Avoid expensive Health Care Cost, Use Healthy Alternatives

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Organic Valley Milk Deal!!

Country Market (Ann arbor area) has Organic Milk on sale for 2/$5.98 plus if you use a $1 off 2 coupon you can receive 2/$4.98. What a deal!

Santa Cruz Juice Deal Whole Foods

Whole Foods has Santa Cruz Mango Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, Raspberry Lemonade, and Original Lemonade on sale 2/$3. When using 2 of the $.75 off coupons you can receive 2/$1.50 or $.75 each for Organic Santa Cruz Juice!

Door to Door Organics

So I finally broke down and decided to give this a whirl as my friend Cassie has highly recommended this company. Besides it shall make grocery shopping much easier and faster if I don't have to dig through mounds of fruit and veggies. They deliver to most places in Michigan and most places in Southeast Michigan have free delivery. Check it out here.

Alternative Health Journal - Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs and Supplements - Don't Endanger Your Life: New Study Reveals the Vitamin You Can't Ignore by Sylvia Anderson

Alternative Health Journal - Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs and Supplements - Don't Endanger Your Life: New Study Reveals the Vitamin You Can't Ignore by Sylvia Anderson

Get your B vitamins here.

Muir Glen Tomotoes Deal at Country Market!

Attention Ann Arbor/Jackson area residents. Check out this deal at Country Market.
Stores located in Saline, Dexter, Adrian, Brooklyn, and Jackson.

Muir Glen Organic Tomatoes on sale for 4/$5. plus each can has a $1 off now coupon, that is 4/$1!!! Time to stock up on these.

Coupon Craze!!!

Here is this week's shopping trip..even I surprised myself on the deals I got. A special thanks to Cassie as she posted some of these deals I took advantage of.

Meijer

8 Michelina's frozen dinners @ $.75 each (Jeff's lunches :) )
Tropicana Fruit Juice @ $.99
Quilted Northern 6 double roll 2/$5 plus use 2 coupons each $1 off here
Simply Orange 2/$6

Total: $15.00

Kroger (Yes I went Krogering :) )

10 Luna/Cliff bars for $10 plus use 2 1.00/1 coupons from Kroger coupon book
Organic Strawberries $1.98

Total: $9.98

Whole Foods

Santa Cruz organic juice 2/$5 plus use two $.75/1 coupons here
Stonyfield Farms Yogurt 6/$4 plus whole deal coupon buy 5 get one free.
Boca Burgers @ $3.00
Organic Valley cheese 2/$7 plus whole deal coupon $1.00/2
Naked Drinks 2/$5
Casnova Valley Chips @$3.50 plus whole deal coupon $1.00/1

Total: $24.02

Three Grocery stores for the deals

It was that time for a shopping trip, but this time I had to go to 3 different grocery stores for the deals. A special thanks too to Cassie, she gave me some coupon books..which saved me considerably today. Not much of sales this week if you eat 90% organic and I won't be able to hit the farmers market for two weeks, but here you go.

Whole Foods

Organic Valley Shredded cheese $2.99 (coupon save $1)
Organic Strawberries @ $2.50
Organic Blueberries @ $3.00
Organic Plums .78lbs @ $3.11 ($3.99/lb)
Organic Red Pepper 1/ $1.40
Organic Zucchini 1/$.72
Alaskan Organic Salmon @ $8.99
Garden of Good Eatin' chips 1/$2.50
Organic Valley 6 pk eggs @ $1.79 (coupon save $1)
Meyenberg Goats Milk @ $2.99 (coupon save $1)
Brown Cow Yogurt 4/$3 (coupon here)
Bag refund -$.20
Total: $33.75

Meijer

* I discovered Meijer organics and didn't use any coupons here :)
Angus Steak @ $1.93
Angus Ground beef @ $2.11 ($1.99/lb)
Organic Penne @ $1.99
Organic Oats @ 2.19
Organic Peanut Butter @ $2.59
Organic Romaine Lettuce @ $2.00
Organic Broccoli @ $2.00
Green Giant frozen veggies 2 @ 4/$5
Ceres' Mango Juice 1@ 2/$6
Total: $20.31

Country Market

Charmen Regular Toliet paper @ $6.93
Eden Organic Veg Shells @ $3.65
Organic Valley Milk 2/$6 plus coupon from Cassie save $1 on 2, making it 2/$5
Annies Organic Aldredo 1/$1
Traditional Med. Organic Tea 1 @$4.95 plus coupon from Cassie save $1
Vans Gluten Free Waffles 2/$4 plus coupon from Cassie save $1
Star Kiss Tuna Creations 1 @ 2/$3
Total: $25.74

Earth Friendly, Safe for you, and money saving tips

In the past I have blogged about the dangers of chemicals in our household cleaning products, the multiple dangers of personal care products, the importance of vitamin supplement and my couponing tips for healthy and organic groceries. However, I feel it is important to give you resources of things you can purchase both in the store and online. I have thoroughly research the contents of everything I am posting, used myself, and most of the personal care products I'm going to recommend can be found in most organic books including Sloan Barnetts book "Green goes with Everything" .

