So, unless you happen to live nearby some luscious farmland or countryside with lots of trees and foliage that cleans the air you breathe....you are expose to contaminated air from vehicles, factories and nearby industrial activity common with "Urban" Living.
And we'd hope that when you retreat to your homes, "Your Sanctuary" it is less toxic and more refreshing.....Well ....Not always...excessive moisture, dust build-up paints, detergents and synthetic fibers are some of the common culprits of indoor air pollution. Here are some things you can consider to make the air that you breathe "greener" at home.
1. Eliminate the Culprits
Use "eco-friendly" detergents and paints to minimize pollutants. choose all-natural alternatives if they are available
2. Have plants indoors
House plants are a fantastic ways to purify the air in your home as it absorbs chemicals and pollutants found in the air. Some good choices are:
Snake Plant or "Mother in Law Tongue" :)
Spider PlantEnglish Ivy
3. Beeswax Candles
If you like to burn candles for natural light, avoid paraffin candles which release petroleum byproducts into the air. Beeswax burns clean and offers the added benefit of ionizing air to neutralize toxic compounds.
4. Salt Lamps
Himalayan pink salt is another natural ionic air purifier that pull toxins from the environment and neutralizes them. Add an Himalayan Pink Salt Lamp to any room in your home or office...they're gorgeous...check out mine..opted for clean air rather than scented...lol!
5. Activated Charcoal
Another great way to purify your air indoor is with activated charcoal. Also called active carbon or simply carbon, it is odorless and highly absorptive.
I bought my lamp at Be Free Organic Supermarket on Mucurapo Road and there are a number of other healthy shops and organic shops across Trinidad and Tobago, where you can get these products or purchase them online on Amazon.com
This is perhaps the best time of the year for Kids....School's out!
Lots of fun time and food awaits....
In case, you're thinking....what am I preparing for the kids during school vacation, here's some healthy yet delicious treats and snack ideas to keep our youngsters hydrated, nourished and healthy!!!
1. Popsicles & Smoothies
Popsicles are easy to make and you can really get creative with the ingredients. You can start with a juice base such as pineapple or grape juice and get wild with added fruits, blend and freeze or leave some chunks of fruit in it for that burst of fruity flavor!
Again, Smoothies are a definite winner every time and your kids will love them. Blend berries, bananas or any other sweet fruit and serve chilled.
2. Fresh Fruit flowers or kebabs...Yum Yum
Kids are attracted to colors so combine fruits of varying tastes, textures and colors for a fruity surprise!!! Place sliced fruits on skewers and chill before serving.
3. Sucker Bags
You're not a Trinidadian if you do not know what a sucker bag is....lol. Same fun stuff like fruits or a milk base drink is poured into a bag, sealed and freezed for a couple of hours. After a marathon session on the playground, nothing is as, thirst quenching as a Sucker Bag made of Soursop juice, Guava Juice, chocolate milk or sweetened vanilla milk!!!
4. Fruit Chows - Although fruits are great straight out of the skin, Trinidadians must spice things up so "CHOWS" are a great treat for kids. Any citrus fruit will do - chennet, mango, plum or pineapple...simply cut up the fruit, add some drops of lime juice, sprinkle a bit of salt, pepper and crushed shadon beni (Cilantro) and voila!!!! - A zesty treat that can't be beat!
Let's keep our kids healthy....Reduce the packed snacks and let's grab some healthy fruit snacks for this July/ August School vacation.
So I traveled last month and I bought two really interesting books. They're my typical buy - self development books. My current readings are....
I personally think that we are all 'OKAY!' don't get me wrong, but someone's life story or eureka moment that sparks greatness or lesson learnt can TOTALLY shift you from just OK to a better YOU! So I love to read self development books because hey....I pick up new and positive inspiration that prompts me to be a better ME!!!!
And spurred on by my reading, I got to thinking....
What ONE new thing could I do...daily...diligently...from July 1, 2016 that can significantly improve my Health....12 months from now?
