Growing up, I used to love the smell of freshly washed towels. Whenever the breeze would blow as they hung on the line to dry, I’d get a waft of fragrance that somehow made me think of all things lovely: a warm bath on a cold winter night or coming home after being away on vacation.

What I didn’t know back then was that comforting, fresh smell was actually nasty, toxic chemicals… chloroform, ethyl acetate and limonene (among many others)… dressed up as flowers, luring me in, to believe that I was as close to a lavender field as I could get without actually being in one.

Besides the carcinogenics, I also recently found out (thanks to www.thevegandecision.com) there’s another great reason to stop buying and using fabric softeners: animal tallow, or animal fat, if you will. Common, every day fabric softeners are a recipe made from dead animals and toxic chemicals, not a lavender field or bowl of fresh lemons in sight.

So what does this mean for the planet and our own health? These chemicals are detrimental to marine life, as they enter our waterways (whatever we put in a washing machine, toilet, dishwasher ends up in the environment). But once the towels and clothes are dry, how harmful can these chemicals be to our health? Extremely. Anything worn close to, or applied to the skin ends up in the blood stream.

Here’s an excerpt from Natural News:

Most fabric softener products—dryer sheets, for example—are positioned as being at least somewhat earth friendly thanks to a claim in the ingredients list that reads “biodegradable fabric softeners.” Unfortunately, the second ingredient in fabric softeners is “fragrance,” and the fragrance chemicals are so highly toxic that they cause cancer in humans and are extremely destructive to aquatic ecosystems downstream. Merely drying your clothes with common dryer sheets, then washing them the next time you do laundry unleashes a chemical tidal wave of toxicity that is shockingly harmful to (you and) the environment.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (US), here’s a list of what toxins you can expect to find, and their possible effects:

ALPHA-TERPINEOL Causes CNS (central nervous system) disorders… “highly irritating to mucous membranes” …”Aspiration into the lungs can produce pneumonitis or even fatal edema.” Can also cause “excitement, ataxia (loss of muscular coordination), hypothermia, CNS and respiratory depression, and headache.” “Prevent repeated or prolonged skin contact.

BENZYL ACETATE Carconigenic (linked to pancreatic cancer). “From vapors: irritating to eyes and respiratory passages, exciting cough.” “In mice: hyperanemia of the lungs.” “Can be absorbed through the skin causing systemic effects.” “Do not flush to sewer.”

BENZYL ALCOHOL Causes CNS disorders … “irritating to the upper respiratory tract” …”headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drop in blood pressure, CNS depression, and death in severe cases due to respiratory failure.”

CAMPHOR Causes CNS disorders. On EPA’s Hazardous Waste list. Symptoms: “local irritant and CNS stimulant” …”readily absorbed through body tissues” …”irritation of eyes, nose, and throat” …”dizziness, confusion, nausea, twitching muscles and convulsions”. “Avoid inhalation of vapors.”

CHLOROFORM Neurotoxic. Anesthetic. Carcinogenic. on EPA’s Hazardous Waste list. “Avoid contact with eyes, skin, clothing. Do not breathe vapors …Inhalation of vapors may cause headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, irritation of respiratory tract and loss of consciousness.” “Inhalation can be fatal.” “Chronic effects of overexposure may include kidney and/or liver damage.” “Medical conditions generally aggravated by exposure: kidney disorders, liver disorders, heart disorders, skin disorders.” “Conditions to avoid: Heat…” Listed on California’s Proposition 65.

ETHYL ACETATE Narcotic. On EPA’s Hazardous Waste list. “…Irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract” …”may cause headache and narcosis (stupor)” …”may cause anemia with leukocytosis and damage to liver and kidneys”. “Wash thoroughly after handling.”

LIMONENE Carcinogenic. “Prevent its contact with skin or eyes because it is an irritant and sensitizer.” “Always wash thoroughly after using this material and before eating, drinking …applying cosmetics. Do not inhale limonene vapor.”

LINALOOL Narcotic. Causes CNS disorders. …”respiratory disturbances” …”Attracts bees.” “In animal tests: ataxic gait, reduced spontaneous motor activity and depression …depressed heart activity …development of respiratory disturbances leading to death.”

PENTANE “Danger – Harmful if inhaled …Avoid breathing vapor.” “Inhalation of vapors may cause headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, irritation of respiratory tract and loss of consciousness. Repeated inhalation of vapors may cause CNS depression. Contact can cause eye irritation. Prolonged exposure may cause dermatitis (skin rash).”

Relevant Facts:

• CNS = Central Nervous System, your brain and spine.
• CNS disorders include: Alzheimer’s Disease, Attention Deficit Disorder, Dementia, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Seizures, Strokes, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
• CNS exposure symptoms include: aphasia, blurred vision, disorientation, dizziness, headaches, hunger, memory loss, numbness in face, pain in neck and spine.

After Michael Jackson passed away, I was inspired to write a piece that I thought I’d reprint to celebrate his life, one year after his death. I hope you enjoy…

1.    Live with the belief that anything is possible. No matter how the media portrayed him or any of the obstacles he faced, Michael Jackson continued to believe. In his words: “In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.” You don’t need to be a pop star, politician or philanthropist to see your dreams actualized. We all have the power within us to dream big and reach awe-inspiring heights in our everyday lives. All we need do is see it, believe it and take action. Getting specific with your goals is also a great way to see your dreams come to fruition. Get a helping hand with Jack Canfield’s The Success Principles.

