7 STEPS TO THRIVE by Brendan Brazier


The beauty of a good diet is that the right foods will not only help us over- come nutritional stress, but also other negative stressors, like pollution and environmental toxins. Plus, we’ll be able to better perform during positive demands like exercise and education- al activities. My recommended action plan consists of seven easy steps. Step One. Examine your cur-


rent diet. What things are you eating that might be reducing your energy or aren’t supporting your health and fitness goals? Step Two. Prepare for success by


researching and listing foods that are conducive to thriving. Step Three. Graze throughout the


day. Eating several small meals helps maintain energy levels, eases diges- tive strain and spreads nutrients to sustain us all day. Step Four. Drink a nutritious


smoothie each day—it delivers whole


food nutrition that’s easy on the digestive system and provides lasting energy. Here is a go-to favorite.


Mango Cashew Smoothie


½ cup powdered hemp protein 1 cup mango, fresh, frozen or pulp ½ cup soaked raw cashews ½ tsp vanilla extract 1 Tbsp maple syrup (or agave nectar) 1½ cups purified water ½ cup ice


Purée all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Step Five. Eat a big, green salad


every day; these are a staple when eating to thrive. Step Six. Eat a raw energy bar


every day; it’s an easy way to pack nutrition into a convenient, easy-to- carry form. Step Seven. Eat a substantial,


balanced afternoon snack to head off hunger and overeating at evening meals. Consider healthy snacks—such as a handful of almonds, macadamia nuts or walnuts; a serving of organic carrots, celery or zucchini sticks; or an organic apple, pear or orange—in- stead of processed convenience foods.


For more information, visit Brendan Brazier.com or join a free online program at ThriveIn30.com.


ecotip


Mailbox Makeover Banish Unwanted Catalogs


The holidays have come and gone and a new year is here, heralded by a mailbox still engorged with resource- wasting, old and new catalog clutter. Altogether, some 20 billion catalogs are mailed annually, to the frustration of Earth-conscious shoppers. According to the nonprofit ForestEthics, the average American will spend the equivalent of eight months of their life dealing with junk mail. We all can save valuable time, conserve America’s forests, ease up on overflowing landfills, and reduce fuel and other materials wasted on unwanted catalogs by following these simple tips.


1. Ditch duplicate mailings. If you receive multiples of a catalog you like, call and ask the company to remove the extra listing.


2. Delete your address. The Direct Marketing Association (dmaChoice. org) will add your name to a “delete” list for direct marketers through its Mail Preference Service. It’s free online, or $1 by mail.


3. Sign up with a service. Options available for a modest fee include CatalogChoice.org, StopTheJunkMail.com and 41Pounds.org.


4. Switch to email. Most retailers can email promotion and sale notifications, with links to their websites and digital catalogs.


Fresh leafy greens. Brazier believes


the consumption of chlorophyll-rich, leafy green vegetables, combined with moderate exercise, is the best way to create a biologically younger body. Chlorella. This freshwater green


algae, taken as a dietary supplement, is best known as a powerful energy enhancer and brain booster. Green tea. Rich in chlorophyll and


antioxidants, green tea causes a slow, steady release of energy over the course


of several hours. “Each new year brings fresh resolve


to launch healthier habits that lead to fitter bodies, better sleep, increased per- formance and happier lives,” says Brazier. “Diet is one of the things we have the power to change right now in order to begin to thrive.”


Judith Fertig celebrates healthy cooking at AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com.


natural awakenings January 2012 37


5. Recycle catalogs after browsing. If the local recycling program doesn’t accept them, search Earth911.org by Zip code to find the nearest facility that does.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47