Fitness PR Division

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), which has used the power of the law to defend the South's natural resources for 25 years, today released its third annual list of the top ten places in the South that face immediate, potentially irreversible damage in 2011. This year's list shows that the nation's most urgent environmental issues are playing out in the Southeast, especially the way we produce and use energy.

For more detailed descriptions of each endangered area, SELC's protection efforts, photographs and video, visit www.southernenvironment.org/topten

"Our region is headed down a path that threatens to overwhelm the Southern landscapes we love--our mountains, rivers, coast, and rural countryside," said Marie Hawthorne, SELC's Director of Development. "Decisions made today about how we extract and produce energy will have consequences for decades to come. The key message behind our Top Ten list is that there is still time to save these special places—but we need to act now."

Specifically, this year's list covers current and potential impacts of offshore oil drilling on Alabama's coast, mountaintop removal coal mining in Tennessee, coal-fired power generation in Georgia, fracking to tap natural gas in Virginia, and more.

"The South's energy choices aren't just affecting our own backyard," said Hawthorne. "If our six-state region were a country, it would be the seventh largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world."

SELC, the largest organization dedicated to defending the South's environment and special places, is using its full range of law and policy tools to implement cleaner, cheaper alternatives to fossil fuels and to promote forward-looking, sustainable options that enable the region to prosper while remaining healthy and beautiful for future generations.

How often do you eat your recommended daily fruit and vegetable intake? If your diet is anything like mine, not very often at all. According to the notorious food pyramid, we should be eating at least 3 to 5 servings of vegetables and 2 to 4 servings of fruits a day. As great as carrots and apples can be, not all of us are munching on them as frequently as we should be.

Well that can all end now because of Kristine Miles' upcoming book, The Green Smoothie Bible. In her book she has over 300 different recipes of green smoothies that are loaded with vegetables and fruits that exceed the daily recommended amounts. The green smoothie diet has been all the rage the last few years because of it's ability to pack in great amount of leafy veggies and fruits that are imperative to our diets. Why in the form of a smoothie? It's quick, tasty and all around more fulfilling than sitting around eating celery sticks all day.

According to Margaret Floyd, we aren’t naked enough…that is, in terms of food. The nutritional therapist is among a growing number of people behind the push to eat “naked” foods for a healthier, happier life.

What is naked food, exactly? The answer is simple: foods that are fresh, organic, and prepared to let the natural flavors be the focus of the meal. It means no more of the overprocessed junk foods that Americans have created a long-term, love-hate relationship with.

Unprocessed foods have endless benefits. When we eat foods in their most natural state, we’re feeding ourselves with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals in their most organic states. A general feeling of well-being, better skin, and less illness has been attributed to eating raw, and organic foods put less stress on our body organs so it’s guaranteed we’ll function better on the whole.

Yoga is the best stress reliever around. For someone who does not like to do heavy, high impact workouts, yoga suits me best. Because of this, I have recently discovered Hugger Mugger. The brand was created by Sara Chambers and produces high quality and environmentally friendly products ideal for any yogi.

I love how the name Hugger Mugger literally means to conceal. One of their first products, which happen to have the same name as the brand, are their unisex shorts ($36.95) that are perfect to have on during your yoga or Pilates exercise. They're the very shorts that got this brand its clever name. The thigh hugging bands are great because they allow you to bend over and stretch without having to worry if you're shorts are riding up.

With its unique method and approach to treating disease, Hyland’s provides natural remedies for every member of the family, from the infant to the elderly.  Stringent preparation, on top of a century’s worth of homeopathic practice, Hyland’s health care remedies are endless. 

Hyland’s manufactures products for each of the following categories:  Stress/Sleep, Baby, Children’s Health, Pain Relief, Women’s Health, Digestion, Cough/Cold, First Aid, Seasonal Allergies, Skin, Topicals, Kits, Cell Salts, and Single Remedies. 

Sleep deprived from stress and anxiety?  Try Hyland’s Insomnia.  Rid yourself of worry and restlessness, with no risky side affects.  This product is safe for adults and children. 

Has that pulsating headache returned? Not an aspirin enthusiast?  Check out Hyland’s Migraine Headache Relief.  This all-natural formula is free of aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine. More partial to topicals than tablets?  Can’t seem to escape that grating leg cramp?  Try Hyland’s Leg Cramp Ointment. Night or day, rain or shine, Hyland’s ointment temporarily relieves cramp symtomps of the leg and calf. These are only a few of the myriad remedies Hyland’s has to offer. (Shannon swears by Hyland's teething tablets! It's the only way she kept her sanity when each of her 4 sons were teething.)

