But we're not.

So, we're using this Hallmark-made day as an excuse to pay tribute to our significant others...

To our Valentines:

Will...

Doug...

and Sam...

...thank you for loving us through your unconditionally support and belief in our mission. We think y'all are really neat...

And to all of our followers, without you, we'd just be talking to the www all day...! We love you!

"Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God." John 4:7

Haven't you all kind of wondered what goes on inside your body after you eat a meal and wish you could see it? Call me weird, but I do all the time! 

Well, thanks to Stefani Bardin, a fellow with TEDxManhattan, and gastroenterologist Dr. Braden Kuo at Harvard University we can get a glimpse at an inside look. The two conducted a clinical study using two different types of pill cameras that record inside the digestive tract. 

Bardin fed two subjects similar but fundamentally different meals. The first subject received gatorade, instant ramen, and gummi bears; the second subject ate handmade noodles (made of water, salt, and eggs and flour from the farmer's market), hibiscus tea, and pomegranate-cherry juice gummies. The digestion of these meals was recorded with the pill cams, demonstrating how differently the human body handles these foods during the breakdown process.

Take a look...

As you can see a healthy digestive system is highly dependant on the types of foods you put in your mouth. It's not just about calories anymore! 

Here is an article if you want to check out other tips for a healthy digestive system.... Happy digesting! 

Hi all, below is a recent press release from Stacy Malkan and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics on the hundreds of lipsticks contaminated with lead. A new FDA study documents that the problem is much worse than previously thought.  Please circulate, post, tweet, however you want to spread the word to your female friends!

HUNDREDS OF LIPSTICKS CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD, reports new FDA study
Levels up to twice as high as previously reported; L’Oreal worst offender

(Washington, DC) -- A new analysis of lead in lipstick conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reveals that the problem of lead in lipstick is worse and more widespread than previously reported. The new study  found lead in  400 lipsticks tested by the agency, at widely varying levels of up to 7.19 parts per million (ppm) -- more than twice the levels reported in a previous FDA study. 

Yesterday, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics sent FDA a letter asking them to correct misleading statements on their website about the supposed safety of lead in lipstick:http://www.safecosmetics.org/downloads/DrLindaKatz_LeadLipstick_2.pdf. The agency has studied only the levels of lead in lipstick, and has conducted no health studies or safety assessments.

In January, an advisory committee to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new report asserting that there is no safe level of lead for children, and stressing the importance of preventing lead exposure for children and pregnant women.  

“Lead builds up in the body over time and lead-containing lipstick applied several times a day, every day, can add up to significant exposure levels,” said Mark Mitchell, M.D., MPH, policy advisor of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice and co-chair of the Environmental Health Task Force for the National Medical Association.

“Lead is a proven neurotoxin that can cause learning, language and behavioral problems. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure, because lead easily crosses the placenta and enters the fetal brain where it can interfere with normal development,” said Sean Palfrey, M.D., a professor of pediatrics and public health at Boston University and the medical director of Boston's Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. 

The FDA study of 400 lipsticks was quietly posted on the agency’s website in December. The most contaminated brand in the study, Maybelline Color Sensation by L’Oreal USA, contained more than 275 times the amount of lead found in the least contaminated, and least expensive, brand, Wet & Wild Mega Mixers Lip Balm -- demonstrating that price is not an indicator of good manufacturing practices. 

“How many millions of women have applied and reapplied lead-containing lipsticks since we first raised concerns about this problem five years ago? How many kids have played with their mom's lipstick?” said Janet Nudelman, interim director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and policy director at the Breast Cancer Fund. “It’s time for L’Oreal to get the lead out of its products, and for FDA to set a safety standard for lead in lipstick.”

The FDA said it is currently evaluating whether to recommend an upper limit for lead in lipstick. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is urging FDA to set a maximum limit for lead in lipstick based on the lowest lead levels cosmetic manufacturers can feasibly achieve. U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer, John Kerry and Dianne Feinstein have also urged FDA to take action to reduce lead in lipstick.  

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is also calling on L’Oreal to make a public commitment to reformulate its lipsticks to ensure the lowest possible levels of lead. L’Oreal makes five of the 10 most lead-contaminated brands in the FDA study.  

Here is the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics press release and the quick links to:

press release: http://bit.ly/ArdqQb 

letter to FDA: http://bit.ly/xJUgEk

Take Action: L'Oreal: Get the lead out of lipstick! http://bit.ly/AebMl4

A BIG thank you to Stacy Malkan and all the people at Campaign for Safe Costmetics for working so hard to help all of us (and hopefully the companies!) make smarter choices! 

Hello! I know it's been a long time since we've posted on the blog (we promise that will change soon as we hope to get back to being regular bloggers in the near future!) but a friend sent me this video and I had to share.

We are HUGE fans of conocut oil. This video highlights a few reasons why you should be too. We recommend adding coconut oil to your foods, juices, smoothies and soups. Some personal favorites are to put it on an apple, spread it on some Alvarado St. Bakery sprouted toast with a sprinkle of sea salt, and to saute greens like kale it in.  

To read more about the benefits of coconut oil and to purchase a high quality brand, click here. 

SHOP NOW!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 

For today and tomorrow ONLY, take advantage of our coupon code

SPOOKY10 to get 10% off your Three Branches order!

This is no TRICK...TREAT yourself to something good!

Shop Now!

Come November 11th, 12th and 13th, you will find Three Branches at the 12th Annual Weston A. Price Wise Traditions Conference - Myth Busters. Yours truly will have a booth set up to display and sell our non-toxic cleaner, Branch Basics. We couldn't be more excited because to us, this is the greatest health conference of the year. It's not too late to sign up and hear amazing speakers like Dr. Joseph Mercola and Sally Fallon Morell. Check out more details here. It's not too late to sign up! We hope you join us at this amazing event!

When we give workshops and do healthy-home consultations, we emphasize the importance of adding nutrient-dense greens and good oils to your family's diet. We also encourage moms to cut steer clear of sugar - especially artificial sweeteners. But there's a whole other food subject that needs to be addressed. Perhaps the biggest no-no's of all are artificial food dyes.

Post soccer game, moms - perhaps begrudgingly - dole out the much-anticipated treats to assuage a hungry mass of youngsters. It's pretty easy to justify: "the other moms do it", "we have to give in every once in a while", "they can't be that bad if it's allowed on the shelves..."

But have you ever wondered exactly how Skittles, Red Velvet cupcakes, Gatorade and Rainbow Gold Fish get their color? Hint: it's not from naturally-derived sources. No, it's chemical-laden food dyes that can be found in the ingredient list under names like Blue 2 Lake, Red 40, FD&C Orange No. 1 and so forth.

Allow me to share a snippet of Jennifer Taylor's recent guest post on the Healthy Child Healthy World blog:

Popsicles, cookies, candy, soda, chips. My kids love after game snacks. Those treats are almost the reason they play sports. It starts off as a nice congratulatory snack and usually ends in tears. For me! They are bouncing off the walls. Don’t yell at your sister. Do not hit your brother! Why are you both crying? Go to your rooms!...What kid doesn’t like a brilliant red colored beverage after a game? Red #40 is a dye that is linked to aggressive, irrational behavior. A few days before my son’s meltdown, I got to witness his normally calm, sweet friend go into a rage about 30 minutes after swigging a can of crap with Red 40, Blue 1, caramel color, sodium benzoate on their list of ingredients. Oh yeah, there was also vitamin C added to this drink. I suppose it was a nice gesture from the manufacturer to add some vitamins , except that vitamin c and sodium benzoate when mixed together create benzene, a known carcinogen. Not exactly what I had in mind for hydration.

According to Taylor, "Yellow #5 and Red #40...are both azo dyes and they are made from coal tar. A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives describes coal tar as a “thick liquid or semisolid tar obtained from bituminous coal, it contains many constituents including benzene, xylenes, naphthalene, pyridine, quinonlineoline, phenol, and cresol”(Winter, 2009, P. 166). What the heck are those? They cause cancer."

Enough said.

Taylor notes that the Los Angeles Unified School District has recently banned sulfites, artificial red dye #40, and yellow dye #5. Let's not wait until our schools take action for our own children's health.

So go ahead, be the mom who's known for passing out real food. And, look on the bright side: the choices are ever-growing as companies like Annie's, Sharkies, Late July, and Earth's Best that don't use preservatives, hydrogenated oils or artificial colorings. You can also purchase natural food dyes like these to bake those special b-day treats. But let's not forget that God-given foods like Beets can be a wonderfully colorful alternative to those nasty chemicals! Found out how to use them here.

Since the 1950's, the nutrient density of our veggies has plummeted. For instance, according to Grist's infographic, which depicts how different vegetables have depleted in nutritional value from 1950-1999, tomatoes have decreased 55% in calcium, 25% in iron, and 17% in ascorbic acid (a type of vitamin C). Why, you ask, did our grandparents get to enjoy the juicy fruits of their labor? Well, that's just it...it took more labor!

What's the deal?

While it's true that the soil today is more depleted (due to increased pesticide and fertilizer use), the main difference is that we simply grow different varities of veggies than we used to - ones that have a higher yield, a decreased time to harvest and a greater resistance to pests and disease. This makes the arduous task of farming much easier.

This "selective breeding" of high-yield produce produces bigger and more plentiful vegetables, but the nutrients are lacking. It's all about quantity, not quality. The more produce we get from one stalk, the less nutrients there are to go around...they've been diluted, so to speak.

So how can we ensure we're eating our grandma's veggies?

Donald Davis, a now-retired scientist from the University of Texas at Austin, suggests choosing non-hybrid varities like heirloom tomatoes. Not only are they more nutrient-dense, they actually taste better! These low-yield varities are more widely available seasonally, so make your way to your local farmer's market today and enjoy the best that our summer soil has to offer!

Some supplements ARE necessary

No matter how many dark, leafy green veggies we consume daily, we are simply not getting all the vitamins and nutrients our cells need. Due to the effects of the standard american diet, depleted soils, increased chemical exposure, etc., it's absolutely crucial that we supplement our diet with a whole-food based daily multi. Our Greens Mix is simply the best you can get. Air-dried grasses from the pristine soils of South America, Greens Mix provides the foundation for good health. From fighting sickness and promoting detoxification to strengthening digestion and hair/nail/skin health, Greens Mix is the answer!

Buy Greens Mix in Powder or Capsule form HERE.

I recommend reading the entire article here, but the following part is perhaps the most telling: 

"Medical practice also suffers from a kind of mission creep: if a treatment works in severe disease, some doctors assume it will work in milder disease. But that is not necessarily so. Antidepressants, for instance, have been shown in randomized trials to help with severe depression but not with moderate or mild depression, yet are widely prescribed for those conditions. Drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are effective against gastric reflux and rare esophageal diseases as well as some ulcers, but at least half, and possibly 70 percent, of the 113 million U.S. prescriptions for PPIs each year are for conditions they don’t help, such as run-of-the-mill stomachaches. PPIs can cause bone fractures, severe and hard-to-treat bacterial infections, and pneumonia. Millions of people are being put at risk unnecessarily, which is one reason treating adverse drug reactions costs the U.S. $200 billion a year.

Statins, common cholesterol-reducing drugs, may also not benefit some people who are taking them. Statins are proved to help people with both heart disease and high cholesterol, but not those with just high cholesterol. The drugs are nevertheless widely prescribed to patients who fit the latter description, despite adverse effects, such as severe muscle disease in up to 20 percent of patients. Similarly, cardiac resynchronization therapy, a special pacemaker that causes the right and left ventricles to beat in sync, can save the life of a patient with congestive heart failure whose ventricles are at least 150 milliseconds out of sync. Yet patients with a mistiming of 120-150 milliseconds are receiving the devices.

Low-tech tests should sometimes be avoided, too. In an Archives paper published this month, a panel of physicians, led by Brown’s Smith, announced its first list of tests and treatments that should be dropped altogether for certain patients and ailments: antibiotics for sinus infections, imaging for low back pain, osteoporosis screening for women under 65, and electrocardiograms and other cardiac screening in low-risk patients. Even blood panels for healthy adults made the list. Today’s comprehensive blood tests measure 15 or so enzymes, proteins, lipids, and the like. Yet by chance alone, if you test for 20 things, something will fall outside the bounds of “normal,” often due to simple lab error.

Twenty-six years ago today, Three Branches' Allison Monteith Evans was born! And thank the Lord she was!

Allison has graced everyone she knows with her hilarious and unique sense of humor and more recently with her passion for healthy living.

It is an honor and a pleasure to own a company with my best friend.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AL!

1. Cleaning Products

Problem: Many conventional "cleaning" products play the lead antagonist in our air quality play. Filled with harsh bleach, ammonia and synthetic fragrances (just the one ingredient "fragrance" can have up to 300 different chemicals!), they can cause immediate hazards like skin or respiratory irritation, watery eyes and chemical burns. And some of the ingredients are stored in those little developing organs chronic, or long-term, effects such as cancer.

Solution: Branch Basics. Yep, our human-safe (can-be-injested) cleaning product truly does it all. From cleaning your baby's sippy cup spills and cheese-covered cheeks to de-greasing your pots and shining the counters and hardwoods, we promise Branch Basics is the answer! Not to mention, it's proven itself to be a more-than-miraculous burn treatment, bug-bite healer and insect killer! Sounds too good to be true? Buy it today and find out for yourself!

(Yes, this is my sobrina preciosa clinging to her fav product, Branch Basics! She knows what's up...)

2. Chlorinated Water

Problem: Babies are born with natural skin oils that play a huge role in fighting eczema, dry skin, rashes, red patches, etc. Those oils are robbed when we bathe or babies in chlorine-filled tap water...everyday! Not to mention, chlorine is absorbed through their (very thin) skin, ending up in their bloodstream, even inhibiting nutrient uptake and increasing their chemical load.

Solution: One of our very best baby-sellers, the Rainshow'r Bath Ball is the solution for safe sudsing! An entirely new concept in de-chlorination, you simply drag the ball through the drawn bath. It's also super easy to travel with. A brand new shipment just arrived, so order today and bathe your babe in chlorine-free water by next week!

When in the market for your baby's car seat, you probably don't put much thought into it besides, "Is this brand legit?" and "Does it look sturdy and safe?" And, perhaps most of all, "Do I like the fabric print?!"

But studies have shown we need to look beyond the obvious. In fact, we need to go beyond looking, and start using our noses! According to a recent CNN health article, "More than half of 2011 model children’s car seats contain one or more potentially hazardous chemicals."

In the 150+ seats tested, chemicals including brominated flame retardants, arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury were found. These toxins have been linked to reproductive problems, developmental and learning disabilities, hormone imbalances and cancer.

Good news? "...the seats fared far better than previous years, healthystuff.org found."

Best news? Healthystuff.org has also done the research for us! Click here to find out which brands are safe and which ones you can turn your nose up at.

Image courtesy of voices.com.

Have you gotten your daily dose of chlorella today? I'm going to guess that many of you haven't. So you should know that according to Green Med Info there is evidence supporting the amazing health benefits of chlorella for over 40 conditions and diseases.

One benefit of chlorella that I want to highlight is it's ability to detoxify heavy metals like mercury out of your system. If you eat a lot of fish, have or have ever had mercury fillings, are an artist that works with a lot of metals, or you just know that you have high levels of mercury, then you need to know this. Read the following excerpt from Dr. Mercola's post "This Almost Perfect Food Gobbles Up Your Body's Toxins."

"Heavy metal toxicity, just like chemical toxicity, has become one of the most pressing health hazards of our day, and this is where chlorella may be profoundly useful. Its ability to bind to heavy metal toxins, allowing them to be safely excreted from your body, has been well established. It's particularly crucial for systemic mercury elimination, because the majority of mercury is rid through your stool. Once the mercury burden is lowered from your intestines, mercury from other body tissues will more readily migrate into your intestines where chlorella will work to remove it.

You can also add cilantro, which works as a synergetic detoxification aid along with the chlorella. This combination is particularly useful to take when you're consuming seafood, as most are invariably contaminated with heavy metals and chemicals. Ideally you would take it with the meal so the chlorella can bind directly to the toxins while they are in your gut, before they absorbed into your body.

In order to optimize heavy metal detox, you'll want to take at least four grams of chlorella every day, year-round.

Be aware that side effects may occur. As your body starts to detox, you may initially experience some slight nausea, and/or mild diarrhea. If these symptoms are too bothersome, you may want to lower your dose initially, and slowly increase the dose. As your body is cleansed of toxins, these side effects should disappear."

You know us though, we're choosy about the supplements we recommend. Don't waste your money on a chlorella supplement that you know you can't trust 100% to be pure, unadulterated, and free of chemicals and fillers. We've done the research and have confidence that the Quantum Nutrition Labs Chlorella is simply the best.

If you recall the recent cocoa brownie post then you know that I made three different desserts in one day. (All from the Clean Start cook book.)

In addition to the brownies, I tried the black currant plum crisp. This one turned out to be simple and delicious too! And it serves as a great basis for a crisp recipe that you can get creative with by adding different fruits.

The black currant and plums were tasty, but the plums I used made it a bit too tart. I decided that I want to try it with peaches and with apples to see if I like either of those more. I also sprinkled cinnamon on top which I think made it even tastier.

I couldn't find ivory teff flour at my local Whole Foods so I had to use brown, which I believe tastes the same but makes the crisp darker in color. (That is why the picture in the book looks lighter than mine.)

Here is Terry Walter's delicious and easy recipe:

FILLING

2 1/2 pounds plums (10-12) (Like I said, I think peaches and apples are good options too!)

1/2 cup dried currants

2-3 dashes ground nutmeg

Pinch of sea salt

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup ivory teff flour

CRISP

1 cup almond meal

1 cup ivory teff flour

1/4 cup sliced almonds

Pinch of ground nutmeg

Pinch of sea salt

1/4 cup virgin coconut oil

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

PREPARING FILLING

Leaving skins on, halve plums, remove and discard pits and slice into thin wedges (about 1/4 inch thick). Place in large mixing bowl and set aside.

In small pot over medium heat, place currants with just enough water to cover, bring to boil and simmer 5 minutes to soften and plump. Drain well and add to bowl with plums. Ad nutmeg and salt, and stir. Add maple syrup and teff flour and stir until plums are evenly coated and ingredients are combined. Pour mixture into 8x8-inch casserole and set aside.

PREPARING CRISP

Using same mixing bowl, combine almond meal, teff flour, almonds, nutmeg and salt. Over low heat, melt coconut oil in small skillet. Remove from heat, whisk in maple syrup and vanilla and pour over flour mixture. Stir to combine and crumble over plum mixture.

Bake 45 minutes or until top is golden brown and plums are soft. Remove from oven, and cool slightly before serving.

Serves 6. Enjoy!

(photo courtesy of beyondpesticides.org)

If you follow our blog, you know that this isn't the first time we've discussed the indisputable link between Autism and the environment - chemicals in our air, food, water and even personal care products. They're ubiquitous! Back in February, we wrote a post titled "Autism-Toxin Connection" where we cited the New York Times article titled "Do Toxins Cause Autism?" In it, op-ed columnist Nicholas D. Kristof interviewed Dr. Philip Landrigan, professor of pediatrics at New York's Mount Sinai School of Medicine and chairman of the school’s department of preventive medicine. Dr. Landrigan told him that "he is increasingly confident that autism and other ailments are, in part, the result of the impact of environmental chemicals on the brain as it is being formed."

“The crux of this is brain development,” Landrigan said in the article. “If babies are exposed in the womb or shortly after birth to chemicals that interfere with brain development, the consequences last a lifetime.”

Also, in a December post titled "Chemicals Linked to Learning and Developmental Disabilities (LLDs)", we cited a health report that stated Autism has increased more than 10 times in the past 15 years. Wow.

Just this past week, The San Fransisco Chronicle and the New York Times both referred to a recent study done on 192 sets of twins (identical and fraternal) that suggests environmental factors - namely toxin exposures while in the womb - may be just as important in causing Autism as genetics.

The New York Times article, New Study Implicates Environmental Factors in Autism says, "...surprisingly, mathematical modeling suggested that only 38 percent of [Autism] cases could be attributed to genetic factors, compared with the 90 percent suggested by previous studies. And more surprising still, shared environmental factors appeared to be at work in 58 percent of the cases."

But this can be good news!

These studies show that we have much more control over whether our children develop Autism or not. By making safer choices with respect to personal care products, home fragrances (candles, perfumes, etc), cleaning products, pesticides and, of course, food, we can drastically decrease the amount of chemicals we exposure our children to. This is especially important for women in their conception, pregnancy and nursing stages when the fetus and/or baby is in its developmental stages.

(photo courtesy of mindbodygreen.com)

So what steps can we take to reduce our exposures to environmental toxins?

Start by reading our article, "Reducing Toxic Exposures: Where do I Start?" It may seem overwhelming, but we encourage you to take it one step at a time. Tackle what you feel most comfortable with, whether its switching our your toxic cleaning products or saying no to certain processed foods. Speaking of food, our article, "Dietary Additions: Getting your Feet Wet" is a great place to start if you want to address the chemicals you consume in your diet. Reducing your chemical intake by any amount is a step in the right direction!

Once you have decided where you want to start, browse our wide range of home and body products. From our very own Branch Basics non-toxic cleaner to Genoma Skin Care line, we have everything you need for a healthy home...and healthy baby!

From conception through lactation, moms have the opportunity to make choices that could significantly affect their baby's health. This starts by choosing the best prenatal vitamins available. (Be picky! Even if a brand is recommended by your doctor, it doesn't hurt to do a little more research. Doctors are busy and often don't have the time to investigate every single ingredient before prescribing/recommending a prenatal.) Because supplement companies can make a wide range of claims, it's up to us to turn the bottle around and look at the ingredients in our pre-natal vitamins. Are there unnecessary chemical dyes - like FD&C - used to make the pills a pretty pink or a bold blue? These ingredients can be toxic to the body, and at the very least, inhibit absorption of other essential nutrients.

The RAW food-created nutrients in Vitamin Code formulas are individually cultivated with their unique original make-up intact, not made with synthetic ingredients like most prenatals. This enables the most effective delivery and natural assimilation of nutrients by the body. This RAW Vitamin for prenatal health uses raw nutrient ingredients that are uncooked, untreated, unadulterated and contains no binders or fillers. Vitamin Code RAW PRENATAL delivers body-ready nutrition as nature intended, with living nutrients.

Here are some of the key components in Vitamin Code:

• A must for pre-conception, pregnancy and lactation
• Food-source folic acid (folate), not from synthetic sources
• Provide head-start for baby's immune system and digestive tract
• Ginger for digestion discomfort and morning sickness
• Supports healthy digestion and elimination with probiotics, ginger, vitamin D, and zinc
• Supports skin health with Vitamins A and C, Copper and Iron
• Raw, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free
• NO soy allergens, binders, fillers, additives, dyes

Read Your Labels!

Attend our workshops, read our blogs, visit our website...we are like a broken record when it comes to this advice...read your labels, read your labels, read your labels! And this doesn't mean the front label. Nope, turn it around! From lip gloss, shampoo and baby wipes to air fresheners, packaged food and supplements, it's up to us to make sure we're not absorbing, eating or breathing toxic ingredients. This is especially true of our prenatal vitamins. If there's an ingredient you can't pronounce or one that seems a little fishy, do a little research. Here's the label for Vitamin Code RAW PRENATAL:

(As you can see, all of these ingredients are food-derived, not synthetically-made)

Folic Acid: Get REAL, Don't fake it!

Folate is a B vitamin found mostly in green, leafy vegetables such as spinach or kale. It supports healthy neural tube development, decreasing the risk of babies being born with a birth defect of the brain or spinal cord. It is involved with DNA synthesis and DNA methylation, which essentially turns genes on and off. Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate and is chemically different from dietary folate, which results in differences in uptake and processing of these two substances by the cells in the intestinal wall. Some folic acid is chemically modified to be more similar to natural folate, but the intestinal cells are limited in how much folic acid they can modify - excess folic acid often enters the circulation unmodified.

The recommendation that pregnant women take synthetic folic acid supplements is especially troubling. Women could safely increase their folate status and prevent neural tube defects (NTDs) by eating green vegetables or taking a prenatal vitamin with food-derived folate, sometimes still called "folic acid" for familiarity, but made clear that it is non-synthetic. Unlike synthetic folic acid, folate obtained from food sources - especially green vegetables - protects against breast and prostate cancer.

The Vitamin Code RAW Prenatal contains 800mcg of raw food-created folic acid, which is natural folate (not synthetic even though the label calls it folic acid). The Centers for Disease Control recommends at least 400mcg of folic acid in support of healthy neural tube development before conception through at least the first trimester of pregnancy.

The Right Prenatals Decrease Chance of Autism

"Taking prenatal vitamins around the time of conception decreased the risk of autism in the children by almost half, finds a study of mom/child pairs from California. Mothers with specific genetic variants that hinder the breakdown of nutrients important to early brain development – like folate –  were further at risk if they didn't take prenatal vitamins. 

The results – published in the journal Epidemiology – indicate that proper prenatal nutrition may be especially important  for susceptible individuals and may help prevent autism overall."

Read entire article, Prenatal Vitamins Lower Autism Risk.

Who is Vitamin Code RAW Prenatal for?

Most people think that a prenatal supplement is exclusively formulated for pregnant women. But healthy nutrient intake is vital prior, during, and after child birth. In a 2011 study, mothers who took prenatal vitamins during the three months before and the first month of pregnancy – called the peri-conceptional period – had nearly half the risk of having a child with autism when compared to mothers who did not take prenatal vitamins during this pregnancy stage. Because pregnant and lactating women are constantly feeding their child from their body's own nutrients, a plentiful and regular supply of vitamins and minerals is essential. Vitamin Code RAW Prenatal formula is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of women during preconception, pregnancy and lactation. Whether a woman is planning to get pregnant or not, she may not be aware of her condition for at least 2 to 3 weeks after conception; women who have irregular periods may even take longer to suspect they are pregnant. Proper folic acid supplementation is suggested at least two months before conceiving.

Why is Vitamin Code RAW Prenatal suggested while nursing?

It is important to continue the usage of a prenatal multivitamin during lactation. Breast feeding can take a physical toll on a womans body. Milk production does require a great deal of the body's energy and resources. Breast-feeding mothers burn almost 500 additional calories daily (equivalent to running about four to five miles a day). Most importantly, babies that are exclusively breastfed rely solely on their mothers breast milk for nutrition.

Buy NOW!

So, if you or anyone you know is thinking about getting pregnant, already pregnant or lactating, go RAW! Buy Vitamin Code RAW Prenatal today for only $29.96. (1 month supply).

I threw together a super-simple, last-minute meal that ended up tasting surprisingly well-planned. I listed the veggies I used, but honestly, it's what I had fresh on hand. So get creative and adapt to your taste. We've decided it's the perfect recipe for our not-so-keen-on-vegetarian-meals friends. The best part of this one-pot-wonder (besides the taste) is the easy clean-up! :)

Ingredients:

3.5 cups water

1.5 cups rice

1 zuchinni

1 squash

1 onion

Handful okra

Handful mushrooms

Few stalks kale

Pink Salt

3 defrosted/fresh organic chicken breasts

Directions:

Put all the ingredients in a casserole dish (I used an oval Le Creucet) in the order listed above. 

The chicken breasts will just sit on top, shown above. Bring water to a boil and let sit for 10-15 minutes while you pre-heat the oven to 400. Cook for 1 hour, covered. I tore up a dried Nori sheet (seaweed found at most healthfood stores) and added it atop each finished bowl before serving. Serves about 4.

I was asked by my sister to make some healthy desserts so she wouldn't eat a bunch of unhealthy desserts full of white flour, white sugar, and butter when she got a sweet craving. So, I made three different desserts for our Fourth of July family celebration and I think the favorite of the bunch was the cocoa brownies.

I got the recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks, Clean Start, that we have blogged about plenty of times. They were so easy to make so I highly recommend trying them out!

And just as a side note, I thought they actually tasted better the next day so you could bake them the night before you plan to eat them.

Here is the recipe...

1/2 cup grated apple or applesauce

8 pitted dates

1 ripe banana

1/2 cup maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup brown teff flour

1/2 cup almond meal

1/2 cup cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat over to 350 degrees F and lightly grease 8 x 8 inch baking dish. (I used coconut oil for this.)

In food processor, combine applesauce, dates, banana, maple syrup and vanilla until almost smooth, but with some chunks of dates remaining. In separate bowl, combine teff flour, almond meal, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix as briefly as possible to incorporate all ingredients. Transfer to prepared baking dish and bake 25 minutes or until top appears slightly dry. Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool completely before cutting and removing from pan.

Makes 16 ooey, gooey brownies

Since we didn't know if Shepard was going to be a boy or a girl, when he got home from the hospital he only had a few pieces of clothing. It didn't take long, though, for my mom to take care of that problem. By the end of the day she came home with about twenty new outfits for the little guy.

This meant it was laundry time. Shannon knows that conventional laundry detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets contain highly toxic chemicals that manufacturers are not required to list in the ingredients (see Learn: Laundry for more information) so she washed everything in Seventh Generation, a healthier alternative to common detergents like Tide and Gain.  But she noticed that when she would clothe Shepard he would break out in little red bumps and they would nearly go away when she undressed him. Hence the bare baby on his mama's shoulder..

Well, Shep couldn't go on without ever getting dressed so we re-washed everything In Branch Basics. It's gentle and safe enough for babies' very sensitive skin and it pulls out the detergent residues. It also pulls out any contaminants that could be in the clothing since not everything she got was organic cotton (which is preferable).

Branch Basics is a soap (not a detergent) that has active enzymes from edible and seed bearing plants and absolutely no synthetic fragrances, preservatives, dyes, or additives. It is equally effective in cold water as it is in hot. It can be used in HD washers that require low-sudsing soaps. Because it’s not a strong detergent, Branch Basics extends the longevity of your clothes. It’s also very effective for stains.

And it was also effective in not causing Shepard to break out with little red bumbs all over his body. From now on all of the clothes, sheets, blankets, and towels in Shepard's household will be washed in Branch Basics. 

Meet Shepard!

Shepard Charles Smith to be exact. This is my brand new nephew, whom I get the privilege of helping take care of for his first two weeks of being born! I can't help but be a proud aunt and show him off, so I decided that I am going to blog about all the little things that I am helping my sister with while I stay with her. I will cover lots of different things, like what I cook for her, how we bathe Shepard, what we wash his clothes with, what he sleeps on, etc.

This is my bother-in-law, Andrew, my older sister, Shannnon, Shepard, and me. As soon as the new happy, family got home from the hospital, we started talking FOOD.

As one of the founders of Three Branches, I know how important it is for Shannon to eat a healthy, whole-food diet while she is breastfeeding. After finding out she and Shepard's blood types (Shannon is O- and Shepard is O+) we decided organic, grass-fed red meat, lamb, turkey, and lots of vegetables would be good for her. Also, wild salmon and sardines. Vital Choice is the brand Three Branches recommends for fish and seafood.

And actually while she was still in the hospital, I was making sure she was taking her Green Pastures Cod Liver Oil. It's the only raw, fermented cod liver oil and is an amazing source of omega-3 oils and DHA, absolutely essential for developing babies. This is the one supplement I make sure she takes everyday. Everyone, any age, should take this cod liver oil. Just two capsules every day and you are protecting your brain health, and overall health, like no other! And quality does matter. Here is an excellent resource for you on cod liver oil including basic information as well as manufacturing differences.

That does it for an introduction to Shepard. Stay tuned for healthy recipes, updates on the little man, and more! Please leave a comment if you have any questions about babies that you would like us to address or blog about.

For all of you that have been wanting an organic mattress now is the time to pull the trigger! New Living is offering 20% off all OMI organic mattresses until July 3rd! They are also offering a FREE organic pillow with the purchase of a mattress until July 15th!

If you live in Houston stop by New Living on Kirby, kick off your shoes and lie down on a mattress. You can try them all out and see which one you like best.

They do sell mattresses online but they prefer for you to be able to see and touch the mattress if possible. This is not always an option though, so feel free to call New Living and ask them as many questions as you would like about the mattresses. They are well trained and should be able to walk you though finding which one would work best for you.

Your mattress is the MOST important piece of furniture in your house when it comes to your health! Don't miss this opportunity to get 20% off a truly organic mattress!

FYI...OMI is the company we recommend. Not all organic mattresses are created equal.

Read our Bedding and Mattresses LEARN section to find out more. Be sure to read they WHY, WHO, and HOW tabs.

New Living

6111 Kirby Dr.

Houston, TX 77005

713-521-1921

Store Hours:
Monday By appointment only
Tuesday-Thursday 10 AM - 7 PM
Friday & Saturday 10 AM - 6 PM
Sunday NOON - 5 PM

Call in or stop by before July 3rd! Tell them Three Branches sent you!

Fran Drescher uses her famous voice to speak out against harmful ingredients in our personal care products:

"I’m writing today to ask those in Congress who want to turn the tide on cancer to support the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011. It might seem like a leap to connect personal care products with cancer, but the President’s Cancer Panel’s report last year sounded the alarm on toxic chemicals in products we use every day. You all have a chance right now to take a major step at cancer prevention and to lead the way forward in our fight against cancer..."

Read the full article here.

Drescher is right on the money. Products that we use everyday: shampoo, mascara, sunscreen, baby wash, etc. can legally contain ingredients that are linked to cancer, birth defects, neurological disorders and infertility. Until these ingredients are outlawed for use in personal care products, companies should be required to disclose them on the label, allowing consumers to make safer choices.

Thanks, Fran, for using your voice, face and famous personality to fight for a safer future for our children!

Image courtesy of newshawker.com

Peanut-free tables at schools, no nuts allowed on certain airlines, parents living in constant fear of cross-contaminated restaurant dishes. Why does it seem like every other child has some sort of food allergy!? And doesn't it seem likely that this situation is only getting worse?

A recent study done by Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine found that childhood food allergies affect 1 in 13 kids, WebMD says.

The survey tracked 38,000 US kids, and found that 8% of kids under 18 are allergic to at least one food, with peanuts, milk and shellfish as the top three offenders. This is twice as much as previous studies estimated. 

So, what's changing? Our kids? Their immune systems? Or could it be all the food processing, chemical additives and genetically modified organisms added to our food supply?

Today's Healthy Child Healthy World blog post written by their CEO Rachel Sarnoff cites Quebec's Sherbrooke University Hospital study that found pesticides associated with Genetically Modified (GM) crops in the blood of women, as well as pregnant women, their placentas and their infants. In fact, England and New Zealand are stopping the growth of GM crops until more solid evidence is presented.

It would behoove everyone to watch Robyn O'Brien's Austin TedX talk (viewed by nearly 200,000 people) on this issue. You might recall our blog post on O'Brien last year. She is the founder of Allergy Kids and author of The Unhealthy Truth as well as touted in the NYTimes as "food's Erin Brockovich". O'Brien believes the dramatic rises in allergy rates is the direct result of the dramatic increase in the genetically modified organisms that the food industry is now using to grow crops.

So what can we do? Eat organic whenever possible, especially crops that are highly pesticided:

Apples
Carrots
Celery
Cherries
Grapes
Lettuce
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Potatoes
Raspberries
Spinach
Strawberries
Sweet bell peppers

Information source: Are Your Kids Allergic to Food - or What's IN it? by Rachel Sarnoff, CEO, Healthy Child Healthy World.

Image source: Fooducate.com

As Houston's 2010 Winner for Best Fashion Boutiques, One Green Street is a place you need to check out if you haven't already! Not only does it have a healthy, safe, eco-friendly focus (which is the main reason we love it!) but it also does so in true style!

They have everything from fashionable clothing and jewelry to trendy nick nacks like stainless steel straw sets. They also carry the Austin made make-up line we love, W3ll People.

I absolutely LOVE my organic hoodie and top I found there. Who knew it would be so easy to find cute, fashionable organic clothing?! Tonight is the perfect time to stop in and see this fabulous store for yourself. Need a gift for someone? Everything in the store will be 10% off tonight in light of our "Redefining Clean" event tonight.

Allison and I will briefly talk about the harms of conventional cleaning products and introduce our Branch Basics non-toxic cleaning line! We will be offering 10% off of Branch Basics tonight as well!

Lastly, Marian Bell, an AMAZING local chef will be providing the food for tonight's event. So if you're in Houston and can stop by tonight after work we would love to see you! We'll be there from 6:30 to 7:30. We know you'll be glad you came!

One Green Street
5160 Buffalo Speedway
Houston, Texas 77005

                                                 Image taken from original blog post on The Nourished Life

Do you find it stressful to eat healthy sometimes? For instance, when you're on the run? Or when you're at a meal with friends and you can't find anything healthy on the menu? The best advice we have for you in those situations is to relax.

Here is a wonderful post by Elizabeth Walling, author of The Nourished Life: Finding Nourishment in Life with Real Food and Healthy Living blog.

Since eating as healthy as we would like can sometimes be a challenge, we want to share her wise words of advice with you.

The Number One Ingredient to Avoid

There is a detrimental ingredient lurking in our food. Often we don't even realize it's there. It could be in the ice cream you ate last night or the pizza you ordered yesterday. It could be in the homemade fermented sourdough bread you have every morning for breakfast. And--believe it or not--this ingredient could even be hiding in your grass-fed burger, your pastured eggs or the fresh berries and raw cream you have for dessert.

Yes, this ingredient can be present in every single food you eat... or none at all. It's all up to you.

The number one ingredient you need to avoid?

Guilt.

