We're back!

Sound Mindfulness has returned from hiatus!  And now for an important message from our sponsor... reality.  

The Harlem Children's Zone Needs Our Support!

 Post taken from The Harlem Children's Zone 

What is The Harlem Children's Zone?


An innovative and unique community-based organization, offering
education, social-service and community-building programs to children and families since 1970.

This summer over 340 communities nationwide applied for Promise Neighborhoods grants from the US Department of Education. Their goal is simple - they want to break the cycle of poverty for their
children and families by creating comprehensive initiatives based on the Harlem Children's Zone model.

President Obama proposed $210 million in his fiscal year 2011 budget for Promise Neighborhoods so communities can transform their visions into reality for poor children nationwide. But the House of Representatives recently slashed the proposed Promise Neighborhoods budget from $210 million to $60 million. Quite simply this means that for thousands of children, the failing schools, dangerous streets,
poor health care and other ills may not be addressed in the holistic way that the communities need.

We ask you to let your Senate and Representatives know that you want Promise Neighborhoods funding restored to $210 million for fiscal year 2011 in two ways:

1) Send a message to Congressional Leaders

http://support.hcz.org/site/R?i=dsPiIhnGAXYYTnwfra_7CA..

2) If your organization is interested in signing onto a letter calling

to restore the funding, (view letter) contact HCZ's Policy Director

Kate Shoemaker at kshoemaker@hcz.org to add your organization.

click here to help

Thank you!

Pesticides and ADHD

    A new study, receiving ubiquitous media attention recently, has shown a possible link between certain types of pesticides and a diagnosis of ADHD.  The study was published in Pediatrics and conducted by University of Montreal and Harvard Universtiy researchers.  The urine concentration of certan byproducts of organophosphates, a type of pesticide which accounts for over half of the pesticides used in this country, was tested in over 1100 children.  Researchers found that for every ten-fold increase in urine concentration of organophosphates, children were 35% more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.  Perhaps an even more worrisome finding was that children who had even the lowest levels of organophosphates in their urine were twice as likely to have ADHD than those whose urine showed no previous exposure.  

   The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) approved 32 classes of organophosphate pesticides in 2006, despite the numerous requests from its own scientists not to do so.  One particularly disturbing letter, written by the EPA union presidents, can be found here.  

   The findings of this recent study are significant, but it is near impossible to show that pesticides were, without a doubt, the cause of the ADHD.  However, the connection shown here as well as several other studies may be reason enough to make a conscious effort to lower the amount of pesticides you and your family are exposed to daily.  Here are some ways to minimize dietary pesticide exposure:

Below is a beautiful video of an infant hearing the sounds of his mother's voice for the first time after receiving cochlear implants.  May it put the worries of your day into perspective, and remind you of your forgotten fortunes...

Study Finds Kids' Diets Linked to Asthma Risk

View here:

Eating a Mediterranean diet -- one high in fruits, fish, and vegetables and low in saturated fat -- is associated with a reduced likelihood of asthma in children, a large observational study found.

(Not) Milkin' It

Millions of Americans have chosen to limit milk products or go completely cow's milk-free for a variety of reasons - some of which include lactose intolerance, casein (milk protein) allergy or intolerance, animal rights issues, or simply because they don't like it.  Today's post is designed not to delve into the potential problems with milk ingestion - although I will address this in later posts - but to provide the readers with an overview of the milk alternatives available in today's grocery markets.  While knowing the pros and cons of these alternatives will hopefully help you be more mindful of the ones you choose, the taste can vary quite a bit among the choices.  I'd urge you to buy small samples of each, after considering your own dietary needs, to find the one that suits you (and your taste buds) best.
Here are the most commonly available cow's milk alternatives:

1. Soy "Milk" -  Soy "milk" is created using pureed, whole soy beans to produce a thin milk-like liquid.  Some of you may remember a post published last year entitled The Truth About Soy.  The risks and benefits of soy consumption were discussed here in detail, and I'd encourage you to check it out for a more thorough history on soy and its baggage.  Soy milk tends to be the most commonly chosen alternative to milk products, as it is the most readily available and typically the least expensive out of all of the options.  Here are some of the positive points in choosing soy milk as a milk substitute:

- Most varieties of soy milk contain 30% of the daily value of calcium, which is the same amount as in typical cow's milk.  This lessons the need to increase calcium products and/or take supplements when switching from cow's milk to soy.  Of course, always read your product's label as there can be some variation here.  
- soy milk contains, on average, 7g of protein per serving - comparable to cow's milk which typically has 7-10 grams per serving.  Even better is that soy is a complete protein, which means it contains all of the essential amino acids our bodies require to utilize the protein fully. 

