Green Your Life With Eco-Friendly Resolutions For 2010

As 2010 quickly arrives,
here is a link to help inspire
you to make a list of green resolutions!

10 Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions

The Many Health Benefits Of Coconut Oil

Author: Dianne Ronnow

Have you heard about coconut oil yet? People are adding coconut oil to their diets and are getting incredible results. They are losing weight, getting more energy, and getting healthier.

Coconut oil is safe to use, and does not turn to fat in your body. It raises the metabolism, so you burn more fat and have more energy. It does not increase your cholesterol, but actually helps lower it. Coconut oil is wonderful diet addition for just about everyone.

Coconut oil is full of healthy benefits. Next to mother's milk, it is nature's highest source of medium chain fatty acids (MTC's), which raise the body's metabolism, leading to weight loss. It has fatty acids such as lauric acid and monoglycerides, similar to mother's breast milk.

When lauric acid is consumed in the body, whether through mother's milk or coconut oil, it enhances the immune system to help the body fight infections, diseases, bad bacteria and yeast invasions. Lauric aid is known to be anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial.

Coconut oil raises the metabolism, which helps people who are trying to lose weight and people suffering from thyroid problems. Coconut stabilizes the blood sugar levels, helping with diabetes. It also protects the heart cells from damage.

Coconut oil helps relieve the symptoms of menopause, and pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). Many women who suffer the effects of PMS have found the symptoms lessened when coconut oil was consumed often in their diet.

Coconut oil does not raise cholesterol. Studies have shown that people who use coconut oil have lower cholesterol than those who do not, even when the people consuming coconut also eat other high cholesterol foods like eggs and meat.

Coconut oil smells good, tastes pleasant and is so good for our bodies that some people consume it straight, by the tablespoon, and use it in place of other oils on their salads. Many people also use it as an ingredient when juicing or making smoothies.

If all this good news isn't enough, coconut oil one of the best things you can apply directly on your skin and hair. It not only gives temporary relief to skin problems like rashes, but it aids in healing and restoring skin to a younger appearance. It has also been known to help with people who suffer from yeast infections in the skin, and there is solid research that shows the MCTs in coconut oil do overcome yeast infections. Coconut oil also makes an excellent massage oil.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-many-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil-16288.html

About the Author:
By Dianne Ronnow, © 2005 Mohave Publishing. From the FREE ebook on coconut oil found at Coconut-Oil-Diet.com. Discover the secrets of coconut oil and weight loss at http://Coconut-Oil-Diet.com now!

I love Laundry Berries! Soap Nuts-100% Natural Laundry Detergent

Have you discovered Laundry Berries yet?
This is all I wash my laundry with now!
Super cost effective and all natural.

$10 + $3.50 S&H
6 0z Laundry Berries/Soap Nuts
Includes drawstring bag & instructions!

6 0z package = 60 loads of wash!

Washing Laundry with Soap Nuts/Laundry Berries.

It does not get much simpler. Doing laundry can even be fun! Really.

Most laundry detergents on the shelves of our supermarkets contain numerous chemical substances, synthetic dyes, fragrances and fillers. These chemical substances are effective in deeply penetrating our clothes - cleaning, sanitizing and scenting them. However, these same chemicals build up in our clothes and linens and transfer to our skin leading to short term and/or long term skin troubles for some individuals. They break down fabric fibers and fade colors and they are harmful to our environment. Soap Nuts are simply a better way.

Basic Laundry Directions: The simplest, most common and traditional method of washing laundry with soap nuts is by using the raw nuts in a drawstring bag, and simply tossing the bag in with your laundry.

Can I use soapnuts in my high-efficiency (or front loading) washing machine?
Absolutely! In fact, because they don’t create many suds, soapnuts are great for high-efficiency (HE, or front-loading) washers! A front-loading washing machine requires a special detergent, called HE detergent, to allow it to clean your laundry properly. HE detergent is unique because it doesn’t produce lots of suds like regular detergent does.

Soapnuts are naturally a low-sudsing product — with no added fillers, dyes or chemicals to create bubbles in the wash. But even without the bubbles, you will find that the soapnuts will thoroughly clean your laundry.

Warm or Hot Water Wash:
Put 4 or 5 soap nut shells or equivalent pieces, about a half-ounce, in cotton or muslin drawstring bag and tie bag securely.

Toss in washing machine before you add your clothes.

Remove from washer at end of the wash to dry (leave soap nuts in bag).

Re-use the same soap nuts 3 to 5 times (or more). The soap nuts are no longer effective when they become thin, mushy and very light tan or gray. You can then toss them on your compost heap because soap nuts are naturally biodegradeable. Keep the muslin bag and reuse.

