Healthy Bitch Daily

Nail Thank You

julie — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:31:15 +0000

Nail Thank You

Healthy Colors Find Their Time To Shine

You’ve heard the good, the bad and the ugly about nail polishes. But you just don’t care. You still opt for that convenient Fire Engine Red to match your fab personality. You are awesome.

Well, we’ve got some news for you: You don’t need to go sans color to pain the town red. Cross our hearts and hope to die.

Conventional nail polishes contain large amounts, typically around 70-percent, of chemical solvents such as toluene, acetates and alcohol. Once applied, they seep into the air. And that, my friend, is what you breathe …air.

While “natural” nail polishes can still contain chemicals which can be naughty to your health and the planet, we’ve scoured out some of our favorite nail polishes that may not be saints, but are free of the scary three: dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, formaldehyde … and then some.

Air dry. Apply second coat.

Acquarella. Acquarella is a non-toxic, water-based alternative to conventional polishes with more than 20 hot colors to choose from. No formaldehyde, phthalates or chemical solvents and absolutely no animal byproducts … Meow. $18,www.acquarellapolish.com.

Zoya. Formaldehyde, toluene, DBP and camphor-free, Zoya’s colorful collection of 300-plus vegan polishes cover every color of the rainbow. Named after the chicks they’d be in the flesh, Zoya’s formula won over Women’s Healthmagazine as the “longest-lasting polish.” Feeling a bit neutral this weekend? Opt for Betty. But if you want to set off some fire alarms, think Gweneth. $7,www.zoya.com.

SpaRitual. Spa Ritual’s new Summer 2010 collection entitled Kaleidoscope has really got us finger paintin’ crazy. The line of safe nail lacquers – which are DBP, formaldehyde and toluene-free with no synthetic dyes, parabens or petrochemicals – come equipped for action in eco-friendly packaging. $10, www.skinstore.com.

Color you bad, baby.

-JC

Dirty Looks

julie — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:41:54 +0000

Dirty Looks

If want to get through to a girl, you don’t need sparkly diamonds or a cute puppy dog. You can skip the Champagne and sexual healing.

Apparently, you just need stick people.

The love child of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Annie Leonard of “The Story of Stuff” fame, “The Story of Cosmetics” gives us the dirty truth about the $50 billion cosmetics industry and its dependence on toxic chemicals to manufacture the products we use every day. Why now? Congress is considering passing the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010—the first governmental look at the industry in 70 years.

Why stick-figure cartoons? We say … Why the hell not?

Check out EcoStiletto TV’s (ESTV) video of the week to get the dirty secrets behind major brands like Proctor & Gamble and Estee Lauder ….

For more information, visit www.safecosmetics.org.

Think eco-style’s expensive? Not if it’s free! EcoStiletto’s giving away $250+ in eco-swag each week to free newsletter subscribers! Winners are randomly selected on Mondays, so sign up now and tell a friend: Your odds may be worse, but your karma’s better.

Command, Shift + Delete: Poverty

julie — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:36:42 +0000

Command, Shift + Delete: Poverty

Handmade Laptop Cases Help Uproot Ugandan Women From Poverty

You lug it everywhere you go. It sits patiently by your bedside while you slumber, charging up for the next day’s digital escapades. It keeps you occupied on long flights, and makes you giggle with elementary YouTube montages. It is the only thing you’d lie in front of a speeding car for.

It is your laptop. And the question is … What have you done for it lately?

Well, now … we can think of something.

The Steven is a new handmade line of thin laptop sleeves crafted by the Krochet Kids to empower women in Northern Uganda to rise above poverty. Each laptop case, made of organic cotton and locally-sourced yarn from Uganda and Kenya, is hand-knit, sewn, zippered and labeled by the Northern Uganda women. But the digital fortress doesn’t stop there – Half of the proceeds will also be donated to children’s education initiatives in the developing country.

Our only bicker? The cover is made from acrylic yarn, but using natural fibers would have actually made the design process more prohibitive and less green for the small initiative. Sometimes you just have to look at the big picture.

The Steven comes equipped in three styles and fits a 13” Macbook comfortably. Get your own for $49.95 at www.krochetkids.org.

Want to upcycle your own laptop bag? Click here for some cool ideas.

