“Eat crap = feel like crap.  Eat fruit = feel fresh and yummy.  Eat chemicals = get weird diseases.  Eat natural = be naturally healthy, like we’re supposed to be.”

-Sarma Melngailis

I’m in the midst of reading a book titled The Ultimate Tea Diet, by Mark “Dr. Tea” Ukra. I’m not that far in, but essentially Ukra is a tea expert, and the book is about the benefits of tea (actual tea, not herbal tisanes). He talks about how tea can both boost your metabolism and decrease your appetite, as well as the numerous available tea flavors. He even provides recipes that allow you to cook with tea, which I didn’t even know was possible.

It’s funny that I’m reading this book right now, because I’ve recently started drinking more tea. The Republic of Tea has some specialty roobios tisanes that I’ve been trying, but my favorite is Pomegranate tea. Trader Joe’s has a delicious pomegranate green tea that you serve cold, and I’ve been sipping on The Republic of Tea’s Pomegranate Green Tea Superfruit Tea when I need something warm. I bought the loose leaf canister and a tea infuser, so I can make it one cup at a time. I just stir in a bit of raw agave nectar for sweetness and I’m good to go with a yummy, antioxidant-rich blend. Delicious!

I have a problem with flax. I know it’s good for me, and provides some of the essential Omega-3s, but I can’t find a method for taking it. When I buy the capsules, they languish in the cabinet with the rest of the vitamins I forget to take. Oil? It migrates to the back of the fridge and slowly goes rancid until I find it several months later. Ground seeds? Great the first time I open them. Then they sit, unused, waiting for me to notice them and come up with a recipe that can use up an entire large bag of flax. Grrrr.

So, I was thrilled to find a new solution. Enter Carrington Farms Flax Paks, individually packaged servings of flax seeds. Each packet (you get 12 in a box) contains a tablespoon of ground flax. And they last for 18 months. Oh, and did I mention they’re organic? At last, a flax solution I can work with.

Check out Luke Wilson and Seth Green here. Both intriguing, quirky actors whom I like very much. Luke Wilson is a total hottie with a penchant for goofy comedy, and Seth Green has an amazing resume (Buffy, Austin Powers, Family Guy, Robot Chicken…). So why are they wandering around town looking all skeezy? Ick. Unless you’re Tom Selleck (and hey, I love Las Vegas, but that guy is clearly a gun-toting lunatic) or Val Kilmer in Tombstone (yum), just don’t.

Some of Hollywood’s lovely ladies are joining us on the green bandwagon, and I think it’s great. I was reading the January 2008 issue of Vogue the other day and the article about Kate Hudson mentioned that she is launching her own natural hair care line. Apparently when a friend of hers was diagnosed with breast cancer and consequently concerned about the chemical load in her beauty products, Kate cleaned out her bathroom and removed products that were made with chemicals and animal testing. On her quest for more natural products, she discovered that there is a hole in the market for natural shampoos, so she teamed up with her hairstylist, and David Babaii for Wild Aid was born. The line is set to launch in March, and not only is it all natural, but a percent of the profits go to the Wild Aid animal charity.

According to the website:

Today, I picked up the latest issue of Fitness magazine and discovered that cover model Josie Maran has her own natural cosmetics line, Josie Maran Cosmetics. The website says:

Over time, Josie noticed a hole in the market. It was hard to find products that matched her approach to life – products that are pure and gentle, that contain no toxins or ingredients that damage the planet. The few earth-friendly products she found were lacking the sophistication and the level of luxury she craved.

Josie knew that if she wanted products that met these high standards, other women would want them too. So in 2006 Josie set out to create her own makeup line.

Josie Maran Cosmetics is arriving at the perfect time. Today’s woman is discriminating and asks a lot of the products she buys. She’s unwilling to compromise style, beauty, quality or caring for the planet. Now she can have all of these things and have her makeup, too.

The philosophy of Josie Maran Cosmetics comes from Josie herself. It’s a balance of her low maintenance, go-with-the-flow attitude and her refined, worldly taste. “I know exactly what I like. My tastes are very specific,” Josie says. “I crave quality, whether it’s the best fabric, the best food, or the best makeup. I try to surround myself with the best of everything.” Josie’s passion for everything she does is evident in the line. Every element, from the packaging to the makeup shades, is a reflection of her unique sensibility.

Josie Maran isn’t the only eco-conscious model. Supermodel Angela Lindvall is the founder of the Collage Foundation, which promotes change by being socially and environmentally active and responsible. It provides sort of a network for change, by informing people about various events and causes in which they can participate.

It’s nice to know that Hollywood isn’t all train wrecks and rehab, and that there are socially and environmentally conscious celebrities who are using their fame to bring about change.