2.    Regardless of your age, look at the world through child’s eyes. When we’re born, we are the closest to our true source as we will ever be while in this physical life. As children, we follow a natural flow, trust our instincts and believe in magic. On many levels, Michael Jackson always embraced those qualities, despite being ridiculed and condemned by the media. As young children, we are generally free from the social mask we learn to cover ourselves with — a disguise that hides our true personalities. Take a moment each day to let the child in you run free. Speak your truth. Play games. Laugh. Expect magic to happen. As you do this more frequently, the authentic you will come out to play more often, allowing you appreciate the simple things and truly enjoy the life you came here to live.

3.    Understand that creativity knows no boundaries. On the surface, Michael Jackson’s changing physicality may have seemed extreme to many. But what if the King of Pop used his physical appearance as just another way to channel his creativity? He not only re-created his music with every album, but also the way he presented himself to the world. He was, in every sense of the words, a musician and a sculptor, a poet and an artist. Michael Jackson was his own canvas. Amid recession and world pollution, we are being prompted to look within … to return to our creative roots … to get resourceful. Michael Jackson’s passing is another reminder to follow your own creative calling, whatever it may be. If you’ve always wanted to paint, get some paint and brushes and begin. If you’ve always felt you have a message that should be heard, work out how you can use your unique creative abilities to get your words across. Creativity is in every one of us and bringing it into your every day is a direct blessing from you to the universe. All you need do is start.

4.    No matter how bad your day was, know love conquers all. He was ridiculed, exploited and persecuted, yet through it all, Michael Jackson not only continued to love, but showed love through words and actions. Whether he was expressing it openly toward his family or fans or through donating time and money to charity, he innately knew when all was said and done, love was all that really mattered: “If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with.” It can also be summed up in a simple saying that many of us hear often, but may not always act on: “Treat others as you want to be treated”. Ultimately, love is the tune that everyone wants to dance to. Michael Jackson gave it a beat we could all feel.

5.    Never judge a book by its cover. In his death, the world has looked beyond the physical—beyond the media-labeled oddities and quirks that defined Michael Jackson in life. What we remembered were his God-given gifts: musical talent, incredible rhythm, a giving heart, and love of family. No matter what our wrapping may be, we’re all on a journey of self-discovery and fulfilment of our purpose. The ability to look past the tangible, to see with your heart and intuition can open doors and lead you to a path of fulfilment in ways you may never have imagined. As we move towards a new way of thinking, as the world approaches 2012, a major shift is in how we view others and the recognition that we all come from the same source.

6.    Just one person can make a huge positive impact to the world. No matter where you sit or stand at this very moment, it is a launching pad for your next move. The outcome depends on the direction you decide to take. Michael Jackson was one man. A single person, made from flesh and blood. The only thing that differentiated him from the rest of us was that he recognized and used his talents to make the world a better place, to inspire others, to express love. While his life’s purpose involved bringing joy to the masses through his music and dance, making a difference need not involve the world’s population or an album of greatest hits. From growing an organic vegetable garden to getting a job for an employer that contributes to the world in way you resonate with, there are infinite ways you can use your talents to give back. Remember, the universe is a mirror. Ask how you can serve the world, and it will serve you right back.

7.    Life is short. Live it like every day is your last. In just 50 years, Michael Jackson fulfilled many a dream. While he may have succumbed to negative energy that seemed to latch onto him at every turn, he continued to live with passion, creativity and love. Take a moment for yourself every single day, and whether it’s through meditation or just sitting in silence, ask yourself what it is that will make your heart sing. Then take out a notepad and begin to write whatever thoughts drop into your mind. From those notes create a list, detailing every dream and ambition. Post your list somewhere you can see it and read it every day. When we understand the only thing that could ever stand in the way of fulfilling our dreams is ourselves, any perceived obstacle becomes a mere illusion.

I’m extremely picky when it comes to what I put on my skin, and even more picky when it comes to suggesting brands to use, whether they’re vegan or not. Just because a product is vegan doesn’t mean it’s good idea to put it on your skin. Enter beauty buff and holistic entrepreneur Sam Sample and her 100% vegan and natural skincare line Be Genki. This is one range I’m happy to give some blog love to.

Sam follows a simple philosophy when it comes to beauty and believes you can ‘be’ it, rather than ‘achieve’ it.

“Beauty comes from within,” she says. “Being happy and healthy on the physical, emotional and spiritual level is what I believe makes a woman truly beautiful.”

With her natural approach and holistic know-how, Sydney-based Sam developed her beauty range, Be Genki. The collection brings together her deep interest in aromatherapy, well-being, meditation, and beauty care into a holistic synthesis to “promote optimum inner health and harmony amidst the fast pace of contemporary life”.

Each element of Be Genki, she says, has been carefully and thoughtfully selected for its excellence in design, quality, healing benefits, and ability to capture the senses.

“Be Genki is the only bath and body care brand to offer a complete 360 degree approach to holistic well-being, identifying four key areas that contribute to an individual’s well-being and providing products that help create balance with a lifestyle approach,” Sam says.

The product line includes bath and shower oils, body oils, body creams, hand creams, face mists, oil blends, herbal teas and candles.

Sam studied make-up artistry and image training, nutrition, physical education, access energy transformation, aromatherapy, and skin care, and is also an avid proponent of Vipassana meditation. She says the peace and tranquility she found in meditation greatly influenced her products and their simplicity of use in daily life.

I caught up with Sam to get an overview of the ranges — Vitality, Tranquility, Serenity and Sensuality — each attracting a huge following in Australia and abroad.

SHANNON: What’s the Be Genki story?

SAM SAMPLE: For the past 10 years I have been studying various disciplines of health and wellbeing – make-up artistry and image training, nutrition, fitness, meditation, access energy transformation, skin care, and aromatherapy.

Whilst I was finishing up my Diploma of Nutrition and experimenting with aromatherapy one of my girlfriends was suffering from anxiety and depression and was taking anti-depressants. It upset me that a young woman in her mid-20s could be prescribed pharmaceutical drugs without her lifestyle being taken in to consideration first. No-one sat down with her to address what she was doing on a daily basis.

