Apple Cider Vinegar for Better Health!

While supplements are a great addition to your health, another wonderful addition is the use of apple cider vinegar, celtic sea salt, and of oils. The next few blogs will be covering just that. Today's will discuss the healthy benefits and why to consider adding Apple Cider Vinegar to your daily supplementation.

Apple Cider Vinegar:
is an effective natural bacteria-fighting agent that contains many vital minerals and trace elements such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, chlorine, sodium, sulfur, copper, iron, silicon and fluorine that are vital for a healthy body. The best possible form of apple cider vinegar is to make it yourself from scraps or organic apples. This form is the best because it keeps in much of the enzymes lost during the processing that many large companies use. Other options is to get it from Amish farmers, local farmer's markets, or health food store.
What are the Healthy Benefits?
Apple Cider Vinegar is found to help many ailments. Many of which that usually require an antibiotic, but apple cider vinegar has no side effects. These included: sinus infections, sore throats, Balances high cholesterol, helps with heartburn, reduces acne, reduces allergies, strengthens immune system, diabetes--type 1 & 2, increases metabolism, improves digestion and cures constipation.
How to use it?
This is simple take 1 tablespoon in an 8oz glass of water before lunch and dinner.

**Warning Harmful Toxins in Your Products****

I have recently come across this helpful website click here. It is regulated by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. It makes me wonder why the U.S. government would allow such horrible ingredients to be used in many every day products knowing the long-term damage health wise they pose? The only answer I can think of is money. I have added this link to my helpful sites, but I encourage each of my readers to check your own products out. If what you find disturbs you, then here is an option we have chosen click here.

Something Beautiful....

Over the course of the summer I have been talking a lot about composting, gardening, eating organic/buying local, and how to be more green.  Many of which have been a apart of my life for a while, became apart of our small home church's lives more recently.  I am amazed that such a small group of our size (no more than 15-20 regular attendees) built a beautiful community garden, maintained it, and used it to build bridges to the larger community.  The Mustard Seed Garden through Phoenix Metro Community Church worked with a local nonprofit, Preserving Traditions, to learn about growing organic, buying local & organic, facts about food, and canning.  These skills helped Phoenix Metro build community relationships with one another, those in the larger community, and the opportunity to become a bridge in the community.  With the organic garden produce, Phoenix Metro had healthier food options for each member plus a section of foods donated to a local nonprofit that feeds the hungry.  Further, taking ingredients from the their garden and local organic farms, Phoenix Metro had a canning day in early September in which 133 cans of salsa, tomatoes, garlic-dill pickles, and pears were made.  Also in mid-September they hosted a apple day assisted by Emily & Julie with Preserving Traditions at the Pittsfield Grange for the larger community.  The Mister Laurence Experience also had a sing-a-long rocking 'ole time with the children.  Apples came from the same property that Mustard Seed Garden resides on.  Many people with families within the community came by to share in the experience.  It is quite amazing that something so small, turned into something so beautiful.

Eating Healthy on a Budget

These days everyone is on a budget, but just because you are on a budget doesn't mean you cannot afford to eat healthy.  Did you know that healthy food is often priced significantly higher than junk food in grocery stores on purpose?  This is the case because most healthy foods are grown in mass production farms, shipped across the country (or from Mexico), and then get to the grocery stores.  Most of what you are paying is tax and shipping costs. Here are some tips that will save you hundreds of dollars a year!! In fact by following these tips, you can keep your food costs as low as $35/week for a family of four!

First next time you are at the grocery store, save your recipe so you can track how much you are saving in comparison to before following these tips.

For fresh fruits and vegetables: Buy from a local farmers market or coop.  Local Harvest is a great website farms and markets near you.  In the warmer months, grow your food and then can it for the winter months.  Or you can grow your own organic garden.  This is not for everyone, but even smaller spaces you can grow smaller crops.  Cucumbers, tomatoes, and herbs grow well in small spaces.

Make your own: As mentioned previously, you can do canning of fruits and vegetables to prepare for winter months from the harvest of your own growing or from farmers markets--many farmers will be willing to bargain with you. You can also make your own breads from the ingredients (which are cheaper). 

