toxin-related stories
Have You Tried Detox?

If you're looking for a quick slim-down, just look to the stars. No, not the ones up in the sky, I mean all the detox-happy celebs out in Tinseltown.
Cleanses are quite popular right now, but they've been around for years. They can lead to some quick (though likely temporary) weight loss and, as Bethany found out, detox diets can leave you feeling quite good (after a few days of feeling kind of lousy, anyway).
Proponents of detox diets will leave you believing that your body is full of nasty toxins that have no other way to come out. But many health experts will tell you that your body does a pretty good job of getting rid of toxins on its own. So I wonder what you think ... do you detox?
If you've done a detox diet, what did you think about it? Share your thoughts in the comments.
10 poison ivy myths
- Scratching will cause the rash to spread. Technically, this isn't true. The rash is caused by contact with urushiol oil from the poison ivy plant. If your skin still has traces of the oil and you scratch, you could transfer the oil to another part of your body. But, once the oil is gone, scratching will not spread the rash. However, take it from my personal experience, you don't want to scratch. I'm on a heavy-duty antibiotic to clear up the infection I have as a result of scratching.
- Poison ivy is contagious. Again, only contact with urushiol oil will cause the reaction. The rash itself is not contagious.
- Once allergic, always allergic to poison ivy. Not necessarily. Your sensitivity can change over time.
Why you should eat locally
Healthy Habits, Organic, Sustainable Community, Vegetarian, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements
First there was the whole foods diet. Then there was the low-carb craze. Then eating organic was all the rage. And I'm sure you've heard of cage-free, free range and grass fed. Now there's eating locally. Well, eating locally isn't exactly a new concept--after all, farmer's markets have existed probably as long as farms, but it finally seems to be catching on as a dieting trend.
So what exactly does it mean to eat locally, and what are the benefits? I mean, we've all seen farmer's markets, perused their offerings and even occasionally indulged in some of their maple syrup candy and apple cider but what does eating locally really translate to?
"Local" is defined as anything within a hundred miles. That makes for a lot of possibilities in terms of food options, depending on where you live.
To me, farmer's markets were always the opportunity to get a little something different than what you'd find at a local supermarket. I know the one in Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn used to house a woman we referred to as the Cheese Lady who always had THE BEST cheeses anywhere. She had this one spicy white cheddar with horseradish in it that was TO DIE FOR. Sadly, at some point she took her wares elsewhere.
