Sorry. I know you wanted me to say MSG. Or fructose. Or omega-6 fatty acids or gluten or hydrolyzed soy protein... or some other commonly demonized ingredient. But no. Although there are certainly foods out there that can damage our bodies and brains, the most toxic food can't hold a candle to the destruction that can be incurred when every food you eat is accompanied by a hefty side of guilt, anxiety, fear or obsessive thinking.

Stressing About Food: It's No Way to Live

Don't get me wrong: there's nothing wrong with trying to eat healthy and live healthy. But it's not hard to cross the line from living healthfully to agonizing over every bite you take.

• Does figuring out what to eat for lunch trigger anxiety? 
• Do you try to make a healthy choice and then feel ashamed of it later because part of your meal didn't line up with some health guru's recommendations? 
• Are you constantly wondering which guru is right? 

What if all this anxiety and agony is causing more health problems than whatever food you may (or may not) be eating?

Don't underestimate how stress impacts your health. 

And yes: anxiety, worry, fear, obsession, guilt and shame all fall under the category of stress. Stress triggers a cascade of endocrine response in the body. Essentially, too much stress floods your body with hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. An overload of these hormones can cause a myriad of health problems. Here's a short list of examples:

• Acne
• Panic attacks
• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Hair loss
• High blood sugar
• High insulin
• Cravings for sugar, caffeine, nicotine and other stimulants
• Insomnia
• Lower back pain
• Allergies
• Impotence
• Poor memory
• High blood pressure
• Arthritis
• Gut flora imbalance
• Fibromyalgia
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Suppressed immunity
• Asthma
• Accelerated aging
• Headaches
• Depression
• Loss of lean tissue mass

And that's the short list. Basically, stress is not your friend, especially the chronic kind. And believe me, worrying about what you'll eat and then feeling guilty afterward definitely translates into stress.

After all, aren't all the problems listed above the kind you're trying to overcome by eating healthy food? So don't thwart your efforts by replacing junk foods with obsessive thought patterns and negative emotions like shame and guilt.

So what do you do? Sure, work towards eating food that gives you a sense of health and vitality. But don't let your eating choices rule your life.

Enjoy your food and enjoy your life without the bondage of anxiety and guilt!

Thank you Elizabeth for reminding us of this important concept!

If you haven't heard of Weston A. Price, you're missing out! Their mission statement is paraphrased here:

"The Weston A. Price Foundation is a nonprofit...[established]...to disseminate the research of nutrition pioneer Dr. Weston Price, whose studies...established the parameters of human health and determined the optimum characteristics of human diets. Dr. Price's research demonstrated that humans achieve perfect physical form and perfect health generation after generation only when they consume nutrient-dense whole foods and the vital fat-soluble activators found exclusively in animal fats.

The Foundation is dedicated to restoring nutrient-dense foods to the human diet through education, research and activism. It supports a number of movements that contribute to this objective including accurate nutrition instruction, organic and biodynamic farming, pasture-feeding of livestock, community-supported farms, honest and informative labeling, prepared parenting and nurturing therapies. Specific goals include establishment of universal access to clean, certified raw milk and a ban on the use of soy formula for infants."

Pretty great, huh? What's even greater is that each year they host a huge conference, called the Wise Traditions Conference, attended by over 1,500 people, that is truly a health person's DREAM weekend. This year's conference is November 11-13th in Dallas. There are tons of speakers jammed into a 3-day seminar...everyone from raw milk activists to vaccine and cod liver oil experts. Interested in learning the ends and outs of good digestion and sustainable, healthy farming and livestock methods? What about the real deal on thyroid and metabolism issues? Gluten-free baking? It's all here...

But I think the best part is the booths. There will be about 60 vendors (including Three Branches!) that will have products ranging from non-toxic cleaning and skin care to the highest-quality dairy, meats and desserts available. Needless to say, this weekend will be full of the very best food you can put in your body. We can't WAIT!

If interested, check out the prices at the bottom of this link. You can come for one day, all three days, eat one meal...or all 9! We will be at every event, eating all the food and would LOVE to see you there!

If you register before August 1st, you'll receive $50 off.

Ok, so we don't all get the opportunity to hack into a fresh, young coconut on the beach...but thanks to companies like Vita Coco, ZICO and O.N.E., the next best thing has become widely available!

For the benefits of coconut water, see one of our previous posts, Nature's Sports Drink.

So, whith the growing number of choices, which one should we grab? Look for the coconut water with NO added ingredients, and steer clear from the flavored ones which most likely contain UNnatural ingredients. (Remember, the word "natural flavors" is very ambiguous and many contain chemicals that are best avoided.) Next, go for the water put in TetraPaks, or cardboard packaging. Tetra Paks are used widely throughout Europe and have become more common in the U.S. to package juice, soups, liquid dairy products and even wine. Also, the coconut water found in HDPE (or #2) plastic is a safe bet as it has been shown to have no carcinogenic properties. Nevertheless, you should avoid ANY plastic that has been heated, as the molecules are released into the packaging's content and never healthy to consume.

Just FYI, one of our sweet (and very knowledgeable!) mama followers did a little research to make sure she was giving her family safe coconut water. She found that ZICO coconut water is packaged in HDPE. She also sent us a link that describes safe alternatives to BPA here.

Until June 24th only, Austin Air is offering $25 off of their top purifer, the Bedroom Machine, and we're pleased to pass this discount on to our customers!

The National Sleep Foundation Bedroom Machine by Austin Air is the same system developed for research at Johns Hopkins University Medical School with the most advanced filter system available for a good night's sleep. “This is a very sophisticated bedroom air purification system, made by one of the most-reputable manufacturers in the industry,” says National Sleep Foundation CEO David M. Cloud.

The first bedroom purifier to carry the National Sleep Foundation name, the Bedroom Machine features an innovative five-stage filtration system including 60 sq. ft. of certified HEPA filter and Austin Air's unique HEGA carbon cloth filter. The Bedroom Machine captures the full spectrum of indoor airborne pollutants, relieving respiratory stress so that you can sleep.

You've probably heard us say time and tme again that good sleep is crucial to good health. When you sleep your body is repairing and rejuvenating, which is essential for healthy organs and immunity. However, if it is under stress from chemicals, mold spores, dust, and other allergens then your body simply can't rest. Instead it spends the night detoxifying and fighting off pollutants.

When you sleep in a clean air environment, though, your body can get adequate rest, leaving you feeling refreshed when you wake up and with more resistance against the pollutants you come in contact with throughout the day!

If you have allergies, asthma, ADD or ADHD, have recently remodeled or moved into a brand new home, have a mold or musty mildew problem, are suffering from an extreme chronic illness, then it would be in your best interest to invest in a quality air purifier for your bedroom.

Today, we are sharing a very important documentary that everyone needs to watch. You may not want to watch it, but I believe you need to watch it.

I watched Burzynski, the Movie  last night and was filled with a range of emotions from awe and joy to anger and sadness. It tells the story of a medical doctor and Ph.D biochemist named Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski who made a major discovery and has successfully cured some of the worst and deadliest cancer cases.

However, because of his discovery and his personal patent on the non-toxic drug, the FDA has repeatedly attempted to imprison him so that he does not take money away from the chemotherapy and radiation that the pharmaceutical industry and FDA profit from. As much as this sounds like a conspiracy or something too crazy that it must be made up, I encourage you to watch it before making assumptions. It is well documented and supported by court footage and interviews.

The video is free to watch in full until tonight and I highly, highly encourage you to watch it and share it with others. It is available to buy in DVD form online and at most Whole Foods Stores as well.

If you have ever lost a loved one to cancer, this may be extremely hard for you to watch. However, I think it is important for everyone to see since 1 in 3 Americans are now expected to get cancer at some point in their lives.

Although we believe that diet and lifestyle can reverse cancer, this is a treatment that appears to work without any side effects and gives people a good quality of life. Therfore, this story needs as much exposure and support as possible so that Dr. Burzynski can get a fair chance at getting his treatment to the masses. And so that we can realize that big industries and government powers may not always have the individuals' best at heart.

To read more and to watch the movie, visit http://www.burzynskimovie.com/.

If you live anywhere near us, it's unbearably HOT! We are all too familiar with the feeling of getting in our cars after they've been parked in the sun for hours on end. We immediately blast the A/C in hopes that it will cool down the metal box we're in before we pass out...

But next time you get in your car, take note of not only the sticky, heavy, uncomfortable heat, but also the smell. It's not like the outdoors, is it? It's that "new car" smell that's heightened as the heat bakes our dashboard, leather seats, steering wheel, console, etc...all of which contain tons of chemicals that are released into the air. Namely, Benzene - a toxin that targets our kidneys and liver - can be released into the car's air at levels much higher than the allowable 50 mg per square foot.

So, next time you get in your hot car, we highly recommend rolling the windows down immediately and letting the car's chemical soup dissipate before masking the problem with a blast of air conditioning...which could be just re-circulating the toxins!

I rely on EWG's annual Sunscreen Guide to help me stock up for summer and to find the best sunscreens for myself and for my family. But every year I think: Why doesn't the government ensure that these important products are safe?

Even in its fifth season, EWG can only recommend one in five of the more than 600 sunscreens in its guide. That means 80 percent of what's been analyzed either doesn't provide adequate protection or contains potentially hazardous ingredients.

The fact that sunscreen manufacturers can market products that don't work -- or may actually cause harm to people who use them -- is utterly unbelievable.

The FDA hasn't issued any new sunscreen safety regulations for more than 30 years. EWG Action Fund is heading to the FDA next week to tell it to finally do its job to protect the American people. We are trying to get 50,000 signatures to take with us, will you be one of them? Act by Thursday at midnight.

Join EWG Action Fund and me in telling our government it needs to protect us from sunscreens that don't work or contain potentially dangerous ingredients. Sign by June 9 -- before we deliver your signatures to the FDA.

The government simply isn't overseeing the sunscreen industry.

When I tell people that those super-high SPF ratings are bogus, they can't believe it. They often ask: "Why isn't the government doing anything about it?" Good question. Why isn't it?

When you think of all the families that search for safe products that provide proper protection from the sun and that don't contain harmful ingredients, it's shocking that the FDA hasn't yet taken action on this issue. We can make better purchasing decisions, but we cannot shop our way out of this mess.

We need to get risky and inadequate products off the market.

 

Stand with EWG Action Fund and me in demanding the FDA address sunscreen safety today. Our best tool for sun protection is knowing which products can help us -- not hurt us.

Let's get our government on board so we can feel confident in the sunscreen products we buy for ourselves and our families.

Sincerely,

Heather White
Chief of Staff, EWG Action Fund

My husband and I adore Indian food. The spiciness, the mushier consistency, the intense flavors, the curries...we love it all! To reward the end of his week at a new job, I took a stab at this delicious and simple recipe from The Healthy Green Kitchen: Homemade Dosas (Indian pancake) with curried chickpeas (aka, garbanzo beans). We don't eat wheat (unless it's sprouted...we go through a loaf of Alvarado St. bread a week!) so this spelt version of regular pancakes was PERFECT. We're not vegan by any stretch, but it's a great recipe for those who want to avoid eggs. For the filling, I used Eden organics canned beans, but know that these would have been 10x better had I made chickpeas from scratch...

Also, I was pressed for time so didn't get to make the coconut curry sauce. Will and I agree it would add an even greater flavor to this already delicious dish. I included it at the bottom...

This recipe really is simple...don't let the lengthy ingredient lists scare you. I found it easiest to make the dosa batter and let it sit while I got the curried chickpea filling going. While I made the pancakes, I left the filling on low heat to keep it warm.

Curried Chickpea Filling

You can halve this recipe to make enough for about two. If you do the whole recipe, you will end up with a lot of filling, but the curried chickpeas are really tasty as leftovers over rice or quinoa.

Filling Ingredients
5 cloves garlic
1 onion, peeled and finely diced
1 carrot, peeled and finely diced
1 green pepper, finely diced (red, yellow or orange are fine too)
2 medium hot banana chilies, minced
2 Tb. cumin, ground
1 Tb. oregano
1 Tb. sea salt (coarse)
1 Tb. turmeric
4 cups (30oz) cooked or canned chick peas (about 2 cans)
½ cup (4oz) tomato paste (use organic!)

Filling Directions:

Heat a large saucepan over medium to low heat. Add the garlic, veggies, and spices, cooking until soft, stirring occasionally.

Mash the chickpeas by hand, or in a food processor. Add the chickpeas and tomato paste to the saucepan, stirring until heated through. If you're using canned chickpeas, you may want to cook them a little more...I like mine a little mushier than the canned ones often are.

Indian Dosa Pancakes

Dosa Pancakes Ingredients:
1 cup spelt flour
½ tsp salt
½ tsp baking powder (aluminum-free)
½ tsp curry powder
½ cup almond milk (or coconut or rice)
¾ cup water
coconut oil/ghee to coat the pan

Dosa Pancakes Directions:
Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl, slowly adding the almond milk and water, whisking until smooth.

Heat skillet over medium heat. Coat with a thin layer of oil.

Ladle 2 tablespoons of batter into the center of your pan in a circular motion until it is a thin, round pancake.

When bubbles appear on the surface and it no longer looks wet, flip it over and cook for a few seconds.

Remove from heat and repeat with remaining batter.

Taken straight from Healthy Green Kitchen.

Coconut Curry Sauce

I cut my veggies, including the onions, into fairly large chunks; you might want to cut yours smaller. This is a yummy sauce and I think leftovers would be great over noodles, grains, or even steamed veggies.

Coconut Curry Sauce Ingredients:
1 onion, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic
½ tsp cumin, ground
¾ tsp sea salt (coarse)
3 Tb. curry powder
3 Tb. spelt flour (omit if sensitive to gluten)
3 cups vegetable broth/water
2 cups coconut milk
3 large tomatoes, diced

Coconut Curry Sauce Directions:
Heat a saucepan over medium heat, add the onion and garlic, cooking for 5 minutes, or until soft.

Add the spices, cooking for 1 minutes more. Add the flour and cook for 1 additional minute.

Gradually stir in the vegetable broth to prevent lumps. Once the flour has been incorporated, add the coconut milk and tomatoes, stirring occasionally. Let it simmer for half an hour.

EWG's researchers rated more than 1,700 sunscreens, lip balms, and SPF moisturizers and makeup for the 2011 Sunscreen Guide.

Is your sunscreen actually protecting your family as advertised? Or are some of the claims just marketing hype?

Of the more than 600 beach and sports sunscreens analyzed by Environmental Working Group for their 2011 Sunscreen Guide, they can only recommend one in five. The sunscreen industry continues to load store shelves with bottles listing misleading, sky-high SPF ratings that may protect against UVB rays that cause sunburn but leave skin at risk for UVA damage. Many sunscreens also have harmful chemicals.

Be sure to check your sunscreen in the guide and make sure what you're using is safe and effective! If you want to find the best options then start by browsing "Best Sunscreens" in the top menu bar.

Watch Jessica Alba on the Ellen DeGeneres show talk about toxins and how they're found in so many baby-related products. She's headed to D.C. with an organization called "Safer Chemicals, Safer Families" to fight for chemical reform. Her goal is to make sure that the products on she shelf are safe.

"It shouldn't be a luxury," says Alba. "It should be a given."

Ellen agrees wholeheartedly. (And so do we!) To get involved, go to saferchemicals.org.

In order to work properly, our bodies have to constantly neutralize toxicity from our air, water and food as well as toxicity created by our normal body functions. The liver plays a key part in protecting the body from these contaminants and toxic by-products. In fact, without the liver's detoxification we would not be able to survive. No wonder the word "liver" is derived from an old English word meaning "life"!   

Is your liver overworked? If so, the springtime is usually when symptoms of an overworked liver appear. Acne, fatigue, headaches, inflammation, muscle tightness...these are all signs that your liver needs some nourishing support! Spring is the best time to support the liver so it can do its job of detoxing and renewing.   

Cleanse and Restore:

1. Eat more greens
2. Lessen toxic exposures
3. Do the "Love Your Liver" cleanse

"Love Your Liver" Trio - $81.85

Even if we eat healthy and use "natural" products, our depleted food supply leaves us lacking in the nutrients, vitamins and enzymes needed to keep us at optimum health. (See Nutrition section). Adding whole-food based supplements will nourish your liver, support your detox and help you see real results....without adding to your busy schedule! If you don't have time to cook healthy meals everyday then supplements are for you.

The "Love Your Liver" Trio provides just what you need to support your liver cleanse and to leave your body feeling restored and ready for the summer months. You're sure to thank us, and your liver is sure to thank YOU! 

Liver Complex - A combination of the highest-quality herbal extracts that specifically target liver cleansing and nourishing. Promotes healthy fat digestion, bile flow and cholesterol already within normal range.

Max Stress B - This family of B Vitamins, in a concentrated liquid form, promote liver decongestion, helping it to break down fats. Also supports and increases the metabolism as well as mood and brain rejuvenation. 

Sweet Wheat - 100% organic freeze-dried wheatgrass, each capsule is packed with antioxidants, essential vitamins, live enzymes, minerals, amino acids, phytonutrients and more to supercharge your energy levels and promote superior total-body health.   

Heating plastic is bad. When we do this, the molecules in plastic are excited and release toxic chemicals into our food or whatever it is we've placed in the plastic container. Even storing heated items in plastic before sticking them in the fridge will have this same effect. These chemicals have been proven to accumulate in our bodies, and over time small amounts add up, adding to our "toxic load". This can have long-term effects on the liver (which tries desperately to break down these toxins) and has also been shown to affect our reproductive organs. Not to mention, Mommas, these chemicals are stored and then passed on to our babies! They've been shown to affect baby's reproductive and brain development.

So, glass is the way to go! And, thanks to Ziploc, it's even eaiser (and cheaper) to store and heat our food in glass containers. They've gotten smart and recently come out with their VersaGlass containers, which can be found at just about any grocrey store. You can even stick it in the oven (sans the lid, which has a rubber rim around it) at up to 400 degrees F! (And although we recommend never using the microwave, they are completely microwave safe, but definitely remove the lid before heating it up.)

Check out all the convenient sizes and varieties: (And pretty colors!)

Buy online here.

Images courtesy of ziploc.com.

Strawberries. When you get a perfectly ripe and juicy strawberry you can't help but smile and be filled with joy, right?! But not only so they taste good, they are exceptionally good for you! Super high in antioxidants, strawberries are the perfect, healthy snack, especailly for this time of year when they are in season. And even diabetics can enjoy strawberries without worrying about sugar spikes. Strawberries have been found to regulate blood sugar response, something researchers are contributing to the polyphenols found in this savory fruit. (Click here for more facts about the health benefits of strawberries.)

I just had some DELICIOUS organic strawberries and I decided I had to take a picture because they were just too pretty. So now I am sharing with you what I do with my strawberries to keep them fresh and also the perfect, ready-to-go healthy snack. 

First, you ideally only want to buy strawberries that are organic. According the Environmental Working Group's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides, strawberries are one of the highest sprayed crops and is number 3 on tthier WORST list.

You also want to pick the ones that are the brightest and most vibrant red. Recent studies have found that both underripeness and overripeness can have an unexpectedly large impact on the phytonutrient content of strawberries, especially their antioxidant polyphenols.

When I get home, I rinse my strawberries and then spray them with Branch Basics Fruit and Veggie Spray (one of the many uses of this amazing non-toxic cleaner). After letting them sit for about 2 minutes, I rinse them again. This helps to remove any pesticide residue that may be on there as well as bacteria, and maintains their freshness for a longer amount of time.

Then, since I prefer to eat strawberries that are pre-cut instead of biting them off of the stem, I slice the tops of and then slice them in half lengthwise.

Finally, I put all of the sliced strawberries that I don't eat while cutting :) into a glass bowl that has an air tight lid, like GlassLock. The combination of the Branch Basics and the GlassLock container helps to maintain freshness and nutrient value.

Hopefully this inspired you to go out and get some strawberries! Enjoy!

New York Times' Gary Taubes recently published an article titled Is Sugar Toxic?, based on the viral-popular YouTube video, "Sugar: The Bitter Truth." Posted in July of 2009, it's a 90-minute lecture by pediatrician Robert Lustig on sugar's harmful effects on the human body. It's been viewed well over 800,000 times. 

 Lustig says that sugar is “isocaloric but not isometabolic.” All this means is that sugar calories aren't all the same. 100 calories of a natural sugar (potatoes, bread, apple) are metabolized differently than 100 calories of fake sugar (candy, sweetened lemonade, desserts, Coke.)

SweetWheat to offset sugar

Is refined (aka, man-made, synthetic, fake...) sugar toxic? We say YES. But, it's also everywhere. If you do slip up and fall into "sweet sin", we highly recommend off-setting sugar's harmful effects with SweetWheat. These are the go-to, chock-full-of-nutrients, wheat-grass-in-a-capsule, detox-quickly pocket pills. Really, throw two in your pocket when you know "healthy" isn't an option...

Below is what we consider the "Best Of" from Lustig's NYT article, Is Sugar Toxic?

(The highlighted portion is the best of the best of.)

"Lustig is a specialist on pediatric hormone disorders and the leading expert in childhood obesity at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, which is one of the best medical schools in the country. He published his first paper on childhood obesity a dozen years ago, and he has been treating patients and doing research on the disorder ever since...

...Physicians and medical authorities came to accept the idea that a condition known as metabolic syndrome is a major, if not the major, risk factor for heart disease and diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now estimate that some 75 million Americans have metabolic syndrome. For those who have heart attacks, metabolic syndrome will very likely be the reason...

...When physicians assess your risk of heart disease these days, they will take into consideration your LDL cholesterol (the bad kind), but also these symptoms of metabolic syndrome. The idea, according to Scott Grundy, a University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center nutritionist and the chairman of the panel that produced the last edition of the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines, is that heart attacks 50 years ago might have been caused by high cholesterol — particularly high LDL cholesterol — but since then we’ve all gotten fatter and more diabetic, and now it’s metabolic syndrome that’s the more conspicuous problem...

...This raises two obvious questions. The first is what sets off metabolic syndrome to begin with, which is another way of asking, What causes the initial insulin resistance? There are several hypotheses, but researchers who study the mechanisms of insulin resistance now think that a likely cause is the accumulation of fat in the liver. When studies have been done trying to answer this question in humans, says Varman Samuel, who studies insulin resistance at Yale School of Medicine, the correlation between liver fat and insulin resistance in patients, lean or obese, is “remarkably strong.” What it looks like, Samuel says, is that “when you deposit fat in the liver, that’s when you become insulin-resistant.”...

...That raises the other obvious question: What causes the liver to accumulate fat in humans? A common assumption is that simply getting fatter leads to a fatty liver, but this does not explain fatty liver in lean people. Some of it could be attributed to genetic predisposition. But harking back to Lustig, there’s also the very real possibility that it is caused by sugar...

...So the answer to the question of whether sugar is as bad as Lustig claims is that it certainly could be. It very well may be true that sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, because of the unique way in which we metabolize fructose and at the levels we now consume it, cause fat to accumulate in our livers followed by insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, and so trigger the process that leads to heart disease, diabetes and obesity. They could indeed be toxic, but they take years to do their damage. It doesn’t happen overnight. Until long-term studies are done, we won’t know for sure...

...But some researchers will make the case, as Cantley and Thompson do, that if something other than just being fatter is causing insulin resistance to begin with, that’s quite likely the dietary cause of many cancers. If it’s sugar that causes insulin resistance, they say, then the conclusion is hard to avoid that sugar causes cancer — some cancers, at least — radical as this may seem and despite the fact that this suggestion has rarely if ever been voiced before publicly. For just this reason, neither of these men will eat sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, if they can avoid it...

...“I have eliminated refined sugar from my diet and eat as little as I possibly can,” Thompson told me, “because I believe ultimately it’s something I can do to decrease my risk of cancer.” Cantley put it this way: “Sugar scares me.”...

To sum:

In animals, or at least in laboratory rats and mice, it’s clear that if the fructose hits the liver in sufficient quantity and with sufficient speed, the liver will convert much of it to fat. This apparently induces a condition known as insulin resistance, which is now considered the fundamental problem in obesity, and the underlying defect in heart disease and in the type of diabetes, type 2, that is common to obese and overweight individuals. It might also be the underlying defect in many cancers

Toxins make us sick, fat, lazy, foggy...need another reason to come find out how to DETOX?! Allison and Kelly will share their wonderful tips for non-toxic living at their two-hour workshop this Saturday at Houston's New Living. Sign up NOW!

Previous workshop attendees speak out:

$25 now, $30 at the door. 

For more details and to register, click here. 

Millet Fried “Rice”

No, really, this stuff is goooooood! Will (the husband) was blown away the first time we made it, went back for "thirds" and thinks it deserves a standing position in our weekly dinner rotations. A delicious version of the typical veggie fried rice you'd find at a Chinese restaurant, except HEALTHY, low-fat and high in protein and fiber! The veggies listed below are just guidelines...switch and swap as you please. Be creative with whatever you have in the fridge!

• 2 tablespoons oil of choice (coconut, olive, etc.)
• 2-3 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated 
• 5 cloves garlic, minced 
• 1/4 cup scallions, finely chopped 
• 1 shallot, finely chopped 
• 2 red bell peppers, finely chopped (always organic on the red bell peppers) 
• 2 cups carrots, finely chopped  
• 3 cups cooked, cold millet
• 1-2 tablespoons organic soy sauce/tamari or wheat-free tamari sauce
  
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
  
• 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
• Sea salt, to taste
• Tahini, to taste (about 1 TBSN/serving)

1. Heat the oil in a large wok (or skillet) over medium-high heat. Add the ginger and garlic and cook for about 15 seconds. Stir in the shallots and scallions; cook for 30 seconds. Add the red bell pepper and carrots, and cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Season lightly with sea salt to taste.
2. Add the cooked millet to the skillet and stir-fry for couple of minute, tossing to separate the grains and combine well. Stir in the tamari/wheat-free soy sauce. Gently fold in the peas. 
3. Add the parsley and tahini. Drizzle with just a smidgen more oil, and sprinkle of salt to taste. Enjoy!

Millet Fried "Rice" paired with sauteed kale and roasted brussel sprouts. 

I recently read the NPR story Mother's Pesticide Exposure Linked to Kids' IQs and have been meaning to share it with you on the blog but just had not gotten around to it.

Well, I have now been motivated by my personal sighting of a yellow crop duster plane just like the one pictured above to make sure you know of the harms of pesticides.

As I was driving through the Mississippi delta farmland, just an hour ago, and listening to NPR actually, I watched the steady stream of pesticides fall from the plane and cover the crops below, just 20 or so yards away. I have never seen this in person before. Of course, you know how I feel about pesticides (I think they're poisonous), so you can imagine how quickly I pressed the button with the picture of the little car and the squiggly arrow inside it so the air would re-circulate and I could hopefully keep us from inhaling the outside air. (That's a great habit to practice whenever you are driving in heavy traffic or behind a truck with horrible exhaust.)

I'm keeping the post short and sweet because I want you to read (or listen if you prefer) to the actual story that discusses some of the recent studies on pesticides and human health as well as the links below. But first, a few quick notes...

I know organic food is not always an option, whether it be too expensive or not available, so please refer to the Environmental Working Group's Pesticide Guide and make the best choices you can. In addition, we recommend washing your produce with Branch Basics. I suggest the Concentrate because then you can use it for all of your cleaning needs, including spraying it around your basebaords to help keep pests away from your home.

Also, if you take a look at Healthy Child Healthy World's "5 Easy Steps" you'll find that Step 1 is "Avoid Pesticides." They offer great resources and helpful tips.

More News Coverage of the recent studies:

Dr. Phillip Landrigan on WABC, watch here.

ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, watch here.

Other major coverage includes:

• The New York Times
• ABC News
• CNN
• Fox News
• US News & World Report
• USA Today
• WebMD
• Reuters Health

Image source: David McNew/Getty Images

If you or anyone you know will be in Houston on Saturday, May 7th, we believe there's no better way to spend two hours than at our workshop at New Living (in the Rice Village). We'll learn about toxins, their link to sickness, disease, cancer and weight gain...and how to reduce them in your daily life. Snacks will be provided by SNAP kitchen!

$25 now, $30 at the door. For more details and to register, click here. 

I've had some qualms about My Fit Foods, as I feel like most of its patrons go home and nuke their plastic-contained meal, adding nasty phthalates to an otherwise delicious and healthy fare. However, their April Newsletter gets my two thumbs up as their Corporate Nutritionist, Meg McCall, talks about lowering your "Body Burden". This is a common phrase used amongst us Three Branches, and it refers to the toxic load that researchers have proven we all possess, even from birth. In fact, a study done just last year revealed that newborns come into this world with over 200 chemicals, passed on from their mothers. Yikes! Here's what Meg suggests we do to "lower our burden": (red text mine)

My Top Five Tips For Lowering Your Toxic Burden:

Lower The Amount Of Products With Fragrance You Use Daily - What?? Most ladies will say to me - But, it smells so good! Consider this - there are a total of 3100 chemicals that perfume manufacturers use to create fragrances and many of these are petroleum based chemicals that mess with our endocrine system (hormones!)  Fragrance is in everything. Eliminating this can be challenging.  Everything from candles to Glade plug- ins to shampoo to cologne has fragrance.  Luckily there are all natural alternatives like Aura Shampoo and Seventh Generation household products. (Read our blog on scented candles. Also, go to www.cosmeticdatabase.org to find out the best personal care products!)

Beware Of Chlorine - Did you know that one shower is like absorbing 64 ounces of chlorinated water straight into your body? Chlorine is a necessary disinfectant for our water but kills off good bacteria in our own intestines and is a known carcinogen.  It's dangerous stuff. For my shower I use a filter called the Turbo Shower Copper-Zinc Filter and I always drink non-chlorinated water such as My Fit Foods Water. (Of course, we Three B's love Rainshow'r's New Century shower filter!)

Use Only Safe Plastics - Safe plastics are #2, #4, and #5.  My Fit Foods uses #5 for our containers and they are recyclable.  Avoid re-using #1 (water bottles) and avoid completely #7 which contains BPA (Bisphenol A) which is a known hormone disruptor.  Also, avoid using plastic wrap in the microwave. (Here, I have to add that ANY plastic should not be microwaved, even the so-called "safe" ones. Heated, these molecules end up in our food, and then our bodies. No level is safe.)

Improve Your pH - Eating enough fruits and veggies and drinking alkaline water are both crucial to having a healthy pH.  Remember that your blood's pH range is 7.35 to 7.45 and those with a more alkaline pH will have 60% more oxygen available for use.  All enzymes are also pH dependent as well.  This has a direct effect on every organ, especially liver function. (Taking Coral Calcium daily is a tremendously efficient way of re-balancing your pH levels. Cancer, disease, sickness simply can't survive in a pH-balanced environment!)

Exercise To Improve Lymphatic Circulation - Your lymph system is very much like your circulatory system (heart, veins, and arteries) but it doesn't have a pump.  It's a very important part of the body's "garbage collection" helping the liver as well as your immune system.  Some nutrition experts believe that having sluggish circulation in our lymphatic system is what causes cellulite and stubborn weight loss. Daily exercise is the best way to keep this system humming! (Hands down the best lymphatic workout? Rebounding! Not to mention, UNBELIEVABLE weight-melter!)

Skin Deep, launched in 2004, is the go-to resource on personal care product ingredient safety. With nearly 250 million searches in the past seven years they have helped A LOT of people make safer, healthier product choices. We've talked about them before but if you're a newbie to Skin Deep Cosmetic Database then now is the time to check it out.....it's gotten a makeover.

Now Skin Deep has a new look and feel, as well as some great new features that were developed in response to user feedback:

• Easier-to-use search and navigation tools
• More tips for safer products
• Comprehensive and easy-to-use FAQs
• There's even a user's guide for first time searchers

Hopefully with the current GLAMOUR's New Toxic Threats to Women's Health article, more and more people will want to know what they're putting on their skin! Skin Deep exists to help you make healthier choices. Take advantage of this amazing resource! If you're a fan of Skin Deep and it's mission, then please consider making a donation! They need support so they can continue providing us with priceless information and resources. Consider this note from the Ken Cook, the president of the Environmental Working Group...

"At the heart of EWG's Skin Deep, as with all our work, is a drive to make sure that consumers like you have the information you need to make smarter choices. If we have ever helped you pick a better shampoo, moisturizer or sunscreen, then I am asking for your help today. Without financial contributions from supporters like you, we won't have the resources to keep up our research.

If you donate today to support our work, we'll send you our new Quick Tips for Safer Cosmetics shopping guide. This wallet card is chock-full of tips on how to read personal care product labels, how to shop smart and other invaluable information to help you make safer choices."

 

Click here to make a donation today to get your free cosmetics guide.

Thank you for your continued support,

Ken Cook
President, Environmental Working Group

Do you want to take advantage of our special (that ends tonight!) but you're confused about which supplements are best for you? Do you want to know more about Branch Basics or Genoma skin care before buying? Don't forget that we are here to answer your questions!

Give us a call at 713.489.5531 if you want to talk!

Rather write?  Email us at:  info@threebrancheshealth.com or use the comment box on our contact page.

We'll do our best to ensure you get what you need!

Image source: http://www.freakingnews.com/Old-Phone-Pictures--1723.asp

Read the article below and you may find that you're in the market for some new skincare and cleaning products! Take advantage of this limited-time offer!

Coupon Code "TBHL10" expires Wednesday, April 20 at 11:59 pm CST.

It would be the understatement of the century to say we're excited about the article written in May's edition of GLAMOUR magazine, The New Toxic Threats to Women's Health. A nationally-renown women's beauty magazine talking about everyday chemicals (even those found in beauty products) and their link to sickness, disease and weight gain!? I'd say we're ecstatic, overcome with sheer delight...positively shocked...

The research presented by Melinda Wenner Moyer is spot-on - backed by 13 prominent experts - and points to canned and conventional foods, microwaved plastics, conventional cosmetics, air fresheners and cleaning products as culprits in the uphill battle against breast cancer, diabetes, heart disease, ADHD, infertility, PCOS, etc.

It's all too easy to turn away from the mounting news and evidence that points to the havoc caused by these toxins, but the experts interviewed say we should be "very concerned", especially women. The 2010 President's Cancer Panel showed that women are particularly vulnerable to accumulating higher levels of toxins than men, which is horrifying, if you think about it, because these stored chemicals are then passed through the umbilical cord to our babies. They are dubbed "endocrine disruptors" because they mimic and disrupt normal hormonal activity.

Remember the post I wrote titled, Dr. Oz on Obesogens? These chemicals, folks, are making us FAT!

"BPA and some pesticides," says the GLAMOUR article, "may even disrupt our body's ability to regulate blood sugar and hunger - two key factors in losing weight."

In fact, new diet books are hitting the shelves, recommending people to steer clear of foods high in toxins (canned foods, grain-fed meats) and focus on quality foods (BPA-free canned or glass foods, grass-fed meats). And people are losing weight. What do we always say?! It's all about the QUALITY!

What are some simple ways to reduce our exposure to these toxins and, thus, lower our "body burden"? Download the full pdf here and find out! (Hint: It may leave you in the market for some new cleaning products!)

Picture source: www.feedsdigger.com

We're pretty pumped about Houston's first non-toxic paint and coatings store, The Green Painter. It's a store full of wonderful hues and a knowledgeable staff who can tell you anything and everything you need to know about painting...the healthy way. The concept is revolutionary and will undoubtedly spark a domino effect across the country as the toxic effects of conventional paint are becoming more well known.

So what prompted this greenius concept?! We'll let Houston's Culturemap take that one:

In 2002, [Monte] Large, [one of the Green Painter founders] was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. "I had no family history of it," he said. "I did some research and found out that other classmates of mine — painters in their twenties — had it as well, and I wondered what was going on."

The coincidences were too dire to ignore. Process of elimination led him to draw a link between the toxic chemicals in the paint to which he'd been exposed his entire life and his condition. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that some of the chemicals used in common paints causes cancer in laboratory animals.

It was enough for Large to campaign for safer, less poisonous options for consumers.

Pretty incredible story, huh? Should be enough to make you think twice before painting your new home, baby's nursery or remodeled kitchen with the "bad stuff". You'll find the non-toxic way is just as effective, has the same expansive color options...all without the toxic side effects.

The grand opening is today, Saturday, from 2-5 with refreshments and healthy snacks provided by Snap Kitchen and the Fruit Palette! Come join the fun at 6115 Kirby, in the Rice Village.

Photos courtesy of Culturemap. Click here for their full article.

Allison will be at New Living's "Greenius Desk"* to answer all your health questions for FREE!

Where? New Living in Houston Texas
When? 1-3 pm, Saturday April 16, 2011

*Every month, New Living brings experts in green building and healthy living to share their expertise at the "Greenius Desk", located on their showroom floor. Houston's famed LaVerne Williams will be at the desk from 10-noon, just before Allison. Have any questions related to the green movement? He's just your guy!

They are located at 6111 Kirby Drive in Rice Village.  Visit their website  www.newliving.net for store hours or call us at 713.521.1921.

We've all heard that green tea boasts enormous benefits for our health and this is mainly due to its high polyphenol content. These antioxidants rid of free radicals, which are dangerous compounds caused by many things such as exposure to radiation, poor diet, aging, toxic environmental exposures, etc. Free radicals can multiply, work together, and - over time - lead to cancer. Green tea is also the best source of catechins, a type of polyphenol, which have proven to be extremely powerful disease fighters.

