We are very proud to announce Global Healing Center’s farm, Earth Harmony Organics is now a member of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) and certified by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), plus certified as USDA Organic (United States Department of Agriculture).

For more information about these organizations and certification processes, please see the links below.

• Organic Trade Association
• California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
• USDA National Organic Program

Continue reading: “Announcement: We Are Offically Certified Organic!”

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Lately there has been some buzz swirling around agave nectar and whether the sweet cactus-nectar is good for our bodies or not. I want to help my readers be aware of the increasing number of fraudulent, poor-quality “agave” products being sold in common supermarkets around the country.

The following article will educate you on fraudulent high-fructose agave nectar and its negative health consequences, as well as the benefits of using true organic agave nectar as a sweetener.

Continue reading: “Is Agave Nectar Safe?”

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Which of these two scenarios sounds more vibrant for overall quality of life and health?

The wind on your face, the sun on your skin, you talk with a local farmer about the size and taste of this year’s harvest of peaches, as you pop a slice in your mouth. After tasting several different varieties, you choose your favorite one, walking away with a great memory of the farmer in your mind.

Or… You stand shivering in the freezer section at your local mega-mart, your eyes begin to glaze over from the halogen lights and the neon-colored cardboard boxes containing substances claimed to be food products? You decide on the one with the least amount of additives and make your way to the self-check-out line, excited to get in your car and out of the supermarket.

Clearly, most of us would agree that the first scenario, at the local farmer’s market, is much more appealing than a trip to a big chain grocery store. But what, besides the aesthetic factor, are some of the other benefits of supporting your local farmers market? Here are ten reasons why I believe you should shop at your local farmers market.

Continue reading: “10 Reasons to Buy Your Fruits & Veggies at Your Local Farmer’s Market”

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Our readers have expressed a new-found and growing interest in creating their own organic garden from the comforts of their backyard. Especially after I published my article about Michelle Obama’s organic garden.

So, as a result, I wanted to share a few of my favorite tips for starting a garden that is organic, sustainable and earth-friendly in the convenience of your backyard.

There are numerous benefits to planting your own organic garden at home: First and foremost, you are able to eat the freshest, local, organic fruits, herbs and vegetables around, while at the same time, you act to help reduce the amount of pesticides and toxic chemicals in the environment. And, as organic fruits, herbs and vegetables can tend to be more costly in the supermarket, now is a great time to explore creating your own delicious organic produce at home.

Continue reading: “7 Tips for Starting Your Own Organic Garden”

Imagine a world where soap grows on trees. If you think this sounds like a scene from an environmentalists futuristic movie, then think again.

Today, we are beginning to rethink the way we wash clothing, as more and more people are looking towards eco-friendly, natural soaps and cleaners for their household needs.

In fact, for centuries, traditional societies have been using soap nuts to wash their clothing. Using soap nuts is a wonderful way to support a green living environment, reducing not only the amount of toxic soap residues in our world, but also in the clothing that comes into contact with our skin on a daily basis.

Continue reading: “Soap Nuts: The Benefits of Using All-Natural Laundry Detergent”

It seems the White House may be “going green,” as First Lady, Michelle Obama, has started planting the first presidential vegetable garden since Eleanor Roosevelt’s World War II victory garden. I really hope that much of the pressure from organic food and sustainable agriculture proponents has finally been given a sounding board, as the new administration lends an ear towards the movements.

In the last fifty years, America has proven itself as a country able to perfect the art of making cheap, chemically-laden and genetically modified food. And while this food may produce large profits for big American agribusiness and pharmaceutical companies, sadly for all of us, this same food is also causing disease for the people.

It fills our bodies with toxins, and puts a massive strain on our global environment. Similarly, government subsidies have typically been handed out to farmers producing mono-crops, requiring large amounts of fossil fuel and fertilizers to grow and distribute. Mono-crops are also over-produced, leading to heavy surpluses of harmful foods such as high-fructose corn syrup and hormonally-altered soy beans.

The Obama Family Garden

The Obama’s family garden is a move in a different direction from that American reality. It encourages all Americans to look at creating their own locally-grown, organic garden.

Continue reading: “The White House “Goes Green” With New Organic Garden”

Recently, you may have read or heard alot about antioxidants in conjunction with good health or avoiding diseases. Antioxidants have been getting great press lately, and rightfully so. But what are they? What do they do once inside our bodies? And how can we get more of them?

Well, firstly, let’s define what they are. Have you ever seen the bottom-feeder fish in a fish-tank, sucking up all the gunk and grime that is toxic for the rest of the fish? Think of antioxidants as molecular-sized, “free radical scavengers” in the fish-tank of your body.

Once an antioxidant finds its way into the body, mostly through the foods we eat, it slows down, or even prevents, the oxidation of other molecules. When molecules in the body oxidize, they can create free-radicals, or cellular bi-products. It is very normal to have these free-radicals in the body, but in excess, they can wreak havoc on our cellular structures.

Continue reading: “The Health Benefits of Antioxidants”

Many have said that our country literally runs on coffee. In my opinion, many people are addicted to large amounts of the energy from caffeine that coffee provides, causing us to feel extreme ups and downs in our nervous system.

Caffeine is a highly addictive compound that many people have come to depend on for the perception of increased energy. Caffeine keeps you going by preventing the chemical adenosine from telling the brain it’s time to relax.

The result is a surge of unnatural energy; but over time, the brain becomes accustomed to the threshold and requires even greater amounts of caffeine to provide the same increase in alertness. This is what makes caffeine products such as coffee so addictive and it explains why the lines at coffee shops are always so long.

Continue reading: “Is Coffee Good or Bad For You?”

Diaper rash is one of the most common conditions affecting babies at some point in their new lives.

It may appear on a baby’s tender buttocks, inside of the thighs, or any other area generally covered by diapers. Diaper rash can affect not only the baby but the whole family with excessive crying, sleep disturbances, skin cracking and possible infection.

The last thing a new mother and father needs is excessive stress from seeing their newborn suffer. This red rash can be caused by a number of things, and can be classified under a variety of names.

Continue reading: “Organic Remedies for Diaper Rash”

Olive oil, like wine, has been around forever. For people of the Mediterranean, it has had medicinal, even magical powers through the ages. The olive tree is considered a symbol of peace and glory.

Olives were first cultivated in the eastern part of the Mediterranean around 5000 B.C. Cultivation spread to Turkey, Greece, and Egypt before it reached southern Italy, Africa, and southern France. Italy was producing olive oil by the first century A.D.

Olive oil was used in medicines and different ointments. It was also used for nourishment and as an overall healing agent.

Today, Italy, Spain, and Greece produce olive oil, and California, with its Mediterranean climate, is fast becoming a leading producer. Like wine, many different varieties of olive oil have their own unique characteristics taken from the land and weather conditions.

Consumption of olive oil in the U.S. is at an all time high, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re still confused about the differences between regular or pure olive oil and olive oil that’s classified as virgin, extra virgin, and cold pressed. So, here’s a quick lesson in the different types of olive oil:

Basically, these designations are the grades of oil extracted from the olive. The classifications are strictly regulated. The regulation is somewhat different according to the country of origin.

Continue reading: “The Health Benefits of Olive Oil”