Personal Care Products- Essentially this is anything you would put on your body, like shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, body wash, shaving cream, etc. No Lauryl/ Lauteth Sulfates or Parabens

Shampoos & Conditioners-

Kiss My Face - Can be found at Whole Foods and most health stores
Jason Naturals Can be founds at Whole Foods and most health stores
ProSante - online ordering, shipped directly to your home. I actually love this conditioner!

Body Lotions-

Avalon Organics- Can be found at Whole Foods in 32oz for $15.99. I've had mine for 5 months.
Enfuselle- online ordering, shipped to your home or found via a distributor. 100% organic/raw.
Alba- can be found at whole foods, some other grocery stores.

Face/ Skin Care

Enfuselle- I use all the basic care- eye cream and anti-wrinkle products. I have very sensitive skin and for me this is the only product-line I haven't had any issues with.

Sunscreen- No Titanium Dixoide

Enfuselle- online ordering/distributor. I use this one and absolutely love it.
Alba- can be found at Whole foods or other health food stores.
Badgerbalm- I have never tried this personally, my friends have & they love it. 60% certified organic.

Toothpaste & Mouthwash- you want to choose the floride-free option, instead with Xylitol.

Toms of Maine- we use this and love it. You can find this in most grocery & drug stores.
Kiss My face- can be found at health food stores.

Bodywash & Soap- beware many products Lauryl/ Lauteth Sulfates or Parabens. These don't:

Burts Bee's Body Wash- I personally use this and love it. You can find this just about everywhere
Meadow Blend Bar- This is a nice soap-free natural bar. Online ordering/distributor
Tom's of Maine cleansing bar- I like this, it just doesn't last too long.

Shaving Cream

Alba- my husband loves this brand, says helps skin feel smooth and calm.
Avalon Organics- I prefer this one myself, it is easier to see shaving.

Deodorant- Titanium Dioxide and aluminum Free

Burts Bee's- Again found just about everywhere.
Kiss my face- most health food/organic stores.
Tom's of Maine- found pretty much everywhere- I get mine at CVS with extra care bucks

Cleaning Products
You can read my previous blog here about why product-lines like Seventh Generation and GreenWorks really are not green, safe, non-toxic, nor save you money. In my opinion I have been very happy with this line. It has saved me money, is environmentally safe, and non-toxic or harmful to me or my doggies. Sloan Barnett highly recommends it in her book.

Vitamin and Supplementation
You can read my previous blogs about why a good vitamin is essential here and here . I have tried many many brands of vitamins anything from those cheap ones at the grocery store to the health food store. There are many harmful things in these vitamins the FDA has warned about, click here for more information. My brand of choice is here. I have been taking them since August 2007 and I haven't gotten sick once regardless of lack of sleep or stress. In my opinion there is nothing better on the market. In addition to supplementation I eat healthy, mostly organic and avoid chemicals in my personal care products and cleaners.

Any questions, please ask :) Be Healthy Everyone!

A Whole bunch of savings at Whole Foods

So on this rainy day I decided I needed a break from researching, that and I was hungry...we were almost out of food anyway. Headed out to Whole Foods for these deals...I went a little crazier than normal so bare with me as I recently found out that the organic fruit and veggies will not be available at Saline Farmer's Market until sometime mid-June :(

Whole Foods

Naked Blue Machine half gallon $7.99
RW Knudsen Cranberry-blueberry juice @ 3.99 plus save $1 coupon
Health Valley Organic Soups 2/$4 plus save $1 coupon
Meyenburg Goats Milk @ $3.99 plus save $1 coupon
Odwalla juice 2/$5 plus whole deal coupon save $1 on two.
Cascadian Farm organic cereal @ $4.99 plus whole deal coupon save $1
Arico Sea Salt chips 1/$2.50 plus whole deal coupon save $1
Hummus @ $2.69
Whole Wheat baby pita bread @ $1.99
Organic refried pinto beans @ $.99
Organic Peaches 3/$2.04
Organic Oranges 3/$2.19
Organic Tomato 1/$1.88
Organic Pears 2/$1.94
Organic Valley Shredded cheese @ $4.99 plus save $1 coupon
Organic Valley brown eggs @ $2.79 plus save $1 coupon
Brown Cow Yogurt 4/$3 plus save $1/4 coupon

Green bag discount -$.40
Total: $47.16

It almost feels like stealing...

This week is a pretty big shopping trip, but I was so amazed the deals I got. Also the Saline Farmers Market begins Saturday so I will be getting lots of fresh fruit and veggies this weekend!

Whole Foods

Cascadian Farms Organic Raisin bran 1 @ 2/$7
Cascadian Farms Organic Cinnamon Crunch 1 @ 2/$7 plus whole foods coupon save $1
Van's Breakfast Gluten Free Flax Waffles 1 @ 2/$5
Van's Breakfast Gluten Free Blueberry Waffles 1 @ 2/$5 plus whole foods coupon save $1 on 2
Ians Breakfast sandwich Gluten Free 1 @ $4.99 plus whole foods coupon save $.50
Brown Cow yogurt 4/$3 plus coupon save $1 on 4
Thai restaurant kit 1 @ $1.99 plus whole foods coupon save $.75
Meyenberg Goat Milk 1 @ $3.99 plus coupon save $1
Santa Cruz Orange Mango Juice 1 @2.98 plus coupon save $.75
Naked Blue Machine half gallon 1@$7.49

Total: $30.44

Country Market

Organic Valley Milk 2/$6 plus coupon save $2 on ANY 2 Organic Valley products
Eden Organic Pasta 2/$5
Manwich 1 @ $1.25
Ground Sirloin 1 lb @ $3.95
Amish chicken tenders @ $3.19
Organic Salmon Fillets 2 @ $1.49 each.