Decide what absolutely has to be organic: The following MUST BE organic because of how thin the skins, this is known as the "dirty dozen" in fruits and vegetables: apples, peppers, celery, cherries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, all berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries), spinach, and lettuce.  Harder shell/shin vegetables/fruits that you can get away with not having organic are: Asparagus, Avocados, Bananas, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Corn, Kiwi, Mangos, Onions, Papaya, Pineapple, and Peas. 

Shop in season and stock up (freeze extra).  Seasonal fruits and vegetables are not only less expensive because there is an abundance of them, but also stocking up on them can save money in the winter months when little fresh options are available. 

If you can find good coupons, then use them.  Although coupons on healthy/organic foods are limited.  Best way to use coupons is with a sale--double discount!

Other savings:

Cleaning products, Laundry, hand soap, and dish detergent try Shaklee here.  Shaklee products are great because they are concentrated so much that they save money repeatedly.  If you were to use the Basic H for only window/glass it would be the equivalent of 3,000 bottles of Windex.  There is major savings there.

Canning Round 2: Vegatable stock, soup, and Jam

This round of canning, I used a pressure cooker for the vegetable stocks and soups.  A pressure cooker needs to be used because the acidity isn't high enough to use a regular boiling pot.  Pressure cookers are available in different brands and sizes.  A smaller one holds about 8 quarts and can be purchased for about $50.  A larger one holds 16 quarts, which cost approximately $90.  Pressure cookers can usually be found at any store that carries cookware.  We saw smaller ones at Meijer, Walmart, and Target, while the larger one (we bought) at Bed Bath and Beyond.

The vegetable stock recipe I used is here.  For the soup I just kept the vegetables in the mason jar instead of straining them to make the stock.  Vegetable stock and soup uses the large mason jars (quart size).  Jars need to have 1/2 inch head-space.  Place 3 quarts of bowling water into the pressure cooker and then place jars in cooker.  Cook to 11 pounds of pressure for 15-20 minutes, then turn off heat and let pressure return to zero (follow directions on your pressure cooker).


I also made 4 pints and one half pint of merlot wine jam.  Below is the recipe:
3 1/2 cups red merlot wine
1/2 cup organic lemon juice
2 oz dry pectin
4 1/2 cups organic sugar

Directions:
Combine wine, lemon juice, and pectin in a large saucepan.  Bring to a boil, stir frequently.  Add sugar, stir until dissolved.  Return to a boil and allow hard boiling to occur for 1 minute, stir constantly.  Remove from heat.   Using a ladle remove the hot jelly into jars, leaving a 1/2 inch head-space at the top, tighten lids.  Process by placing jars for 5 minutes in boiling water bath.

I also did another jar of garlic dill pickles, see previous post for recipe.  Jars will sit on kitchen counter for 24-48 hours and then will be moved to a cool/dry place. I place mine on shelves in the basement.

Canning 101

I have just started canning myself so here is what I did and it was pretty simple and in expensive.  First depending on what you want to can, depends on the type of jars you want to get.  The ones you see in the picture to the left are pickles and salsa. I used regular mouth pint Ball jars (Kerr also does jars).  They come in a pack of 12 for about $8 with lids and bands included. Second, decide what you want to can and find a good recipe (or combine a couple--as I did).  I will place the recipe I used for both at the end.  Third, you will need to get or have a large jar bathing pot (I got mine for $15 at Walmart) which is made for canning, tongs to lift jars out of the water, separate towel to wipe top of jars, and oven gloves.  You will also need to have fresh ingredients.  I would recommend if you don't have your own garden to get ingredients from a farmers market.  Grocery stores tend not to have the freshest veggies and herbs.  I did use organic vinegar, ground sea salt, and peppercorns from the grocery store.

Here are the recipes I used:

Salsa:

1 large tomato, diced
1/2 white/yellow onion, finely minced
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 bunch of cilantro, washed and chopped
1-2 jalapeños, seeded and minced (you can leave the seeds in if you want a hotter flavor)
1 lime, juiced
2 big pinches of salt

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. In another bowl, combine the tomato sauce, oil, lime juice, garlic salt and pepper. Pour over vegetable mixture; toss to coat. Simmer 1 1/2 hr, stirring often, at the end of cooking time add 1/2 bunch of cilantro if desired.
Jar and process, 35 minutes for pint jars and 45 minutes for quart jars.

