The Green Clean

Give your home a fresh sparkle with simple, nontoxic ingredients you may already have on hand.

Green cleaning is amazing for Mother Earth, good for our familie's health and the best part. Awesome for your wallet. Following is a simple guide to makeing and using eco-friendly cleaning formulas that will ensure a glowing and healthy home.

The Kitchen
Oven:
to soften baked-on spills mix 2 teaspoons of Borax Powder (made from natural Mineral) with 2 tablespoons liquid soap and enough water to fill a spray bottle. After applying, scrub off stains with a steel wool and chlorine-free scouring powder.
(Tip: line a lower rack with aluminum foil.)

Countertops:
some essential Oils- including those derived from lemons, grapefruit,and oranges- are antiseptic and antiviral, so they'll be extra tough on Gems. One Caveat: D-limonene, a sustance found in ortange peels, can cause severe allergic reactions in some people when in dought, use hot water and soap to kill germs, and let your countertops air dry.

Linoleum Floors:
Unlike standard detergents. vegetable-based surfactants use biodegradable oil derived from plants- including soy, coconuts, and corn- to attract grease and dirt. Another plus: Eco-Friendly cleaners often forgo phosphates, a detergent additive that suffocates freshwater ecosystems.

spray windows and mirrors with white vinegar, a classic eco-friendly cleaner:

dry with washable cloths.

The Bathroom:
Bathtub
Sodium carbonate, the mineral in what is also known as washing powder is a natural abrasive that gives you scrubbing power to remove soap scum without toxins.

Toilet:
The source of the tartness in tomatos and citrus fruit, citric acid attacks and dislodges the mineral deposits that can hold grime onto the bowl- and it doesn't have a harsh smell, like some toilet bowl cleaners.

Mirrors:
The classic way to clean: Spray the mirror with White Vinegar. To make the process even more eco, use recycled newspaper or a washable white cloths rather than paper towels.

The Living Room:
Coffee Table:
Made from the waxy coating of a palm leaf, Carnauba wax is a natural, nontoxic emolient that gives wood surfaces a nice smooth luster.

Carpet:
Green cleaner: Club soda. The carbonation (and often salt) in club soda helps lift stains. Pour onto spills as quickly as possible, leave for a few minutes, then blot. Keep a six-pack of screw-top club soda bottles in your pantry for quick cleanups.

Air:
If you're allergic to some plants, you might have a problem with a lavander, a common natural fragrance. Instead opt for Cinnamon or Vanilla Essential Oils. Because hydrocarbon propellants are highly flammable, eliminate the aerosol in favor of a pump spray.

Happy and Healthy Cleaning.

Mediterranean Style Roasted Vegetable Salad

Mediterranean‐Style Roasted Vegetable Salad by SimplyCooking.Wordpress.com
 1 eggplant
 1 onion
 2 summer squash
 1‐2 mild chiles
 2 T olive oil
 salt & black pepper
 garlic
 lemon
 cumin
 fresh basil
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Cut 1 eggplant and 2 summer squash/zucchini into fairly large chunks. Add 1 onion, sliced, and 1‐2 mild
chiles such as Anaheim, diced. Toss all the vegetables in a roasting pan with 2 tbsp. olive oil, coarse salt
and pepper. Roast until browned at the edges, about 25 minutes.
Whisk together 2 tsp. garlic paste or 2 pressed garlic cloves, 2 tbsp. olive oil, 1 tbsp. lemon juice and
1
tsp. cumin. Toss with the vegetables and add more salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle over with
shredded basil. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Sugar

I am going to start by telling you that sugar can rec Havoc in your body. Do your best to eliminate them from your home and eating them. Not only will you feel better but by eliminating sugar you will, loose those pesky pounds and look Fabush.

Sugar: lifts you up and then lets you down. Asking for more and more. Hard to give up I know. Trust me I just did and although only for one day today I can feel better, not even graving it. White sugar is very processed. Nature grows food as a whole and should be eating as a whole. White sugar creates in valences in our bodies. When we eat foods that are missing pieces or have been removed through processing our bodies get confused, and stress out trying to make up for the missing elements. As opposed to creating natural balance this food "processed" creates imbalance. White sugar sucks vitamins and minerals from our blood and bones. Because white sugar is UN-whole our bodies give up vitamins and minerals in order to process all that sugar. Food should give us nourishment. Sugar causes tooth decay, bone loss, depression and weak blood. Not so sweet after all ha?