Super Nano Green Tea

The higher the quality of green tea, the more benefitsi it boasts. And, sad to say, but mold can be detected in most pre-packaged tea bags...yuck! And, let's face it, who has time to make and drink loose-leaf green tea every day!? That's why we absolutely adore Super Nano Green Tea. Essentially, it's a concentrated form of green tea that's been broken down into very small particles that are easily absorbed by the body. Even those with poor digestion or vulnerable systems can rapidly absorb and greatly benefit from this "nanized" green tea.

The Benefits of Super Nano Green Tea

Green tea promotes healthy digestion, is a natural anti-depressant, relieves tight tendons and can stop sickness in its tracks. Let's look at some of the other reasons you should incorporate Super Nano Green Tea into your diet:

Fights Fat - Preliminary lab tests have shown that green tea could prevent people from gaining weight and decrease fatty build-up in the liver, not to mention lower bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Another compelling study showed that taking three 90 mg. doses per day of green tea extract burned 266 more calories per day than those who did not use the extract.

Fights Cancer - According to the Harvard Health Publication, "Studies have found an association between consuming green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers, including, skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal, and bladder." As we mentioned above, green tea's ability to halt free radical damage is key in its famous cancer-fighting properties.

Fights Aging - Those free radicals we keep talking about? Yep, they make us age as well. Scientific research also shows a direct correlation between the aging process and the accumulation of AGEs, harmful compounds in the body. In one cutting-edge study conducted by the University of Shizuoka, researchers observed that the polyphenols in green tea supressed the formpation of AGEs. And, remember, when you fight aging, you also fight age-related disease!

(About a month's supply)

1. Nuts...

...for your brain: Nuts are chock-full of beneficial healthy fats like Vitamin E and folate. In fact, a recent study revealed that those who ate nuts regularly were less likely to develop Alzheimer's than those who didn't.

...after you train: Nut-nutrients such as vitamin E, folate, magnesium and fiber help counteract free-radicals that can result from intense bouts of activity. Also, their protein helps boost immunity and provide strength.

The best source: The healthiest choice is raw, organic nuts. This way you're avoiding the (usually cheap, toxic) oils found in their roasted alternative. Also, many nuts are salted with iodized table salt which everyone knows isn't great. Choose raw almonds and walnuts and, if you want, coat with some olive oil and salt and put them in the oven at 425 for about 10 minutes. mm-MMM!

2. Chocolate...

...for your brain: Indulging in a bit of (high-quality, see below) chocolate has been shown to boost alertness and sharpen the mind, according to a study from the University of Nottingham. Its full of flavonols which boost blood flow to certain areas of the brain, for up to three hours. So nibble a bit while you work!

...as you train: Catechins, also found abundantly in Super Nano Green Tea, can help increase thermogenesis, the calories you burn while digesting food.

The best source: Look for dark, organic, more bitter-tasting chocolate for the best health results. We love Dagoba!

3. Fish...

...for your brain: It's not even debatable anymore: eating fatty fish a few times a week provides the DHA and Omega-3 fatty acids that your brain needs to fight memory loss and strokes.

...as you train: These good Omega-3 oils lubricate your muscle cells, which allows for better nutrient uptake. Result? A faster metabolism to aid in weight loss.

The best source: Choose high-quality, clean fish like tuna, wild salmon, mackerel, sardines, etc. The fresher, the better!

4. Whole Grains...

...for your brain: We've all heard of seratonin, the hormone that keeps you calm and collective. It's also been shown to boost pain tolerance. Carbs stimulate the release of seratonin and also provide B-6, which helps it work even better.

...after you train: Zinc and Vitamin E from whole grains help fight post-exercise oxidative stress. Also, the magnesium and manganese they provide help direct the carbs to provide energy instead of being stored as fat.

The best source: Organic brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat (soba noodles), sprouted breads like Alvarado St., Ezekiel and Manna.

5. Leafy Greens...

...for your brain: Where do we start?! Greens are FULL of antioxidants (vitamin C and K, beta-carotene, etc.) that help boost memory and the ability to learn new tasks.

...as you train: Greens help fight inflammation, a must for active individuals. Inflammation is the root of most sickness and disease, so keeping it at bay is crucial to good health.

The best source: Try greens you tend to shy away from like kale, collards, swiss chard, dandelion, watercress, etc.

Delicious Living is likely our favorite magazine. We even wrote a blog post on it a while back, touting its info-packed pages. The good news is that it's now available at most Whole Foods locations...for FREE! So pick one up if you haven't already.

April's edition boasts a truly delicious recipe for healthy energy bars, taken from the article "Fresh from Asia: Far Eastern flavors inspire these supereasy raw recipe" by Ani Phyo.

Goji Cacao Energy Bars

Serves 8-10, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Quick and Easy!

Cacao nibs are small pieces of cacao beans; most are heated but I prefer using them undamaged by heat (look for those labeled "raw"). They add a rich, dark-chocolate crunch to recipes. To make date paste, mach semisoft, pitted dates, such as organic medjool, by hand. Dates vary in moisture content, so you may need to add a teaspoon of water if yours don't hold the dry ingredients together.

Ingredients:

1 cup raw almonds

1 cup date paste (about 12 large dates), packed

1/4 teaspoon sea salt (we love Pink Salt!)

3 tablespoons goji berries

2 tablespoons cacao nibs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

 Line a baking sheet (any size) with parchment paper. Grind raw almonds into a powder. In a large bowl, mix together ground almonds, date paste and salt. Add goji berries, cacao nibs, vanilla or cinnamon, if using. Mix well. Press dough evenly into tray to desired thickness (doesn't need to fill entire tray). Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container. Will keep for at least 1 week. 

Once made, they last up to a week in the fridge, but you could also freeze them and thaw when desired. 

I've got good news for all you people that love your cosmetics and nail polishes and synthetically fragranced shampoos but have concerns after hearing us talk about make-up's deadly cover up and the harmful ingredients that create the ugly side of the beauty industry.

I am happy to introduce you to FutureNatural! Think of it like an online version of Sephora but for organic, natural beauty and personal care products.

The goal of FutureNatural is to "provide people of all ages, gender and race with luxurious, modern, well-designed, effective alternatives to conventional beauty products, and to enrich the planet in the process." They are all about wanting people to be "healthy as well as gorgeous," which makes us at Three Branches very happy to hear!

Both men and women can find a range of great products that are safe yet just as effective as the conventional products you may be using and not wanting to give up.

With all the companies out there now making safer and healthier alternatives with competitive prices, there is simply no reason to continue putting products on your body that contain chemicals known to be carcinogenic and/or cause reproductive issues and birth defects. It's important to remember that even though these ingredients are used in small doses much of the time, you typically use a multitude of products and you use them EVERY day. So those small doses ADD UP. (See our skin care section for great facial creams like our DNA Repair Cream and Genoma day, night, and eye creams.)

Watch this vido with Emma Pezzack, the owner and founder of FutureNatural who I recently had the pleasure of meeting. She's absolutely wonderful and you will love the product lines she has compiled!

Are Your Cosmetics Toxic?: MyFoxAUSTIN.com

Two-Day Event:

 Try to make one of the following events...you will be privvy to life-changing information!

Sunday, March 27th in AUSTIN, TX:

2-4 p.m. University of Texas, Jester A121A

5-7 p.m. W3LL PEOPLE, 215 S. Lamar Blvd.

Monday, March 28th in HOUSTON, TX:

1-3 p.m. Lunch and Learn, 3601 Robinhood, Houston 77005

(if you're interested in this more personal luncheon with Stacy, please leave a comment below and we'll forward you an evite! VERY casual, come as you are, bring your friends!)

5-7 p.m. One Green Street, 5160 Buffalo Speedway, Houston 77005

Event Description:

What you put on your face and body may be harming your health.  A slew of studies are pointing to a link between the chemicals found in beauty products and cancer, infertility, learning disabilities, autism and a host of other health problems. 

Formaldehyde, lead, aluminum, phthalates – recent product tests reveal that these dangerous chemicals are found in everyday products like baby shampoo, lipstick, deodorant and perfume.   

“Make-Up’s Deadly Cover Up,” a seminar discussing the latest research on toxic chemicals in personal care products and safer alternatives, will be held on Sunday, March 27 from 2-4 p.m. at the University of Texas, 201 E 21st St, Jester A121A.

Following the seminar, W3LL PEOPLE at 215 S. Lamar Blvd. will host a reception from 5-7 p.m. with organic fare, refreshments and eco-makeovers. The events are free and open to the public; raffle tickets will benefit the Breast Cancer Fund and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

 “It is upsetting to learn about all the toxins that we're exposing ourselves to through products we've trusted and used for years,” states Stacy Malkan, co-founder of CSC, one of the seminar’s panelists and author of Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry. Malkan describes how she researched all the products in her teenage beauty routine: “I found that I was using 20 beauty products a day and exposing myself to 230 chemicals -- including dozens of carcinogens and hormone disruptors -- before even getting on the school bus.”

 Allison Evans and Kelly Blackstone, UT alumni and co-founders of Three Branches Healthy Living.  Evans has a powerful personal story of her deadly encounter with the beauty industry.  A 2008 graduate of UT, Evans experienced first-hand the havoc that synthetic chemicals can wreak on our bodies.

“I was a typical sorority girl, completely ignorant of what these everyday chemicals were doing to my health,” said Evans. “I developed horrible back and neck pain and, in my search to find relief, became aware of how these toxins affect us. I cleaned up my regime – diet and environment – and my body began to heal.”

Stacy Malkan added, “The good news is, there are simple ways to protect ourselves and our families from unnecessary toxic exposures.”

The seminar, sponsored by New Conscious Capital LLC, Pi Beta Phi and the UT Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, will teach you what’s in your favorite beauty products and show you how to find the safest alternatives.

Calories in, calories out. This used to be the basic, well-accepted explanation for why people lose and gain weight. According to this equation, eating 200 calories worth of processed foods (high in additives, perservatives, food dyes, etc.) has the same effect on our ability to lose/gain weight as eating 200 calories worth of the real stuff (whole grains, fruits, veggies, etc.)

Well, folks, I simply can't comprehend how this notion was ever conceived, but I'm just thankful that even calorie-counting programs like Weight Watchers, the world's largest diet company, are coming to terms with the truth: not all calories are the same.

David Kirchoff, president of Weight Watchers, recently said on their website: "Calorie counting has become unhelpful."

Ya think?!

A recent article in Time Magazine explains the new rendition of the Weight Watcher's old Points system:

"Like the old program, the new one assigns a point value to pretty much every food item under the sun and calculates a daily ration of points based on a member's height, weight and age. But most of the point values have changed.

The system now favors foods that are high in protein or fiber, which make the body work harder to convert them into energy and also leave the belly feeling fuller longer. Meanwhile, point values went up for foods loaded with carbohydrates, which are more easily absorbed by the body and turned into fat."

For a program that once allowed someone to "use up" all their points on highly-processed, full-of-sugar, trans-fat-loaded brownies, this is quite the positive change! You see, our bodies simply don't recognize, process, break-down, metabolize, or gain from highly adulterated, unnatured foods the same way as they do whole foods.

Take white flour, for instance, used to make those ever-tempting rolls found in restaurant bread baskets. In order to make them white, the outer layer (full of nutrients, fiber, B vitamins, antioxidants, etc.) is stripped away. When consumed, our bodies break down this "enriched" version too quickly, turning the white flour into sugar that is then stored as fat. It's whole-grain alternative is broken down more slowly, enabling our body to use all the nutrients it boasts, making us feel fuller longer. In addition, its nutrients are used for energy instead of stored as fat.

And this is just the whole-grain vs. refined grain example. This applies even more drastically to, say, a real strawberry vs. strawberry-flavored snacks (below). (Even if it says "real fruit", I can promise, the fruit is accompanied by 20+ other ingredients that our bodies don't think of as natural! For a real smoothie that will keep you full and not add extra weight, click here.) Or take 100% real chocolate (raw cacao) vs. M&M's...or organic plain yogurt vs. blueberry-flavored Yoplait. You get the point. Sticking to the real deal is always the way to go. After all, God made our bodies to consume the food He also made!

From first-hand experience, I can attest that eating real, unadulterated foods has an immensely positive impact on our health. I used to think I was healthy back in my low-calorie days. I'd turn the box of cereal or protein bar or low-fat ice cream carton around and assess its nutritional value based on calories only. Since then, my standards of "goodness" have changed drastically. Now, many of the foods I eat don't even have a label (fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, homemade grains, beans, etc.) and when they do (almond butter, coconut oil, canned beans, eggs, sprouted bread, etc.), I go straight to the ingredient list. In fact, I can't remember the last time I looked at the calorie number. And, ideally, there's only one ingredient! But, if not, I make sure they're all recognizable, pronouncable, and natural.

With respect to weight, I believe whole heartedly that the benefits of eating real food is the answer to weight losf for many people. The summer that Kelly and I graduated from college (2008), and moved to the Texas Hill Country to stay with Marilee, we consumed a great deal more food, and therefore calories, than we ever had before. Our meals were chock-full of whole grains like rice, quinoa, millet and hearty bean dishes as well as nutrient-dense greens and other veggies. This is what a typical lunch and dinner looked like and we always had happy plates! :) (oh, and that's not fruit, it's yummy slow-cooked squash!)

The results? We both lost weight! I couldn't believe it. The plate piled high with rice n' beans used to be a no-no in my calorie-counting days but I now look at it as a normal, healthy, keep-me-full lunch!

So, I recommend you get real. Replace those processed foods with whole-food alternatives and reap the benefits instantly!

For Dr. Mercola's comments on this topic, see here.

Saturday, March 5th from 1pm – 2:30pm.  River Oaks.  $30

Join Kelly and Allison the first weekend in March (just in-time for spring cleaning!) and learn information that will empower you to significantly change your health for the better!

Kelly and Allison, the founders of Three Branches Healthy Living, understand the ill effects that toxins have on our health and have witnessed first hand the rejuvenation that comes from their removal. They believe in the body’s unparalleled ability to repair itself and work with you to uncover potential blocks to healing found in our environment and diet in order to facilitate this innate healing process.

This workshop will review the role of both environment and diet and help you determine ways to live a clean, and therefore healthy, lifestyle. Some topics that will be discussed include:

* What’s the real deal on toxins? Learn shocking facts regarding our current “toxic load” and why addressing it is ever-crucial for you and your family.

* Do toxins really affect our health? Understand (with the help of Dr. Oz!) the connection between chemicals and health symptoms (weight gain, “allergies”, infertility, PMS, menopause symptoms, kidney/liver damage, cancer, etc.)

* How are we exposed to these toxins? Identify common sources of household toxins and learn how to avoid them.

* How can I make changes yet still live the life I know and love? Discover easy, inexpensive alternatives to your favorite home and body products and ways to tackle toxins one step at a time.

* What foods and/or supplements are best for me? Find out simple dietary recommendations and learn what to look for in your supplements, focusing on those that target women’s health.

* Q & A and Products: Get answers to your health questions and have the chance to purchase the best, purest home and body products available…at a special Define discount!

To register for this workshop with Allison and Kelly, click here.

You may have read our blog a few months back titled, "Coconut Oil: A Must in Your Diet". If you haven't, you must. And if you've been living your whole life without coconut oil as as staple in your kitchen, you must stop. 

Given my sort of obsession with this nutty, buttery, deliciously flavored delight, you can imagine how hard it is for me to be believe that coconut oil was previously warned against. Wh-HHAAATTT?!?!?! 

Well, it turns out this widespread misconception stemmed from a four-decades old study based on hydrogenated coconut oil, which contains harmful trans-fatty acids (TFAs). These little demons have been shown to raise blood cholesterol and lead to heart disease. 

Another reason people were told to steer clear of coconut oil was due to its high saturated fat content...and "all saturated fats are bad for you." Scientists and doctors now realize that just like there is good cholesterol, there is also good saturated fat. 

Another reason people believe coconut oil must be bad for you is misguided association: it is a saturated fat and "saturated fats are bad for you." Dietary guidelines inevitably fail to distinguish between different kinds of saturated fats and insist that saturated fats (meaning all saturated fats) are harmful. This has to do with the size of the fatty acid chain. Coconut oil consists of medium-chain fatty acids which are absorbed directly into the liver, made easily available to our bodies. Long-Chain fatty acids, on the other hand, are harder to emulsify and can create excess bile.

The benefits of coconut oil are truly never-ending. On the more vain side, it's wonderful for the skin and helps your body burn fat. But, most of all, it has amazing healing properties, known by Pacific Islanders as "a cure for all illnesses." For an extensive list of all its benefits, see coconut oil.

If you so desire, read this article below that just came out in the New York Times. I've included an excerpt below where the author, Melissa Clark of the New York Times, shares her personal experimentations with this brilliant kitchen companion!

Once a Villain, Coconut Oil Charms the Health Food World

In my flurry of experimenting, I found that virgin coconut oil had a deep coconut flavor that persists even after cooking. Refined coconut oil, which has been processed enough to raise the temperature at which it begins to smoke, lacks the same coconut profundity, but supposedly works better for stir- and deep-frying. In my recipe testing, however, the smoke point of virgin coconut oil was not a problem.

Melted and cooled, virgin coconut oil worked beautifully in my favorite olive oil poundcake, yielding a loaf with a tight, golden crumb and gentle coconut fragrance that I enhanced with lime zest, almonds and a grating of fresh nutmeg.

I also like coconut oil for sautéing vegetables and aromatics, especially onions. They absorb the sweetness of the oil and pass that lovely nuance on to the whole dish. In one memorable meal, I sautéed scallions in coconut oil, which managed to perfume an entire pan of plump, juicy shrimp spiked with garlic, ginger and coriander.

And I may never go back to olive oil for roasting sweet potatoes, not when coconut oil enhanced their caramelized flavor while adding a delicate coconut essence.

But my favorite new way to use coconut oil is for popcorn. The oil brings out the nutty sweetness of the corn itself while adding a rich creamy sensation, without having to pour melted butter on the top. Of course, the movie theaters knew it all along.

Read full article in New York Times.

You can purchase our coconut oil here for only $11.95. It can be kept out in room temperature for a smooth, soft consistency that's perfect as a butter replacement on your morning toast. This jar is big and will last you quite a while!

Now, until the end of March, when you purchase a Quantum Cell Phone Protector, you'll get Vitamin D3 Serum thrown in for FREE!

The Quantum Cell 

Most people are unaware that their cell phone is constantly sending out a signal even when not in use. If your cell phone is in receiving mode and the battery has juice in it, the transmitter in your cell phone is sending out a signal that is creating a hazardous field of microwave radiation. When your cell phone is in actual use, whether talking or texting, the dangerous levels of microwave radiation from it are greatly enhanced.

More powerful than any other cell phone emf shield or cell phone radiation blocker on the market, the Quantum Cell offers superior protection, because it grounds your nervous system into the earth’s electromagnetic field.

This product far exceeds the effectiveness of all other chips or cell phone protectors on the market. It transforms the hazardous field of microwave radiation generated by cell phones into a positive, beneficial field of protection. Other devices lessen the impact of the hazardous field, but do not provide as powerful protection, thereby creating a false sense of security.*

*It should be noted, however, that no EMF protection device can provide full protection from these harmful fields. Only removal of the source (shutting off your cell phone) will reduce the electromagnetic radiation (EMR), as can be tested with a quantifiable EMR meter reading. That being said, our experience with extremely electromagnetically-sensitive clients has shown that EarthCalm EMF protection devices can produce marked results in people's symptoms. So, whether you currently experience symptoms from EMFs or not, you can trust that these devices could very well support your body against these harmful fields. 

Vitamin D3

Why are we offering Vitamin D along with the Quantum Cell? Because real source Vitamin D provides amazing support for the brain and nerves, both of which are negatively affected by electromagnetic radiation. When we have our cell phones to our heads all day, it's best to pull out all the protection stops available and that means utilizing the Quantum Cell along with Vitamin D for powerful brain support. 

Vitamin D is such a powerful disease and sickness fighter that medical doctors everywhere are recommending it to their patients. In fact, research has shown that many illnesses could have been avoided with just a daily dose of Vitamin D alone. Many people are deficient in calcium, however, the root of the problem most times is a lack of Vitamin D which helps your body absorb and utilize the calcium. Vitamin D also supports healthy bones, nerves, heart, brain, lungs, esophagus, breasts, colon, stomach, pancreas, prostate, uterus, ovaries and kindeys. Wow! What's left?

Vitamin D3 is the real source of Vitamin D, versus Vitamin D2 which is its synthetic counterpart, most commonly found in supplements and milk. For real results, take the real stuff!

For more information on Vitamin D3, see our blog post, "Vitamin D3: Simply the Best".

So, purchase the Quantum Cell today and get your FREE Vitamin D3!

Need to reorder some Greens Mix? Been meaning to get on Cod Liver Oil but overwhelmed by the plethora of choices? What about adding a powerful, metabolism-boosting superfood smoothie to your morning regime? Curious if non-toxic cleaning products really work? In the market for the perfect eye cream to rid of those smile lines? Still showering in chlorinated water because you don't know about our amazing shower filters?!

We promise that our products are the most effective and purest ones in their class. And today's the day to buy! Spend at least $50.00 and receive FREE SHIPPING. But hurry because the offer ENDS at MIDNIGHT!

First off, we would like to thank all of you who have made comments on the blog in the past! After realizing a problem with the comment system, we FINALLY read all of the comments our readers have left us. (Some from a while back!)  We can't tell you how much all the ecouraging words mean to us. Please keep them coming!

We want to encourage you to comment on the blog more often now that we have fixed the problem....now your comments will actually show up instead of seeminly getting lost in cyber space after you hit the "submit" button!

We would love for you to ask questions about any of our posts. And if you have put some of our recommendations into practice or bought products from us, then please share your experiences and feedback with us.

We love to hear about even the smallest changes that people make in their daily lives to help create a healthier home and healthier body!

We'll be discussing the effects of common household toxins, how to rid of them and offer some great, easy alternatives. Then we'll move to some simple dietary suggestions that will leave you feeling light and energized! Finally, bring on your health questions and let us guide you to the supplements that best fit your personal needs.

Many of the home and body products we discuss will be there for you to purchase and take home, including whole-food supplements, shower/bath filters, non-toxic cleaning products, etc.

We've experienced first hand the amazing results of lessening this unhealthy burden and are assured that you will leave informed, empowered and ready to live a cleaner, healthier lifestyle! Trust us, you DON'T want to miss it!

Click here to sign up and go to the "WORKSHOPS" tab on the right. See you at 1 on Saturday, March 5th! Here's the flyer about the event:

 

Factors that Influence Quality and Health Benefits of Meat

So how do you determine the quality of the meat? The following three factors need to be considered:

1. How it's raised, i.e. factory farmed or raised organically. Conventional meat is loaded with pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals and should be avoided.
2. Whether or not it's grass-fed. This is an essential requirement healthy meat.
3. Whether or not it contains nitrates, preservatives linked to cancer. Processed meats are not a healthful choice for anyone and should be avoided entirely, according to a recent review of more than 7,000 clinical studies examining the connection between diet and cancer.

Next, how you cook the meat will also influence its health benefits because any time you cook meat at high temperatures, dangerous chemicals are created, including:

 

• Heterocyclic Amines (HCAs): These form when food is cooked at high temperatures, and they're linked to cancer. In terms of HCA, the worst part of the meat is the blackened section, which is why you should always avoid charring your meat, and never eat blackened sections.
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): When fat drips onto the heat source, causing excess smoke, and the smoke surrounds your food, it can transfer cancer-causing PAHs to the meat.
• Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs): When food is cooked at high temperatures (including when it is pasteurized or sterilized), it increases the formation of AGEs in your food. When you eat the food, it transfers the AGEs into your body. AGEs build up in your body over time leading to oxidative stress, inflammation and an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease.

 

In other words, even if you are a protein type who thrives on red meat, eating factory farmed, grain-feed beef that's been charred to a crisp will NOT improve your health.

 

In order for meat to be its healthiest, it should be organic and grass-fed, and it should be cooked as little as possible. You can, for example, quickly sear the meat on both sides, leaving the inside quite rare. This gives the illusion that you're eating cooked meat, while still getting many of the benefits of raw.

 

Keep in mind that when it comes to parasites or other infections, the health of the animal is of utmost importance, which is yet another reason for avoiding any kind of factory-farmed meats. Those animals are fed and housed poorly, which makes disease-causing bacteria an issue, whereas organically-raised pastured animals rarely get diseased.

 

For full artilce, click here.

Spring is approaching and some of you may already be gearing up for some "spring cleaning" in your homes. But it turns our that spring is also the best time to clean our bodies. It is the optimal time for our bodies to detoxify and get off to a refreshing, clean start. 

So here is a very simple way to start cleaning up your body and lessening the chemical load that we all carry in us!*

It is known as oil pulling and has been around for ages. Dr. F Karach, M.D. is the one that is known for making this procedure more widely used, and he saw this simple treatment aid in healing many of his patients. It has been helpful in almost every disease or dysfunctional immune state that Dr. Karach has encountered. He has found amazing results with everything from headaches to cancer. 

So if you are ill, or you want to help prevent yourself from becoming ill, I suggest giving it a try! It's simple, inexpesnive, and effective.

Detox with Sesame Oil:

1. In the morning before breakfast, on an empty stomach, take 1 tablespoon Premier Sesame Oil  in the mouth, but do not swallow. (A high quality sesame oil is important.)
2. Swish the oil around the mouth, “chew it” and mix it with your saliva for 10-30 minutes. (If chemically or EMF sensitive, start out slow – take 1 tsp. oil for 1 - 5 minutes. Usually, this process lightens the chemical load without a problem, but it is always wise to be on the cautious side.)
3. Chewing activates the enzymes, which draws toxins out of the blood. And in 10-30 minutes, the blood from the entire body has had the opportunity to circulate through and around the mouth. After 10-30 minutes the oil should be thinner and white. If it is still yellow, you have not held it in your mouth long enough. (10 minutes the first week is usually sufficient, then increase to 15-30 minutes as you get clearer)
4. Spit out the oil. After expelling the oil, immediately brush your gums, teeth and tongue with warm salt or salt/soda water – 1-cup water to ½ teaspoon Premier Pink Salt and ½ teaspoon Baking Soda (optional) diluted in water.  Then gargle and spit with the remaining salt or salt/soda water.  It is also helpful to tip the cup under the nose and gently sniff up the water to clean the nasal passages. Then gently blow the nose.
5. The sink should be cleaned afterward because the saliva actually contains toxic bodily waste. (See Cleaning section for non-toxic cleaner)
6. If desired, for faster results, repeat this procedure two to three times a day, before meals, on an empty stomach. 

*(If you're thinking that doesn't include you, I'm sorry to say but you are probably wrong. Nearly everyone has 83 to 100 pesticides and inustrical chemical residues in their bodies among other chemicals from personal care products, and even babies have over 200 chemicals in their umbilical cord blood before they are even born!)

Our three-branch team feels so blessed to have crossed paths with Gabrielle Welch, the founder and owner of Welch Wellness here in Houston. Her goal is to educate, support and inspire women and children to help prevent disease and embrace a life of wellness through nutrition and life balance. Pretty great, huh?

Gabrielle was recently featured on Great Day Houston, where she educated the audience on common household toxins and their possible connection with children's sickness and disease...she offers grocery store tours and personal shopping...she's set up a unique program called "The Real Food Family Balance System" that educates and facilitates the integration of whole, nutritious foods in the home...she's developed "Simple Green Living" which empowers parents to make healthier choices for their children by looking at what they're putting in, on and around their bodies...she also includes in the program the option of going into their house for a home and body makeover (out with the toxins, in with the energy, health and new lease on life!)...and as if her plate's not full enough (did I mention she's a mom herself!?), Gabrielle has just written a book titled "How to Get Your Kids Off Junk Food". The book includes a 12-step program that helps end the mealtime "food battles" and unhealthy food addictions.

I couldn't be more excited about reading this book as I believe with all my heart that many of our children's health issues and learning impairments (ADD, ADHD, etc.) stem from the food they eat. A diet full of processed, low-quality foods and void of mineral-rich whole-foods can keep our brains from functioning at their full capacity. I'm here to say that making simple changes in your child's diet could result in their increased ability to pay attention for longer periods of time, process thoughts and make cognitive connections. Afterall, we were meant to eat food, not a synthetic processed alternative that derives its flavors from complex chemical combinations!

So, preorder Gabrielle's book How to Get Your Kids Off Junk Food for only $15.95. If not for you, buy it for someone you love!

I finally got around to vacuuming the blinds in my office this morning, and I was reminded once again after previously vacuuming my bedroom blinds, how dust is full of contaminants that affect us without us realizing it. As soon as I disturbed the dust, the room was filled with a fragrant aroma. My friend and I couldn't believe it. It smelled like years of candles, perfumes, and shampoos were being released into the air.

In a way, that is what was happening. Research has shown that some of the most dangerous chemical pollutants actually ride on dust. And that includes both fragrant and non fragrant pollutants! In fact, the ones that don't smell and can keep people from healing are called SVOC’s (Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds). These ride on dust and do not have an odor.  SVOC’s from plasticizers, biocides, pesticides, flame-retardants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) are very dangerous and are an insidious under miner of health.

Many people live in homes with high levels of these SVOC’s unaware of their presence since there is no odor. An indication that SVOC’s may be a problem is the inability to heal from chronic illness, chemical and EMF injury even after extensive therapies and measures. Dust testing that can reveal the SVOC’s present in the home is available and can therefore alert the owner so that appropriate action and/or remediation measures may be taken. Thankfully, thorough HEPA vacuuming will reduce your exposure to SVOC’s immediately! (Read more in our article "Using Your HEPA Vacuum".)

A quality HEPA vacuum like the Nilfisk GM80 and the Nilfisk Family Vac are not the cheapest things on the market, but they are an incredibly smart investment. They are built to last for decades and they can suck up decades of chemical residues! Marilee has story after story of clients with asthma and allergies as well as more severe illnesses that have seen major improvements in their health after using a Nilfisk vacuum to clean up their home. If you or someone you know is ill and can afford a Nilfisk, I would seriously consider taking the plunge. I honestly believe you would be doing yourself or them a favor by purchsing or recommeding it. If you are chemically senstive then this is the best vacuum for you. That is our standard for products after all... if it proves to be safe and effective for the chemically senstive then it is the safest and most effective product out there for everyone. 

Read our Learn: Hepa Vacuum section to learn more about why choosing a vacuum cleaner is a bigger decision than you think. And feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

And next time you see dust bunnies piling up in corners or underneath furniture, don't ignore it .... Actually, don't even let it get to that point. Instead, become a frequent HEPA vacuumer :)

Tuesday night I had the privilege of going just two blocks down the street from my new house in Jackson to hear Dr. Russell Blaylock speak at Belhaven College. Dr. Blaylock is a nationally recognized board-certified neurosurgeon, health practitioner, author and lecturer, and I couldn't believe it when I found out he is a visiting professor of Biology at the college campus I take daily walks through!

Last night, as a keynote speaker for Belhaven's Health & Wellness Series, Dr. Blaylock informed the audience of all kinds of important information. As a retired neurosurgeon, his research stems from examining the brain and its reaction to certain chemicals and toxins. I can't tell you how happy it made me to sit in the chair and listen to a board-certified M.D. talk about pesticides and Parkinson's, mercury fillings and Alzheimer's, sugar being a major trigger of inflammation and free radical production, and chronic inflammation leading to chronic disease. He covered topic after topic that I have a passion for opening other people's eyes to. It was incredible.

He went on to discuss the abundance of omega 6 fats (corn, sunflower, safflower, soybean, peanut and canola oil) that are found in virtually all processed foods and how they cause inflammation in the body and brain. Babies, he said, at six months of age have 50 times the allowable limit of aluminum set by the EPA due to the number of vaccinations they're given. While magnesium is one of the most powerful protectors against heart attacks and other causes of sudden death, most people are deficient in magnesium and especially those who drink soft drinks, he says.

Noting a study that showed how better diet increased CAT scores in New York public schools, and that after dietary changes were made (mainly elimination of high fat and sucrose) at the Oklahoma Children's Center there was a 43% reduction in serious crime, Blaylock discussed the importance of good nutrition associated with mental health and behavior.  Low levels of DHA is something he said is common in patients with depression and bipolar disorder. The good news is that quality oils, like a pure cod liver oil with a high amount of omega 3's, are extremely beneficial. When a woman takes omega 3 oils during pregnancy, the baby will have better vision, brain function, and a lower risk of breast cancer down the road, Blaylock says. (See previous post for more on the fermented cod liver oil from Green Pastures we just started carrying!)

Something he said he likes to preach about often is the antioxidant network. Our bodies are complex creations and researching isolated antioxidants is not going to show us the real picture. Blaylock's talk about flavonoids, powerful antioxidants from plants that help protect us from free radical damage, motivated me to start juicing again! While the weather was cold, I couldn't quite make myself juice on a regular basis but this morning I decided to get back on the bandwagon. I juiced organic kale, parsley, apple, ginger, celery, and lemon. And not only was is absolutely delicious, it was power-packed with beneficial antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins and minerals good for my body and my brain!

I highly suggest reading Dr. Blaylock's wellness reports and watching some of the many YouTube videos where he explains in greater detail all the topics I mentioned above, plus some. For me, as someone in a family full of medical doctors and a long-term boyfriend in medical school, Dr. Blaylock is a wonderful resource as he reviews the medical literature as well as the nutrition literature. And on top of that, he is a solid Christian man who believes that God created our bodies to heal themselves when given the right fuel!

I recently went on and on and ooooon about the plethora of benefits derived from taking a regular dose of high-quality cod liver oil. (If you missed it, read my post "Time for a (cod liver) oil change!". But you'll notice that I added "fermented" to the post's title!

So what's the deal? Why fermented versus regular cod liver oil? It's all about the extraction process. In order to maintain the highest mineral density count, the cod liver oil must be kept completely raw, introduced to no heat whatsoever. In fact, as crazy as it sounds, back in the Roman Empire and Viking days, all the way to the mid 1800's, this was the only method. Then came efficiency...and profitabilty...and high demands. The process was streamlined as manufacturers found that heating sped it up tenfold.

But, thanks to Green Pastures, there still exists the original, super-duper mineral dense cod liver oil in its unheated, raw, live-source form. Blue Ice Fermented Cod Liver Oil is the answer, folks. Chock-full of Omega-3's, 6's, 9's and 12's, it doesn't stop there. The fermentation process allows for the presense of a plethora of micronutrients, otherwise lost during conventional heat-extraction processes. There is simply a much deeper and broader range of nutrients, including CoQ10, one of the best supports for heart, brain, nerve and immune system.

Don't wait another day to add this highest-quality oil to your diet. Who knows? You could see the results visibly as this product provides wonderful nutrients for your skin, hair and nails. Not to mention brain health! And if you're stuck taking any ol' cod liver oil from the grocery store, stop wasting your time. Make Blue Ice Fermented Cod Liver Oil a part of your daily regime!

I was interviewed for Houston Magazine by the adorable and talented Amber Bell. She's my age but has had the experiences of a middle-aged woman! To be honest, I think the interview would have been more interesting had we switched places and focused on her story. She's a fabulously gifted writer who has held Senior Editor and Editor-in-Chief positions for multiple magazines, including Dallas Brides, Houston Brides and HOUSTON Magazine. Her husband's job led the couple to Aberdeen, Scotland, but that didn't stop Amber from pursuing her passion for writing as she joined the team of Aberdeen's top bridal magazine, Grampian Wedding Directory. Currently back stateside, Amber started her own freelance writing company, Amber Bell Creative Freelance. Oh, and as a fun side note, she's an award-winning synchronized swimmer! I mean, why not?!

So, all that to say, I was ecstatic to run across one of her blog posts entitled "Organic Manic" where she detailed her recent transition to healthier habits. I highly recommend you read it! From choosing organic meats and dairy products to using low-toxic cleaning products, Amber has made changes that will undoubtedly reap benefits for she and her husband...and their future children! Her honest account is so relatable for many who feel overwhelmed and just want to take it a step at a time.

Thanks, Amber, for being such a wonderful example to all of us! I'm flattered that my story had such an impact on your life and hope that others will follow suit!

Happy Valentine's Day!

If you've been reading the blog for a while, you know that I have talked about BabyCakes a good bit. But I really haven't had a chance to make too many of the recipes before, so I decided Valentine's day was a good excuse to try one out. I chose the Brownie Gems because they seemed like a good decadent choice to indulge on for this holiday that makes us all think of chocolate.

The brownie part was really easy to make and only took 8 minutes in the oven! I got kind of lazy and didn't follow through with making the icing/choclate sauce according to the recipe. I decided to just make my own concoction and mix together a little agave nectar, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and cocoa powder for a quick and easy filling. That's why mine aren't filled to the top with filling like they are in the book. My mixture was a little too liquidy and melted into the brownie. (Plus the coconut oil bubbled up a little.)

I must say, though, that they really turned out great! And I'm not known for my baking skills. They are rich and fudgelike - very gooey on the insides and perfectly cooked on on the outsides. Watch out though, they are kind of dangerous since they are bite-size! You can easily pop 3 into your mouth before you realize it.

If you ever try out the recipe, let me know what you think! The full recipe is below. I hope you have a happy and healthy Valentine's Day!

Agave-Sweetened Brownie Gems

BabyCakes NYC

• 1/2 cup garbanzo-fava bean flour
• 1/4 cup brown rice flour
• 1/4 cup potato starch
• 2 tablespoons arrowroot
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon xanthum gum
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, plus more for the tins
• 1/3 cup agave nectar
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup hot water (or hot coffee)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease three 12-cup mini-muffin tins with oil. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, potato starch, arrowroot, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, xanthum gum, and salt. Add the 1/2 cup oil and the agave nectar, applesauce, vanilla and hot water to the dry ingredients and stir until batter is smooth.

