Lifestyle

So you have heard some hype about oil pulling by now, the ancient practice is getting it's share of press lately. I'm not one to jump on every health fad, but I'm a bit of a hippie at heart and the au naturel aspect really intrigued me.  After hearing about oil pulling here and there for a few months I decided to give it a try. What is oil pulling exactly? Oil Pulling is an Ayurvedic technique which involves swishing oil around in your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes. The oil collects impurities brushing your teeth can't reach, and is then spit out. (But not into a sink because the oil could block a drain!) Afterwards, you can rinse your mouth with water and brush your teeth. I've heard that some people choose not to brush their teeth post oil pulling, but I'm not one of them. What does it do? Oil pulling is said to pull out stuck bacteria, and detoxify your system by allowing the oil to pick up these toxins (hence why you need to spit the oil out - don't swallow!) Read on to learn about my oil pulling experience.

When you think about the city of Philadelphia, I doubt fresh produce, large gray chickens or a rotund pig named Milkshake rarely come to mind. If you haven’t been to Greensgrow Farms, you are missing out. Not only do they have Milkshake and chickens, Greensgrow Farms is a cool agricultural oasis that presents a verdant contrast against the gritty Philadelphia backdrop. Greensgrow Farms offers local fresh produce through farm stands and mobile markets, a much-desired alternative to the processed foods in our chain supermarkets.  Located at 2501 E. Cumberland Street,  Greensgrow Farms offers a variety of events, classes, and workshops about eating healthier and living a more sustainable lifestyle. Find out about my recent chicken workshop & 10 things YOU need to know to raise backyard chickens:

Public Service Message for the ladies: There's tons of chemicals in the products you use... down there. Some of the most absorptive and sensitive tissue on women's bodies exists is the loved v-j region, but many companies don't disclose what they're putting in products made for that area. A recent report even said that chemicals in feminine care products can increase the risk of breast cancer, reproductive problems, asthma and allergic reactions with cancer-causing chemicals and hormone disruptors. Scary, right? These risks are enough of a reason to make the switch to organic tampons & pads.

Want to find a way to glow from the inside out? Yoga is a great way to find inner peace and better yourself. Although it may feel like everyone else has gotten on the yoga bandwagon, it’s never too late to start. No, yoga is just not a girly excuse for exercise, either. Yoga has some serious health benefits for men and women of all ages. Here are 5 health benefits from practicing yoga:

As many active Philadelphians know, there’s less than 8 weeks until the Broad Street Run. On Sunday May 4th, runners will embark on the largest 10-mile road race, starting at the Central High School Athletic Field, passing the legendary City Hall and finally ending at the Navy Yard. While I've always been an avid runner, this will be my first time competing in a race (excluding my short lived cross country career in 7th grade). I’m scared, excited, nervous and electrified all bundled into one. Find out Philly's best running trails, tracks & running clubs after the jump!

It's tough to be a consumer these days. It all started with deodorant. After questionable links with aluminum DO & cancer, I switched to the aluminum-free Trader Joe's brand. I figured less hazardous chemicals in my beauty products are better for me overall, eh? I didn't make it over to Trader Joe's for a refill and instead bought Tom's of Maine Wild Lavender DO. Yet I noticed over the past week that I had a bad allergic reaction. Find out why I'm comparing Deodorant to Tinder, after the jump.

For a lot of us stretching just isn't a priority. And,  I get that. If you're a gym person then you probably want to get in, get sweaty and get out. If you take fitness classes then you may have noticed that a lot of instructors skip stretching all together. (Some don't believe it's necessary, some expect that you'll do it on your own). In the fitness community stretching has become somewhat of a controversial subject. When I was studying for my Personal Training & Sports Medicine certification I realized that opinions of Fitness Experts are all over the board. So, I've made an effort to study and research the whole stretching she-bang for the past few years. Here's what I've learned - stretching is key - especially for those of us who spend a good portion of the day sitting. However, old school stretching before exercise is not of paramount importance and doesn't necessarily improve athletic importance. Personally I love my weekly yoga class as a way to work in stretching. But I'm an intermittent yogi and when I can't get to class I have to make an effort to carve out stretch time; Or, I feel it. I recently realized the hard way just how bad my body needs that stretch (and I'm not even a "desk worker" most days!) when I woke up feeling like a 90 year-old lady lacking full range of motion in my neck and complaining of creaky joints after a week without stretch time. If you aren't a regular stretcher I urge you to add even just 5-10 minutes into your routine two or three times a week. Do it first thing in the am pre-shower, as a mid-workday break or right before bed - just get it in and your bod will thank you. Click through for 6 reasons you need to stretch.

I have a confession to make. Deep breath. Here it goes. When I was a small kid,  I used to trap insects in a bug catcher. Then, I read James and the Giant Peach.  James and the Giant Peach is an adventure about a young boy who crosses the Atlantic with his best friends, who just so happen to have many legs and an exoskeleton. My days as a bugnapper were officially over. This experience taught me how important books are in shaping the values of children. However, I’m not the only one who can benefit from the lessons of my transformation. What literature can you use to introduce environmental lessons for your kids? Find out the 6 best children’s books to raise young environmentalists, after the jump!

Friends, a momentous event occurred this past weekend. I'm not talking about the Olympics. Or Broad Street Run bibs announced. I'm talkin' Grilled Cheese Party. A simple idea inspired by MNN, we temporarily escaped from this wintery, snowy with an impromptu grilled cheese party?