Curious About Health, Nutrition and more

Make your voice heard in support of the new Federal Dietary Guidelines!

2015-05-04T00:49:00.003-04:00

Earlier this year, the Federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee issued an historic report, urging a major shift toward a "culture of health:" one that links human with environmental health. Is it perfect? No, but with this sort of progress don't let perfect be the enemy of good. Please act now.

The report recommends a diet "rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, seafood, legumes, and nuts; moderate in low- and non-fat dairy products and alcohol; lower in red and processed meat; and low in sugar-sweetened foods and beverages and refined grains." - Not perfect I know... but Here's the rub: The report is a recommendation. Health.gov is accepting public comments on the proposed guidelines until May 8, here's what you need to do: go to this report and read it - http://1.usa.gov/1FJDrph - ok, seriously if you have time :)
Or you can just read the executive summary http://1.usa.gov/1AzmYhr or skip to specific sections - of interest is chapter 5 http://1.usa.gov/1bqWTuq or chapter 6 http://1.usa.gov/1R44sbE

Finally go to the Health.gov Public Comments site.
Fill in your contact information.
Check boxes for the chapter you are submitting comment - say "Part D: Science Base" and "Chapter D.5: Food Sustainability and Safety."
Write your comments in the text box labeled "Comment."
Press "Submit."
Please consider using this suggested text or edit it to fit your take on the issues.

For Part D - chapter 5 feel free to use this or modify

Dear Secretary Burwell and Secretary Vilsack:

I believe that everyone is entitled to food that is health promoting, sustainable, fair to everyone involved in it's production and preparation.

I congratulate the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on their historic report calling on America to establish a "culture of health," not only human health, as it is based on diet, but also environmental health, as it is affected by what our industrial food system serves up for Americans to eat.
The Committee writes, "Linking health, dietary guidance, and the environment will promote human health and the sustainability of natural resources and ensure current and long-term food security."
I urge you to support sustainable food production by incorporating the recommendations of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee regarding Food Sustainability and Safety (Part D. Chapter D.5) in the 2015 United States Dietary Guidelines into Federal policy.
I also fully agree with the statement "Vegetables and fruit are the only characteristics of the diet that were consistently identified in every conclusion statement across the health outcomes." and "The major findings regarding sustainable diets were that a diet higher in plant-based foods, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and lower in calories and animal-based foods is more health promoting and is associated with less environmental impact than is the current U.S. diet."
and I urge you to increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables across our nation dramatically by increasing funding for small family farms and local farm markets.

Thank you for your attention.

For Part D. Chapter 6 the following
Dear Secretary Burwell and Secretary Vilsack:

The report recommends less than 2,300 mg dietary sodium per day, which is lower than the current recommendation but it's not enough.
How dangerous is this high salt intake?
When salt intake is high, excess fluid accumulates in the circulatory system, exerting pressure on the walls of blood vessels, consequently raising blood pressure and overworking the heart. About one-third of American adults have elevated blood pressure, a condition that is responsible for 62% of strokes and 49% of coronary heart disease, increases the risk of dementia, and is a risk factor for kidney disease.(2-5)
Widespread avoidance of added salt has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives. A study using mathematical models has predicted that a population-wide reduction in sodium intake by about one-third would result in 60,000 fewer cases of coronary heart disease, 32,000 fewer strokes, and 54,000 heart attacks every year. (6)
Americans need to consume dramatically less sodium, and I urge you to visit the following References:
1. Americans Consume Too Much Sodium (Salt). In US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2011.
2. Murphy SL, Xu J, Kochanek KD: Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2010. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2012, 60.
3. He FJ, MacGregor GA: A comprehensive review on salt and health and current experience of worldwide salt reduction programmes. J Hum Hypertens 2009, 23:363-384.
4. National Chronic Kidney Disease Fact Sheet. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2010.
5. American Heart Association: High Blood Pressure Statistical Fact Sheet. 2013.
6. Bibbins-Domingo K, Chertow GM, Coxson PG, et al: Projected effect of dietary salt reductions on future cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med 2010, 362:590-599.
7. Strazzullo P, D'Elia L, Kandala NB, et al: Salt intake, stroke, and cardiovascular disease: meta-analysis of prospective studies. BMJ 2009, 339:b4567.
8. He FJ, MacGregor GA: Salt, blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Curr Opin Cardiol 2007, 22:298-305.
9. Aburto NJ, Ziolkovska A, Hooper L, et al: Effect of lower sodium intake on health: systematic review and meta-analyses. BMJ 2013, 346:f1326.
10. Whelton PK, Appel LJ, Sacco RL, et al: Sodium, blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease: further evidence supporting the American Heart Association sodium reduction recommendations. Circulation 2012, 126:2880-2889.
11. Taylor RS, Ashton KE, Moxham T, et al: Reduced dietary salt for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011:CD009217.
12. Taylor RS, Ashton KE, Moxham T, et al: Reduced dietary salt for the prevention of cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (cochrane review). Am J Hypertens 2011, 24:843-853.
13. Szech LA: A Calm Look at the Cochrane Review on Salt. In Medscape Nephrology; 2011.
14. He FJ, Appel LJ, Cappuccio FP, et al: Does reducing salt intake increase cardiovascular mortality? Kidney Int 2011.
15. Tuomilehto J, Jousilahti P, Rastenyte D, et al: Urinary sodium excretion and cardiovascular mortality in Finland: a prospective study. Lancet 2001, 357:848-851.
16. Perry IJ, Beevers DG: Salt intake and stroke: a possible direct effect. J Hum Hypertens 1992, 6:23-25.
17. Simon G: Experimental evidence for blood pressure-independent vascular effects of high sodium diet. Am J Hypertens 2003, 16:1074-1078.
18. Sanders PW: Vascular consequences of dietary salt intake. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2009, 297:F237-243.
19. de Wardener HE, MacGregor GA: Harmful effects of dietary salt in addition to hypertension. J Hum Hypertens 2002, 16:213-223.
20. Diets High In Sodium And Artificially Sweetened Soda Linked To Kidney Function Decline. In ScienceDaily; 2009.
21. Tsugane S, Sasazuki S: Diet and the risk of gastric cancer: review of epidemiological evidence. Gastric Cancer 2007, 10:75-83.
22. Frassetto LA, Morris RC, Jr., Sellmeyer DE, et al: Adverse effects of sodium chloride on bone in the aging human population resulting from habitual consumption of typical American diets. J Nutr 2008, 138:419S-422S.
23. Heaney RP: Role of dietary sodium in osteoporosis. J Am Coll Nutr 2006, 25:271S-276S.
24. Harmon K: Salt linked to autoimmune diseases. In Nature News; 2013.
25. Leslie M: Salty Food May Be a Culprit in Autoimmune Disease. In Science NOW; 2013.
26. Yandell K: Salt at Fault? In The Scientist; 2013.
27. Kleinewietfeld M, Manzel A, Titze J, et al: Sodium chloride drives autoimmune disease by the induction of pathogenic T17 cells. Nature 2013.

