Types of Stress: Ayurveda Style July 8, 2008

	Vata Imbalance	Pitta Imbalance	Kapha Imbalance
Symptoms	Prone to distraction, anxiety, worry, weight loss, teeth grinding, insomnia, constipation	Bouts of anger, outbursts, criticism, migraines, ulcers, inflamed skin, burning hands and feet	Stubborn, lethargic, possessive, depressed, prone to overeating
Friendly Foods	Warming foods, like rice, wheat, nuts, and milk products. Avoid raw and airy foods, like popcorn.	Cooling foods, like cucumbers, melons, and dates. Avoid spicy and astringent foods, like chili peppers, radishes, tomatoes, cranberries, and grapefruits.	Artichokes, eggplant, broccoli, cherries, cranberries, and pears. Avoid sweets and nuts.
Healing Herbs & Scents	Ginger, cinnamon, cardamom	Jasmine, lavender, rose	Rosemary, frankincense
Calming Yoga	Slow, meditative practice, including Mountain Pose, Tree Pose, Child’s Pose, and Plow Pose	Gentle vinyasa or restorative yoga, including twists and seated forward folds	Vigorous movement, including Sun Salutation, backbends, and inversions

What yoga practice is right for you? June 2, 2008

Here are some different types of yoga and their characteristics:

Flow a.k.a Vinyasa

• Can be soft and slow, or a vigorous, strength-building cardio workout, depending on the teacher and the class.
• Probably the most popular style in a Western culture that values achievement over spirituality; this style developed into “power yoga.”
• Recommended for “Type A” competitive folk who like sports or work in demanding, high-pressure jobs (harder classes), and low-stamina folk hoping to build strength and endurance.

 

Iyengar

• Slower, stretchy movement that emphasizes precise alignment of the body in each posture; employs lots of props and body inversions.
• Unforgiving of losing “correct” alignment.
• Recommended for those with back problems or people not interested in the spiritual component of the practice.

 

Kundalini

• Seeks to unlock the body’s potential by focusing on chakras.
• The quest for spiritual and psychological growth is central; lots of meditation and chanting.
• Recommended for the open-minded (Kundalini strikes some as dogmatic and overtly religious) and the pregnant (it’s low-impact).

 

Yin

• Focuses on opening the joints and interior tissues of the body.
• Seems like a softer style—until you try holding a camel pose for 20 minutes.
• Recommended for people who want to gain flexibility more than muscle or are “tight” mentally from working in a high-pressure environment.

 

Anusara

• One of the youngest and fastest-growing styles; it means “following your heart.”
• Seems hippie-ish at first—each class begins with a chant in Sanskrit—but it’s also powerfully athletic, with meditation.
• Recommended for those interested in trying meditation and relaxation techniques

Fatigue-fighting foods June 2, 2008

Feeling tired? No energy? Stuck in a rut? Well.. what are you eating? ….

here is a list of foods to help boost your energy levels and get rid of that drowsiness no matter what time of day. Hope it helps:

1. Eat proteins and carbohydrates (for example, cashews or peanut butter)

2. Eat a high fiber breakfast (include fruits and vegetables!)

3. Yogurt (yum)

4. Get your dose of inulin (found in garlic, wheat, onions and artichokes.) It also helps with constipation.

5. Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and tangerines, as well as, kiwi, mangos, apricots, strawberries, cantaloupes, and watermelons are all packed with vitamin C. For veggies rich in vitamin C, try broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes, and leafy green vegetables like romaine lettuce, turnip greens, and spinach.  FRUITS AND VEGGIES!!

6. water. Dehydration can leave you feeling drained.

Take care!

 

Zen baby… zen

5 Surprising Fat Burning Foods June 2, 2008

Pears
Why you need them: Pack the fruit bowl with pears if you want to lose pounds, reports a study out of the University of Rio de Janeiro. In the study, which was published in the journal Nutrition, women who ate three pears a day consumed fewer total daily calories and lost more weight than those who didn’t. Rich in fiber (one pear packs 15% of your daily recommended amount), pears help you feel full and keep you from overeating.

Best way to work them in: Eat a pear before a meal to help curb hunger. Ditch the peeler, though; most of the fruit’s beneficial fiber is in the skin.

