What do Deepak Chopra, Terry McAuliffe, Dick Gephardt, the Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Michael Roizen and International Future Living Institute CEO Jason McLennan have in common?

They are on the stellar advisory board at DELOS living, a ground-breaking “wellness real estate” company that is integrating cutting-edge research in medical science and technology with design, through a collaboration with the Columbia University Medical Center in New York City.

The first-ever “wellness loft,” featured here, is located in Manhattan’s Meat-Packing District. It incorporates more than 75 design features specifically aimed to facilitate restful sleep, improve posture and circulation, and increase immunity and energy levels. The DELOS goal is to create beautiful spaces that optimize the physical and emotional health and well-being of the people who live there.

This gorgeous 6500 square foot loft is LEED Platinum certi- fied, but the DELOS concept moves way beyond LEED certifica- tion. ”LEED focuses on energy conservation and sustainabil- ity,” says Dana Pillai, executive director, product development, DELOS Living. “And many DELOS features are intertwined with green and sustainability features. But that is not the focus. The focus is health and wellness.”

The loft’s LED lighting system optimizes the body’s circa- dian rhythms and can be set to regulate melatonin levels every night to help with jet lag. Floors are built with a natural rubber and cork layer that “floats” to help soften impact on joints and improve posture.

The air is passed through a filtration system that eliminates air pollution common to typical New York City apartments, which are ventilated through gaps in windows that become encrusted with particulate matter, a byproduct of combustion  small enough to get stuck in the lungs. The air filtration system can also incorporate aromatherapy for the benefit of relaxation. Walls, windows and doors are built with triple-pane windows to absorb and filter sound. “Waking up from a fire engine going by is annoying, and we can measure that effect long-term,” say Pillai. Shower water is infused with antioxidant vitamin C, to promote softer skin and healthy hair, and also help heal wounds faster.

“The house is like a plant, it draws all its resources from its immediate environ- ment,” says Pillai. And, like a plant, with its system of interconnected roots, DELOS is poised to branch out around the U.S. The first “wellness office” pilot is under construction in LA. DELOS will launch its flagship Wellness Real Estate com- plex this year in New York’s Greenwich Village. The company rolled out its suc- cessful pilot Stay Well room at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 2012, and they are now in discussions to expand the concept into spas in Napa and Aspen.

The DELOS planners pay attention to detail, even down to the creation of sim- ple visual cues in the home such as a spot for fruits and vegetables in the kitchen, for example, to encourage people to eat healthily. “We’re trying to get people to pay attention,” says Pillai. “We are trying to figure out what to do about people’s behavior,” he continues. “Only when we address that, will we have wellness.”

My introduction to Canyon Ranch Corporate Chef Scott Uehlein was at the Washington Spa Alliance Symposium in DC, when I tasted his food at lunch. Um, yum! Moroccan spiced lentils with (or without) lamb, avocado tartare with mango yuzu vinaigrette, but it was the decadent-sounding Dark Chocolate Zucchini cake—on the Ranch menu in Miami, Lenox and Tucson—that stole my heart, especially when I learned how healthy it is. I asked Chef Uehlein to share some tips, and we snagged his easy recipe.

How do you make healthy food taste so good?

We use fresh, local and seasonal ingredients, which taste better and may be better for you. Organic is very important to us. Equally as important are pasture-raised meats and sustainably-farmed or -fished seafood.

We also balance flavors with elements of sweet, sour, bitter and salty (meaning properly seasoned); balance textures (have elements of both soft and crunchy in a dish); and build layers of flavor.

What’s your strategy for people who want to eat more healthfully?

Just remember that it does not have to be an all-or-nothing type of thing – moderation not deprivation should be your thought process. View it as a journey and start with one step. Make small changes which will eventually add up to a healthier eating plan.

What are your top five kitchen pantry items?

• Extra virgin olive oil: a natural fat that enhances flavors and introduces that critical “bitter” element

• Kombu: seaweed, which helps to reduce how much sodium you need to add to certain soups and sauces

• A wide array of both fresh and dried spices: critical in layering flavors

• Citrus: for the “sour” element and for flavor enhancement

• Italian San Marzano Tomatoes: they have a far deeper flavor than domestic tomatoes

Canyon Ranch Dark Chocolate Zucchini Cake

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup cocoa

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

3/4 cup evaporated cane juice

1/4 cup unsalted butter

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 large egg white

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons unsweetened apple sauce

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 cup grated zucchini

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Directions

• Preheat oven to 325°. Spray an 8” x 8” square cake pan with canola oil and lightly dust with cocoa.

