We Go Eco

Raw Food Detox Cleanse - My Experience

Not sleeping well, a stalled workout program and general malaise helped me decide to go on a detox cleanse for 6 days a few weeks ago. I did my homework and decided that a raw food plan was the best approach for me. I actually followed a program that included only "green smoothies" that I could make myself...no powders, pills or potions to purchase...just good, wholesome, organic fruits and vegetables that come from the earth. I wanted to share with everyone a little bit about my experience...

Before I started the cleanse, I had a few concerns. Would I be hungry all week? Would I spend a lot of time in the restroom? Would I feel nauseous? Would I feel better? Would I have more energy? WOuld it be challenging to maintain for a week? The only way I would find the answers to my questions was to jump in feet first, and that's exactly what I did.

The green smoothies were easy to make and actually quite tasty. You might be wondering why they're called "green" smoothies. Well, to put it simply, it's because they're green in color. You start by blending some raw greens in water. The greens can be any type of edible greens...spinach, kale, romaine, dandelion, etc. Then, once you've blended the greens and water very well, you add in apples...lots of apples. In fact, the program recommends 8 pounds of apples a day! I don't think I quite made it to 8 pounds, but I came close. Depending on my mood, I would also throw in a handful of berries and a banana. I had 4 of these smoothies each day for 6 days (plus, about a gallon of water each day).

You might be wondering why anyone would want to blend greens in with a fruit smoothie. Well, the concept is simple. Greens contain a lot of nutrients and minerals...and a lot of fiber. In order for our bodies to get to the nutrients and minerals, we need to get through the fiber first. Some greens are more fibrous than others. If we chewed greens for a very long time, we would be able to access all of these nutrients. but, we're not cows and we don't "chew the cud" for hours on end. So, the next best method of opening up all of those cells that contain the nutrients by blending them first.

If you've ever tried to eat 8 pounds of apples in a day, you know that there is no way to be hungry eating this much food. If anyone has ever eaten 8 pounds of apples a day and STILL been hungry, I'd like to meet them! I never felt nauseous, but I did spend a little more time visiting the restroom than usual. But, since you're cleansing, that is expected.

The first two days were fine...nothing unusual. By day 3, I was craving a different texture...something crunchy. I wasn't hungry,though. Day 4 and 5, I was excited to be nearing the end of my cleanse. And, day 6 was very easy. In fact, I had my last green smoothie and didn't even realize it was my last one until I got ready to eat dinner. Of course, you have to ease back into eating regular food.

By the end of the cleanse, I had released 7 pounds of weight (this was partially water weight), was sleeping like a baby, and had more energy than usual! It was really a great experience. Sicne the cleanse, I have been craving the green smoothies, so I've decided to incorporate them into my daily eating plan. This past week, I ha green smoothies for the first two meals of the day, and then a "regular" meal for dinner. I've been extremely pleased witht he results of the cleanse and plan on doing it again, perhaps in the fall. Just like we do spring cleaning in our homes, it's a good idea to do some cleaning of our bodies from time to time. Our bodies work very hard digesting all of the processed foods we've become accustomed to eating. This is an opportunity to allow our bodies to heal and "reset."

We Go Eco e-Newsletter: March 2009 Edition

By now, you should have received the March 2009 edition of the We Go Eco e-Newsletter in your email. In this edition, I discussed a simple, green way to clean the dreaded toilet, Earth Hour and Earth Day, and the meaning of the name "We Go Eco." Do you have any comments, questions related to this edition of the e-newsletter? If so, I'd love to hear from you. Please post your comments to this blog entry.

21 Days to Develop a Habit...Earth Hour to Earth Day

Do you know about Earth Hour? It is recognized around the world as March 28th (this Saturday!) at 8:30pm local time. The World Wildlife Fund asks every person, business and organization to turn all of your lights off for 1 hour at 8:30pm local time "to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate commitment to finding solutions." Last year, I got together for dinner with a group of friends...at 8:30pm we switched off all the lights, lit some candles, and enjoyed a great food and great conversation. What will you do this year for Earth Hour?

