WELLNESSpicks

Wellness PICKS: Restorative Oil, Botanical Facial Gel and Organics Tonic

2009-12-29T23:22:00.000-08:00

Let's watch what we put on our bodies and try these products formulated without harmful ingredients.

Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Argan Oil This is nature's miracle moisturizer! It is fantastic on hair and even better on the body. Fizz is gone wiouthout the oily feel and look. The argan oil is easily absorbed by the skin and best of all Kiehl's sources fairly traded argan oil from a women's cooperative in Morocco.

Mario Badescu, Botanical Facial Gel is a cleansing gel enriched with grapefruit extract to revitalize and energize the skin. Know that grapefruit is a natural antioxidant and is a natural exfoliant.

Origins Organics Purifying Tonic. This 95% certified organic toner contains lavender alcohol, organic vinegar that sloughs off dead skin cells and organic willow bark which soothes and purifies the skin.

New Year + Change tactics = Wellness.

2009-12-26T23:11:00.000-08:00

Lacking energy, lethargic, slow …we now know what “listless” is. These harried times, the very word impresses just that, the lack of planning or coming up with a list can make one slow on the uptake – that is, short of saying, appear stupid.

The decade's end is peeking closely and we are challenged once more with a challenging year ahead. In spite of our efforts to keep our cool and wear “wellness” with glowing regard, no one and nobody can really, totally, escape hassles and bothersomes. We all have our fatigue moments.

Sigh. Fidget. Whistle.

WELLNESS PICKS suggests that we come up with a NOT-TO-DO LIST for 2010. To us, this is much believable rather than coaxing yourself to come up with a to-do list that resembles some complex military strategy complete with notes on psychological operations. Why not launch a counterattack by rattling off a list of things you are NOT going to accomplish? On top of my not-to-do list? Stop making to-do lists that will never get done.

New Year + Change tactics = Wellness.

Such that: JUST SAY NO. I won’t over-commit. I will weed out all the things I have felt obliged to do in the past and will decide to participate only in the volunteering, social and family activities that I truly want to do. I don’t plan to increase my carbon footprint. I will continue to look for ways to cut back on the amount of energy and other natural resources that I consume. I won’t waste my time with negative people. New Year, new mind-set!

What yours? Now get past - stop pinching your belly, wishing for a tummy tuck!

Wellness PICKS: Natural Organic Snacks in Vending Machines

2009-12-26T12:04:00.000-08:00

A startup home business called Wholesome Foods Vending wants us to push the vending machine button for a bag of Veggie Straws and a Vitamin Water. In the mind of this entrepreneur based in Delaware, people frequently make the wrong choices about snacking because there are so few choices.

Wholesome Foods Vending will be ready with their army of colorfully branded machines, filled with Chilean lime potato chips fried in avocado oil, or organic oats-and-soybean brownie bars. So far, sales pitches have been sent to about a thousand companies in Delaware. Meaning, it’s not there - yet.

WELLNESS PICKS like that Wholesome Foods Vending acts not just for profit, but for the common good. We share in the growing concern about soda machines fixed in school hallways that lure children with doses of high-fructose corn syrup and carbonated caffeine. It’s been a while that we heard of the New York state’s plan to clamp down on school junk-food vending.

We are already imagining of pushing the button for an organic, all-natural…ah, so long, Doritos and Mountain Dew.

Vow to Eat Eight Daily Must Eats

2009-12-24T23:57:00.001-08:00

There is an on-going “eat-this-not-that” commotion that confuses we hardly know now what to swallow. All we know is a little protein such as turkey, salmon and lean beef everyday won’t hurt, or so. But, in a seeming mêlée of nutrition experts over menu that packs needed nourishment, we go dumbfounded. What “high phytonutrient content?” Ah, take me to the market. Let us go find these eight food wonders.

