#how does nikken do earth day

[selfcaredoc]

What is Earth Day, and Why?

"We are all traveling together on this Spaceship Earth. "

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets all across the country to protest environmental ignorance and demand change for an environment in crisis. The first Earth Day was a pivotal moment in advocating environmental agendas into the mainstream and forcing governments to act. In response to the first Earth Day, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Clean Air, Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act were established. This year marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day.

Every year on April 22, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement.  Currently, Earth Day is observed in more than 190 countries. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. For more information and the agenda of events this year visit https://www.earthday.org

This year’s theme for Earth Day 2021 is “Restore the Earth”.

We must restore our earth not just because we care about the natural world, but because we and all living organisms inhabit it. Every one of us requires a healthy planet to support our health, survival, and happiness. A healthy Earth is not just a choice — it is a necessity.

Climate change and other environmental degradation have damaged our planet’s natural systems. While climate change and environmental pollution remind us of the harm we have caused, “Restore Our Earth” reminds us of the many opportunities we can do daily to help restore balance to our precious planet. Make every day Earth Day.

Simple Things to Do to Observe Earth Day.

Plant something.

Plant a tree or a few in your yard. Trees not only cool things down (collectively, they can help decrease a city’s temperature by up to 10 degrees) but they also clean the air and give off oxygen. Plant a garden. Growing your own fruits and vegetables will benefit your health and reduce the amount of fossil fuel emissions by not having to transport the food to stores. As the weather turns to spring, what better time to get outside (in the safety of your own backyards) and plant a flower or vegetable garden.

Get your produce from a local farmer’s market.

Food in the grocery stores travels an average of 1,500 miles to get to your store, resulting in an increase in fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions as opposed to buying local and fresh. 

Ride your bike.

Find transportation alternatives that help reduce your carbon footprint but get you moving. The fewer cars on the road, the fewer carbon emissions polluting the air and contributing to global warming. Riding your bike or walking are two of the best options. If you don’t own a bike or know how to ride one, carpooling or public transportation are great options.

Buy reusable bags.

It is estimated that Americans use 100 billion plastic bags a year. The production of those bags requires about 12 million barrels of oil. Not to mention, they take up lots of space in landfills and cause major problems for marine wildlife in our oceans.

Invest in Reusable Straws and Water Bottles.

Just because you recycle your plastic water bottles doesn’t mean they're not hurting the environment. Besides the fact that it takes over 1.5 million barrels of oil to manufacture all of those bottles each year, there are still over two million tons of water bottles that have ended up in U.S. landfills. Buy a reusable bottle, preferably one that has a filter attached to it, so you will be getting healthy water. There are lots of options to choose from when it comes to re-useable straws.

Unsubscribe to catalogs.

Over 100 million trees are cut down each year to produce junk mail including catalogs and they usually end up being thrown away. Sign up for the free opt-out service at catalogchoice.org to help get your name off the mailing lists for all those unwanted pieces of mail.

The recent pandemic has united our world in many ways, reminding us of our connection as a global community and our responsibility to take care of each other, and our planet. Take action this Earth Day and every day to ensure a safe, healthy, and happy future for our planet and its inhabitants.

One of the things that fill me with an appreciation for our Nikken Global Wellness Community is our contribution to our communities and planet every day. As stated in our Vision 2025 our goal is to Live in Harmony with Nature.

Here are Ten ways Nikken’s Global Wellness Community helps protect Planet Earth.

1.     Nikken products are made from sustainable resources.                                                                         

 2.     Nikken uses recyclable packaging.                                                                                                            

 3.     Nikken promotes a reduced carbon footprint.                                                                         

 4.     Nikken sources and utilizes certified organic products whenever possible for our consumable product line. Reducing toxic chemical uses. True Elements, Nikken’s skincare line, is safe for the coral reefs. It is made from sustainable seaweed.                                              

5.    Nikken products are made of biodegradable materials, whenever possible.

6.     Nikken products reduce and eliminate single-use plastics.                                                         

7.     Nikken teaches/inspires a Global Community to teach others to reduce the use of plastics.           

8.     Most of the Nikken products are durable and last a long time so we are not adding to throw-away, disposable consumerism.

