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But the Box Says it is Healthy!

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"Catelli “Smart” pasta sounds healthy, but maybe its “Healthy Harvest” with flax omega-3 pasta is a better option for health-conscious shoppers looking for a carbs fix.

YoPRO’s “probiotic” chocolate frozen yogurt bar sounds like a good dessert option, but if a salty choice is a must, maybe “multi-grain” Pringles are the way.

Washing the chips down with “vitaminwater” looks like a no-brainer, but perhaps a “100% pure and natural” drink would be better." (canada.com)

Confused?

Most people are. Especially those of us looking for healthier options at the grocery store. There are no specific regulations to what advertisers can put on the front of a box, so basically, anything goes.

We have became processed people. Not only is the majority of food consumed in this county processed but our information is also processed for us. From the news, media and commercials to health care and healthy eating we often blindly trust the recommendations and "expertise" of others. We are so often told what to do and think that we forget we have the amazing power to think and analyze information for ourselves.

Here at be the change we want you to be able to decide what food is nutritious and healthy ON YOUR OWN. You don't need point scores or fancy words to help you make decisions, but a foundation, a principle on which you can make all decisions. With a basic foundation you can evaluate any food or "food looking thing" and decide if it is a nutritious choice.

The Basic Idea

There are foods that were specifically created for our bodies to use. These are foods that grow and exist in nature. They have everything that is necessary, in just the right amounts, and in the perfect balance for proper digestion, distribution, and elimination of nutrients. These whole, real, living foods are packed with living vitamins, minerals, water, fiber, and enzymes. They contain dozens of elements we know about—and countless numbers of elements only the Creator/Designer knows about (but science "just uncovered" Like...blueberries are a super food!).  

The farther any food gets from its natural state the less nutritious it becomes. And the more we manipulate, modify, process, and change the food the more harmful it can become to our bodies. When we alter or take away those elements needed for digestion, distribution and elimination we are left with nutrient-less food, empty calories, that our bodies can't sufficiently run on. These "foreigners" cause back up in digestion or get wrapped in a membrane and stored (aka body fat).   

Whole, real, living foods that grow and exist in nature generally don't come with an ingredient list and if they do there is only one ingredient! But reading ingredient labels is very important. We should know what is in our food before we consume it. 

NutraGrain Bar

Read the Ingredients

1. Turn the box, package or can around, locate the ingredient list 

2. Look at the number of ingredients (fewer ingredients=better). 

3. Read the ingredients. Do you know what those things are? Can you conceivably use them in your own kitchen? Can you pronounce it?

Now you have a choice to make based on what you read. Do you put it in your cart? or back on the shelf and walk away?

Additional Resources

Nutrition Basis for Life Long Health

Crazy Food Labeling Tricks...

Stop Reading Labels and Start Reading Ingredients

Reading the Ingredient Label

Environmental Stewardship

"Our faith, our Christians worldview, tells us that the earth is good precisely because God created it and declared it good. It is worthy of our care, and indeed, we were commanded to tend it. Wasteful and immoderate use of natural resources is not a Christian virtue."

-Chuck Colson, Breaking Point

What a beautiful day to show our stewardship to Creation.

Our 2010 Earth Day Stewardship Acts and Pledges

1. Built a Compost out of the kitchen drawers we took out when we installed our energy star dishwasher. (update: forgot to put a lid on it and a ground hog ate my food... Taydem enjoyed watching it)

2. Wanted to make cloth napkins from an old sheet (no complete yet!)

3. Picked up trash in our neighborhood and the school parking lot next to our house

4. Called Habitat for Humanity Re Store to donate new and used building materials we had in our basement and garage.

5. Donated used toys and cloths and house items to local refugees, our church and Goodwill

6. Took a walk to grandma and grandpa's instead of driving

"You shall not pollute the land in which you live"

"In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:10)

April 22nd is Earth Day. And after 40 years Earth Day remains a time to celebrate restoration and stand up for the planet. I agree with many of the slogons out there, "Earth Day should be Everyday." And I tend to think the Powerful Creater also agrees.

"You shall not pollute the land in which you live.... You shall not defile the land in which you live, in which I also dwell; for I the LORD dwell among..." (Numbers 35:33-34)

Although we have polluted and defiled the land in which God created there are many ways we can be good stewerds of what we have been blessed with. We can turn from our wasteful ways one little step at a time and show respect to the creation we have been gracisly instructed to take care of.