Total: $20.37

Natural and Safe Insect Pest Control

It's that time of year for pest to be showing up in our homes. Below are some healthy, safe, and inexpensive ways to control ant, spiders, mosquitoes, and flies.

Ants
~Keep a small spray bottle handy, and spray the ants with a bit of
soapy water.
~Set out cucumber peels or slices in the kitchen or at the ants' point
of entry. Many ants have a natural aversion to cucumber. Bitter
cucumbers work best.
~Leave a few tea bags of mint tea near areas where the ants seem
most active. Dry, crushed mint leaves or cloves also work as ant
deterrents.
~Trace the ant column back to their point of entry. Set any of the
following items at the entry area in a small line, which ants will not
cross: cayenne pepper, citrus oil (can be soaked into a piece of
string), lemon juice, cinnamon or coffee grounds.
~Mix a half-teaspoon each of honey, borox, and aspartame (Equal,
Nutrasweet, etc.), in small bottles. Place bottles on their sides,
with lids off, in areas of most ant activity. Ants will carry the bait
back to their colonies.
~Leave a small, low wattage night light on for a few nights in the
area of most ant activity. The change in light can disrupt and
discourage their foraging patterns.

Spiders
~You can use peppermint or spearmint oils to repel spiders. Mix
one of these oils with water and pour it into a spray bottle. Or you
can put a few drops along window sills and other areas that
spiders use to enter your house.
~Garlic is another repellant that you can use. Put a few cloves in a
spray bottle and add water.
~Another option is using tomato leaves. Blend the tomato leaves
and mix with 4 pints of water and one tablespoon of cornstarch.
Strain the liquid in the fridge and use as needed. Put it in a spray
bottle.

Mosquitos
~An effective natural bug repellent, mix one part garlic juice with 5
parts water in a small spray bottle. Shake well before using. Spray
lightly on exposed body parts for an effective repellent lasting up

to 5 - 6 hours. Strips of cotton cloth can also be dipped in this
mixture and hung in areas, such as patios, as a localized
deterrent.
~Neem oil is a natural vegetable oil extracted from the Neem tree in
India. The leaves, seeds and seed oil of the Neem tree contain
sallanin, a compound which has effective mosquito repelling
properties. Neem oil is a natural product and is safe to use. Look
for new Neem Oil-based commercial products on the market.
~Planting marigolds around your yard works as a natural bug
repellent because the flowers give off a fragrance bugs and flying
insects do not like.


Flies
~Use mint as a fly repellent. Small sachets of crushed mint can be
placed around the home to discourage flies.
~Bay leaves, cloves and eucalyptus wrapped in small cheesecloth
squares can be hung by open windows or doors.
~Place a small, open container of sweet basil and clover near pet
food or any open food in the house.
~A few drops of eucalyptus oil on a scrap of absorbent clothe will
deter flies. Leave in areas where flies are a problem.
~You can make your own flypaper with this simple recipe: Mix ¼
cup syrup, 1 tbsp. granulated sugar and 1 tbsp. brown sugar in a
small bowl. Cut strips of brown kraft paper and soak in this
mixture. Let dry overnight. To hang, poke a small hole at the top
of each strip and hang with string or thread.


Best of Luck!

How Far Does Green Go?

Happy Earth Day! I actually saw it posted on facebook that everyday should be Earth Day. It also has to make me wonder, how far does green go? We all know the basics: recycle, reusable grocery bags, energy saving electrical appliances & light bulbs, etc. But what about chemicals? Those buggers can't be real good for us or the environment. Most of the cleaners in our homes are causing more damage to our families and the environment than we realize. I know some of you might be thinking, well I use "earth friendly" cleaners. Hmmm, well I've done some research on two of the biggest "green" cleaners known: Greenworks and Seventh Generation. Neither met my standards for "green" which are:
* Biodegradable
* Formulated without dye
* Nonflammable
* Contain no ammonia, acids, alkalis, solvents, phosphates, chlorine, nitrates, borates, or volatile organic compounds.

Here were my findings: Greenworks has many of the same chemicals found in traditional cleaners only they have diluted them, meaning they just added water.
Seventh Generation I found the following: All purpose cleaner contains hexahydro-1,3,5-Tris (2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine which is a preservative and a pesticide. According to here . The toxicity level to humans is Toxicity to humans, including carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and acute toxicity. I’m not too sure if that sounds safe.

Natural Dish Liquid contains sodium laureth sulfate. This chemical does a world of dangers to us. Sodium laureth sulfate can lead to direct damage to the hair follicle, skin damage, permanent eye damage in children and even liver toxicity. It also contains hexahydro-1,3,5-Tris (2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine, which I have discussed above.

