Posts Tagged ‘Go Green’

Health Benefits of Growing Your Own Garden

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

 

Sure, it is easy to just go to the market and pick up your fresh fruits and veggies for the week but have you ever considered growing your own?


There are so many positives, not to mention health benefits, that come with growing your own fruits and vegetables.

 

 

8 Benefits of Growing Your Own Garden


According to: SparkPeople.com and GardeningKnowHow.com

  1. Improves your families health- makes eating fruits and vegetables exciting!
  2. Great form of exercise.
  3. No boring dinners.
  4. Save money on groceries.
  5. Educational.
  6. Stress Reliever.
  7. Good for the environment!
  8. You can stop worrying about food safety. You know where your fruits and veggies came from and what chemicals have been used.

 

Health Benefits of Having Your Own Garden


According to rubicamwriting.com

  • You will be more likely to increase the number of servings of fruits and vegetables you eat per day. The USDA and National Institute of Health guidelines recommend at least five servings of fruit and vegetables per day.
  • You can boost your vitamin and mineral intake significantly.
    • Fruits and vegetables contain vitamins that are rich in nutrients, such as vitamins A, C. They also contain folate, iron, and potassium.
  • Vegetables contain flavonoids, which act as an antioxidant that help fight disease and help build your immune system.
  • Vegetables are low in calories and contain fiber and water, which will help you feel fuller longer. Therefore, you might have the potential to lose some weight by eating more vegetables.
  • A high intake of fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of stroke by up to 25 percent.
  • Eating more vegetables can also help reduce the risk of high blood pressure, certain cancers, cataracts, birth defects and diabetes.
  • You will control what chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, etc.) you use on your fruits and veggies.
  • Each time you tend to your garden it can be a workout in itself!
    • You can do strenuous movements like digging and raking or less strenuous like planting or weeding.
  • You will get the joy of being outdoors; fresh air and sunlight (Vitamin D).
    • Vitamin D helps with the absorption of calcium, which is great for forming and maintaining strong bones and teeth. It will also help fight osteoporosis.

 

Now’s The Time!


Spring is finally here and now is the perfect time to start your yearly garden. Is this your first time? No problem! Follow this link and you will find the “How To” instructions for starting your garden.


http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/herb/the-top-ten-benefits-of-growing-your-own-herb-garden.htm


How to start your own garden: Video!


http://www.monkeysee.com/play/10009-how-to-grow-a-vegetable-garden

 

Happy Gardening my friends!

 

Sources:

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/herb/the-top-ten-benefits-of-growing-your-own-herb-garden.htm

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1275

http://www.rubicamwriting.com/articles/Health_Benefits_of_Growing_Your_Own_Vegetables.pdf

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Fill Your Plate with Greens this St. Patty’s Day!

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

 

St. Patrick’s Day has been known to wreak havoc on someones diet.  Instead of choosing green beer and green corned beef go for the healthy greens!

 

The American Heart Association suggest you choose all green veggies this St. Patty’s day!  By adding dark greens to each meal will help give you a boost of vitamins and fiber to help your feel full and energized throughout the day.

 

The American Heart Association has put together a few simple tips to keep your heart healthy this St. Patrick’s Day!

 

  • Stay away from salt-  too much salt equals high blood pressure!
  • Limit yourself to ONE green beer- increased intake of alcohol raises risk of high blood pressure, obesity and stroke.
  • Don’t forget to exercise- just because it is a holiday doesn’t mean you should skip your daily workout!

 

Did you know?


Research has shown that for every hour of vigorous exercise, life expectancy increases by two hours! (www.wane.com)

 

So many choices…


If you wish to fill your plate with green veggies this St. Patty’s day, here are some heart healthy choices;

  • Spinach
  • Celery
  • Asparagus
  • Zucchini
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Peas
  • Green beans
  • Cucumbers
  • Leafy greens
  • You could even throw in a green apple as your fruit for the day!

 

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in a healthy way this year!  Go Green my friends!


Sources

http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/Heart-Healthy-on-St-Patty’s-Day

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/

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Fall Cleaning Is Good For Your Health

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010


Today is the official start date of Autumn and what better way to kick off the season then with a little fall cleaning.


Don’t let the thought of picking your house apart and focusing on certain areas as a huge hassle. Look at it as a way to clean out all of the germs and bacteria that were carried in during the summer months.


Family Medical Walk-In Clinics have compiled a list of simple tips and tricks to help get your house ready for the beautiful fall season. After all, you don’t want to spend your winter months trapped in a house full of dust mites, cobwebs, and other unknown species do you?



