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6 Health Screenings That Could Save Your Life!

October 10, 2018 0

NOTE FROM SWEET GREENS: Thank you supporting the companies that keep Sweet Greens in business.
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Medical screenings or tests are examinations that are used by physicians in order to find illnesses and health conditions before any symptoms or signs appear. Such medical screenings or tests can become lifesavers in the event that they locate a serious health condition. Medical screenings or tests are gender or age specific because some ailments only attack certain groups of people. The following tips will help to lead people in the right direction.

Eye tests are extremely important for your overall health. Not only will they help determine if you need glasses or not, but they can also help to pick up abnormalities behind the eyes. Glaucoma and cataracts can be picked up early through regular eye tests with a specialist. If you are struggling with long or short sightedness you may want to invest in stylish cat eye glasses to improve your quality of life. All in all, it is very important to keep up with your regular eye tests to make sure there are no underlying conditions that you’re missing.

A Pap smear is a test given to females in order to inspect cervical cells for abnormalities. These particular tests are important for women aged 21 and older. Abnormal cervical cells that are taken, being kept in a biorepository, might be found to be cervical cancer. Women that are between the ages of 21 and 29 should visit their gynecologist every three years in order to have a pap smear test done. For women that are aged 30 to 65, it is recommended that they have a pap smear test done every five years if the test is completed with a human papillomavirus test.

Mammograms are health screens that x-ray the breast of men and women in order to identify the presence of breast cancer. Individuals should begin this health screening by the age of 50. If an individual has a family history of breast cancer then it is recommended to start having the health screens done by the age of 40. Mammograms can help to save a life in the event that they catch images of cancerous cell. Early detection means that a patient can start early treatment, which helps to increase the chances of beating the disease and stop the cancer from spreading. Patients should receive mammogram screenings every other year or annually. The frequency of the screening will depend on the person’s family history and also if abnormalities were found in the health screening.

There are two important health screenings that can help to identify heart disease. A stress test monitors the heart while the patient is engaging in a number of exercises. A stress test can help to show the existence of blood flow problems. The more vigorous the exercise gets, the harder the heart will have to work. A hard-working heart is able to pump blood faster and if there are any abnormalities within the heart, the stress test will be able to reveal it. The second health screening that helps to monitor one’s heart is an electrocardiogram or EKG. This screening is different from the stress test because a patient does not have to engage in any exercises. The EKG has the ability to monitor the beats of the heart. An abnormal heartbeat can reveal dangerous heart conditions such as arrhythmia or a heart attack. EKGs and stress tests should be given to individuals that have a family history of heart disease, chest pains, shortness of breath, or a decrease in one’s ability to perform everyday activities.

A fifth health screen test is a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy can help to reveal colon cancer. Colon cancer is the third most dangerous cancer in the United States. In order to battle this deadly disease, physicians urge patients who are over the age of 50 years old to have the procedure done. Patients may want to have this procedure done earlier if there is a family history of colon cancer or if the patient has had inflammatory bowel disease for more than 8 years. Colonoscopy testing should be done every 10 years, as long as no abnormalities are found.

Finally, a prostate-specific antigen test or PSA test is a health screen that can help to reveal early signs of prostate cancer. This particular screening measures prostate-specific antigen, a protein created in the prostate gland. This particular test is recommended for men that are 50 or older. If a male has a family history of prostate cancer then it is recommended that the screening is done earlier. It should also be noted that African-American men are at a bigger risk of developing the disease so they should begin testing at the age of 45.

All of the above health screenings should be taken seriously due to the fact that they can help to save a life. These tests can help to identify health threats and help you to begin early treatment.

Organic Tacos + Jalapeño Crema Recipe

July 13, 2018 0

This post is sponsored by Stonyfield and Walmart– all opinions expressed are my own.

So, my family loves tacos! And by love, I don’t just mean love, I mean my husband HAS to stop at every single taco truck he sees. Ha! It’s no surprise that we enjoy tacos at home quite frequently. Especially considering the mister does 100% of the cooking at Casa de Sweet Greens. Thank goodness!

The mister does all of his marketing on Mondays and was excited to hear that I partnered with Stonyfield and Walmart to showcase the wonderful affordable organic options that Walmart has to offer. So, of course he said, I know exactly what I am going to make, tacos! Organic tacos with jalapeño crema (made with Stonyfield yogurt) to be exact!