• In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.

• In a large bowl, with a hand held mixer, beat together evaporated cane juice, butter and oil until well blended. Add egg white and continue beating. Beat in vanilla and apple sauce.

• Stir dry ingredients into wet adding the buttermilk half way through. Mix in grated zucchini and chocolate chips.

• Pour batter into prepared pan.

• Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in middle of cake comes out clean.

• Dust powdered sugar over top of cake and cut into 16 pieces.

Makes 16 servings, each containing approximately: 160 calories, 24 gm. carbohydrate, 7 gm. fat, 9 mg. cholesterol, 2 gm. protein, 108 mg. sodium, 1 gm. fiber

“The 21st century is the time for a green revolution,” says Paulette Cole, CEO and Creative Director of ABC Carpet & Home, a stylish, eclectic, iconic and utterly irre- sistible New York City design emporium. “We need to change the way we do things, and business needs to be a catalyst. Our role at ABC is to throw the pebble, create a ripple and inspire other businesses’ direction.”

Cole has taken her father’s traditional carpet store on 19th Street and Broadway, and transformed it into a sustainability mecca for those who shop with their val- ues in mind. The store holds seven levels of beautifully styled, sustainably sourced high-end home furnishings, natural and organic beauty brands, artisanal and hand- crafted interior design pieces, one-of-a- kind jewelry and gorgeous textiles—baby- soft blankets, whisper-weight cardigans, organic and bio-based bedding—from around the globe.

A visionary with an amazing eye, Cole spends much of her time traveling to the earth’s far corners to source stunning signature pieces that you never thought you wanted and suddenly must have. But the pull goes way beyond beauty.

Initially inspired by the birth of her daughter, Cole’s goals for ABC Carpet & Home are modeled on becoming a force for good in the world. “Motherhood was the first hit of inspiration, and then my interest in spirituality, which led me to use business as a platform to create change in the world,” says Cole. “I realized I wanted to invite in the healthiest possibilities for myself and the planet.”

Cole hired Amy Chender, now COO, as director of social responsibility. They drafted a mission template and began to create initiatives like GoodWood—sourc- ing furniture from responsibly managed forests or reclaimed or salvaged wood, and planting a tree, through the Climate Poverty reduction plan, for each piece sold. They worked with the Rainforest Alliance, “which helped to lead us and our suppliers to ethical sourcing,” says Cole.

They created the nonprofit ABC Home & Planet Foundation, and made a commitment to bringing the work of talented global artisans to the attention of New York City shoppers. “We see the indigenous design DNA becoming threatened by global development,” says Cole. But the ABC mission is always overlaid with a heaping dollop of style: “to hold the original ancient ingredients, but make it modern and accessible,” she says.

The design aesthetic is a powerful force behind everything, with the juxtaposition of modern textiles and ancient weaving techniques; soft, reclaimed wood chairs with strong, articulate lines. Right now, Cole is excited about bringing LED light into the home, shown in a romantic and structural way. “It’s functional art, to set a tone or mood, and it’s the totally responsible way to go,” she says

In the spirit of building bridges and break- ing down borders, ABC has also become a cul- tural draw. Deepak Chopra keeps an office on the mezzanine, where the Deepak Home Base hosts stylish events and benefits for climate change, the welfare of indigenous peoples, nature conservation and natural beauty. ABC Kitchen, the James Beard Foundation award- winning restaurant on the main floor, features innovative organic cuisine served up to a humming New York crowd.

