To find out the healthier option between the organic and regular milk is a complicated process, as both the sides have the similar number of pros and cons linked with it.

Regular milk comes from mammals that are allowed to nibble on in an open environment. They taste great and are a wholesome food. The regular milk also contains higher fat and carbon content thus cannot be considered as the greenest option for milk. On the other hand the temperature, on which regular milk is pasteurized, actually makes it less beneficial as all the good bacteria, natural enzymes and chemical composition like calcium gets destroyed. The regular milk available today in the open market is not fit for human consumption. Pasteurization has also been associated with other diseases like cancer, allergies and coronary diseases.

Organic milk on the other hand stands out in comparison with the regular milk. The cows are not given the synthetic growth hormones which are harmful to the human body. So, all organic dairy cattle which graze in open pastures, rather than indoor feeding enclosures seem to give more natural and healthier organic milk as they feed on conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs), a healthy fat. However, organic milk can be considered safer only if the farm or dairy is not using antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, and other artificial compounds to produce more milk.

Organic Milk or Raw Milk: Does it really make any huge difference?

The claims made by the USDA and FDA prove that there are no significant differences between organic and regular milk as far as nutrition, quality and safety is concerned. However, research has proved that there are still prohibited amounts antibiotics being used in a high percentage on lactating cows. These antibiotics and hormones can affect the physical well being of the cow and also contribute to some major illnesses in human beings. However the mammals, allowed grazing in pesticide free farms, produced milk which contained larger amounts of healthy antioxidants, vitamins and fatty acids beneficial for the human body.

The Nutritional Benefits of organic and raw milk

An investigation of the nutritional benefits of raw and organic milk shows the following results:

Organic Milk

• Has a neutral, succulent rich flavor. It is sweeter, smoother and creamier.
• It is a complete food and has proteins, minerals, calcium and vitamins.
• It has a long shelf life.

Regular Milk

• Tastes more watery and has a complex flavor.
• It is easier to digest.
• The beneficial enzymes and bacteria are useful to the human body and helps digestion.
• It has a lesser shelf life when compared to the organic milk, but pasteurized milk does stay longer.

How to find the right milk?

Today, people are becoming more aware of the benefits of organic milk and raw milk products. You would need to locate a farm which does not use artificial hormones, antibiotics, etc. to produce milk. There are a large number of small organic farms across the country which are selling raw organic milk, and milk products; strictly following the directives of the FDA.

Go and check it out and start going greener and healthier.

This guest post is contributed by Alia Haley who is a blogger and a tech freak.  She has a weak side for gadgets and fashionable stuff like beach bag and dresses and she loves cars. Beside this she writes for Concept cars and Wireless Usb Adapter .

Way back in the 70s when too much of garbage was creating a problem for dumping sites, apart from being unhealthy for the surroundings, there arose the crucial need to find a solution. Hence, the authorities came upon the idea of recycling some of the waste for creating new outlets for use. Gary Anderson, a college student created the simple triangular logo at a contest held in 1970, which has now become the universal symbol for recyclable products. Although, there are different variants of symbols used all over the world, in the US the following are the most common symbols for recycling.

1. Triangular symbol

This is signified by a triangle of arrows in big strips pointing in a one way triangular direction. This is the most common symbol which stands for metals, plastics and bottles which can be recycled. This symbol is seen on containers, recycling centers and anywhere else, where there is an accent on the smart use of products and materials.

2. Plastic recycling symbol

This indicates that the plastic is a kind of resin which can be recycled by the indication of triangle arrows with a number in the middle. There are seven different kinds of plastics in this symbol which can all be recycled. There are some brands of plastics which are not accepted by the recycling plants, so there is a need to find out the specified plastic before dumping them for recycling.

3. Aluminum recycling

In a configuration of curved triangle arrows with a number in the middle and the word ALU at the bottom, this symbol is meant for all recycled aluminum and aluminum recycling. In many areas, more than 95 % of aluminum is recycled and is one of the greatest success stories for environmental movement.

4. Recycled symbol

When the product is made of recycled material, it is indicated by the symbol with three triangular arrows within a circle. This is mainly found on paper and cardboard and sometimes the percentage of recycled material used is indicated on the arrows. When a particular product is made of a combination of new and recycled content, there is a white background for the black arrows. Likewise, a black background on white arrows indicates that the product is 100 percent recycled.

