Get Your Green On…Clean Green This Spring!

Mar 232012
 
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It’s that season again – the sky is blue, the grass is green, the birds are singing, and you’re cleaning! After all your elbow grease and hard work, you’ll be glad your home is refreshed and rejuvenated. Yet, you may actually be doing the opposite of spring “cleaning” if you’re filling your home with toxic chemicals. Why not try green cleaning products this year?                     

Top Products Recommended To Clean Green:

-          Cleaner 1: Clean your home with Lemon Verbena or Basil scented all-purpose cleaners.

-          Cleaner 2: Need to wash the floor? Try the citrus and coconut surfactants of this brand instead.  

-          Cleaner 3: For dishes (and hands too, for that matter), Method is a top-rated brand.

-          Cleaner 4: This green laundry detergent and fabric softener is a popular choice.

More Reasons To Clean Green…

  • Did you know… there are 17,000 petrochemicals in our cleaning products, but only 30 percent have been tested for exposure to human health and the environment?
  • The average home contains 10 gallons of harmful chemicals.
  • Antimicrobials contain 275 active ingredients that are classified as pesticides.

Other Alternatives…

You can also clean green with everyday household items. Use baking powder to scrub the difficult stains out of pots and pans or countertops! A little vinegar dissolved in hot water will always do the trick too. Hose windows and mirrors down with vinegar and hot water and wipe away streaks with newspaper. For a better scent, add a spritz of lemon juice. Visit GreenLivingIdeas.com for a ton of natural cleaner recipes.

 To Your Health!

A Spring Cleaning for your Body!

Jun 212011
 
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Spring is here, and that brings the spirit of a fresh start by cleaning the clutter from your home, but also your body.  A spring detox can help you jump into healthier eating habits.  A detox can be done at any time, but with all the fresh vegetables growing, there’s no better time than Spring to take advantage of the fresh produce at your fingertips.  In the spring you have great fruits available like cherries (nature’s pain reliever) and  pineapples (an excellent source of vitamin C and rich in the enzyme Bromelain), and you also have a great variety in vegetables like asparagus, or watercress to help make your springtime cleanse look beautiful and taste great!
We all know that you’re suppose to eat a minimum of 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day, and the more colors the better.  Drinking vegetable juice is an easy and delicious way to add more fruits and vegetables into your diet.  Vegetables contain an abundance of antioxidants, minerals, and phyto-chemicals. Vegetables are the body’s builders while fruits are the body’s cleansers. They both can give you a nice zip of energy, especially when juiced!
Green foods like broccoli, asparagus, or spinach are great for your circulatory system.  They are abundant in minerals and B-complex vitamins.  B vitamins help support your metabolism and even help maintain your muscle tone! They are also rich in the anti-cancer phyto-chemical compound called Sulforphane!
Red foods like tomatoes, cherries, and watermelon help to prevent prostate problems and can even reduce the effects of sun damage.  Cherries are considered a super food because they contain a high level of beta carotene, Vitamin C, and many other health benefits (highlighted by this article). Cherries may also help reduce inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.
We all know orange foods like carrots are good for our eyes (thanks mom!), but don’t limit yourself to just one orange veggie.  Cantaloupes, squash, and apricots are rich in carotenoids too!
A juice detox can give you a jump start to weight loss, but to keep it off you have to maintain a healthy eating plan and incorporate exercise into your lifestyle.  Juicing may also help clear your skin, aid digestion, and it may help to reduce inflammatory conditions.
Follow our blog for some great recipe ideas!

 

Fresh Veggie Juice
4 Stalks Celery
1-2 Cucumber
2 Large Handfuls Spinach
½ Stalk Burdock Root
1-2 Apples
Fresh Ginger (optional)
Optional:  ½ Lemon (Peel Yellow)
Fresh Fruit Smoothie
8 oz. Unsweetened Coconut Milk
1 tbs. Fiber
Fresh Pineapple (Few Chunks)
Fresh Mango              “
Fresh Canteloupe       “
Fresh Blueberries (Handful)
Scoop or Two of Hemp Powder or Vegan  Vanilla Protein Powder
Crushed Ice
Other Option:  Add Pinch Green Matcha Tea for that added kick of energy!
** For more information about the specific health perks of a rainbow diet, check out this article which breaks it all down in more detail.

The Best of Health!