FamilyGreen 5

Victory: Hershey to Remove GMO Ingredients from Milk Chocolate Pledges to shift to 'simple ingredients'

2015-02-25T12:34:00.000-05:00

Joining the lineup of companies that are kneeling to public pressure, candy-maker Hershey has recently announced that it will soon remove genetically modified ingredients from its milk chocolate and Kisses by the end of 2015. What’s more, the company is pledging to shift to ‘simple ingredients,’ which will exemplified by the removal of emulsifier polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) and artificial vanillin.

Coming straight from Hershey’s website:

“What sparked these ingredient changes? Have consumers been asking Hershey to move to simpler ingredients/labels?

As a consumer-centric company, we understand that people want to know what’s in their food. As consumers ourselves, we agree with them. That’s why we will share information openly, candidly and transparently. Our iconic brands are about goodness – goodness in both how they are made and how they taste. For more than 100 years, we’ve built trusting relationships with our consumers and customers around this principle. We’re proud of this heritage. But at the same time, we listen closely to our consumers and are always working to make our brands relevant to evolving expectations and lifestyles.

With the changes that Hershey is making to ingredients (non-genetically modified sugar, sustainable, traceable palm oil, rBST-free milk), what is the end game?

Our iconic brands are about delivering goodness – both in how they are made and how they taste. We are moving our product portfolio to simpler ingredients. This will take time and as part of that journey we will be sharing more about what’s in our products, and how they are sourced and manufactured. All of this is based on knowledge and insights about what our consumers care about most.”

Virtually every food producer in our current time, Hershey has been dealing with pressure for years from individuals and consumer groups alike to remove (or at the very least, label) GMOs in its products. Though while the company made the shift in Canada years ago, it hasn’t changed its ways in the US until now.

In the shift to come, Hershey announced that it will be moving to natural vanilla, non-genetically modified sugar, and milk from cows which have not been treated with growth hormone rBST. Further, Hershey intends to roll out with products that do not contain high-fructose corn syrup or artificial colors & flavors. The Hershey’s Kisses and Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars are already free of HFCS – not the company just needs to trash the other ingredients.

The move by Hershey is yet another example of how consumer demand can seriously spark a needed-shift in our food system. Though processed foods are not the answer to a healthy lifestyle, the fact that we as a collective still have a voice is a good sign that our food system can be changed for the better.

BY MIKE BARRETT from naturalsociety.com

POSTED ON FEBRUARY 24, 2015

Dear mom who feels like she wants to quit.

2014-07-24T12:13:00.001-04:00

This is a must read.

dear mom who feels like she wants to quit.

A Youtube video "The Secrets of Food Marketing"

2014-06-06T14:30:00.000-04:00

A look at factory farming from Compassion in World Farming

Holistic way to heal Conjunctivitis

2014-05-31T14:52:00.001-04:00

Using Warm Milk & Honey to Treat Conjunctivitis
(Pink Eye)

Honey has amazing anti-bacterial properties. Making an eyewash with warm milk and honey can help to soothe and treat conjunctivitis. Use equal parts of both honey and milk, making sure the milk is warm (not boiling). Mix together the remedy and keep stirring until the honey becomes smooth in the milk. Use an eyedropper and drop 2-3 drops into your eye several times a day. Alternatively, you can use this mixture as a compress. The anti- bacterial properties in the honey and the soothing effects of the milk will start to work immediately and within 24 hours your pink eye should be cleared up.

Tips for Treating Conjunctivitis

In addition, there are a few natural ways to help provide relief and promote faster healing without any unwanted side-effects.

Add a few drops of honey to your eye wash as honey has antibacterial properties. Honey will also soothe the eye and promote faster healing.
Grate a potato and place on the affected eye for 15 minutes. Potato is a natural astringent and will help reduce eye inflammation.
Replace the water of your eyewash or compress with warm milk
For itchy eyes, try cooled tea bags on the eyes. The tannin in tea will help sooth itchiness and reduce inflammation. Using chamomile tea bags is an even better idea as chamomile is well known as an effective eye tonic.

(Like anything else, check with a doctor)

Maine: Second state to pass GMO labeling!!!

2014-01-22T11:50:00.001-05:00

Maine becomes the second state to pass a law requiring food producers to label GMO food, but other states must follow before it goes into effect.

By Steve Mistler smistler@pressherald.com
Staff Writer for Kennebeck Journal (Wednesday January 20, 2014

Gov. Paul LePage has signed a bill that would require food producers to label foods that contain genetically modified ingredients. The law makes Maine the second state in the country to pass such a measure. However, other states must adopt similar legislation before Maine’s labeling provision goes into effect.

click image to enlarge

A label on a snack item at a Portland supermarket indicates it is certified organic and does not contain any genetically modified ingredients.

