EWG’s Updated Guide to Healthy Cleaning

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. They recently updated the EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning, a database of more than 2,700 cleaners that can be found on their website. It includes the following product categories :

  • 288 Air Fresheners
  • 507 All Purpose
  • 227 Bathroom
  • 368 Dishwashing
  • 166 Floor Care
  • 155 Furniture
  • 93 Kitchen
  • 817 Laundry
  • 82 Other

The recent update included more than 400 additional products from 85 companies. The EWG states the following:

  • Almost three-fourths of common cleaners contain ingredients that may have worrisome effects on respiratory health.
  • More than one-fourth received scores indicating moderate to high health concerns because they contain ingredients or possible impurities that have been linked to increased cancer risk.
  • One-fifth of products got scores indicating moderate to high health concern because they have ingredients associated with developmental, endocrine or reproductive harm.
  • Almost half of the products were rated “poor” on disclosure because their ingredients are not adequately listed on product labels and company websites.

The database has an interesting and informative layout. Products are graded (A,B,C,D, and F) and their principle ingredients are graded as well, a layout that teaches consumers which additives are dangerous to the body or the environment and why.

Surprisingly, many well-known “green” labels earned Fs. For example, Whole Foods 365 Brand Cleaners run the gamut with individual products earning As, Bs, Cs, Ds, and Fs.

The database lists 7 Trader Joe’s products. One earned a B, 3 earned a D, and 3 earned an F.

There are 35 Seventh Generation products listed. Although only one earned an F, with 12 Ds, 37% are ranked D and below.

So line up your cleaning products and look them up. You may be in for some surprises. You may decide it’s time to simplify and use all natural products like vinegar, baking soda, and lemons to clean your home. Check out the article below to learn more.

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Is There a Scientific Link Between Marijuana and Cognitive Abilities?

As ever, in a presidential race, candidates are ambushed with tantalizing questions. One such question is centered around the use and abuse of marijuana.

The issue of marijuana legalisation has been on the table for years, and concerned parents and terminal patients have been tossing the ball back and forth, waiting for another piece of legislation to climb the Hill.

One of the most cited arguments revolves around the true links between marijuana and intelligence. Will smoking pot on an occasional Friday afternoon in high school prevent your child from making the Ivy League? Do corporate bankers really light up on weekends? Does one of the 111 cannabinoids found in marijuana kill brain cells? Is cannabis truly the ultimate gateway drug?

What Exactly Do You Smoke?

What non-smokers may not know is that there are 779 different strains of marijuana, and not all of them have the same effect on the smoker. This startling number is composed mostly of hybrids, stemming from two parent strains: the indicas and the sativas. In order to better understand the connections between smoking marijuana and IQ levels, we must first take a cursory look at these two strains and their attributes.

The indicas are responsible for making the user feel drowsy – they produce more of a “narcotic feel” and are medical marijuana users’ preferred choice. They cause smokers to perceive less pain, and lead to an increased appetite, which can greatly benefit chemotherapy patients.

On the other hand, sativas provide an instant energy boost. They are preferred by party goers and are considered a sociable strain. However, pure sativas may cause anxiety attacks and make the user feel panicky and restless.

The majority of smokers opt for hybrid strains, thus achieving a more moderate effect.

How Much Do You Smoke Exactly?

Of course, what makes a huge difference, apart from the quality of the grass you smoke, is how often you indulge. Marijuana users who have been smoking on a daily basis for years greatly differ from a recreational user.

What makes it difficult to study the interplay of marijuana and IQ points is the fact that cannabis is a Schedule I drug, which means the majority of its users are in fact breaking federal law when lighting up. It is also extremely difficult to assess the true effect marijuana has, since not all users smoke the same strains. Measuring dosages and potency under these conditions is difficult. Participant accuracy and honesty regarding amount and frequency of use is also questionable.

This is why there are few studies that have attempted to answer the burning question of marijuana’s effect on generations old and young. All published data still needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

What Does Any of This Have to Do With Intelligence Exactly?

The University of Texas conducted the first neurological study on the long-term effects of cannabis, and the research has concluded that regular use shrinks the brain, but it also increases the number of connections between neurons. However, the study does not come to a definite conclusion on the interplay of marijuana use and changes in gray matter. It does however find that users have lower IQs than non-users, yet this does not seem to be connected with any brain abnormalities.

A different study however has concluded quite the opposite: Carleton University researched the IQ levels of moderate smokers, heavy smokers, and non-smokers, and has found that moderate smokers had an average IQ increase of 5 points, more than non-smokers. Heavy users have been hit with a 4 point decrease. (Moderate smokers were considered to be those who smoked less than 5 joints a week, while heavy users smoked more than 33 every week. Urine tests were used to determine marijuana use.)

