Embarking on a journey toward personal, financial or career excellence? Snuggle into a cozy spot and curl up with the self-development books on our list. Tailored for both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals, these handpicked titles serve as roadmaps to success. They offer invaluable insights on disciplined financial habits, strategic leadership and the crucial steps to becoming an influential figure in your industry. No matter if youre navigating the entrepreneurial landscape or climbing the corporate ladder, these self-development books are worth the read.

01 Atomic Habits

by James Clear

This bestselling book by James Clear presents practical strategies to build good habits, break bad ones and master tiny behaviors that lead to extraordinary results.

02 The Mountain Is You

by Brianna West

03 Everyday Millionaires

by Chris Hogan

04 Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter

by Curtis Jackson

05 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People

by Stephen R. Covey

06 Its About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage

by Arlan Hamilton

07 Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less

by Tiffany Dufu

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7 Self-Development Books To Help You Level Up - Essence

Spicing up breakfast: Smith College seeks help from Humane Society with its vegan pledge

NORTHAMPTON Inside Smith Colleges Chase House building on a recent morning, several campus chefs could be seen working diligently in the kitchen, even after the usual breakfast hours in the building had ended.

These food experts about a dozen who work at the colleges Dining Services department pored over recipe books featuring unique menu items and prepared ingredients that differed from the norm, such as mayonnaise made from chickpeas, a granola bowl mixed with maple syrup and muffins cooked with peppers and Beyond Meat sausage.

Their goal? Spice up the vegan, plant-based breakfast menu offered to students as part of a wider campus pledge made six years ago to ensure that more than 50% of its entree items are plant-based. A particular challenge in that initiative comes in the form of breakfast and brunch items, which are often associated with assuredly non-vegan products like eggs and pancakes.

Breakfast and brunch is always a tough meal to incorporate really delicious, nutritious, plant-based food, says Patricia A. Hentz, director of residential dining for Smith College Dining Services.

Thats why the college brought in two chefs from the National Humane Society to lead the training, which Hentz says is very progressive for our industry of college food service. She believes Smith is the first college in the country to work with the Humane Society on this type of training program.

When youre trying to veganize food, whether its for allergy or cultural reasons or just personal preference, breakfast is tough, said Dorrie Nang, who works for the National Humane Society as a food service innovation specialist. Our chefs have 18 recipes that they just released in July, and were doing them here for the first time.

The recipes have origins from all corners of the world, from a custard-based French Toast to a vegan version of shakshuka, a North African dish usually made with eggs and tomato sauce.

We have a global background, and so does Smith, said Mohamed Alqamoussi, a chef with the Humane Society who helped coach the campus chefs on preparing the recipes together. Its good for students to try other foods from other cultures.

In addition to ensuring that foods have a diversity of culture and flavor, another challenge for making vegan cuisine is ensuring that the food is also healthy for people to consume, Alqamoussi said.

A lot of vegan food isnt necessarily healthy, he said. Just because youre saving animals doesnt mean you should have to harm your body with oils and processing and all that.

For example, although vegan versions of mayonnaise can be made using several oils, Alqamoussi instructs the Smith chefs to use a version made from chickpeas to create a healthier blend.

And instead of using a fake meat substitute for a breakfast taco recipe, the chefs use lentils, which arent as processed and cost less to purchase.

Another challenge for the chefs in preparing vegan meals knowing which ingredients are and are not vegan. The chefs recipe for a cranberry pecan granola bowl calls for maple syrup as a coating, rather than the more usual ingredient of honey.

Because its the byproduct of an animal, a true vegan will not eat it, said Moises Torres, a chef at Smith who specializes in vegan and vegetarian dishes. Ive found that out the hard way.

The chefs developed the final dishes over the course of the last two months, continuously sampling and giving feedback to each other before settling on the final ingredients.

The dishes were first served to students on Thursday morning at the Cutter and Ziskind houses, with plans to gradually incorporate them into the menus across the school.

We test recipes all year long, but we wanted to really focus in on the plant-based foods, and especially on breakfast, Hentz said.

The introduction of more plant-based foods is part of an overall push by the college for greater sustainability, an initiative that also includes a $200 million geothermal project to power campus buildings. The college signed a commitment in 2015 to reduce meat consumption by 5% each year, with a goal of achieving more than 55% of its entrees to be plant-based by 2025.

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.

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Spicing up breakfast: Smith College seeks help from Humane Society with its vegan pledge - GazetteNET

Health Marketplace

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Jenny Cowley, Charlsie Agro, Katie Pedersen - CBC News

Posted: January 12, 2024

Sweat, heavy breathing, warm temperatures and lots of people the gym is the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive in, which is why wiping equipment down is a normal part of gym etiquette.

But does a quick wipe really eliminate all those germs? CBC's Marketplace swabbed equipment at several popular national gym chains to find out which surface harbours the most bacteria.

With training and supplies from an accredited laboratory in Mississauga, Ont., Marketplace visited some of the largest for-profit gym chains: three GoodLife Fitness, three Anytime Fitness and three Planet Fitness locations in the Greater Toronto Area.

"Our own microbes are absolutely fine, but the minute that we start touching other people's microbes, especially if they're pathogenic, it can lead to infection," said microbiologist and self-proclaimed "germ guy" Jason Tetro.