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Grapefruit
Why you need them: According to researchers at Scripps Clinic in California, eating half a grapefruit before each meal may help you lose weight—up to one pound a week—even if you change nothing else about your diet. The study’s author, Ken Fujioka, MD, says a compound in grapefruit helps regulate insulin, a fat-storage hormone. “Anything that helps lower insulin can help people lose weight,” he explains. “Grapefruit seems to be one of those foods.”

Best way to work them in: Peel and segment; cut into chunks and add to spinach salad. It’s also a great companion with shrimp or peeled, sliced jicama.

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Almonds
Why you need them: Eating a handful of almonds a day, along with a healthy diet, might help you zap fat, suggests research published in the International Journal of Obesity. Diet-study participants who ate almonds daily for six months lost 18% of their body fat. Those who followed a diet with the same amount of calories and protein but swapped almonds for an equal number of calories in complex carbs (like wheat crackers) lost only 11%.

Best way to work them in: They’re a great at-your-desk snack—22 almonds add up to one serving. Another idea: chop them finely and add them to oatmeal or yogurt.

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Chocolate
Why you need it: Can’t resist a little rich chocolate? No need to: Dark chocolate—and other foods high in antioxidants—may help prevent the accumulation of fat cells in the body, a precursor to heart disease and obesity, according to new research from Taiwan published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry.

Best way to work it in: Melt a half-ounce of dark chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds and spread it on half a graham cracker; it’s just 98 calories.

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Navy beans
Why you need them: They’re loaded with resistant starch, a powerful fat burner (one half-cup serves up nearly 10 grams of resistant starch). If you eat navy beans and other foods rich in resistant starch at just one meal a day, you’ll burn 25% more fat than you would otherwise, according to researchers at the University of Colorado.

Best way to work them in: Sauté diced onion and garlic in olive oil, add two cans of drained navy beans; purée and serve.

By Sarah Jio

Vegan Treats May 30, 2008

Fake and Bake
Vegan Treats
When it comes to reinventing classics, the waterless shower was a real stinker and the hands-free umbrella was a reach.
Dairy-free cheesecake, however, can taste better than the real thing.
Try it for yourself with Vegan Treats, a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based bakery that now delivers rich, creamy, dairy- and egg-free confections to the Washington area.
Start with Death by Chocolate cake (covered in chocolate “razors”); move on to the mountainous brownie chunk cheesecake. Or go for wicked peanut butter mousse bombs, fudgy brownies, or strawberry shortcakes with heaps of whipped (can’t-believe-it’s-not) cream.
Pinch yourself? Maybe.
Just don’t have a cow.
Available at Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th Street NW, between U and V Streets (202-387-7638); Java Green, 1020 19th Street NW, between K and L Streets (202-775-8899). Vegan Treats (610-861-7660 or vegantreats.com).

Symptoms of Toxicity May 7, 2008

The following are just a few of the side effects of a toxic build-up in the body. Chemicals are poisons, so our environment and what we eat is slowly poisoning us :

• Skin problems – pimples, blemishes, psoriasis, eczema, boils, acne
• Ulcers – mouth or gastric
• Allergies - Rashes, Itching, Hives
• Weight gain and inability to lose weight
• Headaches
• Sleeping problems
• Frequent or unexplained headaches
• Bad breath or body odor
• Poor memory
• Poor digestion, gas, bloating
• Chronic respiratory or sinus problems
• Chronic infections through a weakened immune system
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Chronic yeast infections
• Obesity
• A disruption in mental function
• Excess strain and weakening of the heart
• Food addictions
• Depression and/or anxiety
• Arthritis, stiffness and pain in the joints
• Fibromyalgia
• Cancer
• Chronic constipation,diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating and indigestion
• Autoimmune diseases - such as multiple sclerosis, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and ankylosing spondylitis

Why detox? May 7, 2008

WHY DETOX?

Everyday each of us takes in around 1000 toxins and poisons - in what you eat, drink, touch, and breathe in.

Some of the advantages of living in our modern world are also causing harm. Air pollution has increased with industrialization. Our food lasts longer in our pantries thanks to chemical preservatives and additives.

We live more comfortable lives than our parents and grandparents, with more income, and eating richer foods, and much more red meat than ever before. These advantages have disadvantages as well, and those quite often get stored in our bodies as undigested foods, toxins, and other impurities.

