FitSugar

PVC Shower Curtains = Bad For Your Health

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 02:00:00 PDT

Air pollution affects our health, but most of us think about the air outside being polluted - not the air in our homes. There are many silent culprits polluting our air from odorless radon to stinky off-gassing PVCs (polyvinyl chloride). It seems that PVCs are in just about everything from household items like vinyl flooring, vinyl shower curtains, and children’s toys to beauty products like perfumes, nail polish, and lotions. Plus PVC is very difficult to recycle and never breaks down.

Since many "plastic" shower curtains are made from PVC which off-gasses plasticizers that are potential hormone disruptors. Plus, they are easier to throw away than to clean once they become covered with mildew. These plastic/PVC shower curtains never breakdown and they are difficult to recycle. On so many levels, plastic shower curtains are just plain bad news.

A simple way to improve the quality of air in your house is to replace vinyl shower curtains with cloth ones made of organic cotton or hemp. Of course you should use a nylon liner in stead of a plastic one. You can easily wash both a cloth shower curtain and the nylon liner, so they will be around in your bathroom for a long time, rather than clogging up landfills. Plus hemp is naturally mildew resistant and sturdy, there's a reason sailors made ropes out of the fiber. Some hemp curtains are so thick, they don't even require a liner!

The only downside that I can see is that hemp curtains only come in "natural" and "white" - not so fashionable. Since the green revolution has begun, I think we will start seeing fun colors in these shower curtains.

And you, what kind of shower curtain do you have? Let me know in the comments section below.

In Season: Mustard Greens

Lizzie Fuhr — Mon, 28 May 2012 05:26:39 PDT

If you've never tasted mustard greens, then it's time to get acquainted with this tasty, peppery vegetable. First discovered in the Himalayas in India, mustard greens have become an integral part of cuisine in Asian countries like Nepal, India, Japan, and China, but they're also a staple in some parts of the US! They're typically associated with the tasty, old-school favorites of the Deep South, but they're a delicious and healthy option for kitchens all over the country, since they're easy to grow and even easier to prepare.

Whether you're going to enjoy them raw or cooked, when choosing mustard greens, the rule of thumb is to make sure to look for pretty green leaves without yellow spots or browned edges. Once you bring them home, put them in a fresh plastic bag, and remove as much of the air from the bag as possible. Keep them stored in the refrigerator, but be sure to enjoy the greens within three to four days for optimal texture and flavor.

Want to go beyond the basics and get some inspiration for how to use mustard greens now? Keep reading for a few fun mustard green recipes.

It's National Salad Month! Healthy Tips to Get You Excited

Michele Foley — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:59:12 PDT

As if we need an excuse to enjoy a big bowl of veggies, fruits, and other goodies tossed together, May is National Salad Month. Grab your best greens and follow these tips and tricks for making a tasty and healthy salad.

Creative Ways to Build a Salad

Hitting the salad bar can be a good thing when you know the best way to navigate through all those choices. To maintain a healthy medium, follow our tips for crafting a healthy meal at the salad bar.
Get inspiration from other countries or cuisines known for being healthy. Start your week off with these easy ways to craft a heart-healthy Mediterranean salad, and give yourself a little longevity with these tips for making a Japanese-inspired salad.

Not All Toppings Are Created Equal

Candied walnuts, gobs of cheese, and bacon may taste good, but they also add a lot of unnecessary fat and calories. If you're not careful, then you might end up with a 700-calorie (or higher) salad! Skip unhealthy ingredients by using our smart swaps for salad toppings.
How you dress your salad matters too - ranch, blue cheese, or maybe a vinaigrette? The next time you're shopping, pick up one of these salad dressings with less than 50 calories.

A Little Recipe Inspiration

We love that creating a salad is as easy as throwing whatever ingredients you may have in a bowl, but a put-together recipe makes all the difference. Try one of these recipes for a vegetarian salad or one of these seasonal salads inspired by Summer ingredients.

Turtles Are Tortoise-ly Awesome!