Even for the concentrated form of these cleaners you are paying for them to put the water in. Do you want to pay for diluted chemicals? When I checked the prices for both Seventh Generation and Greenworks I was shocked on how much they are. Plus can you imagine how much plastic bottles you use every time you purchase another one and paying for it for that matter. The only truly green product I have found to meet the above standards and saves me money, is safe for me, my family, and the environment is here
For most of my cleaning I use a fragrance-free basic household cleaner, which is super-concentrated. You can make a whole bottle of cleaner for most applications with somewhere between 2 drops and 1⁄4 teaspoon of the concentrate. One bottle of this can make literally hundreds of bottles of ready to use cleaner. Since this reduces the number of plastic bottles that need to be manufactured, shipped, and recycled, it greatly decreases the environmental impact of using the product. The cost per use is also a lot lower than almost any other product, just 25 cents makes four 32 ounce bottles (one gallon) of all purpose cleaner Even vinegar in comparison, can cost 10 to 20 times as much per gallon, depending on what size is purchased and where. So why pay $2 or more for a cleaner that isn't going to last you as long, going to cost you more, and is bad for the environment and bad for you?

Don't be "green-washed". Some examples of tactics used by companies include: seducing with images in ads, using environmental organizations to promote products, distracting from destructive products, claiming to seek solutions while lobbying against regulation, using charitable endeavors to gain support, and the misuse of the word “sustainable.” I really liked this quote from Jeffrey Hollender, and it sums up my feelings on the subject as well. ”“Green” is not something a company becomes because of a new product line, a marketing campaign, a decision to be carbon neutral or even the selection an enlightened new CEO. “Green” is about the inside, not the outside of a company. It’s about its DNA, its culture, and its very reason for being.” Is Clorox Green Works and Seventh Generation really green? What do you think?

There is a way to eliminate 108 pounds of packaging waste from landfills. There is a way to eliminate 248 pounds of greenhouse gas. There is a way we can make a difference. Use something that together plants 10 trees and saves you money. Click here.

This week's Penny Pushers

I was pretty impressed with the deals I got at Whole Foods today. I could have probably gotten more if I remembered my other coupons:). I'm super excited about the Farmers Market starting up again in May in Saline.

Whole Foods

Organic Bananas 1.68lbs @ $.99/lb = $1.66
Organic Red Pepper .47 lb @ $3.99/lb = $1.88
Organic Kiwi 2/$1
Organic Blackberries 1@ 2/$5 = $2.50
Organic Green Pepper .65lb @ $2.99/lb = $1.94
AD Spinach Fettichini @ $2.99 (found this afterwards at Country Market for 2/$5)
Muir Glen Fire Roasted Tomatoes @ $2.19 save $1 used Coupon
Organic Valley Half & Half @ $3.39 used $1 whole deal coupon
Meyenberg Goats Milk @ $3.99 save $1 used coupon
Organic Valley Mont cheese 1@ 2/$7
Organic Valley Colby cheese 1@ 2/$7 used whole deal coupon $2 off
Steaz Organic Energy Drink 4 pack @ $7.99 save $1 coupon
Santa Cruz OrangeMango @ 2.98 save $.75 coupon
Brown Cow Yogurt 4/$3 plus save $1 on 4 coupon here
Plus saving on using 2 green bags

Total: $35.06

Other coupons to check out:
Santa Cruz Peanut Butter

RW Knudsen Juice

Rosetto Pasta

Simply Organic Grinder Spices

Country Market

Our Family Paper Towel @ $6.18 save $1 coupon here
Simply Orange Juice @ $2.95
Horizon Organic Milk 1@ 2/$7 save $.55 coupon here
Wolfgang puck organic soup 2/$4
Angus Ground Sirloin @ $3.67
Amish Chicken tenders @ $3.39

Total: $22.14

Have a great day, happy shopping!

Health Food News and Locations

The Whole Foods coupons are out. Our Whole Foods runs out of their "Whole Deal" coupon issue within a week so head to your store and pick one up before they run out.

Don't have a whole foods?, that's okay there are plenty of health food stores in you area. Here is a list of ones you may find in Michigan or other states. Most take coupons so check out my links on the side panel.

Better Health Store : Ann Arbor, Belleville, Grosse Pointe, Lansing, Livonia, Novi, Plymouth, and Warren.

Plum Market: Ann Arbor, Bloomfield, and West Bloomfield

Simply Natural Health Foods : Auburn Hills, Bloomfield, Clarkston, Commerce, Davisburg, Highland, Ortonville, Pontiac, Waterford, West Bloomfield, and White Lake.

Trader Joe's : Ann Arbor, Farmington, Grosse Pointe, Northville, and Rochester. Ohio: Beachwood, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dublin, Dayton, and Westlake. Multiple locations in Boston, Chicago, Indianapolis, New York City area, and others in California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, DC area, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Whole Foods
Several store locations in US, Canada, and UK. Check website for locations.

Remember, many regular grocery stores carry Organic foods. Here are some in Michigan that do: Busch's, Country Market, Meijer, and some Kroger's so check your store. If you find another store, please let me know so I can add it to the list.

Top 10 Tips to Reduce Risk of Cancer

In 2008, an estimated 1.5 million people in the United States were diagnosed with cancer, including over 700,000 new cases in men and nearly the same number of new cases in women. There were also over 650,000 cancer deaths last year, which ranks cancer second only to heart disease as a leading cause of death

Cancer is caused by changes in genes that control the growth and death of cells. The disease develops when cells continue to grow and divide instead of dying off when they get older as they would normally do. As cancer cells multiply, they can damage nearby tissues and can also spread to other parts of the body and develop into new tumors. While improvements in detection, diagnosis, and treatment have increased the survival rate for many types of cancer, we also encourage doing all you can do to prevent the disease as a core strategy of your prescription for optimal health.

