Basil-Tomato Salad

Happy Summer to everyone from Good Living Products. I wanted to share a very good summer receipt I found the other day. It is great to have with your lunch or dinner or at a family BBQ. We have been having alot of those lately and its so fun with.

Basil-Tomato Salad Ingredients

1  recipe Lemon Vinaigrette, recipe below
1  small baguette or French roll
2  Tbsp. olive oil
2  cloves garlic, minced
1  small head green leaf lettuce, torn (6 cups)
3  cups fresh basil, torn
2  cups grape tomatoes, halved, or chopped plum tomatoes
1/2  cup pine nuts, toasted
2  oz. Parmesan cheese, shaved
Directions
1. Prepare Lemon Vinaigrette; set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Split baguette in half horizontally. In small bowl combine olive oil and garlic. Brush onto cut sides of baguette. Cut each bread piece lengthwise into 3 or 4 breadsticks. Place on baking sheet. Bake 3 to 5 minutes or until toasted. Transfer to wire rack; cool.
3. In large bowl combine lettuce and basil. In 3- to 4-quart glass canister or desired container layer greens, tomatoes, pine nuts, and cheese . Serve with breadsticks and Lemon Vinaigrette. Makes 6 servings.
Lemon Vinaigrette: In small screw-top jar combine 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 tsp. finely shredded lemon peel, 1/3 cup lemon juice (1 large lemon), 4 cloves minced garlic, 1 tsp. sugar, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper. Cover; shake well.

Hope you enjoy and stay cool. Remember to stay hydrated during these hot summer days & nights. Please check out our Special Summer Savings @ goodlivingproducts.com

Be Well,

Roger & Lisa Booth

Good Living Products

 

Green Solutions for St. Patrick's Day

1. Use cast iron pans instead of non-stick.
2. To avoid chemicals leaching into food, go easy on processed, canned or fast foods and never microwave plastic.   
3. Buy organic, or eat vegetables and fruit from the "Clean 15" list. 
4. Pregnant women should use iodized salt to combat chemical interference from the thyroid.
5. Seal outdoor wooden structures. Order a test kit to find out if your wooden deck, picnic table, or play-set is leaching arsenic.
6. Leave your shoes at the door. This cuts down on dust-bound pollutants in the home
7. Avoid perfume, cologne and products with added fragrance. Search for personal care products that are fragrance-free, or check the products you're already using.
8. Buy products with natural fibers, like cotton and wool, that are naturally fire resistant. 
9. Eat low-mercury fish like tilapia and pollock, rather than high-mercury choices like tuna and swordfish.
10. Filter your water for drinking and cooking.
11. Learn your personal body burden. Take a step-by-step tour of your home to learn the toxic truth about how household products contribute to your body burden of industrial chemicals.


We can all work a little bit every day to do our part in keeping God's Earth green!!
Roger & Lisa Booth
Good Living Products

Is Your Home Safe??

Here is a product line that we carry from Herb'n Organics. I wanted to share this interesting article on products that we use day to day and don't realize what harm they can be causing. I personally use all of their products and just love them. They clean amazingly, smell great and healthy for the environment and your family!


It's all around us, often disguised in pretty packaging, catchy commercials and attractive coupon offers in your Sunday paper. "It" is all of those many products we use in our everyday lives to get things clean. Consumers are becoming more conscious. The term "clean" is thankfully being redefined by many people who have personally experienced the dangerous effects that common household chemicals can wreak on our bodies and those of our families. In that light, here is a Top 10 on some products you should permanently cross off your shopping list:

1. Non-stick cookware
2. Plastic Bottles
3. Conventional Cleaning Supplies*
4. Chemical Insecticides & Herbicides
5. Antibacterial Products
6. Chemical Fertilizers
7. The Non-CFL Lightbulb
8. Air Fresheners
9. Flame Retardents
10. Plastic Shopping Bags

Click here to read up on all the dangers and suggested alternatives.
*Solution: Herb'n Organics Non-Toxic Cleaning Supplies!

Bleach & Ammonia: Asthma Triggers in the Classroom

CDC surveys have detected a dramatic increase in childhood asthma across the country in the span of just a few decades. At present, nearly 1 in 10 children has asthma in the U.S. Nationally, asthma is the leading cause of missed school days due to a chronic illness. Many ingredients in conventional cleaning supplies cause asthma in previously healthy people, according to the Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC), the leading international body concerned with the link between chemical exposures and asthma.