Using a melon baller, scoop the batter into each prepared mini-muffin cup. Bake the brownies on the center rack for 9 minutes, rotating the tins 180 degrees after 5 minutes. For a more fudgy-tasting cake, bake for only 8 minutes total. (This is what I did.) The finished brownies will have firm edges with a soft center, and a toothpick inserted in the center will come out clean.

Let the brownies stand in the tins for 20 minutes, or until completely cool. While they are still in the tins, press your thumb (or a small melon baller) into the center of each and fill the depression with 1 teaspoon chocolate sauce. To maintain freshness, leave the brownies in the muffin tins until ready to serve. Cover and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Chocolate Sauce*

 BabyCakes NYC

• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened organic soy milk
• 1/2 cups organic dry soy milk powder
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon coconut flour
• 1/4 cup agave nectar
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

In a blender or a food processor, combine the soy milk, soy powder, cocoa powder, coconut flour, agave nectar, and vanilla. Blend the ingredients for 2 minutes. With the machine running, slowly add the oil and lemon juice, alternating between the to until both are fully incorporated. Pour the mixture into an airtight container and refrigerate for 6 hours or for up to 1 month if using as a frosting/icing. Store at room temperature for up to 1 week if using as a sauce.

* Again, I just made a quick and simple filling with agave nectar, melted coconut oil, vanilla, and a little bit of cocoa powder. If you want a healthy treat around the house and don't want to go through the process of making the full-out recipe, I recommend this simplified version.

Did you know that in a ten-minute shower you absorb more chlorine, trihalomethanes, and other chemicals than by drinking 8 glasses of that same unpurified water?!

Your skin is your largest organ and is covered with millions of tiny little pores that take in these chemicals through the water AND the vapors created during a hot shower. That hot shower may feel good but it may not be good for you! At 100 degrees, the cloud of steam created in your shower and bathroom is full of chlorine and chlorine byproducts that you are breathing in and absorbing through your skin.The chlorine and chloramines rob the skin of oils and contribute to dry skin. (Dry skin can also be attributed to soaps with chemicals in them. Read the ingredient labels on your soaps and body washes to make sure they are chemical-free!) 

Why not start taking a chlorine-free shower when it is as easy as 1-2-3? I just moved and the before I even took my first shower, I simply unscrewed the shower head, screwed on the CQ-1000 Shower Filter, and then screwed the shower head on. (I didn't screw the original shower head back on because I put the Bernouli Power Shower on instead. It's amazing how much more pressure it puts out. If you feel like your shower pressure needs a pick-me up, then I highly recommend the power shower!) 

The CQ-1000 and the New Century® shower filters are essentially the same only the New Century® is larger so it will last longer. The CQ-1000 typically lasts 9-12 months, where the New Century® usually lasts 18 months. These are KDF filters designed by the father of shower filters himself! George Ricci at Rainshow'r (who Allison and I had the pleasure of meeting while we were out in Los Angeles a few months ago) was the first to come up with the idea of a filter for your shower.

The secret to the Rainshow'r shower filters is their KDF-55 - a proprietary blend of copper and zinc. This blend actually dissolves the chlorine and other toxins versus just trapping them in the water, like carbon filters. Another unique advantage of the Rainshow'r shower filter is that is actually works better in hot water as opposed to carbon filters working best in cold water. (Who likes cold showers?!?) The reason why KDF works better for hot water is because the chlorine molecules expand when they're heated and the bigger they are, the quicker the KDF-55 can dissolve them right up! Also, Rainshow’r filtration systems aren’t made with materials will leech into the water as it passes through the purifier such as caulks, adhesives, and plasticizers (many filters have plastic components that can leech into the water.)

Finally, if you like to take baths either in addition to your showers or in place of showers, the Crystal Bath Ball 3000 Filter is a great thing to have on hand. Think about it.....that relaxing bath you love so much (or you bathe your kids in every night) is giving you (or your kids) a healthy dose of chlorine and other chemicals. The bath ball has a special media called KDF-73 that converts the chlorine ions in the water to a harmless chloride so it eliminates the toxic effects of chlorine, chloriamines, and chlorine gas. Simply fill the bathtub up with water and pull the bath ball through it for a few minutes by the string attached. Don't add salts or soap until after you've dechlorinated the water. And voila, there you have it....a chlorine-free bathtub!

(Can you tell that I get excited about these products?! And now's the best time to buy them because you get free shipping for orders $50 or more this month.)

I cooked this big bowl of veggies because I wanted to sip on some super nutrient-dense homemade veggie broth during these freeeeezing winter days! The fresh-squeezed cold vegetable juice I'm used to making in the mornings sounds less than appealing. There is really no talent in the creation of this pot of goodness. I went to the grocery store and simply chose the vegetables that I thought looked the freshest. Root vegetables are great for a hearty broth and slow-cooking them brings out their dense flavors. I also added a bit of fresh thyme, rosemary and a few bay leaves. Oh! And some dried seaweed that I had in my pantry.

Veggies I used: carrots, rutabagas, leeks, celery, celery root (I thought it looked kinda cool), daikon, butternut squash, acorn squash, onions.

To make: Chop it all into big chunks, fill the pot with purified water, bring it to a boil and then let it simmer for about an hour. Couldn't be easier. And now you have a simple veggie soup for the week, PLUS delicious homemade veggie broth that can be frozen and pulled out when needed...when a recipe calls for water, this broth can be substituted. Make brown rice with this delicious homemade base and you'll never look back!

I drug myself out of bed yesterday morning at 5:30 to make it to the gym by 6 where upon I was greeted by my very Russian and very strict trainer. (Which makes him very amazing, I might add.) I was already half asleep and somewhat dreading the hour that lie ahead, but knew I'd muster the energy to somehow make it to the end.

But this morning was different. My trainer (or Killer, as I  affectionately refer to him) was drenched in cologne. I found it hard to take a full breath, which describes most of my weight-training sessions with him even sans heavy fragrances! My airways seemed filled by this all-pervasive scent that lingered on my clothes well after I left the gym. 

I headed straight to my FAR Infrared Sauna (which deserves its own post altogether!) to sweat out the fragrance that seemed to be a part of me by now. While waiting for it to heat up, I scanned the editorials written by Houston Chronicle's Ken Hoffman. Topic of the day? His newfound obsession with scented candles. 

"Nothing I could find was strong enough," Hoffman said. "I want my house to smell like I'm baking apple pies around the clock. I went online and did a search on 'strongest-scented candles.'"

This all to say, we are a scent-loving nation. And I'm not referring to natural scents. I'm talking about consumer products, things made in a factory like perfumes, colognes, body lotions, soaps, candles, air fresheners, laundry detergent, potpourri...the list is endless.

"So what," you ask. "What's wrong with the other stuff? Scents make everything smell clean and fresh!"

The actual smell is a matter of personal preference. For some, an outfit's not complete without a spritz of perfume, a house not clean without the all-too-familiar smell of Febreeze. But what makes a smell a smell is a fact. These synthetic fragrances are chock full of chemicals. 

What makes a smell a smell?

A smell is created with complex mixtures of hundreds of chemicals, many of which aren't listed on the labels. When Hoffman asked the manufacturer of his favorite candles, Triple Scent Candle Co., if there was real apple pie in the apple pie candle, she said no, and wouldn't tell him what was. That's because fragrance is considered a "trade secret", and manufacturers don't have to disclose their ingredients. So, unlike the food industry, which is highly regulated, we have no idea what we're breathing or absorbing into our skin when these candles burn bright around us and fill our lungs with their permeating fragrances. 

"Fragrance chemicals are inhaled or absorbed through the skin, and many of them end up inside people's bodies, including pregnant women and newborn babies," said Jane Houlihan, senior vice president for research at Environmental Working Group.

Most of these secret scents are made with things like propylene glycol, acetate, ethanol, toluene, camphor, benzyl acetate, formaldehyde, g-terpinene, musk xylene...the list goes on. Also, most candles derive their vibrant colors from coal tar which contains heavy metals. Many of these ingredients are known carcinogens and over time, can lead to cancer and disease. Not to mention, short-term effects like headaches, dizziness, allergic reactions, rashes and even depression and behavioral issues. Why would chemical manufacturers use them? It's simple. These chemicals are cheap, needed to create high-demanded scents and don't have to be disclosed. 

Safe Alternatives

As consumers, it's up to us to make informed choices for the sake of our health and that of our families. Fortunately, there are many great alternatives in the candle industry. Look for ones made with 100% pure beeswax or soy and the scent should be made with 100% essential oils. And, although companies don't have to disclose their ingredients, you'll find the manufacturers who make safe candles always do. 

My Two Scents

it's time we heed the warnings of the President's Cancer Panel which warns of the understudied and largely unregulated toxins used by millions of Americans each day. In fact, they're right under our noses! Don't just buy any ol' product on the shelf. Turn the bottle around, look for the ingredients. If you can't find them, move on. If you can't pronounce them, look for a product with ingredients you recognize. After all, whether eating, inhaling or absorbing, these products are making their way into our bodies, which can only detoxify so much. So be a safe and savvy consumer and have fun...with the real stuff!

Lab Tests Find Toxic Chemicals in Popular Perfumes, Washington D.C., May 13, 2010.

image: colincowie.com

The newest issue of Houston magazine came out today and flipping through it this month is a must! The February issue, also known as the the Beauty Issue, highlights seven Houstonians that know how to "look good and feel great," so who better than Three Branches' very own, Allison Evans, is more qualified?!

Find out some of Allison's favorite things, like skin care products and where to work out in Houston. Take "The Cleaner's" advice and start using non-toxic products as a start to looking good and feeling better!

Don't live in Houston? Check out the issue online! Click here and type in "99" where it says cover. You'll then see Allison on page 99 of the magazine!

It's a new month, which means a new special! During the month of February, you'll receive free shipping when you spend $50 or more! We have a lot of products, so start browsing through the site today and take advtange of this offer! Please feel free to contact us for questions and/or guidance on what products best suit your goals or needs.

Happy Monday! If you haven't already, we encourage you to sign up for our free newsletters. We promise we won't crowd your inbox (we only wish we had time to write more than two a month!) but just inform you of monthly specials and occasional tips for a healthy home and body. Click here to sign up!

We get this a lot. And although people's bodies are very different and it is best to meet everyone's personal needs with specific remedies, 99% of the time we can give a blanket answer to this question. No one, no matter where they are in their health journey (or what other medications they may be taking) wouldn't benefit from a "greens" supplement and a good-quality oil. We've talked a lot about our Greens Mix, but haven't given due credit to the powerful results that come from adding an oil such as Fermented Cod Liver Oil to the diet.

We Need Oil

First of all, we need oil, or fats, to live. They store energy, pad internal organs, protect nerves and help keep our cell membranes supple and fluid so that they can easily absorb nutrients and release unwanted toxins. They act as fuel for our bodies and we simply can't run without oil.

But not just any oil will do. The car analogy is a bit overused, but it serves well in explaining the importance of getting good oils in your diet. Our bodies can be thought of as Rolls Royces or the Cadillacs of cars. Now would you fill your brand new Lamborghini up with cheap motor oil? I think not. It simply wouldn't run as well and, over time, could destroy the car.

It's the same with our bodies. God made us with intricate detail and mysterious complexity and that requires the best fuel available, not cheap oils found in fried foods, trans-fatty acids and the like. When we consume only these poor-quality fats, we'll run alright, but not well and not for long. Put simply, a diet made of only these bad oils can result in inflammation, skin problems, depression, heart disease, etc. On the other hand, a diet that incorporates good-quality oils can catapult your health to new realms. Let's look at some of the main benefits of adding an oil such as Fermented Cod Liver Oil to your diet...

Fermented Cod Liver Oil Reduces Inflammation

Inflammation is our body's healing response, but when it becomes chronic, issues can ensue. Inflammation of the GI tract, for instance, can eventually lead to colon cancer. Neurologists are even beginning to link the progression of Alzheimer's with excess inflammation. It can also be set off by stress, environmental factors, bacteria, viruses, etc. While thhere are a deluge of drugs on the market that fight inflammation, they tax the liver amongst many other side effects.

The good news is we can treat inflammation by adding certain oils, specifically omega-3s found in Fermented Cod Liver Oil to our diet. Leo Galland, an internist and founder of the Foundation for Integrated Medicine in New York City, has been touting the benefits of anti-inflammatory foods since the early 1980s. According to WebMD's "Good Fat, Bad Fat: The Facts About Omega-3", anti-inflammatory fats like omega-3s found in Fermented Cod Liver Oil work by encouraging the production of certain chemicals that fight inflammation.

Fermented Cod Liver Oil for Your Brain

The brain is made of 60% fat, most specifically DHA, an omega-3 long-chain fatty acid found abundantly in Cod Liver Oil. DHA is necessary for brain development and has been associated with optimal memory function, eyesight and positive mood. In fact, DHA is crucial for babies and may explain why breast-fed babies have higher IQ's than those fed formula without DHA.

DHA works phenomenally and therefore use often in the prevention and/or treatment of cognitive disorders ranging from ADD/ADHD to Alzheimer's. According to Omega-3 DHA and EPA for cognition, behavior and mood, published by the National Institute of Health, "In double-blind, randomized, controlled trials performed by the University of California, Berkeley, "DHA and EPA combinations have been shown to benefit attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD), autism, dyspraxia, dyslexia, and aggression. For the affective disorders, meta-analyses confirm benefits in major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder, with promising results in schizophrenia and initial benefit for borderline personality disorder. Accelerated cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) correlate with lowered tissue levels of DHA/EPA, and supplementation has improved cognitive function." (I added bold to text)

"If you want to prevent learning disabilities in your children," said David Horrobin, distinguished medical and biochemical researcher, "feed them cod liver oil."

Fermented Cod Liver Oil for Your Skin

Still battling acne, anyone? If you're anything like me, breakouts happen. Vitamin A is essential in treating and preventing skin problems. In fact, Accutane is a very high dose of Vitamin A. The only problem is it's synthetic and does a number on your liver. Fermented Cod Liver Oil, on the other hand, contains more Vitamin A and D per unit weight than any other food. In fact, just a hundred grams of Fermented Cod Liver Oil provides almost three times more Vitamin A than beef liver, the next richest source.

Read one girl's humorous testimony on the benefits of Fermented Cod Liver Oil and skin as written in Canada's Beauty Editor.

Eat Out Much?

Because we're realistic and know that even the healthiest of eaters will still fall victim to the cheap oils found in the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.), we have good news for you. When you take Fermented Cod Liver Oil on a regular basis, your (very smart) body will uptake the good oil and release the bad. So, we highly recommend Fermented Cod Liver Oil for maintaining optimal health, but especially for those who eat out a lot, resulting in a diet more prone to cheap, inflammation-inducing oils like vegetable oil, safflower oil, canola oil, corn oil, etc.

Supplementing with Fermented Cod Liver Oil

While omega-3s can be found in fatty fish such as mackerel, salmon, trout, sardines, and tuna, the quality of our fish just isn't what it used to be. That's why taking a high-quality fish oil like Fermented Cod Liver Oil is the way to go.

But, as we always say, it's all about the quality. Many Cod Liver Oils on the market are actually toxic as they come from less-than-reputable sources of fish. In addition, most supplement companies add binders, fillers, additives or other excipients during the manufacturing process in order to ease production and/or make the fish oil taste better. You want to avoid any oils that list other questionable ingredients.

So don't wait another day before you get your oil changed! Buy Fermented Cod Liver Oil now!

Sources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18072818

http://www.angelhealingcenter.com/Anti-InflammatoryDiet.html

www.webmd.com

So, per the request of many of you, I thought I'd share my oh-so-easy secrets to wonderful veggie soup concoctions! Will and I got a Vitamix for our wedding and it has been a complete life savior in these soup-making days. Only drawback is they are pretty expensive, so just a regular blender will work just fine. Just make sure the contents aren't super hot when placed in a plastic blender as the heat can activate the pthalates in the plastic, an ingredient these recipes do not call for!

Carrot-Ginger Soup*
2 tablespoons olive/coconut oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
5 cups veggie/chicken stock/purified water
1 1/2 pounds carrots, peeled and cut into chunks (about 1 inch wide)
ginger to taste (freshly-grated and squeezed or powder)
Pink Salt and pepper to taste

*all organic, if possible

Heat skillet with oil and sautee onion and garlic for about 5 minutes. Add carrots and stock (or water) and bring to a boil. Cover and let simmer about 30 minutes. Wait for it to cool a bit, then puree in blender. Return to pot and add salt, pepper and ginger to taste. For an even easier recipe, throw the stock and all the veggies in the pot at the same time, bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Best part is that this freezes so well, so grab a glass jar and save some for next week...or month!

PEAsiest Soup Ever

1 bag organic frozen peas

1 medium organic onion, chopped into cubes

1 cup veggie/chicken broth or purified water

Pink Salt and pepper, to taste

This is my there-nothing-in-the-fridge, I'm-craving-something-sweet-and-warm go-to recipe. Chop the chopped onion into a pot with the broth/water and bring to a boil. Let simmer a few minutes untilt the onion is soft. Throw in frozen peas and let them soften. Blend mixture in a blender or hand-held immersion blender. Salt and pepper to taste and enjoy with toasted bread!

Roasted Cauliflower-Leek Soup*

2 tablespoons olive/coconut oil

1 medium head cauliflower, chopped

2 Leeks, white and light green parts only

4 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups veggie/chicken broth/purified water

Pink Salt and pepper, to taste

*all organic, if possible

Preheat oven to 425 F. Spread out chopped cauliflower, leeks and garlic on baking sheet and drizzle olive/coconut oil atop. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and mix everything together with hands. (May need to add more oil to coat well.) Roast in oven for about 40 minutes. You may need to toss them around half-way through. When done, veggies should be a bit brown and soft. Place veggies in pot with broth/water, bring to boil. Turn off heat and wait to cool before blending or use an immersion blender (hand-held stick blender) to puree. This soup is absolutely delectable, you'll think it's made with heavy cream like my husband did!

The beauty of these recipes is that you can interchange veggies as you please. Instead of carrots, use broccoli. Replace the cauliflower with butternut squash! Mix and match, get creative and eat all the soup your heart desires!

We've talked about coconut oil in the past, but believe it's such a crucial ingredient in one's diet that we want to debrief you on the many, many benefits of this tasty oil.

Helps Burn Fat

Coconut oil is easily digested by the body and unlike other fats, which tend to be stored as fat, the medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil are used by the body to produce energy, which stimulates the metabolism. Therefore, it increases the rate at which you burn calories.

Wonderful for Cooking

Used in cooking, coconut oil does not form harmful by-products when heated like other vegetable oils do. I've all but replaced olive oil with this delicious alternative because I've grown to crave the way it tastes! Also, you can keep it out at room temperature where it acts like a buttery paste, so it's easy to cook with or to even spread on toast. In fact, one of our favorite snacks is Alvarado Street bread, toasted with coconut oil and a sprinkle of Pink Salt. You'd be amazed at how tasty this healthy, simple snack really is!

Healing Properties

Coconut oil is extensively used in traditional medicine among Asian and Pacific populations. Pacific Islanders consider coconut oil to be a cure for all illness. It's beneficial for the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps to prevent high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. It also reduces the incidence of injury in arteries and therefore helps in preventing atherosclerosis.

Perfect for Skin

Now for the fun part...skin care! Coconut oil is excellent massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including dry skin.  It also delays wrinkles and sagging of skin that normally becomes prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Therefore it forms the basic ingredient of various body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care.

QUALITY IS KEY

The catch is that there are MANY coconut oils on the market. However, quality is the key. You want to find coconut oil that is 100% extra virgin and raw. Ours is unrefined Indian coconut oil, meticulously processed without heat, and, like our other supplements, contains no magnesium stearate (a toxic excipient), corn, milk, soy, salt, sugar, wheat, yeast, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. This way, it's so pure that the body can actually absorb and make use of coconut oil's many benefits listed below:

• Antifungal, antimicrobial, antibacterial
• Aids in weight loss – increases body metabolism
• Improves mineral absorption
• Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance
• Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose
• Reduces problems associated with mal-absorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis
• Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth
• Improves digestion and bowel function
• Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids
• Reduces inflammation
• Supports tissue healing and repair
• Supports and aids immune system function
• Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay
• Functions as a protective antioxidant
• Does not deplete the body's antioxidant reserves like other oils
• Improves utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation
• Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome
• Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections
• Helps to dissolve kidney stones
• Helps prevent liver disease
• Supports thyroid function
• Reduces symptoms associated with psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis
• Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin
• Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking
• Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots
• Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion
• Provides protection form damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation form the sun
• Anti Candida

Buy it Now!

So don't wait another day (or cook another meal!) without the best-quality coconut oil.

How do we address this issue? Prudently avoid toxins found in our food, air, personal care products, etc. whenever possible. Read our article, Reducing Immune Stress: Where Do I Start? for more information.

The article follows...

By BONNIE ROCHMAN Friday, January 14, 2011

In addition to big bellies, pregnant women are toting around dozens of chemicals, including some that have been banned for decades and others used in flame retardants, sunscreens and non-stick cookware.

“We looked at data on 163 chemicals and found that many of them are present in virtually all pregnant women,” says Tracey Woodruff, director of the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment at the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF).

Woodruff counted the number of chemicals that pregnant women are exposed to and discovered that 43 of the 163 chemicals tracked were found in more than 99% of pregnant women. 

Those chemicals included polysyllabic tongue-twisters such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), phenols, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and perchlorate. Also found was benzophenone-3, an ingredient in sunscreen.

Some of the chemicals were found in concentrations that have been linked to problems with brain development in childhood and fertility concerns potential, according to Woodruff's research, which is being published today in Environmental Health Perspectives.

Woodruff crunched data on 268 pregnant women from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which collected blood and urine samples from participants in its National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004.

Bisphenol A (BPA), the controversial plastic-hardening chemical that baby bottle manufacturers have phased out in the wake of consumer protests — was found in 96% of the pregnant women. BPA, which is still used as a liner inside metal food and beverage cans, has been associated with hormonal disruption and adverse brain development. (More on Time.com: Study: BPA Exposure May Reduce Chances of IVF)

“We should be concerned about the number of chemicals pregnant women have in their bodies and we should we taking steps to find out what the implications are for exposure to multiple chemicals,” says Woodruff, who is also an associate professor in the UCSF Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences.

The U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 hasn't been updated since its creation, says Woodruff, which is reason enough to demand an overhaul. The law allows chemicals to be distributed in products without first being declared safe.

“If you go into a drugstore and buy shampoo, it can have chemicals in it that could be harmful,” says Woodruff. “We need to be re-examining the laws because chemicals are not being sufficiently tested and regulated.” (More on Time.com: Flame Retardants in Everyday Products May Be a Health Hazard, Scientists Say)

Until then, pregnant women can take some precautions to try to reduce their chemical exposure:

Eat a healthy diet low in fats. “Some of these chemicals like to hang out in fat,” says Woodruff.

Wash your hands throughout the day as dust can harbor chemicals.

Choose personal-care products wisely, opting for those with fewer, less toxic ingredients.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/01/14/pregnant-women-awash-in-chemicals-is-that-bad-for-baby/print/#ixzz1BPCCGURy

We hear many things about "detoxing", especially this time of year when people are desperately trying to shed the holiday "excess". I tend to get frustrated with detoxing advice, as most calls for drastic changes in the diet, regardless of the person's standard diet, exercise regimen and/or environmental exposures. All these things play a huge role in a person's ability to detoxify toxins successfully and safely because making changes too quickly can have dangerous side effects. When done incorrectly, toxins are "dumped" from the organs and connective tissues into the bloodstream at a higher rate than our detox organs (kidneys, liver, skin, lungs) can keep up with. Of course, when done correctly, detoxing can have unbelievably positive results. It can reverse sickness and disease! 

That's why I love this blog post on Gwenyth Paltrow's amazing blog, GOOP. She recommends a detox based on the sound advice of Dr. Alejandro Junger, the author of the new book Clean, which I highly suggest everyone reads. (I just bought a copy myself!) Junger advocates eating a clean diet and leading a clean lifestyle, even hitting up much-evaded topics like electromagnetic stress. It excites me to see a well-respected medical doctor address these issues head on! 

I love Gwenyth's deliciously simple and healthy recipes and beautiful pictures to go along with them! Read her post here. 

Check out the Clean Program here. 

'Tis the season...for sickness! It's going around and if you're anything like the average American, you're just wondering when, not if, it's going to reach you! Why live in fear of getting sick when we have so much control over our own immune systems? Sure, we can't guarentee we won't come down with something, but we can take natural measure to assure maximum immune support that will not only leave us sick-free, but with vibrant energy and wellbeing instead!

During this season, we recommend everyone keep Nucleotide Complex handy. It's a must in the aresenal of cold- and flu-fighters. Nucleotides are natural building blocks and our cells contain trillions of them. However, they are depleted quickly when we get sick or are fighting infection and rebuilding critical supplies to meet the body's needs could take several days or even weeks. Fortunately, Swiss research has shown that taking nucleotides supplements can help stop colds and the flu in just one day, 96% of the time. When you feel something coming on, popping just a few Nucleotides can really nip it in the bud!

Vitamin C is another very powerful sickness-fighter. I mean, who hasn't heard that?! But, as with all supplements, you must be wary of the source of your Vitamin C as many available on the market contain binders, additives and fillers that interfere with maximum absorption. Even worse, most Vitamin C supplements aren't derived from food-based sources, but instead are manufactured synthetically in a lab. The Vitamin C we offer is derived from Camu-Camu berries, which is the richest source of natural Vitamin C on earth, wildcrafted from the Amazon rainforest.

So make sure your medicine cabinet contains these two powerful immune-building supplements. They can help prevent as well as help speed up the healing process. And don't forget about the little ones! Both Nucleotide Complex and Vitamin C Complex capsules can be opened and sprinkled into food or juice for children....or for adults, as well, who do not like to swallow capsules.

In our opinion, ghee is extremely underused and we're intent on changing that, starting with this post! The #1 cooking oil in Indian cuisine, it's also known as "clarified butter". Ghee is made by simmering butter until three distinct layers form: a foarmy water-like substance on top, a solid butter layer and a milk solids layer. The middle, solid butterfat layer, is the "clarified" part, and the other two are removed. So, you can see that one of the wonderful benefits of ghee is that it's milk-free, perfect for lactose-intolerant consumers!

Ghee is free of hydrogenated oils, and high in saturated fat. Now, before you write this off as a bad thing, I'm going to digress for a bit. Saturated fat, despite propoganda and evey health article under the sun touting it as an "AVOID", has a plethora of benefits and shows up in food that is integral to a heart-healthy diet. That's, right, I said it, heart healthy. Take tropical inhabitants and their diets filled with fats from palm, coconut and cocoa, all very high in saturated fat. Most of them are lean and heart disease is virtually non-existant. Unfortunately, research has shown that when these native islanders move toward a more western diet, heart disease creeps in.

So what gives? I think it's time we point the finger at foods high in trans-fat, which raise levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol and lower good (HDL) cholesterol. They are also associated with inflammation which can lead to heart disease, stoke, diabetes, etc. Also, western diets are high in cheap vegetable oils (soy, cottonseed, corn oil, etc.) and lacking in heart-healthy omega-3's and -6's. Oh, and let's throw in stress...! So, to sum, don't let the high saturated-fat content of ghee turn us away, but instead consume it in moderation, especially if you already suffer from high cholsterol.

Using it ghee in moderation is easy because the more you cook it, the more the buttery flavor is released. It has a high boiling point, making it a wonderful cooking companion. 

Ok, but I saved the best for last. Ghee stimulates digestion by triggering the secretion of digestion-aiding acids. It's been used in India to treat ulcers and constipation and is even correlated with healthy eyes and skin. It's also high in antioxidants as well as increases the absorption of vitamins and minerals. Finally, ghee contains high amounts of butyric acid, a fatty acid with high anti-viral properties that's been shown to inhibit cancerous tumor growth.

Sold? Make your way to Whole Foods or your nearest health food store and pick up a jar of ghee. Although more expensive than regular butter, a little goes a long way, so it's well worth the high price!

Source: Ghee Nutrition: Benefits of the Indian Clarified Butter by Scott Kessman

But, did you know non-organic popcorn is on the FDA’s list of top ten foods most contaminated with toxic pesticides and chemicals? In fact, it's listed as containing toxic chlordane, dieldrin, and toxaphene, which sound like great ingredients to munch on during your next horror movie! (Sorry, that was a little corny...)

But, if you're looking for a non-toxic, healthy alternative to one of America's favorite snacks, go to your nearest health food store as organic popcorn options are easier and easier to come by. One of our favorites is Eden Organics, which is grown in vital soil on family-owned farms. It also comes in a resealable package that helps retain moisture, the key to the best popping since the moisture escapes as steam when heated, turning the kernels inside out.

It goes without saying, stick to the natural, no-flavor-added popcorn. The ingredient list should say "organic popcorn" only as the added ingredients put in many conventional popcorns can contain tons of chemicals that the body can't easily metabolize. And, if you remember our recent post on obesogens, these chemicals can lead to weight gain!

Also, we never put our popcorn in the microwave, but simply add a few teaspoons of Coconut Oil to a pot filled with kernels and let them turn into fluffy goodness in just minutes. We sprinkle the finished product with Pink Salt for a quick, healthy and fat-free yummy snack!

For a scary story on the toxins that are released from microwaving butter-flavored popcorn, click here.

Source: www.tropicaltraditions.com

1. Lowers your body fat
2. Dramatically improves muscle tone Firms your skin and reduces wrinkles
3. Boosts your energy and sexual desire
4. Improves athletic speed and performance
5. Allows you to achieve your fitness goals much faster

How to Properly Perform Peak Fitness Exercises to Increase Growth Hormone Levels

First of all, please remember that you can perform this with any type of exercise. While having access to a gym or exercise equipment will provide you with a larger variety of options, you don't require either. You can easily perform this by walking or running on flat ground.

You will certainly want to work your way up to this point, but ultimately you want to exercise vigorously enough so you reach your anaerobic threshold as this is where the "magic" happens that will trigger your growth hormone release.

Whatever activity you choose, by the end of your 30 second period you will want to reach these markers:

1. It will be relatively hard to breathe and talk because you are in oxygen debt
2. You will start to sweat profusely. Typically this occurs in the second or third repetition unless you have a thyroid issue and don't sweat much normally.
3. Your body temperature will rise
4. Lactic acid increases and you will feel a muscle "burn"

If you are using cardio equipment like an elliptical or bike, you don't need to reach any "magical" speed. It's highly individual, based on your current level of fitness. But you know you're doing it right when you're exerting yourself to the point of typically gasping for breath, after a short burst of activity.

An added boon is that you'll save a tremendous amount of time because peak fitness will cut your hour-long cardio workout down to a total of 20 minutes or so, including your recovery time, warm-up and cool down.

The actual sprinting totals only 4 minutes!

Here's what a typical peak fitness routine might look like using a recumbent bike:

1. Warm up for three minutes
2. Exercise as hard and fast as you can for 30 seconds. You should feel like you couldn't possibly go on another few seconds
3. Recover for 90 seconds
4. Repeat the high intensity exercise and recovery 7 more times

Be mindful of your current fitness level and don't overdo it when you first start out.

If you are not in great shape and just starting this you may want to start with just two or three repetitions, and work your way up to eight, which is where the magic really starts to happen. You may need to start with just walking and when you do your 30 second bursts your legs would be moving as fast as possible without running - and your arms would be pumping hard and fast.

If you can do a peak fitness workout twice a week, and follow the dietary recommendations I'll go over next, you will increase your production of growth hormone.

This is yet another example of why gulping down sports drinks that are chockfull of high fructose corn syrup can do your body more harm than good, and will just shut down your body's production of HGH and negate many of the benefits from your exercise.

Dietary Recommendations to Maximize Growth Hormone Release

To maximize your growth hormone release you need to:

• Get a good night's sleep
• Avoid a high fat meal prior to exercising
• Drink plenty of water
• Eat healthy carbs (think vegetables) and high quality protein
• Optimize your vitamin D levels
• Avoid sugar, especially fructose

The last part is absolutely crucial.

If you consume sugar or fructose, especially within two hours post-exercise, you will increase somatostatin which will in turn obliterate the production of growth hormone!

It's our first Christmas and my husband has made very clear his desire to keep up the Evans family tradition of eating egg casserole on Christmas morning. So it's up to me to make a dish that is both satisfying and healthy! Not such an easy task, as these traditional stratas are very rich and full of processed meat and cheese. So I've scoured the internet for some recipes, replacing this ingredient for that, to create the following healthy egg casserole recipe, adapted from eatingwell.com. Wish me luck, as I'll be taking my first stab at it on Christmas Eve!

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 7-by-11-inch glass baking dish or a 2-quart casserole with cooking spray. (I'll be making this the night before, putting it in the refrigerator and baking in the morning!)
2. Whisk eggs, egg whites and milk in a medium bowl. Add mustard, rosemary and pepper; whisk to combine. Toss spinach, bread, ham and roasted red peppers in a large bowl. Add the egg mixture and toss well to coat. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and push down to compact. Cover with foil.
3. Bake until the custard has set, 40 to 45 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with cheese and continue baking until the pudding is puffed and golden on top, 15 to 20 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

Adapted from: Eatingwell.com 

Our personal favorite that was out of stock in the video - Sprouted Sourdough

If you aren't sure what "sprouted bread" really means, here's a good, descriptive article you for you...."Health Benefits of Sprouted Grain Bread".

Related past posts:

Burger, Anyone?

Satisfy That Holiday Sweet Tooth

There has been an increasing flurry of research and articles written concerning the link between chemicals and weight gain. We breathe in car exhaust, perfumes and conventional cleaning products; absorb lotions full of synthetic ingredients and shower in water high in chlorine; and consume foods with pesticides and added hormones. I think we're getting far above our daily dose of synthetic chemicals. By mimicking hormones, our bodies mistake them as such which can lead to disruption of our typical hormone activity. Among hundreds of other jobs, our hormones regulate our metabolism, which dictates our ability to gain and lose weight.

This article, written by Dan Shapley of The Daily Green, does a great job explaining how chemicals can act as "obesogens".

Never heard of "obesogens"? That's because it's a scientific term for chemicals that mess with the hormones that regulate our metabolism, and cause us to gain weight. In recent years, scientists have studied all sorts of substances -- they call them "endocrine-disrupting chemicals" -- that our bodies mistake for hormones. The endocrine system regulates the body's reproduction, development and metabolism, and most research to date has focused on the reproductive and developmental effects of these chemicals. Just like hormones, they may change our bodies in ways both subtle and profound, even at minute concentrations. The timing of exposure is key, and most chemicals seem to cause the most changes when pregnant women or very young children are exposed. Several studies point to links between manmade chemicals and weight gain. Here are a few:

 

Bisphenol A
This common chemical, which is used in a variety of plastics and in the lining of food and drink cans, can leach into foods (or directly into the bodies of babies chewing on teethers or toys) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found it in about 9 of 10 Americans tested. The Food and Drug Administration and the chemical industry stand by its safety, but a growing body of evidence by independent scientists has persuaded several governments (Minnesota, Chicago, Suffolk County, N.Y., and Canada) that it should not be used in children's products. Some of that research suggests that Bisphenol A -- a synthetic estrogen -- makes lab rats pack on extra weight, regardless of their diet. In humans, it has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and other symptoms of metabolic syndrome in humans, possibly by interfering with a beneficial hormone. To avoid Bisphenol A, avoid No. 7 plastics, use a stainless steel reusable water bottle, limit your consumption of canned foods and drinks, don't microwave foods in plastic and look for products explicitly marked "BPA free."

 

PFOA and PFOS
Perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate are the chemicals that makes nonstick pans, grease-resistant paper and stain-resistant clothing, carpets and furniture withstand oils. We're exposed our entire lives, and the exposure in the womb may be the most important, according to one study. Several studies have shown that the chemicals lead to lowered birth weight, but one showed that the initial drop in birth weight is followed by a rapid gaining of weight that is associated with obesity throughout life. To avoid these chemicals, think twice before buying stain-resistant and nonstick products (cast iron is one good alternative in the kitchen) and limit your intake of fast foods, microwave popcorn and other foods that may be wrapped in grease-proof paper.

 

Phthalates
Another common chemical, phthalates are found in soft plastics, fragrances and many other consumer products. The U.S. recently banned the use of several phthalates in children's products, because of evidence that early exposure affects the normal development of boys by reducing testosterone levels. One study showed that adult men with the most evidence of exposure to phthalates had fatter bellies. To avoid phthalates, avoid No. 3 plastics, and scrutinize the ingredients of products for "fragrances" or the acronyms DBP, DEP, DMP, DEHP, BxBP or DMP -- all of which signal the presence of phthalates.

 

Dioxins
Formed as a byproduct of burning, dioxins are common and known to be harmful at minute levels. (Whereas the Environmental Protection Agency measures most pollutants in pounds, it measures dioxins in grams.) Dioxin rains down after being emitted by smokestacks, tailpipes and fires, and it contaminates farms, leaving us to be exposed when we eat meat, dairy and fish products. One study showed that those who had been exposed to the highest levels of dioxins were five times more likely to have metabolic syndrome, a collection of metabolic conditions that includes obesity, glucose intolerance and hypertension. To avoid exposure to dioxins, moderate your intake of beef, pork and dairy products, and choose lean cuts of meat to avoid dioxin stored in fats.