So I made her a blend of essential oils (the Serenity blend) and we chatted about taking time out at the end of each day to have a bath with the essential oil blend, shutting the bathroom door, turning the mobile phone off and creating a spa like experience in the comfort of her own home. We also spoke about nutrition, exercise and lifestyle choices.

Two months passed and she came to me one day to tell me how much better she was feeling within herself and that she was thinking of going off her medication. Whether it was the act of running a bath and watching the water flow, having that half-hour by herself to relax and inhale the oil blend, or exercising, or eliminating processed foods from her diet it didn’t matter to me. What mattered was that she was feeling more confident and happy. I believe it was a combination of all the new wellbeing rituals that she had started to implement in to her daily life. You can only imagine how happy this made me feel. Whatever it was that gave her the confidence to take control of her anxiety and depression and ultimately her life, was enough to inspire me to think of other areas of our lives that we need help with improving in today’s fast paced world.

Whether it’s reaching for that third cup of coffee during the day to get a burst of energy, tossing and turning in bed at night or relying on sleeping tablets to get to sleep, suffering from anxiety and depression, freaking out at the “little things” or losing your temper at those that you love most because you haven’t dealt with the issue appropriately, or simply “beating yourself up” and criticising yourself over something that really isn’t that big a deal in the scheme of things; that is not what life is all about! So, I developed Be Genki – to help inspire and bring about holistic happiness by focusing on four key areas of wellbeing:

-    Vitality to help improve our energy levels.
-    Tranquility to help prepare for a peaceful night’s sleep.
-    Serenity to help us cope with everyday stress (the blend that I gave to my girlfriend).
-    Sensuality to help nurture the loving relationships that we have with our partner, and more importantly our Self.

In my opinion, these are the four key areas that bring about holistic happiness.

The Japanese word “genki” means to be happy, healthy, and in harmony with oneself. It suggests wellbeing is achieved by balancing physical, emotional and spiritual elements equally to create an integrated and tranquil Self.

SD: What are the core ingredients?

SS: There are four Be Genki ranges – Vitality, Tranquility, Serenity and Sensuality – each contain a blend of 100% pure essential oils to specifically target four key areas that contribute to your well-being.

Vitality: Lemon, Peppermint, Eucalyptus and Rosemary, renowned for their uplifting properties.
Tranquility: Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Sweet Orange and Sandalwood, renowned for their sleep-inducing properties.
Serenity: Neroli, Rose Otto, Rosewood, Palmarosa and Bergamot, renowned for their calming properties.
Sensuality: Rose Otto, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Lavender, Bergamot and Melissa, renowned for their nurturing properties.

These four oil blends are the core ingredients that are included in each product in varying proportions. Essential oils stimulate receptors in the nose which relay messages to the limbic system, the part of the brain that regulates those emotions.

SD: Why is natural beauty so important to you?

SS: If you truly value the long-term health and appearance of your skin and would like to treat your body holistically then natural and organic ingredients are a better option from my point-of-view. Our skin is our largest organ, protecting us from the outside world and reflecting our inner life. It puzzles me why one would choose products that contain synthetic chemicals which may be carcinogenic, contribute to allergies and which strip the skin of its natural oils when there are so many great natural alternatives that nourish and complement the function of the skin. For example, petroleum based products, such as mineral oils, sit on the surface of the skin, preventing the skin from breathing and have the potential to block pores. In contrast, natural plant oils allow the skin to breathe working with the body’s natural physiology to improve the condition of your skin and are also a lot friendlier for the environment.

Natural ingredients are sourced from plant, flower and mineral sources and therefore are biodegradable. Complex chemical structures (found in non-natural products) are created in a laboratory and are non-biodegradable. They accumulate in soil, water and air, and may become toxic, which in turn affects the physiology of living organisms in contaminated ecosystems. There is countless research out there in reference to the damage that man-made chemicals have had on our environment.

SD: Do you think more people are starting to understand there are harmful chemicals in many beauty products?

SS: Yes, certainly. There is growing number of consumers that do their research. With the internet and worldwide focus on health and well-being there is no shortage of information regarding the potential effects of using beauty products containing harmful chemicals.

SD: What products are in the Be Genki range and what are your absolute favourites?

SS: Be Genki is the only bath and body care brand to offer a complete 360 degree approach to holistic well-being, identifying four key areas that contribute to an individual’s well-being and providing products that help create balance with a lifestyle approach. Our products include bath and shower oils, body oils, body creams, hand creams, face mists, oil blends, herbal teas and candles.

My absolute favourites … that’s a tough one! I go through phases of being OBSESSED with a couple of products at a time, and I think that all comes down to my body gravitating towards the range that I require at that given point in time. I use the Be Genki essential oil blends every day in my oil burner, particularly the Vitality blend when I first arrive at the office. I apply Be Genki body oil every morning as I love the subtle scent that it leaves on my skin and always have a fresh pot of Be Genki herbal tea by my side. I particularly love the Tranquility blend before slipping in to bed.

SD: What do you believe is the biggest beauty myth?

SS: The unrealistic images portrayed in the media. We live in a world where we are faced with so many images, everywhere we look, of women and girls who are our supposed “beauty icons.” The reality is that these women have spent hours of preparation with hair and make-up artists and then the images have been digitally enhanced so that the final image that we see in magazines and on billboards looks very different to what the actual woman/girl looks like every day. Then add to that the pressure to retain that youthful teenage complexion by running and getting our faces cut open with scalpels and injected with poisonous concoctions. All in the name of beauty?

SD: How do you define beauty?

SS: I believe that beauty comes from within. Being happy and healthy on the physical, emotional and spiritual level is what I believe makes a woman truly beautiful.