Runner Cannellini Here we come

2011-01-18T00:49:00.002-05:00

Today the beans from Rancho Gordo arrived. I decided to order them after hearing so many good things from the blogs. Barb has been raving about them cooked in carrot juice, and others love them as well.

What I like about these beans is they are heirloom varieties, originally planted and harvested and passed down through generations to arrive right here on my counter top soaking up the filtered water :)

My son picked these to try first. Here is what their website says about them

Related to the pre-conquest Ayocote bean, these were bred in Europe to the Italian aesthetic and now make their way back to the Americas.

Tomorrow we will cook them in some water until they are nice and ready... I ordered their sample packs so I will be trying them all including hominy which I never had before...

2011 Holiday Challenge

2010-11-25T14:08:00.000-05:00

This season if you can commit to this challenge over the next six weeks and follow a few simple guidelines throughout the holidays, Dr. Fuhrman is offering:

a free six week membership to DrFuhrman.com*
a free Eat To Live Vook (a video enhanced ebook)
an entire support system of holiday recipes
special support from Dr. Fuhrman's Nutritional Education Institute faculty and medical team on medicine, nutrition and motivation

The challenge involves only a few simple promises to make, taken from his book, Eat To Live.

Here are the fundamentals:

Eat a large salad every day
Enjoy a generous serving of steamed greens with mushrooms and onions
Satisfy your sweet tooth with three fresh fruits a day
Have at least one fulfilling serving of beans each day

Here's what you are promising to omit:

Avoid white flour
Avoid sugars & artificial sweeteners

Throughout the challenge, you will have plenty of support. We will answer your questions online in the Member Center. We encourage you to log your progress with "My Health Manager." Seasoned veterans of the Eat To Live diet-style will also be there to help you.

Here is how you get started:

Step 1: Join us on Facebook to share this exciting experience and encourage your friends to also make the commitment for a better life and incredible holiday. OR (If you don't have a Facebook account you can still participate via the Six Week Challenge forum in Dr. Fuhrman's Member Center which is free for 6 weeks)

Step 2: If you are not already a member of my online Member Center, sign up for your FREE* six week membership and Eat To Live Vook.

Step 3: Enjoy the holidays! Share your experiences and gain support in the new Six Week Challenge forum.

There is more – the challenge is just the start! By joining the challenge you will have the opportunity to participate in a contest where you may be eligible to win an all expense paid trip to my 5th annual 2011 Health Getaway in Park City, Utah at The Grand Summit Hotel at The Canyons. The winner or winners will be chosen based on their documented results during the challenge and into the new year.

I hope you enjoy this holiday gift to help spread the message of good health and healthy eating.

Help our earth cool down

2010-11-07T14:47:00.001-05:00

Help our earth cool down. Reducing methane, black carbon - watch this video and learn about how you can help.
http://www.worldpreservationfoundation.org/live.php
Also watch the following trailers and short films here http://www.worldpreservationfoundation.org/ecotrailers.php?id=23

okra power!

2010-10-22T13:56:00.001-04:00

Last night I cooked okra 2 ways with the same ingredients: Tomatoes, garlic, onion. At the end I added zucchini spaghetti which I made with a peeler.

1st was stir-fry and second was slow-cook. Both turned out very nice. This is the first time the kids tried this vegetable and after a little encouragement they gobbled it up :)

Here is some more info I found online:

When you shop for fresh okra, look for good green color with few or no gray spots, firmness and moderate size, as large pods can sometimes be fibrous and too tough to eat. A good test of okra's maturity is to press a very sharp knife blade against the pod, perpendicular to its length; if it cuts easily with no resistance, it is perfect. If the knife meets resistance, the pod will be too fibrous to eat.
Besides the pods, okra leaves can be cooked or eaten raw in salads. During the Civil War, when coffee was scarce because of Union blockades, the seeds were roasted for a coffee substitute. Okra oil, which is high in unsaturated fats, is also extracted from the seeds.

Lately we have been having okra in soups and it comes out great either chopped or whole. It's a little slimy when you cut it and cook it, but the flavor is out of this world, literally like nothing else we tried.

What's wrong with bagged lettuce?

2010-10-22T13:51:00.000-04:00

In the present day questions such as these and the information to make a decision are generally obfuscated and not generally considered by many. We generally go about our day, and we buy our food not giving it a second thought. I know I don't have the time to research every single product that I buy, but thinking about this opens up some interesting facts about where food comes from and more questions.

My focus for the last several years has been food preparation, and as a result I have becoming increasingly aware of where food comes from and how it was treated from harvest until it ends up in my home. My values about food have developed and I came to understand that for any individual, what they choose to buy, eat and drink is a very complex and therefore I only offer you my perspective and nothing more.

I prepare a variety of different foods and I strive that the food on my table are:

Health promoting (to the best of my knowledge and experience)
Non-polluting (how and where they are grown) / pollution free (no chemical residue)
Satisfy me and/or family at the present moment ( taste,smell, desires, etc)
Do not cause any undesired side affects (altered moods, after-taste, intoxication, health issues)

Eating outside of the home is a little different, but generally these values hold true with some exceptions which I will save for another post.

So what's wrong with buying bagged lettuce?

Keeping in mind that this question can be argued both ways. Bagged lettuce does offer convenience in prep time and seems to last longer in the fridge.

Let's try to list out some facts about it and you decide if there is anything wrong with it.

Do you know the variety, where it was grown, and who grew it?

It's important if you want to minimize the distance your food travels, reducing pollution.
Also the less it travels, the less likely it was treated after harvest, and contains less chemical residue. Its packaging is possibly less polluting as well.
Is it in season? Seasonal produce is generally better
Is it a heirloom lettuce, local to it's surroundings, or a hybrid variety? Local heirloom variety is best.
Is it GM food? They haven't developed any GM (genetic modifications) for lettuce as of this post, but other produce are GM such as corn and soybeans.

Do you know how it was grown?

Specifically if the soil was organic, or if it even needed soil. What was used, if anything to fertilize it, keep little critters or bigger animals off.
Also who planted it, maintained the fields and who harvested it? It may be important if fair labor is important to you, or if the farm or processor has a history of poor practices.

How and when was it harvested and processed?

What was used to harvest, process it, wash it?
Was liquid solutions of bleach(sodium hypochlorite) or chlorine(hypochlorous acid) or gas used to sanitize it?
Was there any other treatment or processing after harvest? Radiation, x-rays?
What else is in the bag? Plastic bags are filled with lettuce in factories and sealed with what inside?
If it's local, it's more likely to be fresher (0 - few days old) and contains more benefits when you eat it. It's also likely to be less processed

How much does it cost per pound or per ounce?

Lettuce comes in 6oz, 8oz, 10oz, 12oz bags but knowing what you pay for it is valuable. Generally the higher price equals organic but not all the time.

What you can do so you know more about the answers to these questions.

Grow your own food and teach your family to grow some too
Join a local CSA or buying club
Go to local farmers markets
Eat more local and seasonally
Demand better produce
Buy more fresh, raw, unadulterated food including loose lettuce. Wash it and chop it yourself! Learn how to store it.
Read product labels and research the company so you know more.

Foraging for mulberries

2010-06-26T23:21:00.000-04:00

How sweet they are - I just love picking these mulberries from a park right by where my kids go to school. I will have to invest in getting a dropcloth or a sheet because it's quite an exercise picking them with my hands. Plus you have to wear a glove or walk around with red hands!

There are two kids, red and white. I like them both and my kids do as well.

garden update June 2010

2010-06-04T14:55:00.001-04:00

garden 091
Originally uploaded by shenyap

I took some pictures on our garden. There are still some plants there that I am not sure about :) I didn't plant them.

A tiny amount of plant food offers a tiny amount of benefit.

2010-04-21T23:52:00.001-04:00

I enjoyed reading the post at DiseaseProof about the latest research study claiming fruits and veggies offering modest protection against cancer. Here is the point that clears it all up for me:

A tiny amount of plant food offers a tiny amount of benefit.

That is not how I would have interpreted this study, but it makes perfect sense. Even for a person who eats a diet of "everything in moderation" or a diet of nothing but take out and restaurant foods, or even "I try to eat very healthy diet" - Still eating a little more fruits or veggies each day was shown to be a little better as far as developing disease...