5. Glass recycling

This symbol has a single arrow in a triangular form and is green in color to indicate glass recycling with the word glass recycles at the bottom.

6. Recycled paperboard

This symbol has a series of arrow heads in a half circle and the word 100 percent Recycled Paperboard written on the right side of the half circle. This is often indicated on cereal boxes and the amount of consumer sources of recycled paperboard is given the symbol.

7. Corrugated cardboard recycling

The Corrugated Packaging Council developed this symbol which has a single enveloping arrow in a circular form with series of arrows within. This label is not carried on corrugated packaging items that have some wax substance since these cannot be recycled.

Most of these recycle symbols from 1 to 4 can be adapted and used by anybody, as long as they do not violate the environmental marketing claims as envisaged by the Federal Trade Commission. The last three symbols were created for specific uses by industrial groups.

This guest post is contributed by Alia Haley who is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on technology and luxury. Beside this she is fond of cell phones and bags. She recently added two Burberry Handbags to her collection. These days she is busy in writing an article on LED Bulbs.

The global temperature and the global debt amount are seen to be increasing day by day. This is supposed to make things worse for one and all and so steps should be taken in order to solve these problems. It is said that people should rather try investing their money in all that is related to going green, thereby saving themselves from debts and also saving the earth from further destruction. For example, you can invest your money in the green stocks of those companies that are somehow related with going green like producing green energy, other kinds of green or environment friendly products and so on. This can help you make that extra money and use that money to pay off debts through debt settlement.

Green investments and debt

Nowadays, most of the solar, water and wind companies offer green stocks. So, you can invest your money in the different green stocks that are available. Even the green mutual funds and ETF funds are also available and you can invest in those. Moreover, green is now the “Hot Topic” so you have good chances of making more money out of your green investments.

However, other than investing in stocks, you can also invest money in the environment you live in by making it more efficient and eco-friendly.

For example, you can build a green home with better water facilities and lighting and air facilities. This is going to help you save money on electricity and water. You can replace the fittings in your bathroom to save water and money too. You can replace old windows with new ones and at new places to allow increased light dispersion.
Install a water filter at the tap itself so that you do not require buying bottled water. This can save you lots of money.

In addition to this, invest your money in buying a programmable thermostat that is going to cost you on average $40. These units not only help you save money, but also help you in leaving the tension of adjusting the temperature to the thermostat itself. Furthermore, get the energy auditions done. This can help you in reducing the consumption of energy so you can get help from the different energy utility companies who offer services to check with the energy consumption of a home.

Get a hybrid or fuel efficient car that is going to help you save money on consumption of gasoline. These cars require less fuel and so even if these cars initially may seem to be high on costs, in the long run it saves money.

In verdict: you can see that there are various ways you can invest your money other than the simply direct stock and mutual fund. Try to consider all the options and go green Feedbacks welcome

This guest post was contributed by Rick Murphy who is a contributory writer associated with the Debt Consolidation Care Community and has written several articles for various financial websites. He holds his expertise in the Debt industry and has made significant contribution through his various articles. To get Debt settlement related help visit:www.debtconsolidationcare.com/debt-settlement.html

It is a known fact that trees are cool and we need them to live better and longer in this world. It’s good to know that lots of businesses have started using recycled paper and stuff. Maybe because Internet has made things easier; people use emails and iPads and kindles now. Regardless of what technology has given us, we will still continue using paper and other stuff. An interesting fact that most people are unaware of is that only seventeen trees are saved, for every ton of recycled paper that is used. So the more recycle products the better it is for the environment. Join the campaign of saving more trees, just start using more recycled stuff.

Another advantage of recycling products is that they are very effective in helping to decrease the greenhouse effect. Gas emissions are released into the atmosphere as a result of manufacturing, and the use and disposal of things in the environment that are non-biodegradable. When gas emissions from the greenhouse rise to very high levels of concentration, the effects include global temperature changes, alterations in the sea levels, and other changes in the climatic conditions. As such, recycling will help to decrease the need that people have to make glass, metals, plastics and paper. Additionally, this would also save the energy that is required to make these various products. Lets not create extra stuff, waste and overpopulate; just recycle them.

