You have probably seen the organic labels on food in the grocery store. You know that eating organic food will prevent you from ingesting any residual pesticides or herbicides and can be better for your health. But perhaps you’ve noticed the organic label on clothing or other non-edible products and wondered why you should buy an organic version of something you won’t eat. There are a number of reasons why it is a good idea to invest in organic products, including the ones you don’t eat.

Conventional Cotton

According to Stanford University cotton is the “largest revenue-generating non-food crop” in the world. It also consumes some of the greatest amount of resources. Stanford states that conventional cotton production accounts for 10 percent of all water used for agriculture and 25 percent of all pesticides. Pest and weed management for conventional cotton is very intensive. It requires a large amount of chemicals in order to grown on such vast tracks of land. These chemicals are often applied by crop dusting or aerial drop. The chemicals directly and indirectly (run-off in water) effect the health of people and wildlife.

Organic Cotton

Organic cotton is the alternative to conventionally raised cotton. Organic cotton meets very strict regulations that don’t allow the use of any insecticides or herbicides. These restrictions also prohibit the use of Genetically Modified Organism or GMO seeds.

According to AboutOrganicCotton.org, practices for raising organic cotton are very different than conventional cotton. Weeds are removed by hand, instead of with chemicals. Harmful pests are kept in check with healthy soils and biological controls. Biological controls include introducing insects that are natural predators to the pest insects. And, defoliation, a necessary process for harvest, is prompted through natural changes in temperature or water management, rather than chemically induced.

Caring for People and the Environment

These practices conserve resources and reduce the environmental footprint of cotton. Reducing the amount of energy and water used to grow cotton is healthier for the planet. Reducing the amount of chemicals used to grow cotton is healthier for people as well. Fewer chemicals circulating in the air, ground, and water means less people suffering from the ill effects of pesticides and herbicides. While you don’t eat T-shirts and bed linens, you can still protect your health and the health of others by choosing organic cotton.

Photo “Cotton Bolls” courtesy of anita.french

Herbal tea that naturally lacks caffeine can be an excellent bedtime tradition. Warm drinks can help calm and relax your body and prepare you for sleep.  Some teas have benefits that go beyond just relaxation. Peppermint tea is one tea with a number of benefits that make it a great pre-sleep ritual.

One great sleep enhancing advantage of peppermint tea is that it assists with indigestion. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, “Peppermint calms the muscles of the stomach and improves the flow of bile, which the body uses to digest fats. As a result, food passes through the stomach more quickly.”  However, if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease, you should avoid peppermint at night because it relaxes muscles in the stomach and esophagus and can induce reflux.  There is also some research that shows peppermint may relieve symptoms of irritable bowl syndrome (IBS).

The same muscle relaxing tendencies mentioned above can also bring relief to minor tension headaches. The article mentioned above also suggests peppermint as a cold remedy. Peppermint contains menthol, which is an effective expectorant. Holding your head over a steamy cup of peppermint tea can relieve stuffy noses and congested chests.  Doing this before going to bed can improve your sleep when you need it most.

All of these benefits can be experienced from just a few peppermint leaves steeped in hot water. You can pour hot water over fresh leaves and let it steep for awhile, or you can place dried leaves in tea ball and allow it to set in hot water. If you want your own peppermint plant, it is an herb that is very easy to grow. Transplants are commonly found at nurseries. The plants typically run rampant once planted in a garden or landscape and will quickly take over. So, if you are starting from scratch you may want to plant your peppermint in a container to prevent its spread.

If raising your own plant doesn’t excite you, peppermint tea is easily found commercially in tea bags.  Be sure to check the ingredients to ensure there is nothing caffeinated or even decaffeinated black or green teas listed as well. The best peppermint teas will have only one ingredient, peppermint.

What are your favorite bedtime teas or drinks? Have you experienced the benefits of peppermint?

Photo “coffee and peppermint tea in bristol” by Crafty Fox

The first time I heard of Kombucha tea, I wondered why anyone would want to try it. I could not even pronounce the name, so the idea that it would taste good, or be beneficial for me, did not really cross my mind.

