Healthy Living

What's the skinny on organic foods? Some actually are worth the extra cost -- find out which are best bought organic.

The quest for organic food and natural foods has revolutionized the way people shop, eat and live. But what is organic food, and what's the difference between regular food and organic vegetables, organic fruit, organic wine, organic coffee and other food items? And are there real benefits to organic food and natural foods? Discover the world of...

The environmental impact of a factory farm and big agribusiness cannot be denied. Though there are some advantages to factory farms, concentrated animal feed lots, or CAFOs, have horrific environmental impacts, from climate change and water pollution to the overuse of pesticides and antibiotics. Learn about factory farming and the alternatives...

Here is a list of the 12 fruits and vegetables that are best bought organic.

Choosing healthy seafood can be daunting, with concerns about overfishing, hatchery practices, mercury poisoning and other health and environmental issues. Is lobster safer than tilapia? Is sushi healthy for pregnant women? Find easy ways to make smart choices about healthy, nutritious seafood, freshwater fish and shellfish.

What's in your kit of homemade cleaners? Clean your home with the eight healthy, green cleaners listed here. From the kitchen sink to the bathroom shower and toilet, these environmentally friendly natural cleaners like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice and others, will get the job done -- and for a lot less money.

Organic chicken eggs must meet USDA requirements for feed, access to outdoors, molting and antibiotic use. The benefit, say many organic food lovers, is a much better egg from a healthier environment.

If you're looking for an air purifier or air filter to clean impurities like smoke, pollen, dust, mold and pet dander from the air in your home, what should you look for? Indoor air quality is too important to leave to an appliance that doesn't work well. Here's some advice for clearing up the air you breathe with an air purifier or air filter.

Honeywell QuietClean Air Purifier

Natural or organic sunscreens and sunblocks -- what's the best one to protect you and your baby's sensitive skin? Find tips on how to buy and use natural, fragrance-free, organic sunscreens.

What are phthalates and why should you worry about them? These plasticizers are found in many household products like toys and baby items, and are endocrine disruptors that may be affecting your family's health. Read about the health effects of phthalates and learn what you can do to stay safe and healthy.

What's the safe way to dispose of old medicine and unused drugs? It's not flushing them down the toilet. Here's how to safely dispose of pharmaceuticals the eco-safe way.

Natural beauty products and organic cosmetics are becoming more popular as consumers look for safe, all-natural skincare lotions, shampoo, perfume and other beauty products. Some have few if any synthetic ingredients, and a few are certified organic products.

Can green exercise and outdoor recreation benefit your self-esteem and mood? Researchers from Britain say it can, and the benefits start after just 5 minutes of walking, biking, gardening or hiking outdoors.

The Environmental Protection Agency provides practical information on ensuring the safety of your family's drinking water.

Health experts are alarmed at our reckless use of antibiotics, and fear their overuse is creating a vast army of "superbug" bacteria with antibiotic resistance. Perhaps the biggest villains in the overuse of antibiotics are factory farms that raise millions of cattle, pigs, chicken and other livestock. Find out what's in your beef, pork and...

Triclosan is found in antibacterial soaps and hundreds of other household products, including clothing, furniture, toys and furniture. Experts agree that using so-called "antibacterial soaps" with triclosan does nothing more than ordinary soap, except that its overuse can lead to the growth of antibiotic-resistant "superbug" bacteria like MRSA.

Grass-fed beef comes from cows that have been raised on grass instead of grain. Fans of grass-fed beef claim it's a leaner and healthier meat, and has many environmental advantages as well.

What is organic beef, and is it better or healthier than conventional beef?

Sulfites are found in most wines, though some wine makers put additional sulfites in their wines. Why are sulfites in wine, are they safe, and how can you find sulfite-free wine? Here's the low-down on wine sulphites.

Organic wine, like organic food, must meet certain USDA criteria before it gets to wear the coveted "USDA Organic" label. What makes organic wine and natural wine different? Is there any such thing as healthy wine? And is organic wine, or wine made from organic grapes, as good as fine vintage wine?

Organic wine, natural wine, biodynamic wine, even vegan wine -- it's enough to make you dizzy before you've even taken a sip. Get the facts on these excellent, high-quality wines that are grown sustainably.

What is natural wine and sustainable wine, and how does it differ from organic wine or other wines? And are either of these healthy wine? There's no simple answer, so people looking for natural wine should learn what these wine terms mean -- and what they don't mean.

What is free-range chicken and freerange eggs, and are they better, safer or more nutritious than regular eggs? Words like organic, free-range and cage-free have different meanings when applied to eggs and chickens.