-Carly

Cleaning Sucks

julie — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:21:08 +0000

Cleaning Sucks
Healthy, Eco-Friendly Vacuums and Tips on Buying the Right One for Your Lifestyle

If there’s one thing in life that should suck hard, it’s your vacuum. The harder the better. Nothing beats a clean carpet or spotless hardwood floors. Between the pets, kids and allergies – how do you balance maintaining a toxic-free home while keeping the planet happy? With so many models and choices, it’s hard to figure out which ones are worth the investment.

What You Need to Know

Before buying just any vacuum, look for one that’s energy-efficient while helping to maintain healthy air quality – You don’t want a motor machine that’s gong to re-circulate toxins back into your home [Cough]. It’s important that your vacuum has great suction for a deep-down clean (the innuendos are worse than a Seinfeld episode) to limit bacteria and germ growth. Here are some tips when researching your new sweeper keeper:

Know HEPA from hype. Avoid “hepa type” filters, which can actually be 55 percent lower in efficiency than a true HEPA filter. Look for an authentic HEPA filter – they filter out over 99 percent of airborne bacteria and microscopic spores. In addition to cutting down on allergens, HEPA filters trap flame-retardants, phthalates and toxic pesticides that bind to household dust. HEPA filters can be washed at home and are easily removed from the vacuum unit.

Look for a commitment. Roughly one in five households purchase a new vacuum cleaner each year. That kinda defeats the purpose. Don’t you want your vacuum to live longer than your last relationship? Look for a sturdy machine that comes with a long warranty and has a plan for part replacements. It’s always best to repair a broken vacuum cleaner before investing in a new one so you’re not contributing to the landfills. You may spend a bit more upfront, but just think of the long-term savings of not having to continuously buy cheap-ass vacuums.

Don’t bag it. Bagless vacuum cleaners help lighten the landfill load but emptying compartments can disperse dust and allergens back into the air – severe allergy sufferers should opt for cleaners with bags. In that case, look for eco-friendly bags.

Don’t get sucked into the amp game. More power does not mean it’s going to clean faster or better. Try to get a vacuum with a low-amp motor (eight amp is ideal) or at least one that offers a power-saving mode.

Drop the weight. There’s no need to buy a vacuum that’s going to require a U-haul to move around. You do enough heavy lifting in life, why make it difficult?

We cleaned up our act to offer you a round-up of healthy or green vacuuming machines:

GREAT INVESTMENT: Dyson DC 25 Ball. While the motor power is not exactly the most favorable (12 amps), Dyson makes up for it with its washable, bagless filter. National Geographic’s Green Guide has awarded the Dyson DC 25 Ball the “Greenest Buy,” while parts and labor are covered for five years giving it a l-o-n-g shelf life. Its claim to fame: Ball technology to make it easy to maneuver around dusty corners, and Root Cyclone technology so the vacuum won’t lose suction power as it cleans up. $499. www.dyson.com.

BETTER AIR QUALITY: Bissell 16N5 “Healthy Home Upright Vacuum.” Specifically designed to filter and improve the home’s air quality, this nifty product has anti-microbial protection to limit the growth of germs and bacteria. They also have an AireTight HEPA filter system that traps 100 percent of dust mites, pollen, ragweed, and mold spores, and 99.9-percent of pet dander. $176.www.amazon.com

SILENT GREEN. Electrolux UltraSilencer Series EL6984A. This little bugger delivers on being energy-efficient and quiet! (Especially great for dogs that freak out every time you do a little voom voom.) In fact, 55- percent of the plastic used in the Ultra Silencer is made from recycled materials. It also uses 80-percent recycled, unbleached cardboard in the packaging. It packs a washable HEPA filter, is easy to store, and comes equipped with bags – great for those with allergies, but not so great for landfills so be mindful on the type of bags you buy. $299, www.ajmadison.com.

Time to clear out the cobwebs.

- Julie C. May

Forks Over Knives

julie — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:41:46 +0000

Forks Over Knives
A New Feature Film Shows Strong Evidence that What You Put on the End of Your Fork Can Keep You From Going Under the Knife

We are digging ourselves an early grave. Health care costs have skyrocketed leaving the sick and debilitated to fend for themselves. Heart disease, cancer and stroke are the three leading causes of death in America, even though we live among the most advanced medical technology known to man. Two out of three of every people are overweight, and about half of the population relies on atleast one prescription pill to get them through the day.

