• Recent media reports have questioned whether the chemical BPA, found in the popular plastic polycarbonate, is truly safe for use in plastic glasses, dishes and other products that come into contact with food.

    While the the facts, science, pros and cons behind the BPA question could fill a lengthy article, if you're a concerned shopper, you probably aren't too into scientific arguments -- you just want to play it safe and avoid BPA. But conflicting reports about which products might contain BPA make it tough to choose plastic drinkware and dishes with confidence.

    Happily, it's quite easy to find BPA-free plastic tableware. There are many different plastics used to make drinkware and dishes -- and most are and have always been BPA-Free! But you need to know what to look for, and what to avoid. Here are a few tips to help you in your search:

    Tip 1: In Plastic Tableware, if it's not Polycarbonate, it's BPA-Free
    Among the many different plastics used to make glasses, cups

    Read More »from 3 Simple Ways to Tell if Plastic Drinkware, Dishes and Reusable Bottles are BPA-Free
  • by GALTime.com Staff

    When you think about the issues that send married couples into therapy, you probably think money, children, sex, infidelity, in-laws. Well, here's a new one that may shock you...the environment! That's right... going green has some partners seeing red.

    "Like anything that goes on between two people, when one person wants to take new actions and promote health and the other person starts to experience it as unwelcome change rather than something they're on board with, its inevitably going to create conflict," says renowned marriage and family therapist Jane Greer, Ph.D.

    Tania Reuben charged head first into the green movement after her children were born. She now writes a blog as the Pure Natural Diva. "We recycle. We're now composting. I use power strips and reusable bags. I send my daughter to school with waste free lunches," says Reuben.

    Sounds simple, but for husband Michael it was quite an adjustment. "She was, I think, voted or put in some book

    Read More »from Is Going 'Green' Causing Fights In Your House?
  • By Laurel House, Planet Green
    More from Guest Bloggers blog

    (Photo: Getty Images)(Photo: Getty Images)Wasabi, the fiery sushi condiment has been shown to have an assortment of healing benefits.

    This member of the cabbage family can do everything from help reduce the growth of bacteria that causes cavities, increase circulation, and promote oxygenation of the cellular tissue when topically taken to help you get over a hangover, plump a sexy pout when applied to women's lips, and act as an aphrodisiac when consumed by men!

    Historically, the potent plant was prided for its antimicrobial properties and used by Japanese natives to protect from food poisoning. It has also been proven as a natural antibacterial agent with a high concentration of potassium, calcium, vitamin C, and phytochemicals, which strengthen the body's antioxidant defenses and aid the skin against free radicals.

    Its power transcends just ingesting, and wasabi has been shown as equally beneficial when applied topically to the skin. Which,

    Read More »from Rub wasabi on your skin for good health
  • Four of every 10 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes, and two of every 10 will die of it. And according to the recent report submitted to President Obama by the President's Cancer Panel, simply establishing healthy habits - stopping smoking, reducing drinking, losing weight, exercising and eating right - may not be enough.

    The panel reported that "the true burden of environmentally induced cancers has been grossly underestimated." The 240-page report is the first to focus on environmental causes of cancer, and in the letter preceding it, the panel noted that environmental exposures are not a new threat, but one that "has not been addressed adequately by the National Cancer Program."

    Americans face an array of dangerous exposures, and the Environmental Working Group's research has found that children are born "pre-polluted" with up to 200 industrial chemicals, pesticides and contaminants that have been found to cause cancer in lab studies or in people. So, how

    Read More »from Does Your Environment Put You at Risk for Cancer?
  • Foods poisonous to pets

    By Megan Zehnder, Care2
    More from Guest Bloggers blog

    (Photo: Getty Images)(Photo: Getty Images)We all know that pets aren't supposed to have people food. But let's face it, sometimes, it happens…something falls on the floor when you're cooking dinner, and Buddy is quickly there, vacuuming up the crumbs, or Felix steels something off the plate when you aren't looking…

    There are some healthy "people foods" for pets (only small amounts- not replacements for pet food). But there are also many foods that can be dangerous to our feline friends and canine companions.

    Here is a handy list of the top common foods that are toxic to your pet along with tips on what to do if your pet happens to get a hold of any of these substances.








    AvocadoAvocado
    Avocado

    While many pet owners say they feed their pets avocados with no problems, studies have shown that their leaves, fruit, seeds and bark can contain a toxin called Persin. According to the ASPCA, the Guatemalan variety, which is commonly found in stores, contains the most toxicity.






    Read More »from Foods poisonous to pets
  • By Matt Hickman, Mother Nature Network
    More from Guest Bloggers blog

    Summer is right around the corner. And while that's exciting, it's also true that spending so much time outside can be hard on your skin.