Sara Yoo — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:00:00 PDT

The sight of a sea turtle gracefully gliding through the ocean or a tortoise contentedly munching on greens warms an animal lover's heart. But these visions may soon be distant memories. Today's World Turtle Day seeks to create awareness of the animal's vanishing habitats around the world and to draw attention to the inhumane treatment of turtles as pets and food sources.

Whether you're considering a turtle as a pet or simply encountering these shelled critters in day-to-day life, American Tortoise Rescue, the sponsor of World Turtle Day, hopes that we can all help in preserving and promoting our reptilian friends by observing a few easy guidelines.

Don't buy a turtle or tortoise from a pet store, as it increases demand for wild animals. Instead, contact a local animal shelter or turtle rescue to adopt a turtle in need.
Don't remove a turtle or tortoise from the wild unless it's sick or injured.
If you see a turtle or tortoise crossing a busy street, then pick it up to help it across, but point it in the same direction it was originally heading. Turtles are headstrong creatures: even if you point it in the opposite direction, it will eventually return to its previous course - and straight back into danger!

For a few more tips to celebrate World Turtle Day, just keep reading.

One-Minute Slimming Food Tricks That Work

Prevention — Mon, 21 May 2012 04:34:33 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

By Sarah Robertson, Prevention

Here are successful strategies to cut calories and burn fat that take 60 seconds or less. With about 1,000 waking minutes in every day, you'll find plenty of opportunities to slip these tips into your routine and watch the scale go down. If you've already begun your weight loss, these tricks can maximize your efforts and speed results.

Sip green tea before a walk
The caffeine frees fatty acids so that you burn fat more easily. And the polyphenols (antioxidant compounds) in green tea appear to work with caffeine to increase calorie burn. (If you have high blood pressure, skip this tip.)

Dip your bread
Use olive oil in place of butter. It's healthier and may also help you eat less. In a recent study, dippers ate a total of 52 fewer calories on average than those who used butter.

Seven Reasons Your Diet Isn’t Working

Learn more one-minute diet secrets after the break!

Healthy Dose Link Time: How to Take Care of Your Body When You Overindulge

Michele Foley — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:16:05 PDT

Go a little crazy with the cookie jar? Tips for everyday indulging - Real Simple
Check out what the first lady grooves to while working out - HuffPost Healthy Living
Have your cake and eat it too! Strange diet methods that really work - Shape
Cool down this weekend with these immune-boosting healthy smoothies - Prevention
From Rihanna to Jennifer Lawrence, see how the stars get in action-hero shape - Self
6 wonderful reasons to challenge yourself with ashtanga yoga - Mind Body Green
Get crackin'! 5 ways to eat with egg whites - Fit Bottomed Girls
A CrossFit-inspired workout you can do just about anywhere - Peanut Butter Fingers

3 Tips For Choosing Your Perfect Self-Tanner

Jaime Richards — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:45:00 PDT

Spring is in full bloom, and that means one of many things: it's self-tanner time. The problem, though, is the actual process of selecting the right product to get the job done, and that's why esthetician Sinead Norenius (and founder of self-tanning line Beautisol) is here to help. She's worked with celebrities like Natasha Bedingfield and Bethenny Frankel, and now she has a few tips on how we can get the perfect shade at home. To see more, just keep reading.

You're Fired! 20 Signs That a Pink Slip Is Coming

Wise Bread — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:54:53 PDT

If something feels off at the office, you may want to brace yourself for the worst. Wise Bread shares signs to look for when a pink slip is coming.

There are two types of employees. One has a good idea of what they do, who they are, and what position they play in the company. They are savvy. They know the score. They are under no delusions, and will no doubt leave for another job long before they are ever considered as cannon-fodder.

And then there's the other kind. The guy who could get Gandhi to hate him. The woman who spends most of her day chatting on the phone to friends or doing online shopping. Or the nice chap in sales who is completely oblivious that the recent merger means his job is now obsolete. They all have Ostrich Syndrome. They couldn't see a pink slip coming if it was 8ft tall and glowing in the dark, screaming "you're fired!"