WATCH | Gym-goers leave plenty of germs behind:

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While you're more likely to get sick from someone breathing heavily next to you, there are a few other things lurking at the gym that you should be wary of.

"Staphylococcus aureus is the big one," said Tetro, who explained that contact could result in a skin infection for those with open sores or cuts. One particular strain of staphylococcus, known as MRSA, is antibiotic-resistant and Health Canada warns that it can be found on gym equipment.

Experts also recommended testing for yeast and mould, which tend to grow in warm, damp environments and can cause various conditions, such as yeast infections and athlete's foot. Elevated levels could indicate a lack of proper cleaning, as these organisms are harder to kill than most bacteria.

Marketplace also tested for total bacterial count, where elevated levels could indicate how long it's been since a surface has been cleaned and how effective the process was at removing germs.

At each gym location, after consulting with experts, CBC journalists swabbed five popular pieces of equipment an elliptical, a barbell, a dumbbell, an exercise mat, a yoga ball as well as the shower floor, to determine microbial counts.

Here is a countdown of each surface in Marketplace's investigation, from least to most germy.

The elliptical machine had the lowest bacteria count of the surfaces, which doesn't surprise Tetro.

"When you think about it, there's not a lot of contact going on," he said. "The surface is really easy for you to get that cloth on there, and you're going to put on some really good pressure in order to clean it."

The dumbbell was germier than the elliptical, which experts said was likely due tothe textured grip.

"It's really difficult to get enough pressure in there with the wipe to actually clean it down," Tetro said. "You're always going to be finding some kind of microbial concentration there what you want to do is use the disinfectant to be able to minimize it."

Like the dumbbell, the barbell has a grippy texture that can make it difficult to clean. One of the barbells swabbed had particularly high levels of yeast.

"The realization of yeast on a surface is not overly surprising," said Tetro, adding that it is a natural part of the human microbiome. He added that elevated levels could mean someone deposited the yeast after "not doing a very good job of cleaning their hands after taking care of an infection."

At first glance, the yoga ball appeared to be covered in dirt. But that can be deceiving.

"If it looks dirty, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's germy," said Tetro. "Dirt is just inorganic material. It's not alive. No one cares about it. And we actually get a lot of people focused on dirt. And they clean, clean, clean. But they're not actually disinfecting."

The yoga ball still had elevated levels of bacteria compared to most of the other equipment swabbed.

The germiest piece of equipment Marketplace found was the exercise mat, with almost eight times the amount of bacteria as the yoga ball.

The mats had especially high levels of staphylococcus, which is found on healthy people, but certain types, like MRSA, could cause infections in others.

While CBC didn't specifically test strains of staphylococcus, Tetro still found these results concerning.

"There has to be some weakening of the immune system that can lead to infection. So if you're going [to the gym] and you happen to have a cut, then there's a likelihood it could get into your skin," said Tetro. "We always recommend that if you're going to work out any time you have some exposed skin or a cut for a wound, you cover that up with a bandage."

Although not a piece of equipment, the shower blew Marketplace's other results out of the water (pun intended). Journalists swabbed an approximately 10 x 10 cm surface next to the drain on shower floors. On average, the gym showers CBC swabbed had more than four times the amount of bacteria than the mat.

Marketplace found elevated levels of yeast, mould and staph in showers. Tetro says the running water and warm environment create the perfect place for microbes to grow.

"That's where viruses can hide, that's where fungi can hide [leading to] warts and athlete's foot And then you take your bare foot, you step on it, and now all of a sudden you have an exposure." You don't need a cut or open wound to potentially be infected with warts and athlete's foot.

All gyms that Marketplace visited had signs encouraging people to wipe equipment down and had cleaning supplies. But CBC didn't find any cleaning equipment in the shower area for gym-goers to use.

Tetro says the best way to protect yourself in the shower is to create a physical barrier by wearing flip-flops.

Tetro says even if gym-goers are wiping equipment before and after using it, they're probably not using the disinfectant in the intended way.

All disinfectants have a contact time required to work, ranging from 30 seconds up to 30 minutes. Common cleaners, like a 1:500 chlorine bleach solution, three per cent hydrogen peroxide solution or 70-90 per cent isopropyl alcohol, all require a 10-minute sit-time to disinfect vegetative bacteria, some viruses and fungi, according to Public Health Ontario.

None of the GoodLife, Anytime Fitness and Planet Fitness locations Marketplace visited had clear instructions on how long to let the disinfectant sit.

"That's the big problem," said Tetro. "As a result, all people are doing is spreading, not killing [germs]."

Marketplace asked Planet Fitness, Anytime Fitness and GoodLife Fitness about the lack of cleaning instructions in the gym, and the levels of microbesfound at their locations. All declined a request for an interview.

In written statements, all companies said they're committed to providing a safe and clean environment for their employees and customers.

Planet Fitness addedthat it encourages members to wipe down equipment before and after use, and to stay home if they're feeling unwell.

GoodLife Fitness wrote that itshared Marketplace's findings with its own cleaning experts and that it is "always reviewing our cleaning program to look for improvements."

A spokesperson for Anytime Fitness wrote that regular exercise can "significantly lower risk" for illnesses.

