By Melissa Breyer
More from Care2 Green Living blog

I'm the first to admit that the term "superfood" gets thrown around a lot in media and marketing, but that doesn't mean we should turn our backs on the bursting-with-nourishment, lovely, potent, and delicious foods that fall under the moniker. Especially when these foods are known to lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer, and, while we're at it, put you in a better mood.

Although some people have run rampant with the term and have made a mint by promoting the "miraculous! fountain-of-youth! death-defying!" benefits of superfoods, I hope that there won't be a backlash against good, old-fashioned, super nutrient-exuberant food.

As I've said before, I'm a crusader for most edibles in their pure forms -- and the majority of them are superfoods in my book. There are few whole foods from the plant world that don't have some health-boosting element to brag about -- so how to decide what to eat?

That's

Getty ImagesBy Sara Reistad-Long

By now, we all know there's a benefit to buying some stuff organic. But these days you're faced with the option of getting everything organic-from fruits and veggies to mattresses and clothing. You want to do right by your body, for sure, but going the all-natural route en masse can be pricey.

So we wondered: What's really essential for our health? That's why we came up with this definitive list. Here's what should be in your cart-and what you don't have to worry about.

Beef
You've probably read plenty of stories about the risks of eating chicken. But the most important protein to buy organic may well be beef. "Research suggests a strong connection between some of the hormones given to cattle and cancer in humans, particularly breast cancer," says Samuel Epstein, MD, professor emeritus of environmental and occupational medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. Specifically, the concern is that the estrogen-like agents used on

(Photo: MNN)By Morieka Johnson, Mother Nature Network
More from Guest Bloggers blog

Q: Does putting my computer to sleep help extend the battery life? What else can I do to save energy and make my new computer last?

A: We've all heard stories about what's best for a computer's battery. That's why I was excited to make friends with Fred Peters, president of Huntington Beach IT Services.

In addition to teaching computing courses in Orange County, Calif., Peters happily makes house calls to revive frazzled computers and the people who rely on them.

Here are his expert tips on how to keep your new laptop running smoothly.

Sleep mode vs. shutting down

Peters notes that your work process will determine whether it's more efficient to use "Sleep" mode or simply shut down the computer. "It is never fun to have to consistently wait any amount of time if the shut downs are too frequent," he says. "'Sleep' requires more power, but it boots up faster, while 'Hibernate' uses less power,

By Sara Novak, Planet Green
More from Guest Bloggers blog

(Photo: Jupiterimages)This year, my husband and I resolved to spend way less money than we've been spending. But to be fair we've done this before. We've tried to budget, but for the longest time we weren't sure where all our money was going. We thought we lived quite frugally, staying away from too much consumerism and unnecessary junk.

But it seemed we were coming up short. So for a month straight, we wrote down every cent we spent from morning coffee to shampoo and meals out. We wrote it all down and kept receipts. At the end of each week we divided what we had spent up into categories including food, toiletries, gifts, gas, and utilities.

Neither my husband nor I buy a lot of clothing or gadgets, and we never have. But what we found is that we were spending an astronomical amount on food and dining. We were left wondering what to do because we're both self-proclaimed foodies and refuse to give up high quality, local, organic eats. And

We waste a great deal of money and precious storage space on specialty cleaning solutions when we actually only need a handful of versatile nontoxic products to clean an entire home. From Green This! by Deirdre Imus

Back to the Basics: Essential Cleaning Products
… I want you to go look under your kitchen sink, or inside your utility closet, or wherever you keep your household cleaning products. You probably have a lot of different bottles stashed away -- most Americans do.

So, what did you find in there? Window/glass cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, spray bleach, detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets, spot remover, spray starch, automatic dishwashing detergent, hand dishwashing liquid, furniture polish, oven cleaner, scouring cream, shower cleaner, tub and tile cleaner, carpet shampoo, and probably several other products you can no longer remember why you bought in the first place.

When we greened Hackensack University Medical Center, the janitorial staff had been

By Cris Carl, Networx
More from Guest Bloggers blog

(Photo: Getty Images)Justine Rosewarne, of Jones Group Realtors of western Massachusetts, has some good advice for what not to renovate when you are looking to sell your home.

Most importantly, she said the seller wants to have their home be as clean and fresh-smelling as possible and to avoid too many personal touches.

1. Don't refinish wood floors

If you are lucky enough to have hardwood floors, don't go crazy with major sanding jobs unless you have severe damage. Light sanding, cleaning, and a coat or two of polyurethane will do the trick. Wood floors are meant to have character.

2. Don't over-improve kitchens and bathrooms

Kitchens and bathrooms are undoubtedly the best rooms to improve in terms of value. However, if you have a modest home, don't put in $20,000 worth of cabinetry. You are actually better off sprucing up your bathroom and kitchen with simple fixtures like handles, towel racks, wall plates, and outlet covers.

By Linda Merrill, Networx
More from Guest Bloggers blog

(Photo: Rubbermaid via Flickr)Static cling has been known to be mildly embarrassing (think pants legs riding up) to downright mortifying (think clingy skirts or dresses riding up to indecent heights). To understand how to get rid of this annoying situation, it's important to first understand it.

Human beings continually generate static electricity on our bodies which is periodically grounded out, meaning we touch another static object producing that "zap" we're all familiar with.

As we all know, opposites attract and the positive energy conducted from our bodies will be very attracted to the negative energy that can be present in very dry clothing -- especially that which is made of synthetic materials. When clothes are dried in the dryer, they pass electrons back and forth increasing the positive and negative energies between objects, which causes them to cling to one another. When worn, they in turn can keep clinging to one another as in the case

By Laura Moss, Mother Nature Network
More from Guest Bloggers blog

Photo: jupiterimages

Cosmetics aren't required by law to have expiration dates, so you can't always consult a label to determine if your makeup is still good. Even dated items may be misleading because a product can expire long before the printed date if it's not stored properly.

From the time you open that bottle of foundation or tube of mascara, the life and effectiveness of the product decreases. While preservatives kill some bacteria, FDA studies show that a little bacteria is present in makeup even before you buy it, and whenever you open it or touch it, you're introducing more. At some point, aging cosmetics lose their ability to fight bacteria no matter how carefully you store them.

Here are some tips that will extend the shelf life of your cosmetics and protect you from infection - plus some advice on when it's time to replace everything from eye liner to lipstick.

Concealer

Many concealers can last for up to a