Massage & More for Administrative Professional's Week

Administrative Professional's Week is April 19-25 and one thing yours won't have to take home with her (or him) is the week's cumulative stress.

You can treat the person who helps make your business a success (or afloat in today's economy!) with services from The Back Rub Company.

Our Massage & More Specials: On-Site Chair Massage and fresh spring flowers or a balloon bouquet delivered to the office; 60 or 90-Minute Massage Gift Certificate to be used at any time (in-clinic or in-home; and more!

Contact us for details and a quote. Schedule soon! We book up quickly during this week.

Is there really such a thing as biodegradable plastic bags?

Although those handy grocery store bags serve a wide array of functions, once they actually make it to the landfill they'll be there forever.

Conventional plastic is made of petroleum - 1.6 billion gallons each year! - one of the only materials on earth that never goes away. Even if it breaks down after being exposed to heat and sunlight, the tiny particles contaminate soil and water, eventually making into the food we eat.

Americans go through over 380 billion bags a year, and only an estimated 5.2% are actually 'recycled.'

The solution?

• Green: Don't just throw them away when you get home. Reuse the bags as a trash liner, littler box liner, etc.


• Greener: Take the bags back to your grocery store. Some stores like Whole Foods and Fry's give customers a nickle off for every bag they bring in to reuse.


• Greenest: Eliminate using plastic bags altogether and bring your own reusable cloth totes.

What about kitchen trash bags?
Manufacturers are making progress with biodegradable plastics that break down into water, carbon dioxide and biomass. However, there's a flaw. The 'new' biodegradable plastics are actually 'oxo-degradable,' meaning they only break down when exposed to air or light, not in an oxygen-deprived landfill.

• EarthSense Kitchen Trash Bags made with 70% recycled plastic, 10% post-consumer


• Seventh Generation Drawstring Tall Kitchen Bags made with 45% recycled plastic, 25% post-consumer
  

If you have a question about green living, please e-mail us and we'll include it in a future article.

What Every Cola Drinker Should Know

You've heard it all before - cola is bad for your health. Loaded with sugar, it affects your liver, blood pressure, teeth, etc.

So, what happens within the first hour of downing your favorite beverage?

• 10-Minutes: About 10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system, close to 100% of the recommended daily intake. This would normally cause a person to vomit, but phosphoric acid cuts the sweetness.


• 20-Minutes: You blood sugar skyrockets and your liver responds by turning the massive amount of sugar to fat.


• 40-Minutes: Your body absorbs the caffeine, your pupils dilate, your blood pressure rises and your liver dumps more sugar into your bloodstream.


• 45-Minutes: Your body increases dopamine production which tricks you into feeling pleasure - a physically identical response to that of heroin.


• 60-Minutes: The sugar crash begins. As your blood sugar drops, you crave more.
  

Mmmm...yummy!

Source: Organic Consumers

Confused by Plastic? A common question answered

The not-so recent 'green' movement has produced some hard-hitting facts about many things, including the use of plastics. The plastic food container mystery has finally been solved!

Can I still use my plastic food containers?
Yes and no. I recently cleaned out my kitchen cabinets and ended up throwing many of my containers in the recycling bin.

• Look on the bottom of your containers. Each one has a triangular symbol with a number in it. Numbers 1, 2, 4 and 5 are safe plastics. Get rid of numbers 3, 6 and 7.


• Remove any containers from your cabinets that are cloudy or have scratches. Those are sure signs of deterioration and hidden bacteria.


• Make sure that if you use single-use containers, like butter tubs and yogurt cups, they are only used to store cold foods or for freezing. Do not store hot foods in these containers.


• Get rid of any plastic you've used in the microwave. Plastics that are mocrowaved transmit chemicals from the container to your food. Gross! Use glass or ceramic to microwave meals.
  

Stay tuned for next month's 'green' answer to "Are plastic bags biodegradable?"

If you have a question about green living, please e-mail us and we'll include it in a future post.

