Drum Roll Please...and the Winner for Best Energy Drink on the Market Is?

Drum Roll Please...and the Winner for Best Energy Drink on the Market is?

 

So does the picture above give you have a clue as to what the best energy drink on the market might be?  Well according to Dr. Steven Garner, a medical reporter with Fox News, the best energy drink on the market is water.  I have harped before on this blog about the ills of energy drinks and their harmful effects on kids and now there is another report urging kids to avoid energy drinks and limit consumption of sports drinks.  Kids are obviously smaller than adults and the effects of the high amounts of sugar and caffeine, which many times is not clearly labeled, can be detrimental to children's health.

 

According to Dr. Garner, some of the harmful effects kids can experience when ingesting energy drinks are:

• Seizures 
• Harmful interaction with stimulant medications such as ADHD drugs
• Heart arrhythmia

You really can have your kids stay healthy and avoid extra sugar in energy drinks and sports drinks, which can add extra, unhealthy pounds, by simply instructing them to drink water.   When kids are outside this summer for sports, camps or just for some fun in the sun, explain to them how important it is for them to drink water every 15 minutes.  

 

Get them a few really unique and special BPA free reusable water bottles and set a good example by carrying one of your own.  Although some children, who workout in excess in high heat, such as high school athletes, may benefit from the electrolytes in sports drinks, water is really the best energy drink on the market. 

P.S.- I am really glad that you stopped by our Environmental Booty Blog and I hope you have learned or shared a thing or two.  I hope that , now that you've found us,  you won't lose us!  You can "Like" us on our new Facebook fanpage, join our green living online community, subscribe to our posts,  download our community toolbar or Tweet with me on Twitter to stay in touch!  - Shane

Photo Source: Aavaas

How To Enjoy A Healthy Green Memorial Day

How To Enjoy A Healthy Green Memorial Day

Guest Post by D.A. Colvin

Memorial Day is a special National holiday of remembrance. We honor all the service men and women who gave their lives so we could live free. Many people honor and celebrate this holiday by enjoying picnics,  cookouts and fun play at the beach or the park, enjoying their freedom in the fresh air. This Memorial Day, do something extra special with your family, do your best to keep your carbon footprint small and enjoy a healthy green holiday. A great way to celebrate freedom and honor the fallen soldiers is to be extra good and loving to yourself and the planet by enjoying activities that are green, healthy and non-toxic.

Tour The Solar Powered 2011 HGTV Green Home: Part 2- Eco-Friendly Design Ideas and Inspiration Inside and Out...Beautiful, Elegant, Livable and Green

 

Yesterday in Part 1 of our two part blog about the solar powered 2011 HGTV Green Home, we took a tour of some of the home's energy saving technologies.  We learned about iPad house control and the benefits and ease of installing solar panels.  Today we move on to a tour of the 2011 HGTV Green Home's green design ideas and inspiration inside and out..beautiful, elegant, livable and green..

Green News Happening Now...University of Minnesota Researchers Go Green and Develop Eco-Friendly, People Friendly Plastics!

Green News Happening Now!!  

University of Minnesota Researchers Go Green and Develop Eco-Friendly, People Friendly Plastics!

Marc Hillmyer, Distinguished McKnight University Professor of chemistry and director of the Center for Sustainable Polymers says we need to develop alternatives to fossil fuel-based plastics and move toward a sustainable polymer industry.

I have written and posted videos on how into green chemistry I am.  I really feel like there is such hope for the health of consumers and our planet now that our scientists and universities have gone green.  Now breaking news comes that University of Minnesota researchers have developed a portfolio of degradable plastics derived from renewable resources that could serve as a viable alternative to plastics made from petroleum and natural gas. So what does all of that mean to consumers and our planet?  These materials have the potential to be safer, more sustainable alternatives to plastics currently on the market which are full of hormone disrupting phthalates.

Tour The Solar Powered 2011 HGTV Green Home: Part 1- Energy Saving Ideas with Your iPad? And How You Can Easily Install Solar Panels Too!

 

I thought I would just let the pictures and videos do the talking today...plus I am crazy busy with the end of the year parties, shows, tryouts, graduations and more for all three girls!  Yikes!  It is all so much fun but I kid you not, I have had at least one event (and sometimes 2 or 3) each day or night for the past three weeks.

Therefore, our regularly scheduled blog will return after summer...when the kids are all in school again.  JK...