 

Pesticides
Several pesticides are known or suspected to be endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Among the suspects is tributyltin, which was used in anti-fungal boat paints and to kill pests on some food crops, and which may trigger obesity. On golf courses, workers who handled the pesticide tricholorfon had an 85%-250% greater risk of developing diabetes, depending on how frequently they handled the chemical. Children born to mothers with higher levels of the pesticide hexachlorobenzene in cord blood were "significantly more likely to be overweight and obese" by the age of 6. In a recent study, rats fed water laced with atrazine, a weed killer commonly used on U.S. corn crops (but banned in much of the world) gained 5%-10% more weight than rats that weren't exposed to the chemical. Those fed weed killer and a high-fat diet gained the most weight, but even rats that ate a healthy diet ended up about 5% fatter if they drank the tainted water. To avoid these and other pesticides, avoid using insect and weed killers around the home, and avoid foods with the most pesticide residue.

 

We're used counting calories, following fad diets and blaming our inability to lose weight on genetics. These things have a place, no doubt, but we strongly believe that chemicals play a part in the reason that some people seem to hold on to fat more than others. For instance, if you're genetically predisposed to weight gain, these synthetic chemicals could be making it much harder to maintain ideal weight.

Fight Chemicals With Whole-Food Supplements

But at the very least, we know these chemicals aren't good for us, so why not give it a try and prudently avoid them? Another step you can take is through supplementation. We understand that many of these harmful chemicals are pervasive and almost impossible to avoid, so we highly recommend that people take whole-food supplements that help clear the body's estrogenic pathways. XenoStat and Estro Complex make a powerful duo in the fight against endocrine-disrupting chemicals and are part of our daily regimen. They great increase our body's ability to detoxify xeno (or foreign) estrogenic compounds, such as pesticides and synthetic hormones found in commercial meat, poultry, dairy and synthetic hormone replacement therapy.

Image: one-pak.co.uk

To learn more about Ladybug Jane and to watch the full animation film "Red Lips Inspires Ladybug Tips," go to www.ladybugjane.com.

We recommend this soup to anyone in need of a health kick. It's a wonderful way to support your organs in the midst of holiday drinking! The endocrine glands (adrenal and thyroid) will also greatly benefit from a Bieler's Broth cleanse. And the best part? It's delicious ! (As I eat my bowl right now...)

Who was Dr. Bieler?

Henry G. Bieler, M.D., stood fast on the foundation of natural healing, believing whole heartedly that the body has an inherent ability to heal itself, through proper nutrition. In fact, he was often at odds with the American Medical Association due to his outspoken opinion that his patients (many very famous) should avoid drugs and rely on whole foods instead.

In 1965, Dr. Bieler wrote the famous book Food is Your Best Medicine, chalk full of recipes still widely used today. Heads above the rest, his most famous recipe is Bieler's Broth which he used for fasts and/or for detoxification. This simple soup restores alkalinity and mineral balance, therefore is used to target cancer cells, which thrive in acidic environments. Dr. Bieler would often use this  soup to nourish weak organs, especially the liver. A simple internet search will reveal the thousands of people who still believe whole heartedly in Bieler's Broth.

Bieler’s Broth

All ingredients should be organic.

2 lbs zucchini
1 lb string beans
4 stalks celery
1-2 bunches parsley
4 cups purified water
Extra virgin olive oil or unsalted organic butter (I used ghee)

Cut up the zucchini, string beans and celery. You may either steam or boil the vegetables until soft in a stainless steel or porcelain pot using the filtered water.

Blend the vegetables, cooking water and (raw) parsley together to the consistency of pea soup, then add the butter/ghee/oil.

For a Bieler's fast, drink this throughout the day, and avoid adding salt or other condiments. You won't believe how revitalized you'll feel! I myself like to add Pink Salt and Nutritional Flakes if using this as a supplement to my current diet.

Branch Basics is Born!

Over the weekend, Three Branches (with the help of our beloved family and friends) gave life to our new non-toxic cleaning line, Branch Basics.

Taking a break atop our finished solution!

We've conquered our dream and launched the absolute best, most effective and completely non-toxic cleaning product available! We named it Branch Basics because, well, that's what it is. Basic. Coconut oil, plant-based enzymes and other natural ingredients that work by micelle colloidal technology to break down oils. It's a miracle worker on grease, grime, stains, laundry, countertops, bathrooms...and can even be used as a personal care product. Yep, that's right, you can use it in replacement of your current shampoos and face washes!

As of now, Branch Basics is only available on the shelves at New Living Hardware in Houston (on Kirby), and will be available for purchase on our site VERY soon! We couldn't be more excited for this product to make it into your homes, replacing all your conventional ones. We are confident that you will love it!

A hard day's work and this is all we had to show for it...

ta-DA!

Branch Basics Featured on Great Day Houston!

In fact, Branch Basics will be featured on Great Day Houston on January 5th. For all you non-Houstonians, it's a talk show hosted by the famed Deborah Duncan. So stay tuned!

NYC Seminar on Autism

And as if that's not enough, Kelly, Marilee and I took a mid-week trip to the Big Apple where we just got done with a seminar on the Environmental Causes of Autism and Other Learning Disabilities hosted at the world-renowned Mt. Sinai Hospital. The all-day intensive was hosted by Dr. Phillip Landrigan, MD, M.Sc., an epidemiologist and pediatrician and one of the world's leading advocates of children's health. We can't wait to give you more details in our upcoming posts...

Thanks for being patient as we try to maintain consistent daily posts despite our hectic schedules!

It's a bold, yet fairly agreed-upon statement, that the Toxic Substane Control Act (TSCA) of 1976 doesn't suffice when it comes to protecting Americans from toxic chemicals. Through the use of this act, the Environmental Protection Agency has been able to require testing on only 200 of the 80,000 chemicals on the U.S. market. Only five have been regulated.

This is where Safer Chemicals Healthy Families comes in. This organization, aimed at reducing American's exposure to toxic chemicals, improve health and lower health care costs, is working to reform TSCA. Their executive summary included in the TSCA reform report published in January 2010 stated that "environmental health studies have led to a growing consensus that chemicals are playing a role in the incidence and prevalence of many diseases and disorders in our country, including

• Leukemia, brain cancer, and other childhood cancers, which have increased by more than 20% since 1975. (See Endnote 2)
• Breast cancer, which went up by 40% between 1973 and 1998. (See Endnote 3) While breast cancer rates have declined since 2003, a woman’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is now one in eight, up from one in ten in 1973. (See Endnote 4)
• Asthma, which approximately doubled in prevalence between 1980 and 1995 and has stayed at the elevated
  rate. (See Endnotes 5,6)
• Difficulty in conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy affected 40% more women in 2002 than in 1982. The incidence of reported difficulty has almost doubled in younger  
  women, ages 18–25. (See Endnotes 7,8)
• The birth defect resulting in undescended testes, which has increased 200% between 1970 and 1993. (See Endnote 9)
• Autism, the diagnosis of which has increased more than 10 times in the last 15 years. (See Endnote 10)

Almost half of all Americans are living with these, and other diseases and conditions..."

There is an undeniable trend here. As toxic chemicals continue to flood the U.S. market, we will continue to get sicker. But, in this article, we want to focus on the last bullet point, Autism, as well as other Learning and Developmental Disabilities (LDDs), which now affect about 1 in every 6 children.*

Special education averages just over $12,000 for each student and according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), autistic children incur about $5,000 more in medical expenses than those without the disorder. (Endnotes 41,42) Lead, methyl-mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCPs), arsenic and toulene have been identified as known causes of neurodevelopmental disorders. Levels that were once thought of as safe are now shown harmful as it's been proved that the developmental brain is more susceptible than the adult brain.

"A chemical exposure at three months gestation may result in a different effect than exposure to the same chemical at six months gestation or at two years of age," says the report.

There are about 3,000 chemicals produced in high volume (accounting for over one million pounds per year) and only 12 have been tested for neurotoxicity. It is the hope of Safer Chemicals Healthy Families that TSCA be updated to protect pregnant women and children from these potentially harmful chemicals.

Marilee, Kelly and I are delighted to have the opportunity to attend the scientific workshop "Exploring the Environmental Causes of Autism and Learning Disabilities" at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City on December 8th. Led by the well-respected Dr. Phillip Landrigan, it should be a wonderful learning experience that we can't wait to share with all of you! 

On a more personal note, Three Branches has a special interest in this topic as we believe there is an undeniable link between our environment (toxins in the air as well as the influx of electromagnetic radiation) and the increase in LDDs. We also believe that with the removal of environmental toxins, symptoms can be alleviated. Marilee has witnessed this first hand as she watched her son, Douglas, move through the various stages of mental dysfunction after a toxic Chlordane exposure left him moronic. An extraordinarily bright boy at the age of ten, Douglas went from reading, writing and spelling to a stage marked by stoic apathy, drooling and inability to spell three-letter words. Over the next several years, Marilee diligently and laboriously removed toxins from Douglas' environment and watched in amazement as he moved through the spectrum of near-retardation to autism to ADHD/ADD to exhibiting no learning disabilities at all. He graduated top of his class from the U.S. Naval Academy and is currently a Naval Intelligence Officer. You can read Marilee's full story, a riveting tale of hope, devotion and commitment to finding the answers to true healing.

For a previous article relating chemicals to Autism, click here.

Image source: www.nydaiynews.com

We all eat seafood, whether in the form of baked halibut or fried shrimp. And we've all heard that not all seafood is equal. In fact, some contain high levels of mercury, pesticides, antibiotic and bacterial residue. Others are clean and a wonderful source of Omega-3's which are considered brain food, help flight inflammation and can go as far as turning off bad genes. So don't you think it's worth spending a few extra minutes learning about the seafood that we put in our mouths?!

We've found a great website, chalk full of information regarding seafood. With lists like "The Dirty Dozen", you're armed with everything you need to know about the fish you should avoid. You can even search by the type of fish you like, from mild to thicker and more flavorflul.

Check out National Smart Seafood Guide 2010.

For the highest-quality Omega-3's on the market, check out our Cod Liver Oil which, we can assure you, comes from the best source of Cod available! This supplement is a MUST for everyone, as we all need good oils to maintain optimum health!

If you're wondering why we avoid canola oil, an informative article you can scan through is The Great Con-ola by Sally Fallon Morell and Mary G. Enig, PhD. (I know it's kind of long....at least check out the "Processing" section and perhaps the "Genetically Modified Canola" section.)

We avoid dairy products when they are not organic, hormone and antibiotic-free.

While Allison was busy baking the previously-posted delicious pumpkin pie, I was in New York city loading up on baked goods from BabyCakes NYC. After having been to the Los Angeles location, and loving the cookies and cupcakes so much that I bought the cookbook, I decided I had to make a trip to the original bakery and try more of their scrumptious, healthy treats.

Two brownie bites, one oatmeal raisin cookie sandwich, and one banana bread loaf later, I was quickly reminded how great this bakery is! My big brother, who was with me, enjoyed the brownie bite and the cookie sandwich with me right away, and the rest of my family helped me devour the banana loaf after Thanksgiving dinner. I couldn't beleive it but even my niece and nephews (who can be very picky eaters and had just finished off some Chips Ahoy cookies) ate the gluten-free, vegan, agave nectar sweetened bread and loved it!!

If you or your children have food allergies or you just enjoy baking but like to eat healthy, then you should get the BabyCakes recipe book! Try the vanillia cupcakes recipe I posted back in April for starters and see what you think. And might I suggest using our delicious coconut oil for many of your baking needs (including the vanillia cupcakes recipe). So far it is the best coconut oil I've ever tasted!

This pie is so delicious no one will know it has absolutely no processed ingredients, refined sugars, wheat or dairy. Yep, that's right...just pure, natural goodness! And so easy to make! Whip one up this evening or tomorrow morning before Thanksgiving festivities begin and you'll convince all eaters that healthy desserts mean delicious desserts!

Crust:

2 cups organic spelt flour

1 tsp salt (we use Pink Salt, of course!)

2/3 cup olive oil or grapeseed oil

6-8 Tbsp cold water

Mix flour, salt and oil in a large bowl. Add 1 Tbsp water at a time over flour mixture and mix lightly with a fork after each addition, until pastry is just moist enough to hold together when pressed between fingers. For best results, shape into a flattened disc, cover with wax paper and chill for for about 30 min. Then remove wax paper and flatten/fit pastry into pie plate.

Filling:

1 15 oz. can organic pumpkin

2 organic eggs (or 4 egg whites lightly beaten)

1 cup almond milk

½ cup pure maple syrup

1 tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. ginger

½ tsp. nutmeg

½ tsp. Pink Salt

1.     Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2.     Lightly beat eggs in separate bowl.

3.     Mix all ingredients thoroughly – do not beat.

4.     Pour into pie shell. 

5.     Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.

6.     Reduce heat and bake at 350 degrees for an additional 40 – 50 minutes or until knife comes out clean when inserted in center of pie.  (Because all ovens are different, you may need to cook at 300 for a longer time so crust doesn't burn. Just keep cooking until the knife comes out clean!)

7.     Cool on rack and ENJOY! (Also great the next day as flavors have time to settle and infuse)

For a delicious PECAN pie recipe, check out last December's post, "More Pecan Pie, Please?". This is a divine and decadent delight, perfect for all you pecan lovers!

More than 45 million turkeys are purchased and eaten over Thanksgiving in the United States. Unfortunately, the benefits from this low-fat, high-protein meat that's full of goodies like B vitamins, iron, zinc and phosphorus are trumped by added antibiotics. Yes, most turkeys sold in the U.S. are treated with artificial chemicals "to compensate for the crowded, stressful and unsanitary conditions they are raised in and to make the birds reach slaughter weight slightly faster," according to the "Turkey Talk" article posted by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

The article goes on to say, "The National Turkey Federations says that 'FDA approved antibiotics are used at times to help suppress microorganisms, [and] prevent disease.' Now, everybody is in favor of preventing disease in farm animals, but growing numbers of health experts argue that routinely feeding them antibiotics is the wrong way to go about it."

While we advocate the avoidance of any additives, the question should lie in which antibiotics are approved by the FDA. Virginiamycin, for instance, is approved for use by the United States but banned in Europe, as studies have shown that is leads to antibiotic-resistant mutations. This can lead consumers to become drug resistant as happens with antiobiotic overuse.  

According to Whole Foods Market, "The feeding of turkeys can make a significant difference in their body composition and health benefits. Recent research has made it clear that the amount of total fat in turkey, the composition of this fat (including its amount of omega-3 fatty acids), and the protein content of turkey all closely depend upon the diet that the turkey has been fed.

Federal organic standards require organic turkey to be raised on organic feed, providing you with a food that is far less likely to contain unwanted contaminants. However, we also encourage you to go even further in your decision-making process and select certified organic turkey that has had genuine access to pasture. The words "free ranging" or "free roaming" as allowed on labeling by the USDA do not provide enough assurance about turkey quality since poultry are only required to have access to the outside in order for these terms to be used on packaging labels. "Access to the outside" might not involve any natural pasture access whatsoever or any reasonable outdoor lifestyle for the turkey. So look for organic turkey that is described as "pasture fed," or contact the producer to find out exactly how their birds are treated."

Organic turkeys are available at Whole Foods but call soon to reserve one for Turkey Day! Information about their turkey farmers can be found here.

For guidelines on safe, healthy and tasty turkey...and the best way to cook it, check out the Whole Foods website.

If you live in the Houston area, a great source for organic turkeys is Wood Duck Farm, a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). For more informaiton on ordering a fresh turkey from them, click here.

Image source: bonappetit

I attended a health seminar this past weekend that offered small cups full of Chia Pudding during breaks. mmm-MMM were they delicious! Next to the yummy samples were flyers touting the endless benefits of this ancient grain. I picked one up and owe all the credit of this post to that pink sheet!

Many of you have heard of chia via the lovable Chia Pet. Yes, they are the same thing, however the ones I'm referring to are pure, grown without pesticides. Remember, a quality source is the key to good nutrition!

Chia: Tried and True

Chia is an ancient grain used by the long distance Mayan runners. Meaning "strength", chia is known to build stamina and endurance and boasts an astonishing assortment of antioxidants, protein, oils, vitamins and minerals. The Aztec Indians called chia their "running food" because messengers could reportedly run all day on just a handful.

Ok, But I Need Proof

Chia was part of a 6-month study, headed by famed scientist and pioneer of the functional foods movement, Dr. Vladimir Vuksan, one of the developers of the revolutionary Glycemic Index. 

In just 3.5 ounces of chia, Dr. Vuksan found the following to be true:

• Highest known whole food source of Omega-3s found in nature (as much as 28 oz. of Atalantic Salmon. Whoa!) This helps with cardiovascular health and mental clarity.
• More calcium than 2 cups of whole milk. (Great for people cutting out dairy)
• Higher protein content than soy and more veggie protein content than 1.5 cups of kidney beans. It's a COMPLETE protein food, like meat.
• Highest natural fiber content of any food, more than 1 cup of all-bran cereal. (Great for keeping you regular!)
• Iron equivalent of 3 cups of raw spinach.
• Potassium content of 1.5 bananas. Also great source of phosphorus, manganese, zinc and copper.
• As much Vitamin C as seven oranges.
• Antioxidant capacity 3 times the strength of blueberries and with Myrecetin counts 270 times the strength of red wine.

Dr. Vuksan and his colleagues concluded that chia "could be considered the world's most nutritious food crop and thus can be used as a global remedy for world hunger."

Should I Add Chia to My Diet?

Well, consider the following:

Chia seeds...

1. Help with weight loss as they reduce food cravings
2. Make you feel fuller faster because they absorb ten times their weight in water
3. Help you stay hydrated and retain electrolyes
4. Reduce blood pressure (studies show consuming chia can help lower blood pressure)
5. Fight inflammation due to Omega-3 content
6. Great for diabetics (slow down digestion of carbs which can help regulate blood sugar levels (GI: 1))
7. Easy to digest
8. Contain age-defying antioxidants
9. Supply energy without caffeine, jitters of chemical solutions
10. Help lower cholesterol

Chia seeds also contain NO gluten and only trace amounts of sodium.

Ok, So How Do I Fit Them in My Diet?

Unlike flax seeds, chia seeds can be stored for long periods of time without becoming rancid and don't require grinding. They have no flavor, but take on the taste of whatever you put them in. Chia can be taken in its whole form or ground when used in cooking.

Add them to cereals, fruits, smoothies, nut butters, mayonnaise, salad dressings, puddings and desserts! You can also add them to water, juice, or greens mix for an added health boost!

Chia seeds need only to be combined with liquid and when prepared this way, they are more than 90% water and have a tapioca-like texture.

I have found something called Chia Goodness (which also contains buckwheat and hemp seeds) that I think is realy good (and filling!) I'll grind up a couple of tablespoons and add water and a natural sweetener for a quick breakfast.

The Proof is in the Pudding

The yummy recipe:

1/2 cup chia seeds

3 cups purified water

1.5 cups nut milk (almond, walnut, rice, etc.)

1/4 cup honey or maple syrup

Soak the chia seeds in water for at least 15 minutes, but you can leave them covered overnight. Will form a gel-like substance. Store in refrigerator. Later, stir the nut milk and sweetener of choice in the pudding.

Optional: cinnamon, coconut (flakes, milk or juice), fresh or frozen fruit, Pink Salt, pure vanilla extract.

There are sooo many "healthy" recipe books out there from fad diets to low-fat meals so when I see (or someone suggests) a healthy cookbook to me, I'm often wary of what the author deems "healthy". But when Kelly gets excited about one and goes as far as bringing with us on a recent out-of-town meeting, I'm interested. Lucky enough to be riding shot gun, I ended up reading Clean Start by Terry Walters cover to cover.

I am so impressed with Walter's choice of ingredients, avoidance of commonly-used "healthy" ingredients (like agave nectar, canola oil, etc.) and the way that she separates her book by seasons. In my opinion, all cookbooks should be categorized in this way, as we should ideally be consuming the fruits and vegetables that are fresh during that time, and our bodies are most nourished by certain foods in colder weather (slow-cooked stews, soups, etc.) as opposed to warmer weather (lightly blanched veggies, salads, etc.).

Walters begins by explaining the benefits of eating fresh, seasonal food and even goes over the basics of cooking beans, greens and grains...things we should all make a goal to learn! Some of her recipes include Avocado dip, White Bean Soup with Kale and Sweet Potatoes (which I made last night!), Polenta Pizza (YUM), Blueberry Tart, Creamy Sweet Potato and Cashew Soup, French Lentils with Roasted Roots and Carmelized Onions, Cocoa Brownies...the list goes on...I seriously had trouble leaving out the other 94 recipes! The funny thing is that I didn't realize that they were all vegan and gluten-free until I opened up the front cover to write this post. They're THAT yummy looking!

Check out this excerpt from a recent interview that Mary Jo "Trust Your Style" blog did with Terry Walters: 

Mary Jo: Your recipes look so delicious {can't wait to make the polenta pizza}! I noticed that one of the benefits of a Clean Start is healthy weight control. Have you worked with women trying to lose weight and can you explain how this diet could create a leaner body?

Terry Walters: As it happens, the polenta pizza is the perfect recipe to relate to weight loss. Pizza is so beloved by so many, and it is often eaten with a lot of guilt attached. This recipe , without the wheat, gluten or dairy that can cause inflammation and slow metabolism, is good for you and satisfies your pizza craving wonderfully! Foods that are clean support good health and balance by providing nutritional value that feeds our metabolism and fuels our activity, without creating the elements that can contribute to weight gain. Clean foods are minimally processed for maximum nutrition and leave us feeling energized and satisfied. Clean food supports all the systems that contribute to healthy weight control from general immune strength and healthy metabolism, to thyroid function, adrenal strength, hormonal activity. If we eat healthy, we are less likely to be controlled by our food addictions and cravings, which often lead women to poor health and the inability to regulate our weight.

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty excited to know that this pizza...

...will provide nutritional value and contribute to healthy weight!

Needless to say, this book is highly recommended by Three Branches. I think the only qualm we have is her use of fruit mixed with other foods (which makes it very difficult to digest both). But I couldn't help but include this picture...

Thank-you, Trust Your Style, for the pictures and wonderful information that we could pass on to our viewers!

A sweet friend sent me this e-mail last week and I thought it was worthy of sharing with you! Dr. Oz hits the nail on the head with respect to the importance of eating fruit and the right times to eat it. While we're iterated this a few times in the past, I think it's a point to drive home. Many people might doubt the power of food combining and its effects on the digestive system, but we've seen too many real-life cases that lead us to believe that eating certain foods together and avoiding the combination of others can make a huge difference. In fact, many times just this one change in a person's diet has reaped amazing benefits on their overall health. Here's what the doc has to say:

Eating Fruit

This is informative! We all think eating fruit means just buying fruit, cutting it up and popping it into our mouths. It's not that easy. It's important to know how and when to eat fruit. What's the correct way to eat fruit? It means not eating fruit after a meal; fruit should be eaten on an empty stomach! Eating fruit like that plays a major role in detoxifying your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

Fruit is the most important food

Let's say you eat two slices of bread, then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it's prevented from doing so. In the meantime, the whole meal rots and ferments, and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach, and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil. Eat your fruit on an empty stomach, or before your meal!

You've heard people complain: Every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc. This will not happen if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. Fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas. Hence, you bloat! There's no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruit becomes alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter.

Some additional tips:

• When you need to drink fruit juice drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT the concentrated juice from the cans.
• Don't drink juice that has been heated.
• Don't eat cooked fruit; you don't get the nutrients at all. You get only the taste. Cooking destroys all of the vitamins.
• Eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice.
• If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it.
• You can go on a 3-day (organic) fruit-fast to cleanse your body

Specific fruits and their benefits:

Kiwi: Tiny but mighty, and a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E and fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange! AN APPLE a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants and flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C, thereby helping to lower the risk of colon cancer, heart attack and stroke.

Strawberry: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits and protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

Oranges: Eating 2-4 a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent and dissolve kidney stones, and reduce the risk of colon cancer.

Watermelon: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. Also a key source of lycopene, the cancer-fighting oxidant. Also found in watermelon: Vitamin C and Potassium.

Guava & Papaya: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, good for your eyes.

Although a tad heavy for a Friday, I implore you to read this blog post in full because it covers such a concerning and crucial, yet over-looked, topic. Dr. Denison of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), an international organization that tackles serious environmental problems, spoke at New Living in Houston this past Monday evening. His presentation covered the need for chemical reform, and more specifically, tighter regulations on harmful chemicals and the need for alternatives.

Chemicals: an overview

In 1979, there were 62,000 chemicals in the U.S. market. Today, there are 84,000. To cite a few examples of the chemicals we're exposed to, consider the following:

1. Common chemicals, like formaldehyde, are found in most homes and a recent study done in Arizona revealed that 25% of homes contain levels of this toxic chemical above the recommended dose.
2. The materials used in Louisiana trailers after hurricane Katrina are banned in Japan and the European Union, yet allowed in the United States.
3. Studies prove that 91-99% of people carry perflourinated compounds in their blood; these are extremely toxic chemicals found in non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, etc. According to CNN's 2010 study, "Exposed Before Birth", "[perclourinated chemicals] are listed by the EPA as a chemical of concern." (Linked to low birth weight and even cancer, we think that these toxins should pose more than a "concern" on Americans.)
4. There are 27 trillion pounds of chemicals produced per year in the U.S. That's 250 pounds per person per day! These are used to make 96% of all materials and products we use.

Dr. Denison pointed out the undeniable connection between chemicals and the rise in disease. The incidence of men with lower sperm count, children diagnosed with Leukemia and girls beginning puberty at a younger age is on the rise. He stated that, while we have a genetic component to our diseases and sicknesses, much of what we're seeing today can be traced back to chemical exposure. We can't control genetics, but we can control our exposures.

But isn't our government protecting us?

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA, commonly pronounced "tosca") was enacted in 1976 and hasn't changed since. Its purpose is to "compile, keep current, and publish a list of each chemical substance that is manufactured or processed in the United States." Upon its inception, 10,000 chemicals were grand-fathered in, regardless of their affect on humans. The main problem with TSCA is that the burden of proving chemical's harm is on the government, instead of on the companies who are producing the chemicals in the first place. We are hoping that with reform, TSCA will place the burden on the ladder, as the pesticide and drug companies are now required to do; they are forced to prove that their products are safe before allowed on the marketplace.

According to the Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR), "Since [TSCA's] passage, less than 200 of the over 80,000 registered chemicals have been evaluated for safety while only five have been banned."

PSR goes on to say, "New chemicals must provide only limited safety information, and some ingredient and safety information can be withheld from the public under confidential business information clauses. Finally, the government must provide proof of harm before it is able to regulate, issue bans, or request further testing. These weaknesses have essentially crippled the EPA to fulfill its mission to ensure the American public safe chemical management."

Is there hope for the future?

Dr. Denison left us on a promising note, however. TSCA has been pulled to the front burner in late and this can be attributed to individual state legislation and policy changes that have spurred the government as a whole to update this bill. It's also the top priority of the EPA administrator, Lisa Jackson, whose focus is on protecting air and water quality, preventing exposure to toxic contamination in our communities, and reducing greenhouse gases. Also, REACH, a new European policy on chemicals and their safe use, deals with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances. The new law entered into force in June 2007. The REACH Regulation gives greater responsibility to industry (instead of the government) to manage the risks from chemicals and to provide safety information on the substances. Under this policy, manufacturers and importers are required to gather information on the properties of their chemical substances. REACH has made the United States think twice about its current, outdated chemical policies.

What can we do about this?

Perhaps most integral is the U.S. market demand. This is where we come in. Where and what we spend our money on is how we can make a difference. Look for non-toxic alternatives to everyday products. Say no to personal care products that contain parabens and synthetic fragrances. Choose non-toxic cleaning products. Eat organic food whenever possible. This will make a huge difference not only in your health but in forming future policy. The market meets consumer demands and if we demand differently, the market will respond!

I want to learn more!

To be kept up to date on this topic, you can tune into a free webinar on Thursday, November 18th from 2-3 p.m. EST. It will feature Dr. Denison, and will cover such topics as green chemistry, how policy changes can support the development of greener chemicals and the hopeful future reform of TSCA. The webinar includes a short presentation followed by a Q & A session. Registar now for a spot! I can assure you, you won't be disappointed with the crucial information you'll learn from Dr. Denison.

To be continued...

Kelly and I had the unique opportunity to join Dr. Denison on a "toxic tour" of Houston the day following his speach at New Living. Our eyes were opened wide to the abundance of chemicals produced right here in our city, especially the areas east of downtown. What's most concerning is not necessarily the amount of chemicals present, but the fact that it's in the midst of residential areas, where kids are abound. I will write a post in the near future, including many pictures, that will help you get a better idea of what we were witness to.

The list of books I want to read is ever growing, but this one is making it's way to the top. I think it's the next one I want to pour through and all you women out there should join me!

“Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry,” published in 2007, is written by Stacy Malkan, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, the national coalition of non-profit groups at the forefront of the movement to pass federal legislation to eliminate harmful chemicals from cosmetics.

Instead of just listening to us at Three Branches tell you to avoid make-up and personal care products with toxic chemicals, here's your chance to really understand WHY you should do that. For many women, make-up is something that goes on (and into) our skin EVERY day, so it is important that we know the ingredients in cosmetics that have been linked to cancer, reproductive issues, hormone disruption, and more.

I know it's hard to change products you've been using for years, so give this book a try and educate yourself. Use the information you learn as motivation to change!

Buy the book on Amazon for only $10.85. See Stacy's blog to learn more and stay up to date on this topic.

4 (6-ounce) wild salmon fillets (center cut, preferably!)

Spice mixture:

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp ground ancho chile

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/4 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp Pink Salt

1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees and place oiled pan inside to heat up

2. Cut 1-inch slices in salmon filets and rub spice mixture evenly over the flesh side of fillets

3. Remove heated pan, put salmon skin-side down (you'll hear it sizzle!) and place it in oven

4. Turn oven down to 400 degrees and bake fillets for about 10 minutes

Pair with some tasty veggies and enjoy!

Gwenyth Paltrow's blog, GOOP, is becoming quite famous and this post she wrote last week is a great example of why. She discusses the effects that sugar has on our bodies and how we actually become addicted to it, just like a drug. 

"Sugar is also associated with many chronic problems that include decreased immunity," says Gwenyth, "some chronic infections, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, diabetes, pain syndromes, irritable bowel syndrome, ADD, chronic fatigue, and candida. Research suggests that one of the main causes for decreased immunity is that sugars inhibit the entrance of Vitamin C into white blood cells, which then inhibits immunity."

Gwenyth refers to the work of Dr. Frank Lipman who explains how we become addicted to sugar. One of his points I found most notable was this:

"One study out of France, presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, showed that when rats (who metabolize sugar much like we do) were given the choice between water sweetened with saccharin and intravenous cocaine, 94% chose the saccharin water. When the water was sweetened with sucrose (sugar), the same preference was observed—the rats overwhelmingly chose the sugar water. When the rats were offered larger doses of cocaine, it did not alter their preference for the saccharin or sugar water. Even rats addicted to cocaine, switched to sweetened water when given the choice. In other words, intense sweetness was more rewarding to the brain than cocaine."

Wow. Now you can appreciate our need to curb those sugar cravings and sweet teeth!

Read more about how to overcoming the sugar addiction in the full article on GOOP. This is something that I continue to battle with daily but an effort that has proven more than worth it in my quest for optimum health!

If you struggle with this, please feel free to email us at info@threebrancheshealth.com and we'll walk you through some ways to make the battle a bit easier. Many times, it can indicate nutrient deficiencies. We can also suggest alternatives, as there are so many yummy treats out there that I promise taste as good, if not better, than the refined-sugar-filled stuff! (And you'll feel a whole lot better after eating it...!)

We're so honored to have Allison's story featured on the AllergyKids Foundation website. Based out of Austin, TX, their mission is to restore the health of our children and the integrity of our food supply.

The AllergyKids Foundation states, "Our goal is simple and straightforward: we want to protect the American children from the additives now found in our food supply – additives not used in children’s foods in other developed countries."

In their efforts to achieve this, the AllergyKids Foundation works to:

1. Inspire choices that enhance the quality of life, improve nutrition and create change in the health of our children, schools and communities.
2. Inform parents and caregivers about food grown without the use of synthetic additives, artificial growth hormones and pesticides.
3. Address the increasing prevalence of synthetic additives, artificial growth hormones, antibiotics and genetically engineered allergens and proteins now found in the U.S. food supply and its impact on the health of our families.
4. Provide materials and resources to help individuals and families reduce their exposure to additives in their diets.
5. Cultivate team building and grassroots movements that drive change in our schools, communities, organizations, and federal food policy.

Allison is so happy that her personal story of using food as a means of healing could help advance their mission and inspire parents to implement the power of quality food in their children's diets. 

What is a detox bath?

A simple way to start reducing your body’s toxic load is by taking a detox bath in the comfort of your own home. Detox baths are one of the easiest, most comfortable, most economical, and convenient ways to assist the body in reducing the body’s burden of stored chemicals. A bath with no additives cleans your skin, but if you add some simple ingredients to the bath water, making it a detox bath, then you can help to cleanse and nourish the inside of the body as well. Hydrotherapy, the use of water for medicinal purposes, has been used for centuries. A detox bath can be therapeutic and rejuvenating, provide deep relaxation, give pain relief, alkalinize the body, detoxify the body, lower blood pressure, increase circulation, relieve inflammation, help prevent muscle cramping, relax the mind and body, relieve insomnia, and can also be a vehicle to deliver nutrients to the body through the skin.

How does a detox bath Work?

The combination of the hot water plus bath additives work together to create a detoxifying, as well as a nourishing action. First, the hot water in the bath pulls toxins out of the body to the surface of the skin. The additives in the bath encourage sweating and the poisons are drawn out of the body as the water in the bath cools. As the skin, known as the third kidney, eliminates the toxins through sweating it will also absorb the minerals and nutrients that are in the water.

How often should I take detox bath?

If you are interested in implementing a detox program, detox baths can be taken on a daily basis during detox and rotated, switching to a different type of bath each day. After detoxing, use whichever bath seems appropriate to meet your current need.

Before submerging yourself in the tub, however, be sure to check out the General Instructions for Detox Baths!

Click on the following links for directions on each type of bath:

Salt Bath

Epsom Salt Bath

Mustard Bath

Radiation Neutralizing Bath

Ginger Bath

Vinegar Bath

Detoxification Baths for Skin Conditions

Sometimes it's hard to understand, much less accept, the harm that our current toxic environment inflicts on our health. So Houston's New Living on Kirby is bringing a really smart guy in to lay down the facts and tell us exactly what's going on around us! Dr. Richard Denison, chief scientist for the Environmental Defense Fund, will be giving a special talk about the risks of chemicals in our lives. Dr. Denison recently testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on reform of US chemical policy and brings over 25 years of experience in policy, hazard and risk assessment and management for chemicals.

Come hear about the latest research and updates on what the scientific and policy communities are saying about chemicals in our lives and businesses! If this is something that you're interested in, but perhaps can't grasp or understand how to act upon it, this casual lecture is for you. Please pass this on to any friends and family who might be interested as well, especially all those skeptics out there!

This event is FREE to the public, but please RSVP to events@newliving.net. See you at 6:30 on Monday, November 8th!

Being a new wife, I feel semi-obligated to nourish my husband with healthy and tasty meals. Being a new business owner, this is not always possible!

On my way home yesterday, I racked my brain for what I had in the kitchen that I could throw together. I had enough vegetables to feed a small country, but I couldn't think of any protein besides uncooked grains and canned beans, and I simply didn't have the time to turn these pantry staples into a meal. And then it hit me...eggs! The perfect (and delicious) complete protein! And who doesn't enjoy an occasional breakfast-for-dinner?!

But instead of the typical fried, scrambled or poached style, I decided to change it up a bit. An egg frittata seemed like the perfect answer. Try the following egg fritatta recipe for a super easy way to make your husband, family or friends look forward to BFD nights!

Ingredients:

6 organic eggs

1 5 oz. container of organic spinach

Pink Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Yield: About 2 hungry-people servings!

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Steam about 5 oz of spinach (2 heaping hand-fulls)

3. Whisk 3 whole eggs and 3 more egg whites in a bowl with a couple of TBSP water and Pink Salt and pepper to taste (for a no-fat feast, just do the whites!)

4. Place the egg mixture in a small, oven-safe dish

5. Add the steamed spinach to the egg dish

6. Place in the oven for about 20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean from the middle (time will increase with more eggs and a deeper dish)

Note: Feel free to make this your own. Saute mushrooms, onions, potatoes, etc. and add this to the eggs before putting it all in the oven. Cheese eaters, go ahead, put it in!

All attendees will also have the chance to win a free non-toxic crib mattress among other things as part of our door prizes! The participants will also be given a swag bag with a gift and coupons.

Call (713.320.5765) or e-mail (jennifer@newliving.net) Jennifer today to reserve your spot. We can assure you, you won't regret it!

We've all heard about Vitamin D in one form or another (and hopefully not from just the "Sunny D" bottle!) It's so unbelievably beneficial in fighting off sickness and disease that medical doctors around the country are recommending it to their patients. Vitamin D supports healthy bone, nerves, heart, brain, lung, esophagus, breasts, colon stomach, pancreas, prostate, uterus, ovaries and kidneys.

The trouble lies in how to get good quality Vitamin D that really works. Vitamin D is one of the hardest vitamins for our bodies to absorb, so you want to make sure you'e taking the right one. Otherwise, it's a waste of time and money...without the benefits. The one we offer (without sounding presumptuous) is simply the best. It's inexpensive and can be simply dropped under the tongue. 

