Solar Cooking Produces Delicious Foods And Is Healthy For The Environment

By Kay Hedges
Solar ovens can be made or bought in a variety of sizes to fit every budget or space. They can safely and effectively cook almost any food product, from bread to meats and vegetables. They are efficient at maintaining a steady, moderate temperature that produces tender results without scorching the food.

Ease of use

A solar oven is easy and safe to use in the back yard or on camping trips. It can be used in the forest even when requirements for no-fire days are in use. A meal can be started, campers can then go fishing or hiking, and return in a few hours to a completed meal. There is no cost for firewood and no danger of wildfires.

At the beach, a solar oven is easy to transport and set up with no danger of charcoal or gas grill burns. When everyone is through playing in the water, a meal can be ready and waiting. Live coals are not a problem when it is time to go home. Some models are made of plastic and stainless steel which are tough, non-corrosive, and not affected by moisture.

Usage in an RV requires no propane or drain on electricity. Most ovens are collapsible and fit snugly in one of the many compartments ready to be brought out and used when stopping at a park.

Even boaters can enjoy a hot meal cooked entirely by sunshine because some models do not have to be precisely aimed at the sun. They can be secured in a sunny part of the boat and cook even while the craft is moving. Water skiing, fishing, swimming, or just sunning can all be done simultaneously while the food is cooking.

Portable

Because most family size ovens weigh about 10-15 pounds, they can be easily carried to wherever the fun will be. Picnics at the park are more enjoyable because no one has to miss the fun by cooking while everyone else is playing games.

No burning

Because most cooking temperatures are in the 210-260 degrees F range in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and about 300 degrees F around the equator, the food is thoroughly cooked given enough time. It does not become hot enough to burn the food.

Environmentally friendly

Reducing pollution and saving the environment are prime goals in sustainability education among countries around the world. Wood used for cooking fires adds CO2 and smoke particulates into the atmosphere. There is no smoke pollution from a solar oven.

Reduce electric bill

Around the home, meals can be cooked outdoors year around. During the summer ovens reduce heat in the kitchen.

Food tastes better

A little like commercially available crock pots, the slow cooking enhances the flavor of food without the leaching out vitamins. Extra water is not needed for most cooking which encourages flavors to blend more thoroughly and contributes to delicious products.

Depending on the angle of the sun and time of year, food cooks in a solar oven in about 2-4 hours. It also depends on the food. Large pieces of meat take longer to cook than do smaller pieces. Foods like meat and vegetables require no additional liquid while cooking. Grains and pasta do require liquid to re-hydrate them.

Cooking times

A solar oven can be used year around with modifications taken to enhance the sun's angle into the oven. Some models need to be re-aimed at the sun every hour or so. But others are more versatile and do not require that.

The cooking time required for different foods does, however, vary with the season of year. When the sun is at a low angle in wintertime, more time might be required for cooking and re-aiming toward the sun might be necessary.

There is no electricity, wood, charcoal, gas or propane required when cooking with a solar oven. All that is required is sunshine. Whether used for cooking or for outside activities, sunshine is abundant, natural, non-polluting, and free.

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The Burning Question: Light Bulb On or Off

By Alexandra Gnoske
Shortly after the advent of the light bulb came the ever familiar call of the parent, "turn off that light!" But with 5 different kinds of light bulbs on the market the burning question is, "to turn off, or not to turn off?"

This article will give you quick and simple information on the current bulbs in the market and what to tell your kids about turning off the lights.

Incandescent Bulbs. Turn it OFF!
Your traditional bulb burns brightly but wastes a lot of energy - 85 to 90% of the energy is given off as heat, not light. So not only are you wasting energy, you are creating heat. If the majority of your house still has incandescent lights you need to know two things 1) turn them off, and 2) these bulbs are being phased out because they will not meet the new energy efficiency standards being put into place 2010 - 2014 (see the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 EISA).

Fluorescent Bulbs. Turn it OFF, unless...
While they are 4 to 6 times more efficient than incandescent bulbs, fluorescent bulbs life span is shortened by frequently turning it on and off. If you are in a high traffic area or going in and out of the room, I would say leave the light on. Otherwise turn it off. NOTE: all fluorescent bulbs have some amount of mercury so please dispose of properly. (see Green Energy Efficient Homes online for more on light bulb efficiency)

Halogen Bulbs. Turn it OFF!
Halogen bulbs are 25% more efficient than incandescent bulbs. They are a brighter and more efficient bulb that is typically used when intense light is needed (as in photography, spotlights on stage, or reading lamps).