Pickles (cold pressed method):

 

Steralize jars & lids.

Pack in spears of cucumbers so it is very tight. Lay smaller ones at top.  Get some dills—stem & flower.  Two medium cloves of garlic.  Make brine—3 cups water, 2 cups white vinegar, and ¼ pickling salt.  Stir & bring to boil—keep simmer until ready to pour into jars.  Leave ½ headroom in jar, but make sure you’ve covered cucumbers.  Take a clean cloth and wipe rim of jar very well so you can get a good seal.  Take sterilized seal and place over rim and tighten band.  Jar will be hot so be careful—use cloth or oven glove to protect hands. Place jar in bowling water bath for 15 minutes, then remove.  Leave on countertop for 24-48 hours.  Jars should seal—you will hear a popping noise from the lids becoming concave.  Pickles will be ready to eat in 4-6 weeks.

Where to get the meat & save money?

Not everyone has the ability to raise chickens, goats, and other small farm animals.  But it is significantly cheaper to buy their meat in large quantities. Local meats not only help us be healthier, but it also helps us save money and helps our communities.  Also by purchasing whole or half animals you can use the entire animal for meat (to eat) and bones & skin for soup stock (later blog will be on preserving).  Joining as local CSA (community supported agriculture) gives you the option of getting local meats in bulk for the best prices.  If you are outside of Southeast Michigan, here is a website you may want to check out for local CSA's: www.localharvest.org.  If you live in Southeast Michigan here are some options: Old Pine Farm, Family Farms Coop, and Needle Lane Farms.

Stay tuned to canning meats, fruits, and veggies.

Composting 101

What is Composting?

Composting is nature's way of recycling and decomposition of organic/natural plant based materials into a rich soil base.  This occurs naturally with leaves, plants, and grass because these become a home for bacteria, worms, and insects that turn this material into organic material used for growing food.  This process releases nutrients into the soil and absorbed in the roots of plants.  Doing this on your own accerlerates this natural process.



Why Compost?
The organic matter created is the best food for growing food.  Good soil includes bacteria and fungi that have helped in the decomposition process.  By participating in this process, your organic waste is returning nutrient back into the soil and allowing the cycle of life to continue.

How to Compost (Bins or designated area).
You can either use a 5 gallon plastic pickle container with lid or if you have a larger space designate an area for compost--you may want to use a couple 4X4 wooded frames to produce compost.  Use can place any of the following items in this bin/area as compost: fruit or veggie trimmings (anything you cut off including skins), coffee grounds & filters, grass clippings (untreated with chemicals), leaves, tea bags, citrus rinds (orange, lemon, line, grapefruit, etc), hay or straw, nut shells, houseplants, cut up corn cobs & husks, shredded news paper, shredded cardboard, brown paper bags, junk mail, paper towel, and napkins.
Keep your compost in the sun and make sure you turn in.


Using compost.
You will be using your compost if you have a garden in the soil to help deliver nutrients to the crops you are growing.  We used ours in the garden, but also used some from our local recycling center this summer because we are just starting.  Check with your community recycling center.

Expanding Your Wallet: Tips to $aving Money on Food Costs #1

With the economy continuing to decline, especially if you live in Michigan and the increasing gasoline prices you may have noticed that the cost of food has been increasing.  What if I were to tell you that you don't need to spend money on those larger grocery stores? or that you can save money year around?  Would you be interested?

FACT: grocery stores only keep 3 days worth of food on stock for the entire local community.  What if some natural disaster happened, would you have enough food to live off for 3 month, or even 3 weeks?  The tornadoes in Joplin indicated that you can be caught off guard in preparing for a disaster.  Over the next few months I will dedicate this blog to saving money on food and how to prepare for larger periods of time.

Today's topic: Buy Local/Organic Food and Grow Your Own.