I got over my skepticism, and I am truly glad I did, since drinking it introduced me to all the amazing benefits of this wonderful tea.

What is Kombucha?

Kombucha is really a type of yeast, sometimes also called a mushroom or ‘Scoby’. It is a natural probiotic that contains beneficial bacteria, yeasts and acids that can help our bodies to achieve and maintain overall good health. As a probiotic, Kombucha’s beneficial bacteria, called gut flora, spread and live in the large intestine with the purpose of eliminating harmful micro-organisms.

Benefits of Drinking Kombucha Tea

• Regular consumption of Kombucha tea assists in the process of detoxifying the body, since it provides gluceronic acid, which is normally produced by the liver during the body’s detoxifying process.

• Kombucha also provides much needed energy boosts to regular drinkers, since a body free of toxins can run and perform more effectively. The energy provided by the tea also comes from the myriad of B vitamins present. These include B1, B2, B6 and B12. Vitamin C is also present, further assisting in the detoxifying process and providing even more energy.

• Kombucha tea is great for weight loss. The group of B vitamins present helps the body process fats and proteins quicker while improving metabolism.

• This tea is even helpful for people with sleep disorders. A nice cup of Kombucha tea calms the body and spirit, helping people find their natural sleep rhythm so they can sleep better at night.

• Kombucha tea helps to strengthen the immune system. It can even aid in fighting off infections because the acids present in Kombucha tea have antibiotic properties. It is also used in preventing and treating acid reflux disease and helping with digestion.

• Kombucha tea can also be used to soothe and help with the effects from ailments such as arthritis, bronchitis, chronic fatigue, diabetes, cancer and many others.

How Do You Prepare Kombucha Tea

The easiest way to prepare and drink Kombucha tea is to buy it already brewed from a health food store. However, preparing it fresh at home, while it does take a little planning, is easy to do and brews an enjoyable tea specifically created by the brewer. The steps to brewing a quart of the tea at home are simple:

Important Note: NEVER touch the kombucha mushroom with a metal instrument (ie: knife, spoon, etc.) Metal will kill the mushroom. Only use plastic or wooden utensils. It is also very important to remove any rings when handling the mushroom. It is best to wear rubber gloves to protect the mushroom from any contamination.

Kombucha Mushroom also called a 'Scoby'.

Ingredients:  The ratio of the ingredients can be adjusted by the brewer to fit individual tastes.

1. Kombucha mushroom. (Mushrooms can be found in health food stores or online.)
2. 2 or 3 tea bags or ¼ ounce loose tea. (The best options for these teas are Black or Green tea, plain, without any oil.)
3. ½ cup starter tea, which is Kombucha tea that has been previously prepared.
4. 1/3 cup sugar
5. 1 quart filtered water

Brewing Kombucha Tea

Step 1:  Get a glass container with a wide mouth to brew the tea in.

Step 2:  Bring water to a boil in a stainless steel pot.

Step 3:  Add the sugar and stir until it is completely dissolved.

Step 4:  Add tea bags, steep to desired strength, then set aside to cool to room temperature.

Brewing Kombucha Tea in a 1 quart canning jar.

Step 5:  Remove the tea bags, then add the kombucha culture (mushroom) and the starter tea to the mixture in the wide-mouth glass container. (Make sure the tea is at room temperature. Hot temperatures will kill the mushroom.)

Step 6: Cover the container with a coffee filter or cheese cloth, secured with a rubber band and let it stand out of direct sunlight for at least 4 to 5 days. (You can let it brew longer, up to 7 days or more. The longer it brews the stronger the taste and more nutritious it is.)

Step 7:  After 4 or 5 days, begin tasting the mixture until you are satisfied with the taste.

Congratulations – You’re Almost Done !

Once you are pleased with the taste, remove the mushroom and any new mushroom that might have formed. (New mushrooms formed during the brewing process are called ‘babies’. They may either be attached to the ‘mother’ or floating within the tea.) Strain the tea through the cheese cloth and pour into a pitcher or a clean canning jar. A perfectly brewed tea will have a slight effervescent fizz, as shown in the image at the top if this page.