It added that bacteria is "ubiquitous in our environment and can never be completely eliminated even with the most thorough sanitation practices."

The Fitness Industry Council of Canada, which represents 6,000 fitness facilities across Canada, says CBC's results are "anomalies rather than a reflection of our industry at large."

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We swabbed GoodLife, Planet Fitness and Anytime Fitness locations to find the germiest piece of equipment - CBC.ca

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CNBC Crypto World features the latest news and daily trading updates from the digital currency markets and provides viewers with a look at what's ahead with high-profile interviews, explainers, and unique stories from the ever-changing crypto industry. On today's show, Ari Redbord of TRM Labs takes a look back at last year's court hearings and trials against some of the biggest names in the industry. He also discusses what to expect in 2024.

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Bitcoin bounces back above $44,000 amid volatile start to 2024 - CNBC

The year 2023 will be remembered as turbulent for cryptocurrencies, with numerous important developments that ultimately helped to clean up the space to potentially make it more attractive to mainstream investors. Notably there was the conviction of FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried for fraud.

Top exchange Binance also reached a US$4 billion settlement (3.1 billion) with the US treasury department over money-laundering charges, which saw CEO Changpeng CZ Zhao agreeing to step down and pay a US$50 million fine.

Meanwhile, regulators continued cracking down on other operators, but potentially lost one of their key cases against the industry after a US court ruled that the XRP token, one of the top ten cryptocurrencies, was not a security (meaning a tradeable financial asset like shares or bonds).

This means its creator, Ripple, did not break the law by selling it on exchanges. Viewed as a test case for the majority of cryptocurrencies, the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) is currently appealing.

While all this was happening, the bitcoin price rose away from the lows of late 2022. It started the year at US$16,000 and ended comfortably above the US$40,000 threshold.

So what does 2024 look like for this sector and what key events are on the horizon?

The SEC may finally be about to greenlight a type of investment vehicle known as an exchange traded fund (ETF) for the for the general or spot bitcoin market. ETFs already exist for everything from oil to the FTSE 100 to even regions and countries. They track the underlying asset, creating an easy way for people to invest without having to buy the asset directly.

Until now, the only ETFs permitted for crypto in the US have been for the futures markets. These niche markets are concerned with where investors think crypto prices are heading in future.

Bitcoin price 2021-24

A spot bitcoin ETF would likely encourage mainstream investors to buy exposure to this market, while potentially attracting banks to actively participate too. Bitcoin could be offered by financial advisors and there would no longer be a need for investors to hold the asset itself or face difficulties like crypto exchanges, coin storage and so on.

There are various reasons why many commentators think the SEC may now end its opposition to such an ETF. For one thing, the list of applicants includes Blackrock, the biggest investment house in the world, along with various other major players.

Also, digital asset group Grayscale won an important case against the SEC in 2023, which had been blocking its attempt to convert its US$17 billion bitcoin futures ETF, GBTC, into a spot version. This has forced the SEC to reconsider Grayscales application too.

Further, Hong Kongs regulatory authority has announced it is open to spot bitcoin ETF applications and has laid down guidelines permitting several varieties. As well as the basic model that we may soon see in the US, where investors would buy into bitcoin ETFs with dollars, Hong Kong is open to a second variety known as in-kind.

This would make it possible to convert shares in a bitcoin ETF into bitcoin and vice versa, allowing more flexibility and potentially attracting more institutional investors into the space.

Jerome Powell, chair of US central bank the Federal Reserve, has indicated that interest rates may have peaked, and that the Fed is likely to cut them during 2024. Similarly in the UK, leading mortgage lender Halifax has cut its lending rate in expectation of a Bank of England rate cut.

If interest rates are cut or even stabilise in 2024, it could make bitcoin (and other digital assets) more attractive to investors, since its limited supply makes it a hedge against traditional currencies losing value over time.

More generally, rate cuts prompt investors to look for higher investment returns, and cryptocurrencies have delivered here too.

Asset class returns since 2011

In addition, the US and other economies may enter a recession in the later half of 2024 due to the lagged effects of the interest rate hikes.

Equally, we saw a number of bank failures in 2023, predominantly in the US. In the event of a recession or more bank problems, governments may be forced to provide stimulus packages and print more money. This would further devalue currencies and make bitcoin still more attractive.

A big event for bitcoin in 2024 is the so-called halving. Bitcoin runs on an online ledger known as a blockchain, in which entries are validated by miners using arrays of computers to solve complex mathematical puzzles. Miners are paid in bitcoin for completing a set of transactions known as a block, and the protocol stipulates that their reward per block halves every 210,000 blocks (roughly every four years).

The reward began at 50 bitcoin in 2009 and is expected to fall from 6.25 bitcoin to 3.125 bitcoin around the middle of April 2024.

This decrease entails fewer bitcoin sold on the market, which tightens supply and may squeeze out the least efficient miners, significantly reducing the computer power used by the network. The three previous halvings have prompted dramatic bull runs, while also driving up the prices of digital assets more generally as investors take more risks in the space.

Halving effects

The bitcoin network saw a number of technological advancements in 2023. This has included enabling a new and a unique form of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) known as ordinals, and also a new standard called BRC-20 that makes it possible to create new cryptocurrencies on the network. Until now, NFTs and new cryptocurrencies have mostly been issued on other blockchains such as ethereum.

We are also seeing growing adoption of the Lightning network, a layer above the bitcoin blockchain that enables much faster transactions. All these changes are resulting in increased demand for bitcoin, which in turn may lead to higher prices.

In sum, theres a strong case for being bullish about bitcoins price in the year ahead. Commentators predictions range from US$60,000 to US$500,000 by year end. Our own belief is that though the road may be bumpy, 2024 could well see increased adoption of cryptocurrencies, which will drive prices beyond the current US$40,000 mark.

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Bitcoin: four reasons why the price should surge in 2024 - The Conversation

The crypto world is betting its mainstream moment is here. That bet hinges on the blessing of Wall Streets top cop.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is expected in the coming days to rule on whether 14 different money managers will be allowed to launch their own spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds.

These ETFs would allow everyday investors to get exposure to bitcoin (BTC-USD) without having to own it, trading it like they would a stock.

The approvals could also expand widespread acceptance of the worlds biggest cryptocurrency, making bitcoin a potential staple in 401(k)s, IRAs, and pension plans used by everyday people.

The applicants include some of the biggest names on Wall Street, from BlackRock (BLK) to Franklin Templeton (BEN), as well as a number of firms better known in the crypto world.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Goldman Sachs (GS) are among the giant banks that have offered to help some of these money managers create and redeem shares of their new funds.

The challenge before the industry is that the SEC has in the past denied such applications, arguing the products were vulnerable to market manipulation. The regulator is also the industry's most prominent adversary, having filed numerous lawsuits and enforcement actions against key players.

Those in the crypto world say there are signs that the SEC wont stand in the way this time around and will give the green light to all 14 applicants at once.

Such optimism helped bitcoin surge more than 150% in 2023 and start 2024 by rising above $45,000, its highest level in nearly two years.

It is also helping investors move past the memories of 2022, when some of the industrys biggest names were wiped out as the values of digital assets collapsed.

"The bitcoin ETFs will be the official nail in the coffin on that prior crypto winter," Laurence Latimer, CEO and co-founder of crypto firm Dinara, told Yahoo Finance.

A number of applicants including Bitwise, Hashdex, and VanEck have already released teaser video ads ahead of what they expect to be their potential launch.

Story continues

"Bitcoins time has arrived," reads the tagline of the Hashdex spot.

But in a sign of how much is riding on these approvals, bitcoin tumbled nearly 10% earlier this week after one industry analyst floated a contrarian view of what the SEC may do.

Markus Thielen, head of research at crypto investment firm Matrixport, said in a note Tuesday that the SEC will reject all ETF applications this month and the products wont get the green light until at least the second quarter. If that happens, bitcoin prices could fall by 20%, according to the note.

"While we have seen frequent meetings between the ETF applicants and staff from the SEC, which resulted in the applicants refiling their applications," the note added, "we believe all applications fall short of a critical requirement that must be met before the SEC approves."

The note cited general skepticism from SEC chair Gary Gensler, who has led the agencys larger crackdown on the crypto world.

It also came as bitcoin trading volume spiked to highs not seen since the collapse of regional lender Silicon Valley Bank in March 2023.

The crypto industry has been waiting more than a decade for this moment.

The first application to create a spot bitcoin ETF came in 2013 from crypto entrepreneurs and twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, famous for their early role in the creation of Facebook. Since then, the SEC has denied more than 30 similar applications.

A key turnaround moment came last year in June when the worlds biggest money manager, BlackRock, filed for a spot bitcoin ETF. The interest from one of Wall Streets biggest names sparked other asset managers to follow suit.

Another important development came last August when one of the ETF applicants, Grayscale Investments, won a key legal victory over the SEC. Grayscale had sued the SEC in 2022 after it wasn't allowed to convert its Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into a spot bitcoin offering.

Its core argument was that the agency had already approved exchange-traded products that held bitcoin futures contracts and thus had "acted arbitrarily and capriciously."

A three-judge panel of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in Washington sided with Grayscale, saying the firm had "advanced substantial evidence" its product was similar to bitcoin futures ETFs previously approved by the SEC.

That forced the SEC to reconsider Grayscales spot bitcoin ETF application, along with others filed by rival money managers.

The SECs first deadline to consider these various ETFs is Jan. 10 for a joint offering from Ark Invest and 21Shares. Other deadlines are as late as April.

ETF issuers and analysts say they believe the SEC will choose to approve all applications that pass muster by the earliest January deadline, so as not to give any first movers an advantage over the rest of the industry.

One of the applicants, Ark Investment Management CEO Cathie Wood, told Yahoo Finance that the dominant providers of spot bitcoin ETFs will be those that take in the most money from investors right out of the gate.

The winners "will be a few and it will be the most liquid," she said.

Historically, launches for other bitcoin products have sent bitcoins price on a wild ride.

It happened in 2017 with the launch of the countrys first bitcoin futures contracts and then in 2021 with the SECs approval of the country's first bitcoin futures ETFs. Prices soared and then fell by large amounts in the year following the launches.