Grow Your Own:
The Garden Beds & Growing Pots:
If you have a house, mobile home, or condo and have the space available to grow your own backyard garden for the summer, it can save you money on produce.  Depending on your yard space, depends on how many growing beds and sizes you can do.  There are two options for growing beds: building your own* or buying built ones.  We choose to build our own.  We have two 8X4 beds we built.  This is the less expensive option and they are fairly easy to build.  Here are some basic instructions.  If you prefer to purchase raised garden beds many home & garden stores have them available (Lowes, Home Depot, etc).  You can purchase compost from recycling centers or may be able to find supplies at home & garden local stores or growing coops.  You can purchase seeds at local food coops or organic grocery stores, and at some farmers markets.  Follow the directions on the packages.  We choose to grow the following: box #1- *mixed greens/lettuce, broccoli, peas, yellow onions.  box #2- green onions, green beans, carrots, sugar melon, and strawberries.  In pots we have tomatoes, lemon balm, and mint.

If you have an apartment or condo without a place for large garden bed, but have a porch, patio, or balcony here are some options for you: build a smaller growing box or stacked (measure the space you have) or grow in pots.  Here are some fresh vegetables you can grow in pots: carrots, green beans, *greens (in larger pots) tomatoes, and various herbs*.  Some herbs can be grown on window sills indoors.

**mixed greens can be grown in just about any sized box or pot depending on how much you want.  Click here for a great article about how to do this.

Buying Local/Organic Through a growing Co-op
Buying local not only promotes economic growth for your community, but also for your state.  In many states purchasing items made in your home state are less money because they don't have to be shipped as far.  Farmers markets are the best way to get your local food or to purchase in bulk--in addition to your garden or for later winter storage.  Here is a link to find your local farmers markets by state.  Also check your local chamber of commerce.  Also depending on your area if you don't have the time to shop at a farmers market, many coop delivery companies are available.  In the winter months we use this one.

Should I buy Organic or Local?
One question I tend to get a lot is whether buying local is better than buying organic.  I always promote buying organic because it is ultimately better for you.  However, since we all have different budgets here is a helpful guide on what is most & least chemically treated.

These items are most chemically treated. You should ALWAYS buy these items organic whether local or not: Celery, Peaches, Strawberries, Apples, Pears, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Nectarines, Sweet Bell Peppers, Spinach, Cherries, Kale/Collard Greens, Mixed Greens, Lettuce, beans, Potatoes, and grapes.

The following foods are least chemically treated and you should ALWAYS try to buy these local, whether they are organic or not:  Onion, Avacado, Sweet Corn, Pineapple, Mango, Peas, Asparagus, Kiwi, Cabbage, Eggplant, Domestic Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Grapefruit, Lemons, Limes, Sweet Potatoes, and Honeydew Melons.

Organic Tuscany Veggie Pasta Recipe

Organic Tuscany Veggie Pasta

Here was a great recipe I made today, kind of just threw things together and it was really good.   Perfect for a hot day to replace carbs lost during the day.



Makes 4 servings only 480 calories

What you need:

Organic Whole Wheat Pasta (Shells, Spiral, or linguine)--If you have a gluten allergy use rice noodles.
Organic Carrots --6-8 whole carrots chopped.
Organic Peas  1/3 bag of frozen organic peas
1 medium organic cucumber chopped
1 tablespoon of fresh chopped organic cilantro
3/4 cup organic vegetable broth (or 1 can of organic tomatoes diced if you are okay with tomatoes)
3/4 cup of feta cheese
1 clove organic garlic thinly sliced
2 teaspoons fresh organic oregano
2 teaspoons fresh organic basil
1 tablespoon organic lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 cup chopped organic green olives

What to do:
Follow directions on Pasta instructions for cooking & draining.

In a separate small pan, add organic vegetable broth, carrots, peas, garlic, black pepper, and lemon juice--bring to a boil.  Remove from heat and add to drained noodles in glass serving bowl or corneyware.  Add feta cheese, oregano, basil, cucumber, and green olives, mix.  Place cilantro on top for presentation.  Serve.

Are you Really Eating Healthy?

So you are carrying a salad for lunch, you’re bubbling your veggies, you’re counting calories; carbs as great as fat, you’ve even cut processed sugars from your diet…GREAT…but have been we unequivocally eating healthy? Probably not… many if not all of your vegetables as great as fruits have been treated with colour with pesticides. Unless we have been now eating organic or all healthy foods, we ARE ingesting pesticides.


