Category: Healthy Lifestyles

The Problem With Plastic

The problem is that when plastic is not disposed of properly, or disposed of at all, it will ensure harmful environmental consequences. A plastic bag can take anywhere from 100 to 500 years to disintegrate! Plastic is a huge environmental threat, killing animals and clogging up rivers worldwide. The average usage time of a plastic bag is around 25 minutes, which is funny because they can be used for multiple things (i.e. picking up your dog’s waste, trash bags.) When a plastic bag is not disposed of it can harm the life of animals and of the entire ecosystem, making them a serious environmental threat. There are ways to use plastic bags without harming nature in the process.

First of all, a plastic bag does NOT have to be recycled, and in fact, it is preferred in some places to not be thrown in the recycling bin because they screw up the machinery that produces recycled goods. If you are going to use a plastic bag at least have the decency to throw it away in the trash can if you are not going to reuse it! The worst thing that you can do with a plastic bag is to throw it to the wind. Please try and make an effort to dispose of your trash – and I’m not just talking plastic – in proper bins, if not for the environment’s sake, then for the sake of sightliness, because there is nothing worse than going to the beach and stumbling upon the remains of picnics past.

The largest ‘landfill’ in the world is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There is such thing as the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch‘, a place with high concentrations of chemical sludge and other broken down remnants of waste. The patch is reported to be ‘twice the size of the continental United States,” and if that doesn’t gross you out then I don’t know what could. This implies that our waste production is too high, and if that is true, what is to happen when this ‘Garbage Patch’ grows? We are already swimming in our own litter half of the time, will this make it a natural thing? Will we be forced to swim in a sea of broken down, toxic particles and various other kinds of waste?

There are efforts going on globally to reduce the incline of plastic waste, one of them being a program run by Trex, which is collecting plastic from local schools in order to create their faux wood panels, the winning school gets a handy prize. In Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake, among other districts, there are numerous schools competing in this competition to eliminate plastic waste. The Organic Comfort Zone is doing its part in helping the schools out by donating the plastic waste that we receive everyday to Willoughby Elementary, a local public school that is currently ranked first in this intercity contest. We are proud to be a part of instilling the benefits of ‘Green’ living into the minds of the youngsters of our nation.

The Trex Plastic Film Recycling Program is helping students throughout Virginia learn of the harm that litter can bring and also of what they might be able to do about it all, which is, to begin with, throwing it away properly! People can get involved by donating to local stores, such as a grocery store, that takes in plastic bags specifically and can send them to places where they can be recycled. If you do not have the time for that, or can not find anywhere around you that is affiliated with recycling, than the easiest step you can take is to throw them out! Another alternative to plastic bags is tote shopping bags that can be reused over and over again, paper bags are not ideal, seeing that they kill trees and are more expensive.

Not only schools, but associations all over the country are giving way to a plastic bag disposal. Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources had partnered with multiple other business’ to form the Wrap Recycling Action Project, or W.R.A.P., which aims to increase the recycling of plastic film in “nearly every business and household.” Much of these bags with the Resin Identification code of #2 and #4 can be disposed of in retail store bins.

The best motto is Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, because it truly is the best thing that you can do with everything that you find in your possession. You can reduce the use of plastic film by stuffing more things into one bag, because the capacity of the bag is usually more than one might expect. Or, instead of doubling your bags for one liter of soda, ask the cashier to only use one bag. Reuse your bags for as long as you can and then when everything is said and done, find a place to recycle them, or throw them away. Save yourself, save some money, save the planet, and enjoy every day as it comes. Enjoy the world without the clutter of plastic bags and filthy waste lying about and do your part in protecting the environment that you live in so that the grass can grow greener everyday and everywhere.

Tags garbage patch, plastic, pollution, recycle, reduce, reuse, toxic

Eco-Tips Environment Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Miscellaneous Renewable Energy

Feed People, Not Landfills

Post author By Eric Hahn
Post date February 13, 2014
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An estimated 50 million Americans do not have access to enough food. If 50 million Americans alone do not have access to enough food, imagine how large the number of people around the world who do not have access to enough food is. That would be nearly one billion people! That means that one in every six people is not getting enough food to eat. However, landfills receive plenty of nutritious and delicious foods, and some foods that are not so nutritious or delicious. With all of this food going to landfills, it makes you wonder why it is so hard to feed everybody in the world.