9.     Less water waste with the Nikken Waterfall over reverse osmosis filtration. Increased consciousness, lifestyle practices, and sharing of the Nikken Purpose and Mission as a “movement” by Global Community members to create a “shift” in the positive direction of the trajectory of not only sustaining but improving Planet Earth.                                                      

 10.  Nikken sources and works with companies that use alternative sources of power. Green power like solar, wind, and water.

So, there are ten ways that Nikken does its part for a healthier planet. I could have added many more. Let me give one good example for clarification. Our PiMag Waterfall and the PiMag Sports bottle are made from biodegradable materials. Most bottled waters use three gallons to produce one gallon of bottled water. Nikken’s water filtration products provide healthy water at a one-to-one ratio, thus conserving one of our most precious resources, water.

Drink Filtered Water to Reduce Bottled Water Use for Earth Wellness

How we recycle and reuse products directly impacts the environment. For example, about 1500 single-use plastic bottles end up in landfills or our ocean every second. Wow, there just went 1500 bottles. By using water filtration devices such as the PiMag Waterfall® and reusable drinking bottles such as the PiMag® Sports Bottle, this contemptible number can be reduced to help sustain our resources and the environment.

Our battle cry, Be Healthy by Choice, Not by Chance applies not only to our personal well-being but also to our planet. Nurture our Nature and the Nature of Our Planet.

[selfcaredoc]

How Can Grounding Help?

"Listen to me Coppertop..." Switch. When Switch calls Neo “Coppertop” in the popular movie “The Matrix” she wasn’t exaggerating. The average human, at rest, produces around 100 watts of power. Over periods of a few minutes, humans can comfortably sustain 300-400 watts; and in the case of very short bursts of energy, such as sprinting, some humans can output over 2,000 watts. Stanford, Dec 6, 2014

 When I was a computer technician one of my “not so superpowers” was the ability to kill a motherboard with a single touch. To protect that precious board, I would wear a grounding cord so that the electrical charge in my body was transferred somewhere else. Typically, into the frame surrounding the computer components. Every human being shares this ability, so, I ask you how do you discharge your excess electricity?

 Your answer may be “why does it matter?” The excessive electrical build-up in the human body can lead to chronic inflammation, therefore, adding to our body burden. There is a well-cited study entitled, *“The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.” The method and the purpose of the study:  multi-disciplinary research has revealed that electrically conductive contact of the human body with the surface of the Earth (grounding or earthing) produces intriguing effects on physiology and health. Such effects relate to inflammation, immune responses, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. You can find a link to that study at the end of this post.

…inflammation, immune responses, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

 What can you do if contact with the Earth with your bare skin is not convenient or even possible? For example, today is April 22, 2021, and yesterday it was snowing in Colorado. An easy solution is the KenkoGround from Nikken. I use mine all day under my keyboard with my bare wrists touching the pad and the pad connected to a grounded outlet. Here is a collection of amazing KenkoGround stories.

Why specifically the KenkoGround grounding pad?

The KenkoGround contains 20% Silver threading. Silver is known for its ability to kill microbes, wipe out “superbugs” and help burn victims recover.

Happy Earth Day! Remember to ground today and remind your kids to create an awesome mud pie or you could put a KenkoGround across their laps while they play Pokemon Snap.

Be Healthy by Choice.

* The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases

J Inflamm Res. 2015; 8: 83–96. Published online 2015 Mar 24. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S69656

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4378297/

Accessed: April 22, 2021

About Heather N. Abbott:

Heather is the COO at “Self Care Awakening.” Heather is an IIN Certified Health Coach. "I create a sacred space for you to become your best self."

Use the Contact/Book Appointment link to book a free consult.

Heather is a founding member of Ladies Leading Ladies a group dedicated to training and empowering current and future Wellness business leaders.