In short, we need more sick days.

Brian Wendel, creator and executive producer of “Forks Over Knives” – this year’s adventitious follow-up to the Emmy-nominated, Food Inc.- had a gut feeling that the irrefutable spike of all of our ailments, degenerative diseases and medical bills was pointing to one single problem: Our cultural dependence on meat and processed foods. This wasn’t just a whim. T. Colin Campbell, author of the reveled bestseller, The China Study, and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, a renowned surgeon and head of the Breast Cancer Task Force at the Cleveland Clinic, had already come across plenty of research suggesting a substantial link between an animal-based diet and the rise of disease. Their conclusion: Degenerative diseases could almost always be prevented – and in many cases, reversed – by adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet.

Brian thought the only way to bring the message to the world would be through a feature film. After all, we do love our buttery popcorn and boxed candy.

Without any film cred to his name, Brian put his career on the backburner and recruited an award-winning production team to follow the personal journeys of both Campbell and Esselstyn. Taking him a year to make, “Forks Over Knives” put the idea of food as medicine to the test, documenting “reality patients” with chronic conditions and featuring interviews with top researchers, nutritionists, doctors and authors to support the theory.

Healthy Bitch Daily caught up with Brian to talk about his upcoming feature film, his findings and why the hell this isn’t common knowledge. To get updates on the “Forks Over Knives” DVD release, visit www.forksoverknives.com.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women, yet it is not common knowledge. It kills more women than all the cancers combined. How can women protect themselves again heart disease with food?

Clinical research from Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn and others has shown that a whole foods, plant-based diet will prevent heart disease in most cases. This is supported by population studies that show a close association with animal foods and our nation’s number one killer.

The most exciting element of Dr. Esselstyn’s research is the ability of diet to reverse disease. In “Forks Over Knives,” you’ll see the evidence clearly. All of Dr. Esselstyn’s patients survived the 12-year study, despite being the sickest of the sick. Some of Dr. Esselstyn’s patients were given up for dead by their regular physicians! And all three patients treated during the film’s production greatly improved their cardiac conditions.

While a whole foods, plant-based diet can reverse heart disease after its onset, I recommend everyone transition into this lifestyle before they have symptoms. In more than a quarter of cases, sudden death is the first and only sign that a person had heart disease.

What was the most startling research you found on cancer and our diets?

It was definitely Dr. Campbell’s laboratory work on casein, the main protein in dairy products. Casein promoted cancer in every instance, at levels not far from the levels that people eating a Western diet typically consume. Other substances considered “carcinogenic” do so at levels many times greater. Dr. Campbell’s research was supported by his large population study in China, where cancer rates varied by as much as 400 times from one county to another. In his study, Dr. Campbell and leading scientists from around the world measured over 360 diet and health-related variables. They found cancer rates and animal foods to be closely associated.

Can you really use food to “reverse” disease?

Yes, in many cases. There is significant scientific evidence that a whole foods diet can reverse heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. There is evidence that other diseases will respond as well. It seems that the Western diet – a diet of animal-based and processed foods – is the primary catalyst for many diseases. So it follows that making this change will yield benefits, and in many cases reverse existing conditions.

This is exactly why the film is called “Forks Over Knives:” we show that what’s on the end of your fork can prevent you from going under the knife.

The one tip you would give women …

I recommend everyone adopt a whole foods, plant-based diet and start realizing the health benefits. At the same time, it supports a sustainable environment and is inherently more compassionate to our fellow beings. In every way, a whole foods, plant-based lifestyle wins out over animal-based and processed food; it’s only that we have been conditioned otherwise from early childhood.

How can people watch the movie and support your cause?

Look for the film to be released around November 2010, although an official date is not set yet. The DVD release will follow the theatrical run. Please support the film by joining our Facebook fan page, sharing a link to the Web site and following us on Twitter.

Follow Healthy Bitch Daily for updates on the film’s release and screenings in your area.

Recipe: Jicama-Apple Coleslaw

julie — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:22:17 +0000

Recipe: Jicama-Apple Coleslaw
A Summer BBQ Side Dish That Will Overpower Any Main Course

We heart coleslaw. Just reminds us of the good ‘ole days when Mom didn’t know her limits with boxed Franzia wine and Dad bragged about his maturing gut while ya’ll feasted on backyard BBQ classics. Mom may still be oblivious to her alcohol limits, but luckily you’ve grown up and figured out that the store-bought crap was cramping your style.