* Asthma affects 1 in 4 school children

* Asthma is increasing in prevalence especially in young children below the age of 5

* Asthma can kill if left unattended

* Asthma is a major cause of childhood admissions to hospital

* Recognize the signs of Asthma: lethargy, tiredness, decreased motivation and inability to concentrate,
                                    ear and stomach aches
School children spend a large part of their day inside classrooms cleaned with chemicals that can cause or exacerbate asthma, and breathe in a complex set of indoor air contaminants with lungs that are still developing.
Click here to read more....

Bathing Your Pup with Go Green Dog

We all know how great it feels to take a nice warm bath or shower and come out feeling all clean and refreshed. Well, your favorite family pets love it too. You can tell. It's written all over their cute lovable faces after a good toweling off after a bath. We love our pets just as much - see precious Emma pictured right

so we had to create our Go Green Dog line of shampoo and dog crate/bed spray.

The secret of our Go Green Dog shampoo is rinse-ability! You'll get that soap off your pal quickly and thoroughly and Go Green Dog leaves your dog's coat soft, shiny and clean. This is a low-lather shampoo, so work it in to the moistened coat sparingly rather than pouring it on. Your dog gets a good massage and a good cleaning!

Ingredients are pure & simple:
Vegetable Glycerin, Vinegar, Castile Soap, Filtered Water, Lavender Essential Oil, and Peppermint Essential Oil.
Please check out our website for Herb'n Organic product line. You won't be dissappointed.
Click here to get some!

Take Care,
Roger & Lisa Booth
Good Living Products

Lose Weight Naturally and Enjoy Life.

The news is quick to circulate how millions of people are obese and even more are overweight. The chances of carrying too much body weight on one frame are also big news. What is frequently forgotten, however, is the solution to lose weight easy and safe. With constant pressure from doctors and manufacturers to slip a pill into the mouth and swallow your weight issues away, natural weight loss plans are growing rare.

Prescription and easily available slimming products are not safe. The prescription medications have a laundry list of potential side effects and many are worse on the body than obesity. These medications often work while they are being taken daily with rebound weight gain happening once the prescriptions are stopped.  I have personally tried these and found the side effects unbearable.

Natural supplements to reduce weight can be very dangerous. Supplement products are not approved by the FDA, that means the ingredients are not checked for safety and the claims of weight loss are just claims, yet not proven. Many “natural” fat loss supplements include large amounts of caffeine, which can lead to nausea, vomiting, jitters and heart problems.  None of the supplements from Good Living Products contain caffeine or the "natural" caffeines" like ephedra or ma huang!!  All are natural, organic and contain no fillers.

Natural Weight Loss, Without Drugs

Natural weight loss promotes the inclusion of healthy foods that fit within the food pyramid. These foods need to be carefully chosen to ensure the correct number of fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins are eaten with each meal. Many western diets are rich in simple carbohydrates like potatoes, pasta and bread but contain very little complex carbohydrates which offer extended energy and high fiber content to promote good health and help to lose weight naturally.

In addition to choosing the right foods, the right portions for weight loss need to also be relearned. Over the past few decades, portion sizes have grown dramatically. The increase in portion size is almost parallel to the increase in the number of people suffering from being overweight or obese. While there are many different portion size tricks, the easiest is the deck of cards. One portion of food should be the size of a deck of cards in both thickness and area. Moving portion sizes can often trigger natural weight loss.

Exercise is the golden child of natural weight loss, but this necessity also falls into the most hated part of losing weight. Exercising takes time and dedication, which most people have more than enough of. But, the pain and embarrassment associated with gym time often leaves people feeling like they are being stared at or too sore to walk the next day.

Weight Loss From the Inside Out
A diet rich in processed, fatty foods can lead to two ends – probiotic levels will fall and the colon will be sluggish and there will be no weight loss. The most beneficial way to commence a natural weight loss program is to begin by cleansing the inside of your body and restoring good bacteria levels. Colon Cleansing is getting very popular nowadays in the weight loss circle and for good reason. When the colon isn’t working right, the body will ignore good, natural weight loss to occur. The body is one unit and all-over body health is important to a natural weight loss process.

