What are you doing to stay warm this winter? Why not stay warm and get fit with a high intensity, calorie-blasting workout like kickboxing? This intense workout offers the moves and mentality to get you into shape and make you aware of your strength. More aggressive than yoga, this just may be the key to transform your health for the better.

Kickboxing has been sweeping the nation lately after millions of Americans have caught on to the fun ways they can workout and lose weight. Nowadays, gyms all over the country are offering kickboxing programs guaranteed to get you feeling and looking great. Before you head back to those crunches and lunges, check out what you can get from kickboxing and nowhere else.

1. The mindset.
Kickboxing requires you to focus on what you’re doing now and on what you’ll be doing in five seconds when your pseudo attacker goes in for a punch. You can learn great self-defense moves and de-stress in intervals as short as thirty minutes and as long as your newfound endurance allows. Not only will you feel the burn in your arms and legs, but you’ll feel relaxed as your brain releases dopamine and serotonin, two chemicals that leave you stress free.

2. The moves.
Studies show there is no “perfect way to run” a mile; our bodies naturally adapt to running as best as we can depending on the way our bodies are. You can learn and perfect kickboxing, working your abs, lower and upper back and calves at full force. Moves like the forward jab, cross jab, knee strike and even elbow strike each require a certain technique that you’ll find yourself climbing the ladder of sweat and drive in no time.

3. The body.
With the right training, you can burn hundreds of calories without counting the clock. A woman weighing 145 pounds could burn almost 691 calories in an hour-long session of kickboxing, according to a calculation system in David Nieman’s “Exercise Testing and Prescription.” You can use SELF Magazine’s health calculator to measure how many calories you burn in a particular activity. It also uses information from Nieman’s book. All in all, you can sculpt your body and shed pounds in no time. So where do you sign up?

Since we at Eco News Network are fellow Bostonians, and if you just happen to be in the Boston area, here is a list of gyms and martial art studios in Massachusetts that offer the kickboxing classes you’re looking for. Those with an asterisk were featured on Boston.com’s 2011 A-list of kickboxing classes:

• *Redline Fight Sports: offers over 40 classes per week in kickboxing, boxing, yoga and more.
• *Powerhouse Kickboxing: offers beginner/intermediate and advanced level kickboxing classes, with no more than seven students per class.
• CW Taekwondo @ Boston: offers cardio kickboxing classes and free trials.
• Boston Kung Fu Tai Chi: has award-winning instructors dedicated to helping you succeed in your fitness goals.
• *American Martial Arts Center: specializes in Muay Thai kickboxing and offers private lessons.
• Wai Kru: offers free day passes upon scheduling.

Even if you’re not in the Boston area, be sure to check your local gyms to see if they offer kickboxing. Hopefully, this will be a new way to better your health and workout routine!

-Alivia Ashenfarb

Photo Credit: Flickr/demandaj, Flickr/MemoriePhotography

Photo Credit: My Delight

It is funny how people always speak of the eyes. True, it has been said that the eyes are the “windows of the soul.” Yet there is a certain mystique about the lips. With the lips, people speak the deepest, most intimate thoughts and express their true love. Then those words are made manifest with lovely, soft kisses. The lips are precious and must be treated well. When the lips are not given proper care, there can be problems.

The most common conditions that affect the lips are dryness, chapping and cracking. Dry lips can be caused by many things. Constant lip licking is a common cause as well as general bodily dehydration. Additionally, extreme weather conditions can lead to dry lips. If the dryness is not corrected, the next potential problem is chapping. Chapping is when the top layer of skin on the lips becomes completely dehydrated and begins to flake off. When chapping is advanced, the lips may actually begin to crack and bleed. 

To correct dryness, there are many different lip balms and other lip products available. However, be mindful to read labels. Many commercial lip products contain chemicals that may actually cause lip irritation. One common ingredient that is reputed to cause lip irritant is lanolin, which is a waxy substance that is derived from the sebaceous glands of sheep. 