Many of the news stories on this subject neglected to mention the fact that the researchers found a dose-response relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and cancer risk – this means that as the number of servings increased, rates of cancer decreased.

So in conclusion he adds:

Most people are confused about nutrition, and results like these can add to the confusion. There is clear evidence that unrefined plant foods protect against chronic disease, but modest nutritional improvements offer only modest health benefits. Cutting back on cigarettes does not offer much protection against lung cancer either. It is the total package of a well-designed, nutrient-dense diet, regular exercise, and a healthy weight that offers optimal benefit. We can win the war on cancer.

I just went shopping and got some lettuce, brussels sprouts, radishes, bell peppers, and my fridge is full of other fruits and vegetables including carrots, eggplant, kale, oranges, apples. My freezer has some berries, broccoli, peas, corn. There are so many delicious combinations one can make with all of this food. It's also good to remember that the more we fuel our bodies with real, whole foods, the better it functions. Here's to health!

Click here to learn more about nutrient density
More about a link to diet and getting cancer

References
i. Higdon JV et al. Cruciferous Vegetables and Human Cancer Risk: Epidemiologic Evidence and Mechanistic Basis. Pharmacol Res. 2007 March ; 55(3): 224–236
ii. Larsson SC, Hakansson N, Naslund I, Bergkvist L, Wolk A. Fruit and vegetable consumption in relation to pancreatic cancer: a prospective study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15:301–305.
iii. Zhang M, et al. Dietary intakes of mushrooms and green tea combine to reduce the risk of breast cancer in Chinese women. Int J Cancer. 2009;124:1404-1408
iv. Powolny AA, Singh SV. Multitargeted prevention and therapy of cancer by diallyl trisulfide and related Allium vegetable-derived organosulfur compounds. Cancer Lett. 2008 Oct 8;269(2):305-14.

School Food Lunches

2010-04-20T12:02:00.000-04:00

I stumbled on a blogger posting what the kids eat for lunch, and actually eating it and commenting on it. If we are going to raise the bar on school lunches or snacks, it isn't stacked very high in my opinion. Take a look these kids are eating very poorly, if they are eating the whole thing. Right now I pack a lunch for my kids to daycare, and it looks like this is going to be a job going forward into their school years, until they are old enough to pack their own lunch. What are the kids are served regularly for this teacher?

Chicken nuggets / patty
Pizza
Meatball subs
Little Veggies
Some Fruit
Chips / milk
Cheese

GMO and Alfafa

2010-03-05T13:39:00.000-05:00

Monsanto is trying to approve Alfafa GM seeds - This is a petition with objections to be submitted to the USDA. Does anyone else object to another GM crop to contaminate our food supply?

GMO is bad news - just search for it on Google

Raw Beet Salad with walnuts

2010-02-13T23:11:00.000-05:00

Raw Beet Salad with Walnuts
Prep Time: 15 - 20 minutes

Beets are a root vegetable related to swiss chard. The pigment that gives beets their rich, purple-crimson color-betacyanin-is also a powerful cancer-fighting agent, which has been demonstrated in several studies. Beets' Betaine Helps Lessen Inflammation and are powerful anti-oxidants, and are a great source of minerals like folate, potassium, magnesium, and manganese. While beets are delicious cooked this salad is all raw. Remember that you don't need to peel the skins of the root vegetables, but simply scrubbing them is enough - just make sure that you are buying organic.

Ingredients
4 cups beets grated
1 cup carrots grated
1/2 c raw walnuts
1 cup dried fruit ( currants, prunes)
1/4 chopped parsley
1 T flavored vinegar, unseasoned rice vinegar, or lemon juice
1 tbsp Date Sugar (optional)

Directions
1. Lightly toast walnuts for 2 minutes
2. Wash and grate beets/carrots. Using a food processor is faster, but I used a box grater. Wear gloves or wash your hands with some lemon juice since they will stain. Place in a bowl.
3. Add all of the other ingredients except walnuts and stir to mix.
4. I let this sit overnight in the refrigerator and added walnuts prior to serving to let the dried fruit loosen up and absorb some juices, but it's ready to eat as you make it.

References
About beets from whfoods.com

Help Jamie Oliver with his wish

2010-02-12T15:10:00.000-05:00

Help Jamie Oliver with fulfilling his wish:

“I wish for your help to create a strong, sustainable movement to educate every child about food, inspire families to cook again and empower people everywhere to fight obesity.”

One thing he mentioned we do is to teach our kids to cook healthy meals at home. No one can argue that we all need to eat more vegetables, so lets teach each other and our kids on how to prepare more of them. I know there are many opportunities to do so every day. Think about what's most important to you - is it a life free of disease, suffering, doctors visits, pain, etc?

I realize that priorities change with time so maybe these things become important when you actually get sick, or get older. If you are a parent, model healthy eating at home and get educated about what foods you should eat most of for great health and your child will inevitably pay attention and learn from you.

Another thing is to support the organizations that align themselves with promoting health instead of organizations that promote drug research. Think of the millions of dollars we give to do the research, instead of supporting nutrition education for kids or local farmers who deliver fresh produce.