Good Living Products carry both colon cleanse products and probiotics.  Our products are all natural and contain no magneseum starate or other artificial fillers.  Many are also certified Organically Grown.

Let's make 2010 the year that we make the commitment to live healthy!!

Be Well,
Roger & Lisa Booth of Good Living Products, LLC

Asian ColeSlaw

I am always trying to find and easy and healthy dish to make and I came across this one that I would like to share with you.

Asian ColeSlaw

It is obviously made with cabbage which is full of nutrients including vitamin C and indoles, important cancer-fighting compounds. In addition, red cabbage also contains anthocyanins, the purple pigment with strong antioxidant activity commonly found in blueberries. In the winter months, cabbage is an abundant nutritional resource when other fresh produce is either expensive or unavailable. This recipe calls for a lot of salt, but it is used in this dish to soften the cabbage. Then it is thoroughly rinsed off so the recipe doesn't provide too much sodium. This coleslaw is colorful and makes a delightful accompaniment to any meat, fish or vegetarian main dish.

Ingredients:

1 medium head green cabbage
1 medium head red cabbage
3 tablespoons sea salt
3 large carrots
1/4 cup minced scallions
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Dressing:
2/3 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons dark-roasted sesame oil

Instructions:
1. Discard the outer leaves of cabbages. Cut heads in quarters; remove and discard cores. Slice cabbage thinly or shred in a food processor. Layer the cabbage in a large bowl with the sea salt. Toss to distribute salt evenly and let cabbage sit for 1 hour to soften.
2. Meanwhile, peel the carrots and grate them into thin shreds.
3. Drain off any liquid produced by the cabbage and rinse the cabbage well in several changes of cold water to remove excess salt. Taste the cabbage; if it is still too salty, rinse it again.
4. Add carrots to the cabbage and mix well.
5. Whisk the rice vinegar, brown sugar and sesame oil together in a small bowl.
6. Pour the dressing over the cabbage and mix well. Let chill. Garnish with minced scallions and toasted sesame seeds before serving.

Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
126.8 calories
3.7 g total fat (0.5 g sat)
0.0 mg cholesterol
23.7 g carbohydrate
3.6 g protein
5.7 g fiber

Check out our site for  healthy products to supplement your healthy diet www.goodlivingproducts.com  Thanks - Lisa Booth

God vs. Satan - Good vs. Evil - Organic vs. Processed

This laugh brought to you by Good Living Products

In the beginning God covered the earth with broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach, green, yellow, and red vegetables of all kinds; so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.

Then using God's bountiful gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry's and Krispy Kreme. And Satan said, "You want hot fudge with that?" And Man said, "Yes!" and Woman said, "I'll have another with sprinkles." And lo they gained 10 pounds.

And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair.

And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane, and combined them. And Woman went from size 2 to size 10.

So God said, "Try my fresh green salad."

And Satan presented crumbled Bleu Cheese dressing and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said, "I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them."

And Satan brought forth deep fried coconut shrimp, butter dipped lobster chunks and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man's cholesterol went through the roof.

God then brought forth running shoes so that his Children might lose those extra pounds.

And Satan came forth with a cable TV with remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And man and woman laughed and cried before the flickering light and started wearing stretch jogging suits.

Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with potassium and good nutrition.

Then Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them in animal fats and added copious quantities of salt. And Man put on more pounds.

God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite.

And Satan created McDonald's and the 99-cent double cheeseburger. Then Lucifer said, "You want fries with that?" and Man replied, "Yes! And super size' em!" And Satan said, "It is good." And Man went into cardiac arrest.

God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.

And Satan created HMOs.

Amen

A History of Birthday Gift Giving - And a Couple of Ideas

No matter what age, everyone enjoys a little special attention on their special day – their birthday! Typically, it calls for a celebration complete with balloons, a cake, and gifts from family and close friends. While we engage in these birthday festivities, do we ever stop to think where the traditions really began?

The first known birthday celebrations began among the Egyptians with parades, circuses, and gladiatorial events – all complete with feasts that sometimes lasted for days.  Romans celebrated the birthdays of their gods with parades and chariot races.  Mortals were not encouraged to celebrate their birthdays in Rome.  Germany introduced the tradition of birthday cakes about 200 years ago.  The cake itself was filled with gifts that predicted the recipient’s life in the upcoming year.  For example, if the slice of cake contained a ring, it symbolized impending marriage.  A coin guaranteed riches throughout the next year.  If the cake fell while baking, it ensured impending doom to the one celebrating a birthday.  Today, various countries celebrate birthdays in unique ways.