By using recycled products, you will also be able to help decrease the amount of non-biodegradable products that get dumped at landfills. A majority of the products that get dumped at landfills will most likely decompose and cause it to release methane gas into the atmosphere. Landfills are known to be the primary cause for the release of emissions of methane gas in the environment. Not only is this harmful for the plants and animals in the environment, but also for you and your family as well.

Another non-biodegradable material that is dangerous to the environment is plastic. By using recycled products, you will be able to reduce the amount of plastics in the environment; and thus will help to conserve energy. It has been proven that plastics are very hard to dispose of, and if left buried, they will last for a period of seven hundred years. Therefore, the next time you use a plastic cup, try thinking about recycling it before you throw it away. You should try your best not to use products made from plastic, and you should also consider taking reusable bags to the grocery store, so that you are not left with a bunch of plastic bags that you will never use

More and more people and businesses are becoming aware that the exhaust from gas operated cars is causing a lot of damage to the environment. Due to this, there has been an increase in the development of environmentally friendly cars to help reduce the emissions that are released into the atmosphere on a daily basis. This has led to the expansion of the market of eco-friendly cars, and it is expected that this market will continue to expand.

2 Common Types of Green Car

• Electric Cars – Initially when electric cars were introduced to the market, there were quite a number of persons who believed that these cars would not fit into the market. However, this opinion has changed overtime, and now electric cars are one of the most popular eco-friendly cars currently available. There are many people who are now favoring these cars as their mode of travel; however, in order for them to dominate the market, these cars will need work.

• Hybrid Cars – If you are looking for cars that are more eco-friendly than the conventional cars that are fueled by gas, then you should consider purchasing hybrid cars. These eco-friendly cars were designed to use both conventional gas powered engines, and electric motors. Hybrid cars are becoming increasingly popular among the driving population, due to the fact that they are very effective in helping to decrease the damage that gas emissions are causing to the environment.

Green Gas

• Recharging Stations – In order for electric cars to work effectively, they need to be charged from time to time. Because manufacturers of electric cars are aware of the fact that not everyone who owns these types of eco-friendly cars will be able to charge them at their homes, they have placed recharging stations in different areas of the country. Because of the lack of sufficient investments, recharging stations are not as popular as conventional gas stations; however, manufacturers of electric cars are hoping that this will change, as these cars become more popular. Trust me, it will be soon.

• Solar Recharging Systems – While the issue of recharging stations for electric cars are being worked out, other methods of charging these cars are being developed. One of these alternatives is the solar panels recharging systems, and they are used to charge the batteries of electric cars while you are on the move; additionally, it will enable you to store energy that you can use at a later time. Solar energy is one of the most environmentally friendly forms of energy; as such, automobile manufacturers are starting to take advantage of its benefits.

Today, more than ever, it is extremely important to make a positive contribution to the environment. We can do our part to make a bit of a difference in stemming the worsening situation. Even though we are unsure of the effects of our small efforts, we should continue to play a role in energy conversation and take other steps to reduce our environmentally destructive actions.

Reduce Paper Usage

The first step you can take is to reduce the amount of paper you use during your daily routine at the office. Is it really necessary to print a hard copy of everything that you read? If not, then read the information from the computer screen and if you must, ensure that you place it in recycle bin or use the backside for message taking or to be printed on again. If your company does not have a recycling program, then volunteer to implement one and encourage your co-workers to join you in making a positive contribution to the environment.

Whenever new employees come on board, set the right pace by emailing documents such as standard operating procedures and employee manuals instead of printing them out. In so doing, the employee will be able to look through the essential practice and procedures on the computer and you will be able to save the company a ream or half a ream of paper for every new employee that comes on board.

Get Plants in your Office

Literally go green! If your office is devoid of a living plant or two or three, then now is the perfect time to remedy that situation. Incorporating plants into the office décor is a very easy way of increasing oxygen and keeping your environment nice and clean. Give a gift of a plant to co-workers on a special occasion and by so doing, you give a gift to the environment as well.

Save Energy, Save Money

Turn the lights out in those vacant offices and conference rooms. It is your responsibility to assist in mitigating the effect of climate change and saving the environment in the process.

Instead of allowing the computers to hibernate every night, turn off and unplug the system. It might end up taking a few extra minutes out of your day to reboot every morning but this is a great and easy method of conserving energy and saving on electricity costs. If your office windows are not outfitted with blinds, then you should consider investing in some new blinds. They are a very effective way of moderating the temperatures in your offices.

