Organic Recipe: Pomegranate Smoothie

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day -- why not start it off on the right foot with a protein-rich, antioxidant filled milkshake that tastes great!



Ingredients:
1 cup organic pomegranate juice
3/4 cup organic vanilla soymilk or organic low-fat milk
2-3 ice cubes
1 large organic banana, peeled and broken into chunks
1/2 cup organic blueberries
2-4 tablespoons protein powder (optional)
1 tsp organic honey or 1 tsp stevia to taste

Blend all ingredients in a food processor for 30 seconds.
Makes 2 large or 3 small servings.

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Organic Recipe

I know its not quite summer yet, but I thought I would share my recipe for Organic Guacamole.




Organic Recipe for Guacamole

4 ripe organic avocados
1 medium organic Vidalia or sweet yellow onion, finely chopped
1 medium organic roma or beefsteak tomato
1 large organic lime
2 small organic jalapeno peppers, finely chopped (seeds removed)
2 cloves organic garlic, finely minced
organic sea salt to taste
organic ground white pepper to taste
1 large bunch fresh organic cilantro, finely chopped (stems removed)Organic Corn Tortilla Chips for dipping

Into a large mixing bowl, add your cubed avocados. (cut your avocados in half - removing the pits. Score the halves with a sharp knife to create cubes. Scrape out each avocado half into large mixing bowl). Roll lime on counter top to allow juice to come to the surface. Cut lime in half and holding it upright to keep seeds from dropping out, squeeze juice over avocados. Add chopped onion, tomato, jalapeno, garlic and cilantro into your bowl. Mix vigorously with wooden spoon. Add the sea salt and ground pepper to your liking. If you prefer a more whipped guacamole, try using a hand mixer to whip some of the avocados before adding all of the other ingredients.

Scoop with chips and enjoy! I'll put up my recipe for pomegranate smoothies in a few days that will have you drooling over your laptop.

Carbon Neutral - 10 Tips to Convert Your Home

Its time for Spring Cleaning once again and its also a good time to talk about reducing carbon dioxide emissions in your home. It doesn't take a lot to make a big difference.

In case you are new to the whole "carbon neutral" debate, here is a summary: carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere when we burn fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas. CO2 is a bi-product every time we generate electricity and start our cars, turn on our computers or run our dishwashers. Here are a few tips to utilize your energy more efficiently at home and reduce your emissions. The great part of doing these simple steps will result in lower energy bills.

(1) Set your thermostat 3 degrees cooler in winter and 3 degrees warmer in the summer.

(2) Clean / Replace filters in your heater and air conditioning unit.

(3) Run your dishwasher when it is fully loaded, between the hours of midnight and 4 am and use the energy-saver setting if there is one.

(4) Power down your electronics, computers, stereos, iPods, etc when not in use. Unplug them from the wall when you're not using them either -- even though they are turned off, they still suck energy in the "off" position.

(5) Buy recycled paper products -- it takes anywhere from 70 to 90 per cent less energy to produce recycled paper products than new materials.

(6) Sign up to switch over to green power (power generated by clean and renewable sources like wind and solar). It might even make economical sense for you to install solar or wind powered resources if you own your property. It may cost a bit more up front, however you can sell back energy you don't use to the utility companies. For some, renewable energy sources can be a money maker and not an expense for the home.

(7) Wrap your hot water heater with an insulated blanket and set the heater's thermostat to no more than 120 degrees.

(8) Replace all incandescent light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent instead. Again, a bit more expensive up front, however they last 50-75% longer than regular bulbs which is a savings to you overall.

(9) Support local and sustainable farmers by shopping for produce at local farmers markets. Most communities have many markets throughout the week in different locations. By shopping locally, you are saving on fuel costs and emissions from transporting it to you. In addition, buy organic foods and products. Organic soil has been shown to capture carbon dioxide and store it at higher levels than chemical laden soil.

(10) Say NO to plastic shopping bags. It is believed that plastic bags take more than a century to break down. As they disintegrate, they release poisonous chemicals into the water and soil. Either re-use your paper grocery bags or keep a stash of cloth ones in your car for your next grocery trip.


These are just a few simple ways you can begin to convert your home into a greener, cleaner living space. Comment on the post if you have suggestions to reduce carbon emissions.

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Organic Produce Definition & Tips

If you have been considering moving over to an organic or at least 100% natural lifestyle, but didn't really know where to begin... here is a good guide to produce picking.

If you have ever wondered which produce has the tendency to pick up more pesticides and toxic chemicals than others -- here is a list that will help you figure out which fruits and veggies are worth your extra hard earned money each month.