Not only is the lack of food causing a social epidemic worldwide, but it is also an environmental hazard. When food is sent to landfills it releases a gas called methane, which has 21 times the potential to speed up global warming than Carbon Dioxide. This gas is produced when the food rots and is not disposed of properly. It is almost funny to think about how easy it could be to simply use the food as compost and help feed the soil nutrients as opposed to wasting it and producing harmful toxins.

Compost is organic matter that has been recycled in order to be used as a soil amendment. It is easy to make and it is free. It can be made from fruit and vegetable scraps (e.g. apple cores, orange peels, banana peels, etc.) and from a variety of other materials such as egg shells, coffee grounds, tea leaves, and newspaper. Remember that this will be good for your home garden or backyard, including the stimulation of flower growth and other earthly buds.

When you waste food you waste the time and effort that was needed to grow the product. This is a waste of not only food, but your money and the money of the people that produced it. Not only is it a waste of food and money, but it is also a waste of the animal or plant that died in order for you to eat it! When you look at all of the bad aspects of food waste, it makes you wonder why anyone would do it in the first place. Worldwide, about 1/3 of food produced is put to waste, which is over 1.3 billion tons.

Many programs all over the world are committed to feeding the hungry, including the Egyptian, Bulgarian, and Argentinian food banks. Places and people all over the world are beginning to realize what a hazard food waste can be. Joining organizations such as a local food bank can help save people worldwide, and not just people, but it can also help save the environment in the process. Schools also have information needed in order to donate food, if you have a student attending school, or are one yourself, most likely you will hear of a food drive. Don’t miss your chance to donate and get educated on the matter.

Tags compost, food waste, hungry, pollution, waste, world hunger

Eco-Tips Environment Green Living Healthy Lifestyles

Natural Wonders of the U.S.

Post author By Eric Hahn
Post date February 10, 2014
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Since the environment is such a beautiful and delicate thing, we might want to take better care of it than we do now. Many of us do not realize it because we spend so much time in our homes, in our hometowns, and our worlds begin to shrink, they become where we live. Many of us don’t understand that what we do in our homes has an effect on the entire world around us until we actually see it. If we saw the things that make this world beautiful more often, perhaps we would take the time out of our day to realize that the small things can make a big difference in some of nature’s most fascinating places.

I’ve compiled a list of what I think are some of our country’s most intriguing landscapes, ranging from valleys to mountain peaks, these places are sure to excite:

1. Surrounded by valleys of dazzling flowers that cover the entire spectrum of the rainbow. Outlined by purple and red and orange skies as the sun rises and falls, clouds protecting it from the harsh world around it, Mount Rainier is considered one of the most dangerous, yet most beautiful volcanoes in the U.S. The state park is a popular tourist attraction in the state of Washington, where people come for a variety of activities such as hiking, camping, and mountain climbing.

2. Utah’s Island in the Sky is a wonder no matter where you are standing. From above you can see the valleys and rivers below as if they are in the palm of your hand, in your control, as if you rule the world from the sky. Or, from down below, where the rivers are running and the waterfalls are wondrous. Hikers and climbers visit from all locations to get a peek of the wonder that is the Island in the Sky.

3. What would a National Park post be without the Grand Canyon on it. A favorite for honeymooners, this canyon is one of our nation’s most prized Natural Parks. The magnificence of this canyon is brought on by its overwhelming size, at a mile deep, 18 miles wide, and nearly 277 miles long, its massiveness alone is breathtaking. Not to mention the colors of the rocks when the sun is hitting them just right, and the hiking potential, this canyon is not for the faint of heart.

4. The John Hopkins glacier greets the rush of the ocean in Glacier Bay is a glacier that can get up to four thousand feet thick and 20 miles wide in places. Imagine it melting, that would be four thousand feet and 20 miles worth of extra water that could help in drowning our nation. The sea was once described as a five mile indent in a glacier, but has now receded up to 60 miles to form what is now known as glacier bay.

