Food & Beverage
Staying Busy in Downtown Toronto
Whether you live in Toronto or are just coming in for a visit, the downtown area is replete with fun things to do and activities that will keep you busy for as long as you have time. There is something for every interest and it can be a great way to spend a day or two with family and friends, or even on your own.
Some of the most impressive attractions are actually world-class. Toronto boasts a variety of world’s longest, tallest, biggest, etc. Many of these attractions are located in the downtown area, making it extremely easy to check them out, including many Toronto Restaurants.
Children’s Own Museum: For anyone with children, this is definitely a must-see. The museum is designed specifically for youngsters between the ages of 2 and 8, with hands on everything. There’s no need to worry about children touching and climbing on displays, that’s what this place is all about. Kids can spend some quiet time reading or set up their own caf, among many other fun attractions.
CN Tower: The world’s tallest building at 553.3 meters, this tower is a big tourist attraction. You can admire the city from one of three vantage points, the observation deck, located at 342 meters, the Space Deck at 447 meters, or from the Horizon Bar that rotates, offering a 180 view of the city. Over 2 million people visit the tower each year, making it one of Toronto’s most popular sights.
Hockey Hall of Fame: Hockey is the biggest sport in Canada and Toronto is certainly a hotspot for hockey activity. This hall of fame shows off some of the greats in the game and allows you to practice some top hockey moves yourself. You can even get your photo taken with the Stanley Cup!
Mackenzie House: For history buffs, this is a no-brainer. The house belonged to William Lyon Mackenzie, the first mayor of Toronto and grandfather of Prime Minister Mackenzie King. Today, it is a museum, complete with authentically dressed guides that act out the parts of a busy household from the period.
Royal Ontario Museum: If you’re interested in the world in general, this is a great museum to visit. It doesn’t only focus on Canadian history, but offers a selection of Egyptian mummies and other experiences. This three story building contains over 6,000 artifacts and a huge collection of art from around the world.
Rogers Center: During baseball season, this is THE place to be in downtown Toronto, with many Toronto Restaurants nearby. This amazing structure was one of the first to be built with a retractable roof, allowing for perfect playing conditions at all times. You can even book a hotel room overlooking the field. The stadium seats 50,000 and has the world’s biggest JumboTron scoreboard.
St. Michael’s Cathedral: An impressive show of Neo-Gothic architecture, this church is on the list of amazing things to see in downtown Toronto. Don’t forget your camera, you’ll want to snap some photos of this beautiful building.
Yonge Street: The world’s longest street is a great one to take a walk on. It actually stretches about 1,900 kilometers, but you can check out the part that cuts through downtown Toronto. There are some great places to shop on this street and you’ll enjoy just learning about the history as you stroll down it.
There are so many things to do in downtown Toronto. While there are quite a few interesting sights and activities, there is always shopping, many Toronto Restaurants or even simply wandering the streets, which can be an enjoyable way to pass the time, too. Whatever your taste, you won’t be bored.
Body Detox Diet: 5 Steps to a Healthier You
Going through a body detox or even changing to a detox diet lifestyle was much more rare in the past. Now, people are learning for themselves what they can do to heal their bodies after their doctor tells them there is no cure.
Having learned about the self-healing power of the body, getting out of the way and allowing it to cleanse becomes a priority.
Is there a recommended time frame to do a body detox diet?
You want to consider planning for at least 3 weeks. This will give your body time to complete the all-important first cleansing cycle. It will also help you to form a new habit that will help continue to help you in months to come.
A healthier you in just 5 key steps:
1 — Solve the dehydration issue. Most people are dehydrated most of the time. And yet, there is a simple solution. Drink half your weight in fluid ounces each day. Use filtered water for best results. We’re talking water here, not sodas or sugary drinks.
2 — Consume alkaline foods rather than acidic ones. Organic green vegetables are alkaline and they will nourish you during your body detox diet as well. Processed foods, on the other hand, add acid to your body.
3 — Consume raw foods as much as you can. Studies have shown that the white cell count in the blood goes up whenever cooked food is eaten, demonstrating that the body perceives this as a threat. Work with your body during the body detox diet.
4 — You can deepen your cleanse with juice fasting, though it’s better if you’re in it for the long haul. It’s much easier on your body to do the juice fasting once a week than for extended periods. And no sugary juices; use cucumber, celery, and sprouts in the juice.
5 — It is essential to move your body. You can do this by taking a walk or by doing resistance training. It’s not just a detox diet. Now, you will push out the toxins when you perspire and exercise.
When you are cleansing, your body will be eliminating toxins that have been stored, sometimes for years. Think of all the ways you eliminate.
The incredible human body knows very well how to cleanse itself. The problems come when we don’t allow it to finish. By labeling skin rashes or runny noses as “illness”, we then proceed to do anything to have it stop.