Who is The Back Rub Company??

The Back Rub Company is the nation's leading provider for On-Site Health & Wellness. Rejuvenate, relax and reenergize with our On-Site Corporate Chair Massage Services and Workplace Wellness Programs, Mobile Massage & Spa Services and our Massage & Wellness Clinics. Our services are provided in Metro Phoenix and Nationwide! Visit our website for more information.

We provide:

• On-Site Massage in the workplace; trade-shows events & health fairs; the comfort of your home!
• Corporate Wellness Programs including on-site chair massage; wellness & nutrition workshops; healthy cooking classes; fitness classes
• Mobile Massage & Spa services for girl's night parties; special occasions & holidays; reunions, birthdays & anniversaries
• Massage & Wellness Clinics in Central Phoenix, South Scottsdale and Mesa

Pomegranate Packs a Punch

I love Pinkberry! Unfortunately, there aren't any Pinkberry locations in AZ. But every time I visit my friend and fellow holistic healthcare provider, Jason, in Los Angeles, we make daily trips to the place. Just yesterday, Jason called to brag that they Pinkberry launched a new flavor: Pomegranate!

Although I won't be eating their pomegranate yogurt anytime soon, I can still enjoy the many benefits of the whole fruit. Pomegranates have been found to have antiviral and antibiotic effects. The fruit (and juice) can destroy cavities and help ease the effects of food poisoning instantly!

Although pomegranate season typically runs from October - January, you may still be able to find some of the fruit at your local Farmer's Market, grocery store or your neighbor's yard!

Healthy Nutrition Tips

OK, how are you doing with those New Year's Resolutions? We're almost positive that you had one on your list like, "Eat healthier" or "Lose weight," right? March is National Nutrition Month and it's the perfect time to revisit your goals, evaluate your current nutrition program and make some healthy changes to help you stay on track.

Here are six tips guaranteed to help you shed a few extra pounds and feel more energized:

1) Don't go anywhere without food!
Always carry a healthy snack like a handful of nuts or protein bar for that mid-day pick-me-up. It will get you through until your next meal and ensure that you don't reach for anything unhealthy.

2) EAT!
A common misconception is that skipping meals will help you drop unwanted pounds. This is entirely untrue. If you skip meals, your metabolism slows and your body goes into 'starvation mode,' holding on to whatever energy it can to sustain. Eat 4-6 small, healthy meals throughout the day and you'll burn calories more quickly and efficiently.

3) Skip the soda!
If you have a limit of 1,500 calories per day, make sure that 1,500 calories consists of food. Soda and coffee drinks rack up the calories (200+ in each drink). It's much better to eat your calories rather than drink them. If you can't skip your morning mocha, count it as one of your small meals.

4) Organic or no?
While it's always better to eat organic, it can really add up. Buying produce that's farmed locally is more important than buying organic in your local grocery store. Produce that's harvested closer to home retains more nutritional value than produce that has to be shipped across the country, or worse, overseas. Visit your local Farmer's Market to get the best produce (it's usually cheaper than the store!).

5) Cut back on processed foods!
Try to eat as fresh as possible. Add more lean meats, fresh fruits & veggies and whole grains to your diet. Avoid white sugar, white flour and boxed foods as much as possible. When grocery shopping, start by filling your cart up with items on the outside perimeter of the store first (produce, meat, dairy sections) and then go through the middle sections for healthy condiments, grains, etc.

6) Watch the sodium!
The natural foods section may lead you to belive that the items you'll find there are super healthy, but watch out! Those 'healthy' soups and frozen foods are oozing with sodium. Here's a guideline: don't eat over 300mg of sodium per small, healthy meal. Look for low-sodium condiments like salsa, to season food.

If you'd like additional health tips, please feel free to e-mail us and one of our nutrition experts will be happy to answer your questions.

National Nutrition Month is a great time to schedule an on-site Nutrition Lunch-and-Learn Workshop or Healthy Cooking Class. Contact us for details!