Pesticides (all pesticides) emanate damaging risks…just by a inlet of what a insecticide is as great as what it’s ostensible to do, we automatically know it’s damaging to humans, animals as great as a environment. Pesticides have been written to “kill”, not which they have been dictated to kill people or animals, though they have been combined to start vital organisms…and what have been we???
Did we know which pesticides could means a accumulation of cancers? According to a Environmental Health Perspectives (www.ehponline.org) leukemia, neuroblastoma, Wilms’ tumor, soft-tissue sarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, as great as cancers of a brain, colorectum, as great as testes have been related to insecticide exposure…pesticides can additionally means neurological problems as great as meddle with a child’s development? Every time we eat pesticides, you’re poisoning your body, a bodies of your family members as great as even your unborn children…pesticides can means low bieing born rates as great as enlarge a possibility of bieing born defects. Children have been some-more supportive to pesticides than adults. You might wish to check out what a EPA has to contend about pesticides…the contribution as great as census data have been unnerving.

When we emporium for a food we solve for palliate over education…with so many things to select from, we mostly go for preference as great as price though meditative about or realizing what a alternatives as great as consequences unequivocally are.

Our food is being shipped from all over a world…we’re not usually removing a dishes shipped in from opposite a own Country, we’re removing fruits as great as vegetables shipped to us from alternative Countries (yes, we pronounced alternative Countries). So not usually do we need to be concerned about where these dishes have been grown, though we need to be concerned about how they have been grown, what they were fertilized with as great as what pesticides have been being used as great as who is controlling a pesticides in these alternative Countries? Pesticides found upon furnish do not indispensably meant there were extreme pesticides used, though determined residues in a dirt or breeze dispersion of pesticides from circuitously fields need to be taken in to comment as well. This report needs to give all us a lot to consider about, though it additionally needs to have us some-more wakeful of a options.

Washing as great as bark your vegetables as great as fruits does NOT safeguard you’re eating a insecticide giveaway product. Some pesticides can trickle in to a strength of a food as great as a little pesticides have been done to “stick” to a food to equivocate being cleared divided by rain, so a discerning wash underneath a faucet cannot as great as will not mislay them. So even if you’re receiving precautions, there have been a little vegetables as great as fruits aloft in insecticide excess than others…washed or not…such as uninformed peaches, uninformed as great as solidified winter squash, uninformed immature beans, apples, as great as pears…so what just have been we eating???
Eating organic as great as healthy dishes might appear overpriced as great as inconvenient, though we do not regularly have to go to a illness food store to find insecticide giveaway dishes which have been affordable as great as still organic or natural. A integrate of ways we can do this is to find your internal farmers marketplace or food strew where “local” organic as great as healthy dishes have been grown as great as where a beyond isn’t as tall as a illness food stores. There have been affordable ways to eating insecticide giveaway whilst ancillary your internal growers as great as meaningful where your food comes from. Shopping as great as eating locally grown as great as lifted food not usually benefits you, though it helps to safety your communities, your economy, your surroundings as great as many of all your illness as great as a illness of your family as great as friends.

If we grow your own fruits as great as veggies, we still need to be wakeful of a risks of regulating pesticides in your own garden…a insecticide is a poison regardless. Growing a be concerned giveaway grassed area might not appear possible, though it is. There have been lots of “organic” as great as “natural” harassment carry out recipes we can brew up in your own kitchen. we found a little great organic harassment carry out recipes online.

Keeping sweets, trans fats, preservatives as great as processed dishes out of your diet is a great initial step to great health…but a series a single thing we need to keep out of your diet is pesticides.

The ABC's of Better Health

Source: Health Quest Newsletter
Dr. Frank M. Painter, Editor


It’s sad but true – most Americans fail to meet the basic requirements of good health. Statistics gathered by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) are frightening:



Only 27% of adults eat three servings of vegetables per day (3 – 5 are recommended)

Only 13% of students meet the vegetable goal

Only 33% of adults eat two servings of fruit day (2-4 are recommended)

Only 32% of students meet the fruit goal

Even worse, these numbers are artificially inflated, because foods like sugared fruit drinks and French Fries are still counted as servings.