Here’s a healthy slaw treat to add to your plate. Great as a summer side or as a salad for a quick snack.

Makes: 6 servings

What to Buy:
1/2 cup Vegenaise non-dairy mayonnaise
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons evaporated cane sugar
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 large Jicama bulb, peeled and cut into 3-inch matchsticks
2 carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch matchsticks
1 large Granny Smith apple, cut into 3-inch matchsticks
1 cup red cabbage, chopped

Using a mandoline, food processor, or julienne vegetable peeler, cut the jicama, carrots, and apples into long, thick matchsticks. Chop the cabbage and add all of the vegetables to the bowl of dressing. Toss from the bottom up.

Serving Size 181 g; Calories 150; Fat 6 g; Saturated Fat 0.5 g; Cholesterol 0 mg; Carbohydrates 21 g; Dietary Fiber 5 g; Protein 2 g

P.S. We realize that we can be silly ‘lil blondes and haven’t been so diligent on including the nutritional info at the end of each recipe. We’re only human. Won’t happen again. Pinky swear.

Good Enough to Eat

julie — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:41:27 +0000

Good Enough to Eat

Good enough to eat. We say it about dessert—and that gorgeous guy on the second floor who hoses off his mud-covered mountain bike in the courtyard on Saturdays.

Yummy.

But what about beauty? If you consider that 60-percent of what goes on our skin goes in our bodies, wouldn’t it make sense to use products that are safe enough to eat in the first place? No shit.

When EcoStiletto put some of their favorites to the test, they found that many of them are, technically, edible. That’s because they eschew parabens, phthalates, synthetic perfumes and other petrochemicals in favor of truly natural, organic-whenever-possible ingredients.

Note the use of the word “technically.” Please don’t call us with a bellyache after you decide to make your face mask your meal: These products are formulated without taste in mind, no matter how safe they might be to ingest.

FOUR YUMMY SKIN FOODS

The Body Deli

Cosmetic chefs David Parker and Margaret Skarin are organic beauty veterans—he as a NorCal spa owner and she of Blue Lotus Organic Skincare fame. When the two joined forces in 2002 to create The Body Deli, their goal was to take it a step further with products so clean you could eat them. Hence the refrigerators in their flagship Palm Desert, California store—and the allegiance of local farmers in the California Central Valley. With a truly unique range of products for women and men—our favorite, hands down, is the sandalwood-heavy, Spanish Fly line of scrubs, washes, lotions and soaps—The Body Deli truly serves it up. Take a number. www.thebodydeli.com

Golden Path Alchemy

A pinch of salt highlights the sweet, and nowhere do we find this to be truer than in Golden Path Alchemy’s Kiwi Coconut Exfoliating Mask, crafted with brightening kiwi enzymes, antioxidant-rich coconut milk and acerola cherry fruit acids, complemented by Himalayan sea salt. Handmade in small batches from USDA Certified Organic food-grade ingredients—many of them sourced from the company’s own organic farm in Montecito, California—the entire GPA line is chemical-free, edible and based on the five elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine.www.goldenpathalchemy.com.

Sibu Beauty

All of Sibu Beauty’s products are formulated with sea buckthorn berries, a sustainable resource that’s fair-trade harvested in Tibet, where its cultivation supports entire villages. Used for more than 1,300 years in traditional health and beauty practices, recent scientific studies reveal that sea buckthorn berries contain more than 190 bioactive compounds, including rare essential fatty acids that are vital to collagen production. Sibu Beauty produces supplements as well as beauty products, but for edible components look no further than their pure, organic Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil, a therapeutic-grade oil suitable for every skin type which, when applied topically, treats everything from wrinkles to acne. This oil is so pure that, in a pinch, you can cook with it. Bon appétit. www.sibubeauty.com

Spiezia

Stateside, we have USDA Certified; In Europe, they’ve got Soil Association 100-percent Certified Organic. Both indicate products are free and clear of toxins, like our favorite new Certified Organic import, Spiezia, available exclusively from U.S. retailer NuboNau. Manufactured on an organic farm in Cornwall, England, the Spiezia products are crafted without water—no dilution means these products are 100-percent active. Take the Organic Facial Cleanser, for example, which utilizes a proprietary blend of essential oils—including eucalyptus leaf, clove, grapefruit and clary sage—to decongest clogged pores, regulate sebum production and soften the skin. This miracle cleanser even removes waterproof makeup (as if you’re using that anymore).www.nubonau.com

For more tasty skin food and details on how to win some of the deelish products, visit EcoStiletto.