The 9 Worst Things to Order at a Restaurant

CSPI's Xtreme list:
The Cheesecake Factory Chocolate Tower Truffle Cake. Six inches long, three-quarters of a pound, and over 1,600 calories, this "slice" of cake is the equivalent of eating fourteen Hostess Ho Hos.
Outback Steakhouse New Zealand Rack of Lamb. The lamb alone has 1,300 calories and 60 grams of saturated fat, but add the buttery sides (even the veggies) and you're up to 80 grams of saturated fat.
California Pizza Kitchen Pesto Cream Penne. Before you add any chicken or shrimp, this creamy version of an Italian classic has 1,350 calories, 49 grams of saturated fat and 1,920 mg of sodium.
Chevy's Crab & Shrimp Quesadilla. Technically an appetizer, this cheesy platter has 1,790 calories and 63 grams of saturated fat.
Bob Evans' Cinnamon Cream Stacked & Stuffed Hotcakes. Take pancakes, stuff them with cinnamon chips, spread cream cheese, top with cream sauce and whipped cream and you get a breakfast that brings in 1,380 calories and 34 grams of saturated fat. You could eat a hungry man's breakfast: two country-fried steaks and four eggs for about the same.
California Pizza Kitchen Tostada Pizza with Grilled Steak. The equivalent of a pepperoni pizza plus six beef tacos, this pie weighs in at 1,680 calories and 32 grams of saturated fat.
Five Guys Bacon Cheeseburger. This burger alone is 920 calories and a day-and-a-half's allowance (30 grams) of saturated fat. Adding a large order of French fries adds 1,460 calories (three times the amount in large McDonald's fries).
P.F. Chang's Double Pan-Fried Noodles Combo. It's hard to know what's more impressive: the days' worth (1,820) of calories in this dish, or the five days' worth of salt.
The Cheesecake Factory Pasta Carbonara with Chicken. Bacon-y, buttery, creamy, and carb-y -- this pasta dish brings 2,500 calories and 85 grams of saturated fat to the table
source: abcnews.com

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Gardening season is (finally) upon us!  Many of us turn to man-made, synthetic fertilizers to enhance our lawns and gardens, simply because we are unaware of the more natural, less expensive alternatives.  Here are some recipes for homemade fertilizers you can try at home:

1.  Coffee Grinds - Put your used coffee grinds to work as food for your acid-loving plants and lawn.  Coffee grinds are rich in Magnesium, Potassium, and Nitrogen, which are all essential plant nutrients.  You can use them by spreading them directly on your lawn, or by sprinkling them around the base of acid-loving plants such as roses, rhododendrums, and blueberries.  Be sure the grinds are dry before using them.
2.  Vinegar - This ingredient works best to make fertilizers for houseplants and for all types of acid-loving plants, as it works by increasing the acidity of the soil.  Mix 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar into 1 gallon of water, and water your plants with the solution every 3 months for fertilization. 
3.  Fireplace Ash - Fireplace ash that is produced from burning wood contains ample amounts of needed potassium and phosphate.  It can be used in place of Lime, as long as your soil is not alkaline. 
4.  Egg Shells - Dry out your used egg shells and blend them in a blender until they form a fine powder.  They can then be used in place of lime in your lawns, as egg shells and lime are composed of almost the exact same ingredients.  The main purpose of lime and its relatives is to balance soil acidity, increase beneficial bacteria activity, and to make other nutrients more easily available.
5.  Seaweed -   Sounds odd, I know.. but seaweed can be beneficial to our plantlife in many ways.  First off, it is a major source of carbohydrates which serve as food for the beneficial bacteria needed for optimal plant growth.  They also contain a plethora of necessary plant nutrients in their most bio-available (chelated) form.  If you live near the water, you can use whole pieces of collected seaweed (dried-out) directly on your lawn or plants.  It is also available as a liquid extract from many gardening stores or nurseries. 

Please feel free to share any homemade fertilizer recipes you may have!

Sources:  http://frugalliving.about.com/od/doityourself/tp/Homemade_Fertilizer.htm; http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/158/1/Natural-fertilizer.html; http://www.jasons-indoor-guide-to-organic-and-hydroponics-gardening.com/seaweed-fertilizers.html