White Sugar Suppresses Your Immune System: When we eat sugar our blood sugar soars to abnormal levels. In order to bring it back down, our pancreas releases a hormone called insulin to handle all the excess sugar. When the sugar has been metabolized, too much insulin remains, and this excess insulin causes imbalances in the rest of our hormones especially our immune system. Making you weak and vulnerable to disease. Sugar also over work the liver. When the liver has too much to handle it deposits the extra toxins in the tissue of our body.



Sugar Puts You On A Roller Coaster: This may include Nausea, Headaches and fatigue. When the blood sugar is crashing it brings on anxiety, dizziness and heart palpation and depression. It also makes you want more sugar. This can also lead to mood swings. Not good.



White Sugar is Associated with Cancer: When your blood sugar soars, too much insulin is produced. This excess insulin promotes the growth of certain kinds of cancer cells. Including the breast, Ovaries, lung, colon, prostrate and stomach.



Sugar Makes you Fat: I am a walking example, I have gained about 10 extra pounds thanks to sugar. Every soda, every cupcake every extra glass of wine will for sure give you an extra pound her or there.



Sugar Contributes to Insulin Resistance and Diabetes: When you eat refined sugar your blood sugar skyrockets to abnormal levels. In order to balance the situation, your pancreas releases lots of insulin. to help usher the sugar into your cells, where it's used as fuel. If you are eating candy and other foods high in sugar, your blood is filled with sugar.



As you chance your way of eating. You will become more sensitive to what food is doing to you.



Tips: Anything ending in "ose" should be considered White Sugar.

Dextrose, Glucose. Sucrose, Maltose, and Fructose are all simple sugars that show up on food labels everywhere.



High Fructose Corn Syrup: HFCS This is very addictive just like white sugar. It's in everything today. Also keep in mind that the corn used for this has been Genetically Modified. HFCS is suspected to cause insulin resistance. Believed to be a big contributor to our ever climbing obesity rates.



Organic Evaporated Cane Sugar: is slightly less processed then white refined sugar, but watch out for this as well. Sucanat, Florida Crystals and milled cane as well as Turbinado, Muscovado and Rapedura sugars.



Good For you Sweetness: Brown Rice Syrup, Barley Malt, Maple Syrup, Molasses, Fruit, gods candy.

Food Inc - Official Trailer [HD]

Fun Falafel Feast

Serve this popular Mediterranean appetizer for dinner—your guests will ask for seconds.

9 oz. cooked chickpeas
1 clove garlic
Salt, to taste
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1 tsp. flourVegetable oil for deep-frying


Combine all the ingredients, except the oil for deep-frying, and blend in a food processor.
Taste and adjust the seasonings.
Make balls (about the size of a lime) out of this mixture.
Heat the oil for deep-frying and deep-fry 4 to 5 balls at a time.

4 Servings

Makes 4 servings

Planet Friendly Changes

Here are Three planet changes to help make our mother earth a better place for us all.





1.Bike to work: For every gallon of gas we use it produces more than 19 pounds of carbon dioxide the plus side is that while biking we can burn up to 600 calories per hour.


Share the road. Riding your bike may not work for every one the eco friendly way to do this is by carpooling Carpooling one day a week, eliminates about 400 pounds of CO2 per person annually organize a carpool amoung your co- workers.



