You know the feeling. Pain and pressure right below your eyes, the inability to breathe the slightest bit of air through your nose, and of course the resulting chapped lips from days of “mouth breathing”. Yes, possibly the worst symptom of those pesky pesky viruses. Congestion. Yuck! When you are unable to clear those blocked passages, you will have to inevitably endure another infection. The sinus infection. For years now, I have dealt with sinusitis about 2-6 times per year.
Every time I got a cold, it would turn into a sinus infection. Apparently, my sinuses don’t drain very well. I am happy to say that this year is the first year I have managed to stay free from that obnoxious infection. Even though cold and flu-like viruses swept through my house several times since September, I have managed to avoid getting a sinus infection. How?? I discovered Xylitol.
Some of you may already be using xylitol as an all natural sugar substitute. Xylitol can do more than just sweeten your tea. Many dentists agree that xylitol can help in cavity prevention. According to the California Dental Association, xylitol inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause tooth decay and over time will decrease the acids that attack the surface of the tooth. In the same way, xylitol helps prevent sinusitis by preventing the bacteria in your nasal passages from growing and making a home in your sinuses. Recent studies have shown that kids chewing xylitol flavored gum had a 40% reduction in middle ear infections. Using a xylitol based nasal spray regularly can decrease the amount of bad bacteria and can stimulate your bodies natural defenses. Sugar alcohols, like xylitol, have demonstrated the ability to prevent bacteria from attaching to your cells decreasing your chances of infection. Unlike sorbitol and other sugar alcohols that feed bacteria and fungi, xylitol prevents the growth of bacteria and can slow the growth of candida albicans.(yeast)
New studies are revealing all sorts of possible benefits of Xylitol. Improving bone density, increasing white blood cell activity, and hormone imbalances are potential benefits of xylitol being discovered. Xylitol is available in many different forms at health and grocery stores. You can find tooth paste, mouth wash, nasal sprays, supplements, chewing gum, breath mints, sodas, and even baked goods. All sweetened with xylitol.
So, go ahead, grab that brownie and enjoy it, guilt free.
-EcoDad
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Staying Green in Your Bedroom
Hi again! It's been a while, but I hope everyone's doing well in 2012 and keeping up with their green resolutions. (: Well, I'm back this week with more suggestions on how to stay green, but this time for your bedroom.
1. Unplug your chargers when your phones are done charging- Though your phone may not be hooked up to the charger, that doesn't mean it's not using electricity. Whether or not the phone is connected to the charger doesn't make a difference, as long as the charger is plugged into the wall, it's using electricity. Which means not only is there electricity being wasted, but you're unnecessarily wasting money on unneeded electricity.
2. Recycle your batteries- Instead of chucking your batteries in the trash can once they're done, collect them, and once you have a substantial amount, send them to your local battery recycling center. Often times, you can take it back to the place from where you purchased the batteries, and they'll gladly take them for you.
3. Keep your blinds open and your lights off- As long as there is still plenty of sunlight outside, try keeping your blinds open and lights off. This way you'll be saving electricity, and your room might even become warmer!
4. Turn your computer completely off at night- Although your plugs will still be connected to the wall, you'll be using less energy by turning off your computer.
5. Reuse scrap paper- Print on two sides, or let your kids color on the back side of the used paper.
Hopefully these tips keep you busy for this week, and you work to make them a part of you everyday schedule!
Until next time,
greengirl (:
1. Unplug your chargers when your phones are done charging- Though your phone may not be hooked up to the charger, that doesn't mean it's not using electricity. Whether or not the phone is connected to the charger doesn't make a difference, as long as the charger is plugged into the wall, it's using electricity. Which means not only is there electricity being wasted, but you're unnecessarily wasting money on unneeded electricity.
2. Recycle your batteries- Instead of chucking your batteries in the trash can once they're done, collect them, and once you have a substantial amount, send them to your local battery recycling center. Often times, you can take it back to the place from where you purchased the batteries, and they'll gladly take them for you.
