleansing to the body.  However, the important role that food plays in cleansing - simply what we eat - cannot be ignored. (For lots more articles on how important food is to your health, visit our main blog at www.newholisticliving.com/blog.html)

Americans have a tendency to want quick fixes to problems and symptoms.  We love our pills.  We can swallow a capsule or tablet and go on about our business with no lifestyle changes necessary.

Why isn't it okay to employ quick fixes?

The problem with this approach is that it completely eliminates the connection between food and health that is so vital!

Pills may mask symptoms, but the underlying problem of a poor diet will not be addressed.  In other words, toxins are still building while the symptoms are being alleviated. What does this mean? It means that your long-term health is still being compromised. You may not have immediate symptoms, but eventually this continual build-up of toxins can (and in many cases will) lead to serious diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimers, and more.

Sometimes, we look at food as our enemy - we think the less we eat, the healthier and thinner we will be.  But what you do eat is very important.   

"Let your food be your medicine and your medicine your food," said Hippocrates (from whom doctors get the "Hippocratic Oath").  (This is pretty much my favorite quote ever!!!)

Let's look briefly at some of the constituents in whole foods and their various cleansing benefits.

* Fiber

This is a big one.  Fiber is one of the primary ways to eliminate waste from the colon.  Without it, bowel movements lack bulk, and toxins can build up in the colon.  Fiber absorbs poisons and waste matter as it moves along the intestinal tract, picking it up, and moving it out.

High-fiber diets are also associated with a decreased risk of colon and rectal cancer, as well as heart disease.

* Vitamins and Minerals

Healthy, whole foods contain these vital nutrients.  These substances have more roles in the body's health than can be discussed here, but some particular vitamins, such as C and E, have specific antioxidant effects.

Iron builds the blood; other vitamins and minerals build bone and tissue; still others play an active role in cell regeneration.  Without vitamins and minerals, the body cannot repair and rebuild itself from a cleanse.

Healthy Berries are Good Food for Health (Photo credit: epSos.de)

* Antioxidants

Many foods contain these bodily scavengers that fight free radical damage in the body.

Green tea, berries, tomatoes, and many other foods have antioxidant properties.

Cranberries, for example, promote bladder and kidney health, which are important organs involved in bodily cleansing.

* Essential Fatty Acids (Omega 3's)

More and more, we are hearing about the importance of good fats in the diet.  It turns out that they are crucial, and, among other things, help support liver health.  The liver is a major cleansing organ. They also compose much of the matter that brain tissue is made of, so be sure to eat your healthy fats!

* Phytonutrients

These are simply the nutrients found in plant foods, and they tend to have anti-cancer and antioxidant benefits.

All in all, what you do choose to eat has a significant role in the cleansing of your body (as does what you avoid eating).  Refined sugar, white flour, and processed foods full of artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors will have the effect of building toxic waste in your tissues, so be sure to choose foods wisely.


For a good, natural food-based cleansing & detoxification program, check out The Total Wellness Cleanse.

7 Nutrition Tips To Reduce Your Toxic Load

You may have heard a lot about cleansing diets or fasts, but if you want to keep your system clean, it really very simply comes down to what you eat every day.  If you want to keep your body at its best, here are some tips toward maintaining optimal nutrition.

1. Eat Organic, Whole Foods

This is rather basic, but very important.  Whole foods are those that have undergone the least processing, but they do not have to be eaten exclusively raw. 

Examples include whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables, grass-fed and free-range meats that are not processed into preserved meat products, and natural sweeteners. 

Your system will not be clean if you continually pump it full of unhealthy foods.  This does not mean you can never indulge, but it does mean that your diet should consist of at least 80 percent whole, organic foods.  That way, when you do choose to indulge, your body can handle it and eliminate the toxins on its own.

Sucanat (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2. Replace White with Brown

This is a basic nutritional rule of thumb for optimal nutrition.  Replace all refined or "white" foods with whole or "brown" foods.  It's not the color of the food (white popcorn, for example, can be very nutritious); it's the level of refinement.

For example:

* White flour/Whole wheat flour
* White sugar/Raw, unfiltered honey, blackstrap molasses, or Sucanat (natural sugarcane)
* White rice/Brown rice
* Pasta made from refined flour/Whole grain pasta

3. Add Probiotics

These friendly bacteria are important for helping the body keep itself cleansed, and keep intestinal flora in balance.  Sources include yogurt, miso (a fermented soybean paste), kefir, acidophilous milk, tempeh, kimchi (or naturally fermented sauerkraut), lactic-acid fermented pickles and other naturally fermented foods, and probiotic supplements. Many of these (like yogurt) are very easy to make at home - and contain more good bacteria than purchased sources.

4. Choose Nutrient-Dense Foods

These are foods that provide the most nutrient value for their caloric value.  In other words, they are the opposite of "empty calorie" foods like candy, pop, or fried potato chips that are full of calories but lacking nutrients.

Nutrient-dense foods are not necessarily low-calorie (although they can be) - avocados and nuts are examples - but for their calories they deliver large amounts of nutrients.

5. Get Enough Fiber

High-fiber diets are essential to keeping the intestinal system clean.  Fiber bulks up bowel movements, taking toxins along with it as it moves along the intestinal tract.

Healthy choices for high fiber are whole grains, including air-popped or stove-top popcorn (not microwave popcorn, as it may contain some dubious chemicals), fruits, fresh vegetables, beans, and legumes.


6. Don't Be Afraid to Supplement

The supplement debate is likely never to be resolved, but supplements are worth looking into in today's often nutrient-deficient culture.

If you are not getting enough vitamins, minerals, fiber, or probiotics from your diet - and such dietary goals can be difficult to reach - consider supplementing with a natural multivitamin, minerals, probiotics, or fiber sources (such as psyllium husks). Choose a good quality manufacturer such as Garden Of Life, or Standard Process, which are made here in the US and include organic and whole-food ingredients.

7. You Are What You Drink

Do not forget to drink plenty of water!  No other beverage is a good substitute for water. Regardless of what else you drink, you still need to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Add a few generous squeezes of lemon juice to your first glass of water in the morning for a liver-cleansing tonic.


Good Supplements Are Easy to Find Online: