Do you use your favourite skin treatment every day? Don’t forget that beautiful skin starts on the inside! Feed your skin the correct balance of nutrients to stay soft, supple and blemish-free; and definitely make a difference in how your skin looks.

YES, some people have great genes, by it’s just a starting point. You too can have beautiful skin, no matter what your genetic make-up is. Just add these food to make your diet a bit more skin conscious.

Water

The number one thing you can put into your body if you want great-looking skin is water. The more water you drink, the more you flush all of the other stuff out of your body and the healthier your skin is going to look Drink plenty of water to rehydrate your skin - aim for eight glasses a day. Tea, coffee and juices do count, but for really great skin stick to plain water.

Dark chocolate

Though people tend to avoid chocolate because of the fear of getting fat, dark chocolate contains high levels of flavonols, a potent type of antioxidants that reduce roughness in the skin and provide sun protection.

Walnut

Walnuts contain omega-3 essential fatty acids, which can improve skin’s elasticity and texture. The nuts are also loaded with copper, a mineral that boosts collagen production.

Cooked tomatoes

Cooked Tomatoes contains high levels of Lycopene. Lycopene, a phytochemical that is responsible for the red colour of tomatoes helps eliminate skin-aging free radicals caused by ultraviolet rays and protects against sun damage.

Carrots

This vegetable is orange due to high levels of beta carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A. Carrots contain vitamin A, an antioxidant which prevents overproduction of cells in the skin’s outer layer, decrease the skin’s oil production and good for clearing up breakouts. Vitamin A also reduces the development of skin-cancer cell.

Salmon

Salmon has beauty benefits for your skin. Our bodies don’t have the ability to produce some essential fatty acids, so including them in your diet helps reinforce your skin’s barrier and keeps moisture in and irritants out. Omega-3 fatty acids present in salmon can help decrease inflammation and it is a great choice for those who suffer from rosacea or eczema.

Spinach

The folate in these veggies helps maintain and repair DNA, reducing the likelihood of skin cancer-cell growth. This food doesn’t just make you strong like Popeye; it’s also rich in the same Vitamin A properties that are good for your skin.

Broccoli

If you were to eat only one vegetable, make it broccoli. This is a great vegetable that has many different health benefits It contains vitamin A, that is great at skin renewal; vitamin C, which is a fantastic antioxidant that supports collagen production which strengthens the capillaries that feed the skin and vitamin K, which speeds bruise healing and may even help improve dark under-eye circles.

Adding these foods to your diet should go a long way towards improving the healthfulness of your skin. You are what you eat? Maybe not, but you do look the way you eat. Putting your best face forward starts with putting the right ingredients in your mouth. The same foods that are good for your health are good for your skin.

REFERENCES

10 best foods for good skin

www.fitnessmagazine.com › … › Healthy Eating › Superfoods

Tips for glowing gorgeous skin

www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/features/tips-for-gorgeous-skin

20 foods that are great for your skin

kathrynvercillo.hubpages.com › … › Skin Ailments and Aging

9 best foods for your skin

allwomenstalk.com/9-best-foods-for-your-skin/ - United States

Foods that are good for your skin

health.yahoo.net/experts/skintype/photos/foods-younger-looking-skin

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Easter, like many other holidays, has become more and more commercial over the years. Gone are the days where time was spent with family enjoying each others company over a big meal. There are, however, many ways to enjoy an eco-friendly Easter. With a little bit of research and some creativity, there are many options to choose from!

Colouring eggs

An age old tradition that kids love! Before you go out and buy a traditional decorating kit, try and use natural dyes. You’d be surprised by your colour options and impressed with the end results. To create the dye, boil the ingredient in water for about 15 minutes. Remember, the longer you boil it, the darker the dye will appear. As for the eggs, boil them in water with a spoonful of vinegar and then let them cool.

Your ingredients could be any of the following:

• Grape juice (for violet or purple)
• Red cabbage or canned blueberries (for blue)
• Spinach (for green)
• Carrot tops, yellow onion skins or paprika (for orange)
• Coffee (for brown)
• Red beets or cranberries (for pink)
• Red onion skins or Pomegranate juice (for red)
• Orange or lemon peels, ground tumeric or cumin (for yellow)

Purchasing eggs

And what about the eggs themselves? You want to ensure that they came from hens that were raised without any unnecessary antibiotics. Eggs from pasture-raised chickens are healthier than those that are factory-farmed particularly when they have access to the outdoors each day, and those that eat organic feed.

Baskets

Why go to a dollar store to buy a plastic basket that might not even survive the day?
Make your own – it’s far more fun! Dig out those leftover rolls of wallpaper that have been hiding in your basement since the 80’s, cut them into strips and then weave the strips together. They will be sturdy enough to last until next year, and the kids will enjoy the arts and crafts!

