Stonyfield Organic Giveaway!

My husband and I often say how unlucky we are when it comes to winning giveaways and contests (we've had a bad streak in those $1 scratch offs, hah!), but a couple weeks ago, I think our luck changed! I entered into the Healthy Child Healthy World giveaway for Stonyfield Organic where I created a superhero profile at www.iwillknowmyfood.com, where for every profile created, Stonyfield Farm donates $1 to Foodcorps to help provide children with access to healthy foods. So far, over $1,500 has been raised!  Creating a profile is very easy...just click the link I provided above and click "Start Here" to create your food superhero profile.  In case you're wondering, my food superhero name was Go Benannahs (a combination of my name and my husband's--Ben + Hannah--and our love for, you guessed it, bananas!).


Despite my predetermined acceptance that I wouldn't win a $50 gift card to Whole Foods, a festive Stonyfield Farm's superhero cape, and a 6-ounce cup of Stonyfield product, I won!  Not only did I win the superhero pack from Stonyfield, but Healthy Child Healthy World is also giving one of ESP's fans a chance to win the same prize!


Contest ends August 6! For US residents only.

To enter into the Giveaway:

• Like ESP on Facebook (yay! if you already do!) ~ https://www.facebook.com/LoveESP

• Tweet about this Giveaway ~ I just entered to win a Stonyfield Super Hero Prize Pack from @Live_ESP! http://acupofesp.blogspot.com/2012/07/stonyfield-organic-giveaway.html

• Leave a comment on this post letting us know you have liked ESP, Tweeted, and why you choose to go chemical-free and organic!

Extra entries (double or triple your chances to win!):

• Like Healthy Child Healthy World on Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/HealthyChild

• Create your own food superhero at Stonyfield Farms ~ www.iwillknowmyfood.com

Superhero Prize Pack Includes:

• $50 Gift Card to Whole Foods (can't go wrong here!)

• Stonyfield Farms Superhero Cape (or as my husband referred to it as a large bib)

• a 6-ounce cup Stonyfield product (great yogurt!)

Good luck...and go benannahs! The more entries the better your chance of winning!




~ Hannah

A Natural Acne Treatment that Really Worked for Me!

Since middle school, I have been struggling with trying to maintain my acne.  I had always hoped it would disappear by my mid-twenties (especially since I would be well passed my puberty stage and awkward phase)…but turned out that was just a hope. I’m 25, almost 26 and still get acne, and based on family history, I know I will be plagued with acne (cystic acne to be exact!) my whole life. 

I’ve tried everything. ProActive, prescriptions from the doctor, over-the-counter washes, creams, gels, spot treatment, you name it!  Nothing seems to work—or at least work well. The acne never completely goes away. In particular, during that “time of the month” a few pinkish bumps usually appear around my cheeks. Acne is annoying, we all know it! And for years I have been determined to find a treatment that can control my acne the way I’d like it—I know I’m not the only one.

Then, a couple months ago my mom’s friend introduced us to the best acne treatment I have ever used—an all NATURAL recipe I could make at home! I know I should have guessed that it would be a natural, organic, pure, easy to make recipe that would cure my acne, but I went with TV ads and my dermatologists orders like many of us do.  Within days of me using this natural acne treatment, my face cleared up. My face is still clear...even through “that time of the month”!  And my face feels smoother and looks brighter. So of course, I have to share this recipe to help all the others out there struggling with their acne.  My mom’s friend helped me, and now it’s my turn.  If you have any question, just email me (Hannah) at hello@liveESP.com and I can try to help!  Also, email me and let me know how it works for you!

Orange Peel Mask and Jojoba Oil – All Natural Acne Treatment

Ingredients:                                                                                                            

-          Organic clementines or oranges

-          Organic lemon

-          Non-fat, plain organic yogurt

-          Pure Jojoba oil (often found at your local natural foods store...found it at Whole Foods)

Directions:

1.      Peel clementines or oranges and allow the peels to dry out until they are brownish in color.  It may take anywhere from 5-10 days for the peels to turn brownish, depending on how thick the skins are.  If you are unsure of the brownish color, feel free to take a picture and send it to me. I’ll try to see if it looks good! 

