Beginning December 1st, “bottled water containing E. coli will be considered adulterated,” says the US Food and Drug Administration.  You don’t say?  It doesn’t seem as though we’d need a press release to tell us that, but this is the FDA we’re talking about.

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Some granite emits substantial amounts of radiation and radon gas. There is no way to tell which stones are radioactive just by looking. Testing is the only way to know for sure. However, the problem granites are more likely to be exotic and to have a lot of “movement”, such as swirls or banding. 

Dr. Daniel Steck, a leading radon scientist, is conducting a nationwide survey of homes with suspect granite. Participation in the study is free, and homeowners get their homes tested for radon by one of the country’s most respected radon researchers. If a radon problem is discovered, Dr. Steck will help to identify and resolve the issue.

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How much of this cost was needed?  None of it.  The buyers could have better used the money to buy a bucket and a sponge.  They would have had ample funds left to repair their roof.

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A separate study detected mercury in nearly one third of fifty-five popular brand name foods and beverages where HFCS is the first or second highest labeled ingredient.

According to David Wallinga, M.D., from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy,

“Mercury is toxic in all its forms.  Given how much high fructose corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional source of mercury never before considered.”

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After owning two very different yoga mats myself, I was eager to try what NF had to offer. The first mat I owned was made from natural rubber as well, but the traction on it was terrible: in less than 10 minutes, I was slipping and sliding all over! My second acquisition was also made of natural rubber, but was much better at helping me stay stable in my poses. The downside? It was quite heavy to tote around. When presented with the chance to test out the Natural Fitness Professional Yoga Mat, I accepted with excitement.

My new mat arrived speedily, packed in recycled newspaper. The label holding the mat together is made of strong, recycled materials (feels like flexible cardboard), and features info on NF's Zero Impact Program. An inch longer than standard mats, the smell of the natural rubber was immediately noticeable. As an individual who has a fondness for rubber, this didn't bother me, but for others, you might want to wipe down and air out the mat before you use it. Though it may seem small, the reversible factor of the mat was most pleasing, allowing me to choose which earth-toned color suits my mood for that particular day.

Wanting to give my new mat a tough time, I practiced three times in a row, in heavy cotton and with the windows closed (read: sweaty!). Despite the pseudo-pummeling, the mat's traction was fantastic - I didn't slip once. Having weak knees, I also made sure to do more than a fair share of kneeling poses, none of which caused me more than noticeable amount of discomfort. You'd be amazed how much an uncomfortable, unsupportive yoga mat can make you avoid practicing as often as you know you should. With a Natural Fitness mat, I look forward to my practice every day, along with that nice smell from the rubber trees. The rest of NF's products are more than worth exploring, all made from either natural rubber, bamboo, or hemp. After such a pleasant experience with my new mat, I'm bound to make another purchase from their website soon.

Note: As obvious as this may be, if you are allergic to rubber, then I wouldn't recommend using this mat.