My family is going to use Earth Day 2010 as a day in which we make commitments to live more sustainably, to reduce and follow through with some "good ideas". I look forward to sharing more with you tomorrow about our Pledges (to hold me accountable) and acts of service for God. Here are easy/ practical thing that you and your family can do on Earth Day and EveryDay to live more respectfully:

1. Wash your cloths in Cold Water
2. Make a clothes line in your basement, outside or between trees to dry your cloths instead of using the dryer
3. Bring your own bags to not only the grocery store, but every place you go shopping (Mall, Pet Store, Borders, Lowes etc)
4. If you forget your shopping bags...only buy as much as you can carry
5. Make a compost
6. Go Paperless in your kitchen: Use only washable reusable cups, plates, silver ware, rags, napkins
7. Make cloth napkins. Purchase material (or use an old sheet...thanks Leslie) and cut to make cloth/reusable napkins
8. Use your children's art work as wrapping paper (after it has been displayed on the fridge for a while)
9. Use public transport, carpool or plan your day to reduce trips and vehicle emissions
10. Buy hose plants that improve the indoor air quality
11. Leave clipped blades on the grass, it is good for the grass becuase they recycle nitrogen
12. Buy a non-motored mower or electric mower
13. Pick up trash at your favorite park, school, or in your neighborhood
14. Buy locally or grow your own produce
15. Shop junk mail by calling the companies to take you off thier mailing list and sign up to the National Do Not Mail List
16. Install Rain Barrels outside to catch rain water that can be used for watering flowers, plants or grass when needed
17. Choose Organic Lawn Care
18. Use Biodegradable and Enviormentally friendly products
19. When avaiable buy in bulk to reduce packaging
20. When purchasing goods, opt for sustainable, energy star, recycled, or reused resources.
21. Plant a tree
22. Recycle, donate or give away items in you don't want in your home. Remember "one mans trash is another mans treasure." Advertise your items on craigslist or freecycle

For great information, articles and videos visit National Geographic's Green Guide

The EPA has podcasts with Green Tips and a Pick 5 For the Enviornment tool to help you decide how you can help make a difference and show it!

"He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate-bringing forth food from the earth." (Psalm 104:10-14)

Natural Personal Care

Did you know that what you put on your skin is just as important as what you eat? To improve our health, we should diligently consider not only the quality of ingredients in the food we consume but also in the personal care products we use. The skin is our largest organ and what is put on it penetrates inside in a matter of minutes. Commercial skin care and personal hygiene products have an unending list of ingredients, most of which are impossible to pronounce. This leads me to wonder... does my hair (skin, teeth etc) require 47 ingredients to be clean...is this natural...what are the side effects...what happens to these chemicals when they go down my drain?

In a never ending attempt to live more naturally, simply, resourcefully, healthfully and respectfully our family has changed many of the products found in our bathroom. It has been a process. We began to replacing our personal care products with the ones labeled "natural" or "organic". I tried MANY different tooth paste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and deodorants...without success. We're unpleased with the results and the products are rather expensive for my budget.

"Do I have to do everything myself?!" I want natural personal care products that are safe for my family, respectful to the environment and soft on my budget. So... I do it myself! I use safe, natural products to make many of the items that do on our skin.

I can not guarantee pursuing a healthy lifestyle with food, body products, cleaning supplies, etc will be a piece of cake, but I will say it is definitely worth it. Taking good care of our bodies will make us more fit for the Masters use!

Remember take your time incorporating a more natural lifestyle into your home. Start by adding one new thing a month so it is not to overwhelming.

Tooth Paste: Additives like fluoride, flavoring, coloring, and foaming agents are now a standard part of the recipe for commercial toothpaste. Even commercial "natural" tooth paste has a long list of ingredients I don't know. But you can keep your teeth clean and white and your gums healthy without these additives.

Recipe #1

1 Tbsp Dr. Bronners castile liquid soap or any natural castile liquid soap-we use Baby Mild unscented (because it is the most versatile for us)

5 Tbsp coconut oil

3 Tbsp baking powder

Essential oil (10-25 drops), I use spearmint (peppermint is also good)

Stevia, or to sweeten to your taste – a few dashes or so works

Mix all ingredients together. I store mine in a small glass jar with a lid and we just scoop some onto our tooth brush. You can also store it in a new soap dispenser and just pump some out on your tooth brush. To put in a soap dispenser: omit baking soda, add 1 Tbsp or more water- to get the consistency you want (this makes it thin enough to put in a soap dispenser).

Recipe #2

1/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup vegetable glycerin

1 Tbsp castile liquid soap

A few drops peppermint, anise, wintergreen essential oil, optional

dash of stevia or xylitol

Combine ingredients with a hand mixer or by hand as desired. Store in a old toothpaste dispenser by cutting the end off and filling with your toothpaste. Seal the end with masking tape until it is ready for a re-fill.