SD: Who are some Be Genki fans?

SS: Be Genki has fans of all ages, from girls in their teenage years to women over 60 years of age. Women tend to gravitate towards the more floral scents of Sensuality, Serenity and Tranquility, whereas men go for the Vitality range which has a fresh and uplifting scent. (NOTE: There are also a growing number of celeb fans who swear by the Be Genki range).

SD: And lastly, I love your business cards…

SS: They’re made from the off-cuts of board—waste material that was to be thrown in the trash—from other jobs that the printer does. A great idea of James’, our designer for Be Genki.

To find out more about Be Genki and to order products, head to: www.begenki.com

You just have to browse the web or your nearest book store to see the world is obsessed with dieting. Yet if statistics are accurate, we’re not just tipping the scales, we’re on our way to breaking them. It has taken many of us years of restrictions and meal replacements to figure it out: diets don’t work.

From calorie counting to cutting out carbs, a Pandora’s Box awaits those who still dare to follow the latest diet craze. Yet achieving and maintaining your ideal figure is actually more simple than what we’ve been lead to believe—and it comes with a bonus: vibrant health.

There is one major requirement that’s needed on this path to ultimate wellness and the body we’ve all dreamed of: taking full responsibility. Taking charge and becoming our own nutritionist and not relying on big business to deliver a magic bullet that is nothing more than body-disruptive chemicals dressed in drag.

Perhaps it’s an assumption to say most of us were taught the same stuff in school, none of which covered off real nutrition and how to actually apply it. Yet, the lesson of nutrition is one of the most important life lessons we can ever learn. We also weren’t taught that nourishing ourselves is actually fun and can lead us to a full, love-fuelled life. A nourished, healthy body results in clear thinking, more energy and, for many, a channel to the divine. No pill could ever compete with that.

Enter Lars Gustafsson: author, speaker, life and nutrition guide. Born in India to Canadian parents, he grew up living an authentic mix of tribal and western life. “This upbringing,” he says “created a balance between the scientific passion of the west and the ancient wisdom of the Far East.”

For 23 years, Lars has explored nutrition, fitness and healthy lifestyles. As founder of the BodyMind Institute—a global enlightened school of learning—he teaches that nutrition is so much more than just the food we eat. It’s the total way we nourish our mind and body.

In 2003, Lars introduced The BodyMind Nutrition Certification online programs to meet an emerging demand for true to life systems, formulas and programs, creating the opportunity for people everywhere to discover and pass on a nutrition and lifestyle process that creates a personal discovery of balance in body, mind and spirit.

“I believe in the scientific method, that there are natural laws that govern our physical universe … yet in these 23 years I have often found the ‘unexplainable’ happening all around me,” Lars says. “These have created questions which led me to find hard scientific data that hasn’t found it’s way into the mass media or awareness of the masses.”

“Over these years I found that I needed to personally experience something in order to accept it as fact.  In the end I have found that it is only through personal experience in the application of any information can you make your own informed decisions. Your own level of personal truth will grow according to your willingness to experience more.”

Most recently, Lars has teamed up with raw food nutritionist and expert David ‘Avocado’ Wolfe to deliver a program in raw food nutrition—a course that shares more than 15 years of David’s sought-after knowledge. With this course and other programs including 90 Day BodyMind Renewal and Sports Nutrition, the BodyMind Institute is changing the way we look at real nutrition, forever.

As a student of the BodyMind Raw Nutrition, the 90 Day BodyMind Renewal and the Nutrition I certifications, I wanted to reach out to Lars, to hear first hand how these online courses are bringing real nutrition to people at their own pace, in their own time. What I discovered is a man with a passion that goes beyond simply developing courses. Lars Gustafsson is making a difference, one person at a time through life-enhancing education that literally changes lives.

So passionate is he about reaching those who share his dream to make a difference, that with David Wolfe, Lars is offering free entry to the BodyMind Institute Level I BodyMind Nutrition Certification for those who sign up for David’s Raw Nutrition Certification. It’s a $1,500 gift, he explains, to reach those who also want to make a difference—to their own health, the health of others and the health of the planet.

“Let’s bring about a stunning shift to our planet together,” Lars (pictured left) says.

I interviewed the BodyMind Institute founder for The Green Dove and Conscious Life Media. Click here to listen. I hope you enjoy part I of my chat with Lars, as he takes you behind the scenes of his passion that is giving back in a big way. Check back next Monday (May 17) for part II of this special interview.

To find out more about Lars and the BodyMind Institute, please click here.

A few years ago, I was completely addicted to coffee. A soy latté here, a mocha chino there. But from the moment I stopped eating meat and dairy, I also gave up my love affair with caffeine and switched to health-boosting herbal teas. Now, I drink just about every herbal tea around, from dandelion leaf to sage. There are loose leaf teas in my kitchen I’d never dreamed existed.

One of my favourite places on the planet to drink herbal teas (hot and cold) was Dr Tea’s on Melrose Ave in Los Angeles, until it temporarily closed its doors last year. The man behind the much-loved tea sanctuary Mark Ukra dared opened the tea garden in a city known for its countless Starbucks and loyal coffee addicts who frequent them.

So while the English swear by it and the Japanese cherish it, in the United States, Mark (or Dr Tea as he is affectionately known) says tea is one of the least favoured drinks, despite its documented health benefits.

Considering he comes from a family of Middle Eastern tea merchants dating back more than 400 years, it’s little surprise Dr Tea has become the unofficial spokesperson for tea in the United States. His book, The Ultimate Tea Diet, also showed that tea was good for more than just getting your daily dose of antioxidants.

I recently caught up with Dr Tea and asked him to share some interesting information about the ancient beverage that comes in many varieties, yet is derived from just one powerhouse plant: the Camellia Sinensis.