With prevention in mind, here are 10 things we can all do to reduce the risk of developing cancer:

1. Avoid tobacco products and second-hand smoke

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for both men and women. Ironically, it’s also the most preventable type of cancer. Some 87-percent of lung cancer deaths are attributable to exposure to tobacco smoke including roughly 3,000 deaths each year in non-smokers due to second-hand smoke. Of the 45 million Americans who still smoke in 2007, 30-percent of male and 21-percent of female high school students reported using some form of tobacco in the prior month. If you smoke, take the necessary steps to quit for the health of you and your loved ones.

2. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight increases your chance of developing certain types of cancer, including cancer of the esophagus, colon and rectum, and pancreas. Obesity also increases the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women by roughly 50-percent, and endometrial cancer by about three fold. And carrying too much extra body weight is believed to account for up to 30-percent of kidney cancers in both men and women. Make smart food choices, control portion sizes, and fill up on fruits and vegetables to help manage your healthy weight and reduce your risk of cancer.

3. Get moving

The American Cancer Society recommends regular exercise as a way to prevent cancer. Regular exercise burns calories and can help you reach and maintain a healthy weight. Pick something that gets and keeps you moving like walking, hiking, cycling, swimming, team sports, and even dancing. Consider biking or walking to work, or take a walk during your lunch break. Be sure to gradually work up to 30-45 minutes of exercise a day for five or more days per week.

4. Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

Fruits and vegetables are naturally rich in dietary antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and a whole family of carotenoids that may help to protect your healthy genes from oxidative damage. Recent research suggests that eating tomatoes may help to protect against developing prostate cancer, while eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts may help to protect against bladder cancer. Fruits and vegetables are also rich in fiber which can speed the transit of food through the digestive system and may reduce the absorption of cancer-causing chemicals. So eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables may be the best way to ensure broad spectrum protection.

5. Fresh is best

Until about 20 years ago, stomach cancer was the most common cancer worldwide, perhaps due to cultural preferences for eating large amounts of salt-preserved foods such as cured meats and pickled vegetables. This finding underscores the point that when it comes to eating most foods, it’s generally best to eat fresh rather than salted, cured, or pickled. In general, the less processed the food, the healthier it will be for you.

6. Limit alcohol intake

Excess alcohol consumption is associated with increased risks of cancers of the oral cavity, throat, voice box, esophagus, liver, breast, and possibly the colon and rectum. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in women, and aside from carrying too much body weight, alcohol intake is the only other established risk factor for this disease. It’s recommended that men who drink alcohol should limit their intake to no more than 2 drinks per day, while women should limit their intake to no more than 1 drink daily.

7. Practice sun safety and check for changes in your skin

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is damaging to your skin. The genetic damage it can cause to skin cells can lead to skin cancer, a disease that is increasingly common, especially among young people. Be aware that the sun’s peak time is between 10 am and 3 pm and that sunlight exposure can be intensified by up to 50-percent when reflected from sand, water, snow, ice, and concrete. When outdoors, cover up exposed areas and wear sun screen with an SPF of 15 or more. Know your skin and be aware of the location, size, and shape of moles and skin spots, and report any changes promptly to your physician.

8. Reduce your exposure to potential carcinogens

There are many substances in the environment with the potential to put you at higher risk for developing cancer. On the job, minimize your exposure to fumes, dust, solvents, and chemicals. Try to reduce your everyday exposure to potentially-toxic environmental chemicals in the home and…

* Dust and vacuum regularly to rid your home of toxins attracted to dust
* Open windows and use fresh air to freshen and minimize indoor pollution
* Filter your drinking water to remove pollutants
* Switch to green cleaning products that are safe but still powerful

9. Know your family history and get screened

Some 5-10-percent of cancers are due to a genetic predisposition to cancer. Family history is a risk factor for common types of cancer including breast, ovarian, colon, and prostate cancer. If you have a family history of cancer your physician may recommend genetic testing to see if you have the type of gene that can increase your chance of developing cancer. For individuals with an average risk of cancer, the following cancer screening guidelines are recommended:

* Breast cancer: Women should begin yearly mammograms at age 40 and conduct regular breast self exams starting in the 20’s.
* Colon and rectal cancer: Men and women should have one or more screening tests including a colonoscopy starting at age 50.
* Cervical cancer: All women should begin cervical cancer screening no later than 21 years of age.
* Prostate cancer: Men should have the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal examination annually beginning at age 50.

10. Choose your dietary supplements wisely

Whether it’s vitamin D, folic acid, calcium, the antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and the carotenoids, fiber, or emerging phytochemicals, nutrition surveys have made it clear that your diet is unlikely to be providing all the essential nutrients and other dietary factors you need to be at your healthiest. And dietary supplement studies have yielded compelling evidence that supplements can help to reduce the chance of developing cancer in undernourished individuals.

Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington published a study in Nutrition and Cancer1 that evaluated the association between dietary and supplemental zinc and prostate cancer in 35,242 men participating in the VITAL cohort, a study specifically designed to evaluate the impact of dietary supplements on cancer risk. In this study, long-term supplemental zinc intake was in fact associated with reduced risk of clinically relevant advanced disease.