Think eco-style’s expensive? Not if it’s free! EcoStiletto’s giving away $250+ in eco-swag each week to free newsletter subscribers! Winners are randomly selected on Mondays, so sign up now and tell a friend: Your odds may be worse, but your karma’s better.

Forecast: Bright and White

julie — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:31:16 +0000

Forecast: Bright and White

The Season’s Best Natural Sunscreens With the EWG Stamp of Approval

You’re not invincible. That big, blinding light in the sky hurts to stare at for a reason. It’s a life-size tanning bed, honey, and you’re paying a lifetime unlimited membership. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S., with more than 3.5 million cases diagnosed annually. Take note: About 90-percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with sun exposure.

Since your skin is the largest organ on your body, it’s probably smart to protect it. Bingo.

Here are a few of our favorite sunblocks that get the Environmental Working Group’s stamp of approval. Slather on, baby.

Keys Solar Rx Cosmetic Sunblock. With simple, 100-percent natural ingredients and no synthetics or chemicals, Keys Solar Rx continues to top Environmental Working Group’s list as one of the safest sunscreens on the market. Keys boasts a UVB (UV Burning) rating of SPF 30+ and great UVA (UV Aging) protection to shield your skin from the visible effects of aging. Uncoated zinc provides antibacterial and antimicrobial healing, and reduces rosacea, age spots and melasma. Reapply this baby on the face, neck and hands every two hours for the best coverage. The only downfall? The vegan and gluten-free formula isn’t waterproof. Stay out of that pool, beach bunny. 100 ml, $26.95.www.keys-soap.com.

Sun Putty. Another SPF 30 sunscreen that topped EWG’s coveted rundown of the safest sunscreens, Sun Putty is a 100-percent plant-based and biodegradable sunscreen. It protects your skin from the day’s rays with nourishing, active ingredients like avocado oil, andiroba oil, cupuacu oil, turmeric and mango butter. Sun Putty will soon cover all the bases with products like Sun Putty Woods, a DEET-free insect repellent-slash-sunscreen, Sun Putty Baby, Sun Putty Cold & Cloudy to protect your skin from drying and chapping and a soothing lip balm. Reapply every two to three hours for optimal protection. 1 ounce recyclable jar, $26; 2 ounce recyclable jar, $45;www.sunputty.com.

DeVita Daily Solar Protective Moisturizer. Originally sent to market as a daily moisturizer, DeVita’s Daily Solar Protective Moisturizer with SPF30 is a gem for those prone to breakouts. It absorbs quickly and leaves your skin feeling smoother than a baby’s bum with UVA/UVB protection. DeVita contains no nano particles and uses all natural ingredients like organic aloe vera, grape seed extract and vitamin E. Apply generously in the morning and wear right under makeup. 1.7 ounce pump, $26.95. www.holisticbeauty.com.

Do-It-Yourself Sunscreen

Bestselling author and green lifestyle expert, Sophie Uliano, has whipped up a special recipe to protect your pretty face from the big, bad sun in her book, Do It Gorgeously. Coconut and sesame oil ring a bell? It should. The dynamic duo have been used as natural sunscreens for ages.

Sesame Sunscreen

Makes: 2 ounces of butter
Application: Use half an hour before going in the sun
Storage: 2 ounces dark glass jar in the fridge
Shelf life: 6 months

What to Buy
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon shea butter
1/2 teaspoon aloe vera gel
2 teaspoons zinc oxide

How to Make It
Place the oils and shea butter in a small bowl set over a saucepan of boiling water. Heat until the shea butter has melted. Pour into a glass measuring cup and stir in the aloe vera gel and the zinc oxide. Pour into your jar.

Stop worshipping the sun, and bow down to your sunscreen.

For more information, visit www.ewg.org.