You most likely know what wind power is and you are also aware that it can save you money. There are 3 indicators of economy of wind power – installed cost, electricity generated, and the cost of running the turbine. Keep these indicators at the back of your head as we take a look at some real savvy, smart ways of saving money with this green technology:

The Buying Process

Do not base your buying decision on the turbine’s power rating. Instead, ask for the rotor diameter. The rotor is located behind the blades and it enables the blades to cut through the air and generate electricity. The bigger the rotor diameter, the more electricity your wind turbine will generate. Wind turbines for homes can have rotors with a 100 feet diameter. Also, while calculating how much you will save, find out the rates you will be able to sell the electricity to the utility companies. You should also know that the prices of windmills are going down and so you must shop around. These tactics will help you save money even before you get started, and you will be happy to know that US households using wind power get their electricity bills reduced between 50% and 90%.

Tax Rebates

The American government offers tax incentives for home owners opting to install green energy power generators. The tax incentives are facilitated by the ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act). The first tax incentive is a Production Tax Credit, which saves 2.1 cents per kilowatt-hour on energy generated by reasonably-sized (utility scale) wind turbines. To qualify, the wind turbine should create enough energy for the whole community and not just for 1 household. The other tax incentive is Investment Tax Credit, which gets you 30% credit of the wind turbines cost. To avail of the second credit, you must produce the bills and a statement from the manufacturer that the turbine qualifies for a tax credit.

Build or Assemble the Wind Turbine

Installing a wind turbine is an expensive process. If you want to save money, you can install the whole wind turbine yourself, and it is not as difficult as you think it to be. The tools are easy to get and the instructions, complete with diagrams, are available as well. However, you should take into account the complexity of the turbine, its size, your technical skills, the time on your hands, and your experience in engineering projects before deciding to install the wind turbine yourself. If you can do it, it will save you a lot of money.

There are many eBooks available that can even help you build a wind turbine for less than $200 (plus the cost of the book, which is around $30)! A commercial grade turbine costs $20,000 or more, and if you’re just getting into the green energy arena, it makes sense to go with an eBook and start off with a small investment.

Buy a Low-maintenance Wind Turbine

Don’t buy an old model. The wind turbine technology is racing ahead and the wind turbines of today feature lesser number of moving parts, and therefore are low on maintenance. So, the lesson is to buy a new model that is created using the latest technologies. It may cost you slightly more, but will save you big on maintenance. Even while buying a modern turbine, inquire about how much repairs and maintenance it will need and buy a model that needs the least maintenance. All wind turbines need some maintenance and you must be ready for that if you want to save money.

Calculate The Opportunity Cost

Now, this is a weird tactic of saving money on wind energy! If it is electric bill saving that you’re after, you must calculate the opportunity cost. The cost of wind power includes investment, repairs, maintenance, and any other expense required to be paid to the electricity company (in case you are selling the energy). Deduct the unit’s estimated salvage value, energy sale revenue, and the tax credits. Now, divide the net cost by the total number of energy units that the wind turbine is expected to produce over a period (say, 3 years). Compare this rate with the rate charged by the electricity company to see if you are actually saving money. Invest only if your calculation shows that you are indeed saving some money. This opportunity cost comparison will not matter if you have anyway decided to go green.

This guest post is contributed by M.H, who is the editor of Alternative Energy Geek where he shares his knowledge about the renewable energy sources.

 As we all continue to struggle to make ends meet in this down economy we have been forced to make many difficult decisions in order to make ends meet and pay those bills. But, take a minute and think about those money making decisions you have made and you’d be surprised how many of them are actually good for the environment. Lack of money has forced us all to go just a little greener. Don’t believe me? Then think about some of the following decisions people have been making and see how many you have made too.

• 1. Keeping that old car instead of trading it in like you originally planned.
• 2. Carpooling to work to save money on gas
• 3. Shopping at thrift or second hand stores for clothes and other necessary items
• 4. Eating those left overs instead of throwing them away
• 5. Exchanging books with friends instead of simply throwing away the old ones and buying new
• 6. Selling those items we no longer need on Ebay or at a rummage sales rather than simply throwing them away.
• 7. Saving those soap slivers and making extra soap
• 8. Saving the wax from jar candles and melting it down to make new useable candles
• 9. Recycling used items by using them to make homemade gifts for friends and family rather than buy gifts.
• 10. Using appliances and other items as long as possible

Sure most people are doing these things simply because they no longer have the money to throw out the old and buy new but, in your effort to save money you are also helping to save the environment. Just think if even 1/3 of the population is only making one or two of these money changing decision how much cleaner the environment is becoming.