This time around, "there's good pent-up demand so you'll see good flows, Sandy Kaul, Franklin Templeton's head of digital assets, told Yahoo Finance.

"But I think that the transformative flows are really going to come in about six months to a year when people start to see what these ETFs actually offer in terms of the portfolio performance."

What is clear, she added, is that the approval of these products would offer "a real affirmation of the crypto ecosystem being a legitimate investment opportunity."

David Hollerith is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance covering banking, crypto, and other areas in finance.

The price of bitcoin rose more than 150% in 2023. A prior version of this article incorrectly reported the rise was 164% through January 1.

Click here for the latest crypto news, updates, values, prices, and more related to bitcoin, ethereum, dogecoin, DeFi, and NFTs

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The crypto world is ready to take bitcoin ETFs to the masses. It needs the blessing of a longtime foe first. - Yahoo Finance

Craft beer, one of the worlds oldest alcoholic drinks, has seen its fair share of changes. As it booms in the U.S., another trend bubbled to the surface sustainability. Brewers have already adopted many environmentally-friendly practices, yet theyve barely tapped into the rapidly growing organic beer market. Could this be a promising new direction for the industry?

Despite the limited current market, sales of organic beer in the U.S. increased 10 times since the early 2000s. Some craft breweries have been organic for decades, and big beer brands jumped on the bandwagon a few years ago with releases such asMichelobs Ultra Pure Gold and line of hard seltzers.

Beer remains one of the most popular drinks in the U.S., exceeded only by water, coffee and soft drinks. Catering to environmentally conscious consumers could unlock an untapped potential for the craft beer market, particularly in the organic sector.

Unless youve passed through life assiduously avoiding frat parties, dive bars and backyard barbecues, you know what beer is. But what exactly is organic beer?

To use an organic ingredient means it's cultivated without the use of inorganic fertilizers or pesticides, said John Gonzales, founder of Leashless Brewing, an organic craft brewery in Southern California. There's no genetically modified organisms involved in the manufacturing of that raw material. There's no human sludge or no ionization.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic certification for a brewery or farm has to be renewed every year, and getting it in the first place can be a complex, multiple-step process. Further, USDA organic labels come in different varieties. A 100 percent organic label is the strictest designation, meaning all ingredients are organic. However, a beer simply labeled as organic means 95 percent of the ingredients are organic, whereas made with organic ingredients means at least 70 percent of the beers ingredients are organic.

That level of authenticity when you see that USDA organic logo, you know 100 percent it's legit, Gonzales said. There's no way to get around it. We go through audits annually that look at what we produce and what ingredients we're using There's an audit trail so that they could trace a bag of our grains all the way to the middle man and the actual grower.

Despite promising growth in the U.S. organic food market, organic beer is just a drop in the mammoth beer production bucket. Less than 1 percent of beer is currently certified as organic. The reasons why are as varied as IPA styles at a hipster bar.

First of all, the availability of beers ingredients can be a roadblock. The most commonly used grain for beer is barley. However, as of 2016, less than 3 percent of U.S.-grown barley is organic. Limited markets and non-premium grain prices are the main reasons farmers dont grow more of it, according to a survey from Oregon State University.

Then theres hops, an essential ingredient for beers flavor and stability. Hops are difficult to grow organically because theyre susceptible to disease, fungal infection and insects. Weeds also compete with them for water and nutrients, which they need in large quantities. Normally, this would be taken care of with pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, so switching to organic production remains challenging.

However, long-standing relationships can be advantageous in obtaining organic ingredients. For instance, the Peak Organic Brewing Company has connected with multiple local farms since it opened in 2007.

One of our favorite things is developing those relationships with growers, seeing where what we are using is grown, how it's made, and who's making it, said Jon Cadoux, the brewerys founder. But for sure that's time-consuming. That could be a barrier to entry for somebody new.

In addition to supply constraints, the higher costs involved may deter some brewers. Organic ingredients are more expensive, and certification by the USDA costs anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

High prices could also deter consumers. A while ago, there was such a big price premium on everything organic that people were scared away, Cadoux said. But I think that has reduced a lot lately.

Cleaning up the process of changing barley to beer is difficult, but its worth it. The environmental impact of one of our most cherished beverages is sobering.

To begin with, growing barley and hops generally requiresherbicides, insecticides and fungicides. These pesticides contaminate the soil, water and vegetation, and they can be toxic to insects, fish and birds. Some of these pesticides even persist into beer, although normally in reduced quantities.

In addition, it takes copious amounts of energy and water to brew beer. The early stages of beer involve boiling, which is energy-intensive, while refrigeration and packaging also require fuel. Breweries could pay upward of $55,000 annually for energy, according to one estimate.

Then theres water. Used at almost every stage of the process, brewing a pint of beer requires four to 10 pints of water. And that same pint generates three to 10 times the amount of wastewater. While nontoxic, this water has organic compounds and can pollute freshwater if untreated.

Brewing also produces solid waste in the form of spent grain, yeast, hops and other products. However, the spent grain and yeast can be used for compost, livestock feed or products like sweeteners.

Finally, brewing emits greenhouse gases. Estimates for a liter of beer (equal to almost three 12-ounce bottles) are modest equivalent to driving two to five miles in a gasoline-fueled vehicle. However, given the average American over the age of 21 drinks around 107 liters of beer per year, this can quickly add up. The largest contributor to beers carbon footprint comes from the packaging, followed by the production of the raw materials, typically barley.