So as I document my journey, I want to hear from YOU.
Is there one simple thing, A HEALTHY HABIT, that you can adopt today and do diligently every day that will make a GREAT difference in your HEALTH?
For me, it is actually two new things.....
1. Meditation
2. Drink the Right Amount of Water each Day
Please hit me up a "Comment" below and let me know if you want to join me in forming 1 new healthy habit for 2016?
Just in case, you don't know where to start, check below ....
Join the journey! Let me know which New Healthy you choose Today
Indeed everything has a price! If I want fresh apples and pears and I don't have unrestricted access to a nearby Orchard (An impossibility in Trinidad), then my only resort is to buy waxed imported fruits from the fruit vendor!!!! So doing a bit of research on whether waxed fruits are safe to eat, I discovered the following:
Some fruits naturally produce their own wax such as Pears, Plums and Apples.
This naturally occurring wax is digestible and non toxic (of course)
The naturally occurring wax helps the fruits retain its moisture, firmness and retards spoiling after it is picked
So why then, are producers adding more Wax?
You guessed Correctly !!!!! - So fruits can have a longer shelf life
Is this added wax which is called "Food Grade" wax safe for humans????
Personally, I think NOT!!!
My quick and dirty research into what the wax is made up revealed two common types of wax that are used:
Shellac - wax made from female Lac Bug (eh?)
Carnauba - wax made from the Carnauba palm
Most medical sites state that the wax should NOT be digested but scraped off or washed off with vinegar. The Food and Drug Administration in the US says its "Food Grade" and safe....Who do you believe????
Since we are never really sure if "Food Grade" is "Healthy" just like "Food Grade Coloring" in foods, I'll stick to peeling off the skin or scrubbing that WAX off my fruit!!!
OH!!!! Even Better.....Trinidadians have access to many seasonal local fruit which (Thankfully....Hopefully???) are not waxed such as Guavas, Sapodilla and Mangoes.....Fruitylicious!!!!
I am doing a quick Poll, Do you know about Dry Brushing and if so, do you practice Dry Brushing??? Please let me know in the comment section below!
So healthy living is all about being aware and making better choices about what we feed our bodies, what we put on it, how to improve our defenses against pollutants in our environment and what things we can do daily to support our health.
I will like to talk about Dry Brushing...
Dry Brushing is a technique where you brush your entire body with a brush. You are not doing it in the shower...you are brushing your body while it is dry.
Why?
Well there's lot of benefits of Dry Brushing as illustrated in the chart below.
So now that you have the benefits, just buy any brush and dry brush??? NO!
You want to purchase a wooden brush with natural bristles such as Boar bristles. The bristles should not be plastic and the bristles should not be very stiff or it won't be effective.
These are the brushes I use to Dry Brush....
I use the long one for my back and the handheld one for the front of my body! What I love about Dry Brushing is that, it energizes me and it drains my lymphatic system. And what's there not to love about reducing Cellulite - Count me in!
Remember:
Do it daily! - At least once a day
Do it before you take a shower - only 4 minutes to Dry Brush
It feels a bit itchy at first as your lymph nodes get agitated but after a number of times, it's addictive!
The brushing sequence is important, brushing direction must always be towards the heart
Check out the graphic below for the brushing flow....start from your toes and work your way up!
My 6 year old daughter LOVES sausages...I mean LOVE SAUSAGES!!!!...You can give her hot dogs everyday and she'd be happy as a kid in a Candy Store !!!!