Just spend a minute or two thinking about some of the environmental changes you have seen happening since the recession hit. Returnable pop cans that use to litter the roadside are hardly seen anymore because less people are throwing away those deposits and when they are thrown away more people are picking them up to get the cash themselves.

You’ve probably also noticed that more people seem to be hanging their clothes out on the line more often instead of using their clothes driers, growing their own food rather than buying prepackaged store items, and doing canning and putting up preserves in reusable jars rather than buying their food in those disposal metal cans.

Every single one of these money making decisions has a small positive impact on the environment and when you put all these little actions together the impact on your community and the world is greater than you may think. While no one likes having to scrimp and save the need to do so has benefited the environment and has contributed to the greening of America and the world in a whole new and natural way.

This recession has made most of us a little poorer, a little wiser, a whole lot greener without us even consciously thinking about it. While the recession may be bad for our personal finances it has been good for the environment and in return good for health.

Our planet is an excellent provider with large reserves of coal and oil buried deep in her core, but those natural resources tend to come at a price. Over the years our oceans and skies have become polluted almost to the point of no return. There are steps in place to help preserve the beauty of our world for future generations, but there is still plenty to do, and that means that many of us will have to take the steps to become green friendly and embrace new sources of power.
The easiest way to start is in the home, and with the race on to switch to more environmentally safe options, there is now plenty of alternative power methods to choose from.

Solar power is quickly becoming a very popular means of providing energy for the home. Solar panels are installed on the roof and harness the sun’s rays in order to provide energy. Many people fear that there will not be enough sunlight on any given day, but going the solar route doesn’t mean that you have to go off the grid, and you can still fall back on the traditional energy providers on those days when there is not enough energy stored to go round.

Wind energy works on the same principle, and it’s not that uncommon to go driving out into the country and see those huge windmills spinning frantically, harnessing Mother Nature’s breath to create yet another form of bountiful, clean energy.

The power of moving water can be used to create energy, and hydroelectricity is already very popular in China, Canada and Brazil, where a large chunk of their power comes from water. It may not necessarily be the most practical method of power for the home, unless of course you live beside a river and have a water wheel attached to the side of your house, but it is becoming a very popular method of power supply for a number of countries. Brazil is very much on the forefront of clean energy seeking countries, and they have pretty much taken themselves out of the clamor for oil by making the majority of their vehicles run on ethanol which they extract from sugar cane.

Those are the most common and well known energy alternatives, but there are many more out there, some of which border on the wacky, with such items as manure, which can be turned into methanol, sound and even spinach used to create energy sources. Whatever the method used, any way that energy can be harnessed without hurting the environment should be considered a good idea. We are still a very long way from making our planet livable in the long term, but every little bit helps, and sometimes thinking outside the box can help create new methods to help make us breathe a little easier.

Say No to Smoking and Go Green

Smoking has become a common hazard not only for our family members and friends but to the Mother Nature too. We as active citizens of the world should take pledge that we will promote a new future without tobacco. For that we have to inculcate good habits in our child’s mind itself so that we can prevent them from becoming smokers. Parents should take up this job to teach their children.

It is very heartening to see many teenagers smoke at a very early age. Parents should take responsibility and tell their children about the dangers associated with it. Whether your child is addicted to smoking or not, you should warn and educate them. If you teach them at a very early age then the chances of catching this bad habit is less.

In this way smoking can be curbed to some extent. You should also tell them stories about the consequences of smoking; give them examples of people who has suffered. Make them active soldiers of the Nature protecting it at each and every step as much as possible.

Most children find smoking cool; as a matter of fact, most bad stuffs appear cool but they are not in real. If you find out that your child smokes then try to advice him or her while they are young because once they get older, its difficult to get them straight. Plan a trip to a hospital if necessary and show your child the cancer patients who are suffering every moment of their life.

If your son or daughter is old enough, then you may feel you are helpless since they might not listen to you, but, as a loving parent, its your duty to forbid him from smoking.

A Life without cigarettes is worth living than a tag called “SMOKER”. Hope you all lead a green life