The next nutritional issue comes from the fact that industrial farms force-grow crops, with synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The measured vitamin levels in “conventional” crops are continuing to decline. And it gets worse. More and more American staple crops are grown from genetically modified organisms (GMO’s), which have no established track record of health effects or benefits. European clinical trials, that only fed animals GMO foods, have under-reported subject deaths, damage found in their intestinal tracts, and second- and third-generation sterility.

All the problems in the food chain, and the dietary habits of most Americans, emphasize why it’s important to adopt a basic nutrition program that provides all the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants we require to maintain our health.

When selecting health products, you want to look for ones that are made from non-GMO crops that are completely free from pesticides, heavy metal residue or other toxic contaminants, and are guaranteed to be bacteria and virus free.

Selecting vitamin supplements can be a daunting task. There are so many out there, how does one know which brand is going to be effective and actually work? You may want to refer to my blog post on selecting a good supplement for guidance.

The Basic Nutrition Program:

1. The core of any nutrition program starts with a multi-vitamin. We require vitamins everyday to maintain our immune system, energy levels, detoxification systems, and for managing billions of cellular processes, from producing hormones to cell repair and reproduction. Many diseases occur when we lack a particular vitamin, mineral or amino acid. These are referred to as nutrient deficiency diseases. Researchers are discovering that suboptimal levels of these nutrients, along with exposure to xeno-toxins (chemicals that are foreign or poisonous to the body) seem to be associated with the onset of many disease processes.

2. The second building block of health is protein. The average healthy person requires at least 180 grams of protein per day (1800 calorie diet). The ideal, fat-free source of plant-based protein is soy. A word of caution – most soy powder manufacturers use the alcohol extraction process, which leaches out the two most important isoflavones – (Genistein and Daidzein). You want to find a company that uses the water-wash method, because it retains the critical soy isoflavones most associated with soy’s reported health benefits.

3. The third building block of health is antioxidants. The classic antioxidants are vitamins A, C and E. Every time scientists discovered a new photochemical in plants, it invariably displayed powerful antioxidant properties, sometimes ten to hundreds of times more powerful than the classic antioxidants. Phytochemicals (also called phytonutrients), are non-nutritive plant chemicals that have protective or disease preventing properties. It is understood that plants produce these chemicals to protect themselves. Recent research suggests that they also protect humans against various diseases. Some of the best known phytochemicals are lycopene, (think tomatoes), isoflavones from soy, and the flavenoids from fruits. There are many health databases that clearly demonstrate that those individuals who eat the most fruits and vegetables also have the lowest incidence of the deadly diseases: cancer, vascular disease, and diabetes.

These are the three basics of a sound nutritional program. There are many other types of products that can boost your immune system, increase energy or memory, improve stamina in sports, etc. But they should all rest upon these three basics. To your good health!

Saving Money Staying Healthy

Lately I have been receiving emails about ways to save money in a lowered economy while still maintaining good health.  Below are my suggestions.

1.  Coupons & Grocery Deals.
The best way to coupon is to first collect coupons over time (at least a few weeks out) both printable & through your local paper.  Then watch the ads for sales. Using a coupon on top of the ad can save you significant amount of money. Also don't be afraid to shop at more than one store.  We have 4 grocery stores we get various items at based on what is on sale.  Also many of the stores offer discounts of $.05 to $.10 for each reusable bag you use each grocery trip.  Many grocery stores also have double coupon days saving you additional money.  Here are some websites for printable coupons:

Organic Coupons:
Whole Foods
Mambo Spouts
Earths Best
Organic Valley
Simply Organic
Stonyfield Organic

Other generic/ coupons:
Coupons. com
Smartchoice coupons

Fruit & Veggie Coop:
This tends to save money on fresh fruits and veggies.  You may also be able to find good prices at a Farmers Market.  Here is the one we use: www.doortodoororganics.com.

Save on bottled water & cleaners:
The best deal I found was to invest on a water pitcher by Shaklee. This pitcher removes every chemical & toxin possible.  It out performs many of the commercial pitchers like Brita & PUR.  Also Shaklee offers superconcentrated cleaners that will save you hundreds of dollars on cleaning supplies. They also have nutritional supplements, personal care items, and weight loss.
Check them out here: www.4grace.myshakle.com

2.  Invest in rebates.
sign up for rebate programs, like CVS regards or Kroger.  Both have their own set of coupons plus additional deals.  The check the websites & ads for deals to use your rebates on.