The only problem is that I am trying to help her kick that bad habit that I created. Yes, me! - I really did not know better and when I was a kid, I ate sausages so quite naturally she was fed them. I did not take the time to understand the kind of stuff that was mechanically stuffed into what we bought as sausages nor had I, a clue, about the amount of artificial, hazardous materials that was added in the making of sausages. I discovered that Sausages were DEFINITELY hazardous to one's health. I suspect 30 years ago they may have been a tad bit healthier but not NOW! I found out that the MOST dangerous ingredient in SAUSAGES is Sodium Nitrite. Sodium Nitrite causes cancer and it is found in processed meats such as hot dogs, bacon and most types of cured meats and sausages. This ingredient is a color fixer chemical which is used to make meats appear red. For a list of some of the other wonderful ingredients in your modern day sausage, take a look at the video below
NOT A PRETTY SIGHT!!! Anyways, I thought, like most bad habits, I have to ween it, ever so slowly, so I'll start to look for organic sausage...some brilliant health scientist must have thought of a way to make Sausage without all the fillers and Sodium Nitrite. Turns out, I found some organic sausages at the Be Free Foods Organic Grocery, right in Trinidad. Yes, in Trinidad and Tobago we have organic shops and groceries. I have listed two spots in Trinidad that provide organic products. Are they delicious - Yes!, Are they healthier - Yes! and Are they more expensive - Of course. But I'd prefer that my daughter and I have an occasional treat of organic hot dogs than spend thousands of dollars...trying to restore our health! Located 6 Mucurapo Road, Port of Spain. Telephone: 1 (868) 622-5925 Located #80 Roberts Street, Woodbrook. Telephone: 1 (868) 622-3643 Looking out for ya!
We are kids of the modern era....We are pro-consumers!!!
We love to buy everything....Even when we don't need it.
Oh, I never tried perfumed crystals for my clothes....I'll buy that!
Oh!!! New and Improved scrubbing bubbles for my bathroom must have that!
Are these products essential???? That's anyone's guess but I'm sure you'll think twice when you grab the next bottle of Lysol when you have a look at this interesting video about the hidden household dangers!!!!
Produce is a significant part of our diet and we prepare it in many different ways. Typically we eat our produce raw or we cook it using various methods such as frying, boiling and steaming. Trying to determine the best way to prepare your produce in order to get the highest amount of nutrients can be challenging. Below is a comprehensive guide highlighting 10 of the most popular fruits and vegetables, and explains the best way to prepare them for maximum nutritional value.
Produce:CELERY
Type: Vegetable
Highest Nutritional Value:(RAW or STEAMED) Nutrients in celery such as Vitamin A, Vitamin, C, Vitamin K and Potassium, are most profound when they are raw and mostnutritious when consumed in this state. Additionally, the water retention helps to preserve these nutrients as well, so steaming the celery is encouraged. Any methods of preparation that will evaporate the water such as cooking it stove-top or in the microwave, will devalue the nutritional content.
Storage & Preservation:Cut leaves accordingly and immediately soak in a bowl of filtered water. Cover the top with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
Produce:AVOCADO
Type: Fruit
Highest Nutritional Value:(RAW) Based the unique fats in avocados, it is best to enjoy this fruit in its raw form. Although heat is not recommended in regard to nutritional value, heating it minimally in the microwave or adding it to a warm meal will not significantly effect its health benefits.
Storage & Preservation: Once pealed and cut, store remaining avocado in a plastic sandwich bag and freeze.
Produce:BROCCOLI
Type: Vegetable
Highest Nutritional Value:(RAW or COOKED) The unique power nutrient in broccoli issulforaphane and absorbed into the human body only when it is raw.
Although the benefits of sulforphane are blocked once heat is added, there are other nutrients in broccoli that will actually increase in nutritional value when it is cooked like Vitamin E, Vitamin A and Vitamin K.
Storage & Preservation:For short term storage, place remaining broccoli in a plastic bag, poke a few holes in it and refrigerate. For long term storage place it in a plastic bag without poking holes and put it in the freezer immediately after purchase.
Produce:APPLES
Type:Fruit
Highest Nutritional Value:(RAW) Although apples are favored among most when they are cooked or baked, the heat completely strips this delicious fruit from its most prominent nutrient, Vitamin C. It is best to enjoy apples fresh, and for optimized nutrition leave the skin on, which contains more than half the fiber.
Storage & Preservation:Bundle each apple in paper wrap and place in plastic bag. Tie off the bag and refrigerate.