5. Bordering between Canada and the United States is the lush, wild, and memorizing Niagara Falls. Formed at the end of the last ice age, Niagara falls looms at about 167 feet, with more than 4 million cubic feet of water dropping every second. This wonder is also a favorite for honeymooners and travelers. Truly, it is one of the most jaw-dropping places on the continent of North America and I’m sure many would hate to see it defiled. The sad part is that many, however, wouldn’t even care.

So there you have it, a list of some of the most beautiful and interesting places in the U.S. alone – imagine the rest of the world – and then try to imagine a world without these wonders. Like Glacier Bay, much of our natural landforms are being destroyed and/or altered by pollution worldwide, and we have the chance to stop it, so long as we learn the facts and do what we can to stop the pollution that consumes our planet.

Tags Environment, landscape, national parks, natural, organic, world

Healthy Lifestyles Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom Natural Home Organic Comfort Organic Mattress & Bedding Sleep Tips

Sleeping Outlets

Falling asleep is the constant struggle when you are too preoccupied with worrying thoughts. Staring at the clock only to find out that you still haven’t fallen asleep by one in the morning can be the twisting of the knife in your heart when you know that you will have a long and busy day when the morning comes. Falling asleep on a CozyPure mattress can surely help with falling asleep and comfort. But sometimes, when comfort isn’t enough and you have too many thoughts racing through your mind, try some other ways to relax and fall asleep.

Reading before bed can be very therapeutic because it can help get your mind off of the constant stress that plagues you. Reading, and focusing on the words on the page, and lying in bed or curled up on the couch, can easily make one sleep. With eyes concentrating on the tiny words in front of you it is sure to make your lids droopy and calm your mind – depending on what book you are reading.

Reading is a good way to set one’s mind up for a good dream. I know that when I read a good book before bed, such as Harry Potter or other books of the sort, my mind travels to a different world, a world where anything is possible. I like to visit these worlds before I enter sleep because I like to fall asleep with a positive outlook on things. Reading before bed is entertaining and soothing, its the best of both worlds.

I also like to write before I go to sleep. Sometimes I stay up late at night writing stories on my laptop of scrawling poems into my notebooks while my favorite music plays. It helps me drift into another universe, one where I am in control. Writing can be a good thing before bedtime, no matter what you write about. You can make journal entries or work on that novel you keep telling yourself that your going to write one day. It is a good way to explore your deeper consciousness. It can be used as a way to heal the things inside of you, just like the best break up songs can help to heal the pain of the worst heartbreaks.

Finding an outlet is important for a lot of people. For me those outlets are reading, writing, and going to the gym. These activities just also happen to be beneficial in helping me fall asleep easily. I’m probably a disappointment to teens all over the globe, seeing as I go to bed before ten-o-clock, but it’s a good thing that I do because sleeping is also a very important outlet for me. It helps my mind recover from stressful things that linger inside of it, and it keeps me from digging my fingers into the eyes of dozens of people who make me angry throughout the coarse of a day. Enjoying the comfort of my own CozyPure bed and other bedding materials, and the comfort of my own bedroom (which, by the way, I am always decorating differently as yet another stress reliever) is surely something that keeps me sane.

So try out your own outlets and see what they might do for you. Try reading or writing before bed and listening to soothing music in the warm glow of a small lamp or a candle. It can only be for the best, so give it a try.

Tags comfort, reading, sleep, writing

Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Miscellaneous Organic Comfort Organic Mattress & Bedding

Sleep vs. The Common Cold

Post author By Eric Hahn
Post date February 4, 2014
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I’ve posted before about how sleep can take a toll on our eating habits (those who get less sleep will more likely to overeat or make unhealthy food choices), but in doing some more research, I’ve discovered that how well one sleeps can affect our immune system too. During sleep the immune system creates protein molecules that fight bacteria.

This can affect our bodies abilities to fight colds and other infections, and after the bacteria has invaded us it can affect our bodies ability to recover as quickly as those who get an adequate amount of sleep. In order to get a full nights rest you should take steps such as exerting more energy during the day (because exercise can help boost the immune system, also) and choosing healthier foods (which, by the way, can also help strengthen the immune system.)

