Everything Goes With Green

Yogurt from scratch: Fresh and satisfying.

Delicious Omega Supplements

Have you heard the buzz about the amazing benefits of Omega oils? It doesn’t matter where you turn, it seems as though everyone from Dr. Oz to Oprah are touting the benefits of omega oils. I don’t know about you, but I hate taking fish pills that taste nasty and are hard to swallow. Fret no more friends! Barlean’s has created an amazing product that is definitely on my top 10 favorite lists – Omega Swirl.

This delicious product tastes like a smoothy, has a great texture, provides your daily dose of omega’s and is something I look forward to taking because there is no added sugar. Omega Swirl is  is sweetened with Xylitol and not sugar to give it it’s great taste.  No xylitol is nothing like aspartame if that is what you are thinking. Xylitol is naturally occuring in fruits and vegetables and does not spike insulin levels like sugar does. For more information go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol.

So what exactly are Omega Oils? Well firstly there are three types: Omega 3, 6, and 9. Omega 3′s are the building blocks for our cells. Omega 3 and 6′s are necessary for the synthesis of prostaglandins, which help regulate blood clotting, body temperature, blood pressure, reproduction and immune function. In addition, our brain’s are composed of 60%fats, and approximately half of that fat is DHA omega 3.

According to Omega-3.us, here are seven proven benefits omega oils that you should know about.

1. Freedom from pain and inflammation. Omega 3 fish oil fatty acids, particularly EPA, have a very positive effect on your inflammatory response. Through several mechanisms, they regulate your body’s inflammation cycle, which prevents and relieves painful conditions like arthritis, prostatitis, cystitis.”

2. Better brain function and higher intelligence. Pregnant and nursing mothers can have a great impact on the intelligence and happiness of their babies by supplementing with omega 3 fish oil with DHA. For adults, fish oil improves memory, recall, reasoning and focus. You’ll swear you’re getting younger and smarter.

3. Feeling better with much less depression. Making you smarter is not all that fish oil does for your brain. Psychiatry department researchers at the University of Sheffield UK, along with many other research studies, found that fish oil supplements “alleviated” the symptoms of depression, bipolar and psychosis. [Journal of Affective Disorder Vol. 48(2-3);149-55]

4. Lower incidence of childhood disorders. Just to show how fish oil fatty acids leave nobody out, studies show that children (and adults) with ADD and ADHD experience a greatly improved quality of life. And those with dyslexia, dyspraxia and compulsive disorders have gotten a new lease on life thanks to fish oil supplements.

5. Superior cardiovascular health. Fish oil’s DHA, EPA and DPA have also been proven to work wonders for your heart and the miles and miles of arteries and veins that make up your cardiovascular system. They help lower cholesterol, tryglicerides, LDLs and blood pressure, while at the same time increasing good HDL cholesterol. This adds years to your life expectancy.

6. Protection from heart attack and stroke. When plaque builds up on arterial walls and then breaks loose, it causes what’s known as a thrombosis, which is a fancy way of saying clot. If a clot gets stuck in the brain, it causes a stroke and when it plugs an artery, it causes a heart attack. Research shows fish oil fatty acids break up clots before they can cause any damage.

7. Reduction of breast, colon and prostate cancer. And finally, fish oil has been shown to help prevent three of the most common forms of cancer – breast, colon and prostate. Science tells us that it accomplishes this in three ways – by stopping the alteration from a normal healthy cell to a cancerous mass, by inhibiting unwanted cellular growth and by killing off cancer cells.

Barlean’s can be found in any health food store in the refrigerated section. I promise you, you won’t be disappointed!

We all know that a good night sleep is the key to good health, right? Well this depends on what kind of pillow you are sleeping on. Synthetic pillows, commonly found in many big box stores, can contain high amounts of polyuerethane foam which is added to make a pillow fluffy and comfortable. The concern comes from the fact that to create this foam, large amounts of harsh chemicals are used and released while you sleep on your pillow. These noxious VOC chemicals are concerning for healthy adults as they can lead to respiratory problems, but if you have children or anyone who suffers from respiratory concerns, you need to be aware because in studies with rats, the chemicals caused irratation and decreased air flow.

So if you are thinking about buying a new pillow, where do you start. The easiest way is to look for pillows with the following label:

Confidence in Textiles is a global testing and accreditation scheme for the screening of harmful substances within consumer textiles. It is the leading label for textiles that have been screened for harmful substances.

It verifies that the articles listed have been successfully tested according to Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and satisfy the requirements of a common product class.

Harmful substances banned under the Oeko-tex Standard 100 include:

• Specifically banned AZO dyes
• Carcinogenic and allergy inducing dyes
• Formaldehyde
• Pesticides
• Chlorinated Phenols
• Chloro-orgainc benzenes and toluenes
• Extractable heavy metals
• pH value
• Phthalates in baby articles
• Emission of Volatile components
• Odour
• Organotin compounds (TBT) and (DBT)

For further information visit www.oeko-tex.com.

Or if you don’t want to search pillow labels at the store, check out http://www.thecleanbedroom.com/A_healthy_pillow.htm where they have every type of pillow or mattress that you could want.

The weather is finally warming up and shorts and flip flops are just around the corner. Its time for pedicures and pretty toes which will help put us in the spring mood but the regular nail polish we find at the salon or buy at drugstores have a handful of harmful chemicals including toleune, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and formeldahyde. Toleune  has been linked to a wide range of health issues from headaches and eye, ear, nose and throat irritation to nervous system disorders and damage to the liver and kidneys

The concern with DBP is studies have linked the chemical in the body problems with reproductive systems in newborn boys and underdeveloped genitals according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).  An article found on buzzle.com states that  DBP is banned from cosmetics in the European Union but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States has taken no such action, even though a recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found DBP and other toxic phthalates in the bloodstreams of every person they tested. Further, five percent of women tested who were of childbearing age (ages 20-40) had up to 45 times more of the chemicals in their bodies than researchers had expected to find.