Spinach - This noted muscle builder is a rich source of plant-based omega-3s and folate, which help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and osteoporosis. Bonus: Folate also increases blood flow to the nether regions, helping to protect you against age-related sexual issues. And spinach is packed with lutein, a compound that fights macular degeneration. Aim for 1 cup fresh spinach or 1/2 cup cooked per day. Substitutes: Kale, bok choy, romaine lettuce

Spinach and Strawberry Salad

Blueberries - Host to more antioxidants than any other North American fruit, blueberries help prevent cancer, diabetes, and age-related memory changes (hence the nickname "brain berry"). Studies show that blueberries, which are rich in fiber and vitamins A and C, also boost cardiovascular health. Aim for 1 cup fresh blueberries a day, or 1/2 cup frozen or dried. Substitutes: Acai berries, purple grapes, prunes, raisins, strawberries

Yogurt - The 2,000-year-old food's health benefits are not disputed: Fermentation spawns hundreds of millions of probiotic organisms that serve as reinforcements to the battalions of beneficial bacteria in your body. That helps boost your immune system and provides protection against cancer. Not all yogurts are probiotic, though, so make sure the label says "live and active cultures." Aim for 1 cup of the calcium and protein-rich goop a day. Substitutes: Kefir, soy yogurt

Tomatoes - There are two things you need to know about tomatoes: Red are the best, because they're packed with more of the antioxidant lycopene, and processed tomatoes are just as potent as fresh ones, because it's easier for the body to absorb the lycopene. Studies show that a diet rich in lycopene can decrease your risk of bladder, lung, prostate, skin, and stomach cancers, as well as reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. Aim for 22 mg of lycopene a day, which is about eight red cherry tomatoes or a glass of tomato juice. Substitutes: Red watermelon, pink grapefruit, Japanese persimmon, papaya, guava

Carrots - Most red, yellow, or orange vege- tables and fruits are spiked with carotenoids--fat-soluble compounds that are associated with a reduction in a wide range of cancers, as well as reduced risk and severity of inflammatory conditions such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis--but none are as easy to prepare, or have as low a caloric density, as carrots. Aim for 1/2 cup a day. Substitutes: Sweet potato, pumpkin, butternut squash, yellow bell pepper, mango

Black Beans - All beans are good for your heart, but none can boost your brain power like black beans. That's because they're full of anthocyanins, antioxidant compounds that have been shown to improve brain function. A daily 1/2-cup serving provides 8 grams of protein and 7.5 grams of fiber. It's also low in calories and free of saturated fat. Substitutes: Peas, lentils, and pinto, kidney, fava, and lima beans

Walnuts - Richer in heart-healthy omega-3s than salmon, loaded with more anti-inflammatory polyphenols than red wine, and packing half as much muscle-building protein as chicken, the walnut sounds like a Frankenfood, but it grows on trees. Other nuts combine only one or two of these features, not all three. A serving of walnuts--about 1 ounce, or 7 nuts--is good anytime, but especially as a postworkout recovery snacks. Substitutes: Almonds, peanuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts

Oats - The éminence grise of health food, oats garnered the FDA's first seal of approval. They are packed with soluble fiber, which lowers the risk of heart disease. Yes, oats are loaded with carbs, but the release of those sugars is slowed by the fiber, and because oats also have 10 grams of protein per 1/2-cup serving, they deliver steady, muscle-friendly energy. Substitutes: Quinoa, flaxseed, wild rice

Now, don’t dare us to go searching for a recipe that calls for a mix of all these eight. Aiming for wellness perfection is sometimes awful. But really, shall we vow to eat “eight?” “Eight’s” definitely well and good!

Wellness BITS: Happy "Food and Drink Days"

2009-12-23T18:16:00.000-08:00

Tis’ a season to be merry, so we go easy and share these cheeky bits of trivia about “Food and Drink Days.” Without us knowing, or ever we care if they exist, 'gustatory days' happen to be happening. Well, after all we eat and eat and drink practically every day so on some months and days when we are reminded of, say, a “Peking Duck Day,” we might just hit Chinatown and pat the bird a good cheer. Have some, if only for the occasion.

Today is Christmas Day and that is shared by the celebration of “National Pumpkin Pie Day.” Here’s what remains of this merry month:

26th: Candy Cane Day

27th: Fruit Cake Day

28th: Chocolate Candy Day

29th: Pepper Pot Day

30th: Bicarbonate of Soda Day

31st: Champagne Day

We can take that - actually, what a sparkling way to end the year. Toast!

Bet we will welcome the New Year with a January List of Food and Drink Days galore.

Cheers to Wellness!