In spite of the challenges, many brewers are grabbing the beer by the horns and tackling sustainability head on. For instance, breweries are using biodegradable four- and six-pack rings and fiber-based, recyclable bottles. Others are capturing, cleaning and reusing wastewater, using solar power, and even planting trees and restoring seagrass meadows.

Going organic also has numerous advantages. Organic [agriculture] uses 30 percent less water than conventional [agriculture], said Gonzales of Leashless Brewing. It uses around 40 percent less energy and sequesters about 40 percent more carbon into the soil just through its practices. When we make and sell a pint of organic beer, we know that we have done the best we can to make sure that we are keeping the world as clean and functional as possible.

Additionally, breweries' support of organic farmers reduces pesticide use and its adverse impacts on the environment. Organic farming also protects agricultural workers against the harmful effects of pesticide exposure, including respiratory illness, arthritis, cancer, birth defects, infertility, and skin, liver, kidney and neurological issues.

I always thought ingredients that are locally sourced, sustainably, taste better, added Cadoux of Peak Organic Brewing Company. It's kind of always felt like a win, win. If something tastes better and is also better from a sustainability standpoint, why not do that?

Finally, theres the business angle of organic brewing. While the market share for organic beer is growing steadily, craft beers overall share is decreasing, Gonzales said.

When we go to the buyers and say, 'Hey, we're local, we have an award-winning beer, and we're also organic,' we just added several value-added propositions to a relatively fairly-priced product, Gonzales said. So, there's a differentiation tactic to being organic.

The organic brewing world may be small at the moment, but the outlook is optimistic.

We are where the organic wine world was in the late '80s, early '90s, Gonzales said. So, yes, we're definitely growing I think it's a longer road for some of us. But certainly, I think we have a better moat than most people and we have a better story to tell. And yes, people do increasingly look for things that are healthier for them.

The organic food market in the U.S. is predicted to grow by nearly 9 percent annually until 2027, outpacing the growth of the overall food market. With U.S. beer sales totaling nearly $115 billion in 2022, theres ample shelf space for organic beer.

We make beer that we know is good for the environment, Gonzales said. And we thought if we can, we should use a brewery to help change people's habits one pint of beer at a time.

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Sustainability on Tap: Exploring the Organic Beer Market - TriplePundit

DNA study on identical twins showcases food quality, sourcing is vital to healthy outcomes

Sacramento, CA, Jan. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trifecta, a Greater Sacramento Economic Council board member, and the nations largest organically sourced meal delivery service, is making waves on Netflix with a captivating documentary that has soared to the number three trending spot globally. The documentary, You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment sheds light on the critical importance of mindful eating and the impact of diet on our bodies.

Produced by Academy Award-winning Director Luis Psihoyos, the series delves into a groundbreaking diet study conducted by Stanford Professor Dr. Christopher Gardner featured in JAMA. Studying nutrition can be challenging due to the variations in DNA and lifestyles. To address this, Stanford University conducted a study using identical twins. The research involved twins following different diets: one consumed an omnivorous diet, while the other adopted a vegan diet. The study lasted eight weeks with Trifecta supplying the food for the first four weeks for both groups. It was during these initial four weeks that the most significant positive outcomes were observed.

We are honored to be part of this impactful JAMA study and Netflix DocuSeries showcasing the impact our food has on the environment and our health, Greg Connolly, Co-Founder and CEO of Trifecta said. Starting a healthy food business in the farm-to-fork capital of the world, Sacramento was a huge benefit to our success. This documentary was on more than human health outcomes though, it was about sourcing food ethically and sustainably, so we can innovate and improve the nations food supply chain.

"The authors found the most improvement over the first four weeks of the diet change. The participants with a vegan diet had significantly lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, insulin and body weight all of which are associated with improved cardiovascular health" Emily Moskal, Science Writer at Stanford.

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The Greater Sacramento region supporting entrepreneurship in the food space is imperative for economic development. Trifectas success is a testament to the thriving entrepreneurial spirit in our state capital, Barry Broome, President and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council said. We have seen immense growth in our capital markets with $12B over five years in investments.

Professor Christopher Gardner, renowned for his work in nutritional research acknowledged the importance of using Trifectas healthy meal options that is locally sourced food.

Trifectas involvement in our study was pivotal, Garder said. Their commitment to quality organic meals played a crucial role in unraveling the dietary effects on health.

Academy Award-winning Director Luis Psihoyos and Executive Director of the Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) praised Trifectas contribution.

In showcasing the Stanford study, Trifecta has become a symbol of responsible and health-conscious nutrition, which is critical and a main focal point in this documentary."

As Trifecta continues to redefine the meal delivery landscape, this documentary serves as a powerful reminder of the impact our food choices have on our well-being and the environment.

About Trifecta

Trifecta is the nation's largest organic meal delivery service founded with a bold mission dedicated to health, by delivering fresh, healthy meals directly to your door. We began Trifecta because we believe there are three fundamental areas of healthmind, body, and social. These areas are interdependent, meaning you cannot thrive in one area without thriving in the others.