A Message From Green Living Super Mom and Star, Jessica Alba, "Take action today and ask your Senators to support the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011! "

A Message From Green Living Super Mom and Star, Jessica Alba, "Take action today and ask your Senators to support the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011! "

I have loved Jessica Alba since her days back in 2000 as the genetically tricked out, bad ass soldier girl, Max Guevara in Dark Angel.  She went around doing all sorts of crazy crap and going on wild missions trying to find her genetically modified brothers and sisters.  All of this while trying to evade recapture by the government.  My hubby and I loved that show.  I still have no idea why it was canceled.  Anytime I can watch something with a chick kicking booty it is all good with me and Big Bad Dad.  Plus, you have to love looking at Jessica Alba right?  And Michael Weatherly, who played Max's wheelchair bound love interest in the show (isn't he on NCIS now?), is a hottie too!!   

yummy

Anyhoo, Jessica is still making the top of my list as a super green super mom by advocating on behalf of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families.  She is calling all moms to join her.  After all, it's the hand that rocks the cradle that rules the world right?

Sign Up Today to Get First Dibs on the 2012 Green Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid. Toyota Friend Social Networking Optional...Maybe

Sign Up Today to Get First Dibs on the 2012 Green Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid.  Toyota Friend Social Networking Optional...Maybe

This morning, as I was taking my kids to school hoping my tire would not totally fall apart...

Yup, those are two wires sticking out of my tire. 

we pulled up behind an adorable, and dare I say slightly beefy, little Prius.  Now that car is totally not practical for me right now, but I really think Toyota's green living 2012 Plug-in Prius Hybrid is the bees knees.  The only little problem with the 2012 Prius is that the price point has not been set yet.  I have been able to figure out that Toyota is trying to get the price down before the Spring release of the 2012. 

14 Ways to Green Your Workout, Fitness & Weight Loss Routines and Meet Your Goals

Here are 14 ways to green your workout, fitness and weight loss routines to help you meet your goals

So, you want to be green and eco-friendly as well as wanting to exercise or lose weight. Did you know that both can go hand in hand?  The old thought that you have to go to a gym to get in shape doesn't  apply any more. You can get an excellent workout without ever leaving your home, by going outside or just taking a bike ride to new, eco-friendly workout destinations. 

Going to a gym uses gas, creating pollution and the need for more petroleum based products. Additionally, when you get to the gym have you ever thought about all the electricity it takes to power all the equipment in there - the air conditioning, tv's they have for you to watch, lighting. Not to mention all the other people who drove to the gym to workout as well! That's a lot going against the environment all in the name of a person wanting to get in shape and exercise.   

Here are some easy, green ways to exercise and get in shape without creating a big carbon footprint or wasting resources

Shaklee Cares Foundation and Gwyneth Paltrow's New Green Cookbook, My Father's Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family & Togetherness are "a Very Good Fit" Says Gwyneth

The Shaklee Cares Foundation and Gwyneth Paltrow's New Green Cookbook, My Father's Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family & Togetherness are "a Very Good  Fit" Says Gwyneth...

Please visit the Shaklee Amazon.com affiliate page to order the book now and a portion of the proceeds will go to help the earthquake victims in Japan. 

I have quite a few online friends who are consultants for the 50 year old Shaklee and they are very loyal to their products.  Folks love Shaklee's green line of products.  In fact, I have had the green cleaning folks from Cottage Care clean my house and they swear by Shaklee's Scour Off™ Heavy Duty Paste.  Well now it seems that one of my absolute favorite mommy bloggers, Gwyneth Paltrow is a fan of the green living Shaklee Cares Foundation.

Gwyneth Paltrow's New Green Cookbook, My Father's Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family & Togetherness are "a Very Good  Fit" Says Gwyneth.  Am I crazy or is she the cat's meow?  She sings, she is beautiful, she cooks, she loves family.  Sigh.  I just adore her.  And she adores the work that Shaklee does for those in need.

Go now to Shacklee's Amazon affiliate site to buy and donate a portion of your proceeds to help the victims of the earthquake in Japan

P.S.- I am really glad that you stopped by our Environmental Booty Blog and I hope you have learned or shared a thing or two. I hope that , now that you've found us, you won't lose us! You can "Like" us on our new Facebook fanpage, join our green living online community, subscribe to our posts, download our community toolbar or Tweet with me on Twitter to stay in touch! - Shane*

Source: Shaklee, Go Lean N Green

Study Says Baby Products Contain Toxic Flame Retardants. Are Your Kids at Risk? What You Can do to Protect Your Children

Study Says Baby Products Contain Toxic Flame Retardants.  Are Your Kids at Risk?