SD: How can tea help coffee drinkers kick their habit?

DR TEA: I had this exact issue. I found that tea is essentially consumed exactly like coffee, hot and or cold. It can be placed in the same cup so you have the same feeling. They both have caffeine, albeit, tea has less as well as L-Theanine which counteracts caffeine’s harmful effect in the brain. Now taste of course is not easily matched although I sell a coffee tea, which is a tea I have roasted in a coffee roaster so it looks and smells like coffee.

SD: What is it about tea that makes it so good for the body?

DT: Two main factors; But first, think about it this way; when your sick do you ask for a cup of coffee?  No, because we know tea makes us feel better. Now, this is because:

1. L-Theanine: Only found in the tea plant and a very rare mushroom. L-Theanine counteracts caffeine’s harmful effects as well as increasing your ability for focus and concentration.
2. Antioxidants: Tea has identified antioxidants which repair cellular damage which can reduce the risk of cancer, heart attack and stroke.

SD: Which teas have the most antioxidants?

DT: All tea comes from the same plant. Therefore all teas will have antioxidants. Now the studies show that the least processed teas have the most antioxidants. So in order: white, green, oolong, and black.  But do not make your judgment of what to drink based on this, because it is not that much different.  Find the teas you love to drink and drink those, otherwise you’ll be back to coffee in no time. Now (also) keep in mind in order to be tea, it has to come form the tea plant. Rooibos, chamomile and mint are not teas.  They are their own plant and consumed like tea.  Properly referred to as a Tisane.

SD: What are people generally most surprised to hear about tea?

DT: All tea comes from the same plant.

SD: What are your most recommended teas?

DT: Tough one because I could name all 110 teas I sell as my favourite.  I can give you some…

• King Ti Kuan Yin Oolong: The best tasting tea I have ever had anywhere.  Consistent, long finish, and can be steeped 10 times with a fabulous change of flavor with each steep.
• Tai Ping Long leaf: This tea was given to President Nixon when he arrived in China for the first visit in the 70’s. Unique hand pressed long leaves, gently processed into a fabulous tea that will have you coming back for more.
• Queen Elizabeth Black: I have had the opportunity to have the same black tea she drinks and it is a remarkably deep, long lasting strong tea.
• My own Mint Chocolate Chip Green Tea: What can I say, I love this craving tea.

SD: How much tea is too much?

DT: You can have too much of anything. But it will take a lot. In my control group study done for my book, The Ultimate Tea Diet, we had people consuming 15 cups a day. I drink about 10 a day.

SD: What’s one tea everyone should try at least once?

DT: Another good one. I would say the King Ti Kuan Yin.  Or, my white blueberry tea which is our best seller.

For more interesting tea facts and recipes, check out www.teagarden.com

Even though I eat a mostly plant-based and raw diet, I still enjoy cooking up a warm meal every now and again. Sautéing a little tempeh, onion, garlic and miso is always a delicious addition to a kale salad.

But what happens if the pan you’re using to make your healthy masterpiece is doing you more harm than good? Case in point: Non-stick fry pans and the solid research that shows they’re detrimental to human health.

I cleaned out my kitchen cupboards long ago from chemical-coated cookware, after I did some research and found those fancy non-stick fry pans produce highly toxic fumes that leach into food causing cancer and other illnesses.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), after just two to five minutes of heating, coated cookware can exceed the point where the coating breaks apart and emits toxic particles and gases. At varying temps the coatings can give off at least six toxic gases, including, you guessed it, two carcinogens.

Researchers have also found that birds exposed to these chemicals hemorrhaged—their bodies filling with a fluid that leads to suffocation. They even have a name for it: Teflon Toxicosis. In humans they call it polymer fume fever, which is said to show signs as an illness similar to influenza.

The findings also showed when coated pans get scratched during cooking, small amounts of plastic and leached aluminum cling to the food, which are of course ingested. Then there are the fumes that make their way into the environment and are inhaled.

A 2005 EWG study, that was done in collaboration with Commonweal, found perflourooctanoic acid, a carcinogenic chemical from non-stick pans, in the umbilical cord blood of newborns. John Hopkins Medical Center also conducted a test in 2006 and found the chemical in the umbilical cord blood of 99% of the 300 infants tested.

So now we’ve all been turned off our dinner, what is the best pan to use? Getting beyond all of the marketing hype that comes with just about every product on the market today, led me to cast iron pans. They’re not only deemed safe to use, but also add iron to the food cooked in them.

At some point in our lives, if not often, we feel and/or face fears. Fear of what others think of us, fear of dis-ease, fear of terrorism. It’s how we decide to act (or not) every day that can move us closer or further away from our true, fear-less, nature. Sometimes, a little guidance can be a big help…

1. Stop eating animals.

Just as we feel fear, so too do animals. While they may not function with the same mental intellect, we are emotionally and consciously linked. When a cow or sheep is held in putrid, cramped quarters or goes to slaughter, it too feels fear—a negative emotion that is, no doubt, transferred on some level to the person who eats the animal. As a human race, we are feasting on fear every time we eat a piece of, particularly factory-farmed, animal flesh. A question to contemplate: does the amount of animal products consumed by humans contribute largely to our everyday fears? Check out Jonathan Safran Foer’s Eating Animals.

2. Identify it for what it really is: False Evidence Appearing Real.

As human beings, we are essentially controlled by two emotions: love and fear. We act out of one or the other. The beautiful thing? We have the ability to choose the thoughts we think and by guided by the emotions we feel. While much of the fear we feel is pre-programmed into us as an instinctual response to potential danger, much of the every day stuff we fear isn’t dangerous at all. We have simply convinced ourselves what we’re fearing is real.

