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Tips for the Organic Gardener

Herbs to the Rescue

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Would you like to hear a fabulous Empowering Message, The Power of Eating Healthy? If so, follow this link:
http://empoweringmessages.com/visitors/ErleenTilton.shtml?aug2

• Buy cotton bedding and clothing when possible, especially sleepware (contrary to what you have been told), as polyester is plastic and will melt, plus it has added chemicals which are absorbed by the skin, or breathed in.
• Do not use the microwave if at all possible (see former article, "Are You Aware of the Harmful Effect of Microwave Cooking"), however, if you use it at all, do no heat in plastic or styrofoam containers. Use glass instead.
• Furniture and automobiles are better purchased once "seasoned", or slightly used, as to have lost the initial harsh chemical smells found in the fabrics.

Pesticides are another area of great awareness. Playgrounds, lawns, sport field, agriculture fields, insect repellants, insect sprays and exterminations, tick and flea dips and sprays for animals, and even produce grown with chemical insecticides can all be hazardous to our health.

Research shows that there is direct correlation between common insecticides and forms of learning, behavioral and development disabilities. Says Herbert Needleman, M.D., a professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School, "A toxin has much more devastating affects on a developing nervous system. The child's brain, because it is still growing, is much more vulnerable than an adult's brain. And because children play on floors and on the ground, put their hands in their mouths, and eat more fruits and vegetables per pound of body weight, they receive a greater overall exposure to pesticides."

• Especially with toddlers, it is a great idea to make a family habit of taking shoes off at the door when entering the home. Just think about all the places the family has walked throughout the day (streets, restrooms, place of work and school, lawns, dirt, etc.) and what harmful contaminants, solvents, and pesticides can be tracked in the home and into the carpets and on floors.
• Do not use bug sprays and exterminations inside the home, even if they are considered "non-toxic" or "odorless". Avoid using them if at all possible, but if needed, use them only outside and do not breath in the fumes or have direct contact with anything sprayed.
• Choose "organic" produce, grains, beans and other food products! Eat foods that have been grown without pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers as much as possible. The cost may be a little higher, but you are getting a higher nutritional content and can omit the toxins that your body does not need!

Solvents are another area of toxic substances to avoid. Solvents such as polish remover, gasoline, thinners, degreasers, cleaning products with ammonia or alcohol, glues, paints, alcohol perfumes, alcoholic beverages, and dry cleaning chemicals are all harmful. Solvents are highly volatile, meaning that they easily convert from liquid to gas at room temperature. They fill the air, we inhale the fumes, and they are quickly absorbed into the body. And if solvents can break down a stain, dissolve glue or grease, imagine what they can do to the body! Here are more suggestions to avoid these toxic substances:

• Most uses of these chemicals can be avoided. Omit aerosols and the harsh chemical products as much as possible.
• When using paints, varnishes, chemical cleaners, etc., wear a face mask and goggles and have good ventilation: open windows, turn on a fan, or just do the job outside if possible.
• Use earth friendly cleansers, degreasers, and fragrances instead. Use citrus based cleaners, water based paints, baking soda, vinegar, bleach, tea tree, and other essential oils. There really are a lot of less volatile products on the market (but you may not find them in your regular shopping mart). Check out the natural markets.

Many get discouraged in looking at this long list of "hazards to our health". But understand it is reality, and you can do something about it, if your body is worth it as well as your childrens! Check out better products, toss the harsh chemicals, and use some common sense. We may live in a chemical world, but we can avoid much of the toxic effects.

To Your Best Health,
Erleen Tilton

Here are some all time favorites you might want to try:

• rice cake sandwiches (raw almond butter/peanut butter and honey between rice cakes)
• crackers or mini-rice cakes and tofu dip (mashed tofu, mayo, chopped vegetables)
• toasted sandwiches (2 slices toast, pan-fried tofu slices, slices of tomato, avocado, cucumbers or pickles, lettuce or alfalfa sprouts)
• salads in a bowl: potato salad, pasta salad, rice salad, etc.
• tortilla wraps: whole wheat tortilla wrapped around a mixture of cooked beans (any kind) or beans sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, avocado, other chopped vegetables, hummus or mayo
• pita pockets: whole wheat pita pockets filled with same as wraps
• veggies and dip (to go with any or all of above)
• raw nuts (almonds, cashews, pine nuts, etc.)

Erleen loves teaching people down-to-earth principles of nutrition as she sees the positive changes in others lives as they live the principles of good health and eating. She has a passion for wholesome foods and their life giving qualities. Her many personal experiences and years of study and research qualify her as an expert in health education, speaking, and consulting. Contact her now for your next conference, for health consultations, or for an upcoming event!

"The Ultimate Healthy Lifestyle!" is a TEN CD series with all the information you need to begin your journey towards a Healthier Lifestyle! Erleen serves as your guide, distilling over twenty-five years of health education and research into easy to listen to lessons on how to begin, where to begin and more! Check out this CD series today!

Sprouting is great indoor gardening. Learn to sprout easily with the Sprout Master, the best sprouter on the market. And it is a super simple process. Just soak the seeds overnight, drain and pour into the Sprout Master, now just rinse and drain 3 times daily (at every meal). It's that simple! If you want to start out right with some seeds, we also have alfalfa, lentil, mung bean, clover, radish and sunflower. These are all organic too! Check out The Sprout Master and seeds here!

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