Wellness NOTES: Insisting on biodegradable cafeteria utensils

2009-12-22T21:58:00.000-08:00

Sipping a hot noodle soup from a Styrofoam cup…ah, one of those instant, convenient snacks that can come every day. Then a take-out dinner later and a quick hot coffee to cap the night – all in Styrofoam, all good!

Good indeed if we consider that Styrofoam or Polystyrene foam is a petroleum-based plastic made from the styrene monomer. It sure sounds toxic. Don't take our word for it. EarthResource says that toxic chemicals leach out of these products into the food that they contain (especially when heated in a microwave). These chemicals threaten human health and reproductive systems.

WELLNESS PICKS notes, and praises Taiwan, Portland (Oregon), and Orange County (California) for banning polystyrene foam.

And so we like the news that a lot of school cafeterias are is phasing out its use of Styrofoam and all non-biodegradable plates, bowls, cups and utensils, the traditional plastic or Styrofoam material.

The transition to all biodegradable products is a conscious effort to promote sustainable food service practices and proper stewardship of natural resources. And things are going favorable because there’s been an increase in price on petroleum-based products such as Styrofoam while there’s been a decrease in the price of biodegradable items due to the increased production of the items.

The California-based Biocorp Inc. has developed disposable bags and cutlery that are entirely biodegradable. Made from renewable materials, including cottonseed and cornstarch, the products are biodegradable in a normal composting process, yet provide the functional characteristics of conventional plastic. The products have already received a seal of approval from the American Society for Testing and Materials.

This is a challenge for all campuses to become more sustainable. Next, are we seeing tray-less eateries?

Wellness PICKS: Angelina Jolie's Favorite Lotion

2009-12-22T08:27:00.000-08:00

Trust our favorite Angelina Jolie to always think of helping other and changing the world – even when she is in the shower. Brad Pitt’s ladylove uses bath products Shea Terra Nubian Honey Shower Crème and Shea Butter Body Lotion of which fifty cents from each bottle sold goes to the Nubian Goat Project, which purchases goats for needy families in Ethiopia.

Talk about feeling real good after a shower, WELLNESS PICKS love Shea Terra Organics because its line of products is loaded with the highest quantities of shea butter than most shea butter products you find on the shelves today. The natural ingredients include aloe ferox, bush mango, African potato, and honeybush – all known to promote skin repair and cell renewal.

Among their range of natural products - all free of parabens, sulfates, artificial fragrances or colors, our top pick is Miombo Mango Indigenous Silk & Shea Butter Lotion, a supple, rich moisturizer so named because it contains zesty mango extract from the African Miombo Rainforest. The label reads: organic and wild harvested African herbs, 20% certified organic shea butter, moisturizing goat's milk and cruelty-free silk.

Angie is right, shea’s got it all good.

Wellness TIP: Non-Reactive Cookware

2009-12-20T23:23:00.000-08:00

Dried foods or leftovers stored in plastic bags and plastic wares would taste like plastic. It’s very noticeable - or haven’t you noticed? - unless you like them flavored ‘industrial’. Same goes for sipping a hot tea in a Styrofoam cup, you are drinking more than tea. We guess it is “T” for “toxic.” This is attributed to the simple fact that food ions react with synthetic or metallic ions.

Of course the makers of elegant cookware and cute lunchboxes are not telling you this. So WELLNESS PICKS says that rather than wrapping a baked potato in aluminum foil, consider baking it directly on the oven rack or placing it in a covered casserole dish.

We can avoid adding toxins to our foods. You can use one of those inert, non-reactive cookware made from enamel, titanium, silicone or glass materials. Or go environmental with bamboo, earthenware or ceramic products.

WELLNESS PICKS gives you award-winning author Rebecca Wood for more Guidelines for Choosing and Using Healthy Cookware. She is quick to tell us that “foods vary in their reactivity” and that “It’s not necessary or expedient to ban all plastic from your kitchen.” Check out this helpful site for more counsels on "Healing with Food." Well then Miss Rebecca, gives us the wares.

