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Today marks the celebration of Earth Day worldwide! What will you do to make a difference this Earth Day? Read on for some ideas...

• Eat locally grown produce. Eating locally is one of the most important things you can do to eliminate the drain of food and agriculture on the environment. Fossil fuels are consumed in vast quantities daily by trucks delivering food products to market. Click here to find locally grown, sustainable, and organic food stores, restaurants, and more in your area.
• Purchase organic, vegetarian-fed, free-range poultry and eggs. Have you seen the documentary film Food, Inc.? According to the film, approximately 10 billion animals (chickens, cattle, hogs, ducks, turkeys, lambs and sheep) are raised and killed in the US annually. Nearly all of them are raised on factory farms under inhumane conditions. These industrial farms are also dangerous for their workers, pollute surrounding communities, are unsafe to our food system and contribute significantly to global warming. Free-range hens generally have two to three times more space per bird than caged hens. In addition, feeding hens and chickens a vegetarian diet decreases saturated fat and cholesterol content and increases omega-3 content of the chicken and eggs produced.
• Skip the cow. Did you know that cows are one of the biggest contributors to pollution due to the methane gases they release? Join the Meatless Monday campaign and skip meat at least once a week to make a difference in your planet and your body.
• Ditch the plastic bottle. Not only can chemicals such as BPA leach into water when you drink from plastic bottles, but plastic bottles crowd our landfills! Purchase a reusable bottle such as a Klean Kanteen to prevent extra plastic usage. Added bonus: Carrying around a water bottle tends to promote increased hydration and saves money.
• Bring your own bags. Plastic grocery bags are so environmentally UNfriendly. According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. An estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many plastic bags. Plastic bags cause over 100,000 sea turtle and other marine animal deaths every year when animals mistake them for food. Purchase a few grocery tote bags to carry your goods home. Most grocery stores sell them or your can find some great ones here. 
• Bike, Walk, or Ride-Along. Do you get in the car to drive down the street? Next time consider riding your bike or walking. Not only will you save on gas and decrease your carbon emissions, but you'll also help your waistline by getting extra steps! In situations where biking or walking are impractical, consider your local public transportation options. Taking public transportation isn't an option in every city, but if it is in yours, it can be a great way to multi-task (read a book, respond to emails, etc) and reduce your carbon footprint. 

Below is a list of nutrition, wellness, fitness, and health articles of interest that were published in the popular press over the past 2 weeks. Nutrition and wellness information is flooding the media as usual. Take a peak to see which topics interest you. Happy reading!

• E. coli cases down in 2009, CDC says
• Eating well on $68.88 a week: That's the food stamp budget for a family of 4
• LAX hopes to give taste buds quite a ride. The airport plans to upgrade concessions to reflect the diverse, top-drawer cuisine of L.A. New shops and other services are all part of the plan too. 
• Cooking at home can save money, calories
• Registered Dietitians Play Essential Role In Management Of Gastric Bypass Patients
• An Insurer’s New Approach to Diabetes
• School nutrition and gardening classes aim to grow healthy eating habits
• Pushing Kids To Play Outside
• Anorexia, bulimia definitions hinder treatment, study says
• Child Obesity Soaring in Rural America; In one Louisiana community, one in two kids is now overweight or obese, study finds
• Diet can sharply cut Alzheimer’s risk. Study: Olive oil, nuts, fish, poultry among best brain boosters
• Growing concern over marketing tainted beef
• What is your nutritional carbon footprint?
• Preventing Type 2 Diabetes: Launch Of Europe-Wide Recommendations
• Raiding the Refrigerator, but Still Asleep
• Sleep's role in weight loss remains a mystery
• How Much Exercise Prevents Weight Gain?

As a Registered Dietitian, I am often asked to disclose my favorite food and beverage products. And while I do not endorse any particular products, brands, or grocery stores, here are some of the items you'll usually find in my grocery cart...

• Pomi crushed tomatoes
  Why I like it? It has one ingredient: tomatoes!
  Perfect as a base to make a marinara sauce for pizza or pasta. Add chopped bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, garlic, basil, oregano, and thyme for a super nutrient-packed pasta sauce.