2. Eat Organic and Local: You are what you eat, and this is not always good news. Considering the number of chemicals used to grow crops, raise lifestock and preserve your favoriate foods. It's likely that we are ingesting traces of these chemicals. This is why we need to be mindful when it comes to our choices. mindfulness also involves knwing where food comes from and how it is grown. The Health bebefits: Buying organic and local is the safest choice considering the long list of downsides to conventionally produced food. The same chemicals used to keep conventionally grown apples, peppersand other fruits and vegetables pest and disease free can cause a host of health problems. Including birth defects, nerve damage and Cancer. According to a report published by the Environmental Working Group. Noshing on the most contaminated crops which include Peaches, Strawberries, lettuce and carrots means you will ingest an average of 10 pesticides per day. Organic produce is a great alternative because it's chemical free. Studies have shown that organic produce has more antioxidants micronutrients and fewer nitrates than their conventionally grown counterparts. It's not also produce that 's cause for conern according to the CSPI, beef from grain-fed cattle is a major source of saturated fat and cholesterol. Which in turn increases your risk of heart disease. look for Grass-fed beef and bison. which are leaner and may contain up to five times the number of Omega 3. When it comes to Poutry and Pork look for products that are label "Free Range" and "Organic" to be sure you are getting the healthies cust. Because these cost more, opt for meatless meals a few times a week. Given the average meal travels 1,500 miles before it reaches our table. Choosing Organic and Local is a great way to make smaller Carbon footprints. 15% of the pesticides that are sprayed on crops actually hit their target, the rest of the chemicals are released into the soil, water and air resulting in contamination of water ways illness and death in birds and aquatic life. Erotion and air pollution. Raising livestock is also a significant source of enviromental stress. A nonvegetarian diest is uses almost three times more energy and 13 times more fertilizer than a vegetarian diet.



3. Reduce your toxin exposure: You may be surprised to learn that the products you use to keep your hair shiny, your skin soft and your home sparkling are often chemical cocktails masquerading in pretty packages. The latest science shows that the chemicals in the products we use are getting into our bodies and disturbing our environment. Swapping out chemical laden conventional products with natural alternatives can really pay off when it comes to your health now and down the road. Studies have linked the chemicals found in these conventional products including ( triclosan, 2 butoxyethanol, and antibacterial Quats and alkylphenol ethoxylates) to allergies and asthma, anemia and even certain cancers. Two of the biggest offenders are phthalates and parabeans . Both are endocrine disrupters, which means they may interfere with productive process potentially interfering with infertility, endrometriosis, brest cancer and fetal adnormalities. Endocrine disruptors have also been linked to early puperty in gilrs, and deformaties of the male productive system. Many of the products we use on our bodies are absorbed through our skin and can go directly in our bloodstream. When we use chemical laden products to clean our home we inhale those chemicals because they linger in the air. When it comes to minimazing your chemicals exposure reading labels is a good start U. S. regulations requiere all beauty products to list ingredients on the packing. So reading can help you identify toxins. Unfortunately even products that seem sfe can contain powerful chemicals. Look for cleaning products that have been certified by non profits Green Seal or Ecologo, which have more rigorous safety, health and environmental standards than the Federal Government requieres. When it comes to Beauty products Like the USDA Organic seal. Which certifies that the products have undergone a stringent approval process, and do not contain several key ingredients of concern. Chemicals that are powerful enough to inpact your health also do their share of damage to the environment. After each use, the chemicals in your shampoo, soap, cleaning products are washed straight down the drain, and would end up in your drinking water. A joint study done by the EPA and Baylor University in Waco Texas, found chemicals like Galaxolide and Tanalide, commonly used in Fragrances in beauty and cleaning agents were polluting waterways and present in the tissue of fish as a result of chemical runoff in rivers and streams.
So remember it's not jut about Health, its also about the planet and how we can help make this place better for us all.

What is In Season ( June, July, August)

The following are what will be in season for the months of June, July and August.
Most organic Co- ops will include some if not all in the boxes. Enjoy

1. Apricots
2. Beets
3. Bell Peppers
4 Black Berries
5. Butter Lettuce
6. Cantaloupe
7. Casaba melon
8. Chayote Squash
9. Cherries
10. Corn
11. Cucumbers
12. Eggplant
13. Figs
14. Grapefruit
15. Grapes
16. Green Beans
17. Honeydew Melon
18. Jalapeno Peppers
19. Lima Beans
20. Limes
21. Lychees
22. Nectarines
23. Okra
24. Passion Fruit
25. Peaches
26. Peas
27. Plums
28. Radishes
29. Raspberries
30. Summer Squash
31. Tomatillo
32. Tomatoes
33. Watermelon
34. zucchini.

Enjoy all this healthy and yummy fruits and vegetables.