Category Archives: Planet Earth

Please care.

“Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia”

The importance of Essential Fatty Acids “E.F.A.’s”should not be taken lightly.

Many of you may have heard E.F.A.’s referred to as Fish Oil or Omega-3’s.   Regardless of what you call them, the word “Essential” is no joke. E.F.A.’s support healthy function of the cardiovascular, immune, skeletal, gastrointestinal and cognitive systems to name just a few.

Essential Fatty Acids may be derived from many whole foods including cold water fish.  The “Oceans 3” line from Garden of Life is high quality and is the only brand that also contains the powerful antioxidant’s Astaxanthin and Fucoxanthin.  Regardless of the brand, look for cold pressed oil from small fish such as; Anchovies, Sardines or Krill.  Small fish have a lower Mercury content than larger species such as Salmon, Mackerel and Tuna.

With the recent oil spill tragedy in the Atlantic ocean I feel obligated to consume sustainable, vegan resources for many of the nutritional elements we rely on the ocean for.   E.F.A.’s are also found in Olive Oil, Raw Walnuts,

The Flax Plant

ground Flaxseeds and Chia Seeds.  Yes, Chia seeds, as in the 1980’s “Chia Pet”.  Both Chia and Flax seeds are Gluten free and provide about 20% of  the recommended daily amount of  dietary  fiber. Sprinkle Chia or Flax seeds on yogurt, fruit, cereal, and salads. You can also bake with them or add them to smoothies.

The chart below is comparison based off of information I took directly off of the following products:

  1. “Spectrum”, cold milled, organic ground Flaxseed (15 ounce bag approximately $8.00)
  2. “Ultimate Chia Life”, 100% premium Chia Seed (12 ounce bag between $12.00 and $15.00)
  3. “Garden of Life, Oceans 3, Beyond Omega 3” (softgels approximately $24.00)
Product Ocean’s 3 Chia Seeds Flax Seeds
Serving Size 2 soft gels 1 Tablespoon 2 Tablespoons
Omega 3 450 mg 2,375 mg 2.7 grams
Omega 6 675 mg 875 mg .8 grams
Omega 9 150 mg 290 mg 1 gram
Dietary Fiber Zero 5 grams (20 % RDA) 4 grams (16 % RDA)

The diverse power of “GSE”

Grapefruit Seed Extract (“GSE”)

In a world that is loaded with hidden (and obvious) toxins and waste, I really take care of my immune system but I also do my share to help the future of the planet. One of  the easiest ways to start making a difference is to use Grapefruit Seed Extract “GSE”.  GSE can be diluted and used for everything from detoxifying your body to cleaning cutting boards. Among it’s many benefits is the elimination of plastic bottles that household cleaners and vegetable washes are packaged in.  I suggest buying a couple of stainless steel spray bottles for your household and enjoying the benefits of toxic free GSE.  A bottle of Grapefruit Seed Extract is typically between $11.00 and $17.00 based on the size.  However, GSE is super concentrated and one bottle will last well over six months offering a substantial savings over time.

Household uses for GSE:

All Purpose cleaner

Add 20 drops of GSE and 10 drops of Tea Tree Oil to any twenty-four ounce pump sprayer.  Then fill it with purified water to naturally clean and disinfect any surface in your home.

Produce/Nut/Bulk Grain Wash

For bulk washing, use a stainless steel or glass bowl.  Cover your produce or grain etc. with cold, purified water.  Add the amount of drops of GSE equivalent to the quantity of produce your are washing or 3 drops for every one (1) cup of small items.   For example, if you are washing 2 apples and 1 lemon; add three of drops of GSE then soak your produce for 2-4 minutes.  If you are soaking two cups of raw nuts or grains; add six drops of GSE and soak for 15-20 minutes .   Be sure to thoroughly air or towel-dry everything before refrigerating or storing.  It is wise to always soak rice, raw beans, nuts (legumes) and/or raw seeds.  By soaking these foods for  a minimum of 15 minutes before consuming or cooking them it will diminish mold and traces of pesticides and feces that are commonly found on bulk foods.  Soaking also makes nuts easier to digest eliminating common gastrointestinal issues associated with nuts or legumes.

Cutting board cleaner

Apply five to ten drops to your wood or bamboo cutting boards and work in with a clean damp sponge or fresh dish cloth.  Let stand thirty minutes and rinse.

Organic Garden Pesticide

Add ten to twelve drops  of GSE to a 16-18 ounce spray bottle that also contains one large, whole clove of peeled, raw garlic and  fill the bottle with purified water. Spray the produce in your garden as needed while it is green and developing to naturally detour common garden pests.  You can also use this spray on the leaves of indoor and outdoor plants if they are attracting unwelcome guests.  Please remember to avoid spraying leaves and produce while in the direct sun light and/or at the peak heat of the day as it may cause them to burn or wilt.

