Dr. Christina Grant

Holistic care is as important for your animals as it is for you. Dogs and cats are unwitting victims of the fast-food industry, ingesting biologically imbalanced processed foods. These foods contain grains such as wheat, rice, and corn, by-products and other additives such as soy, preservatives, colorings, and flavorings.

When humans eat like this, they become obese and eventually diseased, with symptoms ranging from diabetes and arthritis to cancer and heart disease. It is the same with our animals. Obesity and joint conditions are common. Many animals have poor teeth and gums, and emit a foul odor. They suffer with internal and external parasites and inflammation resulting in skin rashes, itching, and joint pain.

People are convinced that processed kibble from the grocery store is healthy for their pets because commercials and labels tell them so. Words such as “all natural” help persuade buyers toward brands filled with grains and other unnecessary additives. As a result, most dogs and cats are eating substandard food.

In the last 70 years or so convenience foods came into vogue. In this time, we have lost what it means to eat close to nature. The whole family, companion animals included, dines on processed food. We know it’s time to turn that corner and come back to basics, not just for ourselves. No dog or cat should be eating foods with added grains. They wouldn’t eat them in the wild, and they don’t have a need for the extra carbohydrates.

Sans Souci, courtesy of Anne Watson

Grains in dog and cat food are filler. They can lead to arthritis, skin conditions, lethargy, flatulence, and other preventable symptoms. Further, animals should not smell, have bad breath, poor teeth and gums, or be itching and scratching. If they do, this is a sign the body is not functioning well. Just like with your own health, the first step is to clean up the diet.

Ideally, dogs and cats should be given a diet that closely matches the nutritional balance they would have if they ate what nature intended. This means getting quality protein appropriate for their optimum health. They have no need for additives such as by products, soy, and colorings.

The top level food for your animals includes raw food, the majority of which is human-grade animal protein. The next rung down would be a high-quality canned food. The lowest and least desirable would be commercial kibble.

If you must feed only kibble, choose a no-grain variety with no unnecessary additives. These are usually found at feed stores or high-end animal supply stores. Supplement this diet with some fresh food. Dogs love carrots, for example, and you can experiment with other vegetables. Avoid giving them grapes, raisins, chocolate, walnuts, and macadamia nuts. Cats are interested in various vegetables, too. My cats love to eat cooled chicken soup with vegetables. It isn’t raw, but it’s nutrient-dense.

If any of you have animals in pain, with joint inflammation or another type of pain, you can experiment with removing grain and low-quality food and treats from their diet. Many people continue with the same substandard diet while giving anti-inflammatory drugs. These are not necessary nor is the suffering your animal endures.

Speak with a holistic, integrative veterinarian who is knowledgeable about proper diet and holistic approaches. If there isn’t one in your area yet, you can work with one by telephone, which I have done with success for the past 8 years. In fact, I have four animals who rarely if ever go into a veterinary office. Our house-call veterinarian is a specialist in homeopathy, herbs, acupuncture, and chiropractic.

If you can find a gem like this, you’ll not have to pay for regular veterinary visits with their accompanying tests, x-rays, and drug prescriptions. Instead, you’ll be promoting healthy, happy animals in the way we humans must treat ourselves: by enhancing our vitality, encouraging the body to heal itself, and stopping the madness of placing a bandage over every symptom without looking further into the deeper cause.

Meanwhile, you and your animals will thrive when you are deeply nourished, with both food and companionship. Let’s not ignore our trusted companions when it comes to what nourishes them: our presence and care along with top-quality food the way nature intended. Organic raw is best, combined in such a way that it is biologically balanced. To learn more about this, Dr. Richard Pitcairn, who I am not affiliated with in any way, has books and much information on his website: www.drpitcairn.com. There you’ll find detailed explanations of the points I touched on in this article.

Dr. Christina Grant is a holistic healer and counselor who has helped hundreds of people attain physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being through personal transformation. Her writing is published nationwide. To learn more, see www.christinagrant.com.

