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The Green On Produce

Lara Velez — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:16:52 +0000

I have said many times that going green is possible for anyone who is willing to be creative. However, when you are on a very tight budget, it can be extremely hard to go green in the food department. And, produce is what we will discuss today. Yes, it can be pricey. However, again, if we can be creative and know all our options, we can do this green thing!

Going Green with Produce Tips

Buy Organic. Yes, pricey. However, only buy in season and only buy local. You will find that it is not as expensive that way. Better yet, grow your own if feasible!
Wash and Peel. If organic is just not in the cards for you, make sure you wash and peel produce very well.
Widen the Gap. Eating a wide variety of produce will minimize eating the same bad chemicals over and over.
Children. Only feed them organic. They matter more than a latte from Starbucks. Invest in their health and development.
The Most. Whatever produce you notice is consumed the most in your family, consider buying that only in the organic versions.
Avoid the Worst of the Bunch. If you cannot go organic, then avoid the following produce items. They have the highest levels of contamination; apples, peaches, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, imported grapes, pears, spinach, potatoes, carrots, green beans, hot peppers and cucumbers. Yeah, I know. Some favorites for you too, eh? Well, make some budget changes and buy the above in organic. It really is the only option. They are way too contaminated for any sane individual to not take notice!
Go for the Least Contaminated. The following produce still have unhealthy pesticides and chemicals like the previous list. However, they are the least toxic. A few are; onions, avocado, frozen sweet corn, pineapples, mango, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, broccoli and eggplant.

We need to pay better attention to what we are eating. We especially need to protect our children. Mostly, we need to make changes that will affect the produce industry as a whole. If consumers rise up and say NO MORE, these companies will be forced to make better choices. They will be forced to stop poisoning our food, and contributing to cancer and many other unnecessary diseases!

Think. Pray. Most of all…DO something!

Stay Green!

Avoiding Hidden Chemical Poisons in Our Food and Going for Natural Choices

Lara Velez — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:06:52 +0000

It’s very scary how much our food has changed in recent years. Just look at the labels and you need a degree just to pronounce half the ingredients!

Money has become more important that nutrition and keeping foods healthy and harmful chemical free. We must eat. So, food is naturally “big business.” In order to make the most profit, farmers began spraying crops with gallons of pesticides and fungicides. These chemicals make their way into the food we eat every day. That’s only a part of it. Don’t even get me started on the food colorings, artificial sweeteners, hormones and antibiotics are all added to our processed foods.

Here’s a jaw dropper…Did you know that potassium bromate is illegal in every country except Japan and the United States?? The reason the rest of the world has banned it is because it is a carcinogen. Do we bother to get on the intelligent wagon? Uh, no! We add it to bread. It gives bread that chewy texture because it makes the bread rise higher. Hmmm…Knowing this, I would rather eat paper!

The harmful chemicals, additives, preservatives and pesticides that we, as a society allow into our foods can cause serious health issues and even life threatening diseases like cancer.

What can we do to stay ahead of the chemicals in food game??

Learn to read labels. Take the time to understand what additives and preservatives are in the food you and your family eat.

Food Additives and Preservatives

Food additives are quite simply, things that are added to our food. For example, if you make grape jelly, you will add pectin and sugar. Both would then be considered “food additives.”

Unfortunately, unless you are buying an all natural product, if you buy jelly in the grocery store, the label is likely going to list more than just grapes, pectin and sugar. There will probably be a slew of big words and ingredients that are not necessarily good for your body. Longer shelf life means fatter wallets.

Some of the many jobs of food additives are:

Acids modify the flavor and preserve food. Some examples; vinegar, citric acid, and lactic acid.
Acidity regulators modify the acidity and alkalinity of foods.
Anti-caking agents keep powders from caking or sticking.
Anti-foaming agents reduce or eliminate foaming in foods.
Food colorings and color retention agents enhance or maintain food’s color.
Emulsifiers allow water and oils to remain combined.
Flavors and flavor enhancers enhance or add flavor.
Humectants keep foods from drying out.
Tracer gas improves shelf life.
Preservatives prevent food from spoiling. Lengthen shelf life.
Sweeteners are added to foods for flavoring.

Obviously not ALL additives are harmful. Natural additives are OK. However, you must know the difference.