“It’s important for people to take good care of themselves and vote with their dollars,” says Cole. “Raise the bar and make the invest- ment—people are worth it. ”

Imagine, an artisan in Indonesia, whose job it is to dig up old roots from teak trees that were harvested years ago, slice the roots into irregular slabs three inches thick, and transform them into eye-catching one-of-a-kind benches and end tables like this one. “Rather than getting rid of them, we are repurposing them to make tables,” says Gary Babcock, senior VP of fashion and merchandising at Arhaus. The Ohio-based company works with artisans all over the world to source materials for the furniture in their Roots and their Relics collections, which include antiques, artisanal pieces and unique works of art. This Teak Root Slab Coffee Table (with dining tables launching soon) can be used indoors or out because, according to Babcock, it is virtually indestructible. “Teak is the natural wood most impervious to the elements,” he says. “You need to keep it oiled or refinish it once a year to maintain it. It is very organic, very natural,” he continues. “It has an irregular shape, because that’s the way the tree grows.” arhaus.com

—Rona Berg

Nothing changes up the look and feel of a room, indoors or out, like a spot of color. If your decor is anchored in a neutral palette, bring in the brights to make it pop. A strategically placed rug, a new throw, or a plush pillow (or two or 10!), in a vibrant shade or lively pattern, is an easy way to reenergize a room or porch and transition your home into spring.

With a hot shot of red, blue, rust or gold, some of this season’s trending colors, you will elevate the emotion quotient of any decor, punch up the mood and make your couch, chairs, bench or settee a happier place to hang around and relax with family and friends. Texture matters, too, and these graphic patterned pillows are made from super soft organic cotton and linen, free of toxic dyes, bleaches or finishes. The removable inserts are hypoallergenic, sourced from the fiber of the kapok tree, native to rainforest regions of South and Central America and West Africa, and closures feature coconut shell buttons that are pretty—and sustainable. coyuchi.com

—Rona Berg

]]> http://www.organicspamagazine.com/relax-get-comfortable/feed/ 0 http://www.organicspamagazine.com/kimberly-parry-body-butter/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kimberly-parry-body-butter http://www.organicspamagazine.com/kimberly-parry-body-butter/#comments Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:51:18 +0000 Rona Berg http://www.organicspamagazine.com/?p=16555

When the seasons are shifting and our skin is shedding like a snake’s, there is nothing like a beautiful body balm to soothe both body and soul. This one is light and lubricious, and smells absolutely delicious, with only five ingredients, which are all USDA certified organic! Sunflower oil, coconut oil, shea butter, olive oil and beeswax soothe all the rough spots, especially knees, elbows, hands and feet. It is even a great moisturizer for the lips! It is perfect to apply after a bath or shower, and is a great moisture barrier for your baby’s bottom. TIP: If your ends are split or dry, dab on a tiny bit to hydrate the hair! aylabeauty.com

Honeybee Gardens, a natural makeup line that is incredibly well-priced, tends to fly below the radar and doesn’t get the attention it deserves. We hope to help change that. Eco-makeup artists, listen up! We have been using the chocolate eye pencil for years, on eyes and lips, and this spring’s shimmer shades and mineral powders are divine. But for a bit of fun, bring on the eye shadow palettes: The Cosmopolitan, is a mix of mink matte brown, satin pink, and two shimmer shades–bronze and gold–that mix and match for any occasion, with a bamboo applicator that is eco-friendly and cruelty-free. honeybeegardens.com

These bright, portable glass bottles are built for the entire family. If you’re a super-thirsty type, look for the 22 oz. size, otherwise, 16 oz will do. The bottles for babies are colorful and easy for little fingers to grip. Plus, all caps are BPA-, PVC an phthalate-free, the glass is reusable and recyclable (and tastes better than plastic) and the protective silicone sleeves are made from BPA-free medical grade silicone. They are dishwasher safe, and a great plastic substitute. Look out for the new straw top version, launching in June. lifefactory.com

These days, when we need to save time and streamline everything, multitasking products are a huge trend. This little oil–certified organic by USDA or QAI–will make a big impact on skin, hair and nails. Organic argan oil protects, heals and nourishes; antioxidant, antibacterial jojoba soothes irritation; and kukui oil is super-hydrating and especially effective on problem skin. TIP: Apply a small amount to skin, then pat your palms through your hair, especially on the ends. Then massage into hands to soften dry cuticles and complete the trilogy. dermae.com

Spring is in the air–almost!–and who isn’t already craving the delicious warm-weather smells of summer? Desert Essence just launched a new collection of rich, creamy soaps in lemongrass, peppermint and our favorite, coconut, which also contains jojoba meal, to gently exfoliate dry, flaky skin. The soaps are gluten-free, vegan and contain 100 percent sustainable palm oil, certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which ensures the oil is grown and harvested sustainably and responsibly, and does not damage the environment or livelihood of local indigenous communities. The pretty package is 100 percent recycled. Lather up! desertessence.com