And as reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine2, National Cancer Institute researchers found that among postmenopausal women, the greater their total calcium intake from dietary supplements and food up to about 1,300 mg per day, the lower was their risk of developing cancer. For men and women, a diet rich in calcium from supplements and food was associated with a lower risk of developing cancers of the digestive system such as colon cancer. These findings are consistent with randomized clinical trials which have shown that calcium supplementation reduces the recurrence of colon polyps, which are precursors to colon cancer

Clearly, dietary supplements play a key role in making up the nutrient shortfalls in your diet, and they provide a means of achieving optimal nutrient levels needed to achieve and maintain the best of health.

1Zinc intake from supplements and diet and prostate cancer. Gonzalez A, Peters U, Lampe JW, White E. Nutr Cancer. 2009;61(2):206-15

2Dairy food, calcium, and risk of cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Park Y, Leitzmann MF, Subar AF, Hollenbeck A, Schatzkin A. Arch Intern Med. 2009169(4):391-401

Healthy Organic Shopping

This weekend's trip to Country Market & Whole Foods didn't bring us as much joy since I missed last week's paper. However, I still managed to save pretty good for mostly organic and my meet-eating hubby :)

Country Market

Simply Orange Juice 2/$6
Organic Valley Milk @ $3.75- coupon save $1 on two.
Newman's Own Alfredo Sauce @ 2/$5 plus coupon save $1 on two.
Green Giant Boxed Veggies @ $1.75 plus coupon save $.60 on two.
Al Dente Spinach Pasta @ $2.95
Wolfgang Soups 2/$4
Organic Ground Turkey @ $2.89
Angus Organic Ground Sirloin @ $3.95
Double Fiber Bread @ $2.25 plus coupon ( from Detroit News 2 weeks ago) save $.55
Stoneyfield Farms Organic Yogurt @ $1.10 plus coupon save $1 on three.

Total spent= $27.69 plus tax

Whole Foods
Asparagus @ $1.99
Red Seedless Grapes @ $4.84
Santa Cruz Kiwi-Strawberry Juice @ $3.69 plus coupon save $.75
Odwalla organic drinks @ 2/$5 plus coupon save $1 on two
Organic Bananas @ $.99
StoneyField Farms Soy Yogurt 6-pk @ $3 plus coupon save $.50.
Plus when you bring in your own bags you receive $.10 discount for each bag -$.20

Total spent = $17.06 plus tax

Enjoy your week!

Avoid getting sick- Your Immune System

Preventive Health- Save your money!
To avoid getting sick is so much more than having a good immune system. You may be asking yourself, how do I get a good immune system? Before I get started I would highly recommend the book "Your Personal Guide to Wellness- What your Doctor Doesn't have time to tell you" by Jamie McManus, M.D.

1. Your Digestive Track- you're immune system is linked to your digestive track. If you are having problems with this area, mostly likely you are also having problems with your immune system. Most importantly your intestines because this is where you absorb nutrients from food. Intestines also have good and back bacteria and is also the beginning of most illnesses.
A. To keep your digestive track in good shape make sure you area eating foods
enriched for your blood type Each one of us have a unique body which requires
different things.
B. Use a good pro-biotic which delivers live bacteria to your small intestines. So when
antibiotic or dangerous foods attack your body is ready to defend. Make sure this
supplement is specially coated to reach the small intestines as many supplements don't
make it past the stomach due to the acid. I have recommendations if you are interested.


2. Avoid Sugar & Artificial Sweeteners. These not only breakdown your immune system, but they are also cancer causing and other nasty diseases. Too much sugar can increase your body's natural insulin levels. These increased levels suppress the immune system and creates acid in the system- which cancer cells love & so do viruses! Just one tsp of sugar decreases your white blood cells by 30%. Avoid all soda pop & other high sugar items, before you reach for sugar reach for honey or other natural forms of sugar:) Artificial Sweeteners- Besides they fact that they are very very bad for you, they are the number one cause of brain tumors and often mimics MS & Lupus. The use of Aspartame alone (which is in almost everything also named PKU- Phenylketonuria) . This contains sugar alcohols which cross the blood/brain barrier allowing these chemicals to reach the brain. This causes legions on the brain and then brain can only repair these when you stop using these sweeteners and use nutritional supplements specially designed for brain repairing- like Lecithin- again be careful in choosing a supplement. When your brain is not working correctly it cannot tell the immune system to fight things off.

3. Why eat Organic?
I guess the question is more why not eat organic. Organic foods do not contain chemicals which could cross into the blood/brain barrier. They are often less sugar and use a more natural form of sugar. Organic foods have higher nutritional value because they have not been genetically altered. Have you ever asked yourself why you eat so much? It is because your food has less nutrients in it. When you eat organic you will find that you will eat less, feel better, and have more energy. Not to mention you will not get as sick as often because your body is absorbing good nutrients rather than chemicals. In addition to organic, make sure you are eating as raw as possible. This means raw fruits & veggies are better than cooked or frozen because when under these conditions they begin to lose important nutrients. If you are a fish lover and can find a good organic sushi this would be good for you as well because when you cook any meat you lose proteins.