Dangerous Additives:

BHT. Causes liver and kidney damage, behavioral problems, infertility, birth defects and cancer.
Artificial coloring. Causes hyperactivity in children, learning disorders, nerve damage and it may be carcinogenic.
Artificial sweeteners. Cause central nervous system damage, menstrual difficulties, may affect brain and growth development in an unborn fetus, and may even cause cancer.
Brominated vegetable. Cause organ damage, birth defects, and growth problems.
Carrageenan. Causes ulcers and cancer
Partially Hydrogenated vegetable oils. Associated with heart disease, cancer, high cholesterol, and allergies.
Nitrates. Cause cancer and even death.
MSG. Causes headaches, reproductive disorders, high blood pressure and allergic reactions.
Potassium bromate. Causes nervous system, kidney disorders, gastrointestinal issues and cancer.
Red dye #3. Causes thyroid tumors in rats, and may cause them in humans as well.
Yellow dye #6. Is a carcinogen and has been found to cause adrenal gland and kidney tumors.

Pesticides In Your Food

As I mentioned earlier, profit is what really matters to the big food manufacturers. We learned how they add harmful additives to our foods. Well, they also harm our food while it is still growing. Pesticides are used to maximize their crops put our health at risk.

The health effects of pesticides depend on the type of pesticide. Some, like organophosphates and carbamates, affect the nervous system. Others can irritate your lungs, skin, or eyes. Other pesticides are carcinogens and cause cancer or affect your body’s hormones.

A chemical like acephate can over stimulate your nervous system causing nausea, dizziness, confusion, and respiratory paralysis or death. Alachlor was classified by the EPA “likely” to be a human carcinogen at high doses, but “not likely” at low doses. Oh, and another one is ethanol, which is generally recognized as a human developmental neurotoxin. YIKES!

Pesticides not only affect the individual who eat them and come in contact with them, they also affect the unborn, resulting in birth defects and neurological problems.

The Top Most Dangerous Produce…aka “The Dirty Dozen”

These are the most likely to have the highest levels of pesticides and harmful chemicals in them.

Peaches
Apples
Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Grapes
Spinach
Lettuce
Potatoes

You should also know that many of these produce items contain pesticides not approved for use on that particular crop. For example, a pesticide, which is approved for spinach, may not be approved for use on peaches but was nonetheless found on peaches. Additionally, carrots, green beans, cucumbers, raspberries, domestic grapes, and oranges all rated very highly in the studies for containing pesticides.

I can almost hear the psycho movie theme music in the background even as I write this! It all sounds just terrible! No worries though! We CAN win this chemical food battle. How? By learning to read food nutrition labels, and by buying more natural and foods. Making a decision to stop buying foods with harmful chemicals. It we, as consumers, make a stand, the food industry WILL take notice and will be forced to make changes!

Simple Choices to Reduce Exposure to Harmful Chemicals while Saving Money on Food Bill.

Read the label. You should be able to recognize every item on the nutrition label. If you start seeing preservatives, artificial sweeteners and food colorings then place it back on the shelf.

Avoid all processed foods. Anything that comes in a box and has undergone physical or chemical treatment resulting in a substantial change in the original state of the food. However, there are organic choices that are better for your family…even if the do come in a box.

Avoid the dirty dozen. Buy organic fruits and veggies when you can. If you cannot buy organic fruits and veggies because they’re unavailable or too expensive, wash them thoroughly and peel your fruits and veggies.

Organic meats and dairy. Farm animals are not only fed antibiotics and hormones to maximize production, they also eat crops contaminated with pesticides. Buy organic dairy and meats.

4 Tips Saving Money on Organic Food

Buy what is in season. Buying strawberries in December is definitely going to cost you more than buying them in July. If you find that you need strawberries in December, consider comparing the cost of organic frozen compared to organic fresh, you’ll often find the frozen option is less expensive.

Buy according to your store’s sales. Every week, grocery stores put their produce on sale. If organic carrots are on sale, then add it to your menu for the week. You’ll save 20% or more on your food bill following this simple plan.

Buy local. Local organic farmers charge much less for their produce because they don’t have to pay for distribution. Plus, you’re helping to sustain your local economy.

Eat one more vegetarian meal each week. Meat and dairy are the most expensive items on your grocery list. By cutting back and eating one less meal with meat, you’ll save money. Also, pay attention to your grocery stores sales. Stock up on organic meats when they go on sale.