I am an independent Nikken consultant. I work with a team of consultants. I nurture client relationships. I love building new relationships. Let’s connect. I enjoy working from home.

Let's Socialize: @LadySelfCare

[selfcaredoc]

Nurture Your Nature, Get Grounded

"RE-WILD your life."

You’re Grounded

About nine years ago I was speaking at a health conference in San Diego. After my presentation, a gentleman approached me and said that he enjoyed the presentation. He said that he really respected the natural health approach of Self Care and how we can Nurture our Nature with the Nikken Wellness Home. We set up a time to meet the following day to reconnect.  We set our appointment for noon to 1 pm at a local restaurant. At about dinner time we were still talking. It turned out this individual had a doctorate degree in engineering physics, was a university professor and research scientist in fusion and plasma physics, biophotons, and biofield science. We spent much of our time talking about grounding, often called earthing. This was my first exposure to grounding. I found the subject fascinating, especially as it was an emerging science that touted simple, easy, and natural ways for better health. He made a statement that got me thinking, he said: “The worst invention ever created was rubber sole shoes”. Not only do we live in an electrical storm all around us, but we also insulate ourselves from the beneficial energies of the earth.

“The worst invention ever created was rubber sole shoes”.

In the Eye of The Storm

The electric energy on the surface of the earth takes the form of a limitless supply of negatively charged particles called electrons.  When you contact the earth, while barefooted or with a grounding device, the electrons are absorbed into the body where they attach to positively charged free radicals that cause chronic inflammation.  The key here is the effect of chronic inflammation.  When you experience an injury or illness there is a normal level of inflammation that is part of the healing process.  However, if you have chronic inflammation, tissue can be damaged leading to illness or disease.

Due to our technological world where cell phones, tablets, laptops, and wi-fi-connected devices surround us 24/7; we are constantly bombarded with EMF, electromagnetic frequencies.  This exposure has been linked to inflammatory reactions, cancer, sleep disruption, and immune system dysfunction. 

If you regularly walk barefoot on grass, dirt, or on the beach you can ground yourself naturally.  However, most of us live in urban settings that limit our access to direct contact with the earth.  Grounding devices are the best alternative to neutralize the effect of electromagnetic fields and free radicals.

The solution is found in the Nikken Wellness Home, the KenkoGround®. The KenkoGround® serves as an indoor and portable way to reconnect with Mother Nature. Simply plug it into a grounded outlet and use it under your feet while working, on your mattress while sleeping, or even draped around your shoulders. Direct contact with the skin is recommended for the best results. Staying home does not mean sacrificing Self Care with the Nikken KenkoGround® and the Nikken Wellness Home.

For more information specifically on the KenkoGround®, I invite you to watch last Tuesday’s Healthy by Choice class, Grounding Matters.

Be Healthy by Choice and Nurture your Nature.

[selfcaredoc]

Biomimicry: Man-Made Nature

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. "  -- Charles Colton

In a recent Healthy by Choice MasterClass, I used the term Biomimicry. A few days later several of my colleagues contacted me asking what was that term you used and what does it really mean? This is a fascinating subject and a methodology that has been used for millennia and recently become popular and highly relevant.

What Is Biomimicry?

The term biomimetics was coined by American biophysicist and inventor Otto Schmitt in the 1950s as the emulation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems.

The term biomimicry appeared as early as 1982. But was popularized by scientist and author Janine Benyus in her 1997 book Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature.

Biomimicry is defined in the book as a "new science that studies nature's models and then imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to solve human problems". Benyus suggests looking to Nature as a "Model, Measure, and Mentor" and emphasizes sustainability as an objective of biomimicry.

Biomimicry is a technological-oriented approach focused on putting nature’s lessons into practice. According to Janine Benyus, biomimicry sees nature as:

A model. It studies nature’s models and imitates them or uses them as inspiration for designs or processes with the goal of solving human problems.

A measure. It uses ecological standards to judge the rightness of human innovations.

A mentor. It is a new way of observing, assessing, and valuing nature.

When we observe nature, we realize there is no such thing as waste, it is an input for another use.