3.    Stop watching the news.

Reading and particularly watching the news is hypnotising. Watch enough negative stories and you’ll soon be in fear of walking out of your own front door. If you think about it, I mean really think about it, is there any reason we should repetitively see and hear about stabbings, murders, acts of terrorism and the like? Does it make you feel safer? Does it foster a feeling of love? It actually invokes a fear response, which in turn makes us hand over our power to those who we think can “save” us, when in fact each of us is responsible for our own reality, as well as our own health and wellbeing. If you’re an avid news watcher, put down the remote for two weeks and monitor how different you feel. A study by David L. Altheide states: Fear is bigger news than mere crime or even violence. Fear has become a standard feature of news formats steeped in a problem frame oriented to entertainment. Entertainment abhors ambiguity, while truth and effective intervention efforts to improve social life reside in ambiguity.

4.    Research natural healing therapies.

There are natural herbal and homeopathic remedies that can help with overcoming fears. To quote website nativeremedies.com: “Fear becomes a problem that needs to be addressed when it turns into anxiety, panic or phobias. Herbs such as Melissa Officinalis, Lavandula Augustifolia, Chamomile and Passiflora Incarnata are just a few examples of a natural approach to overcoming fears by reducing stress, calming the nervous system and relaxing a fearful mind. Many natural remedies for fear and anxiety combine a number of calming herbs to achieve the best results for overcoming fears and addressing all the different symptoms of a panicked response.” Also explore natural healing treatments such as Reiki, Emotional Freedom Technique and hypnotherapy.

5.    Exercise regularly.

Take the advice of Anne Frank, the German-Jewish teenager who was forced to go into hiding for 25 months in Amsterdam during the Holocaust: “The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.” Exercise gets the blood flowing and increases endorphins, hormones that are secreted within the brain and nervous system, which assists to greatly improve your mood, while alleviating symptoms of fear. Exercising outdoors also connects us to nature, giving us greater opportunity to be more centered in an immediate reality or in “the now”. When we’re truly present, we realise that the everyday fears we’ve been programmed to feel are nothing but an illusion.

6.    Meditate.

Meditation is a chance to go within … to leave the every day worries and woes behind, at least for the time you dedicate to the practise. If you’re someone who finds it difficult to “switch off”, there are great books (try Learn to Meditate by David Fontana) and classes that can take you through the basics. Regular practise, which can be done anywhere at any time (yes even in noisy crowds), brings balance—emotionally, mentally and physically, allowing you to not only alleviate the feeling of fear but also put it into perspective.

7.    Use the emotion to motivate, rather than de-motivate you.

Jim Morrison understood that fear is an emotion to be embraced, and faced head on: “Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.” Breaking through fear by facing it is not only liberating, but allows us to grow, in many, sometimes miraculous, ways. It’s also when we break through to the other side that we truly realise that the only thing to be feared is perhaps fear itself.

8.    Focus on the positive.

Wherever you are at this moment, no matter the fear are facing, take a moment focus on the good. Find something—anything—that will allow you to shift your focus from the negative to the positive. Choosing a better feeling thought is possible when we realise that it’s only ourselves who have control over the thoughts we think. Reminding yourself to consistently switch your thoughts from the negative to the positive soon becomes a habit, with the added benefit of raising your vibration. As our vibration rises, we begin to attract positive people, events and circumstances into our life. In turn, fear becomes less present and less of an obstacle. If you find reaching for positive thoughts difficult, take out a pen and paper to write daily lists of the positive things in your life and watch what unfolds.

Hungry? Before you head to the refrigerator, check out these tips:

1. Clean out your refrigerator and kitchen cupboards. Read the labels of every product in your home that you deem edible. If you can’t pronounce it, or it has more ingredients than words in the bible, chances are your body isn’t meant to digest it. Are there foods in your cupboards you feel guilty just looking at? Guilt is the greatest destroyer of emotional energy—therefore you don’t need it, or the Snickers bar in your life. Nature provides some of the most delectable treats you could ever imagine. Head to nutritional expert David Wolfe’s website www.davidwolfe.com, for the low-down on one of nature’s most incredible gifts: raw cacao. The cacao bean is nature’s number one weight loss and high-energy food.

2. Clean out toxins and old waste with a cleansing detox. According to nutritional expert and Tree of Life founder, Dr Gabriel Cousens, research shows when intestinal toxemia is removed, symptoms such as fatigue, nervousness, gastrointestinal conditions, impaired nutrition, skin manifestations, endocrine disturbances, headaches, sciatica, low back pain, allergy, eye, ear, nose and throat congestion—and even cardiac irregularities—have been healed in hundreds of cases. Find out more at www.treeoflife.nu.

3. Download the Honest Food Guide from Mike Adams’ Naturalnews.com. This indispensable free guide was developed with you in mind, not big business. Unlike the traditional food pyramid (which is sponsored by major food corporations) you’ll find honest nutritional information, “not watered-down information designed to boost the sale of milk, beef and grains,” says Adams. Print out and post to your refrigerator for easy referral (and email the link to all of your friends!).

4. Make weekly trips to your local farmer’s market. Buying local is a great way to ensure your food is fresh, organic and free from scientific tampering. That is, anything genetically modified (genetically modified food is not as nature intended, therefore does not contain adequate nutrients and is considered by some to be unstable). The American Academy of Environmental Medicine recently issued a warning urging the public to avoid genetically modified foods. They also called for a suspension on GMOs until long-term, independent studies can prove their safety. Shopping at your local farmer’s market is also a way to become more connected to the food you eat, as you’re buying directly from the person who put their hard work, love and energy into growing the produce. There’s also an added bonus of upping your essential Vitamin D intake as you wander (without wearing chemical-laden sunscreen!) from stall to stall. See www.localharvest.org (US), www.farmersmarkets.net (UK) or www.farmersmarkets.org.au (Aus), www.farmersmarket.org.nz (NZ) to find a market near you.