2013 Staff File Photo/Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

Select images available for purchase in the
Maine Today Photo Store

The governor promised last year to sign the bill, which was sponsored by Rep. Lance Harvell, R-Farmington. His signature is symbolic because legislative rules don’t allow the law to go into effect until the Legislature adjourns later this year. However, supporters of the bill hailed the law’s eventual passage as a victory for advocates of laws mandating the labeling of genetically modified foods. Such proposals have been introduced in nearly 30 states as part of a national effort to compel Congress to enact a comprehensive labeling law.

Previous GMO labeling efforts have been staunchly opposed by agribusiness and the biotech food products industry, which have also spent millions to defeat ballot measures and state legislation. Industry argues that labeling genetically engineered products unfairly stigmatizes modified foods despite a dearth of scientific research proving that they are any less healthful than those that are grown conventionally.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates 70 percent of the products sold in American supermarkets contain genetically modified ingredients. The Food and Drug Administration regulates genetically modified foods, but regulators have left testing to the industry that is producing them.

Maine Conservation Voters’ Executive Director Maureen Drouin said in a news statement that the new law “will give Maine people the information they need to make informed decisions about the food they and their families eat.”

She added, “We thank Gov. LePage for recently signing the bill into law and thank Maine’s Legislature for passing the bill with overwhelming support last year.

“We are thrilled that Gov. Le- Page has signed the GMO labeling bill,” said Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association Executive Director Ted Quaday. “MOFGA supporters have worked tirelessly, organizing five different legislative campaigns on this issue since the early 1990s. The time was right for a diverse and collaborative effort to take hold and move the discussion forward. People want and have the right to know what’s in their food.”

Still, the Maine GMO labeling law faces another challenge. The law doesn’t go into effect unless five contiguous states, including New Hampshire, pass labeling laws. Late last year, the prospects of a New Hampshire law dimmed when a committee broke along party lines to oppose a labeling measure there.

The New Hampshire Legislature will take up the bill this winter.

The national battle over labeling laws has pitted activists in the organic food movement against a consortium led by the biotech industry and corporate food producers, such as General Mills, Nestle USA and Monsanto.

It appeared that industry heavyweights were initially taken aback by activists who introduced labeling legislation this year in at least 30 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. However, reports from New Hampshire indicate that the industry has rallied and become more effective.

The Maine bill brought together such factions as libertarian Republicans and liberal Democrats, creating strong support. So far, that hasn’t happened in New Hampshire and the bill has become more partisan there.

The provision requiring passage in contiguous states was added to the Maine bill to help build broad support.

Proponents of the bill said the provision would quell concerns about an almost-certain lawsuit by industry groups and Monsanto, which vowed to challenge the laws in Maine and Connecticut on the basis that they violate the free speech and interstate commerce provisions of the U.S. Constitution.

Maine Attorney General Janet Mills told lawmakers last year that the bill was almost certain to face a legal challenge, and said she could not guarantee that her office could defend its constitutionality.

Already 64 countries around the world label foods that contain genetically modified ingredients, including all of Europe, Russia, China, Brazil, India and Saudi Arabia.

Steve Mistler can be contacted at 791-6345 or at:

smistler@pressherald.com

15 health benefits of eating apples Many of us forget that sometimes, the simplest answers are the best. Better health could be as easy as reaching for the fruit bowl for some apples next time you need a snack!

2013-11-04T18:44:00.001-05:00

1. Get whiter, healthier teeth

An apple won’t replace your toothbrush, but biting and chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria.

2. Avoid Alzheimer’s

A new study performed on mice shows that drinking apple juice could keep Alzheimer’s away and fight the effects of aging on the brain. Mice in the study that were fed an apple-enhanced diet showed higher levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and did better in maze tests than those on a regular diet.

3. Protect against Parkinson’s

Research has shown that people who eat fruits and other high-fibre foods gain a certain amount of protection against Parkinson’s, a disease characterized by a breakdown of the brain’s dopamine-producing nerve cells. Scientists have linked this to the free radical-fighting power of the antioxidants contained therein.

4. Curb all sorts of cancers

Scientists from the American Association for Cancer Research, among others, agree that the consumption of flavonol-rich apples could help reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer by up to 23 per cent. Researchers at Cornell University have identified several compounds—triterpenoids—in apple peel that have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon and breast. Their earlier research found that extracts from whole apples can reduce the number and size of mammary tumours in rats. Meanwhile, the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. has recommended a high fibre intake to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

5. Decrease your risk of diabetes

Women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who don’t eat apples. Apples are loaded with soluble fibre, the key to blunting blood sugar swings.

6. Reduce cholesterol

The soluble fibre found in apples binds with fats in the intestine, which translates intolower cholesterol levels and a healthier you.