Make it easy for yourself through the body detox diet. The more you help by moving and sweating, and drinking lots of water, the more comfortable you will feel throughout the process. And the quicker you will start to feel wonderful.
Locating Great Party Supplies
The task of making the party special has fallen to you- and you are not looking forward to organizing it one little bit! Where do I even begin to search for my ideal party supplies you may think. You could hunt around in the nearby stores to see if they have any suitable items, but the chances are that the stock they have will be very restrictive. Even a shop geared towards selling party supplies may not have exactly what you are hunting for.
Many of the larger stores may have the items you need, however it may be the case that they have to order the items to be delivered from another store in a different area. This could mean a long wait and a lot more money has to be paid out.
A great method of finding providers for the items you desire to have is to search on the Internet. The suppliers online are broad and varied and able to cater for all sorts of items that you might need for your party. It might be a possiblity for your chosen supplier to ship the goods very quickly, or if they are in the same country it could be the case that they could arrange a courier for a next day delivery.
Because there are so many of these types of stores the prices will probably be quite low, and if you need to order in bulk this may be easy to do as most of the Internet providers have strong links with the manufacturers of the supplies. Some of the stores may also offer a discount for orders that you place for a bulk number of supplies.
So make that wedding reception, 21st birthday bash or retirement party one that they will remember forever.
Choosing Organic Just Makes Sense
Many people are electing to avoid the risk of chemical contamination of their bodies, families and homes. Fortunately, solutions for addressing change exist and are readily available. Choosing eco-friendly products allows us to live a natural, green lifestyle.
The benefits of eating organic foods, wearing organic clothing and choosing organic bedding are numerous.
Organic Foods
The Organic Food Association tells us: It is common sense; organic food is good food. Good to eat, good for the environment, good for the small-scale farmers and farm workers who produce it.
Organic farming is all about health and wellness. To assure optimum health and resistance against illnesss, the natural balance in our own bodies and in the environment must be maintained. The use of artificial chemical pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, fertilizers, genetic engineering and drugs interfere with this delicate balance; with unknown and often harmful consequences! Organic farming methods affect much more than what can be seen or tasted.
Over the last fifty years, commercial farmers have, of necessity, continued to increase the amount of these hazardous applications. Cereal crops are sprayed as many as 8 times during the growing season. Many fruit and vegetable harvests have been sprayed 10 or 15 times. After harvesting the spraying process is repeated to retard grow of bacteria during storage and transport. Over spraying of fruit and vegetable crops destroys natural bacteria, leaving the plants increasingly vulnerable to attack from unwelcome pests or disease. Insecticides and fungicides are then required to fight off infestation and decay. However, these pests rather quickly become immune to the chemicals applied and their population increases rapidly. More powerful and increasingly toxic chemicals are then applied.
Organic certification is the consumers assurance that products have met stringent standards and have been grown and processed according to strict procedures without contamination from carcinogenic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, human waste or sewage sludge and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or artificial food additives. Organic or non organic, which would you rather put in your body? We are what we eat. When our diet is built upon natural organic choices we are providing our bodies optimum food, produced in optimum conditions. Organically raised vegetables and fruit provide more minerals and nutrients than commercially grown produce and are more intensely endowed with flavor, color and aroma; they just taste better!
Organic meat is the only meat that guarantees that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have not been used at any stage of growth production. Certified organic meats are produced from animals that have been reared humanely and feed on certified organic pastures and feeds
Organics And The Environment
The USDA estimates that within the next ten years half of all Americas food products will come from only 1% of the farms. The EPA states that commercial agriculture is accountable for 70% of the pollution in our countrys rivers and streams. Small scale organic farmers finance innovative and far reaching research designed to minimize agricultures impact on the environment. They maintain and preserve bio-diversity by planting heirloom varieties of plants and gathering seeds for future crops. The loss of a large quanity of species is one of the worlds pressing environmental concerns. The happy news is that many organic farmers and gardeners have been gathering, preserving seeds and growing unusual and unique varieties for decades.
Organic farming methods naturally nourish the soil with compost and organic manure. Well balanced soils product nourishing, strong plants, healthy for both people and animals. Organic agriculture can be a lifeline for small farms. It offers an alternative market where sellers can achieve fair and equatable prices for their crops. Organic farming may be one of the last ways to assure the survival of both our ecosystems and our rural farming communities .
Conventional farming methods endanger farm workers and their families. Scientific studies confirms chemical related health problems iincluding cancer, birth defects, memory loss, paralysis and death. Unsecured storage, faulty application methods and unsafe handling and transportation procedures are not at all uncommon and often lead to tragic mishaps. As insects and diseases develop resistance, farmers desperate to maintain or increase crop yields often resort to additional applications of expensive and stronger chemical products. Facing rising costs, depleted fields and contaminated ground water, many small farmers have been forced to abandon their livelihood.