What eggs-actly are free-range eggs, and are they healthier or more nutritious than regular eggs? Unlike organic eggs, the term "free-range eggs," like "cage-free eggs," isn't recognized by the USDA, so anyone can call their products free-range eggs without third-party verification.

Organic milk has many advantages over regular milk, but price isn't one of them. Is organic milk worth the extra cost? What are the benefits of organic milk, and why is it so expensive? Discover what makes organic milk different from regular milk, and what its health and environmental benefits are.

Organic foods can be a little more costly, but certified organic fruits and organic vegetables are better for you and the environment. To save money when shopping for organic foods, discover which are the best to buy organic, and which can be safely and inexpensively bought non-organic.

Organic fruit and organic vegetables are grown under the watchful eye of the USDA organic program. But what makes organic fruit different, and are organic vegetables safer or healthier to eat?

Natural beer and organic beer were once niche products, but sales of natural beer and organic beer have skyrocketed in recent years. What makes a beer organic, and is organic beer the same as natural beer?

Indoor air quality is affected by asbestos, radon, carbon monoxide, mold and other kinds of indoor pollutants. Get the facts on air quality and health, sick building syndrome, healthy ventilation and indoor pollutants.

What is a volatile organic compound, or VOC? VOCs are found in a number of products including paint. Learn the risks of VOCs in household paint and find alternatives, including low-VOC paint and no-VOC paint and painting supplies.

Life with no car sounds un-American , but the auto-free lifestyle can be very liberating. The Union of Concerned Scientists announced there are three main ways your life can benefit the environment: drive less, eat less meat, and live in a smaller, well-insulated house. Start now by looking at these 8 great reasons to live without a car.

Many plant-based, natural insect repellents claim to repel mosquitoes, gnats and other bugs. But how effective is a natural repellent made of green ingredients like lemon eucalyptus oil or IR3535? And are these natural insect repellents safe to use around kids? Compare the safety and effectiveness of these to DEET, picaridin and other insect...

One of the scariest parts of house cleaning is disposing of household hazardous waste -- the old paint, bug spray, motor oil and other hazardous waste materials that are found in every garage and kitchen. Here's how to dispose of hazardous wastes the safe and easy way.

Right now, your dog or cat is probably wondering, "What can I do to reduce my carbon pawprint? " Give your natural pet a helping human hand by keeping them as healthy and green as you are. Natural pet care is easy and affordable -- just take a look at the eight tips below, and help your pets reduce their impact on the environment.

Organic chocolate and fair-trade chocolate are fast-growing segments of the candy market. But what makes organic chocolate different, and how fair is fair trade chocolate?

Natural air fresheners and room deodorizers are safer than other air fresheners, right? Wrong. Several brands of natural air fresheners that claim to have organic, green or natural ingredients also contain several toxic compounds. Who's turning natural air fresheners into toxic air fresheners?

Natural insect control is safer, and often more effective, than chemical pesticides at managing the ants, flies, cockroaches and other pests that want to share your home. There are safe, natural integrated pest management practices that will keep you healthy and keep your home, children and pets free from insects and other pests.

The market for natural tea and organic tea is growing as fast as the demand for other organic foods. But what exactly makes tea natural, organic or fair trade?

Is there any such thing as organic dog food? And does the term "natural dog food" have any real meaning? There's a lot of greenwashing in the pet food industry. Discover how to find the healthiest dog foods, and learn what to look for on the label.

What is DDT? The pesticide DDT is one of the most controversial chemical compounds in recent history, and though DDT is effective at fighting malaria and other insect-born diseases, DDT has been banned in many countries including the United States. Find out more about the history and the effects of DDT (also known as...

Slow food and the slow food movement are one part of the larger slow movement, a liveable, creative antidote to the modern world's emphasis on speed and mass consumption. But what is slow food, and how can one adopt a slow foods lifestyle? Discover the benefits of slow food and the slow food movement.

Methylmercury and Mercury Facts

A radon map reveals the areas where radon gas is highest. To understand how radon can affect your health, look at these radon facts and radon maps.

Cleaning with vinegar is just one of many uses for this "miracle" product. There are dozens of household uses for vinegar, from lawn care to laundry. Discover how green cleaning with white vinegar can keep your household safe, healthy and clean.

What is formaldehyde, and what are its risks? Get the facts on methanal, on formaldehyde safety and the compound's link to cancer.

Hazardous substances in your house present a real risk to you and your family. Some of these hazardous chemicals are well-known, like pesticides and cleaning fluids, while others are uninvited guests: radon, BPA, phthalates, VOCs, formaldehyde, DDT, triclosan, mercury and perchloroethylene. Get the facts on these dangerous chemicals and toxic...

Arsenic is commonly found in water, soil and foods -- but is it safe? Get the facts on arsenic in juice, rice and other food.