Welcome to the Healthy News Blog
Valentines Day the Natural Way
Wednesday, February 10th 2010
I have been thinking alot about the types of activities that are more natural ways to celebrate Valentines Day, without the waste of cards, wrapping and (potentially) unwanted gifts. Here's my list of great Valentines ideas for this year....
- Waking early, going to the Northey St organic markets and buying everything you need for a picnic lunch at a nice park later that day
- Going to a restaurant that focuses on Organics for dinner
- Trying a new cuisine. There are some great African places popping up around the place, and many traditional foods use lots of spice that is full of health benefits - better than creamy pasta!
- Watching the sun rise from a local lookout and reminding one another why you love them
- Do your card verbally. Why do we need paper to express how we feel? Wake up your loved one and tell them how great they are
- Cut flowers from your own garden, or beg a neighbour for theirs. Too much land is wasted on commercial flowers. Echinacea produces a great flower, is easy to grow and the root can be used for infections. What an alternative!
- Buy fair trade gifts - this way you show your love to the producers as well as your partner.
It might (might?) be idealistic of me, but surely these are just as romantic. What will I be doing? Hopefully seeing a new arthouse film I have my eye on, and sneaking in our own snacks from the organic markets!
Happy Valentines Day to all of you.
Quote for Reflection
This is a lovely quote from The Book of Runes by Ralph Blum. The quote comes from the Rune for 'wholeness', and would make a lovely focus for meditation practice.
'Practice the art of doing without doing: aim yourself truly and then maintain your aim without manipulative effort. Meditate on Christ's words: I can of mine own self do nothing (John 5:30). For by our own power we do nothing: even in loving, it is Love that loves through us.
The quote is a reminder that if we live with purpose and intent, our greater goals will be realised. We do not need to force ourselves to live in the right way, but if our intention is true the universe will carry us there.
A little more 'hippy' that my usual blogs, but still with the intent of providing information to help you!
Buying Organics
Monday, November 16th 2009
Buying organic is an easy decision for some people. The ever-present pesticide and fertilizer residues in our food chain make the cost of chemical free food easy to justify. However many people complain about the cost, especially when feeding a whole family of growing children. What's the answer? There are several way to reduce the cost of your organic grocery basket.
The first one is to shop at organic markets. We are lucky in Brisbane to have several great outdoor markets, many of which have stalls dedicated to organic food. Try and select stalls that display a certification of their organic status. Only select produce that is in season - the price will be much lower.
Organic home delivery services usually have a 'mixed box' option. For a set price you get a mystery box of fruit and vegies delivered. You don't get to chose what foods you get, but this might help you to try new things! The price is usually much better than purchasing individual items, and you don't need to leave the house.
Another option is to select foods that are more prone to chemical residue to purchase organic, and buy 'safer' items that are farmed with standard practices. The environmental working group tested 47 foods for pesticide residues and then ranked them from worst to best. The top 10 foods contaminated with pesticides were: peaches, apples, capsicums, celery, nectarine, strawberry, cherry, kale, lettuce and grapes. Other foods I would add to this list of 'must buy organic' include the following:
Still not sure about the price? Well the easiest option is to grow your own. Vegies like asian greens, silverbeet, cucumbers, zucchini, beans, potatos and tomatos are super easy to grow in Brisbane and will yield lots of yummy organic food. Check out Diggers.com and the gardening Australia website for helpful tips.
There's no doubt that eating organic food is better for us and the planet. With a little extra thought, it can also be financially viable too.
Taxing Processed Foods
Saturday, November 7th 2009
Welcome to the first blog! I look forward to sharing all the my opinions on the health and environment news I come across.
With the carbon emissions trading scheme being debated in the media and government, there has been some interesting discussions floating around about ranking and taxing of foods based on the carbon emissions produced in their manufacture. Naturally the big corporations are vigorously lobbying against this, as a tax on processed foods, which produce lots of greenhouse gas, would lead to reduced consumption of these foods and affect their profit margins. However, strong health figures like Dr Rosemary Stanton are naturally in support of this tax.
I am really excited about this debate, as it has long been known that as taxes on products such as alcohol and cigarettes increase, then consumption goes down. Wouldn't it be great to have financial incentives to reduce the amount of processed foods we eat?
There is also discussion around this issue in the United States at the moment. The soft drink companies are lobbying against a proposed tax on sugar sweetened beverages. This would include flavoured milk and juice as well as soft drink. The fact that this discussion is happening at all in the government is a sign that policy makers are starting to get serious about our junk food issues.
So what can you do? Remember that every dollar you spend is essentially a 'vote'. By purchasing junk food you are essentially supporting these companies, and increasing your carbon footprint. Take action by supporting responsible companies that focus on real foods, and buy organic. This months newsletter comes out next week, and there will be some great information about a local organic market. Take the time out to visit, and you will be saving your health and the environment!
Please note: Opinions expressed in this blog are the authors own.
