Calcium Supplements Linked to Significantly Increased Heart Attack Risk, Study Suggests
Posted: May 28, 2012 Filed under: Non-Toxic Choices Leave a comment
ScienceDaily (May 23, 2012) — Calcium supplements might increase the risk of having a heart attack, and should be "taken with caution," concludes research published in the online issue of the journal Heart.
Furthermore, boosting overall calcium intake from dietary sources confers no significant advantage in terms of staving off heart disease and stroke, the findings indicate.
Previous research has linked higher calcium intake with a lowered risk of high blood pressure, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, all of which are risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
And calcium supplements are commonly recommended to elderly people and women who have gone through the menopause to prevent bone thinning
Millie; Calcium nor iron should ever be supplemented, too hard on the inner organs and can cause deficiencies…only if death is imminent from the deficiencies should they be taken. You CAN get these nutrients by eating correctly!
Fresh Mayonnaise Takes 3 Minutes to Make…
Posted: May 23, 2012 Filed under: Food and it's Impact on Our Health, Non-Toxic Choices 2 CommentsThe difference between fresh mayonnaise and that horrible jarred stuff is amazing.
Health wise the difference is just as profound. The oil in most commercial mayonnaises is either soy oil (Hellman’s and Miracle Whip) or canola oil. Neither oil is safe for human consumption, both are highly toxic.
And OMG the taste difference! There is no comparison!
Fresh mayo Hellman’s mayo
So how many egg yolks do you think Hellman’s mayo has in it? The yolk, along with a great fruity olive oil is where all the flavor and nutrition comes from!
If you have a blender or food processor you can make mayo in about 3 minutes. But it is easy to over whip it and the mayo will break. If you have a whisk you can do the same with a little arm workout at the same time…my best time is just under a minute.
This is from the Culinary Institute of America’s Cookbook; A little water physically broadens the space between fat droplets, helping them stay separate, If the oil droplets don’t stay distinct from one another and evenly dispersed in the oil, the mayonnaise will break.
Lemon juice and vinegar accomplish the same thing, but if you add too much you run the risk of ending up with mayo that is too tart. A dollop of mustard can help create and hold an emulsion, too, which, beyond flavor, is why many mayonnaise recipes call for it. Adding water also heightens the fluffy factor.
Here is a collection of my favorite mayonnaise recipes;
Mayonnaise
5 large egg yolk
1 teaspoons salt
pinch of black pepper
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons lemon juice from 1 small lemon
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon water
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1) Using a whisk (my recommendation) or a blender on LOW setting break 5 egg yolks into a bowl or the blender. Add salt and pepper, mustard, lemon juice, vinegar and water.
2) Either whisking or in blender; SLOWLY pour olive oil in a steady stream directly into the middle of the yolk mixture. If you are whisking by hand either use a heavy bowl or sit a wet dish cloth under it to keep it from moving.
Roasted Garlic Mayo– Same recipe as above but add 4 cloves of roasted garlic.
Pesto Mayonnaise – Same recipe as above but add one cup fresh basil and roasted garlic.
Smoked Paprika Chipotle Mayonnaise
16 ounces fresh mayonnaise
1 to 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (La Costena is a gluten-free brand)
3 tablespoons smoked paprika
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1/8 lemon zest- use a microplaner
Combine all the ingredients in a blender and let it run. Adjust seasonings to your taste.
Yoga Mat is Foldable …and Phthalate Free!
Posted: May 23, 2012 Filed under: Non-Toxic Choices Leave a comment
YoFoMat is the world’s first foldable yoga mat, as opposed to your typical rollable ones. According to the manufacturer, it can fold to the size of a book and it offers the same grip as standard yoga mats. The YoFoMat uses an eco-friendly material that is "free of phthalates and heavy metals."
Visit the Website- YoFoMat
Fallacies Concerning Red Meat Consumption
Posted: May 22, 2012 Filed under: Food and it's Impact on Our Health, Going Green; How and Why..., Non-Toxic Choices Leave a comment
There has been many articles about the dangers of red meat; that it leads to heart disease, cancer, diverticulitis, weight gain.
I have a huge problem with this advice. These experts NEVER distinguish between factory red meat and grass-fed red meat. Factory red meat is raised with the use of chemicals, fed unnatural feed sprayed with pesticides, and often bizarre feeds like chicken manure, donuts, and candy bars still in their wrappers. Grass-fed meat is raised on green living grass, without the chemicals, and unnatural feed. The difference between these two types of meat is huge, as they are very different in their content and composition. The studies used by these experts for the basis of their opinion NEVER distinguish between factory meat and grass-fed meat, treating them like the same substance. Since over ninety-eight percent of the red meat eaten in the U.S. is factory meat, those studies really only apply to factory meat, not grass-fed.
Our ancestors barbecued red meat all the time. In fact, a huge portion of the meat enjoyed by humanity for thousands and thousands of years was cooked with fire. But until modern times, nearly all of this meat was grass-fed.
To Read Full Article_ CLICK HERE
Full Post is at Tender Grass Fed Meat
Easy Ways to Conserve Water
Posted: May 22, 2012 Filed under: Going Green; How and Why..., Non-Toxic Choices Leave a comment
According to Scientific American you can use more than 40 gallons of water by letting the faucet run while washing the dishes.
Here’s how to use only use about 3 or 4 gallons;
Wash dishes with 2 dish pans in the sink, one for hot soapy water, one with warm rinse water. Do glasses first, pause a moment to let the soapy water drip off, then move to rinse water. Stop when rinse water is almost full and rinse quickly. Repeat with silver, plates, then pots and utensils. All with 2 dishpans full of water. Then I pour the soapy water, with all that organic matter, onto my plants in the garden. It helps repel pests and loosens the soil. And good for the biceps when you carry it outdoors.
