The Environmental Working Group is the best resource for this information – from what foods you should buy organically to the best non-toxic cleaning and beauty products. The Group’s stated mission is to “use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment.” Most recently, they published a report showing the presence of hexavalent chromium in the drinking water of 31 US cities. A proven carcinogen, this is the same toxin from the movie Erin Brockovich and, if you can believe it, is not tested by water utilities. The EPA responded in less than 72 hours, announcing new actions to detect chromium-6 contamination in the nation’s drinking water. This story was covered extensively in the media over the Christmas holiday and is just an example of the good this organization is doing to protect all of us from potential cancer causing agents in our environment.

They have other great resources such as The 2010 Sunscreen Safety Guide, Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce, and Guide to Infant Formula and Baby Bottles. There is a wealth of knowledge available on this site that will help you make more informed choices to protect your family and limit your impact on the planet. Start by subscribing to their update emails…you will rarely receive any soliciting donations, but given all the good information you receive, I wouldn’t complain if you did. Got to ewr.org to get started on your path to healthy, conscious living.

Any piece of classical music takes me immediately back to my Grandfather’s study overlooking 77th Street and Madison Avenue. He always had it piping through the walls via hidden speakers. Music was his constant companion and, I think, a very calming influence on a man who was not known for being easy-going. In fact, he was one of the most intense people I have ever known. A shrewd businessman, he enjoyed strategy and the art of persuasion. And music softened his sometimes very rough edges. It was his passion and he shared it with me by taking me to the Opera several times a year. Not entirely because of my Grandfather, but in large part, I now turn to classical music when I need to concentrate or feel more centered. After finding these two albums – The 50 Most Essential Pieces of Classical Music and 50 More Essential Pieces of Classical Music – I felt I should share my secret with you and do some research as to why this type of music has such a profound effect on people.

In the early 90s Dr. Gordon Shaw, a professor at the University of California-Irvine, found a temporary spike in IQ in college students after they listened to Mozart. His findings were published and then the media took over pushing headlines claiming that “Mozart’s Music Makes You Smarter.” The study was later discredited by skeptics who could not find any correlation between listening to Mozart and increased cognitive ability in children.

According to an article on Livestrong.com, however, Dr. Shaw never claimed that Mozart’s music could permanently make anyone smarter but rather that listening to it might be useful to warm up the part of the brain involved in abstract thought. Dr. Kevin Labar of Duke University says that classical music can improve your intellectual performance by releasing pleasure-inducing dopamine and inhibiting the release of stress hormones, all of which generates a “pleasant mood.” And inducing a “pleasant mood” says Labar, “seems to clarify thinking.”

There have been many studies showing that music therapy can assist in patient recovery and treatment. In a study published in the December 2007 issue of “Critical Care Medicine,” postoperative patients were treated to Mozart sonatas and responded with a reduced need for pain medication, lower blood pressure, and lower levels of stress hormones. It seems classical music also has crime fighting capabilities – In 2004 various British railway stations in high crime areas began playing Mozart, Bach and Handel around the clock which resulted in a one-third drop in the number of robberies and other crimes.

The health benefits aside, having a basic understanding of classical music and its composers makes you a more well rounded and interesting person. Not only do these two albums cover the masters, they are performed by some of the world’s leading conductors, orchestras and opera singers. Listen to these with the album catalog open so you can learn the names of each piece and its corresponding composer. Right now I am listening to L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande perform Bolero and I have to say I am feeling pretty darn good.

Download both at itunes.com.

]]> http://www.missknowitall.com/the-mozart-effect/feed/ 1 http://www.missknowitall.com/the-good-of-green-tea/ http://www.missknowitall.com/the-good-of-green-tea/#comments Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:27:20 +0000 Melina http://www.missknowitall.com/?p=1324 I don’t remember exactly when I stopped drinking coffee but I do remember why I started drinking green tea. I was feeling fat and read somewhere that green tea was a natural diuretic. It happens to be true and as soon as I started drinking it regularly, I started feeling better. From then on, it has been the only caffeinated drink I consume.

Why you should drink it: According to Harvard Medical School, green tea is a great source of a group of antioxidants called catechins that are more powerful than vitamins C and E in halting oxidative damage to cells and appear to have other disease fighting properties. Studies have found an association between consuming green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers, heart disease and hypertension.

How you should drink it: Drinking green tea freshly brewed is the best way to absorb the beneficial antioxidants. Decaffeinated and bottled versions have less of these properties and many contain sugar and other additives. To bring out the catechins, Harvard Women’s Health Watch recommends allowing tea to steep for three to five minutes.

I drink an average of two cups per day. According to Harvard, the usual amount is three cups per day in green tea drinking cultures. With a fraction of the caffeine of coffee, I don’t ever feel jittery after drinking tea or irritable when I don’t. If you think you don’t or won’t like the flavor of green tea, I challenge you to try my favorites. They are fruity, slightly sweet but also light and refreshing. Of all the types I’ve tried, these brands and flavors are the best:

The Republic of Tea, Wild Berry Plum Green Tea $10 for 5o bags. – The Republic of Tea has the biggest assortment of flavored green teas, including a line of superfruit teas with an extra boost of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants. Buy at republicoftea.com or amazon.com.

