10 reasons why we all should be building EarthShips

(HighExistence)
By Jordan Lejuwaan

Earthships are 100% sustainable homes that are both cheap to build and awesome to live in. They offer amenities like no other sustainable building style you have come across. For the reasons that follow, I believe Earthships can actually change the world. See for yourself!

1) Sustainable does not mean primitive

When people hear about sustainable, off-the-grid living, they usually picture primitive homes divorced from the comforts of the 21st century. And rightfully so, as most sustainable solutions proposed until now have fit that description. Earthships, however, offer all of the comforts of modern homes and more. I’ll let these pictures do the talking…

EPA Considering Ban On Monsanto’s Glyphosate Herbicide Following Sobering Meeting With Moms Activist Groups

(Natural Cures) Two activist groups, Moms Across America and Thinking Moms Revolution, are taking great effort to convince the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to recall Monsanto’s Roundup, the most widely used herbicide on the planet.

When the EPA ignored them, the troops were rallied. 10,000 moms from all over the nation bombarded the EPA with phone calls demanding attention to the topic.

One week later, five Moms Across America leaders along with lawyers, scientists and advocates from Organic Consumers Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, Consumers Union, Beyond Pesticides and the Truth-in-Labeling Coalition were granted a meeting with nine EPA employees who have the authority to recall Roundup.

Just breathe - Ancient practice of pranayama can help you detoxify, shed excess weight and boost overall vitality

Forget the detox pills, fasts and other painful cleansing techniques - instead, take a cue from the yogis of India and look to the breath. Using yogic breathing techniques, we can effortlessly detoxify, burn fat and increase metabolism. With the basic act of bringing in more oxygen, vitamins and minerals are more easily absorbed, white blood cells multiply and the lymphatic system is enhanced. Through the exhale toxins are removed from the bloodstream, which revitalizes the organs and clarifies the intellect. Techniques range from a few deep breaths before a meal to more complex practices. Either way, by using this free detoxification method daily, we can easily (and economically) cleanse the body and mind.

Prickly pear: discover the healing power of an ancient Aztec superfood

If you live in Latin America, or a semi-arid region of the United States, a wild superfood may be ripe for the picking in your own backyard. Known as prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp), the leaves and fruit of this desert plant can be harvested and consumed to treat a variety of conditions -- including diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and inflammation.

Native to the mountainous areas of Mexico, prickly pear cactus has been used since ancient times as a potent medicine, as well as a daily food source. Many of the nutritional advantages of the plant are attributed to its growing habitat—namely, volcanic soil and high altitude. The Aztecs so valued prickly pear that it was considered food fit for warriors and royalty. Jump to the present day and you'll find health enthusiasts have also embraced the food for boosting stamina, improving health and slimming down.

Is DHEA a veritable 'fountain of youth' in a bottle?

A seeming miracle, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is known for its ability to turn back the hands of time, decrease fat storage, ease coronary heart disease and osteoporosis, alleviate depression and improve fertility and sexual arousal. But can supplementing with this natural steroid really provide a magical cure-all as many headlines claim? Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN, NP, takes a look at the enthusiasm surrounding DHEA and separates fact from fiction.

What exactly is DHEA?

A precursor to all major sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone), DHEA is a steroid hormone synthesized from cholesterol and released by the adrenal glands. We produce the most DHEA in our 20s, and by the time we reach 70, production has been reduced to about 20 percent of what we had in our youth. When we have healthy levels of DHEA, we feel vibrant, clearheaded and joyful. There is also evidence that adequate DHEA may help ward off cancer, Alzheimer's and obesity. However, just as DHEA can prevent health issues, it can also disrupt balance when taken in supplemental form.

Concerned about cancer, inflammation, memory loss or diabetes? 'Holy Fruit of the Himalayas' can help

With environmental pollutants, radiation, stress and chemicals bombarding us at every turn, simply consuming a clean diet isn't enough to ensure health - additional fortification with nutrient-dense superfoods is often required to avoid serious disease and illness. Luckily, a bright orange Himalayan berry can tackle many of our modern health issues and encourage a robust future.

Sea buckthorn fruit is loaded with over 190 bioactive compounds, including omega-3 and omega-7 fatty acids - the latter is a rare fat in the plant kingdom which is beneficial for weight loss and healing the gastrointestinal tract. The berry is considered one of the world's most balanced fruits, providing powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. Rich in beta-carotene, flavonoids and vitamins C, D, E and K, sea buckthorn also contains a substantial complex of B vitamins and 20 minerals. Moreover, it supplies between 4-100 times more vitamin C than any other fruit or vegetable. With such an impressive nutritional profile, it's no wonder the fruit has long been considered a healing treasure in the mountainous Himalayan regions in which it grows.