Earth Day is April 22nd and is celebrated worldwide. The intention of Earth Day is to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the Earth's environment. Interesting tid-bit: The Nickelodeon Network is asking kids to unplug their electronics (games, gadgets, television, etc.) for 1 minute at 9:00pm local time on Earth Day to symbolize their commitment to a green Earth.

And, if you want to do something really great, take the Earth Hour to Earth Day (EH2ED) challenge. Basically, the EH2ED Challenge is about proactively choosing to make at least 1 eco-friendly, environmentally-focused action each day between Earth Hour and Earth Day...they say it only takes 21 days to develop a habit. So, go ahead, take the EH2ED Challenge and see what green habits you can develop! Leave a post to this blog entry and share what you'll be doing for Earth Hour and Earth Day.

"We Go Eco" - What does it mean?

Since launching We Go Eco, I've had several people ask about the meaning of the name. "What does We Go Eco mean?" So, I thought I would tell you a little bit about what We Go Eco means to me.

When I first started creating this business, I had a tough time coming up with a name that I felt accurately represented what I wanted the business to be about. But, I knew that I wanted it to include 3 components:

• Community
• Action
• Environmentally-friendly living

I also knew that I wanted the name to be fairly short and memorable. After numerous brainstorming sessions with friends and researching hundreds of potential names, I finally settled on We Go Eco. The "We" represents community - we're in this together. We live in this world together and, I believe, we share a responsibility for taking care of it. The "Go" symbolizes action...actually making a choice to do something that will positively impact our environment and the world in which we live. Believing in eco-friendly living isn't good enough - there must be action for true change to take place. And, finally, the word "Eco" represents the environmentally-friendly component, which is at the very heart of what the business is all about. So, when you put it all together, We Go Eco means that we, as a community, are choosing to actively live a greener, more eco-friendly life...for ourselves, for our families and friends, for our communities, and for the generations to come.

23 Common Household Items Most People Throw Away, and How You Can Easily and Creatively Reduce, Reuse, or Recycle All of Them

Have you had a chance to read my Special Report "23 Common Household Items that Most People Throw Away, and How You Can Easily and Creatively Reduce, Reuse, or Recycle All of Them" yet? If not, you can sign-up for the We Go Eco e-newsletter and receive the special report by going to http://www.WeGoEcoNow.com. Do you have any questions or comments about the special report? Do you have some ideas of your own that you would like to share? If so, please post your comments, questions and ideas here. Who knows...I may even use your ideas in future publications!

Plastic Recycling – Know Your Numbers

So, you do your best to throw your plastic bottles, plastic tubs, and plastic yogurt cups in the recycle bin. That’s great! But, did you know that some plastics are incompatible with each other in the recycling process? It’s true – if you mix your #4 plastics with your #2 plastics, it could cause your best intentions to be all for naught. But, have no worries. I’m going to tell you exactly what you need to know about these different types of plastic to make your recycling efforts as helpful to the environment as possible!

 

Most consumer plastics are identified by a number ranging from 1 to 7 that you can typically find imprinted inside of the chasing arrows symbol on the bottom of the plastic package. Go ahead, take a look (just make sure that the lid is on the gallon of milk before you turn it upside down). Sometimes, these numbers are fairly small, so you may have to look closely to find it.

 

Now that you know how to locate the plastic identification number, you’re probably wondering what the number means. You can think of the number as an easy way to sort plastics that contain similar chemicals. For example, some plastics contain chemicals that make them hard and rigid, while others, such as plastic wrap, contain chemicals that make them more flexible.

In most recycling centers, #1 and #2 plastics are easily recycled, while #3 through #7 plastics are more difficult. Check with your local recycling center for more information on exactly what types of plastics they can recycle, and what types are considered contaminants (Note: plastic wrap is often considered a contaminant and is usually not recycled in recycling centers).

TIP: Have you looked in your kitchen yet to see what types of plastics you have? Personally, I consider the type of plastic that a product is packaged in before I buy it.

What about reusing plastic containers? If you are like me, you grew up with at least one relative who saved plastic butter containers to use for dispensing fruit salad at family reunions. UPDATE: Some people follow the rule of thumb that as long as you wash them with warm soapy water between uses, you can reuse plastic food containers within reason (which means you should reuse them in a way that is similar to their original use and you should follow any manufacturer limitations that are indicated on the container itself). When the plastic begins to crack, become scratched, discolored, hazy, or aged in any way, it’s time to stop using it for food storage and recycle it. Personally, I avoid using plastic for food storage as much as possible. Please see my posting about the dangers of BPA for more information.