When that is added to our longer work days, over-consumption of processed foods, lack of exercise, poor diets, eating late at night, etc, we are creating a troubling environment for ourselves and our bodies.  Research has shown that it is becoming increasingly difficult for our bodies to eliminate all of these toxins that we have ingested, imbibed, and inhaled.

Therefore, by treating the symptoms instead of the actual problem, we may be simply accumulating more impurites until a more serious health concern occurs.  This research has led to a new focus on detoxing.

Chemical substances are everywhere. In remote lakes in Finland, in the Himalayas, at the South Pole - there’s not an outpost in the world they have not reached. Including your body. The reason : poison knows no bounds. Chemicals are carried along by air and water currents. The pesticides used on a banana plantation in Ecuador, the bleach used in a paper factory in Canada, oil spills, the fluorine polymers produced in a chemical plant in France: they’re spreading across the world, accumulating in the environment and ending up in the food chain.

The chemicals are then stored in people’s fat tissue and slowly released into the body.

Some scientists say that the toxin amounts are only miniscule and won’t effect us.
But tests are proving that even people living a healthy lifestyle have toxins in their bodies way over the legally established maximums.

And new studies are finding that miniscule amounts may be more harmful than higher amounts. This ties in with homeopathics that uses tiny amounts to achieve results.

AND while many chemicals have been researched and analysed for their effects on humans, there is an area of research only on its infancy - that is, the effect of different combinations of chemicals. The potential for extra harm from chemicals being combined is mind boggling. With millions of chemicals, and with more being invented and produced each day, any 2, 3, 4, 100 or more WHEN COMBINED could have even more disastrous effects on our bodies.

Toxins affect us all, each differently.

• Some people are sluggish, have low energy levels and very little vitality.
• Or energy output happens in spurts, then they are tired.
• Illnesses appear, like cancer, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and more.
• Skin ailments like eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis occur as a result of our bodies getting rid of its toxins.

If the body cannot eliminate its toxins because there are too many for it to cope, or the system is not working properly, it will store the toxins somewhere so that they do not affect the rest of the body. Places like joints, resulting in arthritis, or in the stomach, resulting in cancer.

 

BENEFITS OF DETOXING

Once toxins are eliminated, these are among the many benefits :

• Increased energy and vitality level
• Less, and better sleep
• Healthier bowel movements (eliminates constipation problems)
• Weight Loss
• Improved look and strength of hair, skin, and nails
• Elimination of fatty wastes, mucus, and other toxic build-ups
• Decreased cholesterol
• An overall feeling of improved health and wellbeing
• Cures the cause, not just the symptoms, of many ailments

Companies that test on animals April 17, 2008

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Why are these companies included on the ‘Do Test’ list?

The following companies manufacture products that ARE tested on animals. Those marked with a t are currently observing a moratorium on (i.e., current suspension of) animal testing. Please encourage them to announce a permanent ban. Listed in parentheses are examples of products manufactured by either the company listed or, if applicable, its parent company. For a complete listing of products manufactured by a company on this list, please visit the company’s Web site or contact the company directly for more information. Companies on this list may manufacture individual lines of products without animal testing (e.g., Clairol claims that its Herbal Essences line is not animal-tested). They have not, however, eliminated animal testing from their entire line of cosmetics and household products.

 

Similarly, companies on this list may make some products, such as pharmaceuticals, that are required by law to be tested on animals. However, the reason for these companies’ inclusion on the list is not the animal testing that they conduct that is required by law, but rather the animal testing (of personal care and household products) that is not required by law.

 

What can be done about animal tests required by law?

Although animal testing of pharmaceuticals and certain chemicals is still mandated by law, the arguments against using animals in cosmetics testing are still valid when applied to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. These industries are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, respectively, and it is the responsibility of the companies that kill animals in order to bring their products to market to convince the regulatory agencies that there is a better way to determine product safety. PETA is actively working on this front by funding development and validation of non-animal test methods and providing input through our involvement on government advisory committees at both the national and international levels. Companies often resist progress and, instead of using human-relevant non-animal tests, choose to use animal tests because their results can be manipulated. Let companies know how you feel about this.