Those who practice a natural or vegan lifestyle should skip products that contain petrolatum, lanolin and mineral oil. Petrolatum and mineral oil are derived from petroleum (as in oil and gas). Go natural. Look for lip balms and lip moisturizers made from all natural ingredients such as super moisturizing castor and jojoba oil. Also look for vitamin E, which is an excellent natural emollient and has antioxidant properties. My Delight offers an excellent lip moisturizer made from all botanical ingredients. 

There are a few simple things that the average person can do to ensure healthy, properly moisturized lips. The first step is the slough off any old dead skin. To do this, use a homemade lip scrub. Take a half teaspoon of sugar (white or brown) and add enough olive oil to make a course paste. Apply liberally to the lips and gently scrub in a circular motion. Make sure to scrub the entire lip area including the area just outside the natural lip line. Rinse completely. After the scrub, apply a lip balm or natural lip moisturizer. For those that wear lipstick or lip gloss, look for brands that are made from all natural ingredients. All of the My Delight lipsticks and lip glosses are natural and vegan. They offer 20 shades of lipstick as well as 12 shades of lip gloss. 

While most “beauty” advice is geared towards women, lip care applies equally to men. In this day and age, men cannot ignore their lips. Many men engage in outdoor sports in the sun or in the harsh winter weather and the elements will ravage their lips. Men should do the lip scrub at least once a week and use lip moisturizers and balms daily. There is nothing sexier than a guy with soft lip and this way, a man will always be ready when those lips get called into action. 

How special are the lips? It was Percy Shelley who wrote “soul meets soul on lovers’ lips.”

That is pretty special. Therefore, it is a must that the lips are treated with respect and given proper care. A quick lip scrub, a little lip moisturizer and those lips will be ready for anything. 

To get more information on My Delight lip products go to http://www.mydelightonline.com/.

-Kim Jones, My Delight

Photo Credit: Flickr/respres

Sometimes celebrities get a bad rap for speaking their minds, and even for just being who they are, instead of what everyone else wants them to be. However, more often than not, celebrities are committed to helping the environment and the people around them. With that in mind we are taking a look at what they are tweeting in relation to their fellow man and the planet. This week, we are selecting tweets from some of the top fitness and health magazines to help curb you and your family’s craving for Halloween treats in the healthy direction!

1. SELF Magazine (@selfmagazine): “#Halloween: Choose #candy that offers more pieces per 100 cals, such as jelly beans, candy corn @DylansCandyBar http://on.self.com/sFeuYZ” 

2. REDBOOK (@redbookmag): “A dentist offering to buy kids’ Halloween candy from them: Brilliant or ridiculous? Read this, then weigh in: http://ow.ly/78RJ0” 

3. Women’s Health (@WomensHealthMag): “#EatThisNotThat Halloween Candy Bar Edition: http://ow.ly/77sQY” 

4. Prevention Magazine (@PreventionMag): “Last night on @biggestlosernbc, @Ali_Sweeney said the avg American spends $44 #Halloween candy. How much do you spend?”

5. FITNESS Magazine (@FitnessMagazine): “Just in time for #Halloween RT @fitsugar How to pick the lesser evil when it comes to #candy from @FitnessMagazine http://fitsu.gr/20129979” 

Hopefully these eek-o healthy tweets and/or tips will steer you in the right direction and give you a Happy Halloween!   

-Allyson Koerner

Photo Credit: Maya Tulum

Are you looking to get away from the cold weather or just need time off from work? Then, maybe you should check into an empowering (and eco focused) fitness retreat to soothe your mind, body and soul. Not only can you travel to Mexico, but you can find a way to “embrace your power!” 

Presented by Empowerment Fitness, you can enjoy a weeklong wellness retreat at the Maya Tulum Resort and Spa, voted one of the top destination resort spas in the world. You have the opportunity to not only relax, but create strength, release stress and build personal empowerment.

Rain Tees founder, author and yoga instructor Beth Doane will co-host the retreat with Molly Kujawski, owner of Empowerment Fitness and certified personal trainer specializing in strength training. 

