AlternativesMagazine

Teflon more dangerous than previously thought It seems like anything we consume and chemically manufactured is at a high health risk. And it makes sense. Chemicals are not of a natural substance, and should not be part in our food chain. That includes most medicines, vaccines and all processed foods. Less than 1 percent of the world's freshwater is readily accessible and much of it has been polluted by industrial runoff, most of which contains heavy metals and other chemicals. According to a recent Harvard study, 16.5 million Americans have detectable levels of at least one kind of polyfluoroalkyl or perfluoroalkyl chemical (PFASs) in their drinking water. About 6 million Americans are drinking water that contains PFAS at or above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety level. These industrial chemicals have been linked to a number of health problems, from obesity and hormonal problems to impaired immune function5 and cancer, and the study's authors warn...

A series of tiny pods have descended on the high desert outside Joshua Tree National Park, making the bizarrely beautiful landscape look almost like an alien world.  The micro-cabins are the brainchild of artist Andrea Zittel, who installed ten of these A-Z Wagon Stations as part of the Wagon Station Encampment, an experimental temporary residence for artists and creatives.  Scattered among giant dusty boulders, the metallic pods were designed with a “sci-fi pioneer aesthetic” inspired by the NASA Mars base tests in the Mojave desert and the covered horse-drawn wagons of the old Wild West.

“Core strength” is more than just a fitness buzz term to remind you that you probably don’t do enough sit-ups. Core strength actually refers to the strength of deep muscle groups in your abdomen, back, and glutes — the three muscle groups that are essential to supporting your spine and helping you maintain your balance.  If what you do involves sitting for a large part of your day, strengthening these core muscles could be more important to your health than you think.  Odds are, you aren’t sitting at your desk with perfect posture for hours on end, but strengthening your core could help support your spine and prevent the pain and poor posture that comes from sitting slumped over your desk all day long. Take the 28 day challenge here.  READ >>

50% container home, 50% outdoor space! From the Tiny Life Newsletter Simply put, it is a social movement where people are choosing to downsize the space they live in.  People are joining this movement for many reasons, but the most popular reasons include environmental concerns, financial concerns, and the desire for more time and freedom. For most Americans 1/3 to 1/2 of their income is dedicated to the roof over their heads; this translates to 15 years of working over your lifetime just to pay for it, and because of it 76% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. So what is the alternative? One solution might be to live smaller. While we don’t think tiny houses are for everyone, there are lessons to be learned and applied in order to escape the cycle of debt in which almost 70% of Americans are trapped.  READ >> Living Small will be a big part of the content for Alternatives Magazine. It's about people taking control of their lives and loosening the grip ...

This is a great article from the Dr. Mercola newsletter, August 20, 2016. It explains the difference between those living in large cities and those living in rural environments and the mood and anxiety disorders.  People who grew up in an urban environment may have a greater sensitivity to stress. There's a a wealth of research points to the calming and healing effects of nature on the human body and mind.  By Dr. Mercola Living Near Nature May Extend Your Lifespan In a study that followed more than 100,000 women, those who lived near higher levels of green vegetation had a 12 percent lower rate of non-accidental premature death compared to those living near areas with the least vegetation. Specifically, those living in greener areas had a: 41 percent lower death rate for kidney disease 34 percent lower death rate for respiratory disease 13 percent lower death rate for cancer The researchers suggested 30 percent of the longevity benefit may be due to nature's ben...

You have to think, not only is the food being shipped from the other side of the world but beyond that look at what certain Chinese companies are doing to food. Making it fake, and as cheap as humanly possible.  China is using their innovative methods to make cheap technology products, toys and other consumer products and applying that mindset to food, which is absolutely dangerous. READ >>

Republished with permission:  Off Grid Living Magazine - 1.  Self sufficiency   Living off grid is all about living a self sufficient lifestyle, one not dependent on outside resources because you create your own resources thereby reducing or totally eliminating your dependence on a system that could collapse at any moment. 2.  Sustainable living It’s about living more sustainably. Without constantly consuming resources, you will actually be producing more than you consume. This has the added benefit of not only providing for your family, but contributing to your local community. 3. Renewable energy The use of renewable energy only makes sense. Using an energy source that is not renewable is absurd. Fossil fuels are not renewable, at least at the rate we are consuming them. So it makes sense to use sources of energy that are completely renewable, and that can be shared. Renewable energy is also more sustainable long term, and that’s just smart living. 4. Environmen...