1. Pumpkins provide a healthy dose of vitamin C and E, immune-boosting zinc, potassium and magnesium, all of which help support organs including your kidneys, bladder and prostate.

2. They also boast beta and alpha carotenoids, antioxidants that can help prevent cell damage.

Read more of this story »

In the past we’ve highlighted some green events from the Clary Sage Organics boutique, and now we’re here to share their line of healing wellness solutions. Each CSO wellness formula comes in the form of nutraceuticals, liquid tinctures and medicinal teas. Clary Sage emphasizes the proper use of nutraceuticals and they offer solutions to six of the most common conditions so you can self heal in the areas of:

• wellness/weight loss
• energy, mood and stress
• hormones
• digestive cleansing
• immunity

Here is a quick overview of how they can help in each of these areas:

Energy Enhance - “With its increasingly hectic pace, modern life can leave you feeling frazzled, fuzzy, and fatigued.” The Energy Enhance wellness line is designed to bring balance to your adrenal glands and will infuse energy back into your life.

Read more of this story »

When it comes to sunscreen ingredients, I trust the Environmental Working Group (EWG) to tell me what is safe.  EWG recommends:

Which sunscreens are best for children?
Since kids are more vulnerable to damage caused by the sun and to harmful effects of chemical exposure, you want to make sure you choose a sunscreen that is rated highly in terms of both effectiveness (against both UVA and UVB radiation) and safety. Use EWG’s guide to help you find one. If your child is going to be swimming or playing in the water look for a sunscreen that says it is water resistant. Avoid sprays, powders and products with bug repellant. Make sure to apply sunscreen generously before going out and reapply often. (Don’t believe claims that a product will remain effective for a certain period of time, as these are not always reliable.) Infants under 6 months need special protection Ñ at this age, a fair-skinned baby does not have melanin proteins for sun protection and needs to be kept out of the sun. The AAP recommends that you avoid using sunscreen on children younger than 6 months unless protective shade and clothing are not available. In this case you can apply a minimal amount to exposed skin (AAP 2008). Remember that sunscreen is just one part of a sun-healthy lifestyle. Limiting sun exposure and wearing protective clothing are even more important than wearing sunscreen.

Read more of this story »

We all know it makes a delicious dip, but this tropical fruit is beneficial to skin and hair, too.    Rich in potassium and vitamins B, E, and K, avocados, and the oil they provide, are regenerative and moisturizing.  The oil is pressed from the pulp that surrounds the avocado pit and is very emollient.

Read more of this story »

When GD (that’s Green Diva folks) Jen brought me a goody bag for my birthday, among the treats which included a box of my favorite organic earl grey tea, I immediately gravitated to the large candy bar with the words, ‘Nutritious Chocolate’ on it. It was all VERY well timed. Let’s face it, for women, there are times of the month when chocolate saves lives - keeping raging hormones at a dull roar and the homicidal outbursts to a minimum.

Having tried some ‘nutritious’ chocolate, I didn’t expect much, but I tucked it into my work bag and figured it would make a sweet treat after lunch.

Read more of this story »

This superfood can be found in most grocery stores all year round, but is truly in season from the middle of winter to the first part of spring.   During this time it tastes its best, and is most widely available.

Kale, (along with its relatives such as Brussels sprouts, collard greens, and cabbage) is full nutrients such as vitamins A, C, and E, fiber, calcium, manganese, and loaded with sulfur containing phytonutrients which have been shown to protect against many kinds of cancer including breast and ovarian.

Try adding kale to soups, casseroles, and salads… or whip up a batch of crunchy kale chips.  They make a great guilt free snack the whole family will enjoy!

Read more of this story »

When we experience stress too often, our autonomic nervous system rarely has a chance to activate the relaxation response.  This can eventually lead to physical or emotional illnesses such as high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, and depression to name just a few.

Making simple diet changes can help reduce stress, here are a few tips to get you started:

(Remember to always use organically grown foods when possible, it’s healthier for you and for the planet.)

Read more of this story »

Founded in 1999, In Fiore was created out of a desire to recreate the wisdom and traditions of couture European Apothecaries. The founder currently studies in a new program that will merge homeopathy and energy medicine into the blooming In Fiore lines.

Right now, I am longing to try is this VITALE Toning Floral Essence:

In Fiore Vitale is “an aloe-based toning essence with fourteen herbal infusions including chamomile flowers and nettles, and essential oils of cypress, rose, and myrrh that revitalize and

Read more of this story »

Arcona is a genius natural skin healing line created by a chemist and pioneer in holistic skin care “long before it became trendy, she developed skin care products and treatments that would provide Hollywood celebrities—and women and men everywhere—with an alternative to cosmetic surgery and other harsh treatments to forestall the effects of aging.”

Their products may be found online and at select spas offering facials. None contain petrochemicals, binders or fillers, chemical stabilizers, parabens, sodium lauryl sulphates, perfumes, dyes, or any caustic, toxic ingredients.All Arcona ingredients are enzymatic-based which means they include high concentrations of antioxidants, plant lipids and extracts, sea vegetables, essential oils, vitamins and minerals. Think of live food for your skin in a sense. Since everything we put on our skin is absorbed by our bodies, the richer the nutrients the healthier our skin becomes.

ARCONA has a philosophy of beauty springing from within and truly believe everyone’s skin can and should look beautiful at any age whatever their history.

Read more of this story »

Wellness Formula is a blend of healing ingredients,

The immune system is our guardian angel if you will, it heals us with unconditional love, responds quickly to outside influences, and protects the body in microscopic, unconsciously controlled ways. When illness attacks hit, there is a way to consciously address these problems to support your natural healing system. The answer is Wellness Formula. It works very well when allergies or colds strike, and when we encounter extreme conditions and need a boost.

A key benefit of the daily wellness vitamins are increased and sustained antioxidant defense.

The maker Source Naturals provides a nice overview on how to befriend your immune system with this formula and explains the benefits of the blend:

Read more of this story »