Organic Infant Formulas with DHA/ARA

2010-02-05T13:33:00.000-05:00

Parents should be aware of the following Notice about Infant Formulas with DHA/ARA

In 2001, US infant formula manufacturers began adding a novel source of DHA and ARA that is manufactured by Martek Biosciences Corp. This DHA is derived from strains of algae; the ARA is manufactured using a non-toxigenic soil fungus. In 2006, organic infant formula companies began promoting their use of this same ingredient. The following is the manufacturing process described by Martek:
"The oil is then separated from the dried biomass by hexane extraction and centrifugation and/or filtration, followed by winterization. The hexane phase undergoes additional centrifugation/filtration to remove solids then the winterized oil is heated and treated with acid. Subsequently, the oil is treated with caustic, centrifuged, bleached and deodorized." ¹ Learn more at Cornucopia Institute
Sam Zeller, Ph.D. - Martek Biosciences Corporation, Food & Drug Administration Agency Response Letter, GRAS Notice No. GRN 000137
life'sDHA is a registered trademark of Martek Biosciences Corporation.

Also this report by Cornucopia Institute about the soybean industry sheds some light on companies who we can trust and those who we probably cannot.

One Green meal a day Challenge

2010-01-22T14:53:00.000-05:00

One Green meal a day Challenge

Have you seen Food Inc? Let's take action! Here is how this works: Plan on eating one meal made entirely of Whole Foods. Have them anyway you like raw/cooked/sprouted/baked/steamed/mixed/juiced/blended/etc...

Examples of some Whole Foods include

Vegetables(Broccoli, Spinach, Cabbage, Carrots, Tomato)
Fruits(Apples, Pears, Oranges)
Beans/Legumes (Navy, Mung, Split Peas, Lentils)
Grains (Quinoa, Rice, Barley)
Nuts/Seeds (Walnuts, Brazil Nuts, Sesame Seeds, Sunflower Seeds)

Committing yourself to replacing one of your meals with one meal consisting of only vegetables each day can be a real challenge for some people, if you are new to this, relax and start by participating in the One Green Meal A Week initiative and build yourself up to one meal a day.

Why is it a Green Meal Challenge? Here are some facts that will help answer this question:

Eating 1 lb. of meat emits the same amount of greenhouse gasses as driving an SUV 40 miles (more info)
Eating more Fruits and Vegetables is protective against all disease (more info)
More than 260 million acres of U.S. forest have been cleared to create cropland to grow grain to feed farmed animals.
It takes up to 16 pounds of grain to produce just 1 pound of meat!
An area of rain forest the size of seven football fields is destroyed every minute to make room for grazing cattle, and eating less animals saves acres of tress every year.
Of all raw materials and fossils fuels currently used in the U.S., more than one-third goes to raising animals for food.
You save more water by not eating a pound of beef than you would by not showering for an entire year!
Here is a nice site that more visually explains the impact of our food choices

Holiday Dinner Recipes

2010-01-01T21:28:00.000-05:00

I just made two dishes for our New Years Dinner - I will call them Peachy Keen Salad and a YB-Rice. Every year we celebrate by having a holiday dinner where we remember and remeniss of the current year. The good, the bad, and just everyday non-eventful normal stuff :)

All ingredients are organic for extra goodness.

To make the YB-Rice you need some Rice, Vegetables, Dried Fruit, Nuts/Seeds, Seasoning, Liquid

Rice

3 cups brown rice

1 cup wild rice

Vegetables

Broccoli

Green Peas

Spices

1 tbsp garlic powder

1tbsp fiesta mole seasoning (tomato based seasoning)

1/4 cup Nutritional Yeast

2 tbsp dried chives

Dried Fruit

1/2 cup Raisins

1/2 cup cranberries

Nuts/Seeds

1/2 cup Walnuts small chunks

1/4 cup sliced Brazil nuts

1/8 cup ground flax seeds

Combine and rinse the rice, place in a big pot with a few sprays of oil, and spices. I added the garlic and mole, reserving the yeast and the chives for last step. Turn the pot on and bring about 5 cups of water to a boil in a kettle and pour it over the rice. Cover and cook on high heat for 5 minutes. Turn down the heat to medium and cook for another 20 min, then cook 5 min on low and turn off the heat and let stand covered for 15 min.

At this point the rice is done, add the vegetables, with the nuts/seeds and the yeast (if using) and dried fruit and mix it up well and cover.

To make Peachy Salad

Take some greens, veggies, spices, fruit, berries, and nuts/seeds that you have on hand. This recipe is what I had at the time.

Greens

2 Shredded Romaine stalks

Vegetables

Diced zucchini

Diced radish

Spice

Red Onion

Sliced Greens of Green onion, no white part

Dried Fruit

Raisins

Mulberries

Cranberries

Berries/Fruit

1/2 cup Blueberries

1 Persimmon

Nuts/Seeds

Sunflower seeds

Sesame seeds

Hemp seeds

Pecans

Peachy Keen Dressing - measurements are approximate

Fruit

1 cup Frozen Peaches

few pieces of Dried Mango

Nuts/Seeds

3tbsp Hemp seeds

Vegetables

Broccoli (sneaked a few in there)

Liquid

1/2 cup Orange Juice

1/2 cup Pear Vinegar

Mix the salad ingredients, add the fruit on top. Blend the dressing in high power blender. Enjoy!