God Created a beautiful planet with all the food and things we need to live healthy lives. Let’s not allow manufacturers who want to fatten their wallets take that away from us. The best way to stay healthy, make a difference and avoid all the harmful yuck they put is food is to eat more natural, organic and unprocessed foods whenever possible.

Stay Green!

More on Back to School Green

Becki — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:05:59 +0000

Across the country kids are flocking back to school and many of us are wondering how to start the year off while encouraging a greener way in our youth. It can sometimes be hard to get kids to think about “being green” when all they really want to do is look cool and hang out with their friends, but by our example they will learn and a great example can be set just in back to school preparation.

It starts with school supplies. While many of those flashy and bright notebooks can be eye catching, why not help our environment a little and purchase recycled paper instead? Many manufacturers are now offering this option. Also, rather than spiral notebooks go for the refillable binder. While some places will allow for recycling paper on a spiral bind, many still do not and this means a lot of paper waste simply because people don’t want to spend the time tearing paper off. When purchasing the refillable binder try to find one made of canvas or cardboard. Plastic may feel durable, but it is also, well, plastic. And if you still have a binder from last year that is in good shape why not just reuse it?

Backpacks are big business during the back to school shopping, but with a quick wash most old backpacks are just like new – use a gentle cycle and air dry.

If your school requires books to be covered you can stay green by recycling paper bags rather than buying fancy book covers. Give your kids some crayons or markers and stickers and they can decorate the books to their liking.

Pens and pencils are imperative for school and you can make sure to buy refillable pens and refillable pencils (if you use mechanical pencils). Also, if buying regular pencils there are some brands that actually do use recycled materials.

Clothes for back to school can hit the budget hard, but what’s worse is that so much of last year’s fashion goes to waste. This year before you throw out the old stuff check to be sure it doesn’t still fit or that it can’t be made into something else great for the year. If it is a “must go” then give it to a local charity rather than just throwing it in the garbage.

Back to school supplies aren’t the only area where were can help our kids stay green - there is also the issue of back to school transportation. If you live within walking or biking distance go ahead and have your kids walk or bike. You can walk or bike with them to show that it isn’t so bad. I live right across an open field from the schools in my town and it amazes me how many parents will hop in a car, drive for three minutes (literally), drop their kids off and then drive home. Walking is not only exercise, but it saves on fuel consumption and it teaches kids that they can move without the world coming to an end. If it’s raining out give your kid an umbrella – it won’t hurt them and you will be teaching them a natural mode of transportation in the process. If you live too far for walking or biking then get involved in a local carpool – you can take turns driving your kids to and from school.

And finally, when that first day (or maybe I should say the entire first week) arrives and the mounds of paper work start coming in make sure to sign what you have to sign and return it, but for the rest don’t just throw it in the trash – have your kids walk it to the recycle bin thus instilling in them once again that recycling is good for us all. Remember, back to school is a great time to lead by example and teach your kids the importance of a greener way of life. Have a great school year!

Click Here for More Tips for Going Back to School Green

Send Your Kids Back to School Green!

Lara Velez — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:56:46 +0000

Our youth are the future. If we train them to do the right thing while they are young they will continue in it. We are told in Proverbs 22:6; “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This is true for every aspect of our jobs as parents…from how to behave, who God is and even being better stewards of God’s planet!

If we send them back to school green minded and looking green, their friends will notice. We should be raising leaders that want to impact our planet for God’s glory! What better way to bring God glory then by honoring Him and being good stewards with what He loaned to us??

Tips to go Back to School Green

Go with as many recycled materials as you can!

paper would be the biggest. Unfortunately, schools have not come up with a better way to have our children do their school work. So, if they must use paper, make sure it is recycled paper!
forget the wood pencils that kill trees! Go for reusable plastic pencils…or better yet keep using the wood ones, but, try PaperMate’s “Earth Write” line. Yes they are wood, but, they are recycled!
eco Binders are a must as well.
backpacks can be green too. go for a recycled material instead of the norm.

Pack Green Lunches.

go for organic choices.
no plastic baggies. period.
use reusable containers.’
give them recycled napkins.

Clothes.

Looking cool is important for most kids, especially as they get older. What is cooler than recycled clothing??

go for organic cotton.
let them wear green proud. get them shirts that TELL the WORLD to be green.

Getting to School.