5. Decrease or cease your intake of meat and dairy. Despite being told drinking processed milk is good for our bones and eating meat is a superior form of protein, it’s actually not true. Besides the fact that dairy causes iron deficiency, bloating, diarrhoea, gas and intestinal pain in most people, its consumption transfers drugs that have been administered to the animal, such as antibiotics, into the system of the person drinking it. And when you think about it, where do cows get their calcium? From the grass they eat. Leafy greens such as kale, broccoli, collards and cabbage are excellent sources of calcium—and no animals are harmed in the process, either. The same goes for meat consumption. Protein and iron is in abundance in a pure vegetarian diet. Eating meat also means you’re putting antibiotics and any dis-eases from the animal directly into your own system. If you plan to move from a meat and dairy-based diet, be sure to transition into it by reducing your consumption over time. If you’re unsure, seek advice from an informed wholefood nutritionist.

6. Educate yourself. By learning about the types of foods that create a healthy mind and body, you put the power back into your hands instead of big food industries whose primary interest is in creating dollars not health. A good place to start is with Dr Gabriel Cousen’s Conscious Eating. Also check out Don and Tyler Tolman’s Conscious Lifestyler website.

7. Take a whole food cooking or raw food preparation course with friends or family. Knowing where your food came from and exactly how it’s prepared can not only create peace of mind, but also bring families together through creating meals together. It’s also a way to meet like-minded people who are on the same path. Get Googling to find the right class for you. Check out Juliano’s “uncook” book RAW.

Have you ever been stressed and not realised it? Caught in a constant cycle of doing more, wanting more, achieving more? If you’re not sure of your emotional state right now, take a minute to focus on your body. Are your shoulders tense? Is your breath shallow? Is your stomach in knots?

Just as eating a healthy enzyme-fueled diet is important, so too is looking after your mental and emotional states. The two go hand-in-hand to create a balance that will serve you well into old age. One without the other creates ailments, illness and dis-ease.

There’s something magical about just stopping and doing absolutely nothing. The “nothingness” might be reading a book, watching a funny movie, or simply sitting in silence and meditating. The key to doing nothing is to release any guilt that might arise from not sticking to your usual routine. The Tao Te Ching is a 2,500 year old book, written by Lao Tzu, that speaks of just this. Do nothing and you’ll actually achieve more. One of my favourite translations of this ancient text is by Dr Wayne Dyer: Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao. I refer to it often and see that when I apply its wisdom, miraculous things begin to happen. Something bigger than me takes over. All I need do is enjoy the ride.

Simply looking to nature shows by doing nothing, so much is accomplished. An animal, regardless of its species, doesn’t have a to-do list. It just does. It follows the flow with trust and without question, knowing that everything is in perfect order—and it is.

Neurophysiologist and owner of Jubb’s Longevity, David Jubb, says rest is integral to achieving and maintaining complete cellular health.

“Rest allows one to regain nervous system energy potential,” he says in Jubb’s Cell Rejuvenation: Colloidal Biology: A Symbiosis. “This coupled with lifefood nutritional fasting and whole-food vitamin-mineral complex supplementation allows the body to possess a readiness potential. Extending the hours one can rest can halve the time it takes to heal. When the body is at total rest, the cell recovery of energy reserve is accelerated.”

In the fast pace world we live in, it’s often difficult to find the time to just stop and take a check of our emotional and mental state. But getting in the practise can not only bring greater joy to your life, but also prevent the onset of illness and dis-ease. Doing nothing at some point every single day can bring you closer to your true self and closer to source, or God.

Here are my top 5 ways to relax…

1. The morning is the perfect time to meditate. The day is fresh and so are our minds. When sitting in silence to meditate is challenging, I reach for my iPod and select a guided meditation by Kelly Howell. The Brain Sync technology used in these meditations effortlessly take you to a Theta state where magic happens.

2. Walking in nature. Getting away from the concrete jungle if you live and work in a city environment is crucial. Putting your feet into the sand or grass not only feels great, it also connects us to the living, breathing earth and is literally very grounding.

3. Spending time in the kitchen. Food is much more than something to stop hunger. While the art of at-home food preparation has been greatly lost with food-to-go and frozen meals in a box, taking the time to connect to our food, through conscious preparation can do wonders for mental, emotional and physical health. It’s also a great way to forget about everything and focus on creating works of vegan food art.

4. Having a Reiki session. Reiki connects us directly to life force energy, through the hands of the practitioner who shares it. Reiki not only puts us in a relaxed, meditative state, but it also allows the receiver to work through particular issues they may have to restore physical and emotional wellbeing. A qualified Reiki Master can also teach and attune you to this energetic healing modality, so you can give yourself the gift of Reiki energy whenever you need it.

5. Taking a candle-lit bath. Breaking out the lavender oil, soy candles and playing some chilled tunes is a great way to de-stress. To clear your mind while you’re soaking, concentrate on your breathing. Be sure not to load your tub up with toxic bubbles, instead, pop in a couple of tablespoons of extra virgin coconut oil to give your skin a moisture infusion. Be sure not to slip when getting out! Also, as many city municipal water supplies are polluted with flouride, chlorine and the like, it’s best to have your home plumbing fitted with a reverse osmosis filtration system.

