Kill Harmful Bacteria on Your Wash Cloth in 30 Seconds

Posted on 18/05/2013 by sbonham

Ever wonder how many microorganisms are on your scotch brite dish sponge or tea towels? Or how about that cutting board you used to cut the chicken for dinner? Whether wood or plastic, they can be washed in the dishawasher or cleaned with a dilute bleach solution. However, dish clothes and tea towels are another problem.

Bacteria in Wash Cloths and Tea Towels

The Sun recently wrote about a report by the Hygiene Council – a panel of the world’s leading microbiologists and virologists; revealing kitchen cloths and tea towels are the main culprits for harbouring and spreading bacteria. Shockingly, nine out of ten dish clothes are contaminated with bugs such as E.coli, salmonella and campylobacter – the bacteria that causes food poisoning.

How to Kill Bacteria on a Washcloth in Seconds?

Many people think they have to always just throw out their tea towels or dish cloth once they have been used to clean up a yucky spill or are smelling funky. Often when they start to smell you know there is a build up of bacteria.

The solution is really quite simple. According Dr. Joe Schwarcz, author of “Let them Eat Flax” (can find this book in Eco-Savy Store), wash clothes can be rid of microorganisms by putting a dry one in the microwave for thirty seconds or wet one for three minutes. The microwaves will kill all bacteria. HOW SIMPLE AND CONVENIENT IS THAT. What I like most about this is you don’t have to use any harmful chemicals and you will use less sponges in the long run, which is more sustainable.

It would be great to get feedback from our readers. What are your thoughts on bacteria and dishcloths? Have you ever heard of this technique to kill bacteria? What are you doing?

Natural Weight Loss Secret: Spices

Posted on 10/05/2013 by sbonham

Next time you want a more natural, eco-friendly, healthy alternative to loosing a few pounds, forget buying weight-loss supplements or killing yourself at the gym.

New research in the journal called Flavour shows that breathing in strong aroma’s from spices such as rosemary and peppermind prior to eating can actually help you eat 5 to 10% less of a meal.

The author of the article, Dr. Rene de Wijk (Ph.D) from Wageningen University in the Netherlands says that “people may unconsciously take smaller bites to regulate the amount of flavour.”

PEPPERMINT was one of the first natural ingredients that was tested for weight loss in association with aroma. The best study I came across was conducted at the Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, West Virginia by Bryan Raudenbush.

In another study involving peppermint, a scientist by the name of Bryan had asked 40 participants (large enough group to avoid bias) to sniff peppermint every two hours for five days. In the remaining five days a placebo was given to them. I am guessing the placebo was a scent very similar to peppermint, but lacked the distinct chemical makeup to be considered “peppermint”. The results were astounding. Overall, in the week that the participants sniffed peppermint, a total of 1,800 less calories were consumed.

“A large part of the reason that you feel full is your brain interpreting that you’ve smelled it and tasted it,” said Dr. Hirsch, a neurologist, psychiatrist and the founder of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago.

GRAPEFRUIT has also been extremely popular over the years for people trying to loose weight… AND now, there is scientific evidence that it does work. Researchers at Vanderbilt University have conducted a study investigating the effects of grapefruit on weight loss when the fruit is consumed as a “pre-load” before a meal. Grapefruit was selected for the study because of its reputation for facilitating weight loss. The study revealed that grapefruit, whether consumed in a solid or liquid form, demonstrated a measurable weight loss effect in participants, as well as providing other benefits.

Continue reading →

How to Build Muscle Natually While You Sleep!

Posted on 30/04/2013 by sbonham

Ever wonder how to build muscle naturally through your diet?

It seems like everyone today is obsessed with getting more definition in their legs, arms and abs? I can’t think of one woman who wouldn’t like that perfect subtle, feminine line on their bicep. However, for most it seems nearly impossible to achieve these results…until recently.

New research in the Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise reports that when taking 20 grams of protein after working out, and then again half an hour before bed, increases muscle growth naturally. You body will be working for you while you sleep!

Just so you understand how little 20g of protein is, that equates to seven ounces of Greek Yogurt! Don’t like greek yogurt? You can also get this protein by gulping down two large glasses of low-fat milk! How simple is that!

If you like this article you may also like our article on tomatoes and loosing weight! Click here to read.

Google+

Lower Blood Pressure Naturally

Posted on 28/04/2013 by sbonham

Ever wonder why wine has that magical ability to reduce stress & lower blood pressure after a hard day?

So many of us hold so much stress in our bodies throughout the day, often causing our blood pressure to spike. Even worse is that it can be hard to find way to get rid of this built up stress naturally. New research however, is showing that it might be easier than you previously thought. All that is required in reaching into your fridge for some GRAPES.

The University of Houston’s new research study suggests that grapes themselves may reduce stress and thus blood pressure. There study involved rodents, who were fed a grape-based powder drink for two weeks. The results were really surprising because the mice had fewer blood pressure spikes when compared to those that just sipped on water.

So what’s so special about grapes? Samina Salim, Ph.D (study author) says that “oxidative stress in the body may contribute to anxiety and grapes’ high antioxidant content may have a protective effect”.

To learn more about natural remedies to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in your body check out an earlier article posted by Eco-Savy on Anti Inflammatory Foods. 🙂

Magnesium Rich Foods and Health

Posted on 26/04/2013 by sbonham

Courtesy of: Positive Med