Small Changes For A More Healthier Living

Thank you all for liking my last blog "Recycling and health tips from mom". Encouraged by your feedback I am writing this follow up. This one is more of a list of things I came across while trying to make lifestyle changes.

When I switched to a greener and healthier living, I was overwhelmed and struggled with the thoughts like: this is a lot of work, this will take all my time and leave me no time to do my chores.

In time I am realizing first this is important, even more important than other things so that I have energy to do all that I want to do. And most importantly no matter how little I do, it is better than doing nothing. 

Every time I skip a restaurant meal or preprocessed food to cook my own, or have my reusable cloth bag for groceries, or I remember to carry my glass bottle and I do not have to buy the plastic bottle, it feels good. And every time I miss or slag in doing above I am subconsciously reminded I got to remember it next time.

What used to be an effort is now a part of life and I am slowly untying my need for comfort and inability to change and now its a push to see what more can I do while still keeping the balance.

Here are things that I am trying to make part of everyday life, some succeeded some failed but the goal remains unchanged. Sharing is another aspect I am trying so more of us can do our part. And hopefully our experiences inspire more people towards a healthier lifestyle. 

i) Using Organic household cleaning products and wearing gloves while cleaning.

Non-organic cleaning products expose us to chemicals which not only cause allergies and skin reactions in short term but also compromises our immune system in longer run. These chemicals are also considered "hormone disruptors".
 

Recommend reading the article How Toxic are cleaning supplies 
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_279.cfm

From my personal experience I have used: Ecover for dish-washing soap and Seventh Generation cleaning products. They do a pretty good job.

ii) Using cold water to wash clothes in machine: Today's detergents are very effective and we do not need warm/hot water for most loads. Do try this, I was surprised to see the result were the same between warm/hot and cold water wash.

iii) Never use heavy equipments dishwasher and washing machine during the day this reduces strain on the electric grid during peak hours 9am-7pm.

iv) Phantom Power Load: We shouldn't leave cellphones plugged in the power sockets, they continues to draw power even when they have been charged. Use power strips that turn on and off or easier remove the plug.

v) Buy local products and make your own: It cuts down on packaging and transportation cost and supports local community. 

Plus home cooked food is healthier and low in sugar and salts to begin with. Interesting information on supermarket food gimmicks: http://health.yahoo.net/articles/nutrition/photos/15-most-pointless-foods-your-supermarket#0

I love soda but do we really need that much sugar. 4.2 Grams of sugar is 1 teaspoon. Rest is simple math  http://www.sugarstacks.com/beverages.htm

vi) Use water filter and carry reusable water bottle in a backpack/purse. Life factory glass bottles easily fit in a small bag and yes they look cool:). 

Use filter that removes particles and chlorine and does not make water acidic. Some research suggest that RO systems make water acidic. Currently I am using Brita filter.

Why not take it a step further an bring our own mug to get coffee/ water at work. The coffee/tea tastes so much better when not in a paper cup. All you coffee aficionados you know what I am talking about.

vii) Never put plastic containers in microwave and dishwashers. At the very least check if its safe to do so. I prefer not putting them at all, can't go round checking every plastic container. I recently purchased Pyrex glass containers from amazon. Best is to avoid microwave altogether, it alters nutritional content in food.

Non-stick cookware: don't even know where to begin here. I am using stainless steel for everything, yes its hard but I have no intentions of eating teflon. If you do choose to use it please check the usage instructions very carefully.

viii)  Reusable cloth instead of paper towel. Try being on a pledge to not use paper towels in kitchen, I am trying and so far  in 2 months I have not felt the urge to pull the paper towel for cleaning.

Keep a napkin handy in purse to avoid using paper towels and hot air blowers (source of germs) in public places.

Keep the reusable cloth bag in the car, so you always have it for groceries. Reuse is better than recycle.

ix) Give an experience as a gift rather than a product: Holiday, Movie or Show tickets make for a much enjoyable gift, instead of things.

x) Ah...those lovely crystal glasses and plates - They are pieces of beauty and not for eating food in:). Crystal glassware usually has lead. You can research on California's Proposition 65 to know more about these chemicals. These should not be used to keep edible for long hours.

Another key thing I am realizing: Just because everyone around us is doing it, it does not make it safe. Please do the research, somehow these things don't tend to be highlighted in fancy commercials and we often miss it. Adiós! See you in the next blog. 

Disclaimer:
The author is neither a spokesperson nor an endorser for any product mentioned in the article. She assumes no responsibility for any damage/loss of any kind/form related directly/indirectly to the information found in this article. The reader is solely responsible for any action including, without limitation, to any kind harm/ destruction caused by/due to information found in this article.

Recycling and health tips from mom

I had been planning to write this blog for sometime now but....as all important things get delayed...so did this one.

Three summers back my mom visited united states to spend some time with me. We were living in the downtown palo alto at that time. Life was beautiful. Nice weather, nice people, well the economy was in doldrums buts lets keep that out of this.

What my mom could not understand was why people were not recycling enough even in the heart of silicon valley.....not taking bags to the grocery store, not reusing the small plastic bags we use to keep the produce, not closing lights in the stores and offices in the night. Everytime she would go for grocery she would carry her bag and those little plastic bags for produce. She would never let me buy things in bulk saying its not healthy and lot goes to waste. And don't even say anything about those pre-processed and restaurant food.