Ok and ready for ONE MORE bonus? Since it’s Earth Day and all…Pommery POP champagne has just unveiled its latest eco-friendly bevy: the POP Earth NV Champagne ($55). The company practices sustainable wine growing, managing/limiting waste and minimizing water and energy consumption. All of this helps for a greener future and healthier land. And guess what? This brew is DE-LISH – it’s definitely not too sweet (so those who turn up their noses at the sweetness of champagne, this one is crisp and refreshing and now my mouth is watering).

So I can sip knowing that I’m not getting too fat from my drink, my heart is happy, my stress level is decreased and the earth is smiling with me. CHEERS, SALUT, SKOL TO THAT!

Ten years ago I lived temporarily in a suburb of Boston that didn’t recycle their trash. Coming from coastal California, my mind could not comprehend that everyone in the community threw noxious junk into a pile without attempting to recycle it. This was 30 years after the advent of Earth Day when we all began learning about the detrimental effects of pollution on our planet.

Now 40 years have passed since April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day. Since then, air, water, and land pollution has steadily increased. New illnesses have cropped up in our bodies.

Recently the Marine Mammal Center in Marin County reported that many more mammals than usual are turning up sick. Twice as many sea lions, elephant seals, and harbor seals are being treated for illness than last year. Officials tell us that sea lions are indicators of the health of the ocean. They don’t know why so many sea lions are found without their mothers, malnourished, tangled in fishing lines, or affected in some way by marine trash. But the situation has worsened.

In a separate report this month, researchers warned of “the great Atlantic garbage patch,” made of harmful swirling plastic debris in the ocean. It is a global problem as our throw-away culture continues to use products that don’t break down and end up in waterways. It is estimated over 100,000 marine mammals could die trash-related deaths each year.

For 40 years, millions of people and school children have been taught about the necessity to preserve our environment, yet pollution and disregard of the planet has increased. What does this say about us? About our priorities? Or, about our intelligence?

It says we allow companies to market harmful goods to us and we buy them. It says the influence of advertisement is more powerful than common sense. It says we value convenience and high profit, no matter the means to get it. It tells us that most human beings have little respect for the earth, a disregard for the sanctity of nature, and a lack of concern for the health and wellness of other living creatures.

Courtesy of Flickr user aussiegall

Yet, the most conscientious among us would find it nearly impossible to have no negative impact on the environment. There is the ubiquitous use of plastics we can’t seem to avoid, to say nothing about the trash we generate. Still, the health of the planet and ourselves depends on each of us. There are a few primary things we can easily do.

The first step is basic: get control of your trash. At the end of the week there should be very little in your trash bin. Your recycle bin should hold the majority: paper, boxes, plastics, cans, and bottles. Secure your bins so debris doesn’t end up in the streets.

When you travel, visit a park, get on a boat or an airplane, manage your trash. Take it with you or don’t create any. If you live in an area that doesn’t recycle, begin complaining loudly to your town officials.

Rethink grocery shopping. Purchase food that isn’t prepackaged. You can get meat, fish, and chicken wrapped in paper. This way you avoid the polystyrene (Styrofoam) plates most meats come on. Polystyrene leaches toxic chemicals into your food and beverages, affecting your health.

To manufacture polystyrene creates hazardous waste and affects the health of those exposed. It is made with non-sustainable petroleum, harms the ozone layer, and is dumped or blown into our streets and waterways as litter where living creatures ingest it and die. Polystyrene is not accepted by most recycling agencies. It is not necessary. Avoid everything that touches it.

If you buy six-packs of cans held together by plastic, cut or tear apart the plastic. Never take one of these onto a boat or leave one lying around. They end up in the streets and the earth’s waters where they suffocate birds and sea animals.