TIP: You should never heat food (in a microwave or any other heating device) in a plastic container or covered with plastic wrap as the chemicals in the plastic can leach into the food.

In summary:

• When it comes to recycling plastic, know your numbers.
• Don’t contaminate your recyclables with plastics that cannot be recycled in your area.
• Consider the packaging before purchasing. #1 and #2 plastics are easiest to recycle.
• If you choose to reuse plastic food containers, make sure you use them in a way that is similar to their original use.
• Recycle or discard plastic food containers when they become cracked, scratched, discolored, hazy, or aged.
• Never heat food in a plastic container or covered with plastic wrap.

Easy-to-Make Scrubbing Paste

Today, I want to share with you one of my favorite earth-friendly tips for making your own scrubbing paste to clean sinks, toilet bowls, and bathtubs.

 

Recently, a friend of mine was complaining about how dingy his white porcelain kitchen sink had become over the years. No matter how much he tried to clean it, the stains wouldn’t budge. I told him that I had a solution that was eco-friendly and would get the stains out just as well, if not better, than any commercially available product. My solution was an easy-to-make, homemade scrubbing paste. He was skeptical about this scrubbing paste…but curious. And, he was completely stunned by the gleaming results!

 

If you’re like most people, you’re familiar with some of the liquid scrubbing pastes you can buy in grocery stores. You know the kind…white, gritty paste that helps you scrub away dirt and grime. What you may not know is that these cleaners, and most commercially available cleaners, are made with chemicals that are extremely hazardous to the environment (because the cleaners get flushed or rinsed down the drain) and to humans (because you breathe the vapors and probably get the cleaners on your skin).

 

Instead of using these toxic, store-bought cleaners, why not make your own eco-friendly scrubbing paste that is quick and easy to make, gentle to the earth and to you, and costs only pennies to make?

 

Eco-Friendly Scrubbing Paste:

1. Pour ½ cup of baking soda into a bowl.
2. Stir in enough earth-friendly liquid soap until your scrubbing paste is the consistency of cake frosting (I prefer to use a liquid castile soap such as Dr. Bronner’s). This is not an exact science…you’ll have to play around with the proportions until your scrubbing paste reaches a consistency that you like.
3. Optional: add 5 drops of pure (not synthetic) essential oil that has anti-bacterial properties (such as lavender, tea tree oil, or rosemary).

That's it! Your scrubbing paste is ready to use. Simply scoop out a small amount with a natural sponge or old cleaning cloth and have at those stains. You'll be amazed at the results! By the way, you should make a fresh batch of this scrubbing paste each time you're ready to use it; it doesn't lend itself to storing to use later. Besides, it only takes a few seconds to whip up a batch! 

Organic Food – Does it Really Matter?

Today I am going to share with you some very practical information about the word “organic” that everyone should know, but most people don’t!

 

Do you know what the term “organic” really means? According to the USDA’s National Organic Standards Act, organic food must be grown and produced without the use of toxic fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, sewage, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), or irradiation. This seems simple enough, right? Well yes, and no. Allow me to explain a bit further.

 

The definition of “organic” is straightforward; however, when the term “organic” is used in the marketing of a product, there are some subtle differences that come as a surprise to most people. A product that is labeled as “Organic” means that 95% of the ingredients are organic (which, of course, means that 5% of the ingredients are not organic). If you want a product that is completely absent of all non-organic ingredients, you have to look for the “100% Organic” label. This means that all of the ingredients are organic. A product that bears the label “Made with Organic Ingredients” means that at least 70% of the ingredients are organic (the remaining 30% of ingredients are not required to be organic). And, don’t be fooled by products labeled as “Natural.” If it is used to describe a meat or poultry product, “Natural” means that the product is minimally processed and contains no artificial ingredients or added colors. If “Natural” is used to describe any product other than meat or poultry, it is meaningless!

 

So, there you have it…a little lesson about “organic” products that can make a big difference the next time you go grocery shopping.