Here is a wonderful reason to enjoy Indian food: a compound in turmeric, called curcumin, helps the body/brain flush out amyloid plaques.

The findings build on previous research linking curry consumption to reduced Alzheimer's risk, including one study that found that only 1 percent of elderly Indians developed the disease -- a quarter of the rate seen in the United States.

You can also buy curcumin in supplements. Check out this article from DEMENTIA WEEKLY: http://awe.sm/5hE3I

Almost all scientists agree that humans are causing climate change. Here's the scandal on what monied interests in the energy and other fields have done--possibly illegally--to stop the truth. Please pass this on! It's important for our planet that our governments wake up and start to do something: http://shar.es/gmzbm

Monsanto's Roundup Linked to Infertility-how to protect yourself

From the Activist Post:

A recent study conducted by a German university found very high concentrations of glyphosate, a carcinogenic chemical found in herbicides like Monsanto’s Roundup, in all urine samples tested.

The amount of glyphosate found in the urine was staggering, with each sample containing concentrations at 5- to 20-fold the limit established for drinking water.

This is just one more piece of evidence that herbicides are, at the very least, being sprayed out of control. 

Glyphosate in Monsanto’s Roundup Impacting Global Health

This news comes only one month after it was found that glyphosate, contained in Monsanto’s Roundup, is contaminating the groundwater in the areas in which it is used. What does this mean?


read more here


----------------------------


First, obviously, don't use roundup.  Eat organic and encourage others to do so--only demand for pesticide-free products will make farmers stop using pesticides.


At home, we use not only a reverse-osmosis filter for our drinking water, we have a WHOLE-HOUSE filter so that our shower water, laundry water, and the water the comes out the garden hose are all clean, or as clean as possible.  It's also been documented that there are SSRIs and other pharmaceuticals in drinking water--why take a chance on your health and fertility?

Mercury in CFLs

There are many reasons not to use CFLs (compact fluorescent lights).  You've probably already heard that they have mercury in them, so if broken, they can contaminate your house, and they will most certainly contaminate landfills.  But it also appear that while INTACT, they might still be able to give off mercury vapors, which is not good for anyone.  From Activist Post:


Another everyday product you may want to avoid is compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Only months after it was found that energy saving compact fluorescent bulbs release carcinogenic chemicals into the air, a new study has found that these harmful chemicals are continually released from the bulbs over a period of weeks to months. Furthermore, the study also found that the levels of mercury released exceed those that are considered safe for humans.

read more: here

Flourescent light is also a source of "dirty" energy, it's rapid cycling makes you feel stressed.  As the parent of an autistic child, I can tell you that fluorescents make him crazy.  Read more: here

In our house we use LEDs, which have a nice clean light.  They are more expensive than incandescent or CFLs, but they last longer, too.  We also like the VU, nice, soft lighting, energy efficient, and long lasting.  This one is not an LED, but a ESL (Electron Stimulated Luminescence):

My Mother-in-Law and Marijuana

Sorry I've been away from the blog for a while; been knocked out by pneumonia, but happy to say I've dug my way out of it without antibiotics.  Olive Leaf Extract and Mullein tea have been great.

In December, in response to the Obama administration's cracking down on state-sanctioned medical marijuana, I wrote this op-ed for the New York Times about how my mother-in-law, with pancreatic cancer, was helped by cannabis but was too scared to use it, which was a terrible shame.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/10/opinion/medical-marijuana-and-the-memory-of-one-high-day.html

Gift ideas

How about an insulated, glass, bamboo water bottle?  Glass is obviously one of the healthiest choices because you don't have to worry about stuff leaching into it, and why not sustainable bamboo to cushion it in a fashionable way?  Only caveat, this bottle is heavier than the stainless ones, but so worth it! http://www.bamboobottleco.com

And while you're at it, try some Runa Guayusa tea, a new tea that provides antioxidants and a little pick up without the jitters of coffee, PLUS it's fair trade: http://www.runa.org/home.aspx 

Light, waterproof, stylin' boots: Ahnu Embarcadero

My current light pair of stylin' books are lovely for travel.  BUT they not waterproof and are rather slippery, so with all the weird weather cropping up I find myself a bit slidey and cold with a sudden snow.  But if I'm on a short trip it doesn't always make sense to bring my stubby Keen Providences. 

Ahhh... Ahnu Embarcaderos to the rescue.  They're a nice basic boot with an interesting (and comfy hell) and they are surprisingly light for a waterproof boot.  Ahnu the company is also always up to interesting green projects, so it makes sense to support ther. 

Fit: I found these boots true to size and fit my narrow feet very well.