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Hi – my name’s Tony. My good friend Alex has called on me to add some turbo charge to his blog. I hadn’t planned to get involved – it just happened! Truth be told, it’s probably my own fault. Originally, I had planned to concentrate on writing feature articles, such as the one I wrote recently on The Organic Answer to Climate Change. But last week I let Alex know that the Organic Guide blog was in need of a dash of pepper (and maybe a few other organic spices!) To my surprise he agreed. He asked me to start writing regularly. So, here I am. Who am I? I’m basically just an Australian guy that loves to look after his physical, mental and spiritual health. As far as I can tell the best way of doing that is to ramp up on the organic...

Obesity is already a major problem in much of the Western world. And with levels of morbid obesity predicted to increase ten-fold within the next twenty years, many health professionals are calling for something to be done now to address the problem. One of the culprits fueling high obesity levels is the inclusion of trans fat in many of the foods we commonly eat. What are trans fats? According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “trans fat is made when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil - a process called hydrogenation. Hydrogenation increases the shelf life and flavor stability of foods containing these fats”. Where are they found? Trans fats are a key ingredient in processed foods such as margarine, biscuits, crisps, snacks,...

Have you ever considered growing your own sprouts? If you’re not already growing sprouts, there’s a good chance someone you know, whether a neighbour, relative or friend, is already benefiting from this wonderful activity. Here are ten reasons why rearing sprouts is becoming an increasingly popular activity for organic consumers and others who take their health seriously: Sprouts are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals - During sprouting, the vitamin content of some seeds increases from 100% to 1000%. Minerals become available to the body in a form capable of being readily assimilated. Sprouts can be grown anywhere and at any time of year - It doesn’t matter where you’re living, whether in Australia, Canada or Ireland, sprouts...

For me, one of the disturbing trends associated with the festive season is the increasing levels of credit card debt that many of us feel compelled to rack up in order to show our affection for friends and loved ones. It doesn’t need to be that way. In fact, there are some strong arguments to suggest that it shouldn’t be that way. With the exception of children, who tend to fall victim to the strain of peer pressure and the relentless bombardment of advertising from toy companies and department stores, most of us are happy at this time of year with modest, thoughtful gifts. If you’re struggling for ideas, and you’re keen not to face January 2008 with astronomical credit card bills, hopefully some of these “spend time not...

Numi Organic Tea, a proud Oaktown business, is opening its enchanted Tea Garden in Oakland’s Embarcadero Cove. As part of the celebrations, Numi is hosting a benefit for local non-profit, Art in Action, who work to bring inner-city youth to summer camps to develop their artistic expression and eat healthy with organic food. Art in Action Youth Leadership Program uplifts and transforms the lives of young artists impacted by violence and poverty. Art in Action provides a supportive, positive place for young leaders to cultivate leadership through dance, theatre, music, spoken word/poetry, painting, storytelling, and media arts. Numi is thrilled to be able to help support this important program. The Numi Tea Garden is an urban tea oasis where...