If you have been wanting to go vegan or are allergic to dairy, perhaps you’ve worried that you’ll never be able to have delicious ice cream again. But then there is good news. The same holds true for those wanting to reduce their dairy consumption or just add a little variety to their dessert choices. You will be happy to hear that there are now more ice cream alternatives than ever before! And we’re not just talking about ice cream parlors, we’re talking about products you can make or buy and eat in the comfort of your own home.

The old days of ice crystal filled tasteless soy ice cream is long gone. In its place, we now have an array of excellent non-dairy ice cream alternatives that are sure to please. Perhaps most surprising about today’s new wave of ice cream alternatives is the sheer variety and quality that they represent. Now, explore a few of the highest-quality and tastiest ice cream alternatives on the market. (Trust us, after this article you will definitely want to put down the laundry and grab a pint of ice cream.)

Option #1 Avocado Ice Cream

Whomever it was who first thought of making avocado ice cream is, in fact, a genius. There are plenty of online recipes for avocado ice cream. The Food Network even has a tasty avocado ice cream recipe that is easy to make and serve to your family. What makes this recipe amazing is that there is zero churning required.

If you’ve ever made your own ice cream then you know all too well that the churning part of making your own ice cream serves to take out some of the joy. Simply puree your avocado, add milk, lemon juice and salt and put it in a blender. Then add whipped cream and put everything in a pan and let it freeze overnight. Another great avocado ice cream recipe can be found over at Kawaling Pinoy.

If you don’t want to make your own avocado ice cream, there are companies eager to help you out. One avocado ice cream company is Organic Cado. Organic Cado has three great flavors: Mint Chocolate Chip, Deep Dark Chocolate and Simply Lemon. Organic Cado uses great ingredients. For example, their Mint Chocolate Chip flavor contains just organic avocado, organic cane sugar, organic chocolate chip, organic vanilla extract, organic guar gum and organic peppermint oil.

Option #2 Coconut Ice Cream

Coconut ice cream has become a very popular option with vegetarians, vegans and lots of others who love the creamy taste of coconut. Companies such as Coconut Bliss and Nada Moo have jumped into the coconut ice cream market with both feet. Coconut Bliss and Nada Moo both feature a mindboggling number of great flavors. Nada Moo’s organic flavors include Chocolate Peanut Butter, Birthday Cake (yes, birthday cake), Rockiest Road, That Snickerdoodle Dough, Salted Caramel, Chocolate Cherry Fudge Brownie, Pistachio Nut, Lotta Mint Chip, Vanilla, Gotta Do Chocolate, Cookies and Cream, Maple Pecan, Chocolate Almond Chip, Creamy Coconut and even Java Crunch!

There are many coconut ice creams on the market, but you can also make your own with a few easy ingredients including canned coconut milk. Eat Healthy and Eat Happy has a great recipe for Coconut Milk Cinnamon Ice Cream.

Option #3 Cashew Ice Cream

Cashewtopia is a cashew based ice cream from Organic Nectars. They have several flavors currently available: Cherry Chocolate Swirl, Chocolate, Chocolate Hazelnut, Mint Chocolate Swirl, Pistachio and Vanilla Bean. Cashewtopia’s ingredients are organic, and the ice creams are generally low in sugar, using organic agave inulin and organic evaporated coconut palm nectar. Every Cashewtopia pint is made with 100% raw organic cashews and is free of unprocessed sugar.

Option #4 Soy Ice Cream

Soy ice cream is often thought of as the only ice cream alternative, but obviously, the non-dairy ice cream landscape has really changed in the last few years. One soy ice cream that really delivers is So Delicious.

So Delicious makes soymilk ice creams that include Chocolate Velvet, Creamy Vanilla, Peanut Butter Zig Zag and others. What helps make So Delicious stand out is the fact that the company makes ice creams from almond milk, coconut milk and cashew milk, meaning that So Delicious is tackling non-dairy ice cream from every angle. Clearly, they have experience.

Option #5 Almond Ice Cream with Ben & Jerry’s

So Delicious isn’t the only company that is making an almond based ice cream. The famous Ben & Jerry’s ice cream company also makes a vegan, almond milk based ice cream. Currently, they have seven different flavors: Caramel Almond Brittle, Cherry Garcia (of course), Coconut Seven Layer Bar, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chunky Monkey, Coffee Carmel Fudge and P.B. & Cookies.

Option #6 A Hybrid-Coconut and Cashew Ice Cream

We are currently living in what many have called the “Golden Age” of non-dairy ice creams. One company had the bright idea of making their ice cream out of a combination of organic coconut and organic cashews. The Raw Ice Cream Company offers a range of flavors including Chocolate, Vanilla, Chocolate Hazelnut, Chocolate Cookie, Chocolate Fudge, Vanilla Fudge Swirl, Mint and Mint Chip. Currently, the Raw Ice Cream Company is only available in New York. But with a little luck, soon it will be in stores everywhere.