Lazy Days Tea Co. B.F.F. $10.50 for 5oz. – This is a loose tea so you will need to buy a tea brewing ball or other form of infuser but you’ll forget the extra step when you taste it. This is such an exciting green tea, with apple and caramel flavors that are perfect for fall. Buy at lazydaytea.com.

Mighty Leaf Green Tea Tropical $10 for 15 bags. – A little more expensive but well worth it. This is the smoothest green tea I have ever tasted. Buy at mightyleaf.com or amazon.com.

All this tea drinking requires a lot of hot water. My sister-in-law introduced me to the Bodum Bistro Electric Water Kettle and now it’s my most used kitchen appliance. Made from BPA-free plastic, this lightweight kettle boils water in just minutes and has a see-through water level indicator that is measured in “cups” so you only boil what you need.

Now that you have all the “tools” you can cut out some of the caffeine and start drinking what’s good for you. Leave a comment with your favorite green tea.

Kristen Bell loves her Bobble Water Bottle so much, she told Lucky Magazine that she is “completely obsessed” and “should be a spokesperson”. Miss Bell graces the cover of Lucky’s November issue and carried her Bobble Water Bottle with her to the shoot. I take notice of celebrities who truly look healthy and not because of great airbrushing. Kristen Bell, who just turned 30, always looks as though she is glowing from within, with dewy skin, thick healthy hair, and a bright smile, not to mention a super-fit physique. So if she religiously carries around this cute, BPA-free, self-filtering water bottle, I thought she might be onto something.

After some quick research, I realized everyone should invest in a Bobble. The built-in carbon filter (similar to that in a Brita) purifies tap water, removing chlorine and organic contaminants. The filter produces the equivalent of about 300 single-serving bottled waters and so should be replaced about every two months. That means this bottle can go everywhere with you and you will always have fresh-tasting drinking water. You can check-in at the airport with an empty bottle, get through security and fill-up on the other side. No need to spend money on pricey designer waters in hotel mini-bars, you are covered. Forget the vending machine at the gym, just fill-up at the sink. Think of all the money you will be saving and the good you will be doing for the environment.

Renowned industrial designer Karim Rashid, designed the bottle’s iconic shape. It comes in a rainbow of colors and different sizes, is made from recycled plastic and is free of BPA, Phthalates and PVC so you don’t have to worry about chemicals from the actual plastic like you do with most disposable bottles. The benefit I am most excited about is the taste. Unlike most other eco-firendly water bottles that are made from stainless steel or aluminum, Bobble’s clean plastic won’t give my water a funky metallic taste.

Bobble recently launched a tiny version of their bottle for babies and toddlers called Kids Bobble. The multi-colored filters and easy-grip design are perfect for the stylish, eco-friendly tot. You can buy Bobble online at waterbobble.com or amazon.com. The average 18.5 oz bottle retails for $9.95 and comes with a filter. Replacement filters cost just $6.95. And the Kids Bobble retails for $8.95. At these prices it makes no sense to keep spending your money on disposable bottled water. Need more of a reason? According to waterbobble.com – “every year American’s alone spend $17 billion on portable water and over 1.5 million barrels of oil are used to make plastic water bottles”. “Most of these bottles are casually discarded. They end up in our landfills, our oceans, littering our sidewalks.”  Nuff said Bobble.

Perfection seems like a lofty promise, but Tracy Anderson isn’t afraid to take on your problem areas. Her new book, Tracy Anderson’s 30-Day Method, is a comprehensive, month-long program that includes a workout DVD and eating plan. Every day you commit to a 40-minute mat workout, a minimum of 20 minutes of dance cardio, and a menu designed by Tracy.

What first impressed me when reading the book and watching the accompanying DVD was how much you get for your money ($16 on Amazon.com). In addition to some interesting background info on Tracy and the development of her Method, the book walks through all of the mat exercises on the DVD with photos and detailed instructions. The 25-day “Lifestyle Menu” and 5-day “Performance Cleanse” are an easy eating plan because the recipes and ingredients consist of  simple, energy food. And the three routines on the DVD are broken down into 10-day intervals so the workouts don’t get monotonous.

If you are like me and are already somewhat athletic, you may think that this is a beginners book or too easy to work for you. Tracy addresses how to make adjustments to the exercise regime to suit any fitness level. For example, because I already do regular cardio workouts I would double the daily dance aerobic component (to 40 minutes). Don’t be discouraged by the word dance either, the routines are super simple and consist mostly of jumping, some turning and side stepping. If you can learn the Macarena, you can handle this.

As you can probably tell, I am a big fan of Tracy Anderson and her innovative approach to sculpting women’s bodies. I believe in it because it combines the best elements of Pilates, dance and strength training to produce long, lean muscles. I have tried almost every one of her DVDs but am most fond of the original Mat Workout and Dance Cardio and use them somewhat religiously. Not surprisingly, the more consistently I use them, the better I look. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think I look like Gwyneth or Shakira but I have my own version of perfection and Tracy’s Method gets me results.