All plastic containers are polluters. Yogurt, for example, can be bought in a large container and put into smaller reusable containers. You can replace myriad products for cleaning windows, countertops, and floors with vinegar and water. With a little research you’ll discover many ways to use vinegar (and baking soda) for most of your household cleaning, including clogged drains.

Recycle plastic bottles and tubes that hold your personal care products. Bring your own cup for the daily coffee or tea. Take water from home in a sustainable, non-plastic water bottle. Bring lunch or eat where take-out packaging is compostable or recyclable. Use only compostable doggy clean-up bags. Be mindful of plastic toy purchases for both people and animals.

There is irony from my soapbox today. In the midst of writing this, UPS delivered a gift from my sister who lives in Chicago. I opened the box to find a sea of polystyrene pieces. This is the dilemma we find ourselves in. How to live in this modern world we created and also protect, preserve, and heal it.

I’ll take that box and its nasty polystyrene to a shipping store where they will reuse it. Meanwhile, it’s almost Earth Day 2010. I’ll cut back on plastic in every way possible and reduce my trash, now and throughout the year. What will you do?

Dr. Christina Grant is a holistic healer and spiritual counselor who works in person and by phone. She has helped hundreds of people attain well-being, greater insight, and peace in their lives. Her writing is published nationwide. She is co-author of Eight Minute Muse and is completing a book with a fresh perspective on women’s health. To learn more, see www.christinagrant.com.

When designing your own closet or working with a closet designer, make sure your closet upholds to certain GREEN standards.

If using melamine, there are many sources for ones with low to no VOC.

If using real wood or veneers, confirm that the wood comes from sustainable forests or recycled materials.  Also, make sure the finishes emit low to no VOC.

Use flooring manufactured from materials like bamboo and cork, free of formaldehyde and other toxic fume emission.

Some eco-friendly countertop options include lava stone and basalt stone.

Use ABC rather than PCB plastics, eliminating dangerous flurocarbons and out gasses.

Use low to no VOC paint on wall, ceiling and shelving surfaces.

Incorporate natural lighting whenever possible (placing shelving near windows, for example).

Where natural light is unavailable, use low-wattage fixtures placed for maximum efficiency and aesthetic balance.

If installing a charging station or coffee maker in your closet, use energy efficient appliances that reduce excessive electricity consumption.

GREEN CLOSET ACCESSORIES

BAMBOO HANGERS

Bamboo is a wonderful replacement plant for trees with its short growth cycle and high carbon dioxide exchange rate – it is a grass and grows very quickly.  Where oak takes 120 years to grow to maturity, bamboo can be harvested in three.  It is recognized as a green material under LEED.  Translate this material into your closet.

CEDAR BALLS

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certified cedar balls give off the clean, fresh scent offensive to moths and other harmful insects.  Plus, cedar is all-natural and has none of the harmful side effects of chemical poison alternatives.

LAVENDER DRAWER LINERS

Made with eco-friendly linen, this drawer liner contains dried lavender. The scent is not only relaxing, soothing and uplifting; lavender is also a natural bug repellent – perfect for your sweaters and unmentionables.  Available at www.laclosetdesign.com

Lisa Adams is the owner of LA Closet Design and an interior designer who brings a fashionable aesthetic to all her projects.

Spring is just around the corner and not only does that mean a new line from eco-fashion designers, but big sales on fall/winter merch and even some tasty items still hanging around the stores from last spring. Here is a roundup of some fantastic bargains at a few of my favorite online eco-boutiques that will move seamlessly from these last winter months into spring and even summer.

The adorable Delphine dress from Elroy will look as great at the end of February with black tights and a sweater as it will when you rock it to the seasons first cookout with just a pair of flats. Depending on the color you choose it’s made of hemp, bamboo or organic cotton and is now marked down 25%.

Wear this organic wool jacket to combat the daily winter frost now and those chilly spring evenings, later. It’s by Kelly B Couture and is marked down a breathtaking 45% at Green With Glamour now.