The Bright Future of the Non-Dairy Ice Cream Market

Whether you decide to choose coconut, avocado, almond, soy, cashew or even a mixture of ingredients, customers looking to avoid dairy now have the more options than ever. Vegans, individuals who are lactose intolerant and people are simply looking for something interesting, new and, of course, tasty, will find that they have no shortage of incredible options. Companies both large and small have jumped into the lucrative ice cream market. In the process, there now is pretty much no excuse not to eat ice cream.

Water quality doesn’t just vary around the world, but can actually vary from state to state, city to city and even neighborhood to neighborhood. Recently high profile water problem news stories, such as the problems with the water supply in Flint, Michigan, help to underscore just how important it is to purify and safeguard one’s own water. The bottom line is that water is simply too important to your overall health to not take proactive measures.

Like air contamination, water contamination is often overlooked when it comes to health and safety, which is a shame. Water contamination stories are becoming more and more common. Industrial and agricultural runoff, ineffective sewer treatment facilities that were not designed to remove drugs excreted into the water supply and other sources of contamination do find their way into the water and food supply.

While there are many reasons that local water supplies are being contaminated, ranging from aging infrastructure to fracking, industrial and agricultural runoff and more, what can’t be denied is that the average person needs to purify their water, especially their drinking water.

In this article, we’ll examine a few of the best water purification options on the market. We will go beyond the simple water pitcher purification options that so many people rely upon for their clean water. While often better than no water purification option, these water pitchers unfortunately often fail to provide truly effective water purification. This is especially true in problematic regions of the world. Water purification systems can be extremely expensive, however, our look at water purifiers focuses on easy to install, easy to use and maintain and relatively affordable options.

Option One- Water from Air Systems

The priciest option on the list is the water from air system, also known as an atmospheric water generator or AWG. These systems extra moisture from the air, purify it and turn it into drinking water. This option can be a good fit for those living in areas with questionable water supplies or water supplies that have experienced problems in the past. There are several options on the market with some options featuring reverse osmosis and even UV sterilization.

Once purchased the per gallon cost is low, usually around just $0.20. If you are looking for a way to avoid ground water contaminants, fluoride, lead from old pipes and other water contamination issues, then a water from air system is definitely something worth considering.

What can make this option problematic to implement is that there are many options on the market, using many different, often patented, technologies. Some opt for ozone purification and others do not. That stated, an AWG has the sizeable benefit of always providing a consistent water source. The systems not only allow users to bypass heavy metals and fluoride but also viruses and bacteria as well. Atmospheric water generations can cost several thousand dollars.

Option Two – Countertop Water Purifiers

On the other end of the pricing spectrum is the vastly more affordable countertop water purifier. One of the best countertop water purifiers, priced around $100, is the New Wave Enviro 10 Stage Water Filter System. The unit is far from perfect, however, the price point, ease of use and quality of water help to make this unit a standout. Whereas, AWG units can cost $3,000 or more, the New Wave Enviro 10 can usually be found for under $100, but there are drawbacks to this approach. Countertop units means that you can see the unit. With some effort, the New Wave Enviro 10 can be mounted under the sink, as can other countertop units.

Another problem is that the New Wave Enviro 10 doesn’t always attach to the faucet with ease and filter replacement can be difficult, as filters are not easily labeled to indicate which direction is down and should interface with the main unit. With that fact stated, however, the unit is an overall winner due to its price and effectiveness.

While it will never win any beauty contest and the hose-faucet design can be cumbersome and probably even irritating, this low cost, high results solution is worth investigating. The ten stage filter can remove everything from heavy metals to bacteria, virus, pesticides, cancer causing chemicals and more. Best of all, no new plumbing is necessary, and the unit can filter about 1,500 gallons of water annually depending on the level of contamination in your water. However, it is very important to note that this unit will not filter out fluoride.

Option 3 – Berkey Water Filters

Another, slightly more expensive, bulkier and more cumbersome water purification option is the Big Berkey Water Filter System. The Big Berkey usually costs around $300, is a little on the large side and sits on top of the counter. Water is poured into the top of the stainless-steel unit, is purified slowly and then comes out of a spout at the bottom.

While the Berkey units aren’t super streamlined or easy to use, they have undergone considerable testing, and the results have been good. Also, if you are looking to remove fluoride from your water, then you’ll want to consider this option.

Berkey water filters have been shown to remove VOCs, heavy metals, chemicals, pesticides and more. The units are portable and can be taken on camping trips which helps add to their value. Units can produce several gallons per day and provide hundreds of gallons before filters must be replaced.

These three options vary in price and approach. Ultimately, where water is concerned, one of the most important steps one can take is to test one’s water and the water purification system that you choose.

When it comes to water, it is essential to think about more than just taste. Some harmful elements are completely tasteless and odorless. Also just because your water has never made you sick in the past doesn’t mean that it couldn’t potentially have long term consequences. The best approach is to stay proactive and make sure your family’s water supply is protected.