Other ways to save water;
1) Use very low flow shower heads. Ace Hardware has a 1.5 GPM with a shut-off valve. Take a 3 minute shower!
2) Use grey water from shower(I keep a 5 gallon bucket in shower and use it throughout the day to flush the toilet, take what’s left to the flower beds. If you can’t lift a 5 gallon bucket, use a 3 gallon one. You’ll work up to a 5 gallon one in no time, just keep doing it!
3) NEVER buy bottled water. I bought a Kleen Kanteen for each person in the family, we refill and take with us. I’ve had mine over a year.
4) I have an outdoor solar heated shower that I built. May not save water bit is saves electricity!
5) I water my garden with buckets from the rain barrels that are under the eaves of my garage. 10 feet from my garden. The front flower garden gets watered entirely from the dish water.
6) I feel VERY strongly that it is awful to put sewage back in to fresh water. I use a sawdust toilet thus putting no sewage in the system..and makes for great compost (ONLY for high heat composting!).
Millie’s Energy Bar
Posted: May 11, 2012 Filed under: Non-Toxic Choices Leave a comment
These energy bars are way healthier than any prepackaged products and let’s you not have to deal with all that packaging too! They are easy to make or you can order them from me. They come by the dozen for $12.00 a dozen.
1 cup almonds
1 cup cashews
3 T Almond Butter
2 cups dried cherries
1 cup grated coconut
2 T. Coconut Cream – Available from Tropical Traditions or at your health food store, called coconut butter.
1 T. Raw Chia Seeds
½ t. Stevia
½ T. cinnamon
1 t. vanilla
1 T. orange zest- use a microplaner and you will get just zest, none of the pith that is bitter.
Pinch Sea Salt
- Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Place parchment paper in an 8-by-8-inch baking pan; set aside.
- Place almonds on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer and bake, stirring halfway through, until fragrant and light golden brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Place apricots and dried cherries in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment and process until finely chopped, about 1 minute. Transfer to a small bowl.
- Place cooled almonds and the cashews in the food processor and pulse until finely chopped and the texture of fine meal, about 25 (1-second) pulses. Add dried fruits and process, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed, until nuts and fruits are combined are finely chopped, about 45 seconds. Add almond butter, orange zest, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and process until evenly combined, about 45 seconds. Transfer mixture to a large bowl.
- Using your hands, knead the coconut into the mixture until evenly mixed, about 3 minutes.
- Transfer mixture to the prepared baking pan and, using your hands, pat it into an even layer to the edges of the pan. Fold the waxed or parchment paper over and press down on it with the bottom of a measuring cup or a flat-bottomed cup until the mixture is firmly packed and the top is smooth. Freeze for 30 minutes or refrigerate overnight.
Burled Wood Bowls
Posted: May 11, 2012 Filed under: Non-Toxic Choices Leave a commentWe have something called the Riverside Arts Market here in Jacksonville. I was recently looking for something to put salt in to sit beside the stove. I have recently found a place here locally that has an amazing array of slats from around the world and have added to my salt collection…That place is Green Man Gourmet.in Avondale.
I found bowls I loved at a vendor at the Arts Market but the bowls were too big. They made me some to my specifications. I love them and they are so beautiful
.
I keep course and fine sea salt and a smoked salt from Green Man Gourmet in them.
Find Wood Turning by Jerry Vaughan at the RAM every Saturday from 10 to 4! Contact them to order by emailing them at jerryandstella@bellsouth.net.
Why You Should Stop Wasting Money on Body Detox Products
Posted: May 10, 2012 Filed under: Non-Toxic Choices Leave a comment
The world is filled with plenty of myths about health and your body, many of which have been productized. One of the worst offenders is body detoxification, which attempts to sell you products based on the idea that your body is toxic. It’s not, and buying related products is an attempt to fix an issue that doesn’t exist.Brian Dunning of the myth-busting show inFact explains why:
Our bodies have kidneys and livers that remove toxins and other waste from our systems, but in the past few years, clever marketers have said "Forget all that, you need our magic pills and potions to detoxify your body." It should be very telling that they never happen to mention what these supposed "toxins" are, or what your doctor should look for in a blood test to see whether you have them. They simply assert that we’re all full of toxins, and that buying their miracle product is the key to health.
The above video goes on to explain how several detoxifying products actually work to fool you into thinking that something is happening. In reality, the best you can hope for is a placebo effect. So if you’re currently wasting money on this myth, or considering it, now’s a good time to stop worrying about body toxins and just concentrate on a healthy diet.
From Lifehacker
Ladybugs and Your Garden
Posted: May 9, 2012 Filed under: Gardening, Non-Toxic Choices 2 Comments
In many countries, it is considered good luck if a ladybug (or ladybird) lands on you and then flies away of its own will. In England and Germany, it’s thought that the number of spots has a bearing on the luck she will bring. But the best thing that can actually be proven about ladybugs is that they are a gardener’s best friend and an aphid’s worst enemy. MORE
Will You Change Your Sunscreen Habits Because of Recent Reports?
Posted: May 9, 2012 Filed under: Non-Toxic Choices Leave a commentFrom Mother Earth News
Right on the heels of estimates of widespread vitamin D deficiencies in the U.S. population — which most of us get from exposing our skin, sans sunscreen, to the sun — comes the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) 2010 Sunscreen Guide. For this year’s report, the EWG reviewed 500 sunscreens to test the safety of their ingredients and the veracity of their marketing claims. Of those 500, EWG researchers recommend only 39 products. The guide cites false product claims and evidence that some ingredients may even accelerate the growth of skin cancer for those that didn’t make the cut.
Meal Delivery Service by Millie Barnes 