Green It

Stop Zapping Your Food

Last modified on 2010-07-28 03:58:28 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Raw foodists have warned us about the damage that is done to food when it is cooked. Heat changes the make-up of food, and nutrients and beneficial enzymes can be destroyed. Not to mention the digestive system has to work harder and longer to process cooked food. This concern was taken a step further for me a couple of years ago as I was completing my Holistic Lifestyle Coach certification. The question arose, what are the hazards of using microwave ovens?

We discussed Robert O. Becker M.D.’s book The Body Electric and the dangers of simply standing next to a microwave. We reviewed Swiss, Russian, and German scientific clinical studies on the effects of microwave cooking. I was intrigued and continued research on the topic. There is definitely controversial debate on the subject, but the read that turned me away from microwaves for good is published by Lita Lee, Ph.D.

The waves produced by a microwave oven damage the cell wall of foods to such a degree that the human gut receptors are not likely to recognize microwaved food particles as food subsequently causing an immune response. The human body cannot metabolize these unknown by-products. No atom, molecule, or cell of any organic system can withstand such destructive power.

Wisely banned from Russia, microwave ovens destroy some nutrients and turn some amino acids into carcinogens. It is widely known that breast milk should never be microwaved, many hospitals even refuse to microwave breast milk. So I definitely think avoiding the electromagnetic pollution entirely is a good idea.

Are you ready to stop zapping your food? Take a few minutes and snoop around on the web and make an informed decision. Microwaves are convenient, but with a little planning ahead you won’t miss it at all. If you need to reheat something, simply throw a skillet on the stove top or use a toaster oven. It’s fast, easy, and tastes better too! You will probably find that you actually spend more time cooking from scratch, and that is definitely a healthier choice.

Recyle your microwave at Earth911.com. This informative website includes a search engine that will help you find a recycling center in your area that accepts microwaves.

Eco-Friendly Cruise?

Last modified on 2010-04-21 06:45:25 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a cruise ship?  Excessive carbon emissions, gray water, sewage, toxic waste, and garbage?  That’s exactly what I thought! 

I recently searched for eco-friendly cruise options and was pleasantly surprised with the results.  I discovered that new government regulations set the benchmark for cleaner burning fuels, and many cruise lines are spending thousands to millions of dollars upgrading fleets, ultimately saving money on fuel and energy expenditure.

I found that Royal Caribbean takes several steps to continuously improve environmental efforts by:

• Placing an Environmental Officer onboard every ship starting in 1996
• Receiving certification to international environmental management standard ISO 14001 in 1998
• Installing smokeless gas turbine engines on eight ships from 2000-2004
• Investing heavily in state-of-the-art wastewater treatment technologies, such as Advanced Wasterwater Purification (AWP) systems, to reduce impact on the environment

I’m especially fond of Royal Caribbean’s Save The Waves® program.  This impressive initiative highlights the company’s commitment to protecting our marine ecosystems.  The four components of Save the Waves® include:

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle-reduce the generation of waste material, reuse and recycle wherever possible, and properly dispose of remaining wastes.
• Practice Pollution Prevention-Nothing may be thrown overboard.  Nothing.
• Go Above and Beyond Compliance (ABC)-means doing more than is required by regulations.
• Continuous Improvement-Change is the only constant; innovation is encouraged and rewarded.

More noteworthy eco-friendly contributions include the addition of ship solar panels, LED lighting, water filtration systems, heat-transfer windows, onboard recycling, the elimination of water bottles, and a new hull shape and propulsion to maximize performance efficiency.

What did I do after discovering these eco-friendly facts?  I decided to go for it…and had the adventure of a lifetime! 

I was so excited about the endless eco-friendly Caribbean excursion choices.  I’m a sucker for adventure, experiences I’ll forever cherish include zipling in Labadee, Haiti, snorkeling in Cozumel, Mexico, and parasailing over the gorgeous Grand Cayman water.  

To top off the experience, Royal Caribbean developed the Humanitarian Relief to Haiti program.  Our ship distributed pallets of food and supplies, amazing!

I had a wonderful experience and I encourage anyone interesting in cruising to research the eco-friendly options.  Just remember to do your part to reduce your carbon footprint onboard, such as turning off your cabin lights, adjusting the thermostat while you’re out, don’t waste food, and reuse the towels.  In fact; even though they’re cute, ask your stateroom attendant to skip the towel animals!  

Bon Voyage!

Green Mowing – Reel Cut Mowers

Last modified on 2010-03-31 15:05:51 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

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Preserve®…Nothing Wasted. Everything Gained

Last modified on 2010-04-01 13:31:07 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

It just makes me feel good inside and out to use eco-friendly products and support environmentally responsible companies.  I would like to highlight one of those companies.

Preserve® makes stylish, high performance, eco-friendly products for the home.  The company makes their plastic products from recylced #5 polypropylene plastics.  They take the plastic, sort it, clean it, test it, recycle it…and voila!    Preserve® products are born.  I even found a recycling bin at my local Whole Foods Market.  Yogurt cups are recycled to create my razor and toothbrush, brilliant!

Check out Preserve’s personal care, tableware, and kitchen product menu here.

Thanks Preserve, for giving me the opportunity to enjoy fun products and minimize the stress on the envirnoment.

Natural Cork Bath Mat

Last modified on 2010-03-31 15:07:29 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Agent 18

Last modified on 2010-03-31 15:07:16 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

I LOVE my new iPhone EcoShield! Agent18 has the coolest green products for techy toys.