Great to be eating good tasting food that i made myself, which also happens to be good for me

2009-12-18T12:52:00.000-05:00

I just made myself a very nice lunch and I thought to myself ..."Great to be eating good tasting food that i made myself, which also happens to be good for me"

Short and sweet. Now back to work!

Alternatives to standard vaccinations with homeopathy

2009-12-06T15:02:00.000-05:00

When I was first introduced to the concept of homeopathic vaccinations / prophylaxis, I found it very promising. After researching the standard child immunizations I became very concerned that the vaccines may actually do more harm than good.

Here is one of the keys to health via Wikipedia

Prophylaxis (Greek "προφυλάσσω" to guard or prevent beforehand) is any medical or public health procedure whose purpose is to prevent, rather than treat or cure a disease. In general terms, prophylactic measures are divided between primary prophylaxis (to prevent the development of a disease) and secondary prophylaxis (whereby the disease has already developed and the patient is protected against worsening of this process).

At present moment I practice prophylaxis via regular exercise, dental cleanings, health promoting diet, regular chiropractic care, proper rest, etc... Doctors also prescribe antibiotics post surgery as a prophylactic in case there was any infection entering the body.

There are many individuals and groups who have done much to bring awareness to dangers of regular vaccinations that society in general thinks are safe and effective. I will do a separate post about this, but here is one example of the apparent risks in the Polio Vaccine. (Polio, AIDS, weakened immune system)

The www.thinktwice.com site has a link to an article by Dr. Richard Pitcairn, a homeopath who discusses the homeopathic alternative to several vaccines. I read it and I am now more open to this idea. Here is what he says:

I think, as time goes on, we will see more and more evidence of the problems associated with vaccination. If I may venture to make a prediction, it is that 50 or 100 years from now people will look back at the practice of introducing disease into people and animals for the purpose of preventing these same diseases as a foolishness — a foolishness similar to that of the practice of blood-letting or the use of toxic doses of mercury in the treatment of disease.

In his article he discusses Whooping Cough, Diphtheria (DTaP), and Poliomyelitis (Polio) along with animal diseases which also responded well to homeopathic vaccinations / prophylaxis.

So if you are looking at an alternative, this may very well be a promising one given that in general homeopathic medicine is considered safe without any known side effects. I know I will be looking more into it.

Taking a closer look at Vaccinations

2009-11-13T17:08:00.005-05:00

by yanivba

I did some research when looking at the seasonal flu vaccine last year for my son who at the time was 2 years old and in daycare 5 days a week. He is exposed to so many viruses every day and his chances of exposure to the flu virus are high especially during the winter months.

To keep him healthy in general we had been following a nutritarian diet outlined in Dr. Fuhrmans book Disease Proof Your Child but at a regular doctors checkup we were faced with the decision about flu vaccinations. So lets examine this question together so we can draw our own conclusions about the flu vaccine and if it's effective and safe.

Lets first look at the flu vaccine Effectiveness. Does this thing even work?

Given all their hype, they must work pretty well right? The doctors say that some years they are more effective then in other years and the formula changes every year based on a vote of which flu strains should be included.

If your child is under 2 years old they will get live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) and based on what I see in the research it's only 28%-36% effective and efficacy 59 - 65% which is similar to placebo. (6,7)

If your child is over 2 years old they will get (IIV) inactivated influenza vaccine. Looking at the data (4,5,9) for various years, it suggests the effectiveness for IIV 33%-38% and efficacy 79 - 82% Which means it's chances of (prevention of influenza-like illness) are about 1/3, a very poor outcome.

So would you get this vaccine if you knew that it's effectiveness historically is roughly 33%? What if you knew that there is a chance that you may become very ill from it's side effects? I also learned that vaccines relative safety had not been fully studied (4 5). Shocked?

If you are not convinced look at this Review for (children, elderly, people with illnesses) where the authors conclude For healthy children:

Influenza vaccines are efficacious in children older than two but little evidence is available for children under two. There was a marked difference between vaccine efficacy and effectiveness. No safety comparisons could be carried out, emphasizing the need for standardisation of methods and presentation of vaccine safety data in future studies. It was surprising to find only one study of inactivated vaccine in children under two years, given current recommendations to vaccinate healthy children from six months old in the USA and Canada.. If immunisation in children is to be recommended as a public health policy, large-scale studies assessing important outcomes and directly comparing vaccine types are urgently required.

Ok, so how about in adults? Lets review one paper Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults (Review) where the authors conclude

There is not enough evidence to decide whether routine vaccination to prevent influenza in healthy adults is effective.

Bottom line is although the vaccine works pretty well under lab conditions (efficacy) it is not effective enough (33%) to warrant a flu shot and risk the side effects and exposure to the chemicals in the actual vaccine. If you interpret the data differently, let me know!

When looking at vaccines, we were concerned about their mercury in general, but we learned from the pediatrician that a flu vaccine without mercury is available, and that the actual amount in the vaccine is negligent and compares to him having a serving of fish. The doctor also pointed out that the flu vaccine can lessen the severity of the flu in children if they do get it.

