#1 Organic < Local Organic

• 1500 Miles Traveled (Average length food travels to get to you). Organic grocery stores are great because they try to get their products from predominately local farms, but there are some larger organic companies they may carry. Local organic is always better.
• Find a local organic grocery store, farm, farm market or restaurant here http://www.localharvest.org/
•  Get your hands on some grass-fed beef! Some organic stores carry it, if yours doesn’t do some research or ask your grocer. Grass-fed is better for the cow, better for you, and it tastes amazing. We bought in bulk, putting the rest in a freezer, but basically got the equivallent of an entire cow for $0.85/lb. If you don’t eat red-meat because you were told turkey and chicken was healthier for you; you used to be me… and I urge you to do your research and re-consider.
• You can’t get more local than your back yard. Get great, quality organic food growing in your own garden—it’s easier than you think. Here are some great vegetables and herbs that are easy to grow (I’ve also included health benefits of each since 5 of these can also be found on my 8 Daily Foods List)!
  •   Also Check out the Gardening and Composting Post (Coming Soon!)

Carrots (anti-inflammatory; reduced pain for rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis, low-caloric density)

Greenbeans (low calorie source of fiber, protects against colon cancer, iron)

Spinach (muscle builder, rich omega 3’s, reduces risk of heart diseas, stroke and osteoporosiss, increases blood flow, assists in age-related sexual issues, lutein which fights vision degeneration)

Red Tomatoes (antioxidant rich, decreases risk of bladder, lung, prostate, skin, stomach cancers)

Bell Peppers (meals with peppers in them cause the body tempurature to go up, causing accelerated fat-loss)

Basil (anti-inflammatory; increases cardiovascular health, natural immune booster)

Garlic (just 200mg before breakfast, lunch and dinner accelerates fat-loss) 

#2 Buy Organic & Be Sustainable

• Foods at organic grocery stores have non-genetically modified foods, no pesticides and no hormones. 
• When buying; keep recycling in mind. Buy things with little to no prepackaging. I.E. something in a styrophome container wrapped in plastic and encased in cardboard—not a good choice. 
• Buy large containers instead of multiple smaller containers; you’ll be producing less waste and get more for your money. 
• Use canvas reusable bags to carry groceries from the store and reuse them as lunch bags for work or school. Plain canvas bags (easily found at craft stores) can be easily painted to give them character.
• Buy reusable durable bottles and containers for food and drinks to reduce the need for plastic water bottles and baggies. Make it fun! Buy plain steele water bottles (available at any organic grocery store) also are great to decorate. 
• Finally, try to eliminate paper from your kitchen. Use washclothes, terry towels instead of paper plates, paper towels, paper napkins and plastic flatware.
• The only paper I don’t eliminate from my kitchen is… my grocery list which is attached to this document.

#3 Beneficial Reading

• Eat this NOT That by David Zinczenko ($8.79)If you aren’t at a organic grocery store or restaurant this book gives you the knowledge to pick the lesser of the evils withint the processed food market.  
  • • Example: Baked Lays > Classic Lays… 

        Nilla Wafers by Nabisco > Vanilla Wafers by Keebler…

        Raisinets > M&M’s… 

• The Four-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss ($14.72)Your own personal guinea pig. Tim Ferriss finds the way to become the best at whatever he does whether its learning a language in 30 days, being a Salsa Champion Dancer, or finally conquering his own insomnia. This book is a comprehensive guide to get the most out of your body; improving sex, perfecting sleep, accelerating fat-loss, muscle-gain, strength-gain, reversing injury, perfecting posterior, and becoming super-human. 
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  • • Disclaimer: this is a HUGE book. It is not meant to be read cover to cover, it is meant to be read in order of importance to you. So if you suffer from insomnia start with the perfecting sleep section and move from there.
• The Anti-Inflammation Diet & Recipe Book: Perfecting Yourself and Your Family from Heart Disease, Arthritis, Diabetes, Allergies - and More by Jessica Black ($11.53)My mother has fibromyalgia which is another disorder caused by inflammation. Little changes make a huge difference.
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