    Don't let sunburn, bug bites, or poison ivy spoil your summer fun. Mother Nature can soothe your pain without hurting your wallet or the planet. Below are five inexpensive and easy-to-find first-aid essentials you'll turn to again and again.


    image name
    (Photo: AzDew/Flickr)

    Aloe vera

    The gel from the meaty leaves of this spectacular succulent is a topical wonder. Rub it on the skin after sitting in the sun for too long or after being attacked by bite-happy bugs and it will cool, moisturize and promote healing. Chaffin' like crazy after a long, sweaty hike in the woods? Apply a lil aloe gel to irritated skin and experience sweet relief courtesy of Mamma Nature. If you have space and want to go straight to the source, buy an entire aloe plant. Or just pick up a couple tubes of Read More »from Five summertime first-aid essentials
  • Get Paid to Be Outside

    As summer approaches, most of us are excited to spend as much time outdoors as we possibly can. There are plenty of opportunities to work outside and earn some extra cash in your spare time (and they don't all require an "outdoor office").

    Summer Jobs
    The best part about these summer opportunities is that relatively little training is needed.

    Camp Counselor
    This can be a rewarding way to earn money and possibly even get the opportunity to travel around the world. Many counselors come to North America from overseas, and you can do searches to work at camps abroad. Depending on where you apply, the pay will be around $175 to $400 a week, but note that many camps do also provide room and board. Check out Campchannel.com for more information. Try one of these great green summer camps.

    Photographer
    Pursue this hobby on weekends and earn some extra cash. Digital photography reduces costs and exposure to harmful chemicals, and websites like iStockphoto make it easy to get paid for your

    Read More »from Get Paid to Be Outside
  • Farm-Fresh Food that's Easy on the Budget, Photo Courtesy of @LiveSimply2LifeWell on FlickrFarm-Fresh Food that's Easy on the Budget, Photo Courtesy of @LiveSimply2LifeWell on Flickr
    By: Kathy Carter, Quizzle.com

    Building financial security means taking care of the big things. Fortunately, there are a lot of helpful personal finance sites available that dispense great advice on home loans, credit improvement, and other "big picture" elements of financial health.

    But what about that day-in, day-out food budget? It's part of your financial health, too. For the best use of your food dollars, buy in season.

    Here are six tips for getting the most out of your food budget and enjoying the most nutritious, freshest food imaginable:

    1. Pick your own.


    When you do this will depend on where you live. As I write this in the Upper South in the middle of May, strawberries are at their peak. The berries are sweeter, juicier, and cheaper than at any other time of year. They're more (pardon the pun) jam-packed with nutrients too. When local fruit is ripe, take advantage of it. Make an outing to a pick-your-own field for cheap recreation and low-priced berries. You'll spend

    Read More »from 6 Tips for Budget-Friendly Farm-Fresh Food
  • I've confessed before that my enthusiasm for gardening usually dies on the vine long before the first cucumbers of summer are ready to harvest. I'm always looking for easy ways to satisfy my green thumb and, of course, ways to get the most broccoli for my gardening buck. That's why I'm a big fan of growing perennial vegetables in my garden - plant them once, and enjoy the fruits (well, actually, vegetables) of your labors for years to come.

    Although - unlike fruits - there aren't too many vegetables that are perennials, many of the ones that do exist grow in a wide range of climates and, once established, are low-maintenance enough even for a lazy gardener like me. They're also among the healthiest veggies for you, and they're generally inexpensive to purchase.

    Here are my personal eight great perennial vegetables:


    Asparagus: Grows best in full sun and non-soggy, somewhat sandy soil. I like it cut into one-inch pieces and stir-fried raw with sesame oil and a little sliced ginger (top

    Read More »from 8 Perennial Vegetables Anyone Can Grow
  • From Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things

    This good-for-you item does more than brew up a good beverage. See what else tea is capable of!

    Cool sunburned skin
    What can you do when you forget to use sunscreen and have to pay the price with a painful burn? A few wet tea bags applied to the affected skin will take out the sting. This works well for other types of minor burns (i.e., from a teapot or steam iron) too. If the sunburn is too widespread to treat this way, put some tea bags in your bathwater and soak your whole body in the tub.

    Relieve your tired eyes
    Revitalize tired, achy, or puffy eyes. Soak two tea bags in warm water and place them over your closed eyes for 20 minutes. The tannins in the tea act to reduce puffiness and soothe tired eyes.

    PLUS: 20 Secrets Your Waiter Won't Tell You

    Reduce razor burn
    Ouch! Why didn't you remember to replace that razor blade before you started to shave? To soothe razor burn and relieve painful nicks and cuts, apply a wet tea bag to the

    Read More »from 12 Ways to Use Tea for Beauty and Healing

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