A new study shows that the foam padding used to protect children in baby products can contain toxic flame retardants.  Researchers tested polyurethane foam samples from 101 products and found potentially dangerous flame retardants in 80 percent.   The study, which was published in "Environmental Science & Technology," was called a wake-up call by some health experts.  Although the study does not mention brand names, CBS News learned that one suspect flame retardant was found in three Evenflo car seats and one Snuggli baby carrier.

I  would have taken more precautions with my first two daughters if I would have had the information about flame retardants from the study. I certainly would have learned all I could about ways to reduce their risks to harmful flame retardants and definitely would have stayed away from mattresses with PBDE's.  These days, although I am NOT trying to have anymore babies, I would totally go for organic baby mattresses like this fabulous set from L.A. Baby.  Both the organic mattress and the waterproof organic cover make it easy to surround your baby with safe, organic fibers when she is in snooze land.

How to Create a Gourmet, Chemical Free Kitchen? Start with this Quick and Easy Seven Oaks Ranch Organic Garlic Gold Shrimp Scampi with Pasta Video Recipe

Create a Gourmet Chemical Free Kitchen Fit for a Chef!
I am so not a gourmet chef in the kitchen, but using Seven Oaks Ranch Garlic Gold products, makes my food taste like I am in no time flat.  No kidding!  Hand-crafted Organic Garlic Gold,  Pure Organic Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Gourmet Garlic Nuggets and Vinaigrettes are some of my absolutely favorite must have items for a chemical free kitchen.  I found the folks at Seven Oaks Ranch and their addictive line of Garlic Gold products a couple of years ago and they have become staples in not only my chemical free kitchen, but in many of my friend's and family's kitchens as well.  Once people try these flavorful and texture filled organic sensations, they never want to be without them ever again!  

How will You Fall in Love with Organic Garlic Gold?

Update on BPA and Little Beards in Maine...It's BIG News and It's Thanks to You!

So I promised to give you an update on the bill to ban BPA in Maine and Governor LePage's little beards comment, so here it is...and might I just say it is some big news and it's all thanks to you!  You might remember that I posted about Governor LePage's not so funny joke about BPA and I asked you guys to take action to help Maine ban BPA even though the Governor was uninformed and against it.  The Bangor Daily News quoted Gov. LePage as saying: 

The EWG did find a possible explanation for Governor LePage's opposition to the bill to ban BPA: one of his former aides now represents the toy industry and drafted a list of laws and regulations the governor should consider axing - including the ban on BPA. So maybe Governor LePage had his hormones a little mixed up and his loyalties a little skewed, but his misinformation didn't keep Maine from becoming the ninth state to ban the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in baby products!

Looking for Ways to Make Extra Money Working from Home? Which Green Jobs Fit the Bill?

Sponsored Post by Michele Halle with NYR Organic

If you are looking for ways to make extra money  working from home, you may be asking yourself, "Which green jobs fit the bill?"  Maybe you have been a stay at home mom for years and are ready to get back to work and back to earning a paycheck.  Or maybe you have a full time job but are looking for extra income or a way to provide income in retirement.  No matter where you are today, if you are looking for a way to make extra money in one of the hottest segments of the green industry, I would love for you to meet my friend, Michele Halle and her NYR Organic team.    

"I wanted to be a part of NYR Organic to experience a healthy alternative to traditional personal care products.  NYR Organic products are innovative because they are Certified organic by the Soil Association. They are uniquely based on essential oils and therefore bring a fabulous aromatherapy quality to the products, so they work great and they make you feel great too!" Michele Halle  - NYR Organic Independent Consultant 

NYR Organic products win rave reviews at the 2011 GBK Academy Awards Gift Lounge!

Good Housekeeping Environmental Reader Survey Results Announced Today at Good and Green Conference in NYC. Paints a Vivid Picture of Today's Green Consumer

The Magazine That Created the Green Good Housekeeping Seal Reveals Survey Results That Show Consumers are Still Interested in Protecting the Environment

One of my favorite magazines, Good Housekeeping, is dedicated to educating readers about living a greener lifestyle and they're even responsible for creating the Green Good Housekeeping Seal.  Gotta love GH! Well today at the Good and Green Conference in New York City, a two-day environmental conference co-sponsored by Good Housekeeping, GH announced results from a recent environmental survey that was sent to 3,000 Good Housekeeping readers and paints a vivid picture of today's green living consumer. 