3. Reward Credit & Debit Cards.
The best ways to save money is to cut back on eating out and move your regular bills- phone, cable, cell phone, electric, gas, and groceries to a rewards debit or credit card.  Most of these programs allow you to receive reward points for gift cards for clothing, food, hotel, and air miles.  This is the best way to receive more money for leisure activities or eat out opportunities on a budget.

4.  Clothing.
Shop the sales & clearances.  Also check out second hand.  One very good second hand chain is Plato's Closet. 
You can both buy & sell clothes here.  Like many other resale shops you can sell & buy clothing. 

5. Giving to charities.
Giving money, clothing, and other items can provide you with additional tax write-offs come time for taxes.  This provides you with the opportunity to give back to your community and to receive something back at the end of the year.  Common places to give items is your local Salvation Army and Goodwill.

6. Start your own Home Business.
The best way to have additional tax write-offs is to start your own home business.  We choose Shaklee because for us it works best with what we are interested in--helping others, nutrition, and best payment program.  Starting a home business you can write off a portion of your mortgage/rent, cable/internet, cell phone/or landline, any website you have, miles you travel for your business, and more.  The government encourages this and the kick back is amazing.  For more information on this contact me. 



We hope that this information on saving money and staying healthy has been helpful.  Please feel free to contact us regarding any additional information: genesistohealth@comcast.net.  Have a wonderful day!

Organic Coupons & More--Save on Healthier options!

 If you are looking for deals here is the best place to save on good, healthier options.  Below on some common website I find great coupons at plus some common brands you can also google for coupons.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/coupons/

http://www.mambosprouts.com/

http://www.earthsbest.com/special-offers/earths-best-coupons

Also some common organic brands you can google "printable coupons" are:

Organic Valley
Horizon
Stoneyfield
Newman's Own
Muir Glen
Health Valley Organic
Amy's Kitchen
Wolfgang Punk
Full Circle
Eden Organic

Also for fresh fruit & veggies we get a coop garden fresh organic from this group: http://www.doortodoororganics.com/
 

Just tell them I sent you ;). We get the "bitty box" which we have sent $23 every other week. Good deal for what you get & cuts down on shopping for fruits & veggies :)

The best things to get organic are fruits, veggies, meats, & dairy. you can get away with grains, oils, and fats not being organic if you are on a budget ;)

 

For personal care products, vitamins, and cleaning products check out: www.4grace.myshaklee.com.

Most of these products will save you money as they are super concentrated.

Hope this is helpful!!

Is Biotics Research Corporation a good vitamin company?

In recent days I have been doing some research about the vitamin company Biotics Research Corportation.

This company is used widely by many alternative medicine doctors and chiropractors. 

First according to this company's website (http://www.bioticsresearch.com) here are their claims about their products:
1.  We maintain complete control over the selection of raw materials and the testing of ingredients prior to their approval for use in our products.
2.  All incoming raw materials are subject to appropriate testing prior to their release for production. Tests conducted include identity, potency, biological activity, microbiological, including bacteria, yeast and mold (including aflatoxins) and heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead & mercury). Retained samples are maintained of all raw materials and finished products for future testing requirements (raw material stability and finished product expiration date verification).
3.  Unlike many companies that are struggling to meet the new GMP requirements established by the FDA.--Here are the requirements.

If you noticed these supposed FDA requirements are for the regulation of medical products.  If you go to the FDA website you can find that there is actually no regulation requirements for nutritional supplements so I would view this company's claim as false or wrong information.

So I called the company (800-231-5777).  I spoke to Kelly.

Here are the questions I asked with her responses:

Are your supplements made from all natural raw materials? and if so can you guarantee it?

Most of our supplements contain raw materials, but it depends on what is available in the market.  So we can't guarantee that every product every round will have the same amount of raw materials.

Do the ingredients in the supplements come from non-genetically altered materials which have been grown free from pesticides- are you able to guarantee it?