How Healthy Is Your Home?

It is important to evaluate the different areas in your home before you begin cleaning. Have you ever heard of WebMD’s Health ehome? Take the eHome test today and find out how healthy your home currently is. You will then be provided with an action plan to help point you in the right direction on what really to focus on with this years fall cleaning.


Take the eHome health check now!


After completing the test you will be able to see your homes:

  • Health summary
  • Well being summary
  • Knowledge summary


You will then have the option to print your summary report. This report will help you gather a fall cleaning checklist.


Creating A Fall Cleaning Checklist

Areas to focus on:

  • Kitchen
  • Family Room
  • Child’s Room
  • Bedrooms
  • Bathrooms
  • Laundry Room
  • Garage
  • Yard


Tip: There is no reason to try and tackle all of these areas in one weekend. Try to tackle one or two areas per week. By starting now you could have your whole house clean by the beginning of November, just in time for the cooler weather and holidays!


Don’t worry, creating a checklist can be Real Simple


Check out the best non-toxic ways to clean out your house:

http://www.webmd.com/health-ehome-9/green-cleaning


Other great fall cleaning resources:

http://blog.guffly.com/index.php/tag/fall-cleaning/

http://instoresnow.walmart.com/Home-and-family-article_ektid77494.aspx

http://blog.timesunion.com/simplerliving/fall-cleaning-10-things-to-do-now/25475/

http://thevillageofmoms.com/2010/09/fall-cleaning.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5714656/how_to_give_your_home_a_fall_cleaning.html?cat=6


Sources:

http://organizedhome.com/seasonal-spin/fall-cleaning-chore-checklist

http://www.webmd.com/health-ehome-9/act


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Celebrate Your Health on Earth Day!

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

 

In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Earth day, we thought it would be appropriate to provide you with some reasons as to why protecting our planet is helping you to protect your own health.

 

According to an article written by Larry West he states, the World Health Organization (WHO), has found that nearly thirteen million deaths annually and a quarter of all diseases worldwide (33 percent of illnesses in children under the age of five) are due to environmental causes that could be avoided and/or even prevented.

 

According to WHO, the four main diseases caused by environmental factors are:

  1. diarrhea
  2. lower respiratory infections
  3. unintentional injuries
  4. malaria (to learn more about this disease, please visit: http://www.lbl.gov/MicroWorlds/xfiles/malariawhatis.html

There are so many ways you and your family can go green (and no it does not always have to cost a fortune- why should it?!)  I promise, it is a good feeling to know you are taking care of yourself and the environment all at the same time!!

 

Tips in protecting the environment and your health:

 

Reduce:

  • Reduce purchases: (ask yourself; do I really need this?)
  • Simplify your life and your stack of magazines- sorry ladies :)
  • Create a “tree free” home: replace paper towels and napkins with cloths, purchase bleach free toilet paper, instead of using post-it notes have a dry erase board for your family to use
  • Ditch the paper and plastic shopping bags!  There are many “cute” reusable shopping bags available: http://baggubag.com/#Shop

Reuse

  • Have a garage sale! (one man’s trash is another man’s treasure) :)
  • Stock up on reusable items (tupperware, reusable mugs, razors, towels, etc.)
  • Donate: household items, computer equipment, old cell phones, eyeglasses, clothes, etc.
  • Buy/Sell used items: Ebay, Recyclers World, local second hand stores, etc.
  • College reuse: College students have you ever heard of Dump and Run?!  Learn more info. @: http://www.dumpandrun.org/

Recycle

  • Purchase green paper: not the color green, the kind of green that has been recycled usuing a minimum of 50% post-consumer waste.
  • Use natural fertilizer
  • Invest in a composter (home depot has some great options)
  • Dispose your hazardous waste @ a hazardous waste facility

A friend once said: “My future children thank you”  After all, our children are our future, so let’s help them not have to walk around in waste up to their knees.

 

Keep in mind that by protecting our environment you are not only protecting your own health but also the health of others.  Good for you!  Happy Earth Day Everyone!

 

Sources:

http://www.globalstewards.org/ecotips.htm

http://baggubag.com/#Shop

http://www.dumpandrun.org/

http://www.lbl.gov/MicroWorlds/xfiles/malariawhatis.html

http://www.who.int/whr/2008/en/index.html

http://environment.about.com/b/2007/05/10/nearly-a-quarter-of-all-disease-linked-to-environment-by-who-report.htm

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