@GreenEarthOrganics on Instagram

We've started Instagraming! To help us launch and celebrate our new Instagram account we are doing a special contest to get started and see what delicious meals you make with your organic bin. We welcome you to follow us @greenearthorganics! Tag us in a beautiful photo you have taking of your order or something you have cooked using the ingredients and you can win your order! Draw will happen February 25 so you have 2 weeks to get your Instagram on!

Pickled Turnips

We are making Pickled Turnips this week! Pickled turnips are a popular Middle Eastern mezes. Adding a beet slice to each jar turns the turnips pink; you can omit this step if you like.
Makes 6 pint jars (about 12 cups) | Active Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutesIngredients
2 1/2 pounds turnips, peeled and cut into 1/4- to 1/2-inch-thick wedges or sticks (about 8 cups)
6 slices peeled beet
3-6 whole large cloves garlic, sliced
3 cups distilled white vinegar or cider vinegar
3 cups water
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons sea salt
2 tablespoons sugar
Preparation
Divide turnips among 6 pint-size (2-cup) canning jars or similar-size tempered-glass or heatproof-plastic containers with lids.
Add 1 beet slice to each jar (this dyes the pickles pink) and divide the garlic slices among the jars.
Combine vinegar, 3 cups water, salt and sugar in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir until the salt and sugar dissolve. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Carefully fill jars (or containers) with brine to within 1/2 inch of the rim, covering the turnips completely. (Discard any leftover brine.)
Place the lids on the jars (or containers). Refrigerate for at least 1 week before serving. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

CAN GREEN COFFEE BEAN EXTRACT HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT? By Valerie Hould-Marchand

Did you make New Year’s resolutions? Let me guess, it had something to do with fitness… Have you given up on them yet? In fact, nearly 60 percent of people who take them will give up within six months. Losing weight takes time – time most people do not have in this fast paste life. So it is easier to give up or fall victim to the numerous trendy quick fixes.
It seems we are always wild for the newest natural supplements promising to quickly make us slim and beautiful. The latest craze is no different. It has been praised as almost miraculous in its ability to help you lose weight without the need to change your diet or your exercise regime.
Is it too good to be true? Haven’t we heard these claims a hundred times before? Remember raspberry keytones, hoodia, and yerba mate? This certainly has not stopped Green Coffee Bean Extract from flying off the shelves. Like numerous other vastly popular natural supplements or products, the Green Coffee Bean Extract (GCBE) fad originated from the Dr. Oz show. In September, Dr.Oz even conducted his own experiment on the supplement, using 100 women volunteers, in an effort to silence the critics. The women who were given the extract lost an average of two pounds a week in two weeks, while the women who took placebo lost an average of one pound during that time.
What is it?
Coffee beans are actually green seeds inside a red berry. Roasting them is what gives the seeds their brown colour and creates the characteristic aroma and flavour java lovers crave every day. Green coffee beans are simply coffee beans that have not been roasted yet.
Does it work?
The numbers of studies or clinical trials on the topic are still limited at this point, but one study in particular is often mentioned when promoting the efficacy of GCBE. Dr. Joe Vinson, professor of chemistry at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, lead a 22-week study where subjects experienced significant reductions in body weight, body mass index, and percent of body fat.
This study a widely cited as proof that GCBE helps you lose weight, but many experts and scientists remain skeptical on the subject.

If GCBE works for weight loss, it may be due to a natural compound called chlorogenic acid, which helps slow the release of glucose in the body. So far, it seems to be a relatively safe product in short-term use, but if you give it a try, you will want to check with your doctor first to make sure GCBE poses no risk to your health. Not to mention that it is not cheap, the cost adds up to almost $40 a month on average.

If you decide to go ahead and try GCBE for yourself, here is what Dr. Oz advises:
• Choose a green coffee bean supplement that contains chlorogenic acid extract, which can be listed as either GCA (green coffee antioxidant), or Svetol, says Dr. Oz. It should have a minimum of 45 percent chlorogenic acid.
• For the study that Dr. Oz conducted, participants were told to take 400 mg, three times a day, 30 minutes before each meal.


Sources:
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, linear dose, crossover study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a green coffee bean extract in overweight subjects
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3267522/
www.droz.com

Holiday Closure

Please note we will be closed from Monday December 24 and will reopen again Wednesday December 2.

Delivery Schedule for the week of December 31
If you have a delivery scheduled Monday December 31 or Tuesday January 1, it will come Wednesday January 2. If you are not able to accept delivery January 2, please update your delivery schedule as usual, or call or email to reschedule your delivery. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday deliveries of this week will not be affected.

If you are on an every 2 week delivery schedule
If you are on an every 2 week delivery schedule and you received your last delivery the week of December 17, your next delivery will be the week of December 31.
If you are on an every 2 week delivery schedule and you received your last delivery the week of December 10, your next delivery will be the week of January 7.
If you wish to switch your week schedule, please call or email the office.

Hope you have a very happy holiday, and all the best in the new year! Thank you so much for your continued support over the past 15 years!
Sincerely
Billy and Giselle

It’s the Holidays !! By Valerie Hould-Marchand

For many of us, getting ready for the holidays is like preparing for a marathon. A hectic holiday schedule combined with an endless array of treats, countless hours spent shopping, and the added stress can really throw you off your game. If you’re not careful, the holidays can push you over the edge.

Here are a few ways to help you reduce stress, increase the joy, and keep you healthy during “the happiest time of the year”.


Plan Your Meals
Whether it’s for family or just for guests, you will probably be cooking a variety of special meals during the holidays. You can easily take some stress out of the season by not only planning ahead for the special occasions, but also for your daily meals. Stock your refrigerator with fresh produce, and take the time to wash it and chop it up into bite-size pieces. Freeze individual portions of lean proteins such as chicken, turkey, and fish. Fill your shelves with quinoa, whole grain vermicelli pasta (which takes two minutes to cook), raw nuts, beans and lentils, tahini, nut butters, tea, and dark chocolate.

Even though it takes time to plan your meals, you will you save time in the long run. You will be able to create healthy meals within minutes without stressing yourself out.


Get moving
Research studies show that most adults gain an average of 3-7 pounds over the holidays. Yikes ! So take care of yourself and stay active. Create a home workout routine for those times when you can’t go to the gym. You can alternate between a minute of cardio (skipping, running up and down the stairs) and strengthening exercises such as squats, lunges, push-ups, and sit-ups. Get up early whenever you can and squeeze a longer walk, run or bike ride into your busy schedule. And why not encourage your guests or family to get in on the fun by organizing a game of football instead of lounging on the couch.

Sticking to your fitness plan will help you cope with the added stress and pressures that we all face at this time of year.


Limit Temptation
You will be bombarded with delicious foods at every gathering during the holiday season. So don’t fight it and indulge a little ! The trick is to stick to one treat a day. Focus on socializing instead, and take the time to catch up with loved ones rather than spending the entire party by the buffet.



Give Back
Rolling up your sleeves and giving back to your community can be extremely rewarding. Sometimes the greatest gift you can give to others is service. Volunteering during this time of year can really bring a lot of joy and comfort to those who need it most. If you volunteer at a local food kitchen or work to secure food donations for a food bank, you will be providing meals to hungry individuals and families.

You could also help take care of the environment by reducing waste, recycling, and reusing items as much as possible. Consider purchasing greeting cards that are made of recycled paper, or simply send free online greeting cards.


Remember, the holidays are meant to be enjoyed with friends and family. So relax, appreciate those around you, and celebrate these special days with love and laughter.

Until next time,
Heal yourself
Heal the planet