3. Keep your blinds open and your lights off- As long as there is still plenty of sunlight outside, try keeping your blinds open and lights off. This way you'll be saving electricity, and your room might even become warmer!
4. Turn your computer completely off at night- Although your plugs will still be connected to the wall, you'll be using less energy by turning off your computer.
5. Reuse scrap paper- Print on two sides, or let your kids color on the back side of the used paper.
Hopefully these tips keep you busy for this week, and you work to make them a part of you everyday schedule!
Until next time,
greengirl (:
Friday, January 6, 2012
Green Resolutions
First of all, I'd like to wish all of you a very happy new year! Hopefully, everyone will be able to keep up with their new year's resolutions, because I know I haven't been very successful in the past. (: I'm sure everyone has their normal resolutions like eating healthy, exercising more, making new friends and all that, but how about some green resolutions too?
To start you off here are some popular resolutions people have come up with for 2012:
1) Go read meat free- going completely vegetarian might be a big step for some people, but if you're up for the challenge, why not try it? Though red meat does taste very good, it is a lead producer of waste, greenhouse gases, and more. It's also been recently noted that nowadays, much of what they put in the meat is actually really bad for you.
2) Ride your bike or walk to work more often- all it'll take is a little more time on your part, and it'll also give you many health benefits.
3) Don't buy bottled water- try using an at-home filtering pitcher and you can help make a dent in the 1.5 million barrels of oil used to make plastic water bottles each year, and you'll also save as much as $1,400!
4) Remember reusable bags- whether it's grocery shopping or clothes shopping, bring along a fashionable tote to carry your new items
5) Cut back on paper towels- all they really do is create more trash and messes in your home, so try using a towel this year
These are just a few possible resolutions, but hopefully they're enough to get you started on making some of your own!
Until next time,
greengirl (:
To start you off here are some popular resolutions people have come up with for 2012:
1) Go read meat free- going completely vegetarian might be a big step for some people, but if you're up for the challenge, why not try it? Though red meat does taste very good, it is a lead producer of waste, greenhouse gases, and more. It's also been recently noted that nowadays, much of what they put in the meat is actually really bad for you.
2) Ride your bike or walk to work more often- all it'll take is a little more time on your part, and it'll also give you many health benefits.
3) Don't buy bottled water- try using an at-home filtering pitcher and you can help make a dent in the 1.5 million barrels of oil used to make plastic water bottles each year, and you'll also save as much as $1,400!
4) Remember reusable bags- whether it's grocery shopping or clothes shopping, bring along a fashionable tote to carry your new items
5) Cut back on paper towels- all they really do is create more trash and messes in your home, so try using a towel this year
These are just a few possible resolutions, but hopefully they're enough to get you started on making some of your own!
Until next time,
greengirl (:
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Happy New Year!
2011 is over! It's been a long year, and it feels great turning the page into 2012. Along with your other resolutions, whether they be about health, family, or work, don't forget to set goals about the environment! No matter how well you're doing now, 2012 is the time to be even more eco-friendly. My personal goal is to be more aware of my trash, to discover how much I waste and eventually recycle more. Some other examples could be to create your own vegetable garden, to use more products that are organic or environmentally friendly, or even just to use public transit more. Whatever your goal, remember that your effort in 2012 can lead to a better environment of 2013.
Good Luck!
<3Lucy
Good Luck!
<3Lucy
GO GREEN AND SAVE GREEN!
(Adapted from an article by the Worldwatch Institute)
Believe it or not, living greener can actually save you and your family so much money in the long run. Here are 10 simple things you can do to save money, reduce your carbon footprint, and benefit the environment.
1. Save energy to save money
• Adjusting your thermostat just a couple of degrees lower in the winter and a couple of degrees higher in the summer will not feel too different but can save so much money and energy. Also, it has been proven unhealthy to spend too much time in air-conditioned and heated rooms anyway.
• Using compact fluorescent light bulbs rather than incandescent bulbs
• Always unplug appliances when they are not in use and TURN THE LIGHTS OFF WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN A PARTICULAR ROOM.
• Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. Research shows that as much as 85% of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water, and that is hardly necessary.
• Use a drying rack or clotheslines to save energy rather than machine-drying everything. (It doesn’t shrink your clothes like using a drying machine would!)
• Try to shower using more moderate water temperatures. Using water that is too warm is unhealthy for the skin and can causes rashes and dry skin.
2. Save water to save money
• Take shorter showers! We all like to have the luxury of taking a long, hot bath or shower, but reducing water use will lower water and heating bills as well.
• Try installing a low-flow showerhead that will reduce the pressure, speed, and amount of water used while taking a shower.
• Always turn of faucet, sink, and shower knobs tightly. A leaking faucet may not seem like that much water, but the amount of dripped water adds up over time.
3. Less gas to save money
• Walk or bike to work and school! This saves on gas and parking and vehicle maintenance costs while improving cardiovascular and muscular health and fitness.
• Try to carpool as much as possible. Think about it; that’s half of the gas money saved when you carpool with one other person, and even more money will be saved with more people involved.
4. Eat smart to save money
• Try eating less meat, starting with one meatless meal per week. Meat costs more at the store and is more expensive considering the related environmental and health costs.
• Buy locally raised and seasonally fresh poultry and produce.
• Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
• Though fast food and junk foods seems cheaper than fresh and healthy foods, eating too much of the former will have lasting and costly health consequences in the long run.
5. Skip the bottled water
• Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste as well.
• Buying a water filter and pitcher is a small investment that will prove efficient and money-saving in the long run.
• Many studies have shown that bottled water is actually less pure and drinkable than tap water, and may be contaminated by harmful chemicals from the bottle. By getting rid of the bottled water, you can make a positive difference in terms of economizing, protecting your health, and protecting the environment.
6. Think before you buy
• Try to find new or gently used secondhand products. Consider a service like Craigslist or Amazon to get that done.
• Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other items
• Try to find items with less packaging and buy brands of companies who attempt to reduce packaging and create greener products.
• Before making any purchase, always ask yourself, “Is that really necessary?” and “What will I used it for?” If you have any second thoughts, you should probably refrain from purchasing it.
7. Buy smart
• It saves money, time, effort, and packaging to buy things in bulk.
• Buy clothes that do not to be dry-cleaned to save water, time, and energy.
• Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products rather than objects than can only be used once.
• Invest in durable cooking utensils: metal and silver forks, spoons, and knives, and quality pots, dishes, bowls, etc. They can be used so many more times and in so many ways and protect the environment so much more.
8. Borrow instead of buying
• Instead of buying something that will only be used once or twice, why not borrow from parents, friends, or neighbors? These items could include books, tools, expensive appliances, bags, etc.
• In addition, you could split the price on an item and share it between two people or among a group of people, taking turns keeping and using it.
9. Dispose correctly of your waste
• Recycle as much as possible!
• Don’t be a litterbug. Pick up trash and wrappers around the house, at school, on the streets, at a park, etc.
• DO NOT put electronics and batteries in the trash. Take your unwanted electronics to the store to be refurbished or recycled, or take those appliances to a hazardous waste site to dispose of it properly.
• Try starting a compost bin! It saves the amount of trash that needs to be taken out, and it will save you from having to throw out so much food. The soil can be used as fertilizer at it contains many nutrients, and you can plant crops, flowers, or trees to create a more fresh and air and environments.
10. Make your own things
• Put those hands to work and create useful and creative objects from things around the house.
• You can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products from ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap. This saves money, time, and packaging and improves indoor air quality.
• Try making containers from stray objects around the house instead of going out and buying plastic and chemical-heavy containers. You can even personalize and decorate them!
As you can see, living green is definitely the way to go, as it is beneficial for every aspect of life. It saves you money and improves your health. It creates a healthier and more beautiful environment. However, each member of society must contribute toward this goal in order to create this environment, and you can start by taking these simple steps.