 

Arm & Hammer (Church & Dwight), P.O. Box 1625, Horsham, PA 19044-6625;

609-683-5900; 800-524-1328; www.armhammer.com

tBic Corporation, 500 Bic Dr., Milford, CT 06460; 203-783-2000; www.bicworld.com

Boyle-Midway (Reckitt Benckiser), 2 Wickman Rd., Toronto, ON M8Z 5M5

Canada; 416-255-2300

Chesebrough-Ponds (Fabergé, Ponds, Vaseline), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 800-743-8640; www.pondssquad.com

Church & Dwight (Aim, Arm & Hammer, Arrid, Brillo, Close-up, Lady’s

Choice, Mentadent, Nair, Orange Glo International, Pearl Drops), P.O. Box 1625, Horsham, PA 19044-6625; 609-683-5900; 800-524-1328; www.churchdwight.com

Clairol (Aussie, Daily Defense, Herbal Essences, Infusium 23, Procter & Gamble), 1 Blachley Rd., Stamford, CT 06922; 800-252-4765; www.clairol.com

Clorox (ArmorAll, Formula 409, Fresh Step, Glad, Liquid Plumber, Pine-Sol, Soft Scrub, S.O.S., Tilex), 1221 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612; 510-271-7000;

800-227-1860; www.clorox.com

Colgate-Palmolive Co. (Hills Pet Nutrition, Mennen, Palmolive, SoftSoap, Speed Stick), 300 Park Ave., New York, NY 10022; 212-310-2000; 800-221-4607; www.colgate.com

Cover Girl (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 513-983-1100; 800-543-1745; www.covergirl.com

Dial Corporation (Dry Idea, Purex, Renuzit, Right Guard, Soft & Dri), 15101 N. Scottsdale Rd., Ste. 5028, Scottsdale, AZ 85254-2199; 800-528-0849; www.dialcorp.com

Helene Curtis Industries (Salon Selectives, Thermasilk, Unilever), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 800-621-2013; www.helenecurtis.com

Johnson & Johnson (Aveeno, Clean & Clear, Listerine, Lubriderm, Neutrogena, Rembrandt, ROC), 1 Johnson & Johnson Plz., New Brunswick, NJ 08933; 732-524-0400; 800-526-3967; www.jnj.com

Lever Bros. (Unilever), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 212-888-1260; 800-598-1223; www.unilever.com

L’Oréal U.S.A. (Biotherm, Cacharel, Garnier, Giorgio Armani, Helena

Rubinstein, Lancôme, Matrix Essentials, Maybelline, Ralph Lauren

Fragrances, Redken, Soft Sheen, Vichy), 575 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10017;

212-818-1500; www.loreal.com

Max Factor (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 513-983-1100; 800-543-1745; www.maxfactor.com

Mead, 10 W. Second St., #1, Dayton, OH 45402; 937-495-6323; www.meadweb.com

Melaleuca, 3910 S. Yellowstone Hwy., Idaho Falls, ID 83402-6003; 208-522-0700; www.melaleuca.com

Mennen Co. (Colgate-Palmolive), 191 E. Hanover Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960-3151; 973-631-9000; www.colgate.com

New Dana Perfumes, 470 Oakhill Rd., Crestwood Industrial Park, Mountaintop,

PA 18707; 800-822-8547

Noxell (Procter & Gamble), 11050 York Rd., Hunt Valley, MD 21030-2098;

410-785-7300; 800-572-3232; www.pg.com

Olay Co./Oil of Olay (Procter & Gamble), P.O. Box 599, Cincinnati, OH 45201;

800-543-1745; www.oilofolay.com

Oral-B (Gillette Company), 600 Clipper Dr., Belmont, CA 94002-4119;

415-598-5000; www.oralb.com

Pantene (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202;

800-945-7768; www.pantene.com

Pfizer (BenGay, Desitin, Listerine, Lubriderm, Plax, Visine), 235 E. 42nd St., New York, NY 10017-5755; 212-573-2323; www.pfizer.com

Physique (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 800-214-8957; www.physique.com

Playtex Products (Banana Boat), 300 Nyala Farms Rd., Westport, CT 06880; 203-341-4000; www.playtex.com

Procter & Gamble Co. (Clairol, Cover Girl, Crest, Gillette, Giorgio, Iams, Max Factor, Physique, Tide), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 513-983-1100; 800-543-1745; www.pg.com

Reckitt Benckiser (Easy Off, Lysol, Mop & Glo, Old English, Resolve, Spray ’N Wash, Veet, Woolite), 1655 Valley Rd., Wayne, NJ 07474-0943; 973-633-3600; 800-232-9665; www.reckittbenckiser.com