Let's take a more detailed look at the benefits of a Vitamin D supplement (Vitamin D3 Serum, that is!) and why you should add ours to your daily regimen:

Our Vitamin D3 comes from sheep lanolin. The pasture-fed and pasture-kept sheep from New Zealand, with their exceptionally high standards of farming, are kept in peak shape. It is free of pesticides, herbicides, hormones, and all the other associated toxins that come from over-intensive animal farming.

How can you get Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is one of the few nutrients the body needs that does not come from a wide variety of foods. Although salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna can deliver about 200 I.U./serving, they are not an adequate source of D3, the real thing (as opposed to D2 which is very common in supplements and chemically-derived). After fortification, milk delivers only vitamin D2. Vitamin D2 is also added to fortified dairy products but does not function in the same way as Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 can be more than 3 times as effective as D2 in maintaining and raising Vitamin D blood levels. Although Vitamin D3 is more expensive to produce, it is clearly superior to D2. Only D3 is used in D3 Serum.

Sadly, we as a nation do not spend much time in sunlight and when we do, our skin is mostly covered. As a consequence, most people have low levels of Vitamin D3 which has initiated a ground swell of scientific research calling for increased daily Vitamin D3 intake for all Americans. In 1941, the RDA (recommended dietary allowance) of Vitamin D3 was 400 I.U./day to prevent D deficiency and rickets. Today, scientists are calling for an increase in this daily intake, recommending 1,000 to 2,000 I.U./day. They believe these levels can best provide the support for the body’s critical vitamin D needs now identified to include immunological, vascular, cognitive, mucosal and reproductive health and more. Experts now consider Vitamin D3 blood levels less than 20ng/ml to be deficient, while 20-39ng/ml is still too low; 40-50ng/ml is considered to be reasonable but not ideal. At all of these levels, supplementation with Vitamin D3 is recommended at 5,000 to 7,000 I.U./day for 6-8 weeks. Ideally, the individual would be re-tested every 3 months until their blood levels are in the ideal range (i.e. Vitamin D3 levels greater than 50ng/ml but less than 60ng/ml). Some experts believe the upper limit of Vitamin D3 intake should be 2,000 to 10,000 I.U./day.** 

Key Benefits of Live-Source Vitamin D3 Serum:

Immunity: Population groups with greater direct sunlight exposure or more Vitamin D3 exposure, were found to have stronger immune function than those with restricted sunlight exposure.* Vitamin D3 receptors are known to exist on most immune cells and play a role in maintaining healthy immune cell maturity, differentiation and integration.*

Breast and Mucosal Organs: Research indicates optimal serum levels of Vitamin D3 may be important in maintaining the best health of the cells of the breasts, lungs, colon, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, bladder, prostate, uterus, ovaries and kidneys.*

Bone Metabolism: In a 3-year randomized controlled study, Vitamin D3 and calcium supplementation promoted bone strength and reduced risk of falling in women aged 65 or older.* Vitamin D3 supplements were shown to support hip and non-vertabral bone health in a meta-analysis of twelve double-blind randomized controlled trials of 20,000 people.* Vitamin D is essential for healthy calcium metabolism; it promotes intestinal calcium and phosphorus uptake and can reduce urinary calcium excretion.*

Nerve Function: Research indicates Vitamin D3 may promote neural health by supporting healthy nerve conduction potential, antioxidant defense and neuronal calcium regulation.* High circulating blood levels of end-chain Vitamin D3, 25- hydroxyvitamin D, were associated with nerve and myelin health in a study of 7 million U.S. military personnel, published in JANA, 2006.*

Cognition: Higher levels of Vitamin D3 were correlated with healthy mood and mental function in two studies of more than 300 elderly people.* Additionally, we now know that Vitamin D3 receptors and Vitamin D3 hydroxylation pathways exist in areas of the brain responsible for memory and cognition.*

Heart Health: Healthy blood vessel relaxation and blood flow are associated with ideal levels of Vitamin D3. Healthy inflammatory response, antioxidant defense and cytokine production are associated with optimal blood levels of Vitamin D3 as well.

Purchase D3 Serum (0.5 fl oz) for only $10.95!

*Disclaimer: The FDA has not evaluated any of these statements. Practice at your own risk and gain. Please seek immediate medical care for any urgent trauma. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

**When Vitamin D blood levels are greater than 200ng/ml, a toxic reaction could potentially lead to hypercalcemia/ hyperphosphatemia. Hypercalcemia is rare but could be triggered by D3 intake of over 50,000 I.U./day. In published cases of vitamin D toxicity, intake was greater than 400,000 I.U./day. Common signs of hypercalcemia are anorexia, nausea and vomiting. Prolonged excessive intake could lead to calcification of the kidneys, heart and lungs.

This past weekend I was in Austin, Texas where our favorite restaurant, Casa de Luz (a macrobiotic, all-organic, and vegan restaurant), is located. I didn't have time to sit and eat, nor did I have to-go containers with me (you have to bring your own), but I really, really wanted lunch from "Casa"...

Think Baby was the perfect solution! I ended up buying a Thinkbaby Complete BPA-Free Feeding Set that they sell at the little restaurant store. It comes with three small containers, a cup, and a fork and spoon. The little containers worked like a charm to store my salad, rice, beans, kale, and vegetable medley! Although a slightly impulse buy, it's actually very practical since they are the perfect containers to pack up my lunches for the office. They are much safer than plastic and lighter in weight than glass...they're just great.

So not only do I recommend this set for mothers packing lunches for babies or small children, but for anyone that likes to compartmentalize their lunch instead of mixing everything together! (Well, maybe not the gentleman that have a bigger appetite than these containers can hold, but everyone else. ;)

P.S. It also comes in blue. But I like the orange.

Bernie's is "serving Houston 100% made-from-scratch burgers and fries using three cuts of only the Best Certified Organic Grass-Fed Black Angus Beef, Local Texas Cheddar Cheese, and freshly homemade condiments. You’re sure to fall in love!"

Check out Bernie's Burger Bus at Lizzard's Pub every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 8 at night! He'll also be stationed at Walter's on Washington every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night from 9 til 2 in the morning.

Splurge and have a cold, local-brewed beer to wash down this healthy meal! Have a great weekend!

Today we have a guest post from our dear friend, Melanie Pritchett...

I was lucky enough to have 2 of the 3 branches stay with me for a week in LA. We (me) decided that rent could be paid in the form of recipes. Allison taught me how to make an amazing salad that is healthy (duh!), delicious, and the best part....affordable! My work time lunch was all prepared on Sunday in only 10 minutes.

I shaved carrots, threw in organic frozen peas and organic frozen corn, boiled asparagus, and added baby tomatoes. I bought a package of mixed greens, fresh lemons, balsamic vinegar, and canned Eden garbanzo beans. At work each day I combine the mixed greens and a portion of the veggies, squeeze some lemon, fresh cracked pepper, and drizzle balsamic and voila!....An amazingly delicious, healthy lunch! OH wait...I also topped it off with Nutritional Flakes and Pink Salt...you know, for a little something, something! Thanks TBH!! I miss you girls already :)

While Mike Adams of Natural News can be a bit off-base at times, there are some things he believes that we'll stand behind 100%. Today, he wrote an article about his avoiding airport scanners at the L.A. airport. As Kelly and I prepare to board our flight back to Houston, I thought this was quite apropos!

There is much ado about the new full-body scanners popping up around the nation's largest airports. "Too invasive", "Where's our privacy?!", "Added hassle"...the list goes on. But your main concern should be the fact that your body is subjected to harmful radiation.

Most would argue with us, claiming that the amount is of no concern, but we believe that NO amount is a good amount. We should prudently avoid excess cell phone usage, living near high-voltage power lines, unnecessary x-rays, etc. This is especially true of pregnant women in their first trimester, as the chances of the fetus developing DNA abnormalities due to radiation are the highest.

"A new analysis of the radiation dose delivered by the machines, conducted by David Brenner and colleagues at Columbia University, found that because the beams concentrate X-rays on the body's skin, the effective dose may be 20 times higher than previously estimated," says a Natural News article published this past Monday.

"If there are increases in cancers as a result of irradiation of children, they would most likely appear some decades in the future," Brenner said.

Dr. John Gofman, who blames 75% of new cancer cases on ionizing forms of medical radiation, says that radiation is like dropping grenades and small bombs on our cells. Radiation accumulates in our body, and, as levels rise, can lead to cancer.

However, we are not negating the need for medical diagnostic tools, but instead believe that they should be used spragingly, only when necessary. Airport scanners, on the other hand, can be avoided. You can opt ouf of the TSA full body scanners by politing requesting that you'd rather be patted down. Sure, you'll probably get some slack for it and the patting-down process could be a little awkward and invasive, but it's better than being subjected to unnecessary radiation.

Who knows? In the future, we could look back on airport scanners, horrified by our ignorance of their ill effects. Indeed there was a (short period) of time where x-rays were used as shoe-fitting devices! Now, we know the consequences and only use them under medical supervision. Let's not acquiesce and do things that will leave us one day saying, "If only I had known...!" It's always better to be safe than sorry :)

Items like peaches, peppers, apples and berries are best bought organic and avoided when conventional is the only option. Coffee should be added to this list.

"The main differences between Organic and Non-organic coffees are the growing conditions and the effects on the environment and farmers who produce the coffee," says says Kallay Carr, an East Chicago Coffeeshop Examiner.

Organic coffee is grown under the shade of trees to promote migratory bird populations which stave off insects. Conventional coffee, on the other hand, is often grown with no regard of shaded areas. The crop is then treated with an enormous amount of chemicals (coffee is one of the most heavily treated crops in the world) to keep pests and insects away. These pesticides can find their way into the ground water where they're integrated into the coffee crop through the roots.

Carr claims that organic coffee has a more pure, smooth, aromatic taste due to the trees they're grown under, which block the sun's harsh rays.

Fortunately, there are a growing number of organic coffees entering the market. Out here in L.A., they're ubiquitious. The pictures below are taken from Groundworks, one of L..A.'s first certified organic coffee roasters. But, even back in Houston, I've noticed organic options spotting the grocery aisles and coffee shop menus!

Also, remember it's always best to buy the whole bean form and grind it yourself. This prevents rancidity, keeping your coffee fresh and tasty!

Eyeing some delicious looking organic dates...yummm

We just can't get enough of L.A.! We keep meeting so many amazing people and having one interesting conversation after the other. (We wish you all could eavesdrop in and hear them!) We just talked with a farmer who knows where all of his food comes from, for example, and a woman who created her own animation character, Ladybug Jane, to teach kids healthy tips through videos and games.

We were pretty bummed yesterday since the weather ruined our plans to go to the Hollywood Farmer's Market, but it's okay because it didn't stop us from finding other delicious, healthy foods, as there are countless options here. We ended up at another However, on a much more disheartening note, the Kids Safe Chemicals and Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) died under industry pressure. So, sadly, we are going to have to continue to be super-savy ingredient readers and make sure we stay educated about all of the chemicals to avoid.

Read through this investigivative report to find out more..."Reform of Toxic Chemicals Law Collapses as Industry Flexes Its Muscles"

The theme of the small gala was "Moms-on-a-Mission" and five amazing women were recognized and awarded in the following categories:

Illumination: Actresses Laura Dern and Amy Brennerman

Service: Laura Turner Seydel

Prevention: Dr. Sandra Steingraber

Inspiration: Penelope Jagessar Chaffer

And, as for entertainment? Bob Marley's son, Ziggy Marley gave us a private showing...so fun! Here are some fun photos from the night....

Healthy Child Healthy World CEO, Christopher Gavigan

Ziggy Marley and his band

Jessica Capshaw and Christopher Gavigan

(Ready to deliver their 2nd child any second now and still showed up to support...what a trooper!)

Three Branches on the red carpet with our new friends :)

We're about to board a flight to L.A. for the Healthy Child, Healthy World gala tonight. We were invited by the non-profit's CEO, Chrisotpher Gavigan, who came to Houston a few weeks back and spoke at New Living on Kirby. He's married to the lovely Jessica Capshaw and these two truly are inspiring parents, doing all they can to provide a safe environment for America's kiddos.

The event will be hosted at Smog Shoppe, "L.A.'s greenest urban oasis". To be surrounded by people (some perhaps fairly powerful!) that have a deep concern for our children's environment is Kelly's and my dream cocktail affair! We'll keep you posted on our healthy jaunts out here in L.A. as we'll be in California for the next week, meeting with vendors and interviewing health-inspiring individuals. (Try not to be too jealous of this perfect weather...!)

Photo courtesy of: www.quirkybirddesign.blogspot.com

We're intrigued (but not surprised) by the results of an experiment on a McDonald's hamburger, a staple of the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.)

New York artist and photographer Sally Davies bought a McDonald's Happy Meal back in April, and has left it out in her apartment ever since to test its resistance to decomposition. After all, a preservative's job is to preserve, right?! She says the only change she's seen is that the burger and fries has gotten "hard as a rock".

Theresa Riley, a spokesperson from McDonald's, challenged the experiment, claiming the McDonald's burgers are made with 100% USDA-inspected ground beef with no added preservatives or fillers. If this statement is true, then that makes us question the inspection standards held by the US!

Read more about this little project here. Also, read about a teacher who's kept a McDonald's burger since 1996 to prove to her students the amount of decomposition-resistant ingredients in the Fast Food chain's famous eats!

Eggplants are chock full of phytonutrients that act as powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants scour our bodies for free radicals, preventing them from their damaging effects that can lead to many diseases and cancers. One phytonutrient that occurs in eggplants is called nasunin. Nasunin has been shown to protect brain cell membranes, letting nutrients in and keeping waste out. Another antioxidant found in eggplants is called chlorogenic acid, which is known for its ability to fight cancer, microbials, and LDL (bad cholesterol).

As for cooking eggplant, we recommend you buy it soon as they're only in season from August to October. Cut the top off and slice the eggplant lengthwise, in about half-inch sections. Because the seeds offer a naturally bitter taste, it's best to sprinkle salt on the slices and let the eggplant "sweat" for about 30 minutes. Simply rinse off the salted pieces and you're ready to cook 'em!

My favorite way to prepare eggplant is chop it in small cubes and throw it on an oiled skillet with chopped onion and a few cloves of chopped garlic. Because they can be a little tough, I usually saute for a bit and then add a little water to the skillet, letting them simmer for a while. You can even put a lid on top to give them a softer steamed texture. Fifteen to twenty minutes is more than enough cooking for this mixture! Add cooked beans, brown rice or quinoa...or leave them plain as a great side dish!

Info and Image Source: www.WHFoods.com

Many of us have been deceived by the health claims of frozen yogurt companies. I'm not here to place them all under one umbrella or dispel the touted benefits of individual manufacturers, but all in all, this stuff just isn't good for us. And, no, we don't believe that "low calorie", "no-fat" and sugar-free" are necessarily good things. Many healthy whole grains have high calorie content, after all, and avocados and coconut oil, although high in fat, are wonderful for our bodies. As for "sugar-free", this is one of the most misunderstood claims. Artificial sweeteners like Splenda, Sweet-N-Low, Equal, etc. contain harsh, toxic chemicals that have been linked to Alzheimer's and cancers, yet are added to products that can still boast the "sugar-free" claim. Although we're not advocating sugar, it's much better than artificial sweeteners. Always choose the real over the fake!

Most frozen yogurt companies don't make their ingredients well-known. You simply go in (or drive through!), choose your flavor and leave with a cone/cup full of sweet "goodness"! What you don't know won't hurt you, right?! But Mike Adams, the editor for Natural News, did some research on one of the nation's most famous frozen yogurt chains. He found Pure Crystalline Fructose, Dextrose, Maltrodextrin, Non-fat Milk, Yogurt Powder and Micro-encapsulated Probiotics. Basically, by pouring yogurt powder atop fake sugar, they're able to call it frozen "yogurt". Also, according to Adams, Maltrodextrin has a glycemic index so high that it's practically poison to diabetics.

We love NadaMoo and Coconut Bliss, wonderful alternatives to conventional ice creams and frozen yogurts. While they may have more calories, the calories are REAL and GOOD. The ingredients (gluten-free, dairy-free, and mostly organic) are recognizable to our bodies, which allows them to be broken down and expelled more easily.

Image Source: www.kitsilano.ca

You can bet I was pretty wide-eyed and completely disgusted, but just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, I witnessed what is known as the Luther Burger. I had never heard of it before, but apparently this marriage of glossy doughnuts and greasy hamburger patties is pretty popular. So much so that the Gateway Grizzlies baseball team in St. Louis claims they have seen an increase in attendants since adding the Luther Burger to the ballparks' food choices.

The Luther Burger is a hamburger (specifically a bacon cheeseburger) with a grilled glazed doughnut in place of the bun. Here is a picture so you can see for yourself!

As I said, I was completely disgusted...

but my fellow fair-goers did not share in my disgust....

Yes, they actually ate it!...And liked it! I wish I could have recorded it so you could have seen the greese drip onto the ground as they bit into it. SO REPULSIVE!

Hopefully, I don't need to explain why this is one of the most unhealthy American creations (I say creations because I don't think you can label this processed wonder as food), but here are a few interesting interviews that go along with this topic.

NPR's interview with Dr. David Kesller, former FDA Commissioner, "Why Do We Overeat? Author Blames Fat, Sugar, Salt"

MSNBC video "Breaking Down Big Food"

Before I end this post, I do have to say that this is actually quite sad. If you are as passionate about quality food being the foundation for quality health as we three branches are, then you probably understand that. As funny as this might seem, because it is so completely ooutrageous, this food is the opposite of what our bodies thrive on. For those of you who have not gotten a chance to read them yet, I want to recommend the articles we have on the site in the FOOD category. You might find some very helpful guidance as you begin or maintain your healthy eating habits.

What are Antioxidants?

We hear this word thrown around quite a bit, but do we really know what they are? Antioxidants are nutrients that occur naturally in food (real, whole food, that is!) and can prevent or slow down our body's damaging oxidative process. When our cells use oxygen, by-products called free radicals are produced. For instance, when our bodies break down food or when we're exposed to environmental toxins. They can cause a plethora of health problems ranging from heart disease and diabetes to cancer. Antioxidants act as "free radical scavengers", sweeping through our bodies to prevent and repair the damaging effects of free radicals.

We Want More! 

"In your body, the antioxidant process is similar to stopping an apple from browning," says the American Dietetic Association. "Once you cut an apple, it begins to brown, but if you dip it in orange juice, which contains vitamin C, it stays white."

The lesson? Consume more fruits and vegetables that are high in these antioxidant-containing vitamins and minerals. A study conducted recently by London researchers found that by consuming 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, we're reducing our risk of stroke by 25%. Antioxidants also enhance our immune system, therefore lowering the chance of getting infections and cancers.

Let's look at some common items that are high in antioxidants. First, green tea is extremely high in antioxidants and has an endless amount of disease-fighting properties. Some common beans are small red beans, red kidney beans and black beans. Fruits include berries, prunes and apples. Vegetables to look for are artichokes, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, tomatoes and carrots. Whole grains like brown rice, oatmeal and millet provide great options as well. Remember, organic when possible! Let's not let pesticides and added hormones interfere with our body's ability to absorb the benefits of these healthy foods!

Source: www.healthcastle.com, www.babyboomercaretaker.com

While browsing through a little Fair Trade store in Jackson, Mississippi, I was thrilled to come across some 100% pure beeswax candles. I have some great candle sticks that have stood empty-handed for a little while now because I just had not gotten around to getting quality candles and I know how horrible most candles can be for your health.

It's ironic that candles are mostly burned in people's homes or offices to create a sweet or fresh smelling aroma, and yet candles are one of the biggest pollutants to indoor air quality. Unfortunately most candles (even some with pictures of plants and herbs on them) are made with synthetic, petroleum based oils for the fragrance. In addition the candles themselves are most commonly made from paraffin wax, which is a byproduct of the petroleum industry as well. When these candles are burned they release harmful amounts of chemicals, such as toluene and benzene, that have been linked to cancer, asthma, and eczema. Still furthermore, when a candle has a metal wick it can release lead, which can lead to neurological problems and more.

All in all, it's best to stick to beeswax and soy based candles with non-metallic wicks, as well as to make sure you know where the scent is coming from if it is a fragrant candle. There is plenty of information out there on this topic so feel free to do some more research on your own. But do remember, that no matter what kind of candle you're burning you always want to do so in a well ventilated area and you do not want to burn them every day, as that increases the soot build-up and potential health consequences. (That is if you do burn candles....I just got these for decoration to sit on top of my really great candle-sticks :)

Read more about the materials from Bluecorn Naturals.

Thanks to our dear friend, Melanie Pritchett, in Los Angeles, Three Branches enters the world of fashion and design! Inspired by TBHL, Melanie designed and created the amazing piece shown above and named it "Three Branches". It is the latest of the Lemel Designs collection and is obviously our favorite piece! Melanie is super talented, so you won't regret checking out her stuff, which is featured on Etsy, as she makes all of her jewelry by hand. Click here to see for yourself!

Check out Three Branches on DailyCandy Dallas! For those of you who may not know, DailyCandy is an online publication that serves as "the insider's guide to your city". DailyCandy is a "handpicked selection of all that's fun, fashionable, food related, and culturally stimulating in the city you’re fixated on (and all over the Web)."

Three Branches was featured on Sunday as the website of choice for their "Surf" section, found in the Culture category! Click here or on the image to see what they had to say!

A few weeks back, we blogged on the Progressive Forum event (held at the Wortham Center in downtown Houston) that featured Eric Schlosser as last night's guest speaker. For a refresher, Schlosser is the author of Fast Food Nation, a book that started a revolution in how Americans think about what they eat. He also co-produced and co-starred in Food, Inc. What an amazing man! Listening to him speak (in such a matter-of-fact, eloquent and knowledgeable tone) last night was truly inspiring. I wanted to share some of the highlights of his talk, the facts and ideas that really got the crowd stirring...and that I recorded hurriedly on the back of this brochure...

Schlosser started off with the notion that there exist two rebellions against the excesses of the industrial movement: Environmentalism and the Food Industry. With respect to the former, Vietnam inspired people to question the values of American society, especially the younger generation. Earth Day became nationally recognized in 1970 and around that same time, Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency to help America against the onslaught of industrial chemicals and pollution. Clean air and water soon were considered a basic right, and thus big industry was forced to discontinue chemical dumping (something that had been done without thought of downstream effects.) "Now," said Schlosser with a sarcastic tone, "they just do it really quietly."

Around the same time, Schlosser noted, sprung forth a whole new form of pollution: the Fast Food Industry. "It transformed what we eat, where we eat and what we look like," he said boldly.

Schlosser used his thorough, highly-sought-after investigative skills to disect America's beloved Fast Food Industry, tracing its origins, its fuel and its highly surreptitious practices. It was absolutely shocking, to say the least. He noted that there has been more change in the past forty years with respect to how Americans view and treat food than in the past 40,000 years. We went from eating farm-fresh, local produce to highly-pesticided, flash-frozen alternatives. We went from eating grass-fed animals (and their whole parts) to hormone-injected, mass-produced (and now cloned) meats. This "mystery meat", now found at most fast-food restaurants in the nation, is infused with chemicals produced by "flavor factories" located in the New Jersey turnpike. The success of these chains, says Schlosser, is dependent on our being ignorant of how they truly operate. It's mis-information and, at times, outright lying.

But it's all part of Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald's, all-time dream: "One taste. Worldwide."

Schlosser visited farms around the nation, noting their practices with his scrutinizing eyes. "We've been raising animals for food for thousands of years. Now there are 125,000 cattle confined to one pin, injected with growth hormones."

They are given anabolic steroids, illegal for an athlete's use, yet okay to put in our food that we then put into our bodies, our children's bodies. Evidence is showing that the rise in breast and prostate cancers may be traced back to artificial growth hormones found in our food chain. But tracing food poisoning cases and actual chemicals found in our bodies back to the original source is fairly impossible. Why? Because ONE hamburger patty could likely be made from THOUSANDS of different cattle from as much as FIVE different countries, before being flavored with factory-fabricated chemicals. 

But, Schlosser said, a restaurant like McDonald's is completely satisfied with a patron stopping in and just purchasing a soda. In fact, McDonald's is the number one buyer of Coca-Cola. And this is the result of customer demand. Forty years ago, the average American drank 27 gallons of soda a year. Now, we drink an average of 54 gallons a year. The smallest portion now available comes in a 12 oz. cup (wihch used to be one of the largest), but people usually pass this up for the Big Gulp, which contains FIFTY teaspoons of sugar. Wow.

And Schlosser's comeback for organic food costing more? "Well, if the cost of your heart bypass surgery was configured into your Big Mac, it might end up being more expensive!"

So, that's just a glimpse of the info that was unloaded on us last night. Kelly and I sat wide-eyed in our seats, thankful that our stomachs were full from the quick bite we grabbed at Whole Foods before the event...instead of from McDonald's latest creation: the Angus Snack Wrap...

Angus Wrap mage courtesy of www.burgerbusiness.com

I can't tell you how many people ask me (some less discreet than others) what to do about maintaining regularity. For some of us, having a B.M. just comes naturally and we wonder why everyone else gives two "poops" about it. But for the unfortunate rest, its inconsistency (and absense!) can dictate our mood, make or break a day, and leave us feeling groggy, bloated and gassy. What's more is people don't realize that headaches, rashes, etc. can be the result of stopped up bowels. We are exposed to thousands of toxins each day and when we're not ridding of them through our lungs (CO2), skin (sweat), kidneys (urine) and colon (bowel movement), we get backed up, clogged up, fed up. What goes in must come out and when it doesn't, we have to fix it!

One of our favorite suggestions and go-to remedies is the Pink Salt Flush (click image below and go to "Recommended Usage" tab). Read about it, try it out and see for yourself. Nicknamed "the 25 cent colonic", raw, high-quality salt (with water) can trigger a natural bowel movement within minutes if done correctly. And, not only that, it's natural, un-forced and thorough. Folks, this really does work!

It should be noted that not just any salt will do. In fact, doing this "flush" with regular, highly-heated (and therefore poisonous to your body) table salt could have the opposite effect. And just because a label says "Sea Salt" doesn't mean it's high-quality. (Read more about the difference between conventional and quality salt at "Sea the Difference".) We highly recommend using Pink Salt for this replinishing, relieving "flush"!

So you're convinced it's good for you. What's better is it's super easy to make. Simply bring the quinoa and twice as much water (1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water) with a pinch of a salt to a boil. Cover and simmer for about 15-20 minutes. That's it!

Kelly added one of Amy's delicious pre-prepared soups to the mixture for some added flavor. To make it as fresh as possible, you can sautee any mixture of veggies (onions, mushrooms, zucchini, squash, etc.) and add it to the cooked quinoa.

I also love adding frozen organic peas and corn with some chopped parsley. What's great about this "grain" is it's use as a leftover. Eat it cold the next day for a high-protein lunch that will tide you over 'til dinner! Enjoy!

With gentically engineered or modified foods on the rise,  it is up to us as consumers to become educated on how to avoid buying GMO foods. Learning the difference between the PLU codes for GMO foods and organic foods is the first step.

GMO PLU codes have five numbers that begin with the number 8, whereas organically grown PLUs have five numbers that start with 9. So in short, avoid codes that begin with 8 and stick to the ones beginning with the number 9. See the Three Branches article "Identifying the Best Produce" for more on this topic.

Dr. Mercola recently released comments on the topic of GMO foods and gave the following advice:

"There are currently eight major GM food crops on the market, so memorizing this list will help you avoid any and all food products that might contain GMO’s:

1. Soy
2. Corn
3. Cottonseed (used in vegetable cooking oils)
4. Canola (canola oil)
5. Sugar from sugar beets
6. Hawaiian papaya
7. Some varieties of zucchini
8. Crookneck squash

You’ll also want to avoid any kind of derivative of these, such as high fructose corn syrup, for example."

I highly recommend reading Mercola's full comments for a more complete understanding of genetically modified foods and why we should avoid them in his article "Eight Foods that Could be Disatrous for Your Health".

Kelly and I got the unique opportunity to hear Christopher Gavigan, CEO of Healthy Child, Healthy World (HCHW, one of our favorite organizations) speak at New Living Hardware in Houston last night. For those of you unfamiliar with the organization, HCHW is a non-profit committed to protecting young children from harmful chemicals. We have referenced it quite a bit and have a special place in our heart for their video, A Wake-Up Story. It's worth the couple of minutes and really gives a wonderful, inspiring view of their overall mission.

Christopher holds a degree in environmental science and geography from the University of California and has extensive graduate training in child psychology and education. This background makes him the perfect candidate for the work he has done in launching public awareness campaigns and educational programs that have brought awareness to millions concerning daily chioces and actions that impact our children's health. He's best-selling author of the book Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safe Home.

Yet what impressed us most was Christopher's dedication and passion that shined forth in a matter-of-fact, yet approachable and realistic tone. He talked about hard-to-hear topics like the toxicity from typical cleaning products and noted that stay-at-home moms are 54% more likely to get cancer than those that go to work due to exposure to these products. And how the average person is exposed to over 250 chemicals before walking out the door each morning (from shampoos, lotions, scented candles, laundry detergent and additives in our food). He added that 60% of what's put on our body is absorbed within minutes to our bloodstream. Wow. Hard to swallow, right?!

But Christopher is a realistic, down-to-earth kind of guy. A father of Luke, 3, and husband to the beautiful (and 8 mos. pregnant!) Jessica Capshaw, he understand there's a constant battle, or "friction" between a healthy, chemical-free life and the "real" world, filled with chlorinized swimming pools, scented perfumes and sugar-filled birthday cakes.

So his suggestions are simple and delivered with an understanding and patient demeanor. "Take these doable steps at your own pace, in your own home," he reasons.

To learn more about Healthy Child, Healthy World, visit their website at www.healthychild.org.

And, please, watch "A Wake-Up Story." You won't want to hit snooze, I promise!

An article came out in the Houston Chronicle yesterday touting Home Depot's entrance into Houston's green building market. Their initial goal was to build 5,000 "healthy" homes around the nation in 5 years with a $30 million dollar budget. They are a third of the way through.

"As part of [their] program, Houston Habitat for Humanity will build 70 affordable homes during the next year," says Cafarelli, the president of the Home Depot Foundation. "[They will be built] to conserve water and energy and to provide a comfortable, healthy environment for a family."

The great news? This will result in homeowners saving $6,000 on heating, air conditioning and water as they use energy-efficient faucets and appliances with an Energy Star rating, a government-backed program that promotes energy efficiency. And, from a "healthy" standpoint, these families will be exposed to less chemicals that could potentially wreak havoc on their health as Home Depot is using low-VOC paint and non-toxic insulation and caulk.

The not-so-great news? These homes will be using compact fluorescent lights, one of the main role players in the green movement. While CFLs consume 70% less energy than the typical incandescent bulbs, studies are showing that they may have huge consequences on our health.

CFLs can produce what's called "dirty electricity", says Dr. Magda Havas of Trent University.* Dirty electricity occurs when spikes ride on top of the normally smooth waves. Studies show that this can result in rises in blood sugar and adverse neurological symptoms for those with MS. A study done in Wisconsin showed that once this dirty electricity was removed from an elementary school, 37 asthmatic students were able to get off of their inhalers. The electromagnetic field produced by a CFL is up to 25 times higher than that from a typical incandescent bulb. And, to make matters worse, the waves produced by CFLs "ride" on top of each other, producing an exponentially higher electromagnetic field with each additional bulb.

For more information on CFLs, watch "CFL Light Bulbs Are Poisoning Us."

All in all, Houston should be so grateful to be the next "proving ground" for Home Depot's and Habitat for Humanity's green iniative. Afterall, an energy-efficient home built with low-toxic products is truly a dream come true for homeowners. As for the CFLs, that's an easy fix!

*According to our colleague and former program director of The International Institute of Building Biologie and Ecology (IBBE), Vicki Warren, the problem is actually much more complex than dirty electricity; CFLs produce a frequency at 600 Hz, the trigger for epileptic seizures.

While on our beautiful drive from Aspen to the Denver airport, I browsed through a Women's Health magazine and came across an article entitled "Power Couples" that made me think of our readers. Marilee has imparted some food combining knowledge on Kelly and me over the years, but this article gave some recommendations that I hadn't heard of. Next time you're in the grocery store aisle, debating between this or that, maybe these "power couples" will come to mind.

Chickpeas + Red Peppers - Food-based iron (like that from chickpeas) is hard for our bodies to digest, but paired with blood-red veggies like red bell peppers, which contain a lot of Vitamin C helps our body to assimilate this necessary mineral. Next time you buy or make hummus, throw in some red bell pepper slices as a convenient dipper!

Spinach + Avocados - Spinach, which has a ton of lutein and Vitamin A, is absorbed faster when paired with good, high-fat items like avocados. Replace your sandwich greens with fresh spinach leaves and top it with avocado slices. Can anyone say, yum?!

Broccoli + Eggs - A recent study done by the Archives of Internal Medicine found that women who consumed the most calcium and Vitamin D were 30 to 40 percent less likely to suffer from PMS symptoms. The perfect solution? Scrambled eggs (high in D) topped with fresh broccoli (one of best sources of calcium.)

Tomatoes + Olive Oil - The healthy fats in olive oil help the lycopene (great for sun damage!) in tomatoes to be better absorbed by the body. Olive oil is also a natural winkle-protectant. So, drizzle a little EVOO on fresh tomato slices tossed in salad...especially during a day spent in the sun!

Yogurt + Ground Flaxseed - Yogurt contains a ton of healthy bacteria that's great for your digestive tract, which becomes depleted of this necessary flora due to antibiotics, chemical exposures, etc. Pairing organic yogurt with freshly-ground flax seeds help the friendly bacteria survive, thrive and multiply. (This is truly my favorite combination. In fact, I had a huge bowl of organic yogurt, freshly-ground flaxseeds, flax oil and blueberries for breakfast this morning! My gut loves me...!)

Green Tea + Lemon Juice - We've all heard that green tea is great for us, but did you know that it's a natural source of cancer-fighting catechins? Unforunately, only 20 percent survive during the digestive process. But, a study done by Purdue University found that by simply squeezing fresh lemon juice into your tea, you're "toughening up" the catechins and are able to digest up to 13 times as much! Now that's worth a squeeze... 

Thanks, Karen Ansel, R.D., for all your healthy combination tips! 

Thank you, author Karen Ansel, R.D., for your healthy tips! 

Now take a look for yourself. Below is our weekend in pictures...well, at least the TBHL portion of it :)

The Farmer's Market was great and all, but what made the trip truly amazing was being a part of our friend's special weekend. A big thank you to Bailey and Pete McCarthy for such a beautiful and amazing wedding and reception!!! We wish Bailey (as many people know from her great blog Peppermint Bliss) and Pete a long, happy and healthful life together!!! Congratulations you two!

People are always asking us for quick, easy breakfast ideas. One of our favorite items is the Ezekiel line of sprouted grains, found at most grocery stores. You can choose among the different kinds of english muffins, breads and crunchy cereals they offer. When rushed in the morning, I'll simply pour hot water or almond milk over 1 cup of the Ezekiel almond cereal, sprinkle some cinnamon on top and be out the door! Since I crave hot, mushy consistencies in the morning, I usually let is sit a few minutes before I eat it so it's more like oatmeal.

Why Sprouted?

The grains are allowed to sprout for a few days, dried at a low temperature to preserve the vitamins, minerals and enzymes and then ground into flour. Compared to conventional, non-sprouted grains, they have increased Vitamin C, Vitamin B, Carotene and enzymes. The process also breaks down the amino acid protein bonds, and converts the carbohydrates into vegetable sugars rather than starches, making the flour even easier to digest.

People often ask me, "Do you eat meat?" Or, if someone finds out I do eat meat, it's followed by a shocked, "You eat meat?!" The truth is, I really enjoy a good quality serving of goat, lamb, quail, buffalo or even steak. (Because I'm blood Type A, it's harder for me to digest steak, so I usually avoid it. I also avoid pork altogether.) The reason people assume I'm a vegetarian is because when eating socially, it's usually at a restaurant where the choices of quality meat are minimal to none. It's a rare and exciting occasion when I see organic chicken or fresh goat offered, but when it is, it's on my plate!

It's well known what distinguishes conventional from organic meat. One of the main markers of the former is the heavy use of antibiotics by pig, cow and chicken farmers. "Dispensing antibiotics to healthy animals is routine on the large, concentrated farms that now dominate American agriculture," states a New York Times article titled "U.S. Meat Farmers Brace for Limits on Antibiotics."

Craig Rowles, owner of a large pork farm in Iowa, says he keeps his pigs fit by feeding them antibiotics for weeks after weaning, to ward off possible illness in that vulnerable period. And for months after that, he administers an antibiotic that promotes faster growth with less feed.

This practice is becoming more and more condemned by the medical community who attributes the increasing amounts of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (E. coli and salmonella to name a few) to people's consumption of antibiotic-laden food. Basically, the antibiotics used in food is diminishing the effectiveness of antibiotics perscribed by doctors.

The FDA has proposed guildelines that reduce the amounts of antibiotics used in animals, especially those that are used soley to promote their growth, producing larger animals that need less feed. 

In a letter to Congress in July, Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cited “compelling evidence” of a “clear link between antibiotic use in animals and antibiotic resistance in humans.”

Our concern is not that the medical community is no longer seeing their antibiotics take effect like they used to, it's the mere fact that we're consuming antibiotics at all! Antibiotics deplete the body of intestinal bacteria, good and bad. We need this healthy bacteria flora to stave of sickness, help assimilate nutrients and promote healthy digestion. Good health, afterall, begins in our colon/large intestine! We believe that antibiotic are good for relieving the overt symptoms (pain, for instance) but do little, if nothing, to target the root cause of the issue, which could be far from the symptom.