4. Nutritional Supplements- Make sure you do your research and don't just buy something because it is cheaper or at the health food store. You are probably doing more harm to your body than good. In 2007 the FDA released a list of vitamins containing harmful levels of lead. This list even had some vitamins made "organic" from health food stores and also cheaper well-known vitamins. Please note that the control group in this study in men's vitamins so if you see your brand guys, then it probably also contains lead. Here is the link. You want to find a supplement that is not only organic, natural, but also made from raw materials. Also make sure it has been quality tested and tested several several times to ensure you are getting the absolute best. You have to be careful with supplements because just because they say it is organic, doesn't mean it is completely organic. (US law- only has to be 95% organic to be printed on label. And only have to be 4% natural to print "Natural" on label). True organic is defined as not only being grown organic- with out chemicals or genetically altered seeds/DNA, but is also mean it was shipped, packaged, etc in environments where nothing harmful could come in contact with it. It also means that even after shipment from the farm to the company it was tested again. From my research, I only have found one company to do all this.

5. Avoid Anti-biotics- I'm sure lots of you trust your doctors, but I'm telling you that the medical arena is a multi-billion dollar industry and when you use artificial anti-biotics you are doing more harm than good. There is a time and place for these drugs, absolutely. For instance if you have a severe illness anti-biotics should be used. But I would avoid them when it comes to the common cold & flu bugs because what anti-biotics do is kill everything in your system- good and bad. It also takes over your immune system so your body can't recognize when something bad enters because the anti-biotic killed it last time, not your immune system. There are several homeopathic remedies out there which as so much better for you than anti-biotics. Besides if you do the above mentioned things you will also find you won't get as sick as often anyways.

Okay well if you have any questions, concerns, comments, etc I'm sure I can answer them or find the answer. Best of luck. God Bless your health!

Freebies and Other deals

Dairy Queen (sign up)- Buy one Blizzard get one free

Quiznos (sign up)- FREE Sammie coupon will come via email.

Ruby Tuesday - printable coupon- buy one entree get one free

Legg's Nylons- save $1 coupon

Stay Free Pads- Very simple , just fill in the info that is requested , and you can print a $1 off coupon instantly for stayfree products

Target- several printable savings coupons
New target grocery coupons added , print coupons for :
- $1.00 coupon archer farms cereal
- $1.00 savings on Renuzit air care product
- $0.50 discount on chex mix snack mix
- $1.00 coupon for $Kashi ( cookies, crackers, or granola bars )
- $1.00 discount on Market Pantry cheeses
- $1.00 coupon for Pepperidge Farm crackers
- $1.00 savings on Tropicana orange juice
- $1.00 discount on Vlasic pickles
- $1.00 coupons for fresh vegetables

Victoria Secret- Free Panty & $10 off bra

Enjoy this weeks deals! Have a great week

Savings for the two week shopper

This week's grocery trip was a little more expensive, although I live with a man who eats mostly red meat, sweets, and dairy :) being blood type O and all. With that said, I was very happy with our savings for groceries for the next two weeks using of course sales & coupons. All shopping was done within a 2 mile stretch of our house. Starting with the furtherest and working our way in.

Country Market
Eggland Organic Eggs @ 3.99
Simply Orange Juice 2/6
Horizon Organic Milk 2/6 plus save $.55 coupon
Uncle Ben's Rice 2/2
Organic Carrots @ $.99
Whole Grain Pop-tarts 2/3 plus save $1 coupon
Reynolds Foil @3.96 plus save $1 coupon
Total: $23.59


Busch's
A brief note about Busch's- they double manf coupons up to $.50!
Jello Pudding pack 1/$2.50 plus $.60 coupon
Yoplait Yogurt 10/$6 plus save $1 coupon when purchase 8.
Cascadian Organic frozen broccoli @ 3.75 plus save $1 coupon
Frozen pepperoni pizza @ 6.49 plus save $1 coupon
Garden of Eatin multi grain sea salt chips 2/$2.89
Kenny's Juicy Twist @ 1.59
Ghirdelli squares @ $3
Oscar Meyer Bacon @ 3.99
USDA stewing beef @ 2.62
Idaho potatoes @ 1.48
Dried cherries @ 6.99
Total: 38.59

CVS
*we haven't shopped here in a while, I'm hoping for some good extra care bucks soon:)
Vitamin Water 2/$3
Bounty Basic 8pk @ 5.88 plus save $1 coupon
Soy Joy bars 2 @ 1.29 with buy one get one free coupon
Optifree Contact Solution @ 9.19 plus save $1 coupon
Total: $18.85

I was pretty impressed being that usually without coupons and sales we use to spend over $75 for one week's worth of groceries!

A Cheap Date Night or Night out with Friends

In the economy many many people are staying in because of the costs of eating out and/or going to the movies. Which we know in turn also hurts the economy when no one is spending money on these things. Recently I have discovered the Dollar movie theater at our nearby mall. For both of us to see a movie there is less than to rent a movie! So whether you are longing for a date night with your significant other or a night out with friends, check out your local dollar theater. Usually the movies are only a couple months old. The ones currently playing in our theater is Marley & Me, Bolt, Valkyrie, and Twilight. Plus dinner with a coupon makes the night a little easier on the wallet. Here is a list of dollar/cheaper theaters in Southeast Michigan: Farmington Civic, Grand Blanc , The Motor City Theater- Redford, Howell, Milford, Plymouth, Roseville

Below Budget Grocery shopping!!