I have plenty of friends who come down sick all of the time, and these friends choose to stay up late on weekdays when they know that they have to get up early in the AM. I try to keep my sleep schedule consistent and get at least 7 and a half hours of sleep a night. I also hit the gym regularly and eat healthy when I can. In turn my immune system rewards me with the ability to only let me come down with a cold about once a year.

While you are sick, try and rest lots, and don’t forget to cover yourself up with a warm wool comforter or an organic cotton blanket. Drink lots of fluids and think positively because you would be surprised by the power of the mind and what it can do for you in the long run so long as you don’t let the power of negativity weigh you down.

So there you have it, try and get as much sleep as you can and your immune system will boost in return.

Stay healthy! Sleep healthy! Be healthy!

Tags common cold, flu, healthy, healthy living, immunity, sleep

Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Made in the USA Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom Natural Fibers Natural Home Organic Comfort Organic Mattress & Bedding Products & Sales Sleep Tips

Which Pillow Is Right For You?

Post author By Eric Hahn
Post date January 27, 2014
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Waking up with a stiff neck can be a pain; it can set your hole day up to be a struggle. It is very unpleasant to sit at a desk massaging your neck and shoulders to no avail. You wake up feeling worse than when you fell asleep all because your neck and shoulders have become stiff overnight. This can all be fixed with the right pillow, though.

While choosing the right pillow for you there are many factors that should go into your decision, and at the Organic Comfort Zone, there is a bundle of options for you to choose from.

First of all, you should consider the fill of your pillow. Here there are a few different fill choices for you to choose from. For someone with a neck that should be elevated during sleep (snoring or apnea problems), perhaps an extra fill would do you justice to help open the airways – keeping the head and neck elevated can help with one’s breathing. If you are a stomach sleeper, like myself, you might want to try using a pillow with a lite fill so that your body isn’t being stretched backwards. And for those who are ambivalent to either choice, perhaps you might enjoy the regular fill which suits most side and back sleepers. Choosing the wrong fill can be uncomfortable and, of course, it can make one’s neck very stiff by the time that the morning hours roll around.

Next you should consider the softness of a pillow. In a lot of downy-feather pillows the fluff begins to fade within a year or two and usually the feathers disperse every night so the pillow goes flat (we don’t offer down pillows).

With a wool pillow the fluff is batting that provides a slight softness with support. The wool compresses and will become flatter with use so if you like that type of pillow, choose wool. However, if you prefer a pillow that sinks and forms to your head, you might enjoy the La’Noodle pillow, because while it conforms to your head and neck, its fluff factor does not fade for ten or more years. You can sleep on the pillow every night and it will bounce right back to natural plumpness once fluffed. It offers both contouring support that is soft and squishy. Other pillow options at the Organic Comfort Zone include organic pure Kapok, Cotton, and Buckwheat.

Tags cotton, Kapok, latex, organic, pillow, sleep, wool

Environment Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Made in the USA Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom Natural Fibers Natural Home Organic Comfort Organic Mattress & Bedding

Sri Lanka

Known as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” because of it’s natural beauty, and because of it’s friendly hosts, it is also referred to as the “Nation of Smiling People.” Sri Lanka has much to offer with a diverse range of religions and languages and ethnicities. The island is also a large importer of tea, cinnamon, coconuts, and rubber. If you could take a guess as to why the Organic Comfort Zone imports its latex from Sri Lanka it is because of the Sri Lankan rubber trees. From these trees a milk sap can be extracted in order to produce what is known as natural latex rubber.

Latex mattress’ are some of the most comfortable in the world. A large sum of the best latex comes from the island of Sri Lanka. Much of the process of creating natural latex contributes greatly to the employment of many locals whose job it is to tap the latex trees for their sap. Sri Lanka has many tree farms where the rubber trees are grown, and in no way is the extraction process harmful for the tree! The production of a latex mattress is environmentally friendly in every way. Even if the day comes, many years down the line, that you must get rid of your latex mattress, there is no need to worry because the latex is biodegradable.