But, although we may not see see eye-to-eye on the reasons behind reducing antibiotics given to our food, the fact remains: this is a step in the right direction! I long for the day that "chicken" on the menu is just chicken. Period.

Image source here.

While my husband worked avidly on his Fantasy Football team, I sat supportively on the couch next to him, surfing some of my favorite blogs.

Healthy Child Healthy World is one of them. After losing their 4-year-old daughter to a tumor caused by pesticide exposure, Nancy and James Chuda started a movement that inspires parents to protect their children from harmful chemicals. Below is one of their guest blog posts, written by Annie B. Bond of the Huffington Post.

We are passionate about informing people of the harmful chemicals found in conventional cleaning products and pesticides. (And how fitting is it that Branch Basics is this month's special!) It is hard to make links between things we use/are exposed to every day and symptoms that seem common or that we acquire years later. This article makes the link between chemicals and ADHD, a connection that is becoming undeniable. It also gives simple steps that you can take to lessen your and your family's exposure to chemicals. 

Neurotoxins and ADHD: Connecting the Dots by Annie B. Bond: 

My friend Sally used to corral her three teenage children to clean their house every Saturday morning. I was envious of her chutzpa to demand this of her kids, but the part of the story that was always tragic to me was that every Saturday afternoon without fail, Sally's son Sam was sent to his room for hyperactive, "out of control" behavior.

Looking at the cause and effect of the son's behavior through my lens of awareness of how neurotoxic many cleaning chemicals are, I could see it would make sense that the son's central nervous system and brain could be reacting to these chemicals. Symptoms of neurotoxicity include lack of concentration, personality changes, depression, hyperactivity and the mimicking of psychiatric disorders.

Not being particularly "green," the cleaning products Sally would buy for her kids to use were the standard store-bought fare readily available in supermarkets. Examples of neurotoxins found in such products include  VOCs (furniture polish can contain VOCs), neurotoxin disinfectants,  petroleum distillates, fragrances (scented products are notoriously neurotoxic,) and waxes (VOCs again in the solvents), to name a few.

Pesticides take front seat in the arsenal of poisons that hurt the central nervous system and brain. After all, they are designed to kill. A new study reported in the June issue of Pediatrics, published online May 17, links organophosphate pesticide metabolites found in urine to a much higher incidence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).   

"Each 10-fold increase in urinary concentration of organophosphate metabolites was associated with a 55 percent to 72 percent increase in the odds of ADHD," study author Maryse F. Bouchard, PhD, of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Montreal, told Medscape Psychiatry. 

Another example of subtle neurotoxic exposure children suffer through that most adults miss is to the solvents in markers in art class. When my daughter was in school, one year the math class was the period after art class, and she said that the kids were always "off the walls" in math class. What a tragedy, and one that could so easily be avoided if schools stopped allowing neurotoxic art materials to be used. How many kids thought they were bad at math when the culprit was the colored markers?

I've often wondered why the dots haven't been connected by most people between neurotoxic chemicals and ADHD-type behavior. After all, if a neurotoxic chemical is known to cause depression, for example, and that chemical is being used, why do so few people (and almost no psychiatrists) say, oh my gosh, let's remove the neurotoxin?

At least one thing parents can do is to remove neurotoxins from the home. Here are eleven quick solutions:

1. Yes to "green" dry cleaning using C02, no to dry cleaning with perchlorethelene (and hanging clothes in bedroom closets);
   
2. Yes to water-based markers, no to solvent-based markers;
   
3. Yes to natural furniture polishes or simple jojoba oil (a natural wax), no to furniture polish made of volatile organic chemicals;
   
4. Yes to organic produce, no to highly processed foods.
   
5. Yes to food with natural food coloring, no to food with FD&C dyes;
   
6. Yes to safe integrated pest management, no to synthetic pesticides;
   
7. Yes to cedar and herbs for moths, no to moth balls;
   
8. Yes to natural essential oils for fragrance, no to synthetic perfumes and fragrances;
   
9. Yes to vegetable-based Free and Clear detergents and cleaning products, no to cleaning products containing volatile organic chemicals;
   
10. Yes to efficient heating systems, no to kerosene, open gas, or other systems that could leak carbon monoxide;
    
11. Yes to educating yourself about lead paint and other sources of lead, no to hoping for the best if you live in a house built before 1978.

1. Sautee white/yellow onions and mushrooms in a deep skillet with the coconut oil until the onions are translucent and the kitchen smells like an Italian restaurant!
2. Add the quinoa, water, greens and Pink Salt (the salt helps you digest the grains. You can also soak the quinoa in water for at least 6 hours to make them more digestable and cut the cooking time. Simply throw them in a bowl covered with water before work!)
3. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
4. Just before it's done (and still very hot!), add the chopped red onions (best eaten raw and add a sweet crunchy flavor) and frozen peas.
5. Sprinkle Pink Salt and Nutritional Flakes to taste.

(My husband is literally obsessed with Nutritional Flakes. He claims that it can make any healthy dish taste amazing and has sworn he'll eat whatever I put in front of him as long as the flakes are on it! They're nutty, delicious and an amazing source of protein and B vitamins!)

Note: You can mix and match any combination of your favorite veggies. Sautee cabbage, zucchini or summer squash with the onions and mushrooms, add corn instead of peas, use less onions,be creative!

One Tablet: Iron 27 mg; Ferrous Gluconate; Sucrose; Corn Starch; Hypromellose; Talc; Maltodextrin; Magnesium Stearate; Silicon Dioxide; Titanium Dioxide; Polyethylene Glycol; FD&C Yellow #5 (Tartrazine) Aluminum Lake; Polysorbate 80; Carnauba Wax

This is a great example of how all supplements are not created equal. We always try to encourage people to become ingredient savvy for reasons like this. Why would you want to take an iron supplement that had all these additives in it? Who wants added sugars, chemicals, and petroleum derived products with their iron?! Companies add these things to their supplements in order to expedite the production process and reduce costs. Many of these unnecessary (and sometimes even harmful) ingredients are called "binders" because they are used to "bind" the ingredients during production.

We believe that taking whole food supplements is the way to go. Doing this, your body can get iron from the all-food-based supplement in a more concentrated form versus from an isolated form that is made in a lab.

I invite you to look up each of the ingredients above to learn more about them. One easy to read description on FD&C Yellow 5 Aluminum Lake can be found here, and you can click here to read a short description of talc.

Check out the article "Hidden Hazards of Vitamin and Mineral Tablets" as well. I hope this topic of fillers and binders will encourage you to become a strict judge about the supplements you put in your body!

(My sister is now taking Blood Builder by Premier Research Labs, which contains their "Iron Elite" recipe to provide the bulk of the iron.)

For now please, visit www.threebrancheshealth.blogspot.com!

We're pretty stoked about our 6th floor window, and while Houston's San Felipe St. isn't exactly the perfect outlook, it'll do because natural light is abound!


Also, the building is just equidistant between our two houses so it's easy to run home for a quick lunch, check on my new puppy (yay!) or take a quick jump in the FAR Infrared sauna that I'm so blessed to have available!

The past few weeks have been action packed. Three Branches hit me with post-honeymoon reality as Kel and I hit the ground running in order to make our launch date. Too distracted by our typical home office setting, we hopped from Starbucks to Starbucks, laptops in tow, setting up anywhere we could get a wireless signal (which the monster coffee chain finally offers for free!).

We'd try to take breaks in order to run home and grab a healthy bite or make some fresh juice, but sometimes we'd have to resort to what was avilalbe in Starbucks. Needless to say, Kelly and I were beside ourselves when we discovered that one of our favorite brands, Two Moms in the Raw, has delicious granola snack packs for sale in most Starbucks stores.

By far the healthiest snack available at this coffee chain, Two Moms in the Raw makes a wonderful dairy-free, wheat-free and gluten-free granola bar that's 100% raw and organic. And did I mention delicious?!

So, even though we've moved on from out Starbucks hop, Kel made a detour on the way to our office this morning to pick up some healthy sustenance as we set up our inventory elfa shelves...

(We forgot our camera and were forced to use the PhotoBooth on my MacBook so excuse the fuzzy and reversed images!)

Image Source: Thanks, snaksnak.com! We couldn't resist the picture they took of these little snacks. Because they're brand new to the Raw line, they don't have images on their site yet. C'mon, Two Moms!

...make guacamole!

Ingredients (organic when possible):

2 ripe avocadoes

1/2 red onion, finely minced
2 serrano chilis, seeds, ribs removed, finely minced
2 tablespoons finely minced cilantro
1/4 cup fresh/frozen corn kernels

Pink salt to taste

1-2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Black pepper
1/2 ripe tomato, coarsely chopped

Directions:

Half the avocadoes and remove the cores. Using a fork, mash the avocados until smooth. Fold in onion, chilis, cilantro, corn and lemon juice. Mix in salt and pepper to taste and finally, gently fold in tomato. Chill for at least an hour before serving to allow flavors to develop.

Makes 3-4.

With respect to the article section, we recognize that it is a bit overwhelming, and we are working on a more organized flow. We highly encourage you to first browse the "Learn" section and let the site take you from there.

Just like the inception of any large endeavor, there are always going to be gliches and shortcomings in the beginning. We ask you to bear with us as we work hard to make Three Branches Healthy Living run as smoothly as possible. There are sure to be articles that aren't formatted perfectly, sections that are "coming soon" and products that aren't listed yet. While we could have continued to put off the launch date, it was our amazing fans and followers who encouraged us to go ahead and go "live" despite possible loose ends so that information could be accessed and products more easily purchased.

It is the long-awaited dream of Kelly, Marilee and I to bring you information, articles and products that will empower you to create a healthy home and body. We hope you enjoy your time spent browsing the site and would love any feedback you have the time to give us.

Thanks for your patience during this process. We have had so much fun creating Three Branches and look forward to helping you attain a healthier lifestyle!

Click here to view our previous blog posts.

At some point in our lives, most of us have probably heard something along the lines of, “Don’t eat right before you go to bed. It’s not good for you.” But even though we hear this, and maybe even believe it, it’s still difficult to do sometimes. Refraining from late night eating can be challenging, especially during summertime when you may be traveling more and you are off of your normal routine. But perhaps it will help if you have a better understanding of why it’s not so good to eat soon before you go to bed. (And “soon” is unfortunately 3 to 4 hours before bedtime.)

If you’ve been following us for a while, you know how much we stress the importance of sleep. Sleep is when your body is supposed to rest and repair. That’s why sleep is often the best medicine when you’re not feeling well or trying to recover from illness or injury. After working hard all day long, your body needs a bit of a break so it can recuperate and be energized the next day. When you eat late at night, however, your digestive system is activated and your body is forced to use energy for digestion. This can often make falling asleep, and sleeping well, more difficult, and additionally can create the potential for bloating or cramps in the morning from improper or incomplete digestion. If you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) or heartburn, it is even more important to avoid eating soon before bed since lying horizontally can worsen your symptoms.

I realize it’s not realistic to think we can refrain from eating 3 to 4 hours before bed every single night. However, if you can eat dinner earlier and then eat something easy to digest, like fruit, as it gets closer to the time you go to sleep, then you will be doing your body a favor. And the most important time to remember this rule is when you are sick. You’ll want to spend your energy on repairing rather than digesting!

Check out the following article as well. You might find it to give you even more motivation! Eating at night linked to greater weight gain than daytime snacking: study

Image Source: Levine/Getty image from www.nydailynews.com

What is pH?
pH (or potential of Hydrogen) is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. The higher the pH reading, the more alkaline and oxygen rich the fluid is. The lower the pH reading, the more acidic and oxygen deprived the fluid is.

Why is pH important?
Our bodies prefer to be in an alkaline (versus acidic) state. Most food in its natural form (fresh fruit and vegetables) is alkaline-forming. But our typical diet is full of acid-forming processed foods such as meat proteins, cereals and sugars. Other high acid-forming foods include stimulants such as tobacco, alcohol, coffee and tea. These things can leave our bodies compromised since we maintain our best health when our diet is comprised of at least 60% alkaline-forming foods. In fact, if our bodies are in an acidic state, alkaline minerals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium become depleted, making us more prone to chronic and degenerative disease.

Our body's acidic can also occur from emotional stress and toxic overload. Really, any process that deprives our cells of oxygen and other nutrients places us in a compromised state. Our bodies then try to compensate for this acidity by using its alkaline minerals. If we don't have enough minerals available (naturally or from the diet), our cells build up acidic walls and acidosis can occur. It can cause problems such as:

• Cardiovascular damage
• Osteoporosis
• High blood pressure
• Weight gain
• Bladder and kidney diseases
• Acceleration of free radical damage
• Slow digestion and elimination
• Yeast/fungal overgrowth
• Loose, painful teeth
• Mouth and stomach ulcers
• Excess stomach acid
• Indigestion and acid reflux
• Easily stressed and depressive tendencies
• Loss of drive, joy, enthusiasm
• Leg cramps and spasms
• Pale complexion
• and more...

As you can see, maintaining a healthy pH level is very important!

How do I test my pH?
You can find out how your body is working to maintain the blood's ideal pH by testing the acidity/alkalinity of your urine. Purchase litmus paper (for very cheap at your local health food store) and test your first-morning urine. This will indicate the alkaline and acid metabolic cycles and the efforts that your kidneys, adrenals, lungs and gonads are exerting to regulate your proper pH.

Urine pH can vary from around 4.5 to 9.0 in extremes, but the ideal range is 6.0 to 7.0. If your urinary pH fluctuates between 6.0 to 6.5 first thing in the morning and between 6.5 and 7.0 in the evening before dinner, your body is functioning within a healthy range.

What are examples of alkaline-forming foods?

• Vegetable juices
• Vegetables such as parsley, raw spinach, broccoli, celery, garlic, carrots, beets, zucchini
• Fruits such as figs, raisins, dates, grapes, papaya, kiwi, berries, apples, pears
• Herb teas, lemon water

Simply squeezing a few lemon slices in your water before eating will help to neutralize the acid-forming tendencies that a high-protein or sugar-containing meal can have on the body.

Source: www.trans4mind.com

Weekends are a time when we might indulge in foods we try to avoid during the week, so that's why I want to give you two studies that will hopefully help you remain strong before you reach your hand into that Doritos bag or dip that Oreo into your glass of milk.

The first one comes from researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington DC. They concluded that feeding pregnant rats high fat, unhealthy foods puts the rats' daughters and granddaughters at a higher risk for breast cancer. In addition, the risk remains to be increased even if the daughters themselves eat healthy. And men can pass this risk along as well because according to the study the risk appears to not only extend from mother to daughter and granddaughter, but also from mother to son to granddaughter. Sonia de Assis, the lead researcher, says a fatty diet may cause "epigenetic" DNA modifications that can be passed on to future generations.

The second study comes from the Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Florida and "suggests that obesity and drug addiction have common neurobiological underpinnings". Paul Johnson and Paul Kenny found that rats fed junk food elicited similar addictive behaviors to those of rats addicted to heroin. Johnson fed the experimental rats a diet full of Ho Hos, sausage, pound cake, bacon and cheesecake. Not too surprisingly, these rats soon developed compulsive eating habits and became obese. After just five days on the junk food diet, the rats' behavior suggested they were habituated to the food, as they demonstrated "profound reductions" in the sensitivity of their brains' pleasure centers and therefore had to eat more food to get the same amount of pleasure. "Just as heroin addicts require more and more of the drug to feel good, rats needed more and more of the junk food."

There you have it...two substantial reasons to choose healthier snacks over processed junk foods! Try more nutritious snacks like carrot sticks and hummus, apple slices, blueberries, and various raw nuts. (Hummus and nuts are "good fats" that contain essential fatty acids necessary for a healthy body.) Summer provides tons of produce options that will not only help you avoid the risks of cancer and addiction but will keep you hydrated and cool during the summertime heat. Melons, cucumbers, grapefruits, berries...these will all help you "keep your cool."

Happy Friday:)

Sources:
"Junk Food Turns Rats Into Addicts" - ScienceNews
"Breast Cancer Risk Tied to Grandmother's Diet" - Georgetown University Medical Center
"Rats on Junk Food Pass Cancer Down the Generations" - NewScientist

In 2001, Bill Moyers of PBS aired a show called "Trade Secrets." It focused on chemicals used in our crops and consumer products, the extent to which our bodies are absorbing them and their effects on our health. The show earned its name due to the lengths to which industries go to keep consumers and the government agencies in the dark about their "proprietary" ingredients and business practices.

Moyers himself agreed to participate in a study conducted by Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NYC concerning pollutant loads in the human body. It analyzed Moyer's blood and urine, a list of which can be found here on the Environmental Working Group website. One can see from the report that the following were found:

• 48 cancer-causing compounds
• 52 chemicals linked to reproductive and child developmental damage
• 17 chemicals associated with heart disease
• 21 chemicals known to disrupt the endocrine system, causing a host of diseases including diabetes
• 23 chemicals linked to gastrointestinal damage
• 16 chemical toxic to the urinary systems, including the kidneys (relates to blood pressure regulation)
• 25 chemicals that can affect the nervous system, causing muscle weakness, tremors, dizziness, confusion, memory loss and cognitive deficiencies
• 20 chemicals that may affect reproductive fertility and pregnancies
• The list goes on...

Needless to say, these results, indicative of the chemical burden on his body, shocked Moyers. For more information on this particular study, go to the PBS website devoted solely to this topic. It's really informative and easy to follow, in my opinion!

This might leave one wondering, "What's in my body and how do I get it out and keep it from growing?!"

And that, my friends, is why Three Branches Healthy Living exists. We are not only selling products (starting in mid-August!), but are here to provide information that will help you understand which products to avoid and great alternatives to stock up on. The "Trade Secrets" website also provides recommendations on how to avoid everyday chemicals.

As for getting the chemicals out? God has given us unbelievable recovery mechanisms that naturally work to rid our bodies of toxins once we place ourselves in a cleaner environment. This could simply mean replacing household cleaning products, switching to a safer laundry detergent, throwing away perfumes that have permeated our bedrooms, saying no to pesticides and eating organic whenever possible.

As we always say, making simple changes can produce huge results because every step we take in the right direction is reducing our total "body burden."

Sources:
"Toxic Bedrooms: Your Guide to a Safe Night's Sleep" by Walter Bader
http://www.pbs.org/tradesecrets/

If you haven't ever eaten hempseed before, I suggest now is the time you start! These amazing, little, power-packed seeds are full of nutrients, including all the essential amino acids needed for a healthy body. They can be used in simple ways like sprinkling them on your salad or in recipes like hemp burgers, hemp hummus, and hemp ice cream.

Nutivia Organic Shelled Hemp Seeds is what I usually buy, and most of the time I keep it simple. I sprinkle them over vegetables, greens, you name it - anything on my plate. Like ground flax seed, they are also great in a bowl of yogurt and fruit. And they are a great source of easily digestible protein, so you won't feel like you have to have meat for every meal in order to get your protein in!

Here's what Nutivia has to say about "The Amazing Hempseed"...

A Nutritional Powerhouse
Hempseed is considered by leading researchers and medical doctors to be one of the most nutritious food sources on the planet. Shelled hempseed is packed with 33 percent pure digestible protein and is rich in iron and vitamin E as well as omega-3 and GLA. A recent report funded by the Canadian government states that hemp protein is comprised of 66 percent high-quality edistin protein, and that hempseed contains the highest percentage of this of any plant source. Hemp also contains three times the vitamin E contained in flax. Unlike soy, hemp is not genetically modified, and it doesn't contain the anti-nutritional qualities commonly found in soy.

Got Your EFAs today?
Because the human body produces no Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), it is important that EFAs be consumed on a regular basis. It is estimated that more than 90 percent of Americans take in too little of one of the most important EFAs--omega-3--which is found in flax, walnuts, deep-water fish, and hempseeds. EFAs are the "good fats" that doctors recommend as part of a healthy, balanced diet. The quality of omega-3 is vital, and can be diminished by oxygen, heat, and light. Thus consume the freshest seeds possible and store them in a dark, cold environment such as a refrigerator. Nutiva obtains its seeds exclusively from Canada, and we date all our products. Great nutrition never tasted so good.

So, as you can see hempseed is a great addition for a healthy, balanced diet. And just to note, the technical term for hemp is Cannabis sativa L, and although it originates from the same plant genus as marijuana, the strains of the plant are much different. :)

Pasteurization is the process of heating food to a specific temperature for a certain amount of time and then quickly cooling it. This kills certain bacteria that would have otherwise naturally grown during the food's (or liquid's) fermentation process. It was named after Louis Pasteur in the mid 1800's, a chemist who first applied this technique to beer and wine. 
Today, the pasteurization process has evolved as ultra-high temperatures are now used which not only kill microbes, but also allow foods such as cheese, creams, eggs, canned goods, etc. and liquids such as milk, OJ, soy sauce, alcohol, vinegar, etc. to have a longer shelf-life. 
But high temperatures don't just kill the bad stuff. Many people oppose the pasteurization process because it destroys enzymes, diminishes vitamin C content, B12 and B6, kills the good bacteria,  and promotes pathogens.  It's also been associated with allergies, increased tooth decay, colic in infants, osteoporosis, arthritis heart disease and cancer. In fact, calves fed pasteurized milk do poorly and many die pre-maturely. 
The Weston A. Price Foundation has launched a campaign called Real Milk to educate consumers about the health benefits of raw dairy and the dangers of pasteurization. 
Most doctors warn pregnant women to avoid non-pasteurized products during pregnancy to avoid passing on any bacteria to the fetus. However, many women argue that the enzymes and other benefits from raw milk (and cheese) far outweigh the risks of its consumption. In Canada, the sales of raw milk are illegal and many farmers and chefs are battling the government on this issue. 
Dr. Ted Beal, a 76-year-old pathologist from the University of Michigan, is an anomaly amongst fellow physicians. He has spent his career studying infectious diseases and he and his wife, a nutritionist herself, drink fresh, unprocessed milk. They feel strongly that the risks are low and the benefits high. 
Our stand? Well, it's hard to even come by unprocessed milk and cheese these days as the government has a tight rein on what can be sold. And, quite frankly, I wouldn't trust raw milk products after they've spent time in cartons on the store shelves. But, we feel that unprocessed dairy products are definitely the way to go when the source can be traced. Your local farmer's market is a great place to find unprocessed, nutrient-packed items such as milk, yogurt and cheese. For instance, Kelly and I set up a bi-monthly delivery with a place in Austin called White Egret Farms who makes unbelievable goat cheese and yogurt. For those of you who've never tasted the real stuff, we think you'd be blown away by its freshness and flavor! 
Information sources: www.thedoctorstv.com, www.wikipedia.org, Image source: www.infoniac.com

When I heard a guy on the radio the other day say that he quit drinking soft drinks and lost eight pounds in two months just from that alone, I thought "I need to share that on the blog." I've heard other stories too, from people I know, that have kicked their soft drink habit and seen great results in their figure.

Dr. John Briffa says, "This type of beverage is particularly hazardous, because it contains so much sugar (nine teaspoons of sugar in an 11-ounce can is typical), and that this glut of sugar can be consumed so quickly. The rush of readily available sugar into the system can induce biochemical changes (specifically, the secretion of insulin) that can lead to weight gain. Also, the higher levels of insulin that come after downing a sugary drink may, in the long term, increase the risk of other conditions including type 2 diabetes too."

We have to remember that excess sugar is stored as fat and that diet soft-drinks aren't any better when it comes to weight. Sharon P Fowler, MPH, and colleagues at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio found that for each can of diet soft drink consumed each day, a person's risk of obesity went up 41%. The following results are from eight years of data:

For regular soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:

• 26% for up to 1/2 can each day
• 30.4% for 1/2 to one can each day
• 32.8% for 1 to 2 cans each day
• 47.2% for more than 2 cans each day.

For diet soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:

• 36.5% for up to 1/2 can each day
• 37.5% for 1/2 to one can each day
• 54.5% for 1 to 2 cans each day
• 57.1% for more than 2 cans each day.

So, I'd say it's best to avoid drinking any kind of soft drink. Aside from weight gain, soft drinks can contribute to all kinds of health problems overtime. Don't let the lack of experiencing immediate health effects fool you into thinking they're okay for you. Try switching to unsweetened fruit juices and drink more water. If you've been a soft drink consumer for a while now, just remind yourself that the beginning of kicking the habit will be the hardest part, but it will be worth it in the end!

Cantalopes, watermelons, honeydew, oh MY!
Because melons consist of 90% water, they digest very easily and very quickly. The nutrients in melons decompose much quicker than those of other fruits. (Stick watermelon juice in the fridge and you'll see how different it looks/tastes after just ten minutes. OJ can stay the same for days!) In fact, they require almost no work from your body to break down, passing through the stomach and then the small intestine with ease...
if eaten alone...
But when eaten with other foods (that, themselves, require much more complex digestive action to take place), the melons have to "wait" in the stomach, and then intestines, as the other food is broken down. Because their nutrients have already broken down (fermented), melons can putrefy while sitting stagnate and produce...you guessed it!...GAS! (Sorry for the grim details.)
So, next time you're in the mood for a juicy watermelon, wait 'til after you've digested your hotdog. Or eat it for a meal like Kel and I sometimes do: cut a cantalope in half, grab a spoon and scoop out the goods!
Image courtesy of www.worldcommunitycookbook.com

Dr. David Williams is an alternative medical practitioner and author of Alternative, a popular monthly newsletter for natural health that is subscribed to by over 300,000 people. Dr. Williams travels the globe in search of highly effective herbal cures and treatments and has seen enormous benefits from the omega-3s and other nutrients we derive from fish. Omega-3s have been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease and also are a great source of Vitamin D, calcium, B12 and protein. While fish is a wonderful alternative to low-nutrient entrees like processed meats and white pastas, we would gain from more knowledge on which fish is best before choosing this "healthier" option. 
When searching for healthy fish, Dr. Williams follows 3 simple rules:
1. Dine on fish low in mercury. "In general," says Williams, "the larger and older the fish, the greater the methyl mercury toxicity." He recommends smaller fish like sardines, salmon, trout, flounder and tilapia.
2. Make sure your fish has been tested for contaminants. Wild is the way to go! Farm-raised fish are kept in pens that can have diseases. Many times, they are fed antibiotics, which transfer to our bodies upon consumption and grains, an alternative to their natural diet of algae, which is rich in omega-3s.
3. Pay close attention to the canning process. Fish like sardines, salmon and tuna can be found in cans atop the grocery store shelves. And these can be very quick, healthy options of getting a delicious, high-protein meal! But, not all canned fish is equal. Companies like Wild Planet get their fish from clean waters and once sealed in the can, allow the fish to cook in their own juices at the strictest temperature and time standards. The result? No fishy taste! So look for cans that have no added preservatives or oils like soybean. (Extra virgin olive oil is great.)

When packing for a trip to the lake or to the hiking trails, one item you don't want to forget is bug spray. No one likes to be covered in mosquito bites! But have you ever thought about what you are spraying on your body and if it could be harmful to you and not just the bugs?

Nearly every commonly used mosquito repellent, such as OFF! products, uses the chemical deet as it's active ingredient. However, the safety of deet is highly questionable.

A study published last year in the journal BioMed Central Biology, found that deet is in fact toxic to the central nervous system. They found that deet inhibits the activity of a key central nervous system enzyme, acetylcholinesterase, in both insects and mammals.

In addition, Duke University Medical Center pharmacologist Mohamed Abou-Donia spent 30 years researching the effects of pesticides and discovered that exposure to deet causes neurons to die in several parts of your brain -- including areas that control muscle movement, memory, concentration and learning. Abou-Donia says rats given small doses of deet for 60 days had a harder time accomplishing even the easiest tasks, things as simple as walking.

Heavy exposure to deet and other insecticides can cause eye and skin irritation, memory loss, headaches, weakness, fatigue, muscle/joint pain, nausea, tremors and shortness of breath. And symptoms can appear months or even years after use. So be aware that just because you may not get a headache or feel nauseous immediately after application (though some people do) does not indicate that you are not being effected.

In addition, researchers have no idea what the effects are when deet is combined with other chemicals, whether in the same product or when mixed on your skin with sunscreen or body care products. (And remember, the skin is your largest organ. Things you put on your skin can be absorbed in your bloodstream, so you don't have to swallow bug spray for it to effect you.)

So if you are wary of the safety of typical bug repellents (or if I've scared you enough) choose a non-toxic bug spray that does not contain deet or other hazardous chemicals. Fortunately, there seem to be more available today than ever before. Here's something I found that might be helpful: 7 Natural Insect Repellents. You can always ask a staff member at a health food store if they know of any to actually work well.

I personally use Branch Basics to keep the bugs away and to relieve the itching if I do get bit. (Yet another use for this amazing all-purpose cleaner! E-mail us threebrancheshl@gmail.com to inquire about Branch Basics.)

Note: You will need to apply natural repellents more frequently than deet containing products since they don't last quite as long.

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We posted a cake recipe last week, warning that it might not turn out like the ones we're used to eating. (It didn't rise properly and lacked the fluffiness of a typical birthday cake.) Well, it turns out that "folding" the eggs whites is an actual technique, not just a fancy way of saying "add." As you might have guessed, Kelly and I aren't the experts when it comes to baked goods! So, if you, too, are a bit confused about how to properly fold egg whites into a mixture, turn to YouTube for a demo video as we did!
As many of you know, I'm getting married in a couple of weeks. I'm wanting to do a few layers of my wedding cake made with these ingredients so that I can enjoy a non-processed, healthy dessert on my wedding day! My mom followed the recipe and took a cake over to the famed Frances Walsh of World Catering here in Houston. She is phenomenal and known for her unbelievably tasty and beautiful cake creations. She tasted it and was shocked by how great our healthy alternative tasted. Walsh had doubted that a cake made without conventional ingredients would "hold up" and be able to ice as well and look as good as the cakes she makes. But after seeing and tasting this one, she is assured that it will be a great alternative. Perhaps this cake will be offered at World Catering in the future! For now, it's a special request that Walsh is more than happy to accommodate. 
Needless to say, we are so excited, not only because I can use it as part of my wedding cake, but because it's such a wonderful alternative to the typical birthday cakes, which are highly processed and contain tons of sugar. And what's a birthday without a tasty cake!?
So, follow the below recipe and rest assured that it will rise, taste and look like the beloved birthday cakes that we don't ever want to give up!

BASIC PLAIN CAKE

Ingredients:

2 ¼ cup spelt flour (sifted) (avoid white spelt)

1 cup maple syrup

3 ½ teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

½ cup grapeseed oil

1 cup almond milk or rice dream milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 organic eggs (separated)

 Directions:

1.     Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2.     Blend and sift dry ingredients

3.     Mix melted butter, milk, vanilla, egg yolks (be sure melted butter is somewhat cooled)

4.     Add dry to wet ingredients – mix well

5.     Beat egg whites until stiff on high speed with an electric beater

6.     Fold egg whites into batter

7.     Pour into two 8” round cake pans

8.     Bake 35-40 minutes until toothpick comes out clean

MAPLE ICING

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups maple syrup

4 organic egg whites

¼ teaspoon salt

Directions:

1.     Bring maple syrup to a boil (use big pot because it will expand)

2.     Keep at low boil about 30 minutes until it gets to the soft ball stage

3.     Beat egg whites until stiff

4.     Add salt to maple syrup

5.     Pour fine stream of hot maple syrup into egg whites as you continue to beat them.

6.   Icing will form stiff peaks to make a fluffy icing.

If you are a beer dinker, do you ever think about what is in your beer before you take that first sip? Since it is not required by law for ingredients to be listed on beer labels, you never really know what you are drinking. In Lee Janson's book, Brew Chem 101, he states that "commercial brewers are allowed to add, in any combination, over seventy-five chemicals, dyes, and additives to beer without informing the consumer."

This is why we like to drink beers made in smaller, local breweries or imported beers from somewhere like Germany. (Interesting fact: Germany beers tend to adhere to the German Purity Law or Reinheitsgebot of 1516, that says beers in Germany can only legally be produced using the core ingredients of water, hops, yeast and malted barley or wheat. So no added chemicals there!) Drinking some beers can actually have health benefits (in moderation of course) when the ingredients are quality and simple...the way beer was originally made.

I know, I know with America's birthday approaching, it may seem like it's only appropriate to drink Bud Light or Coors Light, but why not support the smaller American breweries and very likely feel better the next day?! The additives and the high fructose corn syrup found in commercial beers may be adding to that not so pleasant feeling the day after consumption! Allison and I like to use the analogy that commercial beers (Bud, Coors, Miller, etc.) are like the McDonalds or the fast food of beers. Try avoiding these and see if you notice a difference in how you feel.

Just to note...the Center for Science in the Public Interest reported in 1982 that Miller Lite contained propylene glycol alginate (a seaweed extract), water, barley malt, corn syrup, chemically modified hops extracts, yeast, amyloglucosidase, carbon dioxide, papain enzyme, liquid sugar, potassium metabisulfite, and Emka malt (a food coloring). And that was in 1982. With the way the food and drink industry has gone (according to documentaries like Food Inc.), who knows what cheap additives could be added now. I can't make any claims myself, but I have talked to a friend who is opening a brewery and thus has toured many existing ones, and according to him, he will never drink a commercially made beer again.

So, yes the prices are higher and it's not always as convenient, but if you want to make healthier drink choices, choose quality beers made in local breweries when you can. With so many options available today, it can be fun to try different ones. A few of our favorite beers that are more well known include Abita Amber, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Shiner Bock, and St. Arnold Fancy Lawnmower. But like I said, there are many options, including organic, wheat free and gluten free. Have fun experimenting until you find one you like! But remember, moderation is key :) Check out "How to Choose Natural Beer" for more tips and intriguing facts about beer if you're interested.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Considering how prevalent food co-ops have become, how easy it is to join and the benefits you get from tasty, healthy fruits and vegetables, this should not be a challenge! 
We encourage you to search for co-ops in your city and start stocking your refrigerator each week with organic produce. For most co-ops, you can either buy a day pass for about $1 or a membership for about $24. You can choose how much food you get each week, but a typical box usually includes a mix of leafy greens and assorted fruits and vegetables. 
Typically, you place your order (online) by a certain time each week and your goods are ready for pick-up a few days later! Some co-ops even offer shipping directly to your house. It couldn't be easier and it's a great way to avoid the higher grocery store prices. For instance, at Houston's Central City Co-op, a "Small Mixed Share", which includes leafy greens, a mix of 3-6 different vegetables and 2-4 different fruits, is only $17. 
So take advantage of this summer's sweet fruits and high-mineral veggies by scoping out the co-ops available in your city!

Bau-Biologist and founder of Green Nest, Lisa Beres, is trying out for Oprah's Search for the Next TV Star and needs your vote. With her knowledge and passion for creating healthy living environments, people all across the country could learn how to make their homes cleaner and safer! Her concept is to go into homes and do a healthy extreme home makeover by looking at the air quality, water quality, cleaning products, and more. So vote for Lisa by clicking here and help more people become aware of healthful changes they can make in their home! (Who knows...maybe us three branches could be guest hosts on the show one day! Ha Ha. Just kidding.)

The Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) has the following factors that increase the risk of degenerative diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke, intestinal disorders, etc.:

• S.A.D. is high in unhealthy fats, is low in fiber, low in complex carbohydrates, high in sugar, low in fresh vegetable and fruits, and is based on aesthetics and technology.
• S.A.D. consists of hormone and antibiotic filled meats, poultry and dairy products, refined grain products, preservatives, flavorings, artificial dyes, synthetic nutrients, chemical additives, processed foods, artificial or imitation foods, diet foods, etc.
• Food is considered appropriate when it is based on ease of preparation, availability, appearance, aroma and taste. Nutritional aspects are not a concern.
• S.A.D. rejects the premise that food affects health greatly and in a multitude of ways.
• S.A.D. gives quick but short-term energy. It makes the blood more acidic and robs the body of valuable nutrients.
• S.A.D. contributes to the very diseases we are spending money to prevent. The U.S. has spent more money on cancer research than any country in the world.
• Cultures that eat the reverse of the S.A.D. – good healthy fats, grass fed meats, wild caught fish,  high in complex carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables, and high in fiber – have a lower incidence of cancer and coronary artery disease.
• When you sit down to a meal consisting of the S.A.D., you might as well put a warning sign on your plate because you virtually are many times expecting your body to assimilate and metabolize ingredients that cause damage to the body.
• We smile and hand our children this poison S.A.D. When they cry we quiet them with more. Something is wrong here. We are paying a price with hypersensitivity, hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder, mood swings, depression, chronic illness, allergies, etc. Expediency rather than health is not worth it!
• A quote from a well-documented book, The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, PhD. states, “Then there is the question of our excessive dependence on drugs and surgery to control our health. In its simplest form, eating the right way would largely obviate the enormous costs of using drugs, as well as their side effects. Fewer people would need to wage lengthy, expensive battles with chronic disease in hospitals over their last years of life. Health care costs would drop and medical mistakes would wane as premature death plummeted. In essence, our health care system would finally protect and promote our health as it is meant to do.”

THIS IS S. A. D.! Start eating real food by replacing SAD food with organic, unprocessed whole foods.