Cold Water Wash:
Simply make a cup of soap nut 'tea' by soaking 4 or 5 bagged soap nuts in a cup of very hot water for approximately 3 minutes.

Pour both the soap nuts liquid and bag in wash.

Remove from washer at end of the wash to dry (leave soap nuts in bag).

Re-use 3 to 5 times (or more). Soap nuts are no longer effective when they thin, turn soft, mushy and very light tan or gray.

Get started with Laundry Berries today!

6 oz Laundry Berries/Soap Nuts
$10.00 + $3.50 S&H

6 oz = 60 Loads of Wash!

Eight Green Gift Ideas

Author: Virginia Ginsburg
Copyright (c) 2008 Virginia Ginsburg

Giving green gifts is increasingly popular, as it provides an opportunity for your gift to stand out from the crowd and make a positive impact on the Earth.

When giving a green gift, you have to consider several elements, including the gift itself, its source, its packaging, and the company providing it. These elements all make an impact on the Earth, and thus deserve careful consideration.

First of all, the gift itself must be considered. Ideally, its contents should be organic, or at least have a minimum impact on the Earth. For example, paper products should be recycled; cloth products should be made of organic fibers like cotton, bamboo or hemp. Wooden products should be made of fast-growing woods or recycled hard woods.

Second, the packaging of the product should be minimal to reduce waste. Seek zero packaging when possible. Next best is recycled paper packaging. The least desirable packaging is plastic, which takes significant energy to produce and is difficult to recycle. If the only option is plastic packaging, seek minimal amounts of plastic.

Third, the source of the gift is important based on both human rights considerations and transportation costs. It's no secret that most U.S. companies manufacture their products outside of the U.S. This is sometimes the only option when it comes to economy, but you can be a conscious consumer by researching the country of origin to determine how likely it is that they frequently are cited for human rights violations. The fuel costs involved in shipping products from foreign countries vary, but can make a significant impact on the product's overall cost to the environment.

Finally, consider the company itself. It may surprise you to discover that some companies that sell green products are actually not green at all. They may actually be less than green companies. Other companies that use less sustainable products may in fact be greener overall when you consider product sourcing and packaging. The best thing to do is to think beyond the label on a product and do a little bit of research. Consider the concepts above and apply them to all of your green purchases for more conscious consumption.

Eight Easy Options For Green Gift Giving

1. Gift Certificates - require almost no transportation resources or packaging, and ensure the recipient will get exactly what he or she wants. Choose local, environmentally-conscious companies from which to secure the certificates.

2. Organic Products - are often sourced from environmentally-conscious companies that minimize their impact on the world. Consider clothing, accessories and beauty items.

3. Charity Donation - requires no transportation resources or packaging, and directly make a positive impact on the world. Check out organizations that benefit global resource initiatives, focusing on something meaningful to the recipient like water or air quality, or wildlife protection.

4. Local Home-Made Products - buying locally-made products supports the local economy and minimizes transportation impact. Look for hand-made gift items like bags, decorative boxes and children's toys.

5. Massage - a hands-on gift requires almost no waste, and the only products required are a little bit of massage oil.

6. Eco Spa Day - while many spas use treatments that are tested on animals and contain ingredients that don't meet the green standard, eco spas specialize in treating guests to luxury without negatively impacting the Earth.

7. Home-Made Food - if you like to cook, select the best organic and locally-grown products available and prepare a home-made meal that you can either share or drop off. Don't live nearby? Bake organic cookies and send them in the mail.

8. Week of Groceries - take the task of grocery shopping off their to-do list by visiting the local farmer's market or responsible grocery store. Remember to include some recipes for how they can cook the food!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/eight-green-gift-ideas-509854.html

About the Author:
Virginia Ginsburg specializes in research related to ecologically-sound life and business practices. She writes about green living and socially-conscious investing. Her company, Green Baby Gifts http://www.greenbabygiftsonline.com , specializes in gifts that are both beautiful and ecologically-sound.

Soap Nuts!

Author: Cathy Herard

If you haven't already heard of or tried soap nuts, you are going to want to find out where you can get them and wonder why you haven't been using them your entire laundry washing life! They are amazing and grow on trees. Basically, soap nuts are the dried shells of the soapberry. The shells actually contain a substance called saponin, which provides a soaping affect, but no foaming like chemical filled commercial "detergents." The trees grow in India and Nepal and are a sustainable resource that gives a source of income to the local population. I have personally switched to using soap nuts for my laundry needs and am way more pleased than ever! There are no harsh chemicals being used to launder my family's clothing and better yet, I don't use any type of fabric softener because the soap nuts do that naturally! Just like with traditional detergents, soap nuts sometimes need a little "support" in getting out tougher odors and stains. I usually add borax if this is the case with my laundry.

