📍Bye food dye, strong bone snack, LA fires

Happy Friday my friend,

Meet the Chinese woman who just celebrated her 124th birthday with 5 generations of family members who say she always eats 3 meals a day, walks after each one, goes to bed on time, has an optimistic attitude, and eats a lot of pumpkin porridge! 🎃

ECL TRIVIA: What is the only edible food that never expires? (Answer below)

🌎 Planet Health

🐜 ANIMAL EMOTIONS: A new study shows ants can hold grudges. Researchers found ants can remember negative experiences from past encounters and will behave more aggressively towards ants they recognize as being aggressive from previous interactions. If ants can learn and remember from their experiences, perhaps it means they can better survive in a competitive environment. Read more about ant grudges here. 

🚗 NORWAY’S EV REVOLUTION: Norway is accelerating in the electric vehicle market, with a whopping 90% of new car sales in 2024 being electric. This lightning-fast adoption is due to a perfect storm of government incentives, a robust charging network, and smart regulations. Is Norway a compelling case study for the rest of the world? Read more about the country’s EV updates here.

♻️ PLASTIC REGULATION PROPOSAL: Several EU countries have a groundbreaking proposal “that would regulate all PFAS, including fluoropolymers, as one group across the European Union, based on their persistence or ‘forever’ properties.” But strong plastic industry pressure, compared to “Big Tobacco” efforts, threatens to derail their progress. Click here to read the article to understand more about the industry pushback, and what the EU proposes.

🧑‍⚕️ Human Health

🚩 FDA BANS RED DYE: Linked to cancer in animals— but still present in 9.2k food products— red dye no. 3 is being banned by the FDA. “This is a big win for consumers, that this cancer-causing chemical is finally going to be out of the food supply. It is long overdue,” said Melanie Benesh, Environmental Working Group’s VP for government affairs. Learn more about this specific ban and the types of foods containing red no. 3 here.

🚶‍♀️ JUST 30 MINUTES A WEEK: New research suggests even a modest weekly exercise commitment (30 min/week!) can contribute to weight loss. While these initial findings are promising, the study underscores that more substantial exercise volumes (150-300 min/week) are likely necessary for clinically significant weight loss outcomes. 

🦴 PRUNE POWER: Want strong bones? Snack on prunes! A new study suggests that enjoying 4-6 prunes daily could help postmenopausal women maintain bone density and strength. Prunes (dried plums) are packed with polyphenols – powerful compounds that combat inflammation and slow bone loss. Learn more about prunes for bone health here.

Are Greens Powders Really Worth It?

While greens powders can be a convenient way to boost your nutrient intake, not all are made equal—especially when it comes to organic ingredients. In every smoothie at home I use Ora Organic's Easy Being Green.

Why this particular greens powder?

🌿 Organic Excellence: Unlike many greens powders that contain non-organic ingredients or additives, Easy Being Green is 100% organic fruits, vegetables, and greens. It meets the strictest standards for certification and is third-party tested, with results showcased on their website.

💚 Nutrient-Rich: This is the equivalent of three servings of greens per scoop, so it supports digestive health, energy levels, and strengthens the immune system.

🌱 Stress Relief: It includes ashwagandha and Triphala for stress management and overall well-being, plus organic tapioca oligosaccharides to promote healthy digestion.

🍹 Versatile: Perfect for enhancing smoothies or simply mixing with iced water and lemon for a refreshing drink (I was skeptical about mixing in plain water alone – as I’ve tried lots of green powders that claim to taste good, but this genuinely did).

Ora is giving Earth Conscious Life readers 30% off your first order. If you’re not satisfied, get a full refund, no questions.

Discover the difference with Ora's fully organic Easy Being Green.

Explore Ora Organic and Get 30% Off Your First Purchase Here ««

Photo of the week

😊 Conscious Corner

Other earth-conscious stories you may have missed…

🌡️ CLIMATE MILESTONE: 2024 becomes first year to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels (more)

🌊 LA NIÑA RETURNS: After long wait, La Niña conditions finally develop (more)

🔥 CALIFORNIA FIRES: Scientists stunned by dry conditions fueling LA blazes (more)

🐠 FRESHWATER CRISIS: Quarter of freshwater animals face possible extinction (more)

🧠 FRIENDSHIP FOCUS: Science reveals how better friendships improve health and longevity (more)

Trivia Answer:

Honey. Its unique composition allows it to remain stable indefinitely when stored properly, making it the only edible food that never expires.

To a healing future,

— Rob

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