RANK FRUIT OR VEGGIE SCORE
1 worst Peaches 100 (highest pesticide load)
2 Apples 89
3 Sweet Bell Peppers 86
4 Celery 85
5 Nectarines 84
6 Strawberries 82
7 Cherries 75
8 Pears 65
9 Grapes - Imported 65
10 Spinach 60
11 Lettuce 59
12 Potatoes 58
13 Carrots 57
14 Green Beans 53
15 Hot Peppers 53
16 Cucumbers 52
17 Raspberries 47
18 Plums 45
19 Grapes - Domestic 43
20 Oranges 42
21 Grapefruit 40
22 Tangerine 38
23 Mushrooms 37
24 Cantaloupe 34
25 Honeydew Melon 31
26 Tomatoes 30
27 Sweet Potatoes 30
28 Watermelon 28
29 Winter Squash 27
30 Cauliflower 27
31 Blueberries 24
32 Papaya 21
33 Broccoli 18
34 Cabbage 17
35 Bananas 16
36 Kiwi 14
37 Sweet peas - frozen 11
38 Asparagus 11
39 Mango 9
40 Pineapples 7
41 Sweet Corn - frozen 2
42 Avocado 1
43 (best) Onions 1 (lowest pesticide load)


Note: This list is a reprint from the Environmental Working Group. EWG is a not-for-profit environmental research organization dedicated to improving public health and protecting the environment by reducing pollution in air, water and food. For more information please visit www.ewg.org.

The National Organic Standards Board Definition of "Organic"

The following definition of "organic" was passed by the NOSB at its April 1995 meeting in Orlando, FL.

"Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.

‘Organic’ is a labeling term that denotes products produced under the authority of the Organic Foods Production Act. The principal guidelines for organic production are to use materials and practices that enhance the ecological balance of natural systems and that integrate the parts of the farming system into an ecological whole.

Organic agriculture practices cannot ensure that products are completely free of residues; however, methods are used to minimize pollution from air, soil and water.

Organic food handlers, processors and retailers adhere to standards that maintain the integrity of organic agricultural products. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people."

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They carry a line of everything from healthy, eco-safe organic bedding for your family, and baby's natural nursery to natural remedies for relief from allergies and multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS). Organic sheets, pillowcases, blankets, comforters, mattresses and toppers, bed pillows -- you name it. Organic Bathroom is covered with their extensive collection of plush organic cotton bath towels, and bathrobes.

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Try them out and tell us what you think.

Natural Cure for Constipation

Ok so over Christmas, all of the adults had this bad flu bug. Ironically, none of our kids caught it, knock on wood! We all had slightly different versions of it -- unfortunately after two days of lying in bed and barely anything to eat, I find myself not feeling so good now. I haven't been regular since and so I consulted a few homeopathic friends for help. I thought I would share the goods:

Constipation can be many things but for definition sake, it is irregular bowel movement. It can be caused by poor intake of fluids or a poor diet consisting of mostly refined foods & high fat. Constipation may occur either because you have weak colon muscles or no regularity in bowel movements. It is advised not to take any chemical laxatives to treat your constipation as this can and usually does form a habit.


Prevention of Constipation


>> Drink a lot of purified water, at least 8 - 8 ounce glasses of water daily (1 gallon).
>> Eat fresh, organic foods with dietary fibers such as prunes, figs, cereals, fruits, and nuts.
>> Eat an organic apple (keep the skin on) daily.
>> Organic guava eat with the seeds)will provide roughage and usually produces regularity.
>> Avoid highly refined, high fat and starchy foods.
>> Reduce intake of foods with refined sugar and white breads and foods prepared with white flour (bleached and unbleached white flour).
>> Keep your physical activity level moderate to high at least three times a week. Exercise keeps your muscles toned inside and out.


Here are a few Organic and Natural Home Remediesfor Constipation -- Note: this list should not replace consultation from your physician or health care provider. This is meant to be a helpful guide. Should you have irregular bowel movements for more than 7 days, it is suggested that you seek advice from your health care provider.

>> Drink a glass of warm water with 1 tsp organic honey and juice of 1/2 an organic lemon/lime in the morning before you eat or drink anything.
>> Organic Liquorice is a natural laxative. Chew a few sticks.
>> Take 3 tsp of organic psyllium husk in warm organic milk or warm water at bed time. This should produce results in the morning without cramping.
>> Soak a few organic dates overnight in luke warm water. Next morning mash the date and drain the water. Drink 1 teaspoon of this water four times for a day.
>> Combine 1/2 c. organic olive oil with 1/2 c. organic orange juice and drink twice a day. This should produce results in 8-12 hours.
>> An Indian remedy: put some curry leaves (curry patta) in hot water for a few minutes and then take out. Combine with honey and eat.
>> Eat at least 18 organic grapes daily. The combination of the properties of cellulose, sugar and organic acid in grapes makes it a laxative food. Eating grapes tones up the stomach and intestines and relieves the most chronic constipation. When fresh grapes are not available, organic raisins soaked in warm water can be used.
--->Note: Overweight and diabetic people should not use grape therapy.
Put Senna pods (6 to 12 for adults and 3 to 6 for children) in boiling water and steep for 2-5 minutes. Drink as a tea.
>> Organic bale fruit is the best natural laxative.
>> Mix organic flax oil (about half a tsp) with equal quantity of organic honey and drink daily.
>> An organic juice Laxative: combine 1 c. organic tomato juice, 1/4 c. organic carrot juice, and 1/2 c. organic sauerkraut juice and drink.

Note: this list should not replace consultation from your physician or health care provider. This is meant to be a helpful guide. Should you have irregular bowel movements for more than 7 days, it is suggested that you seek advice from your professional health care provider.