Through the 2025 Integrated Transit/Land Use Plan, many improvements have been made including the enhancement of customer amenities, expanded bus routes, improved services and advancements in the rapid transit program and construction of the LYNX light rail line.

In 2006, the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) adopted the 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan, furthering the vision outlined in the 2025 Integrated Transit/Land Use Plan. The 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan will help focus future growth along five primary transportation corridors, linking our area’s key centers of economic activity. In other words, transit is once again taking us into the future.

For more information and images check out CATS website

To ship your holidays gifts the smart way, consider these tips that will help reduce what ends up in our landfills:

1. Instead of throwing away the shreds you get when using a paper shredder, use them to fill packages you send in the mail. It doesn’t cost anything, it can be recycled and it’s an environmentally safer product than Styrofoam.
2. Save cash by reusing. Boxes can cost a few bucks each. Avoid buying new ones by reusing the ones sent to you.
3. If you don’t have old boxes to reuse, insist on mailing boxes that use 10% to 30% recycled paper.
4. Ship early to avoid shipping by air. Energy costs for sending a package for next day delivery are four times higher than the cost of ground shipping.
5. Lighter means more energy-efficient (and cheaper), so make sure you’re using the right size box for the job.
6. Consider using cornstarch packing peanuts. They are made from corn starch and dissolve in water leaving no toxic waste. Organic fill is static free, economical, fast and easy to use. Place them outside and they will either disappear when the birds take them to make their nests or they will melt in the next rainstorm.
7. Use recycled plastic bubble wrap to cushion the contents of your package.
8. Reuse plastic shopping bags or shredded newspaper and pack it around breakables.
9. Try gummed paper tape made from recycled Kraft paper.
10. For holiday packing materials, try dry pine cones and air-popped popcorn. They’re virtually free, festive and can be fed to the birds or put in the back yard after use.

Source: Shoplet Blog

Canning is an important, safe method for preserving food if practiced properly. The canning process involves placing foods in jars or similar containers and heating them to a temperature that destroys micro-organisms that cause food to spoil. During this heating process air is driven out of the jar and as it cools a vacuum seal is formed. This vacuum seal prevents air from getting back into the product bringing with it contaminating micro-organisms.

Safe Canning Methods

There are two safe ways of processing food, the boiling water bath method and the pressure canner method:

The only way to destroy these spores is by pressure cooking the food at a temperature of 240°F, or above, for a specified amount of time depending on the type of food and altitude. Foods that are low acid have a pH of more than 4.6 and because of the danger of botulism, they must be prepared in a pressure canner.

High acid foods have a pH of 4.6 or less and contain enough acid so that the Clostridium botulinum spores can not grow and produce their deadly toxin. High acidic foods can be safely canned using the boiling water bath method.

Certain foods like, tomatoes and figs, that have a pH value close to 4.6 need to have acid added to them in order to use the water bath method. This is accomplished by adding lemon juice of citric acid.

While researching this post, I ran across a great post that pretty much covers comparing wheat free vs. gluten free and explains when and why you should be on either diet:

WHEAT
What contains wheat?
Foods containing wheat are anything made with white or whole wheat flour, such as: cookies, cakes, breads, tortillas, pizza, pasta, pancakes, waffles, most fried food, tempura, dumplings, wontons, etc.; anything made with bulghur such as tabouli; wheat berries; cous cous; sauces that are typically thickened with white flour; soy sauce (although San-J has a wheat-free option).

Why should someone want avoid it?
Sensitivity to wheat typically results in gastrointestinal distress such as bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, reflux; skin issues such as rashes; and allergies/asthma such as congestion and wheezing.

If a person is symptomatic and eliminates wheat, typically after a week symptoms should start to improve. It can sometimes be dramatic.

What are some alternative to wheat?
Don’t worry, there are plenty of great alternatives to wheat containing foods including: breads, tortillas, pasta, pancakes, waffles, etc. Just make sure to read labels. Most products that are wheat-free will say so on the package. Also, anything that says gluten-free is also wheat-free (even if it doesn’t say so).

GLUTEN
What is Gluten-free?
Gluten-free means that a person avoids all foods containing gluten. Gluten is the general term used to describe the protein found in many grains including wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut, oat, triticale, semolina, pumpernickel, and farro.

Why avoid Gluten?
The absorptive surface of the small intestine is damaged by gluten resulting in malabsorption of carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins, and minerals, all of which are needed for good health (see the Gluten Free Diet by Shelley Case). This condition, called Celiac Disease (or Celiac Sprue), is an autoimmune disease that can be very difficult to diagnose as symptoms can range across everything from diarrhea and constipation to chronic fatigue and depression. Celiac is a serious disease that can be diagnosed through blood tests and intestinal biopsy. Should you suspect that you have, seek medical attention immediately.

Please note that there is a large population of people who are sensitive to gluten though don’t have full blown celiac disease. These people also benefit from a gluten-free diet. Again, seek medical attention if you suspect you are sensitive to gluten.

What are alternatives to Gluten?
There are many amazing products on the market that are gluten-free including breads, pastas, cookies, cakes, pancakes, waffles, etc. It is VERY IMPORTANT to read labels. Take note that a product that says “wheat -free” only is NOT necessarily gluten-free.

