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Green Cleaning Our Homes

Last month we tackled cleansing ourselves. This month is about going "green" when it comes to cleaning our homes.

There are good reasons to go this route. Have you ever looked at

the back of some of your cleaning products? If you find any kind of a warning, it means that it contains known hazardous chemicals - hazardous to people as well as to the environment.

So what do you do? Buy a product labeling itself as "green," or "natural?" The answer is not necessarily. You cannot assume environmental and health claims are true - in many cases, manufacturers can make claims that are neither independently verified nor regulated.

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Hoarding and Mindful Eating

Ok - I admit it - I watch the hoarding shows you find on cable TV. Why? I am fascinated by what people hoard and the reasons behind it. I also know that I have some of the same tendencies (paper clutter and hard to discard items I have a personal attachment to) but by watching how bad it can get, I get a sense of relief that my home is clean and you can easily walk around in it.

So how does hoarding relate to "mindful eating"? Two thoughts come to mind. First, for those hoarders who keep trash, I am always noticing the remnants of what I call junk food, empty soda cans and bottles, and all things related to processed foods - wrappers, boxes, containers - you name it. And I think, first of all, what they are eating is not nutritious or healthy in many ways, and secondly, is eating this type of food an extension of the hoarding issue (ie addiction) or has the food itself played a part in some of the aspects of the hoarding.

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In Season - Asparagus

To me, asparagus is Spring. While we are lucky in California, (it can be picked as early as February), asparagus season is generally considered to run from April through May. You should eat asparagus within 48 hours of purchase - it is more perishable than other vegetables and the ends should be wrapped in a damp paper or cloth towel when stored in the refrigerator. It also contains high concentrations of inulin, a unique type of carb called a polyfructan. Inulin doesn't break down until it arrives in our lower intestine and becomes an ideal food source for certain "good" bacterias that are associated with better nutrient absorption, lower risk of allergy, and lower risk of colon cancer.

One of my favorite ways of eating asparagus comes from Jacques Pepin. I have adapted it a bit in the use of oil type and preparation. Enjoy!

Asparagus in Mustard Sauce

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Getting Enough Fiber?

Another part of our detox equation is cleaning the colon by eating foods rich in fiber. Eating fiber from plant sources also lowers cholesterol, reduces blood sugar, promotes weight loss, and decreases the risk of some cancers. Most Americans do not come close to the recommended 30-45 grams of fiber per day. (Our early ancestors ate more like 75 grams!) But if you pick and eat wisely, getting to at least the recommended amount is easier than you think. Here are some top contenders, giving you 10 or more grams a serving:

1. Navy beans - 1 cup gives you 19 grams

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Liver Cleansing Foods

Part of our Spring detox strategy is cleansing the liver. Here are some foods that will help you do that. The result should be clearer skin, improved digestion, and a boost in energy.

1. Garlic - eat it raw or cooked - either way it helps activate enzymes that help the body to flush out toxins and it has two natural compounds that aid in liver cleansing.

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Sugary Drinks and Global Death Rates

In another recently presented study, findings linked nearly 200,000 deaths worldwide in 2010 to sugar-sweetened beverages. The 184,000 adult deaths worldwide associated

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It's a Salty World

A recently presented study finds worldwide salt intake at least twice what it should be, with a big global impact on health.

After reviewing surveys of sodium intake among adults done from 2007 through 2012 as part of the Global Burden of Diseases study, researchers found that daily sodium intake averaged 3,950 mg in 2010. The recommended daily intake is 2,000 mg by World Health Organization standards and 1,500 by the American Heart Association Guidelines. Notably, 119 countries - representing 88% of adults worldwide - averaged more than 3,000 mg a day. The saltiest regions in order were Central Asia (5,500 mg/day), high-income countries in the Asia-Pacific area (5,000 mg/day), and East Asia (4,800 mg/day). Americans averaged about 3,600 mg/day.

The number of cardiovascular deaths attributable to sodium intake greater than 1,000 mg/day in 2010 was estimated at 2.3 million. 42% of deaths were from coronary heart disease and 41% from stroke.

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Spring "Cleaning" Ourselves

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Luck

According to the website Mental-Floss, the word 'luck' is Middle Dutch in origin, coming from luc, a shortening of gheluc, meaning “happiness, good fortune.” The term "luck of the

Irish" is actually thought American in origin -during the gold rush, some of the most successful miners were of Irish and Irish-American birth. This connection of the Irish to mining fortunes led to the expression. It could actually be considered derisive however, as if to say, it was only luck and not brains that allowed these miners to succeed.

My personal view of luck is that it is man-made, that it is what we create from hard work, awareness, appreciation and opportunities - we just have to see it. Here are some quotes about luck that further define my thoughts.

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Creamy Broccoli and Spinach Soup

In honor of St. Patrick's Day and the color green, here is a tasty and healthy pureed soup with a beautiful green color. It was originally developed for my Eye Cook series for the Discovery Eye Foundation newsletter. Its main players,broccoli and spinach, are primary sources of lutein and zeazanthin, anti-oxidants that may reduce the risk of AMD. Broccoli is also a source of vitamin C, which acts as an age-protector for your eyes while spinach (and carrot) provide vitamin A, which is essential to proper functioning of the retina. It also helps prevent night blindness by helping the eye adapt between bright light and darkness.

What you'll need to generously feed 4:

1 1/2 pounds broccoli

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