The resort and spa is located an hour and a half south of Cancun, Mexico on the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean and includes:

• Three meals a day of fresh, organic, local vegetarian cuisine with some fresh fish and non-alcoholic drinks. Alcohol is available for purchase and those with dietary requirements are accommodated.
• All of your health, wellness and fitness classes, and group activities.
• Your accommodations for 7 nights and 8 days in a beautiful bungalow.
• All resort tips and gratuities.
• A Retreat T-Shirt. 

Wondering what classes are offered? Here is a sampling: Power Yoga; PiYo(Pilates and Yoga); Detox, Health and Nutrition Lectures; Beach Bootcamp; Meditation; Kndalini Yoga; Kickboxing; and Gentle Flow Yoga. 

You can also explore Tulum, which is surrounded by an ancient Mayan jungle and home to some of the most well preserved Mayan ruins ever discovered. Walk around and discover underwater caves, salsa, shop, boat or simply relax by the beach all day. Doesn’t get much better than that! 

The weeklong retreat is from Nov. 10 through Nov. 17, 2012.  For more information click here to see how you can enjoy the sun, sand and relaxation all while getting healthy and staying in shape!

Yet many of these compounds have also turned out to be environmentally mobile and persistent — turning up in food and household dust — and are now so ubiquitous that levels of the chemicals in the blood of North Americans appear to have been doubling every two to five years for the past several decades.

Acting on growing evidence that these flame retardants can accumulate in people and cause adverse health effects — interfering with hormones, reproductive systems, thyroid and metabolic function, and neurological development in infants and children — the federal government and various states have limited or banned the use of some of these chemicals, as have other countries. Several are restricted by the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants. Many individual companies have voluntarily discontinued production and use of these compounds. Yet despite these restrictions, evidence has emerged in recent months that efforts to curtail the use of such flame retardants — a $4 billion-a-year industry globally — and to limit their impacts on human health may not be succeeding.

This spring and summer, a test of consumer products, as well as a study in Environmental Science & Technology, showed that use of these chemicals continues to be widespread and that compounds thought to be off the market due to health concerns continue to be used in the U.S., including in children’s products such as crib mattresses, changing table pads, nursing pillows, and car seats. Also this summer, new research provided the first strong evidence that maternal exposure to a widely used type of flame retardant, known as PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers), can alter thyroid function in pregnant women and children, result in low birth weights, and impair neurological development.

“Of most concern are developmental and reproductive effects and early life exposures — in utero, infantile and for children,” Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, said in an interview.

Heather Stapleton, assistant professor of environmental chemistry at Duke University and lead author of the recent Environmental Science & Technology study, said more action from industry and government regulators is urgently needed. “My concern is the elevated exposure infants and toddlers are receiving,” Stapleton said in an email. “A high proportion of infants are in physical contact with products treated with these chemicals almost 24 hours a day. Some of these chemicals are either known or suspected carcinogens. During the first year of life, infants are still developing, particularly their brain. And some of these flame retardant chemicals have chemical structures similar to known developmental neurotoxicants (e.g. organophosphate pesticides).”

In one study, published this summer in the American Journal of Epidemiology, University of California, Berkeley researchers found that each ten-fold increase in levels of various brominated flame retardants in a mother’s blood was associated with an approximately 115 gram decrease in her baby’s birth weight, a drop the researchers describe as “relatively large.”

“What makes this significant, is that this is the first long study that suggests maternal exposure to PBDEs may impact fetal development and health,” explained lead author Kim Harley, associate director for health effects at the University of California, Berkeley, Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health.