Trifecta eliminates shopping, cooking, and cleaning by delivering fully cooked meals weekly and direct to customers' doors in all 50 states. Trifecta's food is some of the highest quality in the industry, using high quality organically sourced and grass-fed ingredients. We offer meals in six categories to meet everyone's needs, including Keto, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, Clean Eating, Classic Meal, and a Meal Prep section, so you can enjoy delicious, healthy meals at home, in the office, or on the run.

Learn more about Trifecta byvisitingtrifectanutrition.comand following along onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

About the Greater Sacramento Economic Council

The Greater Sacramento Economic Council is the catalyst for innovative growth strategies in the Capital Region of California. The organization spearheads community-led direction to retain, attract, grow and scale tradable sectors, develop advanced industries and create jobs and investment throughout a six-county region. Greater Sacramento represents a collaboration between local and state governments, market leaders, influencers and stakeholders, with the sole mission of driving inclusive economic growth. The Greater Sacramento region was founded on discovery, built on leadership and fueled by innovation.

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Trifecta: A Leading Force in Organic Meal Delivery, Takes Center Stage in Netflix Documentary - Yahoo Finance

By Matthew Cox 14:01 30 Dec 2023, updated 14:01 30 Dec 2023

A vegan activist who confronts McDonald's customers with pictures of factory farming and slaughterhouses has urged Brits to rethink their diet choices as 'we're a nation of animal lovers'.

Tarion Partridge, 25, has been vegan for over five years - an activist for three of those - and said that as we live in 'the easiest place to be vegan', it makes it even 'more of an injustice' to not be one yourself.

According to YouGov tracking, despite increasing commercialisation and accommodation of the vegan lifestyle, the proportion of the UK population has remained at roughly two or three per cent since records began in 2019.

Speaking to MailOnline, Ms Partridge asked:'How can you claim to love animals with the same mouth you chew their bodies with?

'People are very ignorant to what happens.They don't witness the slaughter, they just see these packaged up bodies.'

Ms Partridge's TikTok and other social media pages are flooded with clips of her and meat-eaters clashing over the morality of eating animals.

Her posts range from confronting customers at fast-food chains, to discussing veganism on the street and even clashing with employees at fast-food restaurants who ask her to not show pictures of animals in factory farms or slaughterhouses to their customers.

Responses range from people trying to quietly brush her off, many seeming sympathetic with her motivations but not her cause and the occasional few who take real issue with being challenged.

In one video from November 2023, Ms Partridge stops someone on their way to order a meal at McDonald's and asks if she likes animals.

The customer replies to say 'I do but I'm not going to stop eating them'.

She continued: 'I like meat, it's just nature.'

As the woman leaves Ms Partridge tells her to order the chain's vegan burger: 'If you care about animals, you should live in alignment with that and be vegan.'

Some meetings are more confrontational than that.

'Most of the reactions I've had are pretty good,' she recounted, 'but I had a bit more of tougher one in KFC once where this lady was super unhappy, and was like, "you know people are being killed in the world, and why would we care about chickens?"

'And I said to her that I don't kill people or chickens, because that doesn't really have any relevance.'

Staff at the chain were then asking her to leave, but she resisted until they threatened to call the police.

But any of the more nerve-wracking interactions do not deter her, and she says that when she is feeling uncomfortable, 'I just have to think of the animals'.

'You can't really spread a message without getting out there and sometimes pushing the boundaries, doing something a little bit controversial,' she said.

'People want activists to be silent. They don't want to feel guilty. But if you look throughout history activists are never silent.

'Those who have the privilege to know have the duty to act.'

The 25-year-old was raised in Lincolnshire as a meat-eater, but had an 'epiphany' aged 15 when she was eating chicken and wondered what the real difference was between that and her beloved dog, Saxon.

She went vegetarian straight away and a few years later upon realising that much of the dairy industry involves calves being removed from their mothers within hours of their birth, she took the leap to go vegan.

'I think I'm a compassionate person,' she said, 'and I want to live in a line with that.'

But it took until January 2020, when Ms Partridge met her partner and vegan activist Joey Carbstrong, that she began going even further by protesting against and researching the meat and dairy industry.

However, she pushes back on the common assertion that vegans are 'extreme' or 'overbearing'.

'I get called extreme and pushy and all things like that all the time,' she admitted, 'but I just think that you have to push back on that and think: What's more extreme, me showing the people what they pay for, or the fact that they pay for animals to be tortured in farms and violently executed in murder factories?

'If I was in a dog meat restaurant showing footage of dogs struggling in fear and being murdered, I'd be a hero.

'Nobody would be saying, 'that's extreme,' but because I'm defending pigs, chickens and cows, all of a sudden I'm extreme?

'That highlights the speciesism in our society. People need to realise that there's no moral difference between a dog and the animals that people eat.'

One of Ms Partridge's views that people might find extreme, though, or at least counter-intuitive, comes in response to one of the replies she often gets from the public.

Animals eaten by consumers are bred specifically for that purpose - they would not exist if they were never going to be eaten - but she is would rather live in a world without those billions of animals altogether.

'They shouldn't exist like this,' she asserted, 'chickens have been bred to grow at this accelerated rate, turkeys as well.