CFLs. Turn it OFF, unless...
CFL's or compact fluorescent bulbs are 75% more efficient than incandescent bulbs, don't emit large amounts of heat, last 10 times longer, now have good lighting quality, and are inexpensive. CFL's do start out dim, so if you are going in and out of a room it does make sense to keep this light on. But leaving it on for hours is not more efficient. A good rule of thumb is the 15 minute rule: if you are coming back in 15 minutes leave it on. NOTE: buy name brand CFLs with a 5+ year warranty as cheap CFLs will burn out faster. And dispose of properly, as these bulbs contain trace amounts of mercury.

LEDs. Turn it OFF!
Light Emitting Diode bulbs or LEDs last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs and don't emit heat. There's no extra wear and tear from turning on and off these lights. NOTE: LEDs are still evolving and are expensive. But as competition grows LEDs costs will come down. Stay tuned.

In Summary/Teaching Kids: Turn it OFF!
Yes, it still holds true. In the end, the oldest and simplest lesson is the one that saves the most energy overall. If you want to keep it real simple for your kids just tell them to turn off the lights. Even considering the amount of energy you spend by turning lights on and off, and the effect on the life expectancy of the bulb, it is still more energy efficient to turn the lights off. If your child is old enough and you have fluorescent or CFL's in your house, you can explain the 15 minute rule. You may also want to consider a light sensor that will automatically turn the lights off and on. And just because a light bulb is more efficient, doesn't mean you can leave it on longer - if you aren't using it, it is still called wasting.

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A Healthy Environment

By Marie Armenta
A healthy environment is a necessity to sustain life on the planet Earth, is a must for safe food and a sustainable economy, is one in which people, at home, in schools, at workplace and in their communities, have access to safe food and water, have adequate sanitation and are protected from risks associated with chemical

pollution, environmental degradation and disasters.

A healthy ecosystem is essential towards the durability of life as you may know it. Preserving environmental surroundings is essential considering that the impact of our surroundings on our well-being can be so great. We can easily continue to keep our family members as well as the ecosystem healthy and balanced by restricting contact with hazardous chemicals.

The beautiful planet we are now living in now is badly afflicted with toxins. If we resided in a wholesome ecosystem we would not need to concern ourselves with harmful toxins in the air and water, within our households, or perhaps in the products we use to clean our homes. All people need clean fresh air to breath, clean drinking water, and healthy food to enjoy life. Residing in a secure, wholesome atmosphere is really a fundamental human right.

Contact with harmful agents in the atmosphere, ground, drinking water, and food promote health problems and developmental ailments. Poisonous Toxins: are harmful to human overall health and environmental surroundings. In some forms, PBT toxins (Persistent, bio-accumulative, and toxic pollutants) might cause negative effects, for instance most cancers, birth defects, and declines in specie communities. The hazards these chemical substances pose for you and your loved ones are specially harmful when sprayed as a fluid or foam. Phasing out these harmful toxins and swapping all of them with eco-friendly items in your own home, can certainly produce a big difference in not simply the surroundings, but the quality of everyday living and wellness within your household.

A healthy environment is important to the sustainability of life as we know it. A healthy environment is vital to our growth and development as human beings. The protection and furtherance of a healthy environment is the duty of every citizen and nation.

Some merchandise are promoted as user-friendly that most likely are not any benefit for the ecosystem than standard items.

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Should I Buy a Home Water Distiller to Purify My Water?

By Tom Ribe
America's water supply is becoming increasingly contaminated. The federal government set up laws in the 1980s to protect drinking water and we've come to trust that city water supplies are safe to drink. While few people get sick immediately drinking from city water supplies, federal laws are lagging behind the rate of new

contamination entering supplies and enforcement lags. We have to protect our own water these days especially if you have small children.

Several kinds of water filters are available. Its best to learn the strengths and weaknesses of each type of system before you buy.

How Can We Purify Water?

Because of its structure, water is a powerful solvent which makes it a great cleaner. But because its a great solvent, it also picks up all kinds of foreign materials like dissolved minerals, heavy metals like mercury, chemicals dumped by industry, and many kinds of tiny life forms like bacteria, viruses and algae.