This can be tough depending on how far you live from the school. However, even getting to school each day can be green!

have them walk.
ride a bike.
car pool.

As you can see, being a better steward of God’s planet is not as difficult as one might think. The simple task of sending our kids back to school can be a way to be greener and become better parents by training our children to appreciate what God has given them…including the planet!

Stay Green!

7 Valid Reasons Organic Meat is the Way to Go

Lara Velez — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:00:44 +0000

Buying organic isn’t just good for our health, it is better for God’s planet.

7 reasons to buy organic meat

Green Poop. Manure on large industrial farms is for lack of a better word…pollution. It’s a health risk that runs into our water supply and contaminates the land for miles around. However, smaller Mom and Pop type farms that produce organic meat use the “green poop” to fertilize soil, the same soil they’re using to grow the grass and food for their animals. They’re sustainable farms that manage their resources in the most environmentally friendly way possible.

Less chemical pollution and contamination. Organic farms do not use synthetic pesticides and fertilizers on the food they feed to their livestock. Not only are the animals, and those who subsequently consume them, saved from ingesting harmful chemicals, the land isn’t contaminated with them either.

Conservation of Natural Resources. Industrial farms consume vast amounts of natural resources to keep their farms running. They go through thousands of gallons of water each day and the processes to automate the processes consume large amounts of electricity and fuel. Not to mention the cost of fuel to distribute the grain and feed for the animals. On the contrary, organic farms typically use about 70 percent less energy than industrial farms. They’re about sustainability and renewable resources, not mass production, and are therefore generally more aware of their environmental impact.

Helps Local Economy. When you buy local and organically grown meat, you’re generally supporting your local farmers. These same farmers employ local residents and you contribute to the overall quality of life for your neighbors. Not to mention that you’re buying food that is typically fresher and healthier for you and your family.

No Antibiotics or Added Hormones. Industrial farms argue that they have to inject their animals with antibiotics to keep them healthy and they have to inject them with hormones to increase meat production. Sadly, we consume the harmful antibiotics and hormones, then flush them into our waste treatment facilities where they become part of our water supply and our soil. The negative heath and environment effects are only recently being realized.

Consumers Have a Voice. The dollar, and the consumer holding the dollar, is a powerful voice. If we purchase organic meats, you’re helping to demonstrate to larger industrial farms what we expect from them. They will in turn, eventually adopt more environmentally sound practices or go out of business.

Green Power. As we begin to make greener choices, others will follow and eventually a large impact will be made towards the positive. For instance, if we make it a point to buy organic meat, we’re not only affecting the farmer who raises the livestock and the people they employ, we’re also being a better steward of God’s planet and feeding our family a healthier choice.

Stay Green!

Green Tip – (07/01/09) – Borrow

Lara Velez — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:00:07 +0000

A great way to reduce is to borrow! Instead of buying new books, movies and CD’s, visit your local library and check them out. You can also borrow or swap with a friend. More options would be to download music from places like iTunes and renting movies from places like Netflix. Buying items like these from yard sales is also a great idea to reduce. Make the most of what you and others have. You can have monthly swaps of entertainment for the environment!

Reuse. Recycle. Reduce.

One green choice at a time makes all the difference for God’s planet!

Stay Green!

Green Up Your Morning Tea or Coffee

Lara Velez — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:32:22 +0000

I cannot even remember the last time I did not have a cup of coffee in the morning. I love coffee and my children love it because it helps me keep friendly in the mornings since I am not a morning person.

My morning fix got me thinking, can I be greener with it? Yes!!!

Coffee and Tea go Green

Back before money was the only important thing, coffee was actually made the way God intended. Naturally. It was grown under a canopy of trees and was helpful for the animals in that environment as well. It also required few synthetic materials and pesticides.

Sadly though, money became more important than good old fashioned eco friendly coffee. Now, trees are being cut down left and right and synthetics are a staple.

Good News!

There are many people waking up to the green facts and changes are being made.

What to look for if you want the green:

USDA Certified Organic Coffees and Teas

Bird Friendly Labels. This means they are practicing the old fashioned shade method under strict guidelines.

Fair Trade Certified. This means the company has met strict economic and environmental criteria.

Rain forest Alliance Certified. visit: www.rainforest-alliance.org for more info.