Richardson-Vicks (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 513-983-1100; 800-543-1745; www.pg.com

Sally Hansen (Del Laboratories), 178 EAB Plz., Uniondale, NY 11556; 800-645-9888; www.sallyhansen.com

Schering-Plough (Bain de Soleil, Coppertone, Dr. Scholl’s), 1 Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ 07940-1000; 201-822-7000; 800-842-4090; www.sch-plough.com

S.C. Johnson (Drano, Edge, Fantastik, Glade, OFF!, Oust, Pledge, Scrubbing Bubbles, Shout, Skintimate, Windex, Ziploc), 1525 Howe St., Racine, WI 53403;

800-494-4855; www.scjohnson.com

SoftSoap Enterprises (Colgate-Palmolive), 300 Park Ave., New York, NY 10022; 800-221-4607; www.colgate.com

Suave (Unilever), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 212-888-1260;

800-782-8301; www.suave.com

Unilever (Axe, Dove, Helene Curtis, Lever Bros., Suave), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 212-888-1260; 800-598-1223; www.unilever.com

 

Legend

 

t The company is currently observing a moratorium on animal testing.

Risky foods April 16, 2008

1. Alfalfa Sprouts
The danger: “Sprouts are at the top of the list when it comes to potential problems,” says Michael Doyle, Ph.D., director of the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia. “The conditions for producing sprouts promote the growth of harmful bacteria.” In order to grow sprouts, the seeds are soaked and kept moist—a prime breeding ground for bacteria (salmonella is the most common illness associated with sprouts).

 

The safer solution: While Doyle reports that some researchers are looking at ways to test the water in which sprouts are grown in order to identify batches that are contaminated, it is not yet a foolproof system, and recalls and illness outbreaks are still common. Growing sprouts yourself at home is also no guarantee of safety—the same conditions that breed bacteria in commercial sprouts can exist no matter how careful you are. Washing sprouts does not clean away harmful bacteria, so the only way to guarantee safety is to cook them. “Unfortunately, when you cook them, they pretty much disappear,” says Ruth Frechman, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, who nonetheless mixes sprouts into cooked soups and stir-fries.

2. Eggs

The danger: The good news about eggs is that it’s the rare egg that will make you sick. “About one in every 10,000 eggs has salmonella,” says Frechman. “It’s a very low risk, but you never know when it’ll be your egg.” And since the infection can be laid inside the egg, the only way to eradicate it is to thoroughly cook your eggs.

 

The safer solution: Avoid raw eggs (like in cookie dough or Caesar salad dressing) as well as undercooked ones. Runny eggs are a potential danger zone—to be safe, you want to eat them well-cooked and solid. One option: look for eggs that are pasteurized in the shells. The pasteurization kills any bacteria that might be present so you can safely eat your eggs soft boiled or over easy.

3. Rare Burgers

The danger: Eating raw or very rare beef is always a bit risky. Beef has the potential for carrying salmonella or E. coli contamination. And even when the meat is produced under the most ideal conditions, there is still a risk that it can harbor bacteria. The only way to fully guarantee that it is bacteria-free is to buy meat that has been irradiated. And ground beef is more risky than, say, a steak, because it is handled more, and after being ground it has greater surface area on which to harbor bacteria.

 

The safer solution: While a rare burger is defined as one cooked to 140 degrees or below, a burger has to be cooked to at least 160 degrees in order to kill any bacteria and be considered safe. At 160 degrees, a burger will look more brownish than pink in the center. But Frechman recommends using a meat thermometer to check your burgers before serving to ensure you’ve cooked them enough.

4. Packaged Greens

The danger: Leafy greens—including cut lettuces and spinach—have been responsible for several outbreaks of disease and product recalls in recent years. One of the biggest scares was the 2006 E. coli outbreak that was eventually linked to bagged spinach that sickened 199 people and was responsible for three deaths. There are many ways that bacteria like E. coli or salmonella can infect produce—from infected animal feces that infiltrate the water or soil or from handling procedures during the picking or packaging. In most situations, washing the produce will not wash away the risk.