- Carly

This Ole Thang

julie — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:25:01 +0000

This Ole Thing
Green Blossoms Plain Tees and Casual Tanks Give Eco Chicks a Reason to Smile

We all have that plain ‘ole Tee that we’ve worn to the bone. The threads are coming loose, the color is faded, and it’s even harboring some stains that we quickly justify as part of its character. And here’s the thing – You just bought it three weeks ago.

At the rate you’re going through simple Tees and V-Necks, you could have adopted a child in Africa already. Time to invest in something that not only outlasts the test of time (and your washing machine), but is also friendlier to your skin, health and carbon footprint.

When Michelle Lancaster created the sustainable women’s clothing line, Green Blossoms, she just wanted pieces she could throw on to veg out that didn’t undergo a chemically intensive manufacturing process that was a slap to the environment. She wanted good, sexy, sophisticated and clean.

Bowing to the modern-day woman with the everyday casual basics, Michelle’s high-quality shirts are made from a tissue-weight fabric blend of organic cotton and bamboo viscose. From sexy necklines and snug flattering fits to longer and loose styles, Green Blossoms isn’t restricted to any female type or definition – It’s for the working girl, the stay-at-home mom and the hardcore community activist who just wants to feel like she’s doing the right thing and emitting some sex appeal in the process.

“Many of the eco-fashion brands out now fall into one of several categories: printed T-shirts with social messages, high-end trendy designs or yoga wear,” said Michelle. “This leaves out someone like me who just wants a plain, simple, yet nicely fitted, flattering shirt. After a long day at work, all I want to do is get out of my business suit and into a comfortable outfit.”

Behind the scenes, Michelle has also gone the extra mile to make sure her company is walking the walk. While the line is made locally in the Red, White and Blue (actually in the Los Angeles area), the production process utilizes low-impact dyeing and each package is shipped with re-plantable handtags printed on handmade seeded paper with soy-based ink.

The Green Blossoms line is available in a variety of colors ranging from bra-lined cami tanks and hoodies to boyfriend tees and tanks. Prices run from $32 to $55. Visit www.greenblossoms.net to get your lounge on.

Bend it Like Beckham

julie — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:49:16 +0000

Bend It Like Beckham
YogaEarth’s Holistic Supplements Help You Step Up Your Game on The Mat

Could your yoga instructor be any cooler?I mean, really. Their voices are angelic, they can carry on intelligent conversations with the trees and mountains, and think the world is all sunshine and rainbows. Yogis just don’t eat from the same bowl of Wheaties, damnit.

Apparently, they don’t drink from the same cup of tea, either. Until now.

Made for Yogis by Yogis (and wannabes), YogaEarth is a nutritional supplement you just pour into your tea, water, beverage or food that is designed to keep you physiologically in balance with the lifestyle and dynamics of yoga. Created by 250 of the nation’s top Yogis, the phytonutrient powder melds elements of both Eastern and Western nutrition to prepare the mind and body both pre- and post- workout.

Just how do they do it? YogaEarth works with your body’s inner chemistry and a set of nutrients – protein, amino acids, vitamin B, organics, herbals and macrominerals – that particularly affect digestion, muscle fatigue and cramping, mental clarity and focus.

YogaEarth’s Nutritional Science Board works with the world’s top ingredient growers and houses in Ayurveda, organics and nutraceuticals to create the holistic supplement. Think steam-cleaned herbal ingredients, certified-organic fruits and veggies, free-form amino acids, ingredients with the highest bioavailability, and no artificial additives or animal-derived products. YogaEarth also produces their FSC-certified packaging in wind-powered facilities with 80-percent minimum post-consumer waste.

The two supplements were developed to serve a different purpose - Balance is designed to help you prepare and perform before you step into Cobra’s Pose, while *Vitality restores core nutrients and rebuilds cellular health and energy after your workout. While YogaEarth was created with yoga on the brain, it carries the same positive effects for any sport or practice to boost your game.

Because some of us just need a little extra help in bending our legs behind our head.

Full Month Kit, $59.99; 7-Day Refill or Sampler, $14.99. CLICK HERE to buy one and get one free. Visit www.yogaearth.com to Bend it Like Beckham.

– Carly

* The Vitality supplement does contain natural bee pollen powder from bee nectar