For all the challenges we face, nature has a solution.

We have only studied biomimicry for the past half-century, yet the earth has been developing efficient methods of life for 3.8 billion years. Our planet is the oldest and wisest teacher we could ask for.

A few prominent examples of biomimicry include:

Rock-Cut Architecture

Caves have been used as a shelter since the monolithic era 6000 BCE, so it makes perfect sense that in India, Buddhist temples and shrines were carved into caves and mountainsides. These temples eventually doubled as trade posts on the Silk Road. 

Silk: 3000 BCE

Silk is one of the first examples of biomimicry that we see in human history. The use of the material is dated back to 4000 BC, making it one of the first fabrics invented by humans. It is common knowledge that silk comes from silkworms, and the Chinese were the first civilization to learn from the brilliant worm. This invention was the reason that the Silk Road got its name. Silk could be traded for its weight in gold during the times where only the Chinese had the weaving strategy mastered. 6,000 years later we are still using silk all around the world.

Umbrellas

The first Chinese umbrellas were invented 1700 years ago by a man named Lu Ban, who is now revered in Chinese history. The idea for the umbrella sprouted when Lu Ban saw children using lotus leaves to shield themselves from the rain. He decided to mimic the flexibility and effectiveness of the leaf and create a product of his own. The first umbrellas were, in fact, made of silk.

Leonardo Da Vinci

Leonardo Da Vinci was a student of biomimicry. He is one of the most revered and studied figures from the Italian Renaissance. Regarded as an expert scientist, inventor, artist, architect, and mathematician, Leonardo was a man ahead of his time. Thousands of sketches from his notebooks are still sought after and studied today. The part of his work that relates to biomimicry is his study of birds, he was fascinated by flight and drew out schematics for many flying machines that mimicked the bone structure of birds and bats.

 A few more recent examples of biomimicry include:

Velcro: 1955

In 1948, while walking in the woods, Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral noticed how cockleburs stuck to his dog's coat. While it was inconvenient, he saw an opportunity. Upon examination of the burs, he noticed that its surface was made up of many tiny hooks. They stick to things by intertwining these hooks into the loose makeup of surfaces like fabric and animal fur. He invented Velcro by mimicking this surface covered in tiny hooks and partnering it with a surface covered in tiny loops. The result? Velcro: a paragon of biomimicry in practice.

Bullet Train: 1990s

In the late 1990s, Japan implemented biomimicry in the form of trains. The bullet trains they had been using were causing problems for all nearby inhabitants. When the trains zoomed through a tunnel, air would compress around the front of the train before releasing a tremendous booming noise once the train exited the tunnel. The chief engineer was able to solve this problem by looking at one of his hobbies: birdwatching. The kingfisher is a small bird with a long beak that dives into the water for its prey. The engineer redesigned the front of the train to be shaped like the kingfisher’s head, resulting in the train slicing the wind rather than trapping it inside the tunnels, fixing the booming sound.

Wind turbines: 2010

One huge flaw in wind turbines is that when placed too close together, turbulence disrupts and lowers the efficiency of horizontal axis wind turbines (the traditional ones). While studying the way schools of fish swam through water so close together, it was observed that how the fish swam complimented each other and none of them missed a beat. This helped solve this wind turbine flaw. When they rotated the axis so it pointed vertical, the turbines could be placed much closer together without disrupting the others. Increasing efficiency by up to ten times over the horizontal axis.

Sharkskin: 2014

Sharkskin has been mimicked for its rough segmented texture. Bacteria do not like landing on the skin of a shark. Engineers have designed materials with a comparable microscopic texture that repel bacteria in a similar way. This material is especially useful in hospitals where it can be used to cover surfaces and door handles to eliminate the spread of bacteria.

There are countless other examples of biomimicry and most scientists, engineers and designers believe that biomimicry will be of great importance in the future.

Next week we will discuss how Nikken has utilized biomimicry for over 46 years to create the Wellness Home, using science and technology to provide vital elements the way nature intended so that we all can be Healthy by Choice.