Treats for the basket

Finally, when it comes to the goodies you place in your baskets, the choices are endless! Who said only chocolate could be included? What about organic dried fruit, mini muffins made from organic ingredients or reduced-sugar organic cookies?

If you do want to include traditional treats, try and purchase fair-trade and/or organic chocolates if possible. If you decide to include gifts or toys in the basket instead, try to buy second hand, local or natural products (i.e. wood). Or better yet, cater to the aspiring gardener and put together a seed starter kit with some child-friendly garden tools and a few packs of seeds. It’s a great way to teach them how to plant and care for their own garden, and gets them out in the backyard enjoying nature!

Celebrate spring

Children love to be outdoors, no matter what time of year. Embrace this, dress for the weather and head on out for hike on your local trails! Be sure to keep your eyes open and point out things that are starting to bloom, and watch for birds and other animals that have come out of winter hibernation.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, head out to a local farm to see what spring brings, including some baby animals! Or if you want to stay closer to home, weather permitting, pack up a picnic and head to a local park to enjoy the spring air.

Having family over?

• Buy local flowers to decorate
• Prune some branches off of early blooming shrubs in your yard, and put them in a vase
• Have an early dinner then go for a walk to enjoy spring and all of the things that are starting to bloom
• Turn down the heat in your house before company arrives. The extra bodies will make the up the difference in the drop of the thermostat!
• Encourage guests to carpool, reducing emissions and ensuring you have a designated driver if the need arises

Easter dinner

Start your menu planning early! Try and minimize the number of meat dishes you serve and focus on seasonal vegetables like parsnips or fancier dishes like cabbage rolls.  Try and choose organic vegetables where possible or those that haven’t been shipped for thousand of kilometres from overseas.

While entertaining, avoid using disposable plates and paper napkins – it’s a great excuse to bring out the fine china and cloth napkins! If you do choose to go disposable, check your local health food store for biodegradable dish options.

By incorporating some of these ideas into your Easter celebrations, you could have a huge impact on minimizing your eco-footprint this year. Hope some of these suggestions help, and enjoy your time spent with family!

Written by Katrina Dudar

Earth Hour is this Saturday, March 31^st, from 8:30-9:30 p.m. Events are taking place all across our province, our country, our planet. The people at Green Cricket were asked what their plans for Earth Hour were, and here are some of their responses:

Getting the family together for some nice after dinner conversation, with dessert (preferably something chocolate).

Enjoying a peaceful run with the lights in the city dimmed.

Having a living room campout and playing Monopoly with my kids by the light of our windup lantern.

Earth Hour (http://www.earthhour.org/) is a planet wide event that brings awareness to climate change.  It was started in Sydney, Australia in 2007 as an event to show that everybody can have an effect on climate change. Earth Hour went international the next year with Toronto signing up and then quick expansion to around 135 countries. Brought to the world by the World Wildlife Fund and symbolized by 60+ which represents the sixty minutes in the hour PLUS continuing to make a difference every day.

The amazing response to Earth Hour shows that the citizens of planet Earth care about the anthropomorphic causes of climate change and want to do something about it. This event acts as a stepping stone to make people more aware of what they can do to counteract climate change. As simple as turning the lights off for an hour is, it shows that everybody can have an impact through small lifestyle changes. Lowering the temperature on your thermostat in the winter by a degree or two, walking or riding to work or using mass transit and making sure you turn your lights off are just a few of the ways we can help save our planet.

Some cities, such as Toronto (in their Distillery District), have events to commemorate Earth Hour that include performances, a countdown and an art show. Events such as these bring an inclusive feel to Earth Hour and don’t leave you sitting home in the dark.

Get involved in Earth Hour and try to expand it to your daily thoughts and actions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FovYv8vf5_E

On the eve of Green Cricket’s first EcoLogo certification, we thought it would be a good idea to introduce loyal followers to what the EcoLogo certification means for them.

EcoLogo is  North America’s largest, most respected environmental standard and product certification mark, EcoLogo has established stringent standards for certain types of products, ensuring that only 20% of products in any of those product categories could meet the standards (http://www.environmentalchoice.com/en/criteria/).  In this way, they highlight the best of the best.
  Manufacturers can choose to submit their products for third party 
testing achieving EcoLogo certification if all the requirements are met.  
EcoLogo is one of several product certifications that are available to
 green products.  But as a consumer it’s important to be conscious of
 greenwashing, and be able to discern between fact and fiction on a
product label.

So what should you look for?  In a happy, green world, all products would be organic, biodegradable, derived from natural sources, have minimal packaging and be processed locally, for a start.  The challenge is that in an emerging market place, finding all of these characteristics in a single product is very challenging.  Most often you’re making tradeoffs, finding products that provide you with the best combinations.  For example – we still struggle to develop some ingredients organically and many products still contain some synthetic preservatives, because many natural ones just don’t work as well…yet.