These substances cling to the water molecules and to purify water, we need to somehow separate the water from the contaminating substances.

People have developed several systems for cleaning water. It can be filtered, forced through a membrane (reverse osmosis) or distilled. (I've discussed carbon filters and reverse osmosis in other articles.)

In nature, water evaporates and purifies itself constantly. Evaporation happens when water molecules float away from the surface of the ocean or a lake or whatever. The molecules drift away with no contamination clinging to them so they are perfectly pure.

The ocean provides the biggest source of evaporated water. With 70% of the earth's surface covered with seawater, a huge amount of water evaporates from the oceans every day, leaving the salt in the seawater behind and becoming pure water in the sky that falls as rain. Naturally the rain falls on land and flows back to the ocean and the cycle is endlessly repeated. This process produces 100% of our drinking water.

Home Distillers

We can get devices for our homes that will use the evaporation process just described to purify water. When water boils it sends steam up into the air. The steam is pure water. A distiller captures that steam, cools it, and collects it.

The good thing about distilled water is that it is very pure. But distilling has its down sides too. First it is energy intensive, using a great deal of electrical power to boil the water. A gallon of distilled water can cost 40 cents and while that's cheap compared to store bought bottles, it adds up fast and we must consider the air pollution we are causing by using electricity this way.

Also, home distillation systems produce slowly so you must wait for the system to work, just as you do with a reverse osmosis system. Other filtration systems work much faster as we'll see in a moment.

Finally distillation produces water that lacks minerals that our bodies need for good health. In short, we want pure drinking water but we can't have it too pure or we miss basic minerals like calcium that are common in spring water that our bodies need.

What's the Best Water Purification System?

Every type of water purifier has its strengths and weaknesses. Carbon filter have limits, reverse osmosis has limits, distillation has limits and so do filters. The answer lies in combining these elements to make a high quality water purifier where each stage works to remove contaminants that slipped past the stage before.

With so much industrial pollution and biological hazard in our water supplies, you owe it to yourself and your family to use a very high quality filtration system at home. Click below to find out how to get one quickly and affordably.

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Learn About The Most Efficient Drinking Water Filtration System

By Gordon P Hall
Installing a drinking water filtration system is a much better choice than buying bottled according to a recent study conducted by the Environmental Working Group. You may have read the story about that. What the story didn't cover was how to choose the best systems for your home. You'll learn about that here.

The systems vary greatly in terms of price and the number of purification steps included. While the EWG suggested that reverse osmosis was a good choice, that step does nothing to remove the chemicals found in publicly treated supplies.

Many doctors feel that reverse osmosis is not a good choice, because it removes naturally occurring minerals. The minerals are good for your health and give the water a clean fresh taste. What those doctors recommend is a selective drinking water filtration system.

The systems are selective in that they remove lead, chlorine, cancer-causing chlorination byproducts, the solvent benzene, a VOC called perchlorate and dozens of other chemicals that are bad for your health and the environment.

Another bad thing about reverse osmosis that the EWG should be aware of is that the systems waste freshwater. According to experts, as much as 50% of the freshwater that goes into the systems is wasted. That's bad for the environment, because our freshwater supplies are limited.

Reverse osmosis is also bad for the environment, because it requires electricity to operate. We are supposed to be doing everything that we can to conserve energy. It just doesn't make sense to install a drinking water filtration system that requires electricity to operate.

While it is true that installing a reverse osmosis purifier and drinking your own tap-water rather than buying bottled is a sound choice, it is just not the best option. Selective filters do not require electricity and they do not create wastewater. The chemicals trapped by the systems are disposed of along with the filter. They are not flushed into the sewer where they will eventually end up back in the aquifer.

The best systems include granular carbon, a solid carbon block, a submicron filter and an ion exchange step. They cost a lot less than reverse osmosis.

They require very little maintenance and they cost very little to use.
If you currently buy bottled, you will save hundreds of dollars per month by installing your own drinking water filtration system.

And you will be confident that the H2O you are consuming is the purest and safest available.