Wait - is that really true? Is having your child get the flu vaccine twice a year equal to eating a serving of fish in terms of ingested mercury? Lets find out!

If my child was eating fish, say he had some tuna. Given a serving size of 4oz of chunk white tuna, he will be getting 35 micrograms per gram of mercury (1). In comparison the fluzone vaccine contains 25 micrograms of thimersol (mercury) per dose (2). So yes, this means that eating a 4oz of tuna is exposing him to about the same level of mercury as getting a flu shot.

Is mercury so bad? Yes! If he is allowed 1.13 micrograms per day based on his weight (25lbs) that's about 22 times the EPA recommended level of mercury (1) in a single shot. There is also nifty calculator that does the calculations given the allowed oz of a type of fish for for weight. I plugged in weight of 25lbs and selected canned tuna light and I came out with maximum dose of 2.3oz per week. But let's not get carried away with mercury in fish thing since we already know that eating fish exposes him to mercury, PCB's and other toxins/cancinogens. Checkout my post about eating fish.

The mercury is not negligent in the flu shot! The doctor who said it should reexamine his sources...

However the doctor also advised us that there is a flu vaccine that needs to be special ordered and is available without mercury; so you can omit mercury in the shot it if you are determined. But it takes work to get this done. They don't make it easy.

Another question we need to look at is What are the other ingredients in these flu vaccines we should be concerned about?

Formaldehyde, Chick Embryo, Octoxinol-9, Triton X-100,Gelatin,Sodium Phosphate,Sodium Chloride(Salt)(3)

Also what about the danger of getting this vaccine done twice each year for life as recommended?

I suspect that those other ingredients will cause some kind of a reaction in all people. Some kids immune system are better able to deal with them, and others are not so lucky and they get very sick and some even die. Here is a database you can search yourself for reported vaccine reactions

Nevertheless I believe the best protection is trying to adhere to the nutritarian diet and feeding your kids the right foods. When your kids eat a disease-proof diet, they are eating for health; and if they do get sick, it's no big deal and they fight it off easily. It's amazing what an immune system is capable of fighting off.

Here are some links to check out while you are looking at vaccines and references I used.

http://www.nvic.org/Vaccines-and-Diseases/Influenza.aspx

1. http://www.pbs.org/now/science/mercuryinfish.html

2. http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/fluzone13.htm

3. http://wiki.medpedia.com/Vaccine_ingredients_-_sorted_by_vaccine

4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15733718?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=2&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed

5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18425905?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=2&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed

6. http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/PROFESSIONALS/VACCINATION/effectivenessqa.htm#iiv

7. http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/PROFESSIONALS/VACCINATION/effectivenessqa.htm#vaccinecomparison

8. http://www.cfah.org/hbns/archives/viewSupportDoc.cfm?supportingDocID=114

9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16437500

Ready Set Juice!

2009-09-18T18:11:00.001-04:00

moistly eclipse
Originally uploaded by Untitled blue

We made our first juice this morning from what I had on hand

5 Carrots, 2 Crispy Green Apples, bunch of Kale, 1/2 Lime - peeled, 1/2 head of romaine.

It was good :) It's a little getting used to it since the shoot is so small, but I managed. Next time I will cut it up smaller and see if that speeds things up.

My son was watching the whole thing and was amazed with the pulp shooting out, and after all the juicing was done, he wouldn't touch the juice it since it was GREEN... but he really wanted the pulp :)

So I let him try it and he liked it and wanted me to give him more for breakfast! LOL It was so funny that he refused the actual juice but it's great that he told me what he wanted.

I did give him a little juice so it's not too dry and some more in his soup for lunch so he got his share or healthy nutrients today!

Note to self - Next time when I make juice for him to actually drink, I will remember to make it another color.

Mandatory Vaccinations for US citizens - What are they thinking?

2009-09-03T14:32:00.001-04:00

Mandatory Vaccination Bill passes senate in MA

Even though I don't live in MA, I am concerned about this new bill

Quote:

The bill gives the public health commissioner the discretion to respond to an outbreak like the kind going on in Mexico - to close or evacuate buildings, enter private property, isolate or quarantine people, and to get and distribute meds and vaccines.

If you refuse the vaccination or refuse to be quarantined (FEMA camps?) the penalty is $1000 per day or 30 days in prison.

Sounds like they are using volunteers (community organizers?) to help enforce it.

I for one don't want to have the government enforce any kind of mandatory vaccine or any procedure for that matter.

I don't want to worry about my kids getting sick afterwards

Quote:

A warning that the new swine flu jab is linked to a deadly nerve disease

If you want to learn more about what's in the vaccine go here

... This is not the first time....