Changes you can do for greener coffee and tea

Only buy coffee and tea that meets above standards.
Use reusable filters for brewing coffee. If yo must use paper, use non bleached.
For tea ditch the bag method and go for an infuser.
Only go to coffee/tea shops that serve sustainably grown coffees and teas.

Like I have said many times, we can make a difference, one green choice at a time! We do not have to give up our morning tea or coffee. We can just make a greener choice with it and show the big companies we mean green business!

Stay Green!

Green Water Heater

Lara Velez — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:02:08 +0000

Making our home green one step at a time will help our environment for years to come. Let’s take today to look at a very important home appliance, the water heater.

Tips for a Green Water Heater

Check the Temperature. You do not want your water heater to over do it’s job. Make sure you keep it at an average setting of 120 degrees. This will save a ton of energy and it will save you money as well. IMPORTANT: Never set it below 115 degrees though. You will be dealing with some nasty mold growth if you do.

Use Insulating Foam. Wrap the first six feet of pipe with insulating foam.

Wrap the water heater in a foil blanket. Be careful when doing this. You do not want to block important vents or controls. You will want to follow the instructions very carefully. Your water heater may not allow for this idea.

Invest in a Tankless system. These water heaters are designed to be “on demand.” They will save a lot of water and energy.

Keep up with it. Check it regularly. Make sure that it is working properly and repair it when needed.

Go Solar. Another option is to buy a solar water heater. This will save you money on your electric bill, save energy and be a better choice for the environment.

Implementing these tips will help you contribute to the environment in a positive way. It only takes one good choice at a time to begin the trek of becoming a better steward of God’s planet.

Stay Green!

Eating Green

Lara Velez — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:00:14 +0000

Yes, we can even go green with our eating! Eating green is a lot more than just buying organic foods. It is knowing where your food comes from, packaging information, etc.

Below are several ways that people can make better choices for the environment when it comes to eating.

Tips for Eating Green

Go Local. Look for local farms that provide organic produce and only feed their animals organic foods. Not only are you helping the little guys, you are also, in many cases, making a greener choice.

Find Fairtrade Foods. When you are not going with local choices, this is a relevant alternative. The “Fairtrade” label means that the products meet the Fairtrade standards. This means that the goods usually priced fairly and producers are being treated fairly.

Go Organic. Make sire that what you buy has been made organically and in an eco friendly manner. Avoid chemicals and other harmful things that hurt the environment.

Recyclable Materials. Pay attention to packaging. Is it made from recyclable materials…or can it be recycled? This should be a major part of your decision making when choosing what to buy.

Just Say NO….to genetic modification. These are living things that have had their genetic make up changed and mixed with another living thing. Yuck. Plus, we do not know the long term negative affects of this ungodly way of doing things. There is only One God.

Free Range and Kindness are the only ways to go. Who wants to eat something that has been abused or mistreated? Not me. God never intended for us to mistreat animals. I do believe we can eat meat. However, I do not think that means be inhumane and cruel to them. Let the chicken run free, I say! LOL!

Seriously, this is a lot more than eating green. It is making choices that are not only good for the environment, but also ones that are pleasing to the Creator of the environment. God wants us to do what is right. It’s as simple as that, people!

Stay Green!

Going Green with Cosmetics

Lara Velez — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:46:51 +0000

Wearing makeup is what many women do. I am one of these women. I recently began to ask around about green and eco-friendly make up. Can we really go green with cosmetics? The answer is yes!

A few examples of how women can go green with cosmetics

Smaller packaging. choose items that have minimal packaging. This will be a huge benefit to the environment in the long run.

Go for organic. Look for organic made products and packaging. All natural is the better way to go. Look for vegetable extracts and products that do not contain synthetic chemicals. This will seem like a daunting task. Do not become discouraged though, there are companies that specialize in making natural cosmetics. You can view an extensive list here: safecosmetics.org/display.php?modin=50

No animal testing. I am not even sure how and why this practice ever began. However, it is no longer as popular and there are a lot of companies that do not do this barbaric practice. You can find a list of cosmetic companies who have made a public commitment to not test their products on animals here; leapingbunny.org.

These are just a few simple things that we can all do to be greener with our cosmetics. If every woman would make just one change in her cosmetics, we would see a huge impact for the positive. We seem to think that going green and being mindful of environmental issues is complicated. I am here to tell you that it is not. It simply requires on positive choice at a time!

Stay Green!