It is recommended to begin drinking 2 to 4 ounces per day, although you can drink more. Keep in mind that tea is a diuretic, so if you decide to drink more, make sure to keep hydrated throughout the day by also drinking a lot of water.

Enjoy!

In this fast-moving society people often go without enough sleep. It seems that there just is not enough time in the day for the recommended 8-hour sleep. One way to combat the fatigue and sluggishness that result from this deficit is to take a power nap. Power naps are also incredibly beneficial for those who do get the recommended 8 hours of sleep, since the naps can provide the energy needed to be as productive in the latter part of the day as in the beginning.

Mercy, our little Toto, taking one of her many power naps. What a life!

Power naps can be as short as 20 minutes or as long as 30 minutes, and the benefits differ depending on the length of the nap. The 20 minute power nap which can easily fit into a work break or lunch hour, increases alertness and motor skills. A longer nap of just 30 minutes helps to get creativity flowing and improves memory capabilities. The key to power napping is to keep it between 20 and 30 minutes to avoid falling into a deep stage sleep and waking up groggy.

Tips for a refreshing nap:

1)  Keep it short:Set your alarm for 30 minutes or less, otherwise you may wake up groggy.

2)  Pull the shades if possible: Nap in a dark room or wear an eye mask.

3)  Blocking out light helps you to fall asleep faster.

4)  On a cool day cover yourself with a light blanket to maintain your body heat. It will also help you to fall asleep faster and rest more peacefully.

According to research, taking a 30 minute power nap is more beneficial than sleeping in an extra 30 minutes in the morning. Taking a power nap refreshes and resets the system, boosting energy levels, allowing you to be more productive during the day.

In this fast paced world that most of us live in, trading some precious sleep in order to accomplish one more task, might sound like a good idea, until we realize the cost of doing so. Getting the right amount of sleep is essential to maintain good health, and although the actual hours of sleep needed vary by age and quality of sleep, most adults should be getting approximately eight hours of sleep every night. A solid eight hours of quality sleep can yield benefits that include a more energetic body, improved health, good mood, enhanced creativity, quicker physical reflexes, stable, healthy weight, higher work productivity, emotional stability and overall general happiness.

Even our furry friends need their rest.

Quality of sleep is very important. And since sleep works in cycles, to receive the maximum benefits, it is vital that a person spends enough time in the deep sleep and REM stages. If too little time is spent at these stages, sleep will not yield the desired benefits, no matter the number of hours spent sleeping.

The consequences of too little, low quality sleep:

Sleep deprivation is said to lead to a weakened immune system, making a person more easily susceptible to illness. It can also interfere with concentration, memory, hand-eye coordination and reflexes. In fact, people who drive in a sleep deprived state actually experience the same kind of challenges as those impaired from alcohol consumption. Not getting the right amount of sleep can also interfere with mood, as too little sleep can lead to depression. Sleeping too much can also have negative effects, one of which can be increased mortality.

Getting too little sleep creates a sleep deficit, which is the difference between the hours of sleep a person gets and the hours of sleep a person needs. Once gone, you cannot get it back, even if you plan to sleep in on weekends. The only way to prevent sleep deprivation is to practice good sleeping habits to ensure quality sleep every day.

Tips for a restful night’s sleep:

1)  Start getting ready for bed at the same time every night. Being on a sleep schedule is not only a good healthy habit, but sets the internal clock to let your body know it’s time to quit for the day.

2)  Prepare your body and mind by dimming the lights and slowing down on activities a few minutes before crawling into bed. Reading is a great way to relax your mind and body.

3)  Don’t eat before going to bed, but if you can’t avoid the craving, eat only a couple of small bites. It takes energy for your body to digest food, so if you eat before going to bed, your body is working and not resting.

4)  Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Although alcohol may make you feel tired at first, it is considered a stimulant and can cause you to wake up during the night.

5)  Try to establish a comfortable sleep environment. If you’re a person who tends to sleep cold, a heated mattress pad or electric blanket is a great investment. When you’re cold you tend to wake up more often and your body is less likely to enter the REM sleep stage. On the other hand, an air conditioner in warmer climates is very helpful in maintaining the correct body temperature.