In the United States, the traditional birthday ritual calls for giving gifts to the one celebrating his special day.  Selecting the “right” gift depends on the individual, his interests, and how well you know him.  Instead of purchasing the “same old” thing, add a unique twist to your birthday gift selections this year and watch out for the positive feedback!

• From a family tree planner to a family history wall print, a gift of genealogy is a great pick for assisting the recipient learn about his family heritage and get back to his roots.  As some of us get older this becomes a very special gift.
• Create a scrapbook of special moments throughout the past year.  Include photos from family events and keepsakes that are important to the event.  Recapture these moments by journaling the story of the event and quotes from participants.  Embellish the pages with stickers, captions, and other items that will enhance the memories for a long time to come. This is for the more "crafty" of us but can be a special gift that will always create a memory.
• Choose a selection of classic books to either add to or start a collection. Several choices to get you started include The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Canterbury Tales, Wurthering Heights, Jane Eyre, The Scarlet Letter, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Great Expectations, Tom Sawyer, and The Catcher in the Rye.  A personal favorite of mine is About A Boy
• For a woman choose from several great Spa Gift Baskets from Eclipse Spa's.  Yes, this is something we carry - trust me - they make an awesome gift.
• Purchase baskets from garage sales and gift shops.  Fill them with homemade or gourmet jars of pickles, jams, food mixes, and/or fruit.  Again for the more crafty of us but substitute the homemade pickles and jams etc with other items that fit the person that you are giving the gift to.

No matter what the occasion, pay attention to what the gift receivers interests, likes and dislikes are  - people are always telling us what they want.  We just have to listen!

6 Steps To Great Looking and Feeling Skin!

I have had very sensitive skin ever since I can remember, I need to be very careful on what products I use on my face from what I wash it with to applying any type of day or night cream. I have been using the Elements Skin Care line for over a month now and my skin has never felt so balanced, fresh and soft. Not one breakout or irritation. I use the 6 step program in the morning after I take my shower and in the evening when I take my make up off. My face has been very balanced since using the Elements Skincare Program, not oily or dry.

Here is the new Elements 6 Step Skin Care Program I have been using.

Step 1   I use the Facial Cleanser and it cleans and refines my skin
Step 2   is the Balancing Toner that uses herbal essential oils to restore my skin
Step 3   is the Normalizing Serum and it makes my skin feel rich and nourished
Step 4   I use the Lifting Eye Cream.  At 35 I'm starting to see lines and this has helped to firm and nourish under my eyes.
Step 5   is the Moisturizing Day Cream helps to repair and nourish my skin, feels radiant
Step 6   and last is the Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream. It stimulates youthful collagen and reduces the fine lines that I was beginning to see

Elements also has a great Moisturizing Shampoo & Moisturizing Conditioner for every day use.

ALL Elements products are Cruelty Free, Vegan with no alcohol, no parabens, no sulfates, no propylene glycol, no synthetic fragrance and are gluten free.  All natural ingredients.

Written by - Lisa Booth of Good Living Products

                    

Put The Lime In The Coconut........Oil

So, why should you try this stuff?

Why don't we start with the benefits like:

1. Promoting your heart health
2. Promoting weight loss when and if you need it
3. Supporting your immune system health
4. Supporting a healthy metabolism
5. Providing you with an immediate energy source
6. Helping to keep your skin healthy and youthful looking
7. Supporting the proper functioning of your thyroid gland 

Coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid (MCFA).
Because coconut oil is made of primarily medium chain (and some short chain) fatty acids, it is broken down immediately for use rather than stored. MCFA aren't packaged into chylomicrons for circulation through the lymph like long chain fatty acids (LCFA). Instead, they are transported in the portal blood to the liver for conversion into energy. This quick conversion process may prevent weight gain as long as the calories consumed as coconut oil do not exceed the body's caloric needs. Coconut oil has also been found to speed metabolism and increase energy expenditure and is of great interest for its potential as a weight loss aid.