Look, those cute "Microgreens" are creeping on my salad plate

2009-12-19T21:32:00.000-08:00

There are many other salad greens out there and some really possess exquisite flavor such as the likes of arugula, mesclun, radicchio and lamb's lettuce. For chefs and passionate home cooks, the salad bowl is a culinary playground with tantalizing tumbles of bitter and tangy, of sweet, spicy and peppery. Make it real fresh.

How about “bulls blood beet greens?”

And now the “microgreens” (Sounds like you're in a lab). Microgreens are filament-thin, delicate plants, the smallest possible incarnation of salad greens, leafy vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers.

The cute greens - those lovely little cluster of microgreens are flavorful Lilliputian members of the greens community which have been appearing with increasing frequency on today's restaurant menus. We just had a halibut steak with Persian spices in saffron broth garnished with a rainbow mix of micros like upland cress, amaranth, and sorts of edible flower confetti.

WELLNESS PICKS is attracted to microgreens because of their punchy splashes of flavor - our favorite is the spicy, nutty and earthy microarugula - and their almost-evanescent beauty.

At our choice restaurant French Laundry, at Yountville, California, the chef cuts what he needs from the living plants, so what we taste is a vibrant bouquet of just-harvested flavor. A curious reading of trendy menus reveal, micro is extensive: Microfennel, microarugula, micro-spinach, microchrysanthemums, microcelery and others appear as toppings, as garnishes, or as explosive bursts of flavor.

The chefs at Martini House, in St. Helena, and Foreign Cinema and Campton Place, both in San Francisco, are now incorporating microgreens into a variety of dishes.

We prod you to try a sampling of microgreens at these San Francisco restaurants:

42 Degrees: Variety of microgreens tossed in a fennel salad with Meyer lemon and satsuma orange or on a warm arugula salad with salmon.

Alma: The popular bulls blood blend (beet greens) dressed with sherry vinaigrette

Andalu: Microgreens rainbow mix in Ahi tuna tacos or microarugula on rabbit potpie.

One Market: A mix of microbasil in a melted caprese salad or leek tart on salmon and a bed of micromustard greens

Kokkari: Lobster and shrimp cake topped with a mix of microgreens.

Lark Creek Inn in Larkspur: Arctic char is garnished with mixed bulls blood beet green and an English pea soup is topped with microcilantro.

Wellness LIST: America's Best Healthy Foods

2009-12-19T01:47:00.000-08:00

Klondike Slim-A-Bear Ice Cream Sandwich

How's a "Best Dessert for Your Blood Sugar?"

WELLNESS PICKS spotted them - we mean, we spotted Men'sHealth listing "The Best Healthy Foods of America." Thanks for doing the walk. It is during these times of the year that we get extra super nosy about lists and listings: bests and worsts, ins and outs, hot and not. You have a month-ful of time to actually try each at the rate daily. If some of the items are not available in your area, you might want to whip up some of your own. And, be reminded that you are not to over-indulge. Serving suggestions included. Have some:

Best Restaurant Sundae:
   Uno Chicago Grill's Mini Hot Chocolate Brownie Sundae
Best Restaurant Dessert:
   Chili’s Sweet Shot Key Lime Pie
Best Frozen Treat:
   Fudgsicle Original Fudge Bar
Best Dessert for Your Blood Sugar:
   Klondike Slim-A-Bear Ice Cream Sandwich
Best Restaurant Sirloin:
   Ruby Tuesday Peppercorn Mushroom Sirloin
Best Restaurant Tilapia:
   Chili's Cedar Plank Tilapia
Best Restaurant Meal for Your Blood Pressure:
   Red Lobster Wood Grilled Sole with Fresh Asparagus
Best Frozen Dinner:
   Stouffer's Meatloaf
Best Mall Chinese Meal:
   Panda Express Mushroom Chicken with Mixed Vegetables
Best Frozen Entrée:
   Marie Callender's Oven Baked Chicken
Best Fast Food Kids Meal:
   McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets with Apple Dippers, Caramel Dip, and 1% Low-Fat Milk
Best Drive-Thru Meal:
   Wendy’s ¼-Pound Single with Small Chili and Medium Iced tea
Best Fast Food Burger:
   McDonald's Big N' Tasty
Best Hawaiian Pizza:
   Domino’s Thin Crust Ham and Pineapple Pizza (2 slices)
Best Frozen Pizza:
   Kashi Mexicali Black Bean Pizza (1/3 pizza)
Best Fast Food Pizza:
   Pizza Hut 12" Fit and Delicious, with Diced Red Tomato, Mushrooms, and Jalapeno (2 slices)
Best Drive-Thru Tacos:
   Taco Bell Grilled Steak Soft Tacos, Fresco Style (2)
Best Sit-Down Mexican:
   Baja Fresh Grilled Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos (2)
Best Restaurant Appetizer:
   Outback Seared Ahi Tuna (small)
Best Supermarket Yogurt:
   Fage 2% (7 oz)