Produce:CARROTS
Type: Vegetable
Highest Nutritional Value:(COOKED) Studies from UA experiments have revealed that cooking carrots increases its nutritional value based on carotene levels. Carotene is a powerful antioxidant in carrots that provides high nutritional value.
Storage & Preservation:For short term storage cut accordingly and store in sealed plastic bag with a couple pieces of paper towel and refrigerate. For long term storage follow the same steps and freeze.
Produce:TOMATOES
Type: Fruit
Highest Nutritional Value: (COOKED) Lycopene, the strong antioxidant rich in tomatoes, is increased significantly when tomatoes are cooked. Cornell University explained that although cooking the tomatoes will reduce the Vitamin C, it will still remain an active nutrient even after cooking.
Storage & Preservation:For best taste and overall appearance it is best to eat them right after purchase, if you must store them, make it as temporary as possible and leave them room temperature. If you need to store them for more than 48 hours, it is best that you refrigerate them, however, doing so will have an effect on taste and appearance.
Produce:ONIONS
Type: Vegetable
Highest Nutritional Value:(RAW or COOKED) Sulfur compounds are slightly higher in raw onions but statistics show that they are highly nutritious raw or cooked due to the powerful antioxidant it contains called Quercetin and also the B Vitamin compounds, fiber and folic acid.
Storage & Preservation:Place in paper bag and poke a few holes. Close the bag and store room temperature.
Produce:BANANAS/PLANTAINS
Type: Fruit
Highest Nutritional Value:(COOKED) Most enjoy bananas raw as it is a quick and delicious way to eat them. However, nutritional statistics show that bananas have a greater percentage of vitamins and nutrients when they are cooked versus eating them raw.
Storage & Preservation:Store at room temperature and eat them shortly after purchase.Wrap tips of bananas in plastic wrap to help reduce rotting. If you need to store them for more than 48 hours, purchase them unripened.
Produce:PEPPERS
Type: Vegetable
Highest Nutritional Value:(RAW) The most nutritious component to peppers is Vitamin C which dissolves in water and other liquids when cooked. It is best to eat them raw when Vitamin C is fully intact.
Storage & Preservation:For short term storage place in a plastic bag ad poke a few holes and refrigerate. For long term storage follow the same steps without poking any holes and place in the freezer.
Produce:BERRIES
Type: Fruit
Highest Nutritional Value:(RAW or COOKED) Berries are a delicious snack packed full of vitamins and antioxidants. Their nutritional value relatively stays the same whether they are cooked or eaten raw, with the exception of Vitamin C which is reduced significantly after being cooked.
Storage & Preservation: Berries are best consumed right after purchase. If you need to storethem short term, place them in a plastic storage container and refrigerate. For long term storage follow the same steps and freeze.
Using produce for creative meals can also be fun and tasty. Have a look at the video tutorial below by Dr. Eric Berg, illustrating how to make Cauliflower Pizza Crust. Many recipes for this type of pizza crust include using a technique that calls for squeezing as much liquid out of the cauliflower as possible. The water stored in the cauliflower holds almost all of the nutrients. Presumably, this is why Dr. Berg does not squeeze the water out of the cauliflower as he wants to ensure that he gets all the healthy nutrients he can out of the it. The effects of moisture reduction can be detrimental to the nutrients in cauliflower. Many would argue that in order to execute a successful Cauliflower Pizza Crust, you should squeeze out the water in the cauliflower, otherwise the crust is likely to fall apart. If you choose to use this method, remember to never let good nutrients go to waste – you can still use the liquid from your cauliflower after you’ve squeezed it out by adding it to other recipes such as smoothies or homemade juice drinks.
Time for you to prepare your produce in the healthiest ways possible. Now that you’ve reviewed this guide, it should help you to make the best nutritional decisions for you and your family so you can make terrific healthy organic recipes of your own! To your health!!! YaY!
Spider Plant
English Ivy 