'I think if I was an animal I would rather not exist than exist in a body where I'm suffering and where I'm gonna be sent to a murder factory.'

While Ms Partridge insists that 'there will be a day where we look back with pure shame and regret' at our meat consumption, meat-free enterprises are struggling to stay afloat.

The cost of living crisis has had a doubly bad effecton the industry, with consumers turning back to meat and dairy to save cash, at a time when business would have been more expensive anyway.

Heather Mills' VBites is the latest plant-based brand to fall into administration, following the falling sales of beyond meat and closures of roughly half of the UK's Veggie Pret stores.

Sir Paul McCartney's ex-wife Ms Mills blamed 'nefarious practices' and a 'litany of lies' from animal-related rivals for the collapse of her vegan food empire.

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I'm a vegan activist - I show McDonald's customers pictures of slaughterhouses and factory farms and ask them: - Daily Mail

In the evolving 'travelverse', where cutting-edge technology intersects with the timeless allure of exploration, the travel and hospitality industry stand at the cusp of a revolutionary shift. The integration of blockchain technology and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) promises to redefine the landscape of travel experiences, loyalty programs, and the very essence of cultural interactions.

This short article delves into the opportunities presented by these technologies, drawing inspiration from an article of mine: Revolutionizing the Travel and Hospitality Industry with Blockchain and NFTs, published on Hospitality Net on 16 March 2023.

The core of travel lies in authentic experiences and cultural interactions. Blockchain technology, with its inherent data immutability and programmability, offers a unique platform to enhance these experiences without detracting from their authenticity.

Smart contracts, a pivotal element of blockchain, enable the automatic execution of agreements, ensuring reliability and efficiency in travel arrangements. This technological advancement can streamline processes, particularly repetitive ones, benefiting travelers and operators alike. It opens doors for small-scale operators to promote unique, local experiences, thereby preserving the authenticity of cultural interactions in the digital age.

Smart contracts are set to be the backbone of secure transactions in the travel ecosystem. By automating the verification and execution of contracts, they ensure transparency and reduce the potential for fraud. This aspect is particularly beneficial in areas like expense reporting and compliance in business travel, where smart contracts can streamline processes and ensure adherence to company policies.

Room tokenization, emerging through the innovative use of NFTs, offers a transformative approach in the travel and hospitality sector. This concept involves the digital representation of hotel rooms or unique travel experiences as non-fungible tokens.

These tokens, distinct and non-replicable, can be traded, sold, or even collected, introducing a dynamic new element to the travel market. This not only provides travellers with unprecedented flexibility and choice but also opens up novel revenue opportunities for service providers. By tokenizing rooms and experiences, the industry can cater to a range of traveler preferences, from those seeking luxury accommodations to those desiring unique, off-the-beaten-path experiences.

The role of NFTs extends beyond mere tokenization, playing a pivotal role in enhancing experiential tourism.

NFTs enable the sharing of a journey's narrative, encapsulating the essence of the places visited and the depth of connections made with destinations and cultures. This concept of "tokenization of emotions", as I"ve explored in my book "All about NFTs" by Hoepli publisher, allows for the representation of travel experiences as authentic, reputational values.

These tokens can be utilized for storytelling post-travel, adding value to the traveler's experience while simultaneously benefiting the destination and its operators. Through this innovative use of NFTs, the travel industry can create a more immersive and emotionally resonant experience, bridging the gap between physical travel and digital memorabilia.

Decentralization, a fundamental aspect of blockchain, can revolutionize loyalty programs in the travel industry. By removing intermediaries, blockchain enables a more direct and transparent relationship between service providers and customers.

This shift can lead to more personalized and flexible loyalty programs, where travellers have greater control over their rewards and experiences. The decentralized nature of blockchain ensures a more equitable and inclusive system, where smaller operators can compete with larger entities, offering unique and localized rewards.

As blockchain becomes more integrated into the travel industry, several challenges emerge. Adoption requires a significant shift in current operational models, and the industry must be prepared for this transition.

Regulatory frameworks are still catching up with the rapid pace of technological advancements, posing a challenge in terms of compliance and standardization. Ensuring a seamless user experience is crucial, as travellers vary in their tech-savviness. The industry must strive to make these technologies accessible and user-friendly.

The adoption of decentralized technologies is not without risks. Issues such as data privacy, security vulnerabilities, and the digital divide must be addressed. To mitigate these challenges, the industry needs to invest in robust security protocols, ensure transparency in data usage, and provide adequate digital literacy training to both travellers and service providers.

In an increasingly digital world, maintaining the human element in travel is paramount. While technology can enhance efficiency and convenience, it should not replace personal connections and human interactions that form the essence of travel. The industry must find a balance, leveraging technology to enrich experiences while preserving the personal touch that makes travel meaningful.

The integration of blockchain and NFTs in the travel and hospitality industry offers a plethora of opportunities, from enhancing the authenticity of travel experiences to revolutionizing loyalty programs and ensuring secure transactions.

However, it is crucial to manage these technological advancements with a keen awareness of their potential challenges and a commitment to preserving the human essence of travel. By striking this balance, the industry can step confidently into a future where technology and tradition coexist harmoniously.

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Embracing the future of travel ... decentralization | By - Hospitality Net