Another challenge is how this information is communicated to consumers.
  There aren’t clear, universal definitions for many of the descriptions you’ll see on consumer products, and many manufacturers have taken some
pretty liberal interpretations of what a green product looks like.  Look for proof on their website, and check the ingredients as well.  Some
things that you’ll want to avoid include parabens, sodium lauryl
sulfate, fragrance, and propylene glycol.  Odds are good that a product that calls itself natural and but has nearly 100 ingredients, many of which you
can’t pronounce, probably isn’t all that natural (but that isn’t the only screen, nature makes some pretty crazy things too!).
  To ensure that your green products truly are green takes a little work –
 ensuring that your source is reputable is one step, and third party
certifications such as EcoLogo, or GreenSeal can be another.  Just be sure that the certification mark is legitimate…that’s another greenwashing trick - the seal that looks like a certification, but is really only a decoration.

Green Cricket chose to seek EcoLogo certification for their Foaming Hand Wash soap, because they were confident in the ingredients and manufacturing process, and that the product would sell in sufficient quantities to justify the costs of certification.  I am pleased to say that they did indeed receive EcoLogo certification, and the product will now bear the EcoLogo mark in the next production run. Congratulations Green Cricket!

* Apple for teacher? There is a lot more than green apples to give at Green Cricket!

* Stumped for Green ideas for gifts at the end of the school term?

Then…Try our Top 10 Green Gifts that Teachers Love

…AND AT 10% off!

From: folding water bottles to ceramic cups; From: shampoo to bath soak; From: lunch bags to tote bags; From: bath soap to bath soak; From: coffee to beeswax candles…

Buy today while stocks last….

lunchbag - water bottle - bath and basin soap - beeswax candle - bath soak

shampoo/conditioner set - hand lotion - tote bag - i’m not a paper cup - coffee

‘Tis the season when we look back on the year and make some commitments on going forward.  This year, why not include a little greening into your resolutions.  If you’re looking for suggestions, here are a few to get you started:

1) Ditch the plastic waterbottles.  If you are going to do just one thing to improve your ecological footprint, your best bang for your buck is to kick the bottled water habit.  Not only are you paying a ridiculous mark up on water, but you’re contributing billions of bottles to the planet, and all the associated greenhouse gases that come with them. Stainless steel waterbottles are reasonably priced and easy to find, and tap water is cheaper.  Save some money and the planet!

2) Go litterless at lunch.  Whether for you or the kids, its really no extra work to pack a few reusable containers instead of using plastic wrap or baggies.  One day, not a big day – 320 work days in a year – well that’s a lot of baggies in the landfill.  Consider a lunch kit – it makes packing kids lunches much easier.

3) Go green when you clean.  Our health tends to be the focus of most of our new year’s resolutions, so this is a good time to remember how closely the environment is tied to our health.  When we choosegreen cleaners for example, its not only better for the planet to choose a green cleaner, it’s also much healthier for you and your family.  Same goes for personal care products – the very same things that make a shampoo green make it easier on the body.

4) Drive lightly on the planet - We’ll explore how to save money on gas later - but you can get started simply by going lighter on the gas pedal.  Every 10 kilometres over the speed limit that you drive, costs you 10% more fuel to drive the same distance.  The two minutes that you save by speeding cost the planet and your pocketbook more than you think.

** Add your resolutions below – and check out the resolutions from my fellow Green Cricketers.

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In the aftermath of the UN’s conference on Climate change in Copenhagen last month and what seems, atfirst glance, to be the lack real progress from countries for plans and commitments to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions, we are tempted to say “Why bother?”

The magazine The Economist comments: “Faced with the undoubted grandeur of climate change, a grand response seems in order. But, to the immediate disappointment to most of those participating and watching, the much anticipated UN climate conference held in Copenhagen in December led to no such thing…” [The Economist (Leader) Dec 30, 2009]

The article goes on to comment that two positive outcomes may have been on some agreement for a process for international monitoring and also the recognition of new political structures to enable progress across developing and developed countries.

While this international debate is raging should we, the public, the consumer, the homeowner…really care?

I feel we must – individuals can make a difference - we must all strive to learn more about our environment, our lifestyle, the products we use and impact on climate change, pollution, depletion of natural resources as well as the health impacts of products we use every day.

The Green Cricket Blog can provide a forum for sharing thoughts, ideas and actions. What do you think? Do you think you can make a difference to what often seems to be a hugh issue and out of your hands? And why should we care?

In the coming weeks we shall talk more about the Copenhagen Accord, but also discuss the 5 criteria for selecting Green Cricket products that we feel support the move towards achieving a Green Lifestyle and a more sustainable world. We also want to hear from you - to understand what you think, what governs your buying and lifestyle decision choices. Post your comments!