Consuming

GSE has been shown to exercise significant antibiotic effects in test tube studies. Adding a few drops to 8 ounces of water or your favorite juice will help combat strep, staph, salmonella, e-coli, Candida, influenza, parasites, fungi, and more.

Click here to view an amazing website that lists 180 uses for Grapefruit Seed Extract.

What can actually go in your Recycle Bin and why does it matter?

recycle-earth1

“Can this be Recycled?”

How many times have you asked yourself that very question?

Why should you care enough to take the time to find out what can be recycled then to clean your trash and then to place it in specific bins?

Well, check out the map below of the Oceanic Garbage Patches located on innocent Mother Earth.  That’s right, massive swirling patches of  human generated trash that exist in our Ocean’s; 85% of the patches are debris from products made  out of plastic.  The patch located in the Pacific Ocean is twice as large as the state of Texas and up to 90 feet deep in some areas.  These non-decaying, swirls of trash are killing precious ocean life and destroying our environment.

The next time you ask yourself, “Can this be Recycled?”, please remember that every little bit counts.  By making a conscious effort to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle you can do your part in stunting Oceanic Garbage Patches.  Please take the time to review the list below of Recyclable and Non-Recyclable items in the City of Fort Worth, TX and help make a difference.

You can find out more about the devastating Oceanic Garbage Patches at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pacific_Garbage_Patch and at,

http://www.mauitime.com/Articles-i-2009-01-29-68584.113117_The_great_garbage_swirl.html

The Garbage Patch is located within the North Pacific Gyre, one of the five major oceanic gyres.
There are five major oceanic trash vortex’s known as Gyre’s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyre

City of Fort Worth – Garbage & Recycling
Environmental Management Department
“Put These In Your Blue Recycling Cart”

Paper (Paper clips and staples are OK.)

  • Advertising circulars
  • Carbonless paper
  • Cardboard – corrugated cardboard. Large boxes must be broken down or cut to fit inside the cart.
  • Catalogs
  • Envelopes – with or without windows
  • Junk mail
  • Magazines
  • Newspapers – all sections
  • Office paper – file folders, letterhead, sticky notes, printer paper, calendars, school papers
  • Paperback books
  • Paperboard – cereal boxes (liners removed), soda and beer carry cartons, dry goods packaging, paper towel and toilet paper cores.
  • Paper bags
  • Phone books

Metal Containers (Please rinse. Labels can be left on.)

  • Aluminum drink cans – do not flatten
  • Aluminum baking tins – durable; not disposable
  • Steel or tin food cans and lids
  • Empty aerosol cans – with spray nozzle; remove plastic lid unless part of the can
  • Empty steel paint cans – must be empty and dry; a thin skin of dry paint on bottom and sides is OK; remove lid and recycle

Glass Containers (Please rinse. Labels can be left on. All colors accepted.)

  • Bottles and jars – remove metal and plastic lids and recycle
  • Ceramics
  • China
  • Dishes
  • Mirrors – must fit inside cart with lid closed
  • Windowpanes – no auto glass

Plastic Containers (Please rinse. All colors accepted. Must be hard plastics.)

  • Bottles, cups and jars – with #1 through #7 recycling symbols on bottom of container; remove caps and lids and recycle
  • Food trays, tubs and bowls – with #1 through #7 recycling symbols on bottom of container
  • Plastic eating utensils

City of Fort Worth – Garbage & Recycling
Environmental Management Department
“DO NOT Put These In Your Blue Recycling Cart”

  • Household trash
  • Aluminum foil
  • Auto glass
  • Clothing or bedding
  • Drink boxes and straws
  • Garden hoses
  • Gift wrap and greeting cards
  • Hangers (plastic or metal)
  • Hard cover books
  • Light bulbs
  • Medical waste(including syringes, lancets, IV bags and tubing, and medications)
  • Paper milk and juice cartons
  • Paper that comes into contact with moist food, including pizza boxes, some frozen food containers, waxed drinking cups, etc.
  • Plastic containers that held hazardous materials such as gasoline, motor oil, paint, pesticide or weed killer. Throw empty containers in trash. Dispose of leftover household chemicals for free at the Environmental Collection Center, 6400 Bridge St. Call 817-871-5257 for hours of operation, directions and a complete list of materials accepted or visit www.fortworthgov.org/dem/eccpg.htm
  • Plastic bags including grocery sacks, dry cleaners bags, newspaper wrappers, etc.
  • Toys
  • Styrofoam® (foamed polystyrene) cups, food containers, formed packing, “peanuts”, etc.
  • Waxed paper and waxed food containers
  • Yard trimmings

Courtesy of  www.fortworthgov.org

Why should you care about pesticides?

Why should you care about pesticides?

Pesticides

The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit organization that advocates in Washington D.C., for policies that protect global and individual health.