6)  Keep your room dark until it’s time to wake up. Invest in heavy curtains or room darkening shades. The darker it is, the better you will sleep, guaranteed.

7)  If you are waking up with back or neck pain, it may be time to invest in a good mattress and/or pillow. Proper body alignment while sleeping is crucial in obtaining a restful night’s sleep, as well as to your overall physical well being.

Shoppers often experience confusion when deciding whether to buy organic or non-organic food. Organic food tends to be more expensive and sometimes less perfect-looking, however the wonderful benefit is that organic foods are not exposed to harmful chemicals. Before making a decision on what to buy, it is helpful to be informed about what makes a particular food organic.

Organic food refers to agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, or meat, for which farmers use alternative growing and processing methods. Organic food is fertilized using manure or compost instead of chemical fertilizers, which is the norm for non-organic farming. To protect crops from insects, pests and other diseases, organic farmers employ mating disruption methods, traps and even other insects or birds. Non-organic farming methods depend on sprayed pesticides which are harmful to our health.

To produce organic meat, livestock is fed with organic feed and allowed to graze freely in chemical free pastures. In contrast, traditional livestock farms use non-organic feed and depend on antibiotics and growth hormones to manage the development of livestock. In turn, these antibiotics and hormones end up in our bodies, causing all sorts of ill health affects.

Organic vs. All Natural

Be sure to check labels and don’t be fooled by products marked as ‘All Natural’. All natural does not mean organic. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the term ‘natural’ only as it applies to added color, synthetic substances, and flavors. According to the FDA, natural foods are processed without preservatives, dyes, or additives, but may have been grown with the use of pesticides, hormones or other conventional methods.

What harm do these chemicals do?

Side effects from these harmful chemicals and hormones can include endocrine system failure, infertility, birth defects, arthritis, vision problems, insomnia and cancer, just to name a few. Many times these ailments are falsely diagnosed and attributed to aging, disease, or simply unknown causes. Little do we realize, we are self-poisoning our bodies.

A little is better than nothing

Since organic foods are more expensive, most times it is impossible for the average income household to substitute the entire grocery list with organic foods. In this case, start with just one or two items. If you eat a lot of fruit, consider buying a couple of organic fruits, especially those that you eat most often, or you can substitute one meal per week with organic foods. Eliminating a small amount of harmful chemicals from your diet is better than doing nothing. You may not notice a difference right away, but in the long run your body certainly will.

“If all the animals were gone,

man would die from a great

loneliness of spirit.”

(Chief Seattle)

Dog lovers the world over know that sometimes there is no greater soother of the soul than the love you receive from your pet. Who else waits for you to come home with excited eagerness at the end of each day? Who else offers deep comfort in times of troubled thoughts, just by giving you their undivided attention and love? Who else accepts the smallest gesture of kindness towards them with immense gratefulness? Our dogs do, that’s who.

Many studies have shown that dogs relieve stress in the lives of their owners, and people who own dogs tend to live longer than those who don’t. Dog therapy programs are now gaining in popularity where dog owners bring their animals in to visit with people in nursing homes. These therapy dogs bring joy and a warmth of heart to the people they visit. They bring smiles and laughter in a way that unites people in a moment of relaxation. Dogs have also been shown to assist in schools with children learning to read. Just the presence of a dog nearby can relax a child into focusing better.

So what is it that dogs do that makes them so uniquely attuned to assist people in their lives? Dogs seem to have a special ability to communicate with people. They sense our emotions and with their great hearts, they soften ours. People who are anxious can relax easier in the presence of a dog. Walking our dogs brings us much needed exercise and having to look after a dog gives us an opportunity to focus on what they need, rather than dwell on our own stress and problems. Walking is a great stress reliever and dog owners tend to walk more than people who don’t own dogs. This is healthy and helps us to live longer.

One of the greatest things that dogs offer us is simply their wonderful companionship. As the quote above suggests, we would be so much lonelier without the presence of animals in our lives. Dogs make us feel wanted. They make us feel loved. They show us great affection. They do not judge us, or criticize us, or make us feel bad. We could ask for no greater stress reliever than the loving, accepting nature of the dogs in our lives.

“Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.”
– Agnes Sligh Turnbull

We all experience stress every day of our lives. Whether it be from work, school, family, friends, or that old woman that drives 30 MPH in a 50, we all have stress in our lives. You may be wondering what you can do to eliminate some of the stress, but the truth is, it is how we deal with that stress that makes all the difference. Here are just a few helpful tips to help you deal with the irritating situations in your life.

1) Listen to music: listen to your favorite songs. It has been proven that listening to music can reduce stress and have a positive effect on overall health.

2) Journal: Writing in a journal even once a day is a great way to stay focused, process emotions, and solve every day problems.

3) Laugh: It is scientifically proven that laughing really is the “best medicine”. Laughing exercises your diaphragm muscle and heart, as well as your abdominals, leaving them feeling more relaxed. Laughter also distracts us from negative emotions, possibly better than any other mere distractions.

4) Reduce Caffeine: Reduce your caffeine intake throughout your day. Caffeine tends to bother sleeping habits at night, leaving you feeling tired and cranky in the morning. Feeling tired throughout your day is just what the body needs to be easily stressed.

5) Take up a hobby: Even though life may already be busy enough, it’s still important to take time to do things you enjoy such as reading, playing an instrument or sport, crocheting, scrap booking, etc. An enjoyable break is much needed and good for the soul.

These are just a few examples of how to reduce stress, and you probably have a few techniques of your own.  Whatever works for you, place it high on your priority list. Take the time to relax your body and your mind so that you can enjoy every moment of every day.

If an apple a day

keeps the doctor away,

what can a pear a day do for you?

The pear is one of the top 20 favorite fruits and for good reason.  Not only is it delicious, but it has many nutritional benefits.

Pears contain the vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E, folic acid, niacin, potassium and iron. As an interesting note, if a pear turns brown after you cut it, this means that the iron content is high; however, if the color does not change, the iron content is low or almost non-existent.

So what can the pear do for you? Well, the following is a small example of the many healthy benefits of adding pears to your diet:

1)  A medium size pear has approximately 6 grams of fiber, which equals about 24% of your recommended daily value for fiber. The skin of the pear contains the majority of the fiber found in a pear, so enjoy the skin for added flavor, texture, and nutrients.

2)  The high level of pectin in pears makes it very helpful in the lowering of cholesterol.

3)  The anti-oxidant nutrients in pears are critical in building up your immune system.

4)  Pear juice is a natural anti-inflammatory, relieving pain in many inflammatory conditions.

5)  Pears aid in reducing fever because of their cooling effect. The best way to bring a fever down quickly is by drinking a big glass of pear juice.

6)  Pears provide 30% more potassium than apples, which is necessary for maintaining heartbeat, muscle contraction, nerve transmission, as well as carbohydrate and protein metabolism. 

So, with all of these healthy benefits, no wonder it’s the “pear-fect” fruit!

They say laughter is the best medicine. Well, nothing could be truer.  Statistics have shown many interesting things about how laughter affects the body:

1) Laughter relaxes the whole body: A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress for up to 45 minutes after.

2) Laughter boosts the immune system: Laughter decreases the stress hormones in the body, increases immune cells, thus improving the body’s ability to fight disease.

3) Laughter triggers the release of endorphins: Endorphins are the body’s all natural “feel good” chemicals. They promote an overall sense of well-being and can even relieve pain.

4) Laughter protects the heart (yes, the heart!): Laughing improves the function of blood vessels, increasing blood circulation through the body; therefore, helping to protect you against heart attacks or other cardiovascular issues.

So, after looking at all laughter does for our physical body, what about mentally and socially? Well think about it for a second…When one is laughing, he cannot be angry, sad or anxious. Laughter relieves stress and replaces it with joy and zest. In relationships, laughter can not only strengthen them, but enhances teamwork and helps defuse conflict.

A great writer, E.E. Cummings, once said, “The only day wasted is one without laughter.”