In our quest for better health today's grocery shopping at Country Market offered us the following deals plus coupons! Some coupons from clipping from the Detroit News and the others from the listed websites on the right.

Simply Orange sale 2/ $6 plus coupon $1 off
Cascadian Farms Organic Stir fry veggies $2.50 sale plus coupon $1 off
Organic Lemon 1@ 2/$1
Stoneyfarms Organic yogurt 1/$1 plus coupon- save $.55 on 3
Uncle Ben's Rice 3/3 plus coupon save $.50/ double coupon- saved $1 (that's a free rice)
Yo-Plus Yogurt 1 @ 2 for $5 plus coupon save $1.00
Horizon Organic Milk 2/$6 plus coupon save $.55
Earthbound Farm Organic Mixed Greens 3.99 plus $1 off coupon
Earthbound Organic Baby Carrots @ 1.99
Tuna Creations buy 2 ($1.75) get one free

Total Spent: $27.99

It's FREE!!

Quiznos is giving away 1 million free subs! Sign up here to receive a printable coupon sent to your email.

Free Kashi Entree' .Kashi is mailing out coupons from one free, frozen meal. Just enter your mailing address and wait 2-4 weeks to receive. Click here to sign up.

Free Victoria Secret Lotion Print this coupon and use by March 2nd a free 1oz. Energizing Body Lotion. No purchase necessary. Made from organic, U.S. sourced, 100% vegan ingredients in eco- friendly packaging.

Weekly fashion, retail, and restaurant coupons for the senseable

Remember what I said about my husband telling me that I am the queen of good deals when it comes to shopping, well girls get your printers ready here is this upcoming week's retail, restaurants, etc coupon roll call.

Amazon.com- Every Friday they have things on sale.

American Eagle - Take 20% off the entire spring collection Feb. 25- March 24

Banana Republic - Feb. 17-25 20% off purchase of $100 or more plus take an additional 10% when you use your Banana Republic card (I used this last night and save over $80, some things were on sale).

Bath & Body Works- March 1st- Free Aromatherapy Body Care of Fragrance item with a $15 purchase.

Bath & Body Works- Valid through Feb. 25, 2009- Free Shower Gel with $10 purchase.

Caribou Coffee- $1 off any drink until 3/6/2009.

Chuck E Cheese- several coupons valid until 3/1/2009.


Dick's Sporting Goods- Valid through 4/30/2009- Take $10 off purchase $50 or more.

Finish Line- Take $10 off purchase of $60 or more.

H&R Block- Save $20 off tax preparation.

Hertz Car rental- many coupons valid until 12/30/2009.

Lord & Taylor- Feb. 18- March 3- 25% off final clearance and 15% regular & sale price.

Oil Change- Jiffy Lube- Valid until 1/2010 Save $5 off oil change.

Old Country Buffet- sign up for a free meal.

Pampers- save $1.50.

Quiznos- sign up for free coupon.

Shoe Carnival- Spin the wheel for savings coupons.

Target Grocery Coupons- valid until 3/14/2009

TGI Fridays- Valid until 3/1/2009- buy one entree get one free. Perfect for date night!

Walgreens- several coupons valid until 2/28/2009.


Enjoy! Happy Shopping!

Health Savings by Popular Demand

As the economy is getting worse I have had many discussions with friends and family about ways to cut cost without cutting into our most important asset- our health. Usually when we get tight with money the first thing we want to cut is items related to our health. We cut back on healthy food, nutrition, vitamins, etc so we can afford heat, electric, mortgage, student loans, and clothing. I decided to start this blog because my husband insisted that I am the queen of good deals when it comes to our grocery shopping (thanks to coupons--Cassie's Ann arbor blog), product shopping, and clothing shopping. So I've set out to lead others in saving money in tough times and still being able to enjoy the simple pleasures while staying healthy. I have listed some links on the right side. If you live in the Ann Arbor area I highly recommend you take advantage of Cassie's blog as she post weekly deals at local grocery stores to get the most for you dollar. All others, I will post what I can to help you out.

A few quick tips:

Plan your meals based on what is on sale. Before you head to the grocery store look at the ads to see what is on sale. Then find coupons for those things on sale for additional savings. Don't purchase things you don't need, just because it is on sale. Also stock up on items you will use when it is on sale, especially if you have a coupon for it.

Purchase what you can organically. It is better for you and will help you stay healthier. I have listed some organic coupons on the right. Organic also generally has less sugar than other products.

Cleaning products- purchase something that will save you money in the long run. Most of the time the chemical based cleaners found in the grocery store not only are really bad for you, but you are paying for the packaging and paying for mostly water. Try to find a product that is in concentrated form. It will last longer, be better for you, and help cut back on the many bottles in landfills. Click here for get clean save green.

Buy small business- I am a big proposer of buying locally and through small businesses. Most of the things I purchase are either through my community or through friend's small businesses. This boost the economy better than buying from big corporations not to mention the quality is significantly better. Many companies send that money out of the country anyway. I have friends in many areas from skincare, make-up, nutrition, resale, to restaurants. Purchasing from one another actually cuts down cost significantly. If you own a small business, please let me know and I can create a small business list on here.

Hope that is enough to get you started, enjoy!