As evidence linking the use of halogenated flame retardants to health risks continues to mount, there is increasing pressure on government and industry to take action. About a dozen U.S. states have enacted laws that bar certain uses of various flame retardants. Among these regulations are those that bar the use of two or more polybrominated diphenyl ethers  (PBDEs), particularly in children’s products. New York recently passed a law limiting use of the flame retardant known as Tris, while the European Union limits the use of certain halogenated flame retardants in electronics — a regulation that most companies comply with worldwide. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission barred Tris from children’s clothing in 1977 after it was identified as a carcinogen and a mutagen. And using its authority under the Toxic Substances Control Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and PBDE manufacturers have worked out a voluntary phase-out of these compounds that began in 2004 and is to conclude in 2013.

Yet new halogenated flame retardants with chemical compositions and structures similar to those that are now regulated, including PBDEs, continue to enter the market. (This class of compounds typically uses bromine and chlorine, elements known as halogens, to inhibit combustion.) Meanwhile, those that are restricted are being found in products from which they’ve been barred, most likely due to various flaws in supply-chain oversight. At the same time, older products containing discontinued flame retardants remain in use; many of these products — furniture, carpeting, car seats, and strollers, for example — are designed to last for years, prolonging exposure to chemicals with documented adverse health effects. But tracking the use of individual flame retardants is challenging, as product labels are not required to declare these substances, nor are chemical manufacturers required to reveal full details of what goes into their products.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and other chemical industry groups maintain the safety of currently manufactured flame retardants, and the ACC says that in the U.S. each year flame retardants prevent 360 deaths and 740 injuries that would have resulted from furniture fires alone.

So how can use of these compounds be reduced or eliminated?

The EPA is in the process of assessing potential alternatives to PBDEs and other flame retardants. But a list of potential alternatives released last month includes numerous other halogenated compounds, and many chemicals on the list will likely fail to meet the program’s health-safety goals.

Some experts say what is sorely needed is for industry to begin relying less on the highly flammable, petroleum-based materials used in so many consumer products. “It’s essential that we rethink the base materials we use to make products,” said Kathy Curtis, policy director of Clean New York, a non-profit organization advocating for chemical safety. “Styrene insulation is so flammable that flame retardants are required, and they still burn quite easily. Polyurethane foam in furniture and baby care products is also highly flammable, despite the added flame retardants certain flammability standards require. We have to stop using such fuel-rich, petroleum-based materials in buildings when safer, inherently flame-retardant substitutes are available for these same uses.”

John Warner, president of the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry, said that industry has become so reliant on flame retardants that as much as a third of the weight of plastics used in airplanes comes from one type of PBDE flame retardant, known as “deca.” Finding an alternative will be challenging, said Warner, especially since from a fire-safety point of view deca is “tried and true,” and it is used in so many different types of plastics and foams. There are viable non-toxic alternatives to using halogenated flame retardants, Warner explained, but thus far, not one that will work as a drop-in substitute for all uses of deca.

Two companies that manufacture children’s products are working to eliminate the need for flame-retardant chemicals by using fabrics whose density and composition enable them to meet flammability standards without chemical additives. Joseph Hei, president and founder of OrbitBaby, said his company has commissioned the milling of its own patented, organic cotton-wool blend fabrics that are fire-resistant. The safety of the products is certified to the Oeko-Tex 100 standard, administered by the Zurich-based Oeko-Tex Institute, which conducts tests to ensure the safety of textiles. “We verify and do our own follow-up screening of these fabrics,” Hei said in an interview.

Andreas Zandren, vice-president for sales, marketing, and product development for BabyBjorn, said his company has found a similar solution by using a densely woven cotton in some products and thinner foams that don’t require use of flame retardants. BabyBjorn does in-house testing of all fabrics to make sure they are free of hazardous flame retardants, Zandren said.

Hei explained that there are relatively few mills that offer Oeko-Tex certified fabrics, adding, “It’s a sourcing challenge.” Both companies also acknowledged that meeting California’s tough flammability standards and U.S. car flammability regulations is challenging. But, said Zandren, “Strict standards challenge us to be very creative in sourcing and testing new materials, as well as creating smart designs.” 

