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Obesity in America

Obesity in America

If health is wealth, America is going bankrupt. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults and one sixth of children in America are obese.¹ In the past twenty years, obesity rates doubled for adults and tripled for children. If these trends continue, by the time today’s children reach adulthood, obesity will be the norm and healthy weight the exception.

Native Hawaiians disproportionately affected by obesity Keep Reading →

Down to Earth Joins "Kanu Hawaii Eat Local Challenge!"

This September Down to Earth will participate in Kanu Hawaii's Annual Eat Local Challenge! by offering special vegetarian cooking classes and in-store demos featuring local produce and putting select local produce at 15% off! Keep Reading →

Ancient Traditions, Local Business, Homegrown Values: A Recipe for Success

This month, Down to Earth celebrates our long standing commitment to supporting local farmers and manufacturers with a profile of one of our favorite Hawaii-based businesses. Eleven years ago, Down to Earth first gave this family enterprise their start, and since then we’ve enjoyed a healthy partnership - in every sense of the word. Keep Reading →

Are GMOs Safe To Eat?

Since the dawn of time, human beings and animals alike have asked the question every day, “What should I eat?” We need to know not just what tastes good, but what is good for our survival and for our long-term health. We employ our sense of smell, taste, sight and touch, our intelligence, our knowledge of cause and effect and our culture to help us decide what to eat. Keep Reading →

Organic versus Conventional: the difference is more than just skin deep

As the organic movement gains traction, more and more people are likely to wash and peel their non-organic produce to minimize exposure to dangerous pesticides. Many articles on organic foods list the "dirty dozen" - foods that should be purchased organic whenever possible because of high pesticide residues and “the clean fifteen.” - foods with the least amount of pesticide residue. Keep Reading →

Aloha ‘Aina with A Billion Acts of Green

Aloha ‘Aina means love of the land. What would happen if one out of every six people on the planet took their commitment to the Earth more seriously? That's what The Earth Day Network intends to find out with their daring campaign, A Billion Acts of Green. They hope to register one billion environmental actions between now and Earth Summit 2012, a conference organized by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, which will be held June of 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Keep Reading →

Start Spring by Kicking the Meat Habit

What marks the start of spring for you? In New England when I was young, it was daffodils poking through the mud. In Hawaii, where we're blessed with beautiful weather, fragrant flowers and new life year round, it might be harder to put your finger on. But wherever we are in the world, spring carries with it a sense of renewal and possibility. This year, don't be surprised if you see some folks marking the new season by inviting passersby in the street to taste some delicious vegetarian food and consider taking a first step towards making long lasting, healthy changes to their diet. Keep Reading →

Reduce Heart Aches Through Plant-Based Diet

This February, in honor of American Heart month, numerous health organizations around the country are doing their part to raise awareness about the danger of and prevalence of heart disease. As you may have heard, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women and men, and evidence of heart disease shows up in children as young as nine.¹ Thankfully, there is something you can do to help reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Keep Reading →

Want to Lose Weight? Tune Out Your Inner Cathy

Ack! Any woman who's ever tried to lose weight can identify with those three little letters. Standing on a scale, reaching for a donut or trying on a bathing suit all bring that familiar refrain to mind. Even though I was never a big fan of the comic strip Cathy, it still made a big impression on me. In fact, thinking back, my impression of what a diet was supposed to be mainly came from Cathy's continual struggles to maintain one. A diet, according to the Cathy universe, is when you stop eating everything fun. Of course, you can't keep this up for long. Keep Reading →

Give the Gift of Health

As Christmas approaches, everyone starts to wonder, “What can I give the people I love to really demonstrate that I care for them?” We want to find something personal, useful, something that shows our love and appreciation. But often times the gifts we give and receive only offer short-term benefits such as a new toy, a new gadget or a new appliance – some of which might not see the light of day after Christmas day. This year, why not give the most valuable gift that will last a lifetime: give the gift of health. Keep Reading →