You want to avoid being in that second category at all costs. So I've compiled a handy list. If you can answer yes to THREE or more of these questions, you may want to think about sprucing up your résumé and dry-cleaning your best interview attire.

1. Are you no longer in the loop about, well, anything?

This is a huge telltale sign. Suddenly you're finding out about company news from the cleaning lady or the new girl in accounting. If you were formally in the know about all things business related, but now suffer from "the company's doing what??!" disease, the writing is probably on the wall.

2. Did you recently screw up big-time?

We're not talking a minor faux pas here. Did you lose money on an account that was previously bulletproof? Oh dear. Were you caught having sex on the boss's desk with the boss's spouse? That's probably not a career-enhancing move. Unless you're a real dope, you know if you have screwed up. And if you know, HR knows. It may not be the final nail in your coffin, but it's a nail in the coffin nonetheless.

3. Are people avoiding you at all costs?

Eye contact is difficult to make with someone if you know his or her head's on the chopping block. Small talk is just as tough. It's best just to avoid that person altogether. So if people are no longer doing that fun "stop 'n' chat" in the hall, or the coffee room empties when you arrive, then guess what . . . you may be a marked man or woman.

Read on for more.

Healthy Dose Link Time: Chia Seed Strawberry Jam Recipe

Michele Foley — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:06:21 PDT

Your new Summer standby: strawberry chia jam - Eating Bird Food
When your short on time, grab these healthy packaged foods - Prevention
Why slowing down your workout may be the secret to skinny - Shape
Get inside the head of Olympic volleyball player Misty May Treanor - Fit Bottomed Girls
Reusable shopping bags linked to food virus - are yours at risk? - Blisstree
Celeb trainer Harley Pasternak's tips for slimming down before bikini season - FabFitFun
You know the pros of yoga, now learn the cons - Mind Body Green
Do you feel like chicken tonight? Try this Greek-inspired recipe - The Fitnessista

This Mother's Day, Try These Eco-Friendly Floral Arranging Tips

Guest Writer — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:30:46 PDT

When it comes to buying cut flowers, sometimes it's hard to remember that behind those beautiful blooms sometimes lurks something more sinister - namely thousands of miles of shipping and herbicides and pesticides. That's why Deborah Prinzing, the author of the new book The 50 Mile Bouquet, recommends that you buy local and sustainable flowers for those you love (like your Mom this Mother's Day). Keep reading for Deborah's great tips on local and beautiful bouquets, and if you're in the San Francisco Bay Area, check out Deborah's event at Flora Grubb on Mother's Day.

As more florists and designers discover the negatives of that green foam block (also called florist's foam or Oasis), they are returning to some tried-and-true techniques for stabilizing stems in a vase. The problem with the foam is that it is a formaldehyde-based product that does not break down in landfills. Many designers I've interviewed express concern about breathing and/or exposing their skin to the material.

Alternatives to Floral Foam

Vintage and new flower frogs. I started collecting these years ago and they're easy to find at tag sales and vintage flea markets for under $5 or $10. Use and reuse!
Pebbles, glass beads, and marbles.
Excelsior fibers. Also called wood aspen, you can find this packing material through craft stores or wine shops. Insert a tangle of the fibers in your vase and then you can stick stems through the fibers to stabilize. When you're finished with the arrangement , the excelsior fibers can go into the compost pile with other clippings.
Chicken wire.I have a $15 roll of 15 inch by 5 foot-long poultry fencing that I use over and over again. Just use wire clippers to cut off a 12-inch section of the wire so you have an approximate square. Form it into a loose ball to fit the interior dimensions of your container . If the container is shallow, use sticky clay (available in the floral department at Michael's or other craft stores) to anchor the chicken wire in place.
Twigs and branches. I learned this technique from several designers I interviewed for The 50 Mile Bouquet. As a first step. arrange a framework of decorative twigs inside your vase, placing each one at an angle that crosses over the next. This interior matrix is then perfect for inserting other floral branches and foliage - and the twigs become part of the design.

Keep reading for more eco floral design tips!