Are you into holistic healthcare?  Have you checked out any of Hyland’s products?  What are your thoughts?  Let us know @PierceMattiePR.  

Since 1986, Gaia Herbs has shown their commitment to growing organic herbs. Located in the mountains of North Carolina, Gaia Herbs has more than 50 crops growing on 250 acres of soil, producing quality, certified organic herbs that have gone through an extremely thorough laboratory process to develop the best product available on the market. 

Distributed at your local Whole Foods, Gaia Herbs can be found in the vitamin/herb aisle with other natural herbal remedies. Herbal products include supplements for body system support, daily wellness and immune system functioning. Online retailers such as Amazon and Pharmaca also offer their retail competitive pricing if the convenience of online shopping is more up your alley. 

Prices range from $7 to $15 per bottle, offering the consumer various packages for money saving opportunities. 

Visit Gaia Herbs main site for information about career opportunities, frequently asked questions and full product descriptions. With all the harmful toxins we ingest on a daily basis, why not begin a vitamin regime to ward off harmful disease and sickness? Your mother probably harps on you to start taking more vitamins, why not begin a healthier lifestyle today.

Do you use any of Gaia Herbs products? Tweet us @PierceMattiePR. 

Since 1986, Gaia Herbs has shown their commitment to growing organic herbs. Located in the mountains of North Carolina, Gaia Herbs has more than 50 crops growing on 250 acres of soil, producing quality, certified organic herbs that have gone through an extremely thorough laboratory process to develop the best product available on the market. 

Distributed at your local Whole Foods, Gaia Herbs can be found in the vitamin/herb aisle with other natural herbal remedies. Herbal products include supplements for body system support, daily wellness and immune system functioning. Online retailers such as Amazon and Pharmaca also offer their retail competitive pricing if the convenience of online shopping is more up your alley. 

Prices range from $7 to $15 per bottle, offering the consumer various packages for money saving opportunities. 

Visit Gaia Herbs main site for information about career opportunities, frequently asked questions and full product descriptions. With all the harmful toxins we ingest on a daily basis, why not begin a vitamin regime to ward off harmful disease and sickness? Your mother probably harps on you to start taking more vitamins, why not begin a healthier lifestyle today.

Do you use any of Gaia Herbs products? Tweet us @PierceMattiePR. 

People go to the gym for a variety of reasons, but one thing they all have in common is that they put a lot of effort and energy into burning calories and building muscle. Many of those people, if given the opportunity, would go to a gym that kept the environment in mind when operating their facility; since, as we all know, gyms use up a lot of electricity and space.

Two green gyms come to mind that are doing it right and people are noticing. The Green Microgym in Portland, Oregon and Green Fitness Studio in Brooklyn, New York. Both operate their gyms in different ways, but with one common goal: a greener gym that takes less from the environment.

The Green Microgym uses green fitness equipment from PlugOut (which also sells equipment for home use as well.) PlugOut harnesses the energy created from people working out and subsidizes the electricity needs of the gym. It's a great way to focus on the energy you are creating rather than the calories you are burning and still get the same great physical results in the end. The Green Microgym also uses solar panels, recycled toilet paper and renewable source flooring. 

Green Fitness Studio is impressive with it's long list of ways they are green. From bamboo floors to to recycled rubber to self powered gym equipment to a living rooftop, Green Fitness Studio has really taken it the extra mile.  

What ways are your fitness center going green? Tweet us @PierceMattiePR. 

People go to the gym for a variety of reasons, but one thing they all have in common is that they put a lot of effort and energy into burning calories and building muscle. Many of those people, if given the opportunity, would go to a gym that kept the environment in mind when operating their facility; since, as we all know, gyms use up a lot of electricity and space.

Two green gyms come to mind that are doing it right and people are noticing. The Green Microgym in Portland, Oregon and Green Fitness Studio in Brooklyn, New York. Both operate their gyms in different ways, but with one common goal: a greener gym that takes less from the environment.

The Green Microgym uses green fitness equipment from PlugOut (which also sells equipment for home use as well.) PlugOut harnesses the energy created from people working out and subsidizes the electricity needs of the gym. It's a great way to focus on the energy you are creating rather than the calories you are burning and still get the same great physical results in the end. The Green Microgym also uses solar panels, recycled toilet paper and renewable source flooring. 

Green Fitness Studio is impressive with it's long list of ways they are green. From bamboo floors to to recycled rubber to self powered gym equipment to a living rooftop, Green Fitness Studio has really taken it the extra mile.  

What ways are your fitness center going green? Tweet us @PierceMattiePR.