Best Bottled Tea:
   Honest Tea Community Green Tea (16 ounces)
Best Mall Snack:
   Auntie Anne’s Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel, no butter
Best Nuts:
   Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds, Dark Chocolate (1/4 cup)
Best Snack Dip:
   Muir Glen Organic Garlic Cilantro Salsa (2 Tbsp)
Best Cracker:
   Nabisco Triscuit Original (6 crackers)
Best Sandwich for Your Blood Pressure:
   Cosi Tuscan Pesto Chicken Sandwich
Best Pita Sandwich:
   Chili's Fajita Pita Chicken
Best Sub Sandwich:
   Subway 6" Double Roast Beef
Best Vegetable Sandwich:
   Cosí's Fire-Roasted Veggie Sandwich
Best Asian Salad:
   Panera Bread Asian Sesame Chicken Salad (Half Portion with Reduced-Sugar Asian Sesame Vinaigrette)
Best Classic Salad:
   T.G.I. Friday's Cobb Salad
Best Sweet Coffee Shop Drink:
   Starbuck’s Vivanno Banana Chocolate with nonfat milk
Best Coffee Drink:
   Tall Starbucks Skinny Latte + Protein (12 oz)
Best Fast Food Breakfast:
   Platter Bob Evans 3 Scrambled Egg Lites with 2 Slices of Bacon & Fresh Fruit
Best Fast Food Breakfast Sandwich:
   McDonald's Egg McMuffin
Best Fast Food Oatmeal:
   Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal with Nut Medley
Best Supermarket Breakfast Sandwich:
   Jimmy Dean D-Lights Canadian Bacon, Egg White & Cheese Muffin Sandwich
Best All-Fruit Smoothie:
   Jamba Juice Peach Perfection (16 Ounces)
Best Instant Oatmeal:
   Quaker Cinnamon Swirl High Fiber Instant Oatmeal (1 packet)

Wellness SPOTS: TOP 10 Most Walkable Cities

2009-12-19T00:17:00.000-08:00

WELLNESS PICKS couldn't agree more to WALK SCORE that compact, walkable communities—the opposite of poorly planned sprawl—are the solution to some of our biggest shared challenges, from childhood obesity to social isolation, from crash deaths to disappearing farmland, from the high price of gas to the architectural blight of strip development. We are wont to add that walkable urban areas are even one of our most powerful weapons against climate change—they conserve fossil fuels like nobody's business. (It takes effort to burn gasoline when everything is so close to your front door.)

Here are the TOP 10 Most Walkable Cities and the most walkable neighborhoods in that particular area.

Chinatown, San Francisco

1. San Francisco: Chinatown, Financial District, Downtown

2. New York City: Tribeca, Little Italy, Soho

3. Boston: Back Bay-Beacon Hill, South End, Fenway-Ken

4. Chicago: Loop, Near North Side, Lincoln Park

5. Philadelphia: City Center East, City Center West, Riverfront

6. Seattle: Pioneer Square, Downtown, First Hill

7. Washinton D.C.: Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Downtown

8. Long Beach: Downtown, Belmont Shore, Belmont Heights

9. Los Angeles: Mid City West, Downtown, Hollywood

10. Portland, Oregon: Pearl District, Old Town-Chinatown, Downtown

This is a pretty believable list but our #1 would be Boston and we are not keen about New York City. We say that Our TOP 10 would have to include Denver, Miami and Pittsburgh.

Wellness CALL: Green The Classroom

2009-12-18T03:32:00.000-08:00

Whether it's better crayons in the classroom or clearing up the car-pool lane, a little of our involvement can go a long way to enrich a child's learning environment. Likewise, teachers who understand the importance of healthy classroom can be valuable partners in greening the rest of the school.