"On February 15, 1976, an army recruit at Fort Dix said he felt tired and weak. He died the next day and four of his fellow soldiers were later hospitalized. Two weeks after his death, health officials announced that swine flu was the cause of death and that this strain of flu appeared to be closely related to the strain involved in the 1918 flu pandemic. Alarmed public-health officials decided that action must be taken to head off another major pandemic, and they urged President Gerald Ford that every person in the U.S. be vaccinated for the disease. The vaccination program was plagued by delays and public relations problems, but about 24% of the population had been vaccinated by the time the program was canceled. Only one person, the Fort Dix army recruit, died from the flu"

"There were reports of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a paralyzing neuromuscular disorder, affecting some people who had received swine flu immunizations."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_swine_flu_outbreak

http://www.salon.com/env/feature/2009/04/28/1976_swine_flu/

Are those weeds edible?

2009-08-21T10:08:00.004-04:00

I had the pleasure to take a tour with wildman Steven Brill through our farm and the neighboring wooden trail. Here is what we found and learned

Edible Food We Found

Foxtail Grass - edible grains can be eaten raw or cooked.

Amaranth - we got some seeds from it (which is used as grain). It's great in stir fries and is easy to prepare. Enya even has a song about it :)

Lambs Quarters - European relative of spinach and beets and can be eater raw or cooked.

Wild Yellow Watercress - similar tasting to regular watercress and just as nutritious too!

Ladies thumb - another edible plant that grows plentifully on the compost heap.

Wood Sorrel 3 leaves shaped like hearts are sour like sorrel, which also grows in my garden

Wild Carrot - smells like a carrot, hairy stalk. Can eat the root and the seeds can be used instead of caraway seeds. More here

Black Locut Tree - Black locust blossoms taste something like sweet peas with a hint of vanilla, and their wonderful aroma and subtle flavor lend themselves magnificently in a variety of dishes

Wild Amenity - can't find any info on it online, so I may have the spelling wrong. It's edible and grows in abundance. It has triangular leaves and sharp stalks and down the middle of the leaf. eat the smaller leaves without much sharp spikes.

White pine -British soldiers made their boats out of them, and it was illegal to cut one down by anyone but the gov. But it's also good for making tea from the needles I hear.

Garlic Mustard - this is the mustard seed pod with edible seeds

Wild Grapes - I think they are the Fox Grape variety, the father of the concord grape that
is very sour and mmm good.

Black Walnuts- taste similar to regular walnuts, but much stronger. I use them in baking banana
oat cookies

Burdock Root - Used in chinese cooking

Also saw some Non -Edible, but useful to know plants

Common Plantain
Mug Wort
Yarrow
Jewel weed
Poison Ivy

Philadelphia Inquirer apparently had someone on the tour as well and wrote a nice article about our adventures that day.

It was a very good learning experience, and I had since discovered other wild plants that are edible as well right in my back yard. Wild Purslane - didn't see on the tour but I had seen a recipe, wood sorrel, dandelions. On our stroll through the neighborhood my son and I we also saw some lamb quarters and more wood sorrel. And then I was asked "What's that daddy?" and I didn't know, but I promised to look it up and get back to him.

Garden update August 2009

2009-08-13T17:52:00.003-04:00

See my Garden grow up this year with this photo slideshow

3 tips for a kids healthy nutritious breakfast and lunch

2009-08-13T13:03:00.002-04:00

1. Making a morning smoothie or packing one from the night before is a great way to get some nutritious vegetables into your child's diet. You can practically sneak anything into it and since it will be blended up, unrecognizable, pulverized! The possibilities are endless as to whats in it, so give it a try. Start with something your kids are sure to like like Fruit/berries and slowly add ingredients as they get used to it

Try to blend or add to it once finished

Liquid (water/juice/nut milk)

+ Fruit (banana/apple/pear)

+ Fresh/Frozen Berries(blueberries, strawberries)

+ Veggies(celery, broccoli, peas)

+ Greens(spinach, kale, arugula).

+ Beans/Legumes(any bean - start with a small amount)

+ Seeds (blend some in or grind some raw seeds and sprinkle on top)

Make it from whatever you have available at home, and don't follow a recipe. Just try to experiment. You can use frozen fruit/berries or ice to make it colder. Putting in raisins, dates, and other dried fruit soaked in juice or water overnight will add sweetness to it. Color and texture is also important to consider: adding ingredients such as cooked beet(red), blueberries(blue) green(spinach or kale) orange is tricky so stick with carrots /oranges and fruit. white(banana, coconut). You can also add breakfast muesli or oatmeal on top with ground up seeds.

2. Always pack healthy food options even if you think they "won't eat that". My kids surprise me all the time and eat what they refuse to even try at home. So pack it for them anyway and you will also be surprised. Their hunger and a different environment will also play a role in different attitude towards the same foods, so don't play it safe by only packing foods that you know they like.

3. Making food ahead of time and freezing it for a quick meal prep helps when we don't have time and need to rush out. Soups, smoothies, corn, peas, all are good options. Just take out the soup the night before to defrost or defrost in the microwave in the morning.

Writing off that csa membership?

2009-08-13T12:57:00.003-04:00

Just had an idea: Wouldn't it be nice if we can write off the cost of the csa membership off our taxes?

Promote local farming and sustainable agriculture
Promote healthy eating via increase in fruit/vegetable consumption and save money of health care cost as a result.
Reduce greenhouse gas and pollution by decreasing demand for non-local food.

I am sure there are other benefits, but are there any drawbacks?