Note: These toothpaste recipes are safer for children than many of the commercial tooth pastes. (safe to swallow) The only thing that you may want to be careful about is the essential oil. If this is a concern for you just stick with a smaller amount.

What about the fluoride? This lovely product is added to many water supplies and toothpaste. Dentists supposedly say it prevents tooth decay. However, this product has been banned from adding to water in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Austria, France and The Netherlands, I question why it is still being promoted as a healthy product here in the U.S.

But there is another form of fluoride that is added to your average container of toothpaste along with the warning DO NOT SWALLOW. Fluoride is toxic and dangerous and numerous studies have shown the dangers of fluoride to your health. For more information on fluoride I encourage you to do your own research or visit Mercola.com.

Shampoo- A combination of Dr. Bronner’s soap and other mainly edible ingredients this recipe not only works great as a shampoo but also has apple cider vinegar in it, which is a natural detangler, thus serving the purpose of a conditioner. Use a spray bottle to apply it and it also can be used in replacement of a traditional bar of soap to clean the rest of your body.

1 cup Dr Bronner Organic Castile liquid soap (we use Baby Mild, pictured
2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

3/4 Tbsp tea tree and vitamin E oil oil

1/4 cup water

1 16oz spray bottle or other container for application

Combine and store in spray bottle. Although it is thinner then other shampoo's, it sprays well. To wash: spray on hair, rub to active the suds and then scrub scalp.

Note: This will leave your hair slightly greasy, but that is actually more natural, modern shampoos remove natural oils and dry out your hair.

Recipe #2

1 oz Olive Oil

1 egg

1 Tbsp lemon Juice

1 t Apple cider vinegar

Blend together and store in the refrigerator between uses.

Recipe #3 This baking soda paste is great at removing build up from hair products and is a deep cleanser.

1 Tbsp baking Soda

1 cup water.

Mix together in an old dispenser. Massage this into the scalp and rinse well. It does not have a soapy feel to it by cleanses more thoroughly.

Conditioner: #1 Coconut oil is a great leave in conditioner. It softens hair, moisturizes the scalp and leaves the hair shiny. Your scalp actually absorbs coconut oil very will and does not leave it greasy. Apply a pea sized drop to wet hair after the shower. Coat your hands by rubbing them together, run your hands through hair and rub into hair. You can also use a comb to distribute the oil throughout hair. repeat if desired.

#2 Apple cider vinegar diluted in water cleans, detangles, resets pH balance, moisturizes, and removes "wax" from commercial shampoos. Combine 1-2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar and 1 cup of water in a new spray bottle. In the shower: spray ends of hair and rinse well.

Apple Cider Vinegar has been proven beneficial to take internally but also offer many topical health benefits too. It is an all natural remedy that helps the skin and scalps pH balance. Maintaining healthy skin (scalp)with a proper pH balance assists in the skins normal detox process. Our favorite Apple Cider Vinegar is Bragg's Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, is easy to find and great internally and externally.

Skin care, Aftershave, Lotion, Moisturizer, Hair Gel, Defrizzer, Curling Gel, Make-Up Remover: Coconut Oil. A little dab will do. For the make-up remover just put coconut oil on to a cotton ball to remove mascara and other products.

Note: I love the way coconut oil enhances my hairs natural curl!

Coconut Oil, is the healthiest (most versatile) dietary oil on earth. For more information about the amazing benefits of incorporating coconut oil into your daily diet and natural body products read more here or pick up the book Coconut Oil Miracle. For the best prices on coconut oil visit Mountain Rose Herbs.

Deodorant: It is especially important for women to take thought in the harmful aluminum material in deodorant as it has been linked to breast cancer, being that the lymph nodes that go to the breast are next to the arm pits.

I have tried MANY brands with no lasting success. Commercial and Natural deodorants have always been temperamental for me. There are some safe, natural brands, including Thai Crystal Stones, but every product I tried left me smelling worse that if I would not wear any. This deodorant works wonderfully! I am so happy with it!

1/4 baking soda

1/4 cup arrowroot powder or non GMO corn starch

3-6 Tbsp coconut oil (softened)

Mix baking soda and arrowroot powder. Slowly add coconut oil, stirring with a spoon, until it maintains the substance you desire. You can then scoop it into an old dispenser or place it in a small container with a lid and apply it with your fingers. My husband didn't like the idea of using his fingers at first, but you can use what is left on your fingers as lotion! This lasts about 3 months with 2 people using it.