Do you have any product suggestions? Vinyl- and lead free - lunch boxes, chemical-free water bottles, unbleached recycled-paper notebooks and safer glue sticks? How about resources for Green School Activists?

You may send your suggestions, opinions or comments to: wellnesspicks@gmail.com

WELLNESS PICKS: An Eco-Friendly Cocktail

2009-12-18T02:42:00.000-08:00

Yes, with this organic vodka. The brainchild of a bartender turned CEO, Square One Vodka is made from 100 percent USDA certified organic rye grown in North Dakota. We sipped ours served chilled in a martini glass. Next time we like it on the rocks with a splash of organic orange juice - try Organic Valley's juice from family farms - for a perfect eco-friendly cocktail. And you've shaken the last martini, save the bottle for creative re-use around the house. Ah, to be green and tipsy!

Why organic vodka? And why its makers are claiming that they are "A Different Kind of Drinks Company"..? Check out squareonevodka.com

Green Fact: In 2008, 35,362,444 gallons of vodka were imported into the United States, guzzling countless gallons of petroleum in shipping!

An apple a day...have that before lunch

2009-12-18T02:30:00.000-08:00

People who did consumed nearly 190 fewer calories at the meal than those who'd taken in the same number of calories (125) in the form of applesauce, fiber-fortified apple juice, and plain apple juice, according to new research from Pennsylvania State University. "All calories are not created equal," says Mark Hyman, MD, author of Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss.

A whole apple feels like more. It has more fiber and nutrients, and makes you feel full longer." The Penn State volunteers ate their apple about 15 minutes before lunch -- and the authors suspect the effects might have been even more dramatic had they eaten the peel (which was removed), thanks to the extra fiber.

Protein + Anti-Oxidant: Because we're too busy to eat healthy

2009-12-15T03:38:00.000-08:00

Busy people struggle to eat healthy everyday. Most of us don't get enough antioxidants, fiber, or protein during our daily routine. WELLNESS PICKS found a balanced light snack which also works as a post-workout recovery smoothie. We enjoy a bottle as a refreshing dessert after a meal. This one we can carry for a snack-on-go and drink in the car, at the gym, in the office, on the back 9, after a run or ride.

The label says it got 15g of superior whey protein isolate, 8g of soluble fibre, 23 vitamins and minerals, 3 servings of fruits and veggies, antioxidants equivalent to 4 cups of green tea and free of soy, gluten, lactose and caffeine.

We had one Berry and Mango; Tangerine, too. And Lime, Blueberry as well.

Wellness TIP: Perk up Your Plants with Coffee

2009-12-14T22:48:00.000-08:00

Compost your coffee grounds or sprinkle them on your plants as food.

Wellness Picks: Organics Advocate, Green Living Online Store

2009-12-14T22:02:00.000-08:00

RODALE INSTITUTE

Their mission says it all: We improve the health and well-being of people and the planet. They cover Global Warming, Nutrition, Famine Prevention. Check out and support their ADOPT AN ORGANIC APPLE TREE campaign.

Totally Bamboo - A variety of uniquely designed kitchen accessories made of bamboo from ekotribe. They have a choice of thoughtfully selected products that are safe, healthy and environmentally-friendly and they help us save energy and save the planet.

Got Milk Labeling Confusion? "Natural" or "Organic"

2009-12-14T18:36:00.000-08:00

Organic dairy farmers challenge other "value added" labels

The real deal - certified organic milk is the Gold Standard in the Dairy Case

A recent marketing study published in the Journal of Applied Economics and Policy, found that consumers really don’t know the difference between natural and organic, even though they have very different production requirements. Jeffery Anstein, author of the study, suggests that companies have been taking advantage of the confusion over the terms “natural” and “organic”.

Today, more than ever, shoppers can visit the retail dairy case and find dairy products labeled with a variety of claims including: “certified organic”, “all natural”, “rBST-free”, “grass fed”, “naturally raised”, and “animal welfare friendly.” Consumers are inundated with labeling messages that are not backed by rigorous state and/or federal regulations.