Also, while the latex components are produced in Sri Lanka, every one of CozyPure’s products is created with the best of care in the USA. Everything from our Matelasse Organic Cotton blankets to our La’Noodle pillows and mattress toppers are manufactured in our very own warehouse, where we work hard to assure that our customers receive the best for their buck. Our products are comfortable and affordable, they will last a long time and will not wear and tear like the cheap products purchased from a discount department store, in which products are mostly outsourced to be made for a cent an hour.

Among other aspects of Sri Lanka, it is also one of the most beautiful islands in Asia, with an abundance of wildlife and wildflowers. Its natives are friendly and inclined toward sports and adventures including rafting and surfing. A beautiful thing about Sri Lanka is that, being a small country with a wide variety of religions, it has managed to remain peaceful throughout the years, celebrating and appreciating everyone’s own beliefs and mythologies. There are many festivals to attend, including Easter celebrations and the Electric Peacock Festival, which is a relatively new music gala.

Tags asia, better sleep, natural latex, organic bedding, rubber, rubber tree, sri lanka

Healthy Lifestyles Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom

Technicolor Sleep

Asking me to wake up at six in the morning is like asking an elephant to squeeze through a snake hole, it just does not work out too well. Still, everyday, because of my school schedule, I’m expected wake up at the crack of dawn and go into school and try my hardest to not fall asleep. This is especially problematic when it’s no more than twelve degrees outside and there seems to be no thought more comforting that staying cuddled up beneath my warm wool comforter. But sleep is the one thing in my life that I try not to sacrifice when it comes down to the wire – though on many nights, even that sacrifice must be made.

Studies show that disorders like obesity and diabetes can be linked to sleep deprivation. Now, I was a chubby child so as I grow older I try to steer clear of anything that could turn me back into that plump little boy again, and in my eyes, sleep is an important factor. I feel much more satisfied after eating when I’ve had a full night’s rest than after a couple of hours of sleep or none at all. I try to keep my weekly routine roughly the same everyday so that I can get to bed at the same time every night and so that I can wake up fully rested and prepared for the long day ahead.

Some of the problems that this world faces when falling asleep is the constant lure of one’s tablet or T.V. or smartphone or computer. These devices can hurt our body’s melatonin production, especially when they lie only a couple of feet away from your head. The bright lights emitted from these devices can set our body’s internal clock back a couple of hours, making it harder to fall asleep. According to Charles Czeisler, a professor of sleep medicine at Harvard, peoples internal sleep clocks, or circadian rhythms, have been pushed back almost six hours since the invention of electricity.

I know that speaking from my own experience that my laptop has been known to wake me up on most nights. It is not just the lights that come from these devices but it is also the noises, and my laptop is very loud for some reason when its motor decides to start running in the middle of the night even though it is closed. Perhaps removing all electronics from one’s room could do wonders for their sleep.

Czeisler also states that “it may that gradually lowering the lights might be more powerful than shutting them all off at once.” You can easily adjust the lighting on your computer screen or tablet or phone just by going to settings and adjusting the brightness. Also, installing a dimmer on one’s light might also be useful in the hour before sleep as you prepare for bed.

Another interesting thing about this whole technology before bedtime thing is that once engaged in specific information that can excite or stimulate the brain, a tiny bit of adrenaline is released which boosts energy in one’s body, making it difficult for them to fall asleep. I can vouch for this because when my phone is charging there is a small red dot that glows at the top of the screen, and when I get a text that dot disappears and is replaced with a tiny, flashing blue dot. This dot alone gets me excited, although, maybe that says more about me than it does for the technology.

Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Miscellaneous

Best And Worst Foods For Your Sleep

Post author By Eric Hahn
Post date January 9, 2014
No Comments on Best And Worst Foods For Your Sleep

We’ve all had those nights of tossing and turning for hours before finally falling asleep. Those nights are certainly unpleasant when one has to awake early on the next morning. Well, I’ve posted in the past about how music can aid in falling asleep, and how reducing your exposure to light in the hour before bed can also benefit you. I have also ranted about eating well and I’ve given tips and lists of what food to eat and what foods might be best during the winter time. So I decided to combine the two and figure out which foods might be best to consume before going to bed.

