“Superfood, Super You: A Superfoods Guide” is a 36 page book  from Dr. Josh Axe about healthy eating for achieving weight loss, building muscle, detoxifying your body, and anti-aging. Dr. Axe is a chiropractor and wellness practitioner who practices in Nashville, TN. His focus for health is on natural methods including diet, nutrition, and spinal correction. His natural practices have helped his mother achieve full remission from cancer and he continues to share his knowledge to help others achieve optimal health.

“Superfood, Super You” is currently available as a free e-book on his website in exchange for your email address. The book talks briefly about Dr. Axe and shares his mother’s story. It lists foods necessary to achieve your goals such as weight loss or detoxification as well as foods to steer clear from. The book comes complete with a few simple recipes and meal plans. Although Dr. Axe tends to recommend specific brands for certain foods in his book, I’ve simply substituted with similar foods or brands of my preference. Overall, It’s a great intro for those getting started down the road of healthy eating. The book is currently FREE, but only for a limited time. You can access the e-book here.

If you’re looking for a chiropractor in the Central Florida area who shares similar views as Dr. Axe, I highly recommend Dr. Dan Yachter at Y360 Health in Lake Mary, FL. My family and I are patients of his. Like Dr. Axe, Dr. Yachter utilizes an all natural approach to health that has helped many achieve improved overall health, better eating habits, and healthier spines. Y360 Health is located at 3621 Lake Emma Road in Lake Mary and their phone number is (407) 333-2277.

1. BungoBox

Not only do BungoBoxes (reusable, plastic moving boxes) make for an earth-friendly move, renting them is cheaper than buying cardboard. Surprisingly, until now, there really hasn’t been a good alternative to using cardboard. We’ve been using the same environmentally unfriendly materials for the past several hundred years. And, unfortunately only half of the cardboard Americans use actually gets recycled. The rest gets tossed into the garbage. www.bungobox.com

2. Spa Diggity Dog Shampoo

Fido or Fluffy will appreciate this all natural, organic dog shampoo. No chemicals or toxins. www.spadiggitydog.com

3. Organic Groceries

Order from a selection of heirloom produce, grass-fed meats, artisan cheeses and other locally grown foods and have them delivered to your doorstep. www.farmfreshorlando.com

4. Organic Tote

Dandelion Earth-Friendly Goods’ roomy cotton bags some in six different designs with sayings like “EcoChic” or “Green is the New Pink” chemical and pesticide-free bag. They also have toys, rattlers, diapers and toddler-feeding products made of corn-based plastic. www.dandelionforbaby.com

5. Mrs. Jones Soapbox All-Purpose Cleaner

Mrs. Jones’ cleaning products are made of all natural ingredients – many of them food- based. Even the packaging is in reused plastic bottles. www.etsy.com/shop/mrsjonessoapbox

This is a guest post by freelance writer Sarah Sekula. Find out more about her work at www.sarahsekula.com

My family isn’t comprised of Rockefellers, but nobody’s kids are suffering from a lack of toys either.   Also, I need a mild sedative just to get through grocery shopping. Trying to buy every relative, friend and coworker I ever met a present while combating other harried shoppers is my idea of a nightmare.

Even when you know someone well, it’s hard to balance budget and gift appreciation value. Sure my Dad would’ve loved a new compound miter saw, but the deluxe tire repair kit was in my price range. It’s not exactly a tool, but it was bought in the tool department. I have bought many things out of desperation that couldn’t even jokingly be referred to as the “perfect” gift. (crocheted leg warmers, Bugs Bunny Chia Pet, the Epilady) I have seen the look, the contorted smile that supposed to say “look how happy I am” when the recipient is not so much happy, but more disappointed, dismayed, or even repulsed.  I could see it in my Dad’s face when he, a man with a life time AAA membership including roadside service, opened up his gift.

Even if unlike me, you are a superb shopper and capable of bringing a joyous smile to whomever you bestow your gifts upon, where are your loved ones going to put all this stuff you so thoughtfully bought them? If they are like me, they already have closets stacked to the ceiling with boxes of who knows what. Mine have words on them like clothes, toys, and perishables, but that doesn’t really tell me all that much. I recently unpacked one labeled “Important Papers” only to find a bunch of old college notes, a stack of newspaper bridal announcements for people I didn’t recognize, and my dead uncle’s social security card. Let’s face it, if you have had stuff in a closet for ten or so years, and you can’t identify it, you probably don’t really need it.

So in an effort to not to fill the world and my closets with more junk, I have opted not to spend my holidays at the mall. Now I donate the money I would have spent on gifts to charity.  Not only do my friends seem to appreciate this more, but I also get to write it off on my taxes.  Even if you can only give a little, it still makes you look pretty magnanimous.  (I have never seen a gift card that read: “A really crummy donation was made in your name.”)  I am not saying I don’t buy a few things for my kids, but I try to keep in mind that at the first Christmas celebration only three gifts were given, and none of them involved game cartridges.

So, I am asking that you join me. Don’t spend this holiday season in the dollar store looking for items that don’t look like they only cost a buck.  Let’s keep this Christmas green. And rather than wasting your time buying a bunch of unnecessary stuff that’s production is polluting the world and that is quite possibly made not by elves, but underage workers; bake cookies, go caroling, and spend time with your loved ones. After all isn’t that what the holidays are supposed to be about?

(Plus, if we all do it, my mother won’t think I am just being cheap)

Festivities include performances by the Garbage Men, a band that rocks out while going Green with guitars made from cereal boxes, a saxophone crafted from found objects and a drum made from an old garbage can lid. This talented group of teens will enthral guests with their ability to turn trash into musical treasure. The Garbage Men will be playing several sets throughout the day in the guitar exhibit, beginning at 12 p.m.

Also, explore modular housing made with recyclable materials by World Housing Solution plus Segway of Central Florida will be onsite giving live demonstrations for guests. Attendees will learn about the technology of zero-emission transportation, its uses, and how Segways work. Guests can also check out electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf with test rides available all day.

Guest speakers from the Florida Renewable Energy Association, Citizens for Clean Energy, Florida Solar Energy Industries Association, Florida Solar Energy Center, University of Central Florida and OUC – The Reliable One will host presentations throughout the day on topics ranging from the science of climate change to Florida’s energy policies to how to beat the heat in your Florida home. Films with a conservation message like Wild Ocean, Grand Canyon Adventure and The Living Sea will be playing in the Dr. Phillips CineDome all day.

Take a unique journey through the habitats, sights, sounds and social structures of some of the ecosystem’s smallest, yet most important, contributors with Harry’s Big Adventure: My Bug World! – a new multisensory experience that immerses visitors into the world of bugs. The exhibit was developed Terminix and features Harry, a Chinese praying mantis, and his insect friends. Explore freestanding habitats such as a cropland, forest, meadow, swamp and even a house to see how insects impact their surroundings, the environment and ultimately human lives.

After encountering insects, you can warm up to worms with the “Worm Lady” in the NatureWorks exhibit. She will be demonstrating vermicomposting, a technique that uses several different species of worms to break down kitchen and garden scraps, cardboard boxes and newspapers. She will address the importance of worms, how they help compost waste and how you can build your own worm box!

During Greenovations, guests can spend quality time with the family during a day of science fun and discovery while they learn how to be kinder to Mother Earth. Thanks to our event sponsors, admission during the event will be $5 for everyone. Tickets include access to all Greenovations activities as well as all the Science Center’s regular exhibits like DinoDigs, Science Park and KidsTown. For more information on Greenovations, please call 407.514.2000 or visit www.osc.org