Of all these labels in the dairy case, “Certified Organic” is the only label with 3^rd party verification and federal enforcement.

“If a family wants to wisely spend their dollars on meaningful labels, they should buy certified organic,” says Urvashi Rangan, Senior Scientist & Policy Analyst at Consumers Union. Consumers who buy organic are assured that their dairy products are humanely produced without the use of hormones, pesticides, cloning or genetic manipulation. In addition, organic regulations require cattle to be grazed on organic pastures, and for farms to use environmentally friendly practices.

Consumers who choose not to purchase certified organic products could be buying products produced with the use of reproductive hormones, rBST, antibiotics, pesticides, cloning, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Organic dairy farmers want all consumers to understand the meaning behind the labels. Look for the USDA organic seal and enjoy the real deal - certified organic milk.

Source:
RODALE INSTITUTE. Leader in Organic Solutions Since 1947. Mission: We improve the health and well-being of people and the planet.

Decorate Happiness and Lose Weight

2009-12-13T19:53:00.000-08:00

It can actually help you lose weight - a photo of a smiling face on your refrigerator door doesn't just remind you of good old days. We call it "positive decorating."

WELLNESS PICKS learned that surrounding yourself with happy photos, memorabilia and cartoons encourages a happy, positive mood, which allows you to step back emotionally and understand the big picture. "A positive mood enhances efforts to attain future well-being, encourages broader and flexible thinking, and increases openness to thinking," says researchers Aparna A. Labroo from the University of Chicago and Vanessa M. Patrick from the Univesity of Georgia.

The study, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, revealed that the participants described either the happiest or unhappiest days of their lives, which induced positive or negative moods. They then filled out questionnaires that measured levels of abstract versus concrete thinking.

The researchers found out that participants in good moods engage in more abstract thinking, which influences goals and motivation. They further explained that people in positive moods not only adopt higher-order future goals, but they also work harder to achieve them.

When it comes to eating and weight loss, feeling good can motivate you to make healthier food choices - like apples and low-fat cheddar, instead of brownies and ice cream! - So if you're serious about a healthy lifestyle, decorate your kitchen with things that make you smile. Yeah, happy pictures on the fridge will help you lose weight.

We saw this "Voluptuous Vegan"

2009-12-11T21:52:00.000-08:00

Very rarely do we found "voluptuous" and "vegan" in the same light, perhaps because the meat and dairy-fee vegan diet has a reputation for being a little Spartan. WELLNESS PICKS came across Myra Kornfeld, who spent years creating lavish vegetarian fare at New York's legendary Angelica Kitchen, has made veggies the life of the party in this one-of-kind cooking reference.

The Voluptuous Vegan contains myriad ways to bring out the animal in the vegetable turf: cooking them down, dressing them up, and combining bright colors and sumptuous flavors into menus in which meat and dairy are NEVER MISSED. Fine, you never have room for them. Hearty treats like Chili and Corn Biscuit Casserole, Pumpkin-Sage-Pecan Ravioli or Lemon Pudding Cake with Blueberry Glaze put any lingering associations between veganism and deprivation soundly to rest, while still being centered on healthy whole foods that nourish your body. Any parent's dream is a collection of Maple-sweetened desserts.

Vegans, vegetarians, voracious carnivores and any enthusiastic home cooks alike will find this cookbook an excellent addition their kitchen library. WELLNESS PICKS finds The Voluptuous Vegan a handy resource for anyone who wants to lower his or her intake of animal products and take delight in the process.

And while you are at it, we like you to check out the recipes in this vegan of a blog: VOLUPTUOUS VEGAN

Dumb About Expiration Dates

2009-12-10T21:42:00.000-08:00

A stale brown sugar? Nah, your favorite sweetener has indefinite shelf life if stored in a moisture-proof ontainer in a cool, dry place.

But really, we are dumb, or we simply don't bother them Expiration Dates of some kitchen residents: Coffee, Dried Pasta, Frozen Vegetables and Ketcup.

Here are four expiration dates that may surprise you:

COFFEE (canned, ground): 2 years if unopened, 1 month if opened.
DRIED PASTA: 12 months if stored in an airtight container.
FROZEN VEGETABLES: 18-24 months if unopened, 1 month if opened
KETCHUP: 1 year if unopened, 4-6 months if opened.

