Friday's Top 5 Tips and Trends

Here at alive, Friday means good things. One of them (along with coffee runs and weekend giddiness) is a new installment of our Top 5 Tips and Trends blog series. 1. What’s hiding at the back of your fridge? Did you know that today (November 15) is Clean Out your Fridge Day? This obscure day can actually be a great reminder about the problem of food waste. Food waste is a $27 billion problem. And that $27 billion in wasted food equals 2 percent of our gross domestic product (GDP) and is higher than the combined GDP of the world’s 32 poorest countries. If you’re not sure what’s lurking in the depths of your fridge, or if you constantly find yourself throwing out spoiled food, you could use the Crisper Challenge, featured in our article “Waste Not, Want Not.” 2. The Mediterranean diet can promote longevity You’ve likely heard of the Mediterranean diet—a simple way of eating that features olive oil, lean meats and fish, lots of veggies, and whole grains. Now a new study that surveyed 10,670 women in their 50s and 60s over 15 years found that those who ate in the Mediterranean tradition were much healthier in their 70s, with much less incidence of chronic diseases. Check out these alive recipes to learn how to incorporate more Mediterranean-style dishes into your life. 3. Celebrate the oceans with the David Suzuki Foundation! “There's nothing more important than getting together face-to-face to celebrate, deliberate, create and learn together to strengthen our movement to protect the coast.” says the David Suzuki Foundation, and we couldn’t agree more! They’ve just put together two great publications encouraging people to enjoy and protect the oceans, with strategies to do so. One’s for adults and one’s for kids, so whether you’re an individual, a parent, or a teacher, there’s something for you. 4. Music boosts babies’ development—in the womb Playing music for your little one while she’s still in the womb can help boost her brainpower, according to new research. The study measured babies’ brain activity shortly after birth—and the benefits were still noticeable when researchers checked in four months later. This shows that babies’ learning begins sooner than earlier research realized, and by something as simple as listening to “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” 5. Pesticides linked to endometriosis Lowering your exposure to pesticides may also lower your risk of developing endometriosis. A new study has noted that women with higher exposure to two specific pesticides (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane and mirex) had a 30- to 70-percent elevated risk of endometriosis, a condition in which cells of the uterus grow abnormally outside of the uterus. It can be painful, and can lead to infertility. To reduce your risk of consuming pesticides, check out the tips in our article “Cleanse Your Grocery Cart.”