Today we're taking you step-by-step through my future mother-in-law, Linda Evans', Monday Night Chicken recipe. I've mastered rice, bean and veggie dishes, but am only a month away from cooking dinner for two so want to add animal protein to my recipe reprotroire! I love this dish because it's simple, healthy and incredibly delicious...
Ingredients:1 whole organic chicken (this is one of the most important things to buy organic as conventional ones have added hormones and antibiotics)Olive OilPink/Sea SaltPepperSpices of your choice (garlic, red peppers)Root veggies of your choice (onions, carrots, potatoes, etc.)
Cooking time: About 1 hour
Servings: About 4
Directions:1. Set oven to Roast at 475 degrees. If you don't have Roast, then Bake at 475.
2. Clean chicken inside (gizzards, liver, etc.) and out (feathers, large fat pieces)
Linda's tip: Place excess pieces of chicken in a plastic bag and put in the freezer until the trash day. Leaving this in the trash, especially in the heat, can attract maggots, etc.

3. Place chicken in pan (glass pyrex, cast-iron Le Creuset, etc.)
4. Pour enough olive oil to cover the chicken, especially the highest parts that will be closest to the oven's heat. 
5. Sprinkle chicken with Sea/Pink Salt and spices of your choice (we did red pepper and garlic) but cumin adds a great "Mexican" flavor.
6. Place chicken in the heated oven for 15 minutes, uncovered. It should look brown and crispy like this...

7. Chop up vegetables (onions, potatoes, carrots, etc.) while the chicken is baking.
8. Remove chicken and place vegetables around the dish.

9. Put chicken back in the oven, covered with either tin foil (like a tent on top) or, if pan has a lid, cock it on top.
10. Lower oven to 425 and cook chicken and vegetables for 40 minutes. 
11. After 40 minutes, remove chicken and tilt the pan. The juices running out should be brown and clear (see picture below).

If they are pink (a hint of blood), place chicken back in the oven. Continue to check every couple of minutes.



12. Serve with vegetables! Although not shown, it's important to pair animal protein with greens (spinach, kale, collard greens, etc.) as these high-mineral veggies help your body digest the meat.

13. Enjoy! We'd love for you to tackle this recipe at home and tell us how it tastes!

BY MARILEE NELSON

Healthy eating is not about depriving yourself. It’s about feeling great, having more energy and staying healthy. Just take it one step at a time and begin with simple additions that can add up to positive, lifelong eating habits. Think about it: food and water are the body’s fuel and source of energy. Like a car that is designed to run on premium gas, giving your body anything less than what it’s made to live on will cause it to burn out faster. It will perform its best and last longer on quality food. So let’s explore how you can upgrade your diet and choose the right supplementation in order to gain improved energy and health right away.

1. Upgrade your diet by adding healthy foods

Focus on what you can add to your diet, not what you should take away. If overwhelmed, just try one at a time!

Add more water – Drinking quality water cleanses and hydrates the body. Without good, quality water and adequate hydration, toxins circulate around the body and are deposited instead of eliminated.

Add more veggies and fruits – Work toward the recommended 5-9 servings a day (ideally, 3-5 vegetables and 2-4 fruits.) If you don’t normally eat vegetables, determine to add a green one or two, preferably ones that you don’t typically eat. Eat colorful vegetables so that your plate looks like a rainbow

Add more salad – This counts towards your 5-9 vegetables. If you live near a major Whole Foods, take advantage of the organic salad bar!

Add variety – We all tend to eat what we are used to. Expand your horizons, giving your body a variety of nutrients.

Add fruit snack – Have an (organic) apple a day. Bring in variety (berries are especially good and are high in antioxidants.)

Add good fats – Olive oil, avocados, coconut oil, sesame oil, flax oil, organic butter, and organic ghee (clarified butter also called French gourmet cooking butter). Cook only with olive oil, ghee, butter, or coconut oil. EFA Oil gives a balance of Omega 3, 6, 9, and GLA.

Add nuts and seeds – Love Street Living Foods has fresh, mold-free nuts and seeds. See “Soaking Nuts and Seeds for Better Digestion”

Add beans – Eat Eden canned organic garbanzo (chickpeas), cannelloni beans and lentils either plain or in salads, soups, etc. Beans are fiber-rich and full of nutrition.

Add a quick, easy breakfast – Add a superfoods breakfast that you mix quickly or blend in blender

Add whole grain bread – Sprouted breads that are easier to digest than breads made with flour. Great choices are Alvarado Street Bakery Sourdough Bread, Ezekiel 4:9 and Essene (aka Manna) Bread, all available at health food stores and some conventional grocery stores. Manna also found at Gold Mine Natural Foods.

Add quality salt – Adding the right kind of salt to your diet is an easy change that can reap unbelievable benefits.

For cooking:

Use in moderation
Add to beans and grains for better digestion
Pink Salt (can use raw, too!)
“Masu” Sea Salt from Natural Import Company comes in a glass jar
“Si” Salt from Gold Mine Natural Foods or Whole Foods
Celtic sea salt and Lima sea salt available at health food stores
We do not recommend Hain Sea Salt

As a condiment:

Pink Salt (can use raw, too!)
Gomashio is made from sesame seeds and salt; great sprinkled on grains. Available from Gold Mine Natural Foods or Whole Foods or make your own.

Add honey, maple syrup, or stevia as a sweetener – Say no to sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Add fermented foods – Sauerkraut and Kim Chi made by Rejuvanative Foods are found at Whole Foods and other health food stores.

Add organic, cultured dairy products – Yogurt, kefir, quark, and cottage cheese

2. Upgrade your nutrient intake through supplementation

The addition of just the four supplements below will be a great enhancement to your diet. Note that they are derived from whole foods and contain no synthetic ingredients so consider them a food.

Daily Multi: Take 1-3 capsules at breakfast and lunch or take 6 all at one time at a meal
EFA Oil Blend (caps) or EFA Oil Blend (liquid): Helps restore and/or maintain essential fatty acid balance. Take 6 capsules a day or 2-3 tsp. a day. Ideally, take with a protein meal.
Greens Mix (caps) or Greens Mix (powder): High in easy-to-assimilate minerals (high in calcium and magnesium). Take 6 caps or 1 Tbsp powder with breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If mineral deficient, add up to 18 a day (6 at breakfast, lunch, and dinner) or 2 T. breakfast, lunch, and dinner if mineral deficient.
Cod Liver Oil: Rich in Vitamin D which helps in the assimilation of calcium. Especially important in the winter when sun exposure is down. Take 4 capsules with a protein meal.

3. Add a green superfood

This one addition can dramatically improve your health. Green Superfoods give the body a break because they require no energy for digestion. If you are new to Green Superfoods, we recommend capsule rather than powder form at first.Some people like to rotate between the following to add variety to the diet:

Sweet Wheat: The king of the chlorophyll grasses, live wheatgrass energizes and cleanses the body. It helps detoxify by binding with carcinogenic toxins, removing heavy metals and rejuvenating the liver. Sprouted wheatgrass is not a problem for those that are gluten intolerant. Sweet Wheat is full of live enzymes which are highly effective free radical removers and assist with cellular renewal. See “How to Take Sweetwheat”. Take 1-2 capsules 30 minutes before breakfast or with breakfast.
Greens Mix (caps) or Greens Mix (powder): Economical! Made from air-dried, beyond-organic cereal grasses, without pesticides or chemicals. Contains a broad array of fully bio-available, naturally-occurring minerals, especially calcium and magnesium that helps keep the body alkaline. Cereal grasses are a rich source of chlorophyll, which helps purify and build blood. Contains phytonutrients and antioxidants with more vitamin C than oranges, more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach and more beta-carotene than carrots. This is an excellent intracellular DNA repair agent, restoring and rejuvenating damaged DNA. If you are new to green superfoods, Three Branches suggests starting with Greens Mix Pills. Take 3 – 6 capsules, 30 minutes before or with breakfast.
Chlorella: Chlorella contains twice the chlorophyll and nucleic acids as spirulina, but contains a little less protein and a fraction of the beta-carotene. It has the Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF), which is not found in other green foods. This makes chlorella useful for improving growth patterns in children, maintaining health in old age, healing injuries, and initiating growth where it has been stunted from disease or degeneration. It is helpful with blood sugar disorders, immune deficiencies, reducing cholesterol, binding heavy metals, pesticides, and PCB’S, and many other problems. Start with 2 at breakfast.
Blue-Green Algae: Supports the brain, memory, and nervous system and is helpful for ADD/ADHD. It stimulates the opening of neural pathways and is used in treating neurostimulant addictions (cocaine, amphetamines, etc.) Start with 1-3 with breakfast.

4. Exercise to enhance nutrient uptake

On average, we take over 20,000 breaths and breathe about 35 gallons of air a DAY. So, it only makes sense for our health that the air we take in everyday is as clean as it can be, right?

One way to help get cleaner air inside your home or office is by bringing a taste of outdoors, indoors. Plants have the incredible ability to filter out toxins and thereby naturally purify the air.

NASA conducted a study on over 50 houseplants plants and came up with a list of the top 10 plants for removing formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air. A friend sent me this link to eartheasy, which briefly explains the study and gives helpful information on each of the top 10 plants. Check out the link to see if getting a few indoor plants is something you are interested in doing.

I think it is a great idea because even if you don't have known, high levels of chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene in your home, chances are they are higher than you think. With all the building materials, furniture, mattresses, and more being manufactured with formaldehyde and countless other chemicals, and everything we track into our homes on our shoes and clothing, chances are your indoor air may not be as clean as you would hope. So what more aesthetically pleasing way to help filter some of that out than some beautiful greenery?!

And you don't need a green thumb to have indoor plants. There are numerous plants that are fairly easy to care for. I visited a local gardening store a while back with the top 10 list in hand and, with the help of a friendly staff member, found 5 different plants to take home with me that required minimal watering. Just don't go overboard and fill your whole house up! If so, you could find yourself having a mold problem down the road from all the moisture buildup.

(Eartheasy also has some tips on organic gardening for you readers who do have a green thumb.)

Making changes to a healthier diet is a guaranteed avenue to better health and vitality. It begins with making smart choices that may be easier than you think. Just take one step at a time and begin with simple changes that can add up to positive, lifelong eating habits. Think about it: food and water are the body’s fuel and source of energy. Like a car that is designed to run on premium gas, giving your body anything less than what it’s made to live on will cause it to burn out faster. So let’s explore how you can upgrade your diet and choose the right supplementation in order to improve your energy and health right away.
Choose a suggestion and work it into your diet. When it is no longer a challenge or unnatural, go to the next suggestion that you’re drawn to.

1. Upgrade your diet by switching to healthier options

Change your drinking habits – Drink quality water that cleanses and hydrates the body. See “Easy Solutions for Drinking and Bathing Water.” Without good, quality water and adequate hydration, toxins circulate around the body and are deposited instead of eliminated. See “Are You Dehydrated?”

Change from processed foods to whole, natural foods – If you can’t read the ingredients on a label, don’t eat it. In other words, exchange foods that don’t spoil (have preservatives) with foods that do (no preservatives) and eat them before they spoil!

Change from bad fats to good fats – Bad fats are killers and increase risk of heart disease, cancer, and other degenerative diseases. Good fats nourish the brain, heart, nerves, hormones, skin, hair, nails, and all the cells. Examples are olive oil, avocados, coconut oil, sesame oil, flax oil (never heat, See “Flax Oil”), organic butter, and organic ghee (clarified butter also called French gourmet cooking butter.) Cook only with olive oil, ghee, butter, or coconut oil. EFA Oil from Three Branches gives a balance of Omega 3, 6, 9, and GLA.

Change your oils and fats - This includes all trans-fatty acids (or (partially) hydrogenated fats), sunflower, oil safflower oil, soybean oil, and corn oil. Items such as vegetable shortenings, margarines, fried foods, cookies, snack foods, baked goods, and processed foods many times contain these ingredients.

Change your dairy choices – Switch from conventional pasteurized dairy products to cultured dairy products such as yogurt, kefir, quark, and cottage cheese.

Change your flour – Switch from refined white flour, white sugar, and processed flour products to whole grains that have been soaked, sprouted, or sour-leavened to neutralize phytic acid and other anti nutrients. See "Soaking Grains for Better Digestion". Ex: Alvarado Street Bakery Sourdough Bread, Ezekiel 4:9 and Essene (aka Manna) Bread are available at health food stores and some conventional grocery stores. Manna also found at Gold Mine Natural Foods.

Change from commercial to organic – Replace your meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs that contain growth promoting hormones and antibiotics with organically grown meats, poultry, dairy, and eggs

Change from conventionally to organic – Replace conventional fruits and vegetables with organic ones. Try eating 5-9 servings of vegetables a day. (One serving vegetables = ½ cup cooked OR 1 cup raw vegetable.) This adds more fiber and many disease-fighting compounds. Try eating 4 servings of fruit a day. (One serving fruit = 1 whole fruit OR ½ cup cooked fruit OR 1 cup raw fruit.)

Change from conventional to quality salt – Replace conventional Morton’s salt (contains sugar and chemicals to help it flow) with good quality salt (essential to the diet)

For cooking:

Use in moderation; add to beans and grains for better digestibility.
Pink Salt (can use raw, too!)
"Masu" Sea Salt from Natural Import Company (Item #99009) comes in glass jar
"Si" salt from Gold Mine (www.goldminenaturalfoods.com) or Whole Foods
Celtic sea salt and Lima sea salt available at health food stores
We do not recommend Hain Sea Salt

As a condiment:

Pink Salt (can use raw, too!)
Gomashio is made from sesame seeds and salt; great sprinkled on grains. Available from Gold Mine or Whole Foods or make your own

Change sweeteners – Switch from refined sugar and artificial sweeteners to quality honey, maple syrup or stevia. Change from carbonated drinks to freshly juiced fruits and vegetables, organic teas, organic beverages without sugar, high fructose syrups, artificial flavorings, cane juice, or any sweetener other than honey, maple syrup and stevia. 

2. Upgrade your nutrient intake through supplementation

The addition of just the four supplements below will be a great enhancement to your diet. Note that they are derived from whole foods and contain no synthetic ingredients so consider them a food.

Daily Multi: Take 1-3 capsules at breakfast and lunch or take 6 all at one time at a meal

EFA Oil Blend (caps) or EFA Oil Blend (liquid): Helps restore and/or maintain essential fatty acid balance. Take 6 capsules a day or 2-3 tsp. a day. Ideally, take with a protein meal.

Greens Mix (caps) or Greens Mix (powder): High in easy-to-assimilate minerals (high in calcium and magnesium). Take 6 caps or 1 Tbsp powder with breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If mineral deficient, add up to 18 a day (6 at breakfast, lunch, and dinner) or 2 T. breakfast, lunch, and dinner if mineral deficient.

Cod Liver Oil: Rich in Vitamin D which helps in the assimilation of calcium. Especially important in the winter when sun exposure is down. Take 4 capsules with a protein meal.

3. Add a green superfood

This one addition can dramatically improve your health. Green superfoods give the body a break because they require no energy for digestion. If you are new to green superfoods, we recommend capsule rather than powder form at first.

Some people like to rotate between the following to add variety to the diet:

Sweet Wheat: The king of the chlorophyll grasses, live wheatgrass energizes and cleanses the body. It helps detoxify by binding with carcinogenic toxins, removing heavy metals and rejuvenating the liver. Sprouted wheatgrass is not a problem for those that are gluten intolerant. Sweet Wheat is full of live enzymes which are highly effective free radical removers and assist with cellular renewal. Take 1-2 capsules 30 minutes before breakfast or with breakfast.

Greens Mix (caps) or Greens Mix (powder): Economical! Made from air-dried, beyond-organic cereal grasses, without pesticides or chemicals. Contains a broad array of fully bio-available, naturally-occurring minerals, especially calcium and magnesium that helps keep the body alkaline. Cereal grasses are a rich source of chlorophyll, which helps purify and build blood. Contains phytonutrients and antioxidants with more vitamin C than oranges, more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach and more beta-carotene than carrots. This is an excellent intracellular DNA repair agent, restoring and rejuvenating damaged DNA. If you are new to green superfoods, Three Branches suggests starting with Greens Mix Pills. Take 3 – 6 capsules, 30 minutes before or with breakfast.

Chlorella: Chlorella contains twice the chlorophyll and nucleic acids as spirulina, but contains a little less protein and a fraction of the beta-carotene. It has the Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF), which is not found in other green foods. This makes chlorella useful for improving growth patterns in children, maintaining health in old age, healing injuries, and initiating growth where it has been stunted from disease or degeneration. It is helpful with blood sugar disorders, immune deficiencies, reducing cholesterol, binding heavy metals, pesticides, and PCB’S, and many other problems. Start with 2 at breakfast.

Blue-Green Algae: Supports the brain, memory, and nervous system and is helpful for ADD/ADHD. It stimulates the opening of neural pathways and is used in treating neurostimulant addictions (cocaine, amphetamines, etc.) Start with 1-3 with breakfast.

4. Exercise to enhance nutrient uptake

Just as plants and flowers that are deprived water and nutrient-rich soil will droop, becoming dry, unhealthy, and brittle, so also will people that do not get the nourishment they need. But, when watered and fed, plants that are almost dead can be restored, producing beautiful leaves and flowers.

Provided with the nutrition they need, people that have serious disease, are nutrient deprived or malnourished can become vibrant, positive, and energized, restoring beautiful skin, hair and eyes.

Radical diet change is in order when there is serious disease or you are determined to “just do it!” If in critical condition, rapid dietary shifts can save your life. Otherwise, it is sometimes better to gradually make changes since extreme diet change can lead to uncomfortable detoxification symptoms as the body starts ridding itself of long-held chemicals. But some people immediately have a greater sense of well-being, more energy, and deeper sleep.

1. Upgrade your diet: replace unhealthy foods with quality choices.

The following recommendations are based on a broad, sweeping dietary scope that includes animal foods, fish, dairy, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. (There are specific medicinal diets such as raw food diets, Macrobiotic diet, Maker’s diet, Hallelujah diet, Blood Type diet, Zone Diet, etc. which all have a place for temporary medicinal use for specific conditions.) If this feels overwhelming, choose to take on one recommendation at a time.

Replace unpurified water with clean, quality water – If you are drinking tap or unpurified water, stop. Good, quality water cleanses and hydrates the body. Without it, toxins circulate around the body and are deposited instead of eliminated.

Replace animal/dairy products with organic, grass-fed meat, poultry and dairy - This is imperative for hormone regulation as the estrogenic properties of the hormones, pesticides and chemicals damage the hormonal balance of men and women. Animals are given hormones as well as medications that affect human reproductive function and hormone balance. They are also treated with antibiotics that are passed along to us when we eat them. Pesticides used on the animal’s food and in their environment are absorbed, stored in their tissues, and passed on to the human consumers. This one step can help a great deal with PMS, hormone related difficulties, and menopause.

Replace bad fats with good fats – First of all, avoid fried foods.

(Partially) Hydrogenated oils, fade fats (like Olestra), canola oil, margarine, and shortening and the trans-fatty acids that they create disrupt the metabolism and wreck havoc on the body, especially liver.

Eat organic, unrefined plant- and animal-based fats and oils. Good fats contain essential fatty acids (EFAs) that have many benefits. They can boost immune function, fight inflammatory conditions, improve hormone function (alleviate PMS and fibrocystic breast disease), speed up metabolism and regulate nerve impulses as well as improve brain function. (Low fat/no fat diets are not healthy except for some conditions where a temporary medicinal diet is in order.)

For cooking, use coconut oil, olive oil, butter and ghee (organic clarified butter).

For dressings, use olive oil, flax oil (never heat), rice bran oil and sesame oil. (EFA Oil has a balanced ratio of EFAs that can be used for salad dressings.)

Eat avocados and fresh, organic nuts and seeds to obtain oils from whole foods. For enhanced digestibility, see "Soaking Nuts and Seeds" and for more detailed information, see Sally Fallon's book, "Nourishing Traditions".

EPA and DHA, found in cold water fish such as salmon, trout, mackerel, and sardines, help counter inflammatory conditions, improve thyroid function and boost metabolism. Eat these fish several times a week.

Replace processed flours with unprocessed whole grain and sprouted flours - Use organic whole grains such as rice, millet, amaranth, buckwheat, kamut, spelt, wheat, oats, quinoa, and pastas made from these products. Grains and flour should be prepared properly to enhance their digestibility. See “Soaking Grains for Enhanced Digestibility.”

Sprouted breads are wonderful and the easiest to digest. Alvarado Street Sourdough, Ezekiel 4:9 and Essene (aka, Manna) Breads are available at health food stores and some conventional grocery stores. Manna is also found at www.goldminenaturalfoods.com.

When trying to heal excess mucus or phlegm, lung and throat congestion, intestinal difficulties, stomach upset, and especially constipation, flour products of any kind are not recommended. The gluten in whole wheat and other grains can aggravate inflammatory response in some people. It can be worth a trial of avoiding gluten-containing grains if you suffer from intestinal disorders or inflammatory conditions.

Also, some blood types are more sensitive to certain grains. Look into the work of Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo, The Geno Type Diet, and his book, "Live Right for Your Type", especially if you have any health issues.

Replace non-organic vegetables and fruits with organic produce – Plants that have been sprayed with pesticides take the chemicals up through the roots and the pesticide is incorporated in the food. They are toxic to the liver and are endocrine disruptors that make us all more susceptible to reproductive disorders and hormone-based cancers.

Always clean fresh produce to remove any viruses, bacteria, and parasites that might be present. You can use Branch Basics to clean your fruits and vegetables. Also see “Cleaning and Storing Fresh Produce.”

When conventional produce is your only option, you should “detoxify” your produce. See “Cleaning and Storing Fresh Produce.”

Replace conventional salt with quality salt – The body needs good quality salt; in fact, unrefined salt is vital to health. Today's "low salt/no salt" dietary recommendations to reduce high blood pressure and decrease the chance of heart disease and stroke are based on our liberal use of conventional salt. Conventional salt is not a healthy choice. Morton's salt is a refined food that contains sodium chloride, sugar (dextrose), iodide and an anti-caking agent. Unrefined sea salt, on the other hand, has a wide range of vital minerals including potassium and magnesium that actually help balance blood pressure and protect the body from storke and heart disease. Adding the right kind of salt t your diet is an easy change that can reap many benefits.

For cooking:

Use in moderation
Add to beans and grans for better digestion
Pink Salt (can use raw, too!)
“Masu” Sea Salt from Natural Import Company comes in a glass jar
“Si” salt from www.goldminenaturalfoods.com  or Whole Foods
Celtic sea salt and Lima sea salt available at health food stores
We do not recommend Hain Sea Salt

As a condiment:

Pink Salt - Raw salt is hard on the kidneys, except Pink Salt (can use raw, too!)
Gomashio - Made from sesame seeds and salt; great sprinkled on grains. Available from Gold Mine or Whole Foods.
Roasted Sea Salt - See bog post on how to roast your own salt

Replace refined/artificial sweeteners with natural ones – Refined white sugar, high fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, artificial sweeteners, etc. are devastating to the immune system and make you more vulnerable to viruses, bacteria and infection.

The body needs the sweet taste, so satisfy it with sweet fruits and vegetables like yams, carrots, parsnips, cooked onions and orange squashes like butternut, acorn and kabocha.

Use healthy sweeteners like honey, maple syrup birch sugar and concentrated stevia with moderation. Three Branches is no longer recommending agave nectar as a sweetener.

Replace artificial drinks with real beverages – Drinks sweetened with sugar, high fructose corn syrups, cane juice, artificial sweeteners, etc. deplete the body of minerals, may contain excitotoxins that damage the brain and can be addictive.

Choose freshly juiced fruits and vegetables, organic teas, and organic beverages sweetened with honey, maple syrup or stevia.

Eat dried fruits that do not have any sulfur dioxide

Eat beans – Try lentils (especially red!), aduki beans, pinto beans, navy beans, black-eyed peas, anasazi beans, black-eyed peas, etc. See “Soaking Beans for Better Digestion”

Eat fresh, organic nuts and seeds – See “Soaking Nuts and Seeds”

2. Upgrade your nutrient intake through supplementation

The addition of just the four supplements below will be a great enhancement to your diet. Note that they are derived from whole foods and contain no synthetic ingredients so consider them a food.

Daily Multi: Take 1-3 capsules at breakfast and lunch or take 6 all at one time at a meal.

EFA Oil Blend (caps) or EFA Oil Blend (liquid): Helps restore and/or maintain essential fatty acid balance. Take 6 capsules a day or 2-3 tsp. a day. Ideally, take with a protein meal.

Greens Mix (caps) or Greens Mix (powder): High in easy-to-assimilate minerals (high in calcium and magnesium). Take 6 caps or 1 Tbsp powder with breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If mineral deficient, add up to 18 a day (6 at breakfast, lunch, and dinner) or 2 T. breakfast, lunch, and dinner if mineral deficient.

Cod Liver Oil: Rich in Vitamin D which helps in the assimilation of calcium. Especially important in the winter when sun exposure is down. Take 4 capsules with a protein meal.

3. Add a green superfood

This one addition can dramatically improve your health. Green Superfoods give the body a break because they require no energy for digestion. If you are new to Green Superfoods, we recommend capsule rather than powder form at first.

Some people like to rotate between the following to add variety to the diet:

Sweet Wheat: The king of the chlorophyll grasses, live wheatgrass energizes and cleanses the body. It helps detoxify by binding with carcinogenic toxins, removing heavy metals and rejuvenating the liver. Sprouted wheatgrass is not a problem for those that are gluten intolerant. Sweet Wheat is full of live enzymes which are highly effective free radical removers and assist with cellular renewal. See “How to Take Sweetwheat”. Take 1-2 capsules 30 minutes before breakfast or with breakfast.

Greens Mix (caps) or Greens Mix (powder): Economical! Made from air-dried, beyond-organic cereal grasses, without pesticides or chemicals. Contains a broad array of fully bio-available, naturally-occurring minerals, especially calcium and magnesium that helps keep the body alkaline. Cereal grasses are a rich source of chlorophyll, which helps purify and build blood. Contains phytonutrients and antioxidants with more vitamin C than oranges, more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach and more beta-carotene than carrots. This is an excellent intracellular DNA repair agent, restoring and rejuvenating damaged DNA. If you are new to green superfoods, Three Branches suggests starting with Greens Mix Pills. Take 3 – 6 capsules, 30 minutes before or with breakfast.

Chlorella: Chlorella contains twice the chlorophyll and nucleic acids as spirulina, but contains a little less protein and a fraction of the beta-carotene. It has the Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF), which is not found in other green foods. This makes chlorella useful for improving growth patterns in children, maintaining health in old age, healing injuries, and initiating growth where it has been stunted from disease or degeneration. It is helpful with blood sugar disorders, immune deficiencies, reducing cholesterol, binding heavy metals, pesticides, and PCB’S, and many other problems. Start with 2 at breakfast.

Blue-Green Algae: Supports the brain, memory, and nervous system and is helpful for ADD/ADHD. It stimulates the opening of neural pathways and is used in treating neurostimulant addictions (cocaine, amphetamines, etc.) Start with 1-3 with breakfast.

4. Exercise to enhance nutrient uptake.

The stickers that appear on almost all fruits contain codes for the check-out clerk, but they also contain information that you should know. The numbers on the stickers can tell you how the fruit was grown, and frequently, the country of origin of the fruit. This is helpful to know when you are trying to select organic and non-GMO produce or to avoid fruits grown in countries where the pesticide regulations are somewhat “relaxed.”

What to Look For

A four-digit number means the fruit is conventionally grown. For example, a conventionally farmed peach may have the number 4044 on the sticker.

A five digit number beginning with 9 means the fruit has been organically grown. If your peach has the number 94044 – you know it is organic.

A new laser technology that tattoos fruit with identifying information may soon take the place of the little stickers. The stickerless technology was designed to track and trace food and allow for greater protection of the food supply during distribution.

The process involves the laser removing only the outer pigment of the skin of the fruit, to reveal a contrasting layer underneath and make the tattoo visible to the consumer and scannable at the check-out counter. Produce distributors are beginning to use this technology, but no one knows when it will be widely used throughout the industry.

We found this article written by staff writers from news.com.au, an Australia-based website. It's short and informative, pointing to the links between diet, environment and hormonal anomalies. Enjoy!

Scientists believe obesity, junk food and increased meat consumption could be responsible for a growing number of girls reaching puberty before the age of ten.

A study of 1000 girls conducted in Denmark showed that breast development started at an average of nine years and 10 months – a year earlier than a similar study conducted in 1991. The study backs data from America which has also shown the earlier onset of puberty.

“We were very surprised that there had been such a change,” Anders Juul, head of the Department of Growth and Reproduction at the University hospital in Copenhagen, a world leader in the study of hormones and growth told the Sunday Times.

“If girls mature early, they run into teenage problems at an early age and they’re more prone to diseases later on. We should be worried about this regardless of what we think the underlying reasons might be. It’s a clear sign that something is affecting our children, whether it’s junk food, environmental chemicals or lack of physical activity.”

Scientists believe the phenomenon could be linked to obesity or exposure to chemicals in the food chain. They warned that such young girls were ill-equipped to cope with sexual development when they are still at primary school and were at greater longterm risk of breast cancer. 

A study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition last Friday showed a link between high meat consumption and earlier puberty in girls.

Researchers at Brighton University found 49 per cent of girls who ate meat 12 times a week at the age of seven reached puberty by the age of 12, compared with 35 per cent of those who ate meat four times a week or less.
For original image and article, click here.

The successful management of the kitchen through organization is essential. This will streamline meal preparation, encourage the use of whole fresh foods, and will facilitate variety in the meals with less time and effort.

1. Make Room

The first step is to clean out your refrigerator. Make a shopping list for a weekly trip to the store. Make room for organization of newly bought items.

2. Clean your vegetables

This is very important and is the foundation for the organization and efficient operation of your kitchen. If possible, clean vegetables and fruits that you plan on eating raw as soon as you bring them home. Produce often has molds, fungi and parasites on it; therefore, it is important to treat foods to help rid them of poisonous sprays, heavy metals, and microorganisms.

If you are able to clean them after shopping then they are ready to eat and use throughout the week.This procedure should especially be done to any vegetables or fruits that will be used for juicing or eaten raw.

3. Separate produce into categories

• Leafy vegetables (lettuces, sprouts, greens, etc.)
• Ground vegetables (squash, green beans, peppers, tomatoes, etc.
• Roots and tubers (carrots, turnips, parsnips, potatoes, etc.)
• Fruits

4. Rinse

Fill sink with water and rinse off dirt and grit from the leafy vegetables, ground vegetables, roots and tubers, and fruits. You may need to drain and refill sink several times if water is too dirty.

5. Soak

Spray rinsed vegetables and fruit with a 5:1 (5 parts water to 1 part Branch Basics concentrate) solution if using concentrate, Branch Basics Fruit and Vegetable Wash, or Branch Basics ready-to-use all-purpose cleaner.

Let sit a few minutes. This will help break down any pesticide residues if using non-organic produce and will kill mold, bacteria, viruses and parasites as well.

Fill sink with one-gallon water (about ½ full) or fill a big bowl with water.

Add 15 - 20 drops of Nutribiotics Grapefruit Seed Extract. (30 drops to a full sink - two gallons) Nutribiotics Grapefruit Seed Extract (available in health food stores) will kill molds, bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

Add leafy vegetables and soak for 10 minutes. Spray any vegetables that are not totally submerged in the water with the 5-1 solution of Branch Basics.

Do not cut or tear vegetables as this can result in a loss of vitamins during the soak.

Remove vegetables and place in colander to drain. If possible, place appropriate vegetables in salad spinner to spin off excess water.

6. Dry and store

Spread the produce out on a clean terry cloth towel to dry. When dry, put the produce into glass containers or the large clear containers that spring mix salads, etc. come in and store it in the refrigerator.

Drying the vegetables greatly increases shelf life.

Repeat the procedure using a fresh soaking solution for each group.

Preparing the produce for storage after rinsing and soaking creates a ready supply of vegetables and fruits for making an instant salad, fresh juice, and snacks.

Today, in 2010, it is not hard to pick up a magazine or newspaper and find some article that refers to the possible consequences of our modern day exposure to electromagnetic fields. Whether it is cell phones or Wi-Fi, there is enough research that points to the fact that we are being affected. Internet searches will bring up more than you could ever want to know about electromagnetic radiation and the frightening rise of sensitivities to electro pollution should put us all in a proactive mode. The best way to eliminate or reduce exposure to these electromagnetic fields is to first become educated about the different fields you may be being exposed to in your home.

Three Branches recommends taking Steps 2-4 to reduce the body’s exposure, which can be verified with instruments that measure electromagnetic field reduction. A measureable reduction is always preferred. Steps 5-6 should ideally be taken after Steps 2-4, but if you are in a situation where you are unable to have someone come in and do an electromagnetic assessment and mitigation of your home, or you need protection when traveling, Steps 5-6 should be considered.

1. Identify the fields in your home environment – Your home should be your sanctuary where you come to relax, rest, recharge, and repair. Electro stress interferes with that process. See “EMF Identification.”

MEASUREABLE REDUCTION – the following three steps result in a measureable reduction in the electric field using a device/meter available in Shop: EMF Detection.
2. Remove the field exposure, if possible – This is always the first priority if it is possible. For example, take Wi-Fi, wireless connections, cordless phones, etc. out of the house and replace with hard-wired connections and landlines; remove or refrain from using the microwave oven.
3. Avoid the field  - To do this you need to have knowledge about the types of fields and where they are coming from in your home. For example, if an air purifier is on, it has a high magnetic field that extends approximately 1-3 feet from the unit.  You would make sure to not sit or stand right next to the purifier in order to avoid exposure to that magnetic field. Unfortunately, not all electromagnetic fields are that easy to avoid.
4. Shield or mitigate the field – This is for EMF exposures that cannot be avoided, but can be blocked or reduced by a device, material, or procedure that can cause a measurable reduction in the electromagnetic field. For example, unplug all electric appliances, lamps, etc. that are not being used in order to reduce the electric field. At night, unplug everything in the bedroom while sleeping.  Another example would be using low-e coatings on windows to reduce levels of incoming high frequency fields.

ALTERATION OF THE FIELD EFFECTS – The following two steps are not validated with scientific measuring devices, but with reports from electrically sensitive individuals who themselves are the most sensitive instruments.
5. Strengthen the connection between the body and the earth - Earthcalm technology enhances a person’s connection to the earth’s beneficial electromagnetic field, which helps the body to rid itself of stored electromagnetic fields. Just as the body can be detoxified from chemicals, the Earthcalm system helps the body to discharge EMF’s.
6. Alter the field to make it less harmful biologically – Premier Research Labs and Earthcalm have devices that are designed to alter the fields to make them less harmful.

Note: Ideally, every effort to remove electromagnetic field exposure should be made. If possible have an EMF expert come to do an assessment and recommend mitigation. For instance, you would not use the EarthCalm system or Premier Research products and think, “Well, I can now have Wi-Fi or a cordless phone in my house. No, ideally you should remove Wi-Fi and cordless phones from your home and shield your windows to block Wi-Fi and high frequency field external sources. Your home should be as clean and free of electromagnetic frequencies as possible. EarthCalm and Premier products can help deal with what is left or until measures can be taken.  

Three Branches wants to make it very clear that only removal of the source of exposure (such as removing all cordless phones, not using a cell phone, or removing wireless devices from the home, etc.) or shielding that results in the elimination of or a reduction in the reading of an electromagnetic field meter is the best recommendation and totally assures safety. In no way does Three Branches want to imply that the use of any device completely protects from the electromagnetic fields unless there can be a measured difference with an electromagnetic field meter.

Therefore, Three Branches does not claim that this product shield the body from EMF exposure even if its name and explanation implies that it does. We include it because some people who are electromagnetically sensitive, our canaries, have reported tangible and repeatable results when using this product. Some have been made more comfortable and some have even had marked improvements in their health. Others report that they are sleeping better than they ever have in their life and some have minimal improvements. No product can protect us 100% from the hazards of EMFs and the wireless revolution at this time. But after two years of testing many products that claim to alter field influence with electromagnetically sensitive people, the EarthCalm and Premier Research products are the ones that have given tangible relief and help. We offer a 90-day money back guarantee if for any reason you are not satisfied with the product.

Why should you own a gauss meter? Having a gauss meter will show you and your family the safe places for beds, safe distances away from electronic devices, where to and where not to spend a lot of time, etc. Owning your own meter can help you eliminate exposures that could have otherwise gone undetected. The gauss meter will detect electromagnetic fields from high voltage power lines, transformers, wiring in the home or office, appliances, electronic devices, TV, radios, computers, etc.

The following meters require no skill to use:

Bell Model 4180 ELF Gaussmeter

This unit insures that measurements remain accurate regardless of orientation of the instrument and measures magnetic fields with a digital read-out. It accurately measures Extremely Low Frequency magnetic fields, detecting emissions from a wide variety of sources, including video display terminals, AC power lines, office equipment, household appliances and all types of electronic equipment.

Trifield Meter EX100 Version

This is the only meter that combines magnetic, electric and high frequency (radio/microwave) detection in one package AND the only meter that is sensitive enough to track ground currents. The Tri-Field gives an analog needle scale reading, is affordable and lightweight. You can detect “hot spots” in the following areas:

• Poorly grounded wiring
• Microwave oven doors
• Dimmer switches
• Strong analog RF transmitters
• Automobiles
• TV's & computers
• Other electronic equipment

Note: The Tri-Field is less accurate than the FW Bell for magnetic fields (but is a good meter for easy magnetic field assessment.) If you are measuring electric fields and high frequency fields, we highly recommend you choose the FW Bell.

The following meter requires practice but is economical and very accurate:

ExTech Electromagnetic Field Meter Model 480823