Organic farming, as an alternative, is safer and healthier for farmers and promotes fair compensation in the food supply chain. Organic farming provides afinancially viable and socially acceptable alternative to large scale farming and the accompanying dependence on government crop subsidies. Support of the small farmer supports our economy.
Organic production dramatically reduces health concerns. Many EPA approved pesticides were registered and approved prior to extensive research that linked many of these noxious chemicals to cancer and other significant health problems. Crop dusting has often resulted in drifts of toxic pesticides from fields to residential areas.
Organic agriculture is one of the best ways to prevent more of these chemicals from contaminating the ecosystem. An increasing body of research indicates that chemical contaminants are considerably more prevalent in the foods we eat, in our bodies and in the environment than we previously believed.
By choosing organic products we lighten this toxic burden. Organic farmers routinely rotate crops and plant nourishing cover crops to control weeds, nutrient leaching and erosion. Soil is the foundation of the organic food chain. The intent of organic farming is to use methods that build and maintain healthy and sustainable soils.
Organic Skin Care And Personal Products
Personal care, skin care and cosmetics are the least regulated products under the US Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Whether it is soap, moisturizers or deodorants, skin care products are an essential part of daily life. Do we realize what these products actually contain and what we are forcing our skin to absorb?
Have you ever suffered from stinging, burning or itchy skin? Chances are that your skin absorbed irritants and toxins from your skin care products. The skin absorbs the ingredients in all of the personal care products that come in contact with our skin. Consider nicotine or HRT patches. They rely solely on skin absorption.
As parents we are concerned for the well being of our children. We tenderly comfort and bathe them with a wide range of products. These include soaps, shampoos, creams and lotions, many of which are applied to babys delicate skin several times a day. The skin is the largest organ of the body and the skin of an infant can be up to 100 times more sensitive and receptive to toxic chemicals and irritating ingredients that the skin of an adult.
Without even realizing, parents put their babies at risk daily. Did you know that applying powder to your new babys sensitive skin may pose a cancer risk later in life? The principle ingredient in most baby powders is talc, which several medical studies have confirmed as a known carcinogenic.
Lanolin is a main ingredient in many personal care products. When processed from organically raised sheep, is a wonderful healing balm. The danger lies in non-organic lanolin that has been processed from sheep that were dipped for lice with chemical pesticides that are contaminated with carcinogenic ingredients such as DDT, dieldrin or lindane. The residue of these toxins remains in the processed lanolin and can cause severe reactions and long term health hazards.
All natural, organic products offer earth friendly options that eliminate these dangers. You can avoid these and similar safely concerns by using certified organic items formulated from natural sources such as plants, fruits, vegetables and flowers. These products to do not contain synthetic chemicals such as lauryl sulphate, phthales, parabens, artificial fragrances or dye additives.
Organic Textiles
By the end of 2008, the sale of organic textiles worldwide is expected to exceed $3 billion. Global demand for organic textiles is increasing in response to consumer demand. Organic production takes additional time, requires more skills and knowledge and costs somewhat more. But it is worth it. Organic materials do not bear hidden costs to the environment.
Choose Earth Friendly Products! Choose Organic!
The consumption and application of green technologies is all about the challenges and choices we face if we are to enjoy a high quality of life within the finite resources of our planet. If remain passionate about sustainability, together we can make the planet a cleaner and healthier place for all of us to live.
Do you wish to embrace a lifestyle that protects our childrens future? Do you want to to live in the greenest environment possible with a conscience and respect and appreciation for the planet? The quality of life for future generations is dependent on the choices we make today!
Surveys reflect that about a fourth of the US adult population has a profound sense of environmental enlightenment and social responsibility. Half of us will buy organic and make earth friendly choices in many aspects of our daily living. Consumer education and awareness is a powerful force for change.
The consumption of organically grown products has increase by 20 per cent in the last year alone. Organic alternatives are readily available and the trend is escalating. A sustainable life should be within everyone?s reach. Our choices matter and have a long term global impact. Let us choose wisely!
M. Affeld is part of the Nandu Green Team. Nandu Green is a green lifestyle portal, offering high quality, unique, intriguing and innovative merchandise from around the globe. Eco Products From Nandu Green. Eco Friendly options to balance our dreams with the needs of the environment and our desire for luxury with the need for sustainability.
Marlene Affeld writes for Nandu Green about the environment and all things natural. Luxury gifts and services! We have shopped the world for you! Decorative collectibles, luxury corporate gifts and rare offerings for the true connoisseur. Here you will find fashion, beauty, health and wellness choices for fine living enthusiasts with a vibrant lifestyle in mind.