This kind of sourcing and testing is costly, as reflected in these companies’ product prices when compared with other more mass-market brands. Asked about the relatively high price of OrbitBaby products and what that means for lower-income consumers, Hei said that he hoped awareness would lead to more demand for the kinds of materials his company is using and thus lead to lower prices. Several larger companies, among them Graco and Walmart, make car seats also rated as low in flame retardants by the Michigan-based non-profit, HealthyStuff.org. Walmart restricts use of PBDEs in children’s and other products, but declined to discuss details of what alternatives their products use to meet safety standards. Graco also declined comment on that issue.

Eventually, product redesign that avoids flammable materials will be key, experts said.

“I think we should be asking, ‘Where do we really need them?’” said Linda Birnbaum of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. “I don’t question the need for flame retardants in an airplane, but do we need them in nursing pillows and babies’ strollers? Are we putting chemicals in places we don’t need them?” 

-Elizabeth Grossman

Jane Bills, author of environmentally-conscious culinary blog Let There Be Bite, offers her tips on eating and living eco-friendly with this great, easy-to-read and educational checklist!

Okay, the purple butterfly might be a little much, but I like the message, don’t you? As I continue to watch floods, tornadoes, and fires stampede across the country (sorry, but no one can convince me it’s not because of climate change and greenhouse gases), I know we can do better. We can conserve more, recycle more, live greener and with better intentions for the future of this ailing planet—at least I know I can. Want to join me?

DRINK TAP WATER Bottled water is no safer than tap water, and, in some cases, is more contaminated. If you need any convincing of this, see the movie “Tapped.” Here, some of the film’s major takeaways:

• Big corporations (Coca-Cola: Dasani, Vitaminwater; PepsiCo: Aquafina;Nestlé: Arrowhead, Poland Spring) brazenly appropriate community groundwater, “purify” and bottle it, and sell it back to consumers at 1,900 times the cost of tap water.

• “Purified” bottled water is often more contaminated than tap water. Tap water is regulated and tested 300-400 times per month; bottled water is not tested at all. Independent researchers testing bottled water have found it to contain multiple petrochemicals (or chemical products derived from petroleum), such as benzene (petrochemical known to cause cancer), styrene (hazardous chemical that can cause gastrointestinal, kidney, and reproductive problems), and toluene (benzene derivative found in gasoline and paint thinners).

• The plastic bottle itself is made with petroleum and can contain Bisphenol-A,
  or BPA (known to cause cancer, diabetes, liver disease, low sperm count, and brain disorders like hyperactivity). Related tips: Look for “BPA-free” on baby bottles, food sold in cans (or buy fresh more often), and plastic storage containers. I use a stainless steel water bottle for running around town andthese BPA-free containersfor food storage.

• Only 50 percent of plastic is recycled worldwide. This has created swarms of discarded plastic material in the oceans, which is now being found in the fish we are consuming. If you use plastic, please recycle.

Filter your tap water Tap water may be the greener alternative, but groundwater still carries too many contaminants. It usually suffices to use a simple water filter, but since San Diego tap water is notorious for tasting like sea water, and a recent analysis of our water did not leave me feeling confident, I invested $250 in a reverse osmosis unit, which purifies water to a much greater extent. And yes, you can call me Heidi because I live in the Alps now!

EAT ORGANIC If you do nothing else, do this.

Organic food is what we are meant to be eating. It contains no preservatives, fertilizers, or pesticides. It is not genetically modified.* It has not been sterilized with radiation or ammonia. Organic food is highly regulated: organic farms are required to constantly test both their products for nutrients as well as their irrigation water (non-organic farms use “sewer water” that can contain biosolids like heavy metals, lawn pesticides, gas, detergents).

One criticism is that organic food can be more expensive than conventional food, but not always if you know how to shop:

• Buy from farmer’s markets (a recent study found them to be up to 40 percent cheaper than conventional stores).

• It is not necessary to buy organic fruit and vegetables whose peel is later discarded, such as pineapple or squash. At the very least, buy organic when it comes to the “dirty dozen”: peaches, strawberries, nectarines, apples, spinach, celery, pears, sweet bell peppers, cherries, potatoes, lettuce, and imported grapes. These items often require more pesticides to fight off bugs compared to hardier produce, such as asparagus and eggplant.

