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Green Food & Drink
The Many Uses of Soy
From its first known use in East Asia and China more than 5,000 years ago, the humble soy continues to be part of the daily diet of people around the world in its many forms. From human food to dog food, it provides nutrients that promote good health, prevent certain cancer types and heart diseases, and even lessen hot flashes in menopausal women. However, like many other food, soy has its bad side that humans will do well to remember. After all, too much of a good thing is still toxic! Soy Benefits Soy is used in many products from the grocery shelves to cosmetic counters to household items cabinets. Truly, this is one versatile bean! As a food product, it is the primary ingredient in soy foods like tofu, soy milk, soy cheese, miso, soy flour, soy nuts, soy sauce, butter, cooking oil, infant formula and even as ice cream and vodka. However, it must be noted that the health benefits of soy consumption can only come from those containing soy protein, or whole soy as it is also called. It also helps to look for the non-GMO label to avoid the health problems that can arise from this type of bioengineering. The health ...- Bookmark :
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Saving the Planet One Peel at a Time
When you want to start being more ecologically responsible and when you are looking to make sure that all of the food in your kitchen gets some use, you'll find that you are going to start looking in askance at your orange peels. Whether you love your fresh squeezed orange juice or you simply love eating slices of fresh orange, you may be wondering what to do with the peels after you are done with them. Don't just throw them away! There are plenty of great uses for orange peels that you may simply not be aware of! First, were you aware that you can use orange peels to clean your fingernails? Simply turn the peel over to explore the soft white side and dig your fingernails into it. This can get any grime or debris out from under your fingernails as well as making your nails smell pleasantly of citrus. Another place for your orange peels is a stock box. One great way to get vegetable broth at home is to have a stock box. To get one started, just get a plastic bin and start filling it with organic materials. Leave the bin in the freezer and add any sorts ...- Bookmark :
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A Choice Beyond Organic Produce
The term organic was once a desirable word to hear when paired with food produce, healing products and cosmetic items, to name a few combinations. Unfortunately, it has been abused and misused to varying degrees that just about any manufacturer can slap on the label and take advantage of the organic bandwagon. And so, organic now may be losing its sheen, also no thanks to an increasing use of imported fertilizers to produce greater yields to answer the demand. Fortunately, there is the trademarked biodynamic agriculture that provides a better way to go beyond organic farming. The trademark belongs to Demeter International - Demeter being the Greek goddess of the harvest - which is composed of over 50 member nations including the United States. Demeter International is the largest certification organization for biodynamic agriculture, of which the certification issued must be renewed annually under the strictest of standards. The criteria for certification include but are not limited to biodiversity and ecosystem preservation, livestock integration, soil husbandry, and the prohibition of GMOs in the farm. Basically, the farm where the produce bearing the Demeter logo must be treated as holistic organism from the littlest of microorganisms to the farmers themselves. With such stringent criteria, ...- Bookmark :
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Eat Green, Eat Vegetarian
An ever-growing popular food trend is eating vegetarian or vegan food because of the increasing rise in people who are becoming vegetarians or vegans. People become vegetarians or vegans for many reasons, whether because they are animal lovers, weight control, a healthy body and lifestyle, or religious reasons. Many of these vegetarian restaurants are popping up across the country, and some are vegan restaurants. Other restaurants are making small steps by only adding vegetarian plates to their regular menus. Whatever the reasons for preferring to eat “green,” vegetarian food is much healthier and more ethical than eating meat. The food pyramid divides the major food groups into six sections. It lists vegetables and fruits to be high in fiber. But the most nutritious vegetables and fruits are cantaloupe, tomatoes, oranges, berries, and squash. It recommends three to five servings of vegetables and two to four servings of fruit per day in order for people to get their daily fiber. For more fiber, try to eat six to eleven servings of whole grains, such as whole wheat, barley, oats, quinoa, bulgur wheat, and wild rice. Two to three servings of protein and iron are needed from such food as beans, peas, lentils, ...- Bookmark :
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Go Green with Your Java Bean
If you have coffee every day, you're making an environmental choice. That's right - even a daily cup of coffee can have a real impact. Choosing fair trade and organic coffees over ordinary coffee, making your morning cup at home instead of drinking a brew from Starbuck's or another restaurant, and the way you choose to make your coffee all affect the environment. Here are a few options you can use to have an environmentally cup of java. Fair Trade certification has been getting a lot of press, and for good reason. Fair Trade certified coffee means that the farmers who grew it got a good price, and have been given assistance such as help in becoming organic growers. Organic coffee is also a good choice, since neither you nor the environment will be exposed to the high levels of pesticides often found in standard coffee crops. Sales of organic coffee went up by about a quarter in 2006, and have been rising since as people become more and more aware of what goes into producing the food they eat every day. Shade grown beans are another excellent choice. You see, coffee is at heart a plant that loves shade, and traditional ...- Bookmark :
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