Healthy Living

Welcome to the green wellness guide. In this guide we’ll steer you through the often toxic and confusing world of cosmetics, share tips about natural foods, and direct you to gentle practices to balance your physical, emotional and spiritual health. Wellness is all about the organic, holistic and “ecologic”. Going green starts with your own body.

COSMETICS

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As soon as you start doing a little research into the world of cosmetics, it becomes frighteningly apparent that most conventional creams, shampoos and makeup are loaded with toxic ingredients that you must avoid, especially the generic catch-all known as “fragrance“. Even teenagers these days have been found with disturbingly high levels of hormone disrupting chemicals in their bodies, absorbed from their cosmetics. Nail polish is notorious for containing neurotoxic chemicals, but many companies are coming out with luscious non-toxic nail enamels.

Here’s how to get started with safe, organic cosmetics. Treat yourself with an eco-friendly facial, and don’t forget that many spices and herbs, like turmeric or henna, can be used for healthy skin and hair care. And speaking of hair, consider whose hair might be brushing your cheek and invest in some green makeup brushes.

FOODS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

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Beauty starts from the inside out, and you are what you eat, so eat consciously. And eat smart ““ pick foods that will enhance your brainpower. When shopping, be wary of the word “natural,” because it doesn’t always mean what you think.

Eat plenty of antioxidants ““ longan, lychee and rambutan are some exotic choices, but don’t forget prunes, cacao and the peruvian purple potato. (Here’s a primer on antioxidants, bioflavonoids and phytochemicals for those of us who don’t know the difference.) For your Omega-3’s, eat plenty of flax, hemp, chia and salba seeds. The many varieties of edible seeds are a beneficial addition to any diet. Speaking of seeds, sprouting them is an easy way to grow your own living food. And you may want to supplement your vegetables with incredible sea vegetables ““ otherwise known as seaweed.

If you eat meat, make sure you understand the difference between organic, grassfed, free range and humane. Consider ostrich, bison and emu as healthy alternatives. And for you fish eaters, make sure you know the facts about fish farming.

There are plenty of healing foods around your kitchen, like apple cider vinegar, turmeric and honey ““ and we’re talking real honey here, not that stuff that comes in a plastic bear. And don’t forget avocados for your fiber.

SUSTAINABLE EATING

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It’s important to eat sustainably ““ not just for you, but for the economy and the planet. Eating organic is a start, but it’s also important to eat low on the food chain. Try eggs, yogurt, tempeh and other delicious meat alternatives for protein. Eating locally grown foods helps support the local economy and avoids all the petroleum used for shipping foods across the country and across the world. Shop farmers’ markets for local produce and try finding an organic dairy in your area. Even easier than going to a farmer’s market is to get weekly deliveries from a nearby farm. Here’s why you need to support a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) now.

PARENTS

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Pregnant women and young parents, we haven’t forgotten you! Keeping your kids healthy and green is vitally important. If you’re a pregnant vegetarian, make sure you pay special attention to your nutritional needs. If you bottlefeed your baby, please educate yourself about BPA and search out healthier plastics for the sake of your child’s health. Zoli is a great source for BPA products for babies.

Kids have a lot of energy, and ADHD is a common, albeit controversial, diagnosis among particularly energetic children these days. I believe diet has a great deal to do with children’s (and adults’) behavior, so please don’t feed your kids sugary, neon-colored cereals! Here are some healthier, organic cereal alternatives. And please know that research has shown, a dose of nature is very beneficial to kids with ADHD ““ spending some time in a relaxing, natural location can greatly aid their focus and concentration.

PHYSICAL WELLNESS

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Health begins with eating right, drinking plenty of water (keep in mind, you can eat your water too) and regular exercise, preferably out of doors. If you don’t have time to exercise, here are five tips to get some action on the run. Rest is important, so if you’re having trouble sleeping, try one of these natural sleep aids. And if you’re having trouble waking up, try one of these tips for staying energized all day long.

Worried about your health? Your fingernails might be telling you something. And always remember that prevention is the best medicine. Considering a flu shot? How about some natural tips to beat the cold and flu. Got a cold sore? You may want to put away your prescription and try these proven natural remedies. If IBS is what’s bugging you, try one of these 5 tips. Or is it a UTI that’s getting you down? Here’s how you can beat that. And if you ever need to take antibiotics for anything, make sure you replenish your intestinal flora afterwards with probiotics ““ these are essential for maintaining digestive health.

Weight loss ““ a big deal for many people ““ begins with a healthy diet and regular exercise, but there are some other tips and tricks that can help shed the pounds. One way is to jiggle (seriously!), another way is to write everything down. Yet another way to lose weight is to eat a big breakfast.

Vegetarians, we know you have a bit of a challenge getting all your iron needs met. Here’s how you can easily build your blood on a plant-based diet. And being vegetarian doesn’t mean you have to be scrawny: here’s a list of vegetarian muscle-building foods. If you’ve ever flirted with going vegan, ask yourself: should you eat dairy?

Ladies, love your body. That’s an order! PMS sucks, but it’s not a curse. It can be remedied. We’ve got two posts that’ll show you a natural cure for cramps and pill-free PMS tips. If your mood swings during your period, try an herbal tisane for gentle depression relief. There are many herbs that beat the blues; we write about 9 of them. And you should know that you have more options than Kotex and Tampax: sea sponges and Diva Cups just might be the eco-option you want.

Sex ““ it’s healthy, too. And we need you to keep having it: the planet is counting on you. If your sex life has cooled down, we’ve got some ideas to help heat it up. Condoms need to be part of the conversation, but there are some reasons you might want to skip the spermicide.

EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

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A gracious and optimistic outlook on life vastly improves physical health. It’s true that there are a lot of difficult things going on in the world, but you are ultimately responsible for your responses and reactions to them. Here are 20 ways you can grow your optimism habit.

But just because you’re optimistic doesn’t mean you’ll never feel stressed out or angry. Stress is a normal reaction to tense situations, but you need to minimize and relieve it, because chronic stress can have huge impacts on your general health. Chronic stress can lead to uncontrolled anger, and it’s important to work through anger before it takes control of your life.

Sometimes, no matter what we do, we feel the blues. Before hitting the prescription drugs, try some of these natural ways to life your cloud of gloom. There are many herbal remedies you can try for mild depression. If you’re really feeling adventurous and want to use your body to stimulate your mind, try laughter yoga.

SPIRITUAL WELLNESS

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Health doesn’t depend on physical health alone ““ your soul needs taking care of too. It’s essential to identify and work with your ego for full spiritual healthy. Connecting with nature is one way that many people refresh and revitalize their souls. If you live in the city, connecting with nature can be more challenging, but not impossible. Try revving up your intuition ““ it’s a real and powerful way to work your magic in the world.

Meditation is another way to connect with your soul, but you don’t always need to be sitting down. Walking meditation is a great way to be actively Zen. If you do prefer to meditate while still and sitting, try the ancient practice of Tonglen for aiding in healing and forgiveness.

Be well!