• Buy in bulk when possible for items like organic sugar and cereals. I buy organic chicken broth in bulk at Costco, for example.

• Prepare vegetarian meals more frequently. Organic lentils will be more affordable than organic grass-fed beef. Plus, just about everyone can stand to eat a little less meat.

• It’s not ideal, but look for organic food that is close to expiration and has been marked down in price. Some of the big-box stores that expanded to sell organic food in the last few years, like Walmart and Target, may have good deals.

* Look for this label in the grocery store —> However, no food can be guaranteed 100% non-GMO. Our food system is far too infiltrated with genetically modified origins to completely eradicate it. Additionally, pesticide spraying in one field can carry in the wind and contaminate organic fields. However, organic food is a far better alternative and gives you a much greater chance of avoiding these DNA-altered ingredients that are pervasive in mainstream food.

EAT LOCAL Your food will be fresher, tastier, and full of more nutrients. You’ll drastically minimize your carbon footprint and you’ll be supporting local farmers. A friend who works on an organic farm refers to the “frozen Han Solo” effect of mass-produced tomatoes. They are picked unripe and green, essentially frozen in time, transported far far away, and then gassed with ethylene to turn them red and ripe-looking. Any surprise they have no taste? As Barry Estabrook, the author of the agricultural exposé Tomatoland, puts it, “Tomatoes are being bred for shipping, not taste.”

EAT IN SEASON This goes hand-in-hand with eating locally. Eating grapes in winter? They’re being flown in unripe from Chile. Pay attention to each season’s bounty and try to consume accordingly. Farmer’s markets are great signalers for this. They won’t be selling grapes in January!

EAT LESS RED MEAT Two words: climate change. Producing the annual beef consumption of the average American emits as much greenhouse gas as a car driven more than 1,800 miles. One study goes so far as to say 50% of global greenhouse gases is due to beef production. Another says it takes 12,000 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. Plus, it’s not just red meat: lamb, cheese, pork, and farmed salmon also generate damaging amounts of greenhouse gases.

In terms of personal health, a 2009 National Cancer Institute study of 500,000 Americans found that the people who ate the most red meat were 20 percent more likely to die of cancer and at least 27 percent more likely to die of heart disease than those who ate the least.

If you must buy red meat, buy it grass-fed or pasture-raised as these methods create less environmental harm. And get on board with Meatless Mondays! Your body will reward you for it. As they say, “Pay the farmer now or pay the hospital later.” Vegetables, legumes, organic poultry, sustainable seafood, pasta, fruit—there are endless alternatives to eating meat as often as we do.

BUY MILK rBGH- (or rBST-) FREE When buying cow’s milk, look for “organic” or “rBGH-free” on the label. Recombinant bovine growth hormone, or rBGH, is injected into conventional dairy cows in the United States yet banned by most first-world countries. Injections of antibiotics often follow since the rBGH, which boosts a cow’s milk production by just one extra gallon per day, also makes the animals sick. Consequently, girls are now getting their periods as early as 7 years of age and there is evidence the hormone contributes to the development of cancer.

BE SELECTIVE ABOUT SEAFOOD Fish is a wonderful source of vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids, but dumping pollutants into our waters for decades has finally caught up with us. Large fish like tuna and swordfish carry high mercury levels, depleted populations and high global demand have spawned farmed fish systems that create bacteria and disease, GMO proponents are trying to push “Frankenfish” unlabeled into our grocery stores. There is a lot of very bad seafood out there, and you simply must buy from a trusted fishmonger, not the teenager at your big-box store who could just as easily be working at Radio Shack.

LOOK FOR “FAIR TRADE” ON THE LABEL It’s not just the ingredients themselves, it’s also the means by which your ingredients were acquired. When you purchase from a fair-trade organization, you’re participating in a business model that promises a fair price to the farmer, promotes sustainable farming practices, and contributes to positive change in small, often rural, and underprivileged communities.