These two discoveries alone are enough to baffle even a layman. Still, there is no proof that the increase in IQ points in those subjects who did smoke marijuana in moderation is directly linked to this use. Is it not possible that this increase would have occurred even without the pot?

Even if smoking an odd joint here and there leads to a slight IQ increase, this does in no way mean that you should run to the nearest dispensary and start smoking on a regular, albeit moderate, basis. Decades of further research are needed to come to any definite conclusions.

Another point that can be made in favour of marijuana legalisation comes from a recent longitudinal study, conducted on twins, also supporting the fact that marijuana does not cause any neurocognitive damage. The study encompassed 2227 children from Minnesota, who were subjected to IQ tests every three years. Standardized IQ tests were first administered at the age of 9-12, before marijuana use, and later at the age of 17-20. The conclusion is not exceptional. Those children who did smoke marijuana exhibited a decline in IQ, which was not shown by children who did not. However, and this is a big however, within the set of twins where one smoked marijuana and the other did not, it was evident that marijuana was not the cause of this decline. The culprit must be found elsewhere.

It seems that there is a study out there that can support either claim.

Attempting to define the true nature of marijuana and to precisely determine the effects it has on its users is, as you may have discovered, not exactly teeming with reliable data. Scientists will undoubtedly continue to delve into the leaves themselves and attempt to extract an ounce of reason from puffs of smoke. Meanwhile, people still shy away from openly admitting they fall into the “pot head” category, and marijuana users are still seen by many as criminals and lowlifes.

As long as marijuana remains illegal, it will be difficult to acquire truly valid data – yet legalising it may or may not lead to more widespread use. If it does turn out to cause permanent damage, it may be too late to act.

As we wait with bated breath to see who will win the presidential race, parents and patients will keep throwing new information onto the pile. They will be advocating for their point of view, not only to be heard, but for their views to be accepted and turned into law.

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How to Breathe

Believe it or not, most people don’t know how to breathe. Of course we all do it, but most of us don’t do it right. With a little practice, proper breathing will become second nature, and it will improve your mental and physical health as well as your stamina.

Improper Breathing

Most of us are rapid, shallow breathers. We raise our shoulders, pull in our diaphragm, and take a breath that fills only the top portion of our lungs.

How to Breathe Correctly

When you breathe properly, your diaphragm, your stomach, and your ribcage expand, not the pectoral area. Fully exhaling is important, too. Remember, you are breathing in oxygen rich air and releasing carbon dioxide and toxins.

Have you ever watched babies breathe? Their stomachs rise and their rib cages fully expand with each breath they take.  Watch and learn.

Benefits of Breathing Properly

Every cell in our body requires oxygen to survive. Higher oxygen levels increase function and are vital for good health. Many of the most effective natural treatments for serious life threatening diseases focus on oxygenating the cells. The easiest way to get more oxygen into your body and in every cell of your body is to breathe properly.

Proper breathing dramatically increases stamina and mental clarity, elevates your mood, and helps the body detoxify more efficiently (more toxins are released through breathing than through the pores, urination, and defecation combined).

Learn How to Breathe

In ancient martial arts it is said that the student spends months or years learning how to breathe and to heal, before he learns to defend himself.

Practice by expanding your belly while breathing in. Fill your entire lungs with air. Pull in your belly when you exhale. Breathe slow and deep. When you practice this technique, try to take four breaths per minute. Think quality over quantity.  Breathe only through your nose for several minutes. Then inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth for several minutes.

Practice deliberate breathing as often as possible. Use it during exercise, when you’re trying to go to sleep, when you realize you are stressed. And it’s a great tool when you’re trying to hold your temper. Though it will take practice and effort for proper breathing to become a habitual, unconscious act (4 days to 3 weeks), in time, it will become as easy as breathing (pun intended). Learning to Breathe Properly is life changing. Ad squats into your daily routine, check out Cheap and Easy Detox Diet Plan, and thank me in a couple fo weeks 😉

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Eco-Friendly Death – The Green Trend In The Funeral Industry

A funeral is usually your last chance to leave your mark on the world, so why not make it an eco-friendly one? Green funerals are becoming ever more popular. Here’s what you need to know for planning your green service.

What Is An Eco-Friendly Funeral?

There’s no one way to plan a green funeral, but the goal is always the same. Eco-friendly services aim to reduce their impact on the environment as much as possible, whether by using sustainable resources or by reducing the relative carbon footprint of the event. Many of the elements, such as natural burials, have been around since the first pioneers of America.

Why Is This Important?