Among the many valuable services they provide is a Shoppers’ Guide to Pesticides in Produce. It is based on the results of nearly 43,000 pesticide tests performed on produce and collected by federal agencies between 2000 and 2004. Nearly all of the data used took into account how people typically wash and prepare produce – for example, apples were washed and bananas peeled before testing.

Of the 43 different fruit and vegetable categories tested, the list of twelve foods listed below

Choosing Organic is the best choice for your family.

Keep your family healthy and strong, avoid pesticides

do not have to be organic.

Broccoli

Eggplant

Cabbage

Banana

Kiwi

Asparagus

Sweet peas (frozen)

Mango

Pineapple

Sweet corn (frozen)

Avocado

Onion

These had the lowest pesticide load, and consequently are the safest conventionally grown crops to consume from the standpoint of pesticide contamination.

To this list, I would add one caveat: When it comes to pesticide use, there is more to consider than just the residues that are ingested by the consumer. Although peeled foods such as bananas, mangoes, avocadoes and kiwis may spare the consumer from significant pesticide exposure, it is possible that large amounts of pesticides and herbicides are used on the farms from which these originate, contaminating groundwater, promoting erosion and otherwise damaging local ecosystems.

To help promote the health of the planet as well as your own health, it’s best to buy organic whenever possible, including when you are purchasing the foods listed above.

Of the 43 different fruit and vegetable categories tested, those listed below had the highest pesticide load, making them the most important to buy organic versions – or to grow organically yourself:

Keep him healthy and strong, avoid pesticide's

Choosing Organic is the best choice when it comes to Sweet Bell Peppers.

Peaches

Apples

Sweet bell peppers

Celery

Nectarines

Strawberries

Cherries

Lettuce

Grapes (imported)

Pears

Spinach

Potatoes

A few other notes from the EWG: Nectarines had the highest percentage of samples that tested positive for pesticides (97.3 percent) followed by peaches (96.6 percent) and apples (93.6 percent). Peaches had the highest likelihood for multiple pesticides on a single sample: 86.6 percent had two or more pesticide residues.

Why should you care about pesticides? The EWG points out that there is a growing consensus in the scientific community that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can have adverse effects on health, especially during vulnerable periods such as fetal development and childhood. Also keep in mind that maintaining your family’s health is not the only reason to choose organic food. Pesticide and herbicide use contaminates groundwater, ruins soil structures and promotes erosion, and me a contributor to “colony collapse disorder” the sudden and mysterious die-off of pollinating honeybees that threatens the American food supply.

Keep the honeybees alive, ban pesticides.

Keep the honeybees alive, ban pesticides.

Buying or growing organic food is good for the health of the planet.

“Don’t Drink The Water”

trash water 2

How safe is your tap water?

Not only is drinking ENOUGH water essential for health and well being, drinking QUALITY water is equally important for all functions of the human body.

Dr. Oz featured the Aquasana Shower and Whole House Water Filters on the “Don’t Drink The Water” show that aired on October 20, 2009, it reinforced how essential is to understand the water quality of your community (click here for the 2008 City of Fort Worth, water quality report).  If the water you and your family are consuming and bathing in is full of pesticides and other toxic residue, it begins to defeat the purpose of drinking water to eliminate waste and to restore optimal cell function.  Toxic water is often orderless, colorless and tasteless but can potentially cause major physical, mental and dental issues.  As Dr. Oz said, “Please filter your water if your City’s water quality report reveals such things as; E-Coli, Arsenic, Lead or Nitrates.

www.aquasanausa.com

"I have used the Aquasana line of products for the past eight years based on the quality, ease of use and affordability." A.Powers

If a Whole House Water Filtration System is not in your budget or you are a renter; my personal recommendation is a “point of use water filtration system”. This means the filtration mechanism is attached directly to your faucet or shower head. Point of use filters  artrash watere less costly than whole house filters, easily accessed for periodic filter changes  and avoid the hassle of keeping up with water jugs. Another advantage to a point of use filtration system is the avoidance of plastic bottles.Not only are you provided the option to drink out of glass eliminating the potential  of drinking toxins released while the water is stored in plastic; you will also help relieve our overloaded landfills.

Listed below are just a few facts on why drinking quality purified  water is essential for optimal health & well being:

  • The body will not function properly without enough water since over 70% of the human body is comprised from water.
  • Daily water intake should be a minimum of  ½ of your body weight in ounces for optimal metabolic function.
  • During weight loss, extra water is needed to flush out the excess waste discarded by the metabolized fat.
  • Retained water is often caused by dehydration and will look like excess weight causing a bloated feeling.
  • Hydration helps maintain proper muscle tone and helps keep the skin clear, healthy and resilient.

Feel free to contact Amanda Powers if you have any questions regarding the Aquasana line of Water Filtration systems