DON’T OVER-BUY Americans throw away almost half of their food every year. We’re busy: we shop sporadically and buy in large quantities. But then we forget about it, we can’t eat it all, or we get spooked by the expiration date and throw it out. It’s fine to buy some products in bulk that can sit on the shelf for a while, likepasta or olive oil, but try to buy fresh ingredients that you plan to use in the next day or two, and in appropriate quantities. Related tip: To save time in the kitchen and avoid wasting the large quantities you may end up buying sometimes, make a big batch of food and eat leftovers throughout the week. Share with co-workers or friends if you can’t finish it—people love free home-cooked food!

RECYCLE; BUY FOOD WITH LESS PACKAGING Buying food in its natural state (read: not processed) eliminates a good deal of packaging, which makes up 40% of the 1.4 billion pounds of waste we put in landfills every day. Bring your own containers or look for food in environmentally sensitive containers like recycled paper or bio-based plastic. No petroleum-based plastic and no Styrofoam. Progress on the horizon: the first zero-waste, package-free grocery store in the U.S. is about to open in Austin, Texas.

GROW YOUR OWN FOOD AND COMPOST The carbon footprint of your own fruit and vegetables couldn’t be smaller than from your backyard to your kitchen table, and composting turns your discarded organic matter into valuable fertilizer and keeps it out of waste processing plants. Live in an apartment with little or no outside space? Consult my friend Amy Pennington, creator of Go Go Green Garden and author of “Apartment Gardening.” Related tip: Don’t dispose of excessive cooking oil or bacon fat in the sink. If you can’t compost it, put it in a sealed container, like an empty milk carton (preferably not plastic), and throw it in the garbage.

NO MORE PLASTIC BAGS Keep multiple reusable
bags in the car. Seek out and reward stores with your patronage that give incentives: My local natural foods store gives me 5 cents off for every bag I bring, or I can donate it to one of four charities they work with. I even take a reusable bag with me when I go shopping at the mall. (Who needs another paper Nordstrom bag?) I also love these reusable produce bags.

ASK QUESTIONS Know your farmer, know your butcher, know your fishmonger. Ask them where their products come from and how they’re treated. If they stutter, time
to find a new purveyor. I had one butcher tell me “natural” beef is the same as “organic.” Buh-bye. Let them know you’re paying attention to what they’re selling.

Consumers have the power.
Demand the product you want.
Change the world one meal at a time.

-Jane Bills, author, Let There Be Bite.

Original blog post

No summer staple is more annoying than the onslaught of mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, fire ants and other pests—except stinky, chemical-filled bug spray, perhaps.

Never fear. Greenbug, Inc. has developed a “green” personal pest repellent that keeps those biting bugs away. Using all natural ingredients, Greenbug for People is a safe and effective repellent that doesn’t contain any toxic chemicals.

Outdoor summer activities can be threatened by the presence of pests in a number of ways. Though obviously annoying, these bugs also carry the dangers of West Nile Virus, Lyme disease, Meningitis and other vector ailments. All your favorite summer activities like hiking, grilling and swimming can be miserable and life threatening without safe pest repellent.

Clearly, preventing ailments is the key to good health. And now you don’t have to rely on dangerous chemicals to protect you and your family. Greenbug for People creates a natural barrier that pests will not cross. The active ingredient—cedar—is deadly to pests yet harmless to humans, animals and the environment. Greenbug for People is EPA-exempt due to its proven level of bio-based safety, and is safe for use around food. Unlike synthetic pesticides, Greenbug harms nothing beneficial.

Greenbug for People can also be used on belongings and pets to fully repel bugs without staining or residue.

For more information, visit www.greenbugallnatural.com, and start protecting your family from nasty bugs in a safe, eco-friendly way!

No water to shave? No problem! Dad can shave anywhere, any time with BodyVerde’s EZ Waterless Shave.