• Trader Joe's Organic Frozen Brown Rice
  Why I like it? It's a whole grain that's ready in 3 minutes! 
  A great whole grain carbohydrate addition to any meal. Each box contains 3 pouches with 2 servings in each pouch. 1 cup delivers 2.5 grams of dietary fiber.

• Low fat or nonfat Greek Yogurt
  Why I like it? Greek yogurt is chock-full of protein and calcium, plus it tastes great! Just 1 cup of plain, nonfat Fage yogurt contains 20 grams of protein and meets 40% of one's daily calcium needs. This yogurt also comes in other varieties with fruit or honey on the side. Perfect as an after workout snack!

• All Natural Peanut Butter
  Who doesn't love a good PB&J? Laura Scudder's all natural, unsalted peanut butter contains just one ingredient: peanuts! Unlike other varieties, you won't find any trans fats or added sugars in this brand. Sure, peanut butter is calorie-dense, but it is full of heart healthy fats and protein which will contribute to one's satiety. Try spreading some all-natural peanut butter on a whole wheat english muffin, mix it into your morning oatmeal, or spread it on apple or celery slices.

• Organic Skim Milk
  Why I like it? Perfect with a PB&J and nutrient-rich!
  90 calories, 9 grams of high-quality protein, 30% Daily Value (DV) for Calcium, and 25% DV for Vitamin D in each cup! Now that is a nutritious beverage choice! Just watch your portion if you are watching your weight or have diabetes because those calories and carbohydrates can add up if you're not careful. I choose to buy organic milk, produced without antibiotics, pesticides or cloning, from cows not given added growth hormones.

• Free Range, Vegetarian Fed, Omega-3 Eggs
  Eggs get a bad rap. Sure one egg contains almost an entire day's worth of cholesterol, but research indicates that dietary cholesterol intake has a smaller impact on blood lipids than saturated and trans fats. Plus, purchasing eggs that come from cage-free, organic, vegetarian-fed hens such as these from Eggland’s Best ensures an even more nutritious egg. Eggland's Best ensures that their cage-free and organic hen diet consists of healthy grains with no animal fat, no animal byproducts, and no recycled or processed food. It contains no added hormones, antibiotics, or steroids. When hens are fed organic, vegetarian feed, the eggs tend to be lower in cholesterol and saturated fat, higher in omega-3 fatty acids and are packed full of vitamins, minerals, protein, and antioxidants.

• Trader Joe's Chicken Sausage
  Why I like it? These fully cooked sausages made from skinless chicken meat are a tasty, protein-packed addition to any meal. 
  Slice and grill in a pan for a few minutes, then add to a sandwich, pasta or a bowl of brown rice, beans, and veggies. One link delivers 11 grams of protein and 100 calories. 

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort, and altered bowel habit (chronic or recurrent diarrhea, constipation, or both – either mixed or in alternation).

• IBS affects between 25 and 45 million people in the United States (10 to 15% of the population). 
• The exact cause of IBS is not known. Symptoms may result from a disturbance in the way the gut, brain, and nervous system interact. This can cause changes in normal bowel movement and sensation. Stress does not cause IBS. However, because of the connection between the brain and the gut, stress can worsen or trigger symptoms.
• The impact of IBS can range from mild inconvenience to severe debilitation. It can control many aspects of a person's emotional, social and professional life. Persons with moderate to severe IBS must struggle with symptoms that often impair their physical, emotional, economic, educational and social well-being.
• IBS is unpredictable. Symptoms vary and are sometimes contradictory. Diarrhea can alternate with constipation. Long-term symptoms can disrupt personal and professional activities, and limit individual potential.
• Although IBS is common in the general population, few seek medical care for their symptoms.

Diet plays a large role in IBS symptom severity, but is also highly individual. If you have or think you may have IBS, working with a registered dietitian can help you to improve your diet and reduce your specific IBS symptoms. 

For more information about IBS, please visit: http://www.aboutibs.org/