Coconut oil may prevent and alleviate disease.
Both research and clinical studies have shown that MCFA may be useful in treating and preventing diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis, virus-related dieases (mononucleosis, hepatitis C, herpes, etc.), gallbladder disease, Crohn's disease, and cancer. The smaller size of MCFA (compared to LCFA) allows them to be digested more easily, making them ideal for those suffering from digestive diseases. Coconut oil may assist in the absorption and retaining of calcium, thereby benefiting bones.

Coconut oil has antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.
Lipid-coated bacteria and viruses contain a lipid coat which encloses their DNA among other cellular materials. When consumed by humans, coconut oil disrupts the lipid membrane, killing the pathogens without damaging the host or harming health-promoting intestinal bacteria. The antimicrobial properties stem from the monoglycerides and free fatty acids (mainly lauric acid and capric acid) that compose coconut oil.

Need more reasons to start consuming coconut oil?
Pure coconut oil is easily absorbed, prevents free radical damage, and can improve the appearance of skin and hair.  
With all the benefits that coconut oil can provide, it's definitely worth trying. And if all this is too much info to take in at one time or if you don't quite like the taste, we hear it makes a fantastic conditioner for your hair.

Ours is Organically Grown an as always all Natural

Chia Seeds - Diabetes, Omega-3 and Weight Loss

It is not necessary that every on who is suffering from Diabetes will definitely know about the Chia seeds just because it is the best herbal option to control the blood sugar. The Chia seeds contain a high amount of Omega-3 Fatty Acid which is a very essential for our body. Our body can not manufacture it hence it needs to be obtained from external food. The acid is essential for the proper function of the brain and its development. The three kinds of Omega 3 acids which are alpha-Linolenic Acid, Docosahexaenoic acid and the Eicosapentaenoic acid helps the human body to reduce the blood pressure and the heart related diseases.

The high protein and lipid contents in the Chia seeds are also one of the many reasons why the seed is helpful for the diabetic patients. The seeds are a species of the mint family and are widely grown in the Central Valley of Mexico. The seeds were an integral part of the Aztec and Maya civilization. They used the seeds as the offering to their gods and used to have that in their religious ceremonies.

During the last couple few years the scientists were doing researches on the utilities of the seeds and were tiring to find out the importance of it. The extensive researches have revealed the true picture of the seed. The seed is very effective for the diabetic people as is controls the blood sugar levels in our body. Recently all the doctors are prescribing the Chia seeds and its by-products for the diabetic patients all over the world.

If you are suffering from high sugar level in your blood then you might go for the Chia seeds diets with your regular exercises and proper medications. You can do your part of research in the internet and learn more about the importance of the Chia seeds.

At Good Living Products we carry both the Chia Seeds and Chia Seed Capsules.  All are Organically Grown and all Natural.

Thanks for reading, Be Well - Roger Booth

Our Dogs and Stiff Joints!

We have two dogs, Buddy and Gracie (Gracie is in the front of this picture and Buddy is in the back). They are brother and sister - we got them free from the trailer park, but that's another story! You can tell they're brother and sister by their actions and actually by most anything that they do. Can't you tell by the picture! They are only 4 years old but my boy, Buddy, has had some issues with his joints. That can get me to worrying about him sometimes.

We have been giving him Hip & Joint Supplements for the last two years with some good success. He has improved a lot in his getting up, jumping and in his day to day getting around. However, the boy is smart and he doesn't like taking his pills. He even figured out how we were hiding them. We would give him the pills wrapped in cheese but he would eat the cheese and we would find the pill laying on the floor or hidden in the couch. We needed to find a better way - one that was smarter than Buddy.

Along came PetNaturals with their Hip & Joint CHEWS!! The were a God-send. Buddy eats them like they are a treat - because the look and smell like a treat!!! He will stand at the cabinet where their treats are kept and wait for his "treat". I have seen a dramatic change also in the way that he moves around and he's jumping and playing again with his sister just like they did when they were puppies. So far, we have out smarted our Buddy!

Feel free to check out this product and many more from PetNaturals of Vermont on our website, www.goodlivingproducts.com. Yes, I'm shamelessly plugging our PetNaturals but I feel strongly that they have made a big difference in mine and Buddy's life so I wanted to share.

Thanks for reading my blog - Lisa Booth