2.      Once the skin has dried out and is brownish in color, finely grind peels in a food processor (I used our Vitamix).

3.       Mix equal parts of ground peel with plain yogurt—just enough to create a face mask.

4.       Add fresh-squeezed lemon juice into the peel/yogurt mixture.

5.       Apply mixture onto your face and allow it to dry for 15 to 20 minutes.

6.       Wash face with warm water.

7.       Place a drop or two of pure Jojoba oil on a cotton ball and apply it to your face.

Apply this natural treatment twice a day!

~ Hannah

Blueberry Avocado Salsa

I have to be honest, I'm one of those few who cannot stand the taste of having avocado plain! BUT (and a serious but!) I do love avocado when it's used in salsas, guacamole, soups, you name it!

Recently, my husband and I joined an organic buying club, and since we've been getting plenty of avocados in each pick up, I've been trying out some new recipes.  This Blueberry Avocado Salsa has to be one of our favorites. I saved two bites (literally two) for my parents to try, and they raved about it too. The salsa tastes delicious plain, on tortilla chips, with veggies (I used a lot of celery and carrots to dip into it), and on a salad.  It's easy to make and a great way to mix up your use of this summer's abundant avocados!

Ingredients (try to use organic if you can):

• 1-1/2 cups fresh tomatoes, quartered
• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice + extra for drizzling
• 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon chopped jalapeno pepper
• 1 ripe avocado, cut into small chunks

Directions:

1. Pulse all ingredients (except for the avocado) in a food processor. (I used my Vitamix and it worked out perfect!)
2. Drizzle the cut up avocado chunks with lime juice.
3. Stir in chopped avocado into the rest of your salsa ingredients.
4. Serve immediately for freshness!  (And, yes, it was still good the next day).

Father's Day Gift Ideas...and beyond!

Buying gifts is always so hard…especially when you want to show the person you love how much you love and appreciate them in your life!  Well, how about gifts that shower them with good health?  We like the idea of course!  This Father’s Day (or belated!) we are helping you give Dad gifts free from harmful chemicals.  Here are just a few ideas to help you find gifts for this Father’s Day and many more to come:

The Outdoor Grill Dad

StainlessSteel Cooking Tools ~ Any dad who loves to grill will love some of these! Stainless steel is a much safer option than plastic since it is free from BPA and other harmful chemicals. 

Stainless Steel Pints ~ While relaxing outside by the grill, be sure to bring your stainless steel 16 ounces pint cup. They are chemical free, keep drinks cold, and durable!

 

The Camping Dad

StainlessSteel Tableware ~ For those dads who love to camp, how about some stainless steel tableware?  All of these products are lead free, BPA free, and durable for the outdoors.

BambooEating Utensils ~ These bamboo utensils an eco-friendly option to bring on any camping trip!

The Office Dad

ReusableLunch Bag ~ Help Dad avoid costly and unhealthy trips to get takeout food by giving him his own personal cooler/lunch bag to pack a healthy lunch!

 

BPA and Its Effects on In Vitro Fertilization

Because of its flexible but strong properties, Bisphenol A (or BPA) is a chemical commonly used in a huge array of plastic products. Just how common is it? According to one study, as of 2009, 3.6 million tons of BPA are used by manufacturers yearly. You will find BPA in everything from plastic food containers and baby bottles, to household electronics. This wouldn’t be so bad if BPA didn’t have the nasty habit of leaching into things it comes in contact with. For example, food kept in plastic containers with BPA will absorb the BPA and it doesn’t stop there.  When we consume the food, BPA enters into our bodies and can act as an endocrine disruptor, which behaves like or even blocks hormones. These actions mess with our normal body functions and can result in several different health issues, including (but not limited to) various cancers, thyroid issues, and difficulty conceiving.

Recent research has shed more light on the effects of BPA on one specific health concern: women’s reproductive health. In particular, this new research suggests that higher levels of BPA can reduce women’s chances of conceiving while undergoing in vitro fertilization treatments.  The study followed 137 women seeking fertility treatment at the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center.   BPA concentration levels were measured in each woman’s urine sample.  Background information was collected on each participant, such as race, age, medical history and lifestyle factors.