Article by: Kyle Eslick

Gardeners can also use neem oil to control or prevent many common plant pests and diseases (see the list below). It biodegrades quickly and, in small doses, is nontoxic to mammals, so it’s a good choice for using around the house. Neem product manufacturers list dozens of insects that can be effectively controlled with neem. It is effective against some of the more common caterpillar pests, and Japanese beetles, June beetles, and scarab beetles will not feed on neem-treated plants. Neem will also control the larvae of a number of lawn pests usually lumped together as “white grubs.” Sprays will also help to control disfiguring foliar diseases like mildews and black spot.

What events can indicate a need for more high-chromium foods?

Romaine lettuce is an excellent source of chromium while onions and tomatoes are very good sources of this mineral. Other food sources of chromium include brewer’s yeast, oysters, liver, whole grains, bran cereals, and potatoes. Many people do not get enough chromium in their diet due to food processing methods that remove the naturally occurring chromium in commonly consumed foods.

What is chromium?
This essential mineral, required by the body in trace amounts, was first discovered in 1797 by a chemist in France named Louis- Nicolas Vaquelin. Many years later, a physician and research scientist in the U.S. named Walter Mertz, discovered that chromium played a key role in carbohydrate metabolism, possibly by participating in formation of a special compound which he named “glucose tolerance factor,” or GTF.

Researchers are still not clear whether GTF is an actual chemical compound or not. But they are clear that the nutrients related to GTF – even though they may not be assembled into a single chemical structure – play an important role in blood sugar balance.

These chemicals include chromium (which may be the most active component), nicotinic acid (a version of vitamin B3), and the amino acids that make up glutathione (glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine).

How it Functions
What is the function of chromium?
Controlling blood sugar levels

As the active component of glucose tolerance factor(GTF), chromium plays a fundamental role in controlling blood sugar levels. The primary function of GTF is to increase the action of insulin. Insulin is the hormone responsible for carrying sugar (glucose) into the cells where it can be used for energy.

After a meal, blood glucose levels begin to rise, and, in response, the pancreas secretes insulin. Insulin lowers blood glucose levels by increasing the rate in which glucose enters the cells. To accomplish this, insulin must be able to attach to receptors on the surface of cells. GTF is believed to initiate the attachment of insulin to the insulin receptors.

Metabolizing cholesterol & nucleic acid

Chromium may also participate in cholesterol metabolism, suggesting a role for this mineral in maintaining normal blood cholesterol levels. In addition, chromium is involved in nucleic acid metabolism. Nucleic acids are the building blocks of DNA, the genetic material found in every cell.

Food Sources
What foods provide chromium?
Although chromium occurs naturally in a wide variety of foods, many foods contain only 1 or 2 micrograms (mcg) of chromium per serving. In addition, food processing methods often remove the naturally occurring chromium. As a result, obtaining a sufficient amount of chromium in the diet can be difficult.

Furthermore, determining the chromium content of foods is problematic due to inadequate analytical tools. Consequently, currently available food composition databases do not contain accurate information about the amount of chromium found in various foods. While our food rating system qualified romaine lettuce as an excellent source of chromium and onions and tomatoes as very good sources, the following foods are also believed to provide a significant amount of chromium: brewer’s yeast, oysters, liver, whole grains, bran cereals, and potatoes. Beer and wine can accumulate chromium during fermentation and are therefore considered to be dietary sources of the mineral.

Source: www.whfoods.com

Following Sheila Kilbane, MD Facebook group will allow you to see all the most recent events around Integrative Medicine here in Charlotte, NC. New events, as well as her personal tips that will matter to you and your family.

Charlotte Yoga Studio Locations:
8th Street Studio
Location: 1940 East 8th Street Charlotte, NC 28204
Phone: (704) 372-4289

The Bindu
Location: 11138-C Treynorth Dr. Cornelius, NC, 28031
Phone: (704) 456-9642

Charlotte Yoga
Location: 1730 E. Woodlawn, Suite E, Charlotte, NC
Phone: (704) 665 9003

GrassRoots Yoga & Meditation
Location: 511 E. 34th St. Studio 204 Charlotte, NC 28205
Phone: (704) 668-9690

Inner Peace Yoga
Location: 9535 Monroe Road, Ste 170 Charlotte, NC 28270
Phone: (704) 844-6677

Laughing Buddha Yoga
Location: 720 Governor Morrison Street Charlotte, NC 28211
Phone: (704) 362-3311

NoDa Yoga
Location: Front Studio of #126 @ 2901 N. Davidson St. Charlotte, NC 28205 at Highland Mills
Phone:(704) 560 6144

Sangati Yoga and Massage
Location: 2201 Park Rd Suite D Charlotte, NC 28203
Phone: (704) 334 3221

Urban Bliss Yoga
Location: 20600 North Main Street Cornelius, NC 28031
Phone: (704) 408-4003

Yoga Oasis
Location: 2400 Park Rd Suite A, Charlotte, NC 28203
Phone: (704) 334-7104

Yoga One Wellness
Location: 1111 Central Ave, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28204
Phone: (704) 332 9911

Y2 Yoga
Location: 280 South Sharon Amity Road Charlotte, NC 28211
Phone: (704) 456-9642

Rebate Offered:
Central air conditioners $300
Clothes Washers $100
Dishwashers $75
Freezers $75
Gas Furnaces $300
Gas Storage Water Heater $200
Gas Tankless Water Heater $200
Heat Pumps $300
Refrigerators $150
Solar Water Heater (electric back-up) $200
Solar Water Heater (gas back-up) $200

More information check out EnergyNC.net