EWG attributes the prevalence of DBP in young women to widespread use of nail polish. “Women of childbearing age should avoid all exposure to DBP when they’re considering becoming pregnant, when they’re pregnant, or when they’re nursing,” says Jane Houlihan, EWG’s Vice President for Research.

The good news is there are safe alternatives which work amazingly and look great. My favorites include:

Lili Nails: www.lilibeauty.com

In addition to nail polish, Lili has a wide range of products including base coat, top coat, cuticle oil, and strengthener just to name a few. All of your nail needs can be met here.

Priti www.prttinyc.com

As found in People, Elle, Allure and Lucky Magazines, Priti has a wide array of colors and even recycles your old polish for you.

Sparitual www.sparitual.com

Products can be found in a wide range of spas and span nail care, body care and candles and have had great reviews.

Feeling a little tired this Monday morning? Need a boost? Well go ahead and grab that triple latte, but next time consider going to a coffee shop that uses organic beans. Why? What is the difference between chemical grown versus organic beans, well it all comes down to the growing and processing of the beans. Organic coffee is full of antioxidant, nutrients and heart healthy vitamins.. In addition, because pesticides aren’t used, the soil in the rainforest remains nutrient rich because chemicals deplete the soil nutrients. The milk is a whole other topic to be covered, but if you KKhaven’t tried almond milk yet, give it a shot, it’s delicious, calcium rich and easily digestible. So go ahead, grab your latte made with organic espresso and enjoy!

Looking to buy organic coffee online? Go to http://www.gocoffeego.com/search/coffee-by-type/organic and try out the member’s pick.

Women’s Journal honored Klatch House Espresso for it’s  great taste and a clean finish. Super sweet, hints of cocoa, nut, caramel and citrus.

Hand sanitizers are the greatest invention right? Well when you can’t wash your hands they come in very handy but like a lot of products out there, toxins are prevalent in hand sanitizers and of course they seep into our skin. If you are like me and meeting with people all day and need to use hand sanitizers, then it’s important to use ones that aren’t going to increase toxity levels from unnecessary chemicals.

According to The Daily Green “ditch the chemical hand sanitizers that contain synthetic ingredients such as Triclosan and chemical skin conditioners. Triclosan reacts with free chlorine to produce chloroform, a toxic chemical and probable carcinogen. It is also linked to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. And, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers 12,000 cases of poisoning from hand sanitizer were reported in 2006 and more than 6,000 cases have been reported of children ingesting the hand sanitizer in 2007.

Healthy alternatives include essential oil-based products (essential oils are naturally antimicrobial and antibacterial).

Recommendations for healthy hand sanitizers include

Herban Essentials

Price:	$15.00
Available:	2074
DescriOption:	Herban Essentials essential oil towelettes are made with the highest quality pure essential oil, which not only makes them smell amazing, but makes them naturally antibacterial and antiseptic as well. The most common use for the towelettes is to cleanse the hands and kill germs, but there are millions of ways to use these wonderful wipes!Toss them in your purse, backpack, briefcase, car, wallet, or gym bag to enjoy their germ-killing, mood-lifting, fabulousness everywhere you go!  Prairie Naturals Germ Force ▪ Clean hands on the go ▪ No dry chapped skin with regular use ▪ Safe for all family members ▪ Convenient size fits in a small purse, the car, lunch box, anywhere! ▪ Proactive cold & flu prevention ▪ Antibacterial and no parabens ▪ Fresh apple fragrance ▪ Uses aloe vera to provide moisturizing properties ▪ Use it for: travel, picnics, kids at school and play, work or any time you want germ-free hands Read the rest of this entry »

I seriously love chocolate but know that the added sugar is not only good for me but is actually a danger to our body but have found a product similar to chocolate known as carob. Carob pods grow in trees native to the Mediterranean and can be harvested and dried and made into powder similar to cocoa in taste. Carob is naturally sweet and can be substituted in recipes instead of chocolate.  The benefits of carob include being low in fat and calories but high in Vitamin A, B2 and Niacin. One ounce of carob powder has about 100 calories, which is about  1/4 cup in measure. This amount has about 10 grams of fiber and .18 grams (virtually none) of fat. It also contains B vitamins, magnesium, iron, manganese, chromium, and copper. It takes 2 medium/large dry carob pods to make 1 ounce in weight. 1 ounce of carob powder has about 100 calories, which is about
1/4 cup in measure.

Here is a brownie recipe I found online at naturallyvegetarianrecipes.com which uses carob and has no additional sugar

EVA’S INCREDIBLE CAROB BROWNIES
These vegan brownies are super yummy and high in iron.

MAKES 16 MEDIUM BROWNIES

Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup carob powder
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup blackstrap molasses
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla

Preparation:
In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, carob powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt together.
In another smaller mixing bowl blend together the maple syrup, molasses, oil and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the larger bowl and mix until well blended. Spread into a rectangular, 9 x 13 inch greased cake pan. Bake at 350° F for approximately 12 minutes and remove from the oven when the brownies are still very soft to the touch.
Let them cool slightly and slice while they are still warm. Enjoy your delicious and highly nutritious, very rich in iron, brownies!

Welcome to Everything Goes With Green! A site where health is on the forefront and I write from personal experience about products I love and research I find both compelling and scary. If you meet me, at first glance you wouldn’t think I was proponent  of natural living as I love make up and hair products, but, rest assured, that I believe you can be concerned about optimal health through eliminating toxins while still using great products. This is part of what I hope to share with you along my journey!