The indoor air of the typical home is polluted. But just how polluted is a given home’s indoor air quality?  It all depends on factors, such as the home’s location and how it was built. Living close to a busy street or highway can translate to air quality issues. Likewise, living in close proximity to factories can also present significant air quality problems.

Many people believe that outdoor air quality in cities is mostly due to road traffic, but this is not always the case. Recently, residents of what many felt was one of the world’s “greenest cities,” Portland, Oregon discovered that the city had substantial air quality issues. A unique program that analyzed moss in the city discovered that there were oddly high levels of dangerous heavy metals such as lead and cadmium.

Residents were confused as you might imagine, and eventually it was discovered that two glass making facilities both located in the heart of city were pumping out large levels of toxic heavy metals. As you can see, you truly never can take your neighborhood’s air quality for granted.

The issue is still not completely resolved, and the story of Portland’s recent air quality woes serves to underscore the tremendous importance of cleaning one’s indoor air. One of the single best ways to protect your indoor air quality is to have an air purifier in your home.

Air Pollution Has Many Sources

Outdoor air quality is clearly a problem when it comes to maintaining indoor air quality, but it is far from the only problem. Two other factors are contributing to poor indoor air quality. The first is the building materials used in construction.

Building materials are often made with or impregnated with a range of chemicals. These chemicals are constantly degassing and in the process degrading indoor air quality. However, it isn’t just your home’s insulation, drywall, glues and adhesives and other materials that contribute to poor air quality. Household furniture, such as couches and chairs, are often made using a complex mixture of chemicals. Indoor air pollution when combined with outdoor air pollution serve to create a powerful one-two punch. The bottom line is that most homes need indoor air quality help.

Let’s take a look at some of the best air purifiers on the market.

IQAir

IQAir is tough to beat in the air purifier space. Constructed in Switzerland, these air purifiers use multiple stages and truly do achieve impressive results. No doubt IQAir, air purifiers tend to be more expensive than other options but they also deliver outstanding results.

During the 2003 SARS outbreak in Hong Kong, IQAir units were installed in hospitals and many believe they played a role in slowing down or even stopping the outbreak. Medical authorities in Hong Kong did not make their choice lightly as they first tested many different systems before ultimately opting for IQAir. In the end, IQAir systems were installed in 150 hospitals and other health care facilities throughout Hong Kong.

The American Lung Association has also partnered with IQAir as part of an educational campaign and in 2008, the U.S. Olympic Committee teamed with IQAir to provide clean air at the Beijing games. Part of the IQAir “magic” resides in the company’s use of HyperHEPA fiters.

HyperHEPA filters can capture virus and bacteria as well as other particles. The HyperHEPA filters used by IQAir allow for extremely small particles to be captures. The simple fact is that IQAir, air purifiers work and they even have a whole house version that can clean the air moving through a home’s HVAC system. However, IQAir units and their replacement filters are expensive. Yet, that stated, there is no arguing with IQAir’s impressive track record and proven results. If you are interested in seriously upgrading your indoor air quality, you’ll want to check out IQAir.

Wynd

On the other end of the cost spectrum is Wynd. Wynd sounds a little like science fiction. Wynd is a portable air purifier that is only about the size of a moderately sized flashlight that actually works. While it looks too small to yield results, the Wynd portable air purifier does a fine job cleaning a small area. For those living in small apartments or looking for a way to purifier the air in their car, bedroom or any other small area the Wynd has a lot to offer. The Wynd also features low cost filter replacements averaging around $10 and units costs a fraction of both IQAir and Molekule units.

Molekule

No doubt about it, the Molekule, air purifier uses some pretty advanced technology. Over 20 years of research and development went into the creation of the Molekule, and all this hard work definitely shows. The Molekule doesn’t capture viruses, bacteria, mold and pollutants like the other two air purifiers on our list. Instead, the Molekule literally destroys them, literally! This isn’t a marketing slogan.

The nanoparticle-coated filter dissembles and converts pollutants into harmless elements. The end result are molecules that are safe to breathe instead of potentially harmful ones. In terms of pricing, the Molekule is comparable to the most basic IQAir model and the replacement filters are cheaper as well. To date, there has been nothing on the market like Molekule. In fact, Molekule might be our first look at the future of air purifiers.

Reclaim Your Healthy Air

In today’s world, if you have the budget available to buy an air purifier, you should. Even if you aren’t tackling outside air conditions like pollution from factories, highways or natural occurrences like forest fires, there are still toxic issues from indoor items like degassing new furniture or cigarette smoke. All of these can have a negative impact on your health and the health of your family.

All three of the air purifiers featured in this article have their respective benefits. Diet, exercise and even water filtering receive great attention, but often overlooked in the process is purifying one’s indoor air. Improving your indoor air quality is one of the most important steps you can take towards safeguarding your health.