The researchers followed each woman’s progress as she underwent fertility treatment, recording successful embryo implantations and failures.  After analyzing all of the data they had collected, the researchers saw a clear correlation between increased BPA levels and decreased rates of pregnancy.  Women with the higher levels of BPA in their urine were less likely to be able to conceive, and this trend persisted when the researchers controlled for the background factors, such as age, that they had collected.

This is the first study to look at the role BPA plays in women seeking fertility treatment, and furthermore, it supports the finding of past studies that have looked at the effects of BPA in animals.  For more information on this study and the effects of BPA explore the links below.

~ Jessica

Resource:

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/2012/04/2012-0514-bisphenol-a-impacts-female-fertility/

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/articles/2009/06/10/studies-report-more-harmful-effects-from-bpa

Tips for a Chemical Free Summer!

Summer is just around the corner, and in some parts of the country it’s already here (especially due to the abnormal heat index)!  And to help keep you safe and smiling this summer, we’ve put together 7 of our favorite tips:

1.      All up in your grill.  While barbequing on a grill this summer, be sure to use propane rather than wood or charcoal since propane burns cleaner.  When it’s time to clean the grill use an organic cleaning product and avoid the chemical residue other products leave behind.

2.      Picking picnic plates. Use reusable dishes rather than plastic or Styrofoam when eating outside.  This will cut down on the waste and save you money in the long run!

3.      Lawn days. Do not spray your lawn!  Such sprays are unnecessary and contain chemicals that are bad for our health.  Check out this article for tips on maintaining a healthy lawn without the spray.

4.      Bugs, bite! To keep the mosquitoes at bay this summer, reach for a natural repellent.  A variety of herbal and essential oils, such as citronella oil, are highly effective.  Check out this article for a recipe!

5.      Local motion. Buy your summer veggies locally.  Visiting your local farmers’ markets is a great way not only to get active, but also to avoid foods grown with pesticides.

6.      Garden greens. Better yet, start your own garden!  This is a fun outdoor activity for the whole family, and it will supply you with those fresh greens you are after.

7.      Screen the sun. And before running outside, remember to grab that organic sunscreen!

With these tips in mind, you will be ready to start your summer of the healthy way!

~ Jessica

Germy Public Places

Although the vast majority of germs are benign and will not get us sick, there are about 100 different bacterial species that aren’t so “friendly.”  So what are these germs and where are they found? Read on, you may find this information pretty useful!

Researchers from Kimberly-Clark analyzed over 350 swabs from cities across the country for levels of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP.  ATPs signal the presence of vegetable, animal, yeast, bacteria or mold cells.  If an object has a reading over 300, it is considered to have a high risk for illness transmission.  Out of the objects tested, here is the over 300 ATP reading breakdown they found:

·         71% of gas pump handles

·         68% of mailbox handles

·         43% of escalator rails

·         41% of ATM buttons

·         40% of parking meters

·         35% of crosswalk buttons

·         35% of vending machine buttons

Once these germs reach a person’s hand, it can easily transfer to other objects up to seven times before leaving the skin!

One of the best things we can do to prevent illness and the spread of germs is to wash our hands thoroughly and frequently!  Here is Hand Washing 101 from the CDC:

1.       Apply soap (the foam soaps are great for kids!)

2.       Lather up the soap and scrub all surfaces

3.       Continue for 20 seconds!  It is longer than you think…

4.       Rinse your hands well and dirty them with an air dryer or paper towels.

When you can’t get to a sink, use a hand sanitizer free from harmful chemicals.  Avoid antibacterials with triclosan, a chemical that is harmful to the environment and believed to be an endocrine disruptor.  For more information on other germy public places in America, check out the links below!

~ Jess

Resources:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/10/25/what-are-americas-dirtiest-surfaces/

http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/what_are_the_germiest_public_places/

http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/what_you_should_know_about_hand_sanitizers_and_your_health/