EZ Waterless Shave is a lightweight shaving lotion made from natural ingredients. There’s no foaming, lathering or rinsing, so there’s no need to stand at a sink to shave.

Whether he simply appreciates a good shave or wants to save water at home on a daily basis, any dad can take pride in the fact that he’ll save three to five gallons of water by not shaving at a sink, and up to five gallons per minute by not shaving in the shower. He’ll avoid putting questionable ingredients on his skin, and he won’t rinse any non-biodegradable ingredients down the drain.

Waterless shaving, or “eco-shaving,” is a revolutionary way to shave. Simply apply EZ Waterless Shave to the skin, shave with any well-made razor, and rub in any excess lotion for a smooth, skin-conditioning shave without aftershave or other additional products. The soothing formula has aloe, chamomile, olive oil, green tea and a fresh citrus scent built right in.

EZ Waterless Shave was inspired by soldiers deployed in the desert, who must maintain a clean-shaven look where water is scarce. Dads who shave their heads will appreciate that EZ Waterless Shave has proven effective at minimizing razor burn and nicks, bumps and ingrown hairs.

Dads will find EZ Waterless Shave useful at the office and the gym, for traveling and camping, for a marathon or a bike trip. At $12.99, one bottle can last a month or more. It’s available online at www.bodyverde.com/products/ez-waterless-shave.

Click here for more information about BodyVerde and how to enter their EZ Waterless Shave contest.

Is Dad constantly on the go?

Enhance his ride by introducing him to the world of folding bicycles this Father’s Day. Bikes save on parking, reduce pollution and are a great way to fit regular exercise into a hectic schedule. Folding bikes make transporting and storing the bike easier and are often accepted where regular bikes are not, such as in apartment or office buildings, or on mass transit.

A folding bike—or “folder”—is a bicycle that can be compressed to a smaller size, usually by folding or stretching its components, completely tool-free. Unfolded, the bikes function as normal, full-sized bicycles.

Juan Marquez, managing director of Pacific Europa Limited, an international bicycle designer workshop, says that a folder is perfect for Dad because it is “something he can take with him everywhere: commute to work, on holiday, etc.” Folders can even help Dad de-clutter the garage.

Founded in 1971, Pacific Europa has its headquarters in the United Kingdom but makes its products internationally available through its website, www.folding-bikes.com.

Switching to a bicycle or folder may benefit the larger community as well. Pacific Europa points out that if more commuters bicycled, “taxes could be reduced because governmental costs would decrease in terms of highway and roadway maintenance, construction and infrastructure, traffic control and manpower.”

As for the environment, the benefits of riding a bike instead of a gas-powered vehicle may be obvious. Automobiles are the single largest source of air pollution in the United States, the website cites, and an average four-mile round-trip bike commute prevents nearly 15 pounds of auto air pollution from contaminating the air. Since the average commuting speed in the United States is less than 35 mph, riding to work may help Dad save time and the environment.

For more information on Pacific Europa and folding bikes visit www.folding-bikes.com.

All he needs is Skin Authority’s cleanser, night lotion and sunscreen moisturizer, all included in the convenient travel case he can throw into a carry-on or gym bag for on-the-go use. The products are also offered in full-size versions for use at home.

“Men want hassle-free regimens and immediate results,” says Skin Authority CEO Celeste Hilling, who led the kit’s creation. “GO! Man delivers with visible improvement in two simple steps each morning and night,” she says.

A GQ/Allure survey found that the average number of products men use regularly (11) is not much less than what women use. Eleven products equal a lot of money and time, which is why Skin Authority took that amount down to just three. The GO! Man kit repairs and prevents the signs of premature aging caused by sun and environmental exposure, and even comes with free professional skin coaching and support from Skin Authority’s licensed estheticians.

Skin Authority’s products do not contain parabens, dyes or added fragrances and are never tested on animals, making them good for both Dad and the environment!

For more information on Skin Authority and the GO! Man kit visit http://www.skinauthority.com/.