Learn more about Tracy Anderson and check out her DVD collection at tracyandersonmethod.com. Her DVDs and book are all available on her wesbite and amazon.com.

I am thinking about trying the 30-Day Method. It’s a big commitment but I know the results would be amazing. Anybody want to try it with me? Email me at melina@missknowitall.com or leave a comment.

I love yoga but, as we all know, sometimes just getting to a class can be the most challenging “practice”. Whether you are on the road for work or vacation or just can’t find a time or location that works for you, chances are if it’s inconvenient, you just won’t do it. So when my cousin, who just had her second son and works full time, told me that she takes classes online at Yogavibes.com I was excited to give it a try and hopefully have something new to share with all of you.

I did my first online yoga class this morning and it was fantastic. I actually felt like I was taking a real class. Unlike traditional yoga DVDs , Yogavibes films real classes and instructors in studios all over the world. You can pay $10 f0r a 2-week unlimited pass, $20 per month for 5 classes, or $25 per month to take unlimited classes. At the most that is $4 a class – quite a bargain for access to some of the top teachers and studios. For example, you can take the now famous “Core Fusion”, with it’s founders Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito in their gorgeous studio at Exhale Spa in NYC or “Groovy Vinyasa Yoga” from a teacher in Orange County, California.

My own discovery of Yogavibes.com came at the perfect time. This week I’m visiting my family at the beach in NY and there aren’t any yoga studios nearby. So this morning I went for a run and then took Rolf Gates’ 30 minute “After Cardio” practice and it was a great way to round out my workout. Yogavibes has so many different classes that I want to try and now I have no excuse because I can do them anywhere, anytime!

xoxo Melina

BUT, it works. This little, naughty-looking contraption has helped tone and sculpt my biceps and triceps with very little effort. As the infomercial touts, the entire workout takes only 6 minutes. I use it after a run or the elliptical to round out my cardio workout. Despite its short length, it is extremely effective. My arms start to feel an intense burn in as little as a minute and my core automatically engages as soon as I begin. So go ahead and laugh but you might not think it’s funny when your arms start to look like Jen Andersons’. What else that costs $19.95 and only takes a few minutes a day can make you that happy?

In the spirit of creating killer arms, SELF also promoted Banglz – 1/2-pound bracelets that can be worn during workouts and/or while just going about your day. They claim to “maximize muscle tone and burn more calories during your daily activities with a slight, ongoing resistance”. Arms are always the hardest thing for me to incorporate into my workouts so I am excited about any apparatus that makes toning them less of a chore.

The best thing about these silly looking but legitimate tools is that you can use them at your leisure within the privacy of your home (and you should). Now that leaves little excuse not to give them a try and start getting toned!

xoxo Melina

Rough weekend? We understand. So we’ll make this short and sweet. Despite what your seemingly well-intentioned friends tell you, your best defense against a hangover is not more alcohol. Try coconut water instead.

Branded as “nature’s sports drink”, the many benefits of coconut water, whether or not you’re recovering from too many excesses, make it worth incorporating into your diet. One 14oz container contains more potassium than 2 bananas and 15x the amount contained in normal sports drinks.  It is fat and cholesterol free, packed with five major electrolytes – potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, sodium and calcium – and regulates your digestive system which improves your skin, detoxifies your body and boosts your immune system.

Still not sold? In January 2010, Madonna, a woman known for her extreme exercise regiment and overall obsession with health and prolonged youth invested in Vita Coco, the nation’s best selling coconut water. The MKIAs happen to be big fans of Vita Coco as well. With 60% of the market share, it is the most accessible of all the brands but ZICO runs a close second and is also a good bet. You can buy both at amazon.com.

A few things to remember with coconut water – you should drink it chilled, it just tastes better, and once opened it should be consumed within 48 hours. We hope you will heed our (and Madonna’s) advice and make coconut water part of your permanent diet. Why not start today? If you had a weekend anything like ours, we are sure you need it.

xoxo Melina

I had never heard of “The Dirty Dozen” until I visited a nutritionist and she informed me that some of my favorite fruits and veggies were harmful if not eaten organically. Shocked, I went online to find a resource that could help me better navigate the produce section.

Luckily the EWG created a website - foodnews.org - dedicated to this cause and where you can download their Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides. Available as a PDF or as a handy iPhone App, the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides lists The Dirty Dozen as well as their benign counterpart – The Clean 15. The site itself is very informative as is EWG’s main website, ewg.org, where you can access an array of health and safety guides. This information will not only help you be a better consumer, it will help you live a healthier life.

The official Zumba website has a great “find a class” feature that helps you locate your nearest Zumba outlet. If you can’t get to a class you can buy the DVD series available on the site. Take one day off from running, or the elliptical, or whatever you cardio crazies are hooked on and try to dance! After shaking your booty Zumba- style you will feel empowered, we promise.