Gordon Hall is fervent about enabling you and everyone to live a healthy lifestyle, and is an ardent reviewer of Water Purification Systems. Visit

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Sold Out on Filtered Water

By Ron Starks
I have been around for many years and consumed many, many gallons of unfiltered tap water. I consumed it in drink; I consumed it in the food that I ate and the shower water that I used. Never did I once take the time to research the health hazards associated with water from our municipal water supply. I simply went through life believing our water supply was safe and contaminate free.

But now as a result of my new business endeavor, I have done much research and have found that most people around the country suffer from the lack of a good, clean, water source. Most people in the United States have access to municipal water supplies same as I. Most people believed as I that simple tap water is sufficient and purchasing a water filtration system is an unneeded expense.

Yet on the other hand, people who cannot bear the taste and/or odor of their own drinking water, have switched to the use of bottled water. This in itself is an expensive switch, not only to the pocket book, but to the environment. Plastic bottles do not disintegrate. They last a life time causing our cities to continue their search for new land fills, which is a costly expenditure to the tax payer.

I issue you this challenge, do the research as I have and you will find the cost associated with purchasing water filters, such as, inexpensive countertop water filters and/or shower head filters a good healthy investment.

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Electromagnetic Pollution - Is Avoiding It A Key to Wellness?

By Dr. Don Funke, D.C.
Electromagnetic pollution is the second and most controversial step in the Six Steps to Wellness. Many wellness authors write about the potential health problems of being exposed to low level electromagnetic fields. Think about what our environment was like as little as 100 years ago. No computers, cell phones, televisions,

microwaves, radio or cell phone towers, no electric alarm clocks or electric blankets. All of these devices and many more emit low frequency radio waves. We are electromagnetic beings. Every nerve impulse, thought or heart beat is a tiny electric charge. It is possible that the electromagnetic fields (EMF) of our electrical devices interfere with our own electrical field.

In a landmark book for creating better mind-body health, The Ultramind Solution, Mark Hyman M.D. states that "the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence" regarding the potential effects of electromagnetic pollution. Meaning that just because we have not adequately studied the effects of "electromagnetic pollution" does not mean that none exists. Here's what we do know. EMFs alter cellular metabolism and generate free radicals that can be toxic to your brain and promote memory loss and dementia. Research shows higher rates of Alzheimer in people exposed to EMFs. Other studies link EMFs to mood disorders and depression.

Are the results from the research conclusive? No. In a search of Medline, the national archive of scientific research papers, I could not find a single conclusive study that implicated a direct relationship between any specific disease and EMF exposure. However, after reading numerous research abstracts I will quote the leading researcher in the field Dr. Ahlbom:

"Results of these studies to date give no consistent or convincing evidence of a casual relation between RF exposure and any adverse health effect. On the other hand, the studies have too many deficiencies to rule out an association."

This statement reflects the opinion of the most knowledgeable EMF/health researcher. The reason he states his opinion as such is due to the evolving nature of the research and the rapidly changing technology. Cell phones and every other appliance are changing so fast that researchers can't keep up. They do a study on a certain radio frequency and by the time the study is published cell phone manufacturers have begun using a different radio frequency, thus making interpretation of the data obsolete, in some cases, before it is even published. So should you throw out your cell phone, television, microwave, and all other electrical devices in your home? No, simply limit your exposure. If you use a cell phone for prolonged periods of time use a wired headset. The latest blue tooth devices emit EMFs very close to your brain, the most sensitive structure in your body. When watching television stay at least 5 feet from the screen. When working on the computer, staying farther from the screen will minimize exposure to EMFs.

As an added measure of protection at Advanced Spine and Wellness we use a bipolar magnet the size of a business card carried on our person. The idea is that the electromagnetic field of the body is disrupted by environmental exposure to EMFs and this simple magnet helps to normalize the bodies electromagnetic field.

Although there is a controversy regarding Electromagnetic field exposure and health risks it is prudent to do everything possible to be aware of potential risks and minimize exposure.

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Aching Bones and the Weather - Is There a Connection?

By Laurence Smith
It is common to have a friend who has said: "I can predict it is going to rain by my joints - they ache before it rains". Most of us are inclined to just smile at a statement like this, and wonder if such a friend also believes in ghosts or green men from Mars. Is there, however, something to this. Is there a logical explanation

that explains and supports this old wive's tale.