Take your savings to the office with these two lovely blouses from “organic pioneers,” Stewart + Brown. They are both 100% organic cotton and are deeply discounted, so strike while the iron is hot. It’s just good business sense.

I love the Cecelia dress from PI Organic. It’s simple shape inspires so many accessory combinations the mind just boggles. It’s a blend of bamboo and organic cotton and is marked down 60%.

And jumping straight to summer, Gretchen & Grace have ecoSkin’s Papyrus Romper marked down 70%! Rompers are my favorite summer lounge wear. They turn hot and sticky and easy breezy in a snap.

Sara Rust is an accomplished writer who specializes in eco-friendly fashion, beauty and trends (among other topics). Check out her blogs: www.porcelainmanifesta.com and Green With Glamour blog.

I don’t want to ruin it, because it’s adorable, but turns out Stevie likes her lipstick a little too much. Something I didn’t know? Us gals consume an estimated 7 lbs of lipstick in one lifetime. That’s a lot of toxic, unintended–for-human-consumption crap we’re eating. Kinda makes you feel like all that tofu you eat is for nothing—but that’s not so. You can change your ways now. The video’s a kind reminder to be more conscious—and the best way to be more conscious, eco – wise and personal health-wise, is to buy your products from a safe, eco-friendly beauty brand like RAW. They really sell amazing beauty products that work wonders, but that also have your body soul, and tummy in mind.

You can watch the video HERE:

Also, for some holiday fun, RAW has created a contest in which you could win a big ol’ basket of RAW products worth over $300. How to enter? Post a comment on Stevie’s Youtube page and in the comment, make sure to mention glow.com.  So enter it today, and when you’re done with that, go ahead and toss out all your junky lipsticks and buy some delectable, safe lipsticks from RAW.

Avril Bag: Courtesy of Matt & Nat

Matt & Nat’s Avril Vegan Handbag

My favorite type of bag is one I can fit not only my essentials – makeup bag, wallet, brush, planner, phone, keys; but also maybe a pair of flats for after work and the latest NYT best seller. Plus it has to look spectacular, be earth friendly and not have harmed any animals in its making. That’s not too much to ask, is it? Matt & Nat don’t think so. Their gorgeous line of vegan bags uses synthetic leather, recycled suede and range from laptop carriers to clutches!

Butter London Polish

Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer

Bold nail color is in this fall and it’s finally safe to branch out into dark colors other than shades of black. Butter London’s polish in Thames is the perfect shade of green for those of us in regions we can still pull off open toes or on short, neatly filed finger tips. The bonus? All of their products are free of Formaldehyde, Toluene and DBP.

Fleetwood kaftan: Courtesy of She-bible

She-bible’s Fleetwood Kaftan

Every season needs that one dress that can move seamlessly from the office to dinner with the girls, but is comfortable enough to run the weekend errands in. I would live in this hemp and organic Supima cotton jersey kaftan. Mix and match flats with hoopy earrings, high boots with tights, scarves, statement necklaces, heels – it can do anything!

Leather earrings: Courtesy of Fahmina

Fahmina’s Leather Feather Earrings

No bit of leather shall go to waste if jewelry designer Fahmina has anything to say about it. Her line of funky, but completely wearable, feather shaped earrings come in tons of shades. Dress up a T-shirt and jeans or sass up your little black dress.

Sephora Palette

Sephora Pure Natural Believer Palette

Cooler weather always gets me in the mood to amp up my makeup application. It’s so much easier to do smoky eyes or a splash of color when you’re not worried about it melting off your face in the heat. Sephora’s Pure line has a great line of basics without all the nasty chemicals and synthetic dyes or fragrances. And to top off the green goodness, they’re packaged in bamboo cases with recycled aluminum.

Sara Rust is an accomplished writer who specializes in eco-friendly fashion, beauty and trends (among other topics). Check out her blogs: www.porcelainmanifesta.com and Green With Glamour blog.