At that time while my mom was doing all that I was always appreciating those little acts but never thought of actually practicing what I was appreciating.

A few months back I quit my job to take a break from my 7 years of vigorous lifestyle and see what I wanted to do next. For the first time in my adult life I had time to relax and enjoy. 

The result was disastrous: I was eating bad, sleeping in till noon, hardly exercising ....... well I gave myself high sugar.

When the doctors report came in I came face to face with the realities of my mortal body. I was sent to take a course on healthy eating. Well my reaction to put it mildly: OMG what was the h___ I had been eating up till now. 

Then the meaning of every little thing I saw my mom do dawned on me. There are no shortcuts to health for our human bodies nor for the lovely planet earth we live in. What is good for our earth is actually good for us.

Just a few things I found from my experience that I would love share with everyone:

We have to make food from scratch(preferably, the less pre-processed the better). Check the amount of salt and sugars used as natural preservatives on the labels.

Buy fresh food, yup not any of those cold storage, out of season fruits and vegetables. Local farmers markets are best. And they taste really good:)

We need to drink fresh clean water. Not bottled water. Highly recommend reading about chemicals leaching from plastic bottles, PET, etc. I have started using life factory glass bottle very reasonably priced on amazon.

No microwave cooking. It decreases nutrient value of food. Yup its hard but please google: side effects of microwave cooking. This was hardest to give up.

Many more things but I will add them in my future blogs.

For all my readers in US, one really good recycling trick: Whole foods sell small reusable nylon bag to keep the produce. I found them in the produce section for about a dollar each. Not expensive at all and we can easily reduce our consumption of those flimsy good for nothing bags. A small but good effort to protect our earth.

Disclaimer:
The author is neither a spokesperson nor an endorser for any product mentioned in the article. She assumes no responsibility for any damage/loss of any kind/form related directly/indirectly to the information found in this article. The reader is solely responsible for any action including, without limitation, to any kind harm/ destruction caused by/due to information found in this article.

Slumdog Millionaire

Now we all loved the movie, the promise that an ordinary Indian with no proper education can make it the right way is very inspiring even when told as a fictional story.

But the movie shook me to the core, even after 62 years of independence we still are looking at this story as a dream and not as a common possibility for an ordinary Indian to rise above his circumstances and make it happen just like an "American Dream".

Is it because all these people who show poverty or bring it to light are actually just making money from selling poverty and walking away?

Of course it is the job of the government to fix poverty which is the promise each political party has promptly iterated before every election...having said that:

Shouldn't these people who bring poverty to a bigger audience and really touch our heart do something about it...an argument can be made that they are just movie makers its not their job...they just tell a story....but seriously should these people make so much money and do nothing.

If they cannot can they at least bring to light those people who unlike them are trying to help instead of making money.

Slumdog Millionaire is a classic example of showing poverty but not doing anything substantial about it...this is not the first time nor would it be the last... selling poverty is not the same as solving it.

What I would have loved from the movie is promotion of organizations which are helping these people at least on the same level as the movie is promoted.

And by the way I would also like to know how much money they paid to these organizations or how they are helping the people from whose story they are making millions and possibly few Oscars....

After doing a little research I have found that trust funds have been set for the 2 kids Azhar and Rubina who acted in the movie but is it really enough....

Now as a firm believer in democracy I believe there is no reason to hide the facts, showing the reality is the only way to find the cure for it but I really hope some more responsibility is shown by people who make money by showing poverty...not just trust fund for few kids who acted in it.

My Salutes...but its not enough. Indians must demand Action.

I salute all the brave Indian police officers who try to maintain order and serve our country in inspite of corruption and less than state of art armaments.

All of us saw pictures of ATS chief Hemant Karkare wearing that shoddy bullet proof jacket.

Times of India article says it will be another year before Indian police can expect to get better bullet proof jacket.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Better_bulletproof_jackets_for_police/articleshow/3768933.cms

Deccan Herald also references to the delay for another one year
http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Nov292008/national20081129103560.asp

Does it always has to be an incident which wakes up Indian government and that too with a delayed response?

Did not Indian Government know that these jackets are incapable of securing our officers?

Is Indian government going to stop only at Bullet Proof Jackets?

We need to demand proactive steps - The protectors of Indian democracy should be protected in every possible way not just with Bullet Proof Jackets.

-Aditi Jain Shah

Is it time to revisit Gandhi?

“Mumbai attack, Nov 26 2008” once again this retribution against innocent people has been successful. This appalling incident forces me to question if this insatiable desire for revenge will ever end.

Who is going to be Gandhi this time? Who will put an end to this? Are we even going to be lucky enough in this century to have someone who can stop all this?

India has very conveniently forgotten about our founding fathers and our strong foundation of unity, compassion and non-violence that has made us the biggest democracy in the world and the only democracy in the region.

Its time we remember Gandhi we cannot wait for some foreign enlighten from the west. Gandhi has given us enough to keep the harmony in the world. Non-violence, not because we are weak but because we are civilized to understand that violence affects both the winner and the looser.

Can any of us be sure that violence in the name of ‘right’ from one perspective will be right from every perspective?

Also, I would like to pay my tributes to ATS Hemant Karkare, Additional Commissioner Ashok Kamte and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar and all the 11 police officials who sacrificed their life to keep Mumbai safe. May God give courage to the families of all the victims and survivors in these tough times.

Its time India stands united and says no to violence of any kind from any side.

-Aditi Jain Shah