The taco recipe is pretty simple, add a bunch of your favorite organic taco fillings to a tortilla! This time, the mister used a selection of organic products that he found at Walmart! And, of course, he found a bunch of other organic goodies for the week too!

The best part of the tacos is the jalapeño crema! Who needs a taco, just squirt it into my mouth!

So, now of course you want the recipe, here you go!

Jalapeño Crema Recipe

  • 1 jalapeño
  • 2 cups Stonyfield organic Greek Yogurt
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. cumin

Directions:

  1. Cut the jalapeño in half and seed it.
  2. Broil the jalapeño until the skin is charred.
  3. Place jalapeño in a closed container for 5 minutes.
  4. Peel jalapeño.
  5. Add the jalapeño, 2 cups of yogurt, lime juice, salt and cumin in a blender/food processor and process until smooth.

Add the jalapeño crema to a condiment bottle and enjoy!

If you are looking for a crowd pleaser this weekend, hit Walmart, grab a bunch of organic taco ingredients and invite your friends and family over for some fun!

On the Go this Summer? Grab Stonyfield!

June 30, 2018 1

I don’t know about you, but for me, summertime is family time. We love going out together to walk the dogs, splashing in the pool, heading on a beach adventure, or simply riding our bikes down the Lake Trail. Biking is a big thing in our family, especially in summertime. We ride them everywhere – even to do our shopping!

Because we’re out and about so much, we need on-the-go snacks that are easy to transport, healthy, and (of course) delicious! Enter Stonyfield Organic Kids Pouches. Stonyfield’s pouches are lightweight, portable, and resealable. And, while I know it says “kids” on the pouch, I don’t mind telling you that I enjoy snacking on them from time to time, too!

Stonyfield’s are a great option for the whole family for many reasons:

  • they’re made with 25-35% less sugar than the leading kids yogurt
  • they have live active cultures to help keep your family *ahem* regular
  • you’ve got so many delicious flavors to choose from
  • and they’re USDA Organic certified, Non-GMO Project verified, made with milk from pasture-raised cows, Kosher certified, and gluten-free!

Right now, we are loving the strawberry, but, no matter which one we toss in our backpacks, everyone is snack-satisfied!

If you’re heading out on a bike adventure this summer or just lounging at the pool or beach, pick up some Stonyfield’s for your journey. And don’t forget the sunscreen! I’m currently obsessed with Badger Balm’s Broad Spectrum SPF 30. It’s a mineral-based sunscreen that is safe, effective, and smells great, too. And, just like Stonyfield, it’s B-Corp Certified. That means they’ve been third party certified to meet rigorous environmental and sustainability standards, along with accountability and transparency. Hooray! 

If you’re looking for a product that’s both earth- and kid-friendly, look no further than Stonyfield’s. Your whole family will love them, and they’ll make any trip you take – be it by bike, boat, or car – so much more pleasant! Which flavor of Stonyfield’s is YOUR favorite?    

 

This post is sponsored by Stonyfield – all opinions expressed are my own.

Hydroponic Gardeners Getting Even More Creative With Their Farms

June 19, 2018 0

The global hydroponics market was last valued at $19.95 billion in 2015, but is expected to grow significantly over the next few years, reaching approximately $27.33 billion in 2020.

Hydroponics is termed as one of the fastest growing soil less farming practices at a global level, and has evolved over the years to not only reach commercial farmers, but smalltime residential ones as well. The industry isn’t done expanding yet, ether. As the market continues to grow, more and more farmers are looking to not only utilize hydroponic gardening setups, but fully customize these crop spaces as well.

Soil stores about 0.01% of the total water on Earth within its pores. But for plants and crops to successfully grow, they need much more water than what the soil is already providing. Even with natural rainfall and frequent watering, it can be extremely difficult to find the exact amount of water in order to optimize plant growth. With hydroponic farming, however, it’s much easier to provide the plants with exactly what is needed. Some crops can even grow twice as fast in hydroponic farming setups because of the ability to receive correct amounts of not only water, but oxygen and essential nutrients as well.

In Florida,

According to Florida Today, a hydroponics farm in Central Florida is letting buyers pick not only the type of vegetable they want to purchase, but the is allowing individuals to cook them and eat them as well — right on the farm’s location.