Erin
Believe it or not, living greener can actually save you and your family so much money in the long run. Here are 10 simple things you can do to save money, reduce your carbon footprint, and benefit the environment.
1. Save energy to save money
• Adjusting your thermostat just a couple of degrees lower in the winter and a couple of degrees higher in the summer will not feel too different but can save so much money and energy. Also, it has been proven unhealthy to spend too much time in air-conditioned and heated rooms anyway.
• Using compact fluorescent light bulbs rather than incandescent bulbs
• Always unplug appliances when they are not in use and TURN THE LIGHTS OFF WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN A PARTICULAR ROOM.
• Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. Research shows that as much as 85% of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water, and that is hardly necessary.
• Use a drying rack or clotheslines to save energy rather than machine-drying everything. (It doesn’t shrink your clothes like using a drying machine would!)
• Try to shower using more moderate water temperatures. Using water that is too warm is unhealthy for the skin and can causes rashes and dry skin.
2. Save water to save money
• Take shorter showers! We all like to have the luxury of taking a long, hot bath or shower, but reducing water use will lower water and heating bills as well.
• Try installing a low-flow showerhead that will reduce the pressure, speed, and amount of water used while taking a shower.
• Always turn of faucet, sink, and shower knobs tightly. A leaking faucet may not seem like that much water, but the amount of dripped water adds up over time.
3. Less gas to save money
• Walk or bike to work and school! This saves on gas and parking and vehicle maintenance costs while improving cardiovascular and muscular health and fitness.
• Try to carpool as much as possible. Think about it; that’s half of the gas money saved when you carpool with one other person, and even more money will be saved with more people involved.
4. Eat smart to save money
• Try eating less meat, starting with one meatless meal per week. Meat costs more at the store and is more expensive considering the related environmental and health costs.
• Buy locally raised and seasonally fresh poultry and produce.
• Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
• Though fast food and junk foods seems cheaper than fresh and healthy foods, eating too much of the former will have lasting and costly health consequences in the long run.
5. Skip the bottled water
• Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste as well.
• Buying a water filter and pitcher is a small investment that will prove efficient and money-saving in the long run.
• Many studies have shown that bottled water is actually less pure and drinkable than tap water, and may be contaminated by harmful chemicals from the bottle. By getting rid of the bottled water, you can make a positive difference in terms of economizing, protecting your health, and protecting the environment.
6. Think before you buy
• Try to find new or gently used secondhand products. Consider a service like Craigslist or Amazon to get that done.
• Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other items
• Try to find items with less packaging and buy brands of companies who attempt to reduce packaging and create greener products.
• Before making any purchase, always ask yourself, “Is that really necessary?” and “What will I used it for?” If you have any second thoughts, you should probably refrain from purchasing it.
7. Buy smart
• It saves money, time, effort, and packaging to buy things in bulk.
• Buy clothes that do not to be dry-cleaned to save water, time, and energy.
• Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products rather than objects than can only be used once.
• Invest in durable cooking utensils: metal and silver forks, spoons, and knives, and quality pots, dishes, bowls, etc. They can be used so many more times and in so many ways and protect the environment so much more.
8. Borrow instead of buying
• Instead of buying something that will only be used once or twice, why not borrow from parents, friends, or neighbors? These items could include books, tools, expensive appliances, bags, etc.
• In addition, you could split the price on an item and share it between two people or among a group of people, taking turns keeping and using it.
9. Dispose correctly of your waste
• Recycle as much as possible!
• Don’t be a litterbug. Pick up trash and wrappers around the house, at school, on the streets, at a park, etc.
• DO NOT put electronics and batteries in the trash. Take your unwanted electronics to the store to be refurbished or recycled, or take those appliances to a hazardous waste site to dispose of it properly.
• Try starting a compost bin! It saves the amount of trash that needs to be taken out, and it will save you from having to throw out so much food. The soil can be used as fertilizer at it contains many nutrients, and you can plant crops, flowers, or trees to create a more fresh and air and environments.