Soap nuts are truly the most organic and pure way of cleaning your laundry and other things around your home. There is minimal waste(no big plastic jug like with commerical detergents) for a much smaller impact on the environment! My favorite soap nuts are from a company called NaturOli. A visit to their website gives you a feeling of relaxation, purity, and wellness! Besides soap nuts they offer many other pure and natural products as well. I love and have tried several of their skincare line as well as their soap nuts! Check them out, you will be glad you did. www.letsbegreentogether.com www.naturoli.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/soap-nuts-635107.html

About the Author:
Cathy is an advocate for all things eco-friendly which includes everything organic and and as close to natural as possible. She is devoted to creating a healthier environment for her family and their future.

Davos Question: Jeffrey Hollender from Seventh Generation. You Tube Video.

Jeffrey is the the President and Chief Inspired Protagonist at Seventh Generation and has some thoughts for the Davos community. Seventh Generation is the nation's leading brand of non-toxic and environmentally safe household products.

The Davos Question is: What one thing do you think that countries, companies or individuals must do to make the world a better place in 2008?

Visit Seventh Generation now!

Are You A Locavore?

From Dictionary.com we bring you the word locavore!

Definition:	a person who attempts to eat only foods grown locally
Example:	Locavores grow their own food or buy foodstuffs grown within their region.

Which one are YOU?
Post your answer in the comment section!

• I am a locavore
• I want to be a locavore
• I don't want to be a locavore
  

Popular Homemade Skin Care Recipes You Can Enjoy

Author: Ray A. Rubio

Homemade skin care can be as easy as mixing up a small amount of oatmeal and milk and making a body scrub that costs you pennies on the dollar compared to comparable products at the grocery store. Plus, they are fun to make, you know exactly what went in them and if you have any form of allergic reaction, you don't have to make any more than what you need at a time. Sometimes store bought items lose their potency before you can use it at all. By making your own products, you can have as little or as much as you need. Here are some popular homemade skin care recipes you can enjoy.

Before you can make your own skin care products, you need a few recipes. Let's start by making our own lip balm. Most people forget to include their lips in their skin care regimen, but the skin on them can get as chapped and dry as the rest of the skin on our face. By keeping a lip balm on them, they stay moisturized and soft. This citrus based lip balm uses the following ingredients:

1 teaspoon of natural beeswax
1 teaspoon of calendula oil
1 teaspoon of apricot kernel oil
A few drops of orange, lemon, or lime essential oil

Start by melting the beeswax and adding the apricot and calendula oils to the pot. Continually stir the mixture until it is well blended and the wax mass has the same consistency throughout. Keep stirring the wax as you remove it from the heat and let it cool. Add the essential oil and stir it into the wax well, then store it in a plastic container or jar and use everyday to keep your lips soft and smooth.

Chocoholics can rejoice because we've been saying for years that chocolate is good for you. It's a great way to make your skin feel silky and luxurious and it's also great to protect your skin from free radicals. This chocolate facial mask is not only decadent, but it will exfoliate the dead skin from your face. To make it, combine 1/3 cup cocoa (chocolate powder), ¼ cup of honey, 2 tablespoons of heavy or sour cream, and 3 teaspoons of oatmeal powder in a large bowl until consistent. Apply it to your face and gently massage it into your skin to exfoliate the dead cells from it. Leave the mixture on your face for about 20 minutes and then rinse off with warm water. You'll notice the difference in your skin right away.

Our hands are the most used and most seen parts of our body. We subject them to the torture of dirt, harsh chemicals, and over washing. We tend to forget to treat them to the same care that we give the rest of our body. By using a hand soak or masque, we can help make our hands soft and pliable with little to no work. The easiest way to do this is by soaking your hands in a ½ cup of warm olive oil. This helps moisturize not only your hands, but also your nails. Another way is by using a masque. Cook and mash two potatoes, mix in a little butter or olive oil and one capsule of Vitamin E to make the masque. Cover your hands with the potatoes, let it dry and then rinse with warm water.

Homemade skin care products are very cost effective in this time of economic crisis. You can save not only money, but the gas it costs to go and buy new products. And, if you find that you enjoy making these recipes, why not share them and introduce your friends to the joy of homemade skin care products. They will thank you.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/anti-aging-articles/popular-homemade-skin-care-recipes-you-can-enjoy-506272.html

About the Author:
Click here to get free advice on how you can enhance the look of your skin. Ray A. Rubio is a skin care specialist providing advice on choosing the best wrinkle cream for you. Visit http://www.clear-and-clean-skin.com for more details.