(Trevor Smith, Editor)

I am wrapping up my fourth year living in one of the largest, most populated cities in the world. The New York metropolitan area has an estimated population of 19.75 million people, ranking it the largest city in the US, and fourth largest in the world. That’s about 5 times the population of Metro Toronto, and much more geographically constrained. It is estimated that over 80% of people who live in Manhattan bike, walk or take public transportation to work.

Living in such density makes a commitment to a green lifestyle challenging in many ways, and easy in others.

The easiest part of living green in Gotham is that I don’t need a car because the public transportation is excellent – an instant contribution to reducing my carbon footprint. The Metro Transportation Authority (commuter rail, NYC subways and buses) carries 1/3 of all the commuters in the US each day. This is an astonishing statistic. This means a lot of cars left at (or near) home. I like the MTA (note the absence of “love”), but I have a bone to pick with them about their recycling policy. While they sort recyclables from the trash bins in subway and train stations, there is no sign on the receptacles to tell consumers this fact and thereby create public awareness.

Toronto’s organic waste composting program has not reached our shores. There is no wet waste pickup in Gotham. Worse still is that most of us live in tiny shoebox-sized apartments with no yard to start composting. And rodents and cockroaches (called water bugs in New York) are a serious problem, leaving composting under the kitchen counter a magnet for unwanted visitors. But, those of us committed to composting of organic waste schlep our stinky bits to one of two places in the city as part of the Lower East Side Ecology Center community composting program. They also have occasional drop-off events for recycling of electronics and clothing.

In a city the size of New York, private interests like LESEC fill in where public interests can’t or won’t. For example, #5 plastic containers are not recyclable in New York. Neither are batteries (although, get this, it is illegal to dispose of them in the garbage). Whole Foods will take #5’s and batteries to be recycled.

While the city still has a way to go, Mayor Bloomberg is taking a leadership role in the greening of New York. Part of his plan was to pass a congestion tax, similar to those imposed in London, Stockholm and Singapore, but the boneheads in Albany said no. Instead, Bloomberg decided to increase bridge and tunnel tolls, convert major intersections like the Broadway-Fifth Avenue crossover at 23^rd Street, to parks. A major part of Broadway in Midtown was converted to bike lanes and a promenade. And bike lanes all over the city displaced car traffic lanes. In some cases, boulevards planted with gardens separate the cyclist from the parked cars and traffic. Indeed, these initiatives have frustrated car drivers’ ability to get around the city, making them think twice about using the car at all.

I will be writing more over the coming weeks on the subject of green metropolises, and share with you the thrills of what I have learned about living a green life in a major urban centre. I am in the midst of relocating to the San Francisco area and will begin to report on my findings in relation to what I learned in New York.

[written by David Greene]

For individuals, transitioning to a green lifestyle can be a difficult choice. Many people worry about spending extra cash or the inconvenience of searching for eco-friendly products.

It’s understandable, but it also ignores the long-term benefits of going green. Positive lifestyle choices contribute our wellbeing, while saving money down the road.

For example, filling up a water bottle each day beats buying cases of the plastic stuff, while eco-friendly cleaners allow families to breath easier and avoid health risks.

It’s not just individuals who face these tough decisions, as governments and businesses now understand the advantages of becoming eco-friendly. The McGuinty government recently announced a $600-milllion project to green 1,000 Ontario public schools by installing energy efficient windows. Indeed it’s costly, but the plan will save money in the future, while lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Students and parents should take a cue from the government and consider the years ahead when deciding what to buy. We all want a clean planet and Green Cricket makes these choices easier by offering free Toronto deliveries (over $50.00) in cars powered by natural gas. Going green is an individual choice and one that we can all afford to make.

(written by Dan Levine)

We always associate fall with back to school.

For some of us, our child is beginning school, for others a student has left to begin college or university, some are experiencing an empty nest for the first time, others are returning to take courses as mature students.

But it’s back to school for all of us as we learn more about the impact our choices are having on the environment and in turn, the effects the environment has on us.

THIS YEAR why not take another step or two more in a green direction!

For school and office there are increasingly green options: paper, pens, pencils, markers, backpacks, drinking bottles, lunch boxes.

And, if a student you know has gone off to college or university, consider sending them a care package! Fairtrade organic coffee and chocolate are good companions on those essay-writing “all nighters”!

But watch out! Greenwashing* is all around us….  Greenwash (verb): the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service

Have you seen examples of Greenwashing? Tell us about them. What specific topics are on your mind? How can companies like Green Cricket help consumers make better choices? We try to help with our Green Cricket Rating System for each product we sell.

Don’t be shy - reply to this blog - we appreciate your feedback.

———————-

*TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, a leading environmental consulting group and developer of the EcoLogo third-party certification program has developed The Six (now seven) Sins of Greenwashing.