10. Make your own things
• Put those hands to work and create useful and creative objects from things around the house.
• You can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products from ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap. This saves money, time, and packaging and improves indoor air quality.
• Try making containers from stray objects around the house instead of going out and buying plastic and chemical-heavy containers. You can even personalize and decorate them!
As you can see, living green is definitely the way to go, as it is beneficial for every aspect of life. It saves you money and improves your health. It creates a healthier and more beautiful environment. However, each member of society must contribute toward this goal in order to create this environment, and you can start by taking these simple steps.
Erin
Monday, December 19, 2011
University of Texas at Dallas Wins the 2011 Innovation in Green Building Award
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), along with the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), awarded the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) with the 2011 Innovation in Green Building award. The college received this award for its newly constructed, LEED Platinum Certified Student Services Building.
This award recognizes a college like UTD that is an innovator in using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) to develop a green campus.
The newly constructed, four-story, 74,000 square ft. building houses 14 departments. The cost of building the Student Services Building was under $1.1 million.
The Student Services Building was designed with several project goals and outcomes:
Texas Temperatures- We all know how hot it can get here in Texas during the summer! The design team chose to install terra-cotta louvers on the outside of the building. They protect the building from the rays of the sun, and reduce heat gain as well
Making Use of Natural Daylight- Another important aspect of construction was controlling light and solar heat gain while providing daylight to most interior spaces. Approximately 76% of the rooms inside the building are afforded natural daylight.
Conserving Rain Water- The design of the building incorporates water conservation measures ranging from automatic sensors in faucets to outdoor systems. In the event of a thunderstorm, or even a light shower, rain water is collected in a two-tank, 40,000 gallon cistern to irrigate the Student Service's Building's drought-tolerant landscaping.
Doing Less With More- Sharing conference rooms and reducing the number of individual offices in the SSB allowed designers to dedicate 73 percent of the building’s space for specific service purposes. The remainder, including hallways and equipment closets, serves general operational purposes.
<3
Eco-Ninja101
This award recognizes a college like UTD that is an innovator in using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) to develop a green campus.
The newly constructed, four-story, 74,000 square ft. building houses 14 departments. The cost of building the Student Services Building was under $1.1 million.
The Student Services Building was designed with several project goals and outcomes:
Texas Temperatures- We all know how hot it can get here in Texas during the summer! The design team chose to install terra-cotta louvers on the outside of the building. They protect the building from the rays of the sun, and reduce heat gain as well
Making Use of Natural Daylight- Another important aspect of construction was controlling light and solar heat gain while providing daylight to most interior spaces. Approximately 76% of the rooms inside the building are afforded natural daylight.
Conserving Rain Water- The design of the building incorporates water conservation measures ranging from automatic sensors in faucets to outdoor systems. In the event of a thunderstorm, or even a light shower, rain water is collected in a two-tank, 40,000 gallon cistern to irrigate the Student Service's Building's drought-tolerant landscaping.
Doing Less With More- Sharing conference rooms and reducing the number of individual offices in the SSB allowed designers to dedicate 73 percent of the building’s space for specific service purposes. The remainder, including hallways and equipment closets, serves general operational purposes.
<3
Eco-Ninja101
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
When I get that feeling, I want Natural Healing - Pooh’s Secret Medicine
Ever wonder why everyone’s favorite bear never gets sick? Despite going on adventure after adventure though the woods, Winnie the Pooh always stays healthy. The rains can come down down down, and the wind can blow as hard as it wants, but it’s not going to get this bear down. His secret? Honey of course.
Raw Honey has many health benefits. Besides being a great tasting healthier alternative to table sugar, raw honey can help kick start your immune system. It contains live enzymes and many vitamins and minerals, including B complex, A, C, D, E, & K. It also contains amino acids and is a powerful antioxidant. It’s antimicrobial and antibacterial properties can help shorten the duration of colds. Taking a spoonful of honey, will help ease the pain of a sore throat. The honey will coat the throat providing soothing relief while it begins to attack the infection causing you pain to begin with.