 

The safer solution: “Packaged greens are not more likely to carry contamination, but it is possible that you could have less likelihood of contamination if you properly prepare a head of lettuce than if you bought it pre-packaged,” says Doyle. He suggests that head lettuce, such as iceberg or romaine, is most likely to be contaminated on the outer leaves, so it’s possible to remove those outer leaves, wash your hands, cutting board and knife, then prepare the rest of it. In the case of leaf lettuce and spinach, it is all equally exposed to contamination, so there isn’t much you can do to minimize your risk.

5. Chicken

The danger: Raw chicken is a notorious carrier of salmonella and camplylobacter bacteria. It’s fairly easy not to serve chicken that’s contaminated—just make sure you cook it thoroughly with no pink showing when you cut it open (no one wants their chicken served rare anyway!). The biggest risk factors for getting sick is not from eating the chicken, but from cross-contamination during your prep and cooking.

 

The safer solution: Be careful when handling raw chicken. After cutting it up, immediately wash the knife, cutting board, the countertops and your hands to eliminate the risk of spreading the bacteria to other food in your kitchen. And when you bring the raw chicken outside to put it on the grill, take that plate back inside and get a new one on which to serve the cooked chicken.

6. Mayonnaise

The danger: Old wives’ tales aside, it appears that mayonnaise really isn’t all that risky. But because myths abound about food poisoning at family picnics caused by mayonnaise-laced salads, slaws and sandwiches, the condiment still made our list—if for no other reason than to debunk those myths. “The FDA standards for commercially prepared mayonnaise mean it has to have a certain pH and acidity that was developed based on studies to kill salmonella,” says Doyle. “So putting mayonnaise into a salad can actually have an anti-microbial effect.”

 

The safer solution: Homemade mayonnaise is still as risky as the mayonnaise myth would have you believe. So if you do make homemade mayonnaise, be sure to keep it—and anything made with it—refrigerated at all times.

7. Cantaloupe

The danger: A recent recall of cantaloupe imported from Honduras because of salmonella contamination has focused attention on the melon. The rind that encases the fruit may harbor the bacteria, but it is easily transferred to the edible flesh inside once it’s cut up.

 

The safer solution: Doyle reports that some producers treat the exterior of melons with steam to kill the bacteria without affecting the inside of the fruit. But there’s no way to know if you are getting one of these treated melons. Washing the skin may help, but with so many cracks and crevices in the rind, it’s not necessarily an effective solution. You can be careful with the way cut-up cantaloupe is stored (at home or at the store). “Harmful bacteria can thrive and multiply at room temperature,” say Doyle, so he recommends steering clear of any cut fruit that isn’t kept refrigerated.

8. Salad Bar Fixings

The danger: It may be the ultimate in convenience to swing by the salad bar and choose from a wide array of ingredients that are all chopped up and ready to mix into a customized meal. But letting someone else do all the prep work can result in some unhealthy surprises. “The biggest factors contributing to potentially unsafe salad bar food are foods that aren’t kept hot or cold enough, handling of food by workers with poor hygiene, and refilling partially used containers of perishable food with fresh food,” says Doyle.

 

The safer solution: Be sure your salad bar food is kept at the proper temps (cold food kept cold, hot ones heated sufficiently), that workers practice safe food handling, and that enough people buy food there to keep the supplies fresh. Also, Frechman cautions against salad bars that don’t have a “sneeze guard” to protect the food from airborne bacteria.

Help the Environment 1 Step at a Time April 15, 2008

Ways to make an impact on a daily basis :

• 1. THE THREE R’s: Reduce, reuse and recycle.
  2. Avoid buying what you don’t need.
  3. Buy more efficient appliances.
  4. Stay close to home (in more ways than one): Shorten your commute, eat food grown bearby, patronize local businesses.
  5. Walk more! Not only will you save on gas, but its also good exercise!
  6. Drive less. Walk more. I can’t say this enough.
  7. Support organic farming. It’s good for you AND the Earth. I’m telling you, you can’t lose.
  8. Prioritize and buy smart. Yeah, sure, you’l save 20 cents if you buy bulk, but think if you are really going to eat that whole bag of apples before it goes rotten. Do you REALLY need another tube of lip gloss?
  9. Buy a water purifying system. The water will taste better, and you will notice the difference in your skin and hair when you shower.
  10. Buy organic products. Believe me, i’ts a win-win situation. You are doing good for your body (since the products don’t contain pesticides, preservatives, added chems that do your body harm and may be carcinogens) and it takes less chemicals and processing to make these products than those that are non-organic.