Here are some tips inspired by my upcoming book Heal Yourself, Heal the Planet: A Little Guide to Transformation…

1.    Start with you. While scientists once believed we were separate from everything else on earth, we now know that couldn’t be further from the truth. We human beings are made up of the same stuff that makes up the stars we gaze at, the grass we walk on and the very food we eat. Spiritual teacher Deepak Chopra says it best: “At some point in our lives, the realization dawns upon us that freedom does not come from external situations or circumstance. All of creation, everything that exists in the physical world, is the result of the unmanifest transforming itself into the manifest. Everything that we behold comes from the unknown. Our physical body, the physical universe — anything and everything that we can perceive through our senses — is the transformation of the unmanifest, unknown and invisible into the manifest, known and visible. The physical universe is nothing other than the self curving back within itself as spirit, mind and physical matter.”

With this in mind, how we think about ourselves, treat ourselves and feed ourselves becomes a whole new ball game: every negative thought we hold and reaffirm to ourselves is also reaffirmed to the universe, every bad diet choice directly affects the health of universe, every unkind action or thought towards another has a direct affect on the universe and so on. Making conscious, educated choices every day is the first and most important step in healing the earth. A great place to start the education is with inspirational author and teacher, Louise L Hay and her bestselling book You Can Heal Your Life. To get a deep understanding of how the lives of humans and animals are deeply connected, watch Earthlings, a documentary narrated by Joaquin Phoenix.

2.    Change your diet. While the meat and dairy industries do everything in their power to ensure consumers believe meat and dairy help us grow healthy and strong, there is much evidence to the contrary. Besides the undeniable health risks of eating meat and dairy that can no longer be ignored due to the rise-and-rise of cancer cases, there’s another reason it’s important to reassess the amount of animal products in your diet—and that’s the detrimental impact meat production has on the planet. A 2006 United Nations report found that the meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than all the SUVs, cars, trucks, planes, and ships in the world combined. When asked by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) what personal change people could make to help the environment, ex-Beatles star Paul McCartney answered, “I think the biggest change anyone could make in their own lifestyle would be to become vegetarian.” Find out how here.

As with anything, it’s about being kind to yourself during the process if you decide to give up meat and dairy. Do your research to ensure you do things at a pace that works best for your body and lifestyle. An important thing to remember: vegetarianism and veganism are not diets in the common sense of the word, or religions for that matter. Rather they’re a lifestyle choice—an action resulting from understanding how everything on the earth is deeply connected, and how what we put in our mouth has a profound effect on everything we are and do. That means taking it all one meal and day at a time, so leave any feelings of guilt or failure at the door. Every step you take towards making a difference adds up. Be proud of yourself and tell yourself often.

3.    Stop buying plastic water bottles, shopping bags or containers. We’ve all certainly heard it before: buying water in plastic bottles and getting plastic bags at the supermarket isn’t a good choice for the environment. Treehugger.com has an article that gets straight to the point detailing what is known as the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” or “trash vortex”: (it’s) essentially a floating expanse of waste and debris in the Pacific Ocean now covering an area twice the size of the continental U.S. Believed to hold almost 100m tons of flotsam, this vast “plastic soup” stretches 500 nautical miles off the Californian coast, past Hawaii and almost as far as Japan. Gotta see it to believe it? Watch this.

As said before, being kind to you, also means you’re being kind to the world around you. Plastic water bottles contain the cancer-causing chemical known as Bisphenol A, which leaches from the bottles to the water you consume. Step one: buy a reusable water bottle. Step two: fit a reverse osmosis filter to your kitchen tap (same goes for the shower: many municipal water supplies are not only highly chlorinated, but also contain high levels of pharmaceutical drugs—such as antibiotics, oral contraceptives etc—which get ingested through the skin, which is the body’s largest organ. Read more here.

4.    Recycle, buy recycled and make your own. Recycling household items needs little explanation these days, as most of us seem to have it down. If you’re not sure about what can be recycled, check out this handy guide. Everyone loves a gift, but everyone loves a handmade present even more. In this consumer-driven world, buying new has become the norm. But thanks to the recession (translation: blessing in disguise) people are learning to appreciate the more authentic, simple things in life. If you’re not yet ready to embrace your creative side, when it comes to buying Christmas, birthday, wedding gifts and the like, head to Etsy.com, a site that features beautiful handmade treasures, many of which have been made from pre-loved items. When it comes to furnishing your home, finding pre-loved items from garage sales and antique shows can add an individual charm that will make your home uniquely yours.

5.    Learn how to compost. Composting is a natural recycling process that continuously happens in nature. Throwing vegetable scraps and grass clippings into the trash not only adds to the world’s overflowing garbage dumps, it also throws away wonderful nutrients that you can use on your own garden (regardless of whether you live in a house or apartment). How do you make compost? Plowhearth.com explains: There are four key words to remember: green, brown, air, water. What this means is that, to make compost, all you have to do is bring together moist, fresh, predominantly green ingredients (grass clippings, weeds, kitchen scraps, and the like) and predominantly brown ingredients (dead leaves, straw, hay, wood shavings or chips, etc.), ensure that the mix remains damp, and turn it all every few days to reintroduce oxygen to the pile. That’s it. In less than a month, you’ll have rich, crumbly, brown compost that you can add to your garden soil, use in containers, or mulch with. Also see Howtocompost.org.

6.    Ask questions. Just because the local newspaper, six o’clock news or your favourite website says something is so, use your intuition, gut feeling or whatever you choose to call it and ask questions. Just because it’s in print or because a news anchor spouts statistics, doesn’t mean it’s God’s given truth. Look deeper to see who funded the research. Read labels and ask yourself if the ingredients sound like they’re good for you and your family. By educating yourself and gaining an understanding for yourself is one of the most important daily actions you can take.

7.    Share your knowledge. As we’re all on this journey together, the best gift we can give to others is knowledge. As you pick up any healthful, earth-loving information that you feel is invaluable and can help others in some way, share it. Start a blog, start an action group, join an environmental group. Or simply start a journal of your journey that you can refer to when you feel someone who know could use some information you’ve previously recorded.