Studies have shown honey to be effective at healing respiratory infections as well. Theses include bronchitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, cold, and flu. Unlike sugar that can depress your immune system, raw honey can actually jump start it. Give your immune system a super stimulant by adding honey to you Echinacea tea and help defeat those nasty colds. Make sure you wait until the tea has cooled to luke warm. The heat will kill the live enzymes and some of the nutritional content in the raw honey.
Local raw honey is even effective at treating seasonal allergies. My wife has suffered from allergies all her life. She began taking local raw honey just a couple months ago, and she has seen a noticeable improvement.
There is also research being done that indicates honey aids in the healing of burns and scrapes. “Honey provides a moist healing environment yet prevents bacterial growth even when wounds are heavily infected,” notes Dr. Peter Molan of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. Honey has shown to be more effective than antibacterial ointment when used to treat burns. Next time your little boy falls down and scrapes his knee, squeeze a little honey on it before applying the band aid.
Winnie the Pooh’s appetite for honey is insatiable. Perhaps because the reported benefits of raw honey are seemingly endless. Desperate parents out there, try giving a spoonful of honey to aid in water retention and help against bed wetting. Some say honey can aid in sleep as well. New benefits of honey are continuously being discovered. People are beginning to use honey as an energy booster, a digestion aid, and as a natural food preservative, Women are using raw honey as an alternative to synthetic beauty products. Could this be Pooh’s secret to how he has managed to stay so cute and cuddly for 85 years? Don’t wait until you get a rumbly in your tumbly. Go pick up a bottle and start experiencing the benefits of raw local honey today.
****Do not give raw honey to infants. A bacteria in raw honey, clostridium botulinum, is dangerous for infants****
Eco_Dad
Raw Honey has many health benefits. Besides being a great tasting healthier alternative to table sugar, raw honey can help kick start your immune system. It contains live enzymes and many vitamins and minerals, including B complex, A, C, D, E, & K. It also contains amino acids and is a powerful antioxidant. It’s antimicrobial and antibacterial properties can help shorten the duration of colds. Taking a spoonful of honey, will help ease the pain of a sore throat. The honey will coat the throat providing soothing relief while it begins to attack the infection causing you pain to begin with.
Studies have shown honey to be effective at healing respiratory infections as well. Theses include bronchitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, cold, and flu. Unlike sugar that can depress your immune system, raw honey can actually jump start it. Give your immune system a super stimulant by adding honey to you Echinacea tea and help defeat those nasty colds. Make sure you wait until the tea has cooled to luke warm. The heat will kill the live enzymes and some of the nutritional content in the raw honey.
Local raw honey is even effective at treating seasonal allergies. My wife has suffered from allergies all her life. She began taking local raw honey just a couple months ago, and she has seen a noticeable improvement.
There is also research being done that indicates honey aids in the healing of burns and scrapes. “Honey provides a moist healing environment yet prevents bacterial growth even when wounds are heavily infected,” notes Dr. Peter Molan of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. Honey has shown to be more effective than antibacterial ointment when used to treat burns. Next time your little boy falls down and scrapes his knee, squeeze a little honey on it before applying the band aid.
Winnie the Pooh’s appetite for honey is insatiable. Perhaps because the reported benefits of raw honey are seemingly endless. Desperate parents out there, try giving a spoonful of honey to aid in water retention and help against bed wetting. Some say honey can aid in sleep as well. New benefits of honey are continuously being discovered. People are beginning to use honey as an energy booster, a digestion aid, and as a natural food preservative, Women are using raw honey as an alternative to synthetic beauty products. Could this be Pooh’s secret to how he has managed to stay so cute and cuddly for 85 years? Don’t wait until you get a rumbly in your tumbly. Go pick up a bottle and start experiencing the benefits of raw local honey today.
****Do not give raw honey to infants. A bacteria in raw honey, clostridium botulinum, is dangerous for infants****
Eco_Dad
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