We can guarantee that our supplements do not come from genetically altered materials, but they are not organic.
Do you do your own testing or do you invest in 3rd party testing for purity  and quality? 
We do our own testing on-site for purity.

             So you know where all your ingredients originate from?
              No, we have several vendors we receive our individual ingredients from and then we test them here.

             What are your quality standards for testing?
              It would take me hours to explain that to you as it is different for every product.

How are your soy products produced?  Are they heated?

We receive our soy from outside sources, but it is in the raw form.  It is processed here at low temperatures.

              What temperature is that at?
              We don't give out that information.

Based on this information, you be the judge if this is a company you are comfortable with.   For me personally I would not use this company based on their answers.   For questions email me at: genesistohealth@comcast.net 

Who's Testing YOUR Supplements?

It's so tempting... You've been getting your supplements from a company that you know and trust - a company that does clinical studies on their products and performs rigorous quality controls. 
You know their products are pure, safe and effective... BUT...  You're shopping in your favorite drug store or discount store and you see the same supplements for just a couple of dollars!  You can't help thinking... "Wow! Here's the same stuff I've been taking for a lot less money"..."Why not save my money?"..."They must have run some quality control tests on their products"... "After all, how bad can they be?"

The answer is - pretty bad!  Check out the following information from Stephen Chaney, PhD.

The events of last week illustrate just how bad. On March 2nd, 2010 the makers and sellers of fish oil supplements were sued by the Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation in California for not telling consumers that their products contained toxic levels of PCBs.

I find it amusing and somewhat scary that the FDA did not initiate this action and force the manufacturers to take their contaminated products off the shelves. Instead an environmental consumers group had to sue them for not including PCBs on the label! They sued them under California proposition 65 which requires a warning label whenever a product contains toxic
ingredients.

The defendants in this lawsuit were Omega Protein, a Houston-based company that is the world's largest producer of omega-3 fish oil, and the many companies that they produced fish oil for - companies like Rite Aid, CVS, GNC, Now Health Group, Pharmavite, Solgar and Twinlab. 
And those aren't the only ones. The Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation only tested 10 omega-3 supplements manufactured by Omega Protein to date and have found PCBs in all of them. They plan to continue testing and to add other companies to the lawsuit if their products are also contaminated.

Even scarier is that many of labels on these products said that the omega-3 supplement was treated to reduce or remove PCBs. As a consumer you were lead to believe that they were safe! 
The bottom line is that the manufacturer probably didn't test for PCBs and neither did the companies selling their omega-3 supplements to the consumer.  The alternative - that they tested the products, knew that they were contaminated with PCBs and sold them to the public anyway - is even worse.  As if that weren't scary enough the FDA announced a massive recall of products containing textured vegetable protein manufactured by a company called Basic Food Flavors because of salmonella contamination.

The problem is that there are at least 56 different kinds of consumer products containing this company's textured vegetable protein - including salad dressings, dips, packaged snacks, potato chips and soup mixes (Who knew that salad dressings contained textured vegetable protein?).  That means that this recall will be huge. It will affect many foods that most people buy and use every day.  Once again, the problem is that neither the manufacturer or the companies using the textured vegetable protein had run the basic quality control assays that would have detected salmonella contamination.

So What Can You Do as a Consumer?

1) Get your supplements from an established company with a reputation for quality and integrity. I would recommend choosing a company that has been around for a number of years so that you know that their reputation is based on their track record over the years rather than just on hype.

2) Make sure that they run rigorous quality controls on their products. I would choose a company that requires pharmaceutical grade quality controls on their products.

3) Make sure that they have published clinical studies on their products that prove both safety and effectiveness. Again I would recommend choosing a company that has many published clinical studies on their products rather than just one or two.

Why I Choose Shaklee Supplements

I choose Shaklee supplements because Shaklee insists on rigorous quality control tests on every one of their ingredients and on their finished products. For example, they import ultra pure, triple distilled fish oil from England and test it for PCB contamination after they receive it. They also have published over 70 clinical studies on their products in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Shaklee is very unique in the industry.

For information about the company Shaklee or for ordering information click here.

I'd also be happy to answer any questions or to help you choose the correct supplement.