For those not yet familiar with the concept of a green burial, it can be surprising just how much a toll a regular service can take on the environment. Take a tombstone, for instance, as these are made from unsustainable resources such as marble or stone. Once you add in transport costs, you’re only increasing your carbon footprint. The rise in green funerals has seen a decrease in the need for wooden and metal caskets. So much so, in fact, the metal needed to meet casket demand has almost halved.

What Happens To The Body?

Typically, funeral service providers embalm the body, but this is seldom the case with green alternatives. Many people do not want their body to lie in the ground unused, preserved by various chemicals and toxins. Instead, they are buried as they are with a biodegradable casket so that their remains are used by the earth over time. In fact, many are forgoing burials altogether. A 2014 study by the National Funeral Directors Association concluded that 46.7% of funerals that year involved cremation, with estimates that this figure will rise to 71% by 2030. Cremations offer many green benefits, such as not taking up land space and, of course, carbon-heavy ashes.

What Marker Is Left Behind?

As mentioned already, tombstones are not very green. Although the traditional marker of choice, a survey by the Green Burial Council found they’re the least popular choice for eco-friendly ceremonies. Alternatives include planting a tree, a bench, wooden marker, or even natural stones. There’s also a shift away from grand structures such as mausoleums. This also applies to cremations, too, as you can leave a marker or memorial wall if you wish. As for the urn itself, there are many bio-urns available, in case you want to plant a tree or bush. Similarly, if you’re planning on having your ashes scattered, why spend money on an expensive urn? Like caskets, urns often utilize natural resources such as marble or metal, which are hard to replace.

What Are The Personal Benefits?

There are, arguably, two main benefits to green funerals. The first is that an environmentally conscious approach offers peace in one’s final moments, ensuring their last act isn’t selfish. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly for funeral planners,  there are many cost saving features. Cremations don’t cost as much as funerals. The NFDA estimates cremations cost an average of $6,078 compared to $7,181 for a burial service, and when you cut out the costs of embalming ($659), casket (over $2000, if made of metal) and other surplus features, you can generally cut down on quite a large amount of expenditure. Further cuts can always be made by using local suppliers for flowers, food, and more. Not only will this help bring down costs, it also boosts the local businesses and economy!

It’s clear to see why eco-friendly funerals are the greenest trend in the industry right now. Aside from saving the bereaved money, these services enable people to ensure their last goodbyes help the environment. For many, it may prove comforting to know a loved one’s final moments are being used to help the world.

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Does 5 HTP Really Enhance Sleeping Quality and More?

We don’t fully understand why we need sleep, but we sure know the effects on the body if we don’t get enough of it each day. Extended periods of sleep deprivation can cause some serious health issues that most insomniacs would be well aware of.

Sleep disorders are also closely linked to depression, anxiety, stress, and migraines. So it seems that cognitive issues are at least in part to blame for a chronic lack of sleep. Could you then adjust the levels of serotonin (the neurotransmitter responsible for happiness) to improve the quality of your sleep?

Turns out you can, but you don’t need serotonin for it. You need 5 HTP, a common precursor to the neurotransmitter. The chemical is a byproduct of some proteins found naturally in African plants such as Griffonia simplicifolia. It’s been used to treat everything from Parkinson’s disease to premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

5 HTP works on the central nervous system and helps it boost the chemical serotonin in the body. This can affect a number of biological factors including the appetite for sex, hunger, and body temperature.

It has been documented as having incredible effects on a person’s sleep. Researchers found that those who took the drug were likely to sleep more deeply and fall asleep quicker than subjects who were given a placebo in a study. They suggest taking  200 to 400 mg every night to improve the quality of sleep, but it could take between 5 and 10 weeks to be fully effective.

A number of herbal supplements and multivitamins claim to have 5 HTP in them and adults are recommended doses not exceeding 300mgs a day. Children, of course, are not allowed any dose.

The doses are divided and usually taken at different times in the day. Lower, more frequent doses will also have a significant effect. Pairing the dose with other substances is usually okay, unless the substance is a neurological drug used for depression or other cognitive purposes. Do speak to your doctor before you mix 5 HTP with something else.

Taking 5 HTP along with food was also considered a great way to boost appetite. Studies have shown notable differences in appetite. If taken with food, it increases hunger, but may it may reduce your appetite if taken without food. Food intake can be gradually suppressed with the use of this drug.

Other trials have shown similar effects on weight reduction, cortisol control, and sleep terrors.

Insomnia and minor sleep disorders are well noted to be age related. Sleeping aids have been used for centuries, but only recently have we been able to tap into the body’s natural biochemistry to induce deep and restful sleep in most people.

There could be no better way to rebalance serotonin in the body and fix a person’s circadian rhythm. Experts recommend it for people who suffer from chronic sleep deprivation. 5HTP is essentially a natural way to get a good night’s sleep.

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