When someone informs us that their joints ache because of impending rain, they're referring to the bones in those joints. Unfortunately, you'll find almost no nerves in bone that may conduct the impression of pain. This is a result of the nature of bone, which is fairly dense and, over time, excludes any nerve endings and blood vessels, which initially existed in the bone during childhood. However, as much of us know: if we break a bone we definitely feel pain. So why the paradox?

Most bone is enclosed by a thin tissue layer referred to using the scientific name, periosteum, which means "surrounding bone". The periosteum, quite differently than bone, is composed of a nerve network that may conduct the feeling of pain. When a bone breaks, it tears the periosteum which surrounds the bone. This subsequently irritates the nerve networks, which conduct the sensation of pain, which we all experience when we break a bone. So by cutting or irritating the periosteum we realize that we have a broken bone.

Wait, how does that explain how many people can "predict" if it is going to rain because of their achy joints? The answer, of course, is changing air pressure, or barometric pressure. When it is increasing, expect sunny skies and good weather. When it decreases expect cloudy days with the increasing chance of precipitation, rain or snow. But how can this affect the periosteum? When the barometric pressure increases, that change has an effect upon the human skeletal frame and will actually force a compression, although tiny, directly on the bones. As an end result, the bone's diameter decreases slightly.

The opposite condition takes place if the barometric pressure falls. The decreasing pressure around the human frame allows the bones to grow, again minutely in diameter, but enough to exert pressure on, and stretch the periosteum. This in turns starts irritating the nerve network, which relays the sense of pain, alerting the brain of a sensation of pain or aching in the joints. Unlike a full break in the bone less nerve fibers are irritated, hence the feeling of pain is slight, so that we don't experience high levels of pain.

So, the next time your friend informs you that he thinks it will rain because of his aching joints, you can smile knowingly and ask if he would like to know why.

Dr. Smith has been in private practice for 30 years. He received his B.S. from the University of Illinois and his medical degree from the National University of Health Sciences. He holds postgraduate degrees in sports medicine, peer review, and manipulation under anesthesia. He has received numerous state and local awards and recognition, is a sought-after speaker and lecturer, and authored the book, "Choosing to Live a

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Antibacterial Soaps and Related Products - A Danger To Our Health and Environment

By Kathi Jo Robinson
A little over a decade ago, the manufacturing industry released a new product to the market which many believed was an answer to their prayers for health and wellness. Mothers, nursery schools and elementary schools, doctor's and dentist's offices and on and on. The prevalence of this new item spread through everyone's life like

wildfire.

Now, approximately a decade later, both soaps and lotions, dish soaps, laundry products, toothpaste or hand sanitizers - anywhere a manufacturer found they could add this formula too has graced the store's shelves.

Widespread press and other media reporting continually built up the advantages to our health by adding these antibacterial products to our daily life. Cleaning products and health care products were reported to kill off the virus and bacteria common to many every day minor illnesses and other inconveniences to our health.

Ten Years Later And The Truth Is Finally Becoming Known

Antibacterials are chemicals - their job is to kill. As this residue washes your hands or is absorbed into your skin, washes down the drains, brushes your teeth, cleans your laundry or dirty dishes, these chemicals are still doing their job of killing. Residues in the local water supply or run-off from drainage makes it into the lakes, rivers and streams. All of these eventually lead to open water, the oceans. Much of this residue along the way then leaches into our land and environment where we grow our own food.

And what are all these chemicals doing all along this way, every day?

Contraindications Of Antibacterial Products

The three most important ingredients in almost all antibacterial products are the chemicals triclosan, triclocarban and alcohol (anywhere from 60 to 90 proof.) Continuous use of any of these ingredients leads to antibiotic resistance. This is because your body has already reached overdose levels thus you lose any effectiveness of an antibiotic drug offered by your doctor for a current medical condition.

Other common symptoms though include:

* your flesh will burn or it becomes very sensitive in certain parts of the body
* a hand sanitizer solution can kill a child in case of accidental ingestion
* the cleansing effect itself will only last 5 minutes and 20 seconds on your skin until it loses its therapeutic effect. To retain the benefits therefore you must continually re-wash your hands every five and a half minutes.

Science has proven beyond a doubt that our society's insistence on using antibacterials has compromised not only our own health but the health of our environment whether that is on land, in the sea or in the air.

Plain old soap and water, used consistently, is still the best solution for your own good health and vitality.

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