Stay “green” and healthy by washing your reusable grocery bags on a weekly basis. In a recent survey, researchers found that people using cloth or other green bags rarely clean them. The problem? When tested, nearly all the bags had some form of coliform bacteria, and half the bags contained E. coli. Researchers concluded that the best way to eliminate cross contamination of food is to wash the bags weekly and keep produce, meat and multi-purpose bags separate. Of course, reusable bags are much better for the environment than plastic ones; just be smart about how you use them. Click here to learn more.

Summertime means organic strawberries are at their prime. Not only are they a tasty addition to smoothies, salads and shortcake, but eating them can increase adiponectin levels, a fat burning hormone that speeds metabolism, suppresses appetite and controls blood sugar.  Remember, strawberries are part of the Dirty Dozen of fruits most likely to have a high concentration of pesticides. Farmstand fresh or from the grocery store, be sure to choose organic. Read more here and let everyone know some of your favorite uses for strawberries.

Drinking tea keeps you just as hydrated as water – with extra benefits.  A European study shows that drinking at least 3 cups of tea a day can help keep heart attacks, tooth decay and potentially even cancer away. Antioxidants in natural tea leaves boost the healthy fighting power of your body’s cells better than water. During summer days, replenish your body’s fluids with organic herbal teas and stay cool by brewing and pouring over ice.  Click here to learn more about tea hydration.

A couple of handfuls of nuts a day may help keep the bad cholesterol away. Whether it’s almonds, cashews or walnuts, a new study shows that eating 2.4 ounces daily can lower bad cholesterol (LDL) while also raising levels of the good kind (HDL). Remember to choose organic and unsalted whenever possible. Read more here..

Is healthy living as easy as 1,2,3?  As part of the USDA’s revision of the national Dietary Guidelines, an advisory committee recommends that Americans eat more plant-based foods, exercise weekly and cut back on added sugar and fat. What do you think? The USDA wants you to read the report and give your comments: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/dietaryguidelines.htm

Just make sure it’s brown.  Harvard recently released a study showing Americans who eat more brown rice may reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes, and all you need is a 1/3 of a serving daily or a cup (cooked) twice a week!  Click here to find out more about the study results.

Ever wonder why it’s called a “NY strip?” Thanks to the bountiful appearance of meats from organic, local farms in greenmarkets and butcher shops alike, your local meats are now available in restaurants and farmers’ markets near you. Read on to find out where you can pick up your very own NY NY strip, or consult Clean Plates NYC to find the restaurants featuring locally grown and organic meats.

Whether you start your day off with milk in your cereal or use it to flavor your coffee, be sure to choose organic milk from grassfed cows. A new study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that aside from strengthening your bones and teeth, milk from grassfed cows contains higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which have been shown to reduce your risk of heart attacks. Click here to learn more.

Put down that hot dog! Before you take another bite, chew on this question: could the chemicals and salt in processed meats (instead of the meat itself) be responsible for raising the risks of heart disease and diabetes? Results from a new study by Renata Micha of the Harvard School of Public Health make it worth pondering. Click here to get the details and full results of the study.

Agribusiness multinational Monsanto is donating 130 tons of “pesticide-coated hybrid and conventional vegetable seeds” to farmers’ associations in Haiti to help the post-earthquake efforts.  Monsanto blogged that “given the choice, farmers generally select hybrid seeds because they generate more food and grain per acre…” However, in an article in LA Weekly, the executive director of Haiti’s Peasant Movement of Papay saw the donation as a “very strong attack on small agriculture, on farmers, on biodiversity” and even stated that it was an affront against the Haitian environment as a whole.  The group has even promised to burn the seed and organized a protest against Monsanto’s involvement in Haitian agriculture.  What do you think about GMOs? Are they beneficial or harmful to our food system?