1. Milk (or other various dairy products) is rich with calcium and research shows that calcium deficiency can make it hard to fall asleep at night.

2. Fish contains vitamin B6 which aids in creating melatonin.

3. Poultry, because like most Americans know, one unbuttons their pants and takes a nap after feasting upon a feast of poultry (i.e. Thanksgiving).

4. Cherries contain melatonin in them, so munching on a few of those, or drinking some tart cherry juice, should get the job done.

5. Fortified Cereal because carbohydrates are great for sleep.

6. Bananas contain muscle relaxants magnesium and potassium, which help you, well, relax.

7. Sweet potatoes contain both carbohydrates and potassium.

8. Tea, when decaffeinated, is great for hitting the sack because some blends, such as chamomile, can increase drowsiness.

Now that we have gone over some of the better foods to snack on before bed or possibly incorporate into dinner, lets review some of the foods that can keep you up at night.

1. Anything too spicy, like salsa or curry, can keep you awake at night, burning for something to drink.

2. Chocolate contains both high calories and caffeine, which are both counterproductive in the sleep process.

3. Coffee, even when decaffeinated contains some amount of caffeine and also dehydrates ones body to a degree, making falling asleep a task.

4. Alcohol disturbs the body’s natural sleep cycle.

5. Fat, in fatty foods such as beef or pork, are terrible for sleep, and they can totally kill your vibe, and figure.

So there you have it, a list of foods that are both nutritious and delicious, and great sleep aids. You also have a mental picture of what to refrain from before bedtime, and in some cases, altogether. Now that winter is coming into full swing it might help to cuddle up next to the fire with a hot cup of tea, or get cozy underneath a warm wool comforter with a soothing glass of milk.

Tags healthy, healthy sleeping, sleep health, Sleep Tips

Eco-Tips Environment Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Miscellaneous

Don’t Be Ignorant! The Environment is Everyone’s to Share!

Post author By Eric Hahn
Post date December 14, 2013
No Comments on Don’t Be Ignorant! The Environment is Everyone’s to Share!

Earlier this week my mother shared with me a disturbing story. Her and my sister we in the McDonald’s parking lot when they saw a man stop his car, open his door and drop his giant bag of trash just right out onto the ground when the trashcan was literally 2 feet away. What makes this story even more alarming is that once my mother honked her horn to show her disapproval the man proceeded to open his door back up and pick his trash off the ground, however he did not throw it out in the trash, instead he threw it up in the air! Now the trash littered even more of the ground because this pig didn’t have the decency to walk 2 feet out of his car and throw his trash away.

When things like this happen I wonder if these people do the same thing inside of their own homes. Do they just drop their trash where ever because it they are too lazy to bring it to the garbage can? Probably not, because they want their house to remain clean. So why do they not seem to give any care about the world outside of their home? It’s their planet too, do they not process that? It angers me to no end to see people act this way toward the mother we all share.

Did you know that 3 out of every 5 cigarette butts are littered? It may not seem like much, when you see a cigarette but lying on the ground, but when there is a full street of them it is kind of disgusting. I remember once I was walking down the street with a friend and there was just a pile (and I mean a couple inches high and a couple of feet wide) of cigarette butts just spilled across the sidewalk! I mean, how disgusting is that?

Another thing I saw, which inspired me, was when I took a stroll down the beach and saw the cutest couple with their dog exiting, of course, their Prius with two giant trash bags and sticks to pick up trash. I helped to pick up some small debris that they missed but for the most part they were hard at work cleaning up the beach and believe me when I say that the beach may be the most important thing to save. If trash piles up on the beach then is it going to get into the waterways and perhaps kill fish and other various sea creatures. Without much of these creatures our food chain would not be what it is today.

Anyways, I guess I just wanted to get that random rant out of the way because it has been sitting inside of me for some days now. So do your part in helping the world turn to a cleaner, better place. Even if it is something as simple as a cigarette butt or a scrap of paper, it can make a pretty big difference in the long run.