Wichmann Farms and MJ Farm to Table in Melbourne has rows and rows of high-quality hydroponics fruits and veggies; along with a chicken coop and other amenities along their three-achre patch of land. They are even offering a hydroponic gardening workshop for kids in hopes of teaching the next generation of innovative farmers this new and exciting approach to gardening.

“We’re family-oriented,” said Matthew Wichmann, owner of the farm along with his wife, Joyce. “We have opportunities for mothers to come here and get healthy food at reasonable prices.”

“And to educate the children about where it came from,” Joyce Wichmann added.

The entire agricultural property is self-pick, meaning cutters get a basket, a pair of scissors, and a choice of all the vegetables than can gather. If a buyer isn’t able to spend time perusing through the hydroponic farmland, they can simply purchase bags of mixed lettuce greens, eggs, tomatoes, and all kinds of fresh produce and be on their way.

“Everything we grow out here has lots of flavor,” added David Murray, farm manager and hydroponics expert. “I tell everybody all the time, it’s the best salad they’ll ever have. There’s all kinds of things we can teach out here, not just healthy eating. There’s chemistry and business. We try to show them different hydroponic designs.”

Farms like this one in Melbourne and similar ones all across the globe are going to need to remain sufficient in the near future, especially as the global population reaches 7.5 billion. But it’s certainly an exiting time for agriculture and the hydroponics industry.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Relocate With These Eco-Friendly Moving Tips

June 7, 2018 0

Approximately 35.1 million Americans move every year. Though many consider it far too stressful of a process to even think about keeping it sustainable, it’s actually surprisingly easy to incorporate a few eco-friendly practices into your moving process to minimize waste and prioritize sustainability. Here are just a few ways to help you reduce, reuse, and recycle while you relocate.

Use the containers you already have.

Though you’re bound to need a few cardboard boxes to pack your belongings, try to make the most of the containers you already have in your home. So before you seek out additional containers, fully pack all of the suitcases, duffel bags, dresser drawers, reusable shopping bags, and other containers around your home. Today the world makes and consumes about 600 billion pounds of plastic yearly, and many homeowners have additional plastic storage containers to make transporting your belongings simple and safe.

Of course, to get the most from this tip, you’ll need to think about how you pack in addition to what you pack.

“If you have an item that can fit other things inside of it, fill it up before packing it. For example, line your small bathroom trash bin with a fresh garbage bag and use it to store items from under your sink. The more you can fit in containers you already have, the more you can avoid having to rely on purchased moving boxes,” writes Laura Mueller on Moving.

Get creative with packing materials.

The last packing material you want to use during your move is those styrofoam packing peanuts. Little do most homeowners know, they’re virtually never necessary. What you can do is use your clothing, linens, and towels to cushion some of your more fragile items, like your television or dishware. As long as you pack a few layers of clothing in between the container and the items, you can prevent damage to your belongings and to the environment.

Before you throw anything away, donate everything you can.

Downsizing is an inevitable part of the moving process. Ideally, you’ll be able to start the process of going through all your belongings several weeks in advanced so that you don’t have to rush. Either way, don’t throw anything away that you think someone else could still get some use out of. Whether you drop it off at a local donation center, recycle it, or give it to a family member or friend, there’s no reason it should end up in the trash if it doesn’t have to be.

In addition to your personal belongings, this also applies to any materials you may have leftover after performing any home repairs prior to your move, for example, painting. Studies have shown that levels of several organics average two to five times higher indoors than outdoors, and when inhaled they can contribute to several health problems. With that in mind, don’t just let your extra paint end up in a landfill contributing toxins to the environment. Give it to someone who’s in the middle of their own home improvement project. If you have enough to give away and you have the time, a yard sale is a great way to downsize while bringing in some extra cash.

Consider hiring a ‘green’ moving company.

Finally, there are countless moving companies that have been making an effort to incorporate sustainable practices into their business plans. According to a 2011 report, 86% of consumers will pay more for a better experience, and though these services may sometimes cost a bit more, it’s well worth it to limit the impact you’re having on the environment.

“A green moving company will use trucks that run on biodiesel fuel instead of traditional gas and can also help set you up with reusable moving boxes so that you don’t have to worry about going the cardboard box route. Search reputable movers…and choose a mover that has a proven dedication to keeping the Earth clean,” writes Mueller.

What other ways have you kept the Earth in mind during your move? Tell us in the comments!

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