Tips for the Eco-Conscious Holiday Shopper

‘Tis the season of holiday stress and much excess.  We may have the best of intentions - beautifully wrapped gifts, wonderful holiday decorations, fabulous meals to feed family and friends - and all the while we are running our selves ragged to make sure it all gets done just in the nick of time.  Whether you are new to the Green movement or a long-time eco-friendly shopper, this holiday season there are many ways we all can help Mother Earth.

Beautify Your Gifts: Dress up your gifts and use reusable giftwrap from Wrapsacks. These colorful, reusable bags make your gifts extra special, not to mention saving trees and avoiding the landfill.  If you do buy wrapping paper, always choose recycled and save wrap and bows for re-use next year.

Go Towards the LED: Watch your holiday energy bills flat line by switching to strands of LED bulbs - they use 90% less electricity than traditional holiday bulbs.  Less electricity means you save and our planet saves as well!

Uninspired at the thought of another trip to the mall? Shop online.  Not only do you save time by avoiding long lines and packed parking lots, but you can comparison shop and save money too! Additionally, most e-commerce warehouses use 1/16th of the energy used to operate retail stores. And even overnight air shipping uses 40% less fuel than the average car trip to the store.

Donation Gifts: What better way to help the environment than to give gifts that don't require packaging? Try tickets to concerts or sporting events, or a museum membership. Even better, give a gift membership to an environmental organization. Your donation helps support groups that fight on your behalf for the good of our planet.

Perk Up with Desk Yoga.  If you feel drowsy at your computer, don’t grab another cup of coffee. Instead, try some stress-busting desk yoga. If you feel tension in the back of your neck, breathe deeply and do some gentle stretches. Raise your shoulders up to your ears and hold. Then drop them right down and release your breath.

Need Some Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating?  Try feeding your family and friends with foods that are as close to their natural state as possible (not processed). Studies have shown that free range foods are 40 percent more nutritious. Free range is a method of farming where the animals are permitted to roam freely instead of being contained. Fair treatment of animals is an integral part of leading a sound life as a human.

Feel Zapped of Energy Lately?  Increased holiday stress can often deplete us of key nutrients. During this time, it is more important than ever to protect ourselves with nutritional supplements. A full-potency, comprehensive, multi-vitamin/mineral formula will replace the many nutrients we need during these busy, active times. Your formula should include the entire B-complex, a complete array of antioxidants like vitamins A, C, E, and selenium, as well as the full mineral spectrum.

Make a New Year's resolution to give yourself the gift of healthy food and healthy habits every day. Your body (and soul) will reward you!