Will Drive: High-Mileage, Low-Emission Cars

2009-12-10T19:28:00.000-08:00

As gas prices rise and we grow used to the idea that we may never see a cheap tankful again, fuel-efficient cars are performing better than ever. No longer the rough-handling pint-size vehicles of yesteryear, new models offer high levels of comfort, performance, luxury and style. Auto manufacturers have made substantial progress in their efforts to boost fuel economy with lighter, more aerodynamic designs and improved tires, engines and transmissions.

WELLNESS PICKS shares this top-mileage compact car rated by the Environmental Protection Agency, the HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. This car is a popular model engineered for safety that continue to attract buyers in large numbers, and for good reason. The Civic Hybrid is a high-mileage, low-emissions car that can get 45 mpg on the highway. Proving that conventional gas models can achieve excellent mileage.

WILL ALSO CHECK:

Subcompacts: TOYOTA YARIS, MINI COOPER CLUBMAN
Compacts: TOYOTA COROLLA
Midsize Cars: TOYOTA PRIUS, NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID
Large Cars: HONDA ACCORD EX, HYUNDAI SONATA GLS
Small Station Wagons: HONDA FIT HATCHBACK, PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA MATRIX
Midsize Station Wagons: VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON, KIA RONDO
Minivans: MAZDA, HONDA ODYSSEY
SUVs: FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, MAZDA TRIBUTE HYBRID, MERCURY MARINER HYBRID

THE RACE FOR A GREENER CAR! LESS SMOG, MORE MILES

??? Do emissions go down as mileage goes up?

The GREEN Question: Biodegradable Plastic Bags?

2009-12-07T11:10:00.000-08:00

WELLNESS PICKS:

EarthSense Kitchen Trash Bags. Made with 70% recycled plastic, 10% post-consumer.

Seventh Generation Drawstring Tall Kitchen Bags. 45% recycled plastic, 25% post-consumer.

-----------------------------------

???: I've been reading a lot lately about biodegradable trash bags. Do they actually break down or is this just a bunch of greenwashing? Do biodegradable plastic bags really disappear or is this another case of green hype?

-----------------------------------

Got Answers? POST A COMMENT.

Chewing on wellness: MINDFUL EATING

2009-12-07T06:08:00.000-08:00

We do eat while driving, or munch on junk food while watching TV or sipping latte while reading the paper, or while reading this post here...Ah, do we know that to eat in this manner is eating abundantly because we tend to tune in to our body's hunger and satiety signals by tuning out distractions...."When you're distracted, you end up eating more," says Brian Wansink, PhD, author of the book Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think an eye-opener - and appetite-buster - of an instructional book.

WELLNESS PICKS did the rounds and picked bits of wisdom such as "serious chewing". But really, here are ways to bring mindfulness to our meals:

START WITH A BLESSING OR INSTRUCTION. Simply getting conscious about the fact that we are eating with the intent to enjoy the meal and nourish our body gives our brain and biochemistry a chance to ready themselves - and it gives us a chance to become fully present for the rest of our mindful-eating experience.

SHARPEN SATIETY SIGNALS. Before and a few times during each meal, ask: "On a scale of 1 to 10, how hungry am I?" See if we can stop eating when we feel satisfied, not stuffed.

TUNE IN TO OUR SENSES. Really look out and smell our food before we taste it, strive to fully experience each bite, and track the sensations as our satisfaction rises and then plateaus - a sign that our hunger is subsiding and our body is signalling "enough."

SLOW DOWN. Put our fork and knife down between bites and chew each bit of food a little longer. Wansink's research reports that Slender people chew their food 30% more than overweight people. True enough, we are likely to get more flavour and, therefore, more pleasure from less food. So, consider serious chewing.

BE AWARE OF OTHER PEOPLE'S INFLUENCE. We tend to mimic the speed at which our tablemates eat (as well as how plenty they eat). The book says, "When eating in a group, be the last person to start eating and then pace yourself with the slowest eater - and the best chewer - at the table."

To Join Some Skin Talk

2009-12-07T04:53:00.000-08:00

They are talking concerns on skincare here. WELLNESS PICK a "fairly better" forum about Skin Care Talk.