From environmental concerns to recommending products that actually work as they say they will, Good Housekeeping is dedicated to protecting and educating consumers.  In response to consumer demand for guidance in sorting through a cluttered marketplace of green claims, the brand created the Green Good Housekeeping Seal.  The Green Good Housekeeping Seal is designed to set a mainstream bar for consumers who wish to live a greener lifestyle.  As the environmental extension of the primary Seal, the Seal is a perfect solution for sorting through greenwashing claims.  

A Vaccine Injury by Any Other Name is Compensated, Why Not Autism? Group to Announce Link Between Vaccines and Autism. Watch Autism Vaccine Awards Press Conference Live Noon Today

No worries if you missed it!
Just Press Play to see the Live Recording of the Press Conference

Well I was going to write about the 7 Worst Supermarket Rip-Offs or do a follow up piece on yesterday's post, but I just cannot let today go by without being sure you all have heard the hubbub surrounding a recent  Pace Environmental Law Review article.  The article titled "Unanswered Questions from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: A Review of Compensated Cases of Vaccine-Induced Brain Injury" is the basis for a press conference and announcement of a link between vaccines and autism by a group of parents and lawyers today at noon.  You can watch the press conference live above at noon EDT today.

Environmental Leaders Announce Long Term Solution to Drilling that Can Reduce Amount Drivers Pay at the Pump

Environmental Leaders to Urge President to Ignore Drilling “Solutions,” Focus on Real Solutions to Lower Gas Bills, Protect Clean Air and Reduce Oil Dependence

 

With gas prices nearing a national average of $4 a gallon, Congress continues to debate drilling for more domestic oil. While I personally am not opposed to drilling, it is not a long term solution as the US only has 2% of the oil supply yet we use about 1/4 of the world's supply.  Top leaders of national environmental groups want to remind President Obama of another long-term solution that can reduce the amount drivers pay at the pump in the future; while protecting our health and our environmental health from the dangerous impacts of oil use.

We've Moved! Check Out Our New Digs on Facebook in the Environmental Booty - Find the Treasure in Living Green Fanpage

Join us on our new fanpage on Facebook as we move from our old Facebook group..

So it's not like I didn't know this but, Environmental Booty needs to upgrade and move from our Facebook group to some brand spankin' new Facebook fanpage digs. I have so been draggin' my feet and resisting the change because it is just so hard to make the leap when our fabulous little group on Facebook has over 430 fabulous green members. I just don't want to lose any of our members in the move.

Please join us on our new fanpage on Facebook as we move from our old Facebook group...

Sigh.

Well this week Facebook gave me the push that I needed to start the new Environmental Booty - Find the Treasure in Living Green Fanpage when they let me know that our Environmental Booty Group page will be archived. I was like WTF?

Yup.

From War to Peace Turns Weapons Meant to Destroy Us Into Art Meant to Restore Us

My daughter, Reece, and I outside the White House

I just got back from Washington DC and while I was there, I visited so many monuments and memorials to fallen soldiers that my heart felt as if it were literally breaking. 

Tears ran down my face as I searched for the name of my parent's best friend who was killed in Vietnam.

My heart ached for the mothers of the fallen soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery.

Shaking the hands of WWII Vets, thanking them for their service and hearing their stories made me determined to not let their sacrifices be forgotten.

From War to Peace is dedicated to never forgetting our fallen heroes by recycling weapons of war into peaceful symbols of beauty and function. They turn bombs into beauty, hate into love, and war into peace. At From War to Peace, they recycle metals from disarmed nuclear weapons systems and use it to create a wonderful alloy they call Peace Bronze. With it, they cast jewelry and other art dedicated to creating a more peaceful world.

Staying Green and Stylish for your Wedding Day. Guest Post by Editor-in-Chief of Eco-Beautiful Weddings® Online Magazine

Anna Maier Ulla Maija  designs all of her gowns in the United States and is known also for her high-end couture

Guest Post by: Katie Martin

Having been watching the green wedding trends for the past 10 years, we have been discouraged by the amount of misinformation that has come out by wedding bloggers, writers and newspaper columnists.  While the general public is starting to see that going green can change the world, many brides fear that going green for their wedding day means they have to compromise on their style.  Such is not the case!