7. Get a healthier heart

An extensive body of research has linked high soluble fibre intake with a slower buildup of cholesterol-rich plaque in your arteries. The phenolic compound found in apple skins also prevents the cholesterol that gets into your system from solidifying on your artery walls. When plaque builds inside your arteries, it reduces blood flow to your heart, leading to coronary artery disease.

8. Prevent gallstones

Gallstones form when there’s too much cholesterol in your bile for it to remain as a liquid, so it solidifies. They are particularly prevalent in the obese. To prevent gallstones, doctors recommend a diet high in fibre to help you control your weight and cholesterol levels.

9. Beat diarrhea and constipation

Whether you can’t go to the bathroom or you just can’t stop, fibre found in apples can help. Fibre can either pull water out of your colon to keep things moving along when you’re backed up, or absorb excess water from your stool to slow your bowels down.

10. Neutralize irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain and bloating. To control these symptoms doctors recommend staying away from dairy and fatty foods while including a high intake of fibre in your diet.

11. Avert hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are a swollen vein in the anal canal and while not life threatening, these veins can be very painful. They are caused by too much pressure in the pelvic and rectal areas. Part and parcel with controlling constipation, fibre can prevent you from straining too much when going to the bathroom and thereby help alleviate hemorrhoids.

12. Control your weight

Many health problems are associated with being overweight, among them heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea. To manage your weight and improve your overall health, doctors recommend a diet rich in fibre. Foods high in fibre will fill you up without costing you too many calories.

13. Detoxify your liver

We’re constantly consuming toxins, whether it is from drinks or food, and your liver is responsible for clearing these toxins out of your body. Many doctors are skeptical of fad detox diets, saying they have the potential to do more harm than good. Luckily, one of the best—and easiest—things you can eat to help detoxify your liver is fruits—like apples.

14. Boost your immune system

Red apples contain an antioxidant called quercetin. Recent studies have found thatquercetin can help boost and fortify your immune system, especially when you're stressed out.

15. Prevent cataracts

Though past studies have been divided on the issue, recent long-term studies suggest that people who have a diet rich in fruits that contain antioxidants—like apples—are 10 to 15 per cent less likely to develop cataracts.

http://www.besthealthmag.ca/eat-well/nutrition/15-health-benefits-of-eating-apples

Our "Midnight" Adventure

2013-08-15T23:05:00.000-04:00

So today on my way home from town, I had the wonderful privilege of having my front right tire go flat while driving. Let me not forget to mention that I received this lovely gift at 9 pm eastern. Okay, most of you would say, yeah so what, BUT here in the country people are more like "bitch, why you bothering me at this time of night!?!?!?", but they never say it out loud to you. They suck it up and help their friend out anyway. Why you may ask...well, that's easy! My friends are awesome!!! Also, to I want to mention my kids' school nurse and her husband stopping to help, and changing said tire for me. That was very awesome!!! Thank you!

Oh, and did I mention the children were with me. Hahahaha, I know laugh it up! Brandt thought I was crazy when I began laughing. Life is one pickled mess! But, when times are tough...laugh it up, because in the whole grand scheme of things, does it really matter??? Nah, not so much! Make the best, you know?!?!?

Me in my infinite wisdom tried it all on my own before someone stopped, and I swallowed my pride and accepted help, had the jack upside down, All I can say is I tried...a very blond moment, but I gave it my all! I refused the first person who pulled up alongside of me asking if I needed help. I have no idea why, but I said "no, we are okay." then thought, what a dumb cucumber I was. (The kids are on this kick of saying silly words instead of swearing...no not them swearing, Me. Thanks to our friend Tucker. :) )

Brandt started to stress out a bit, but he did great, and got himself through it without having any kind of meltdown. Awesome kid! Liv and Evan were just along for another adventure in our clan, though by the end they were tired. They did awesome!

My kids Rock! I love them!

List of Foods We Will Lose if We Don’t Save the Bees

2013-08-11T21:17:00.000-04:00

By: Christina Sarich,
Natural Society.

Many pesticides have been found to cause grave danger to our bees, and with the recent colony collapses in Oregon, it’s time to take a hard look at what we would be missing without bee pollination.

In just the last ten years, over 40% of the bee colonies in the US have suffered Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Bees either become so disoriented they can’t find their way back to their hives and die away from home, or fly back poison-drunk and die at the foot of their queen. There are many arguments as to what is causing CCD, but the most logical and likely culprit is the increased usage of pesticides by the likes of Monsanto and others.

A study by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has labeled one pesticide, called clothianidin, as completely unacceptable for use, and banned it from use entirely. Meanwhile, the U.S. uses the same pesticide on more than a third of its crops – nearly 143 million acres. Two more pesticides linked to bee death are imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam. These are also used extensively in the US, while elsewhere, they have been taken out of circulation.

Recently, the FDA also seized Terrence Ingram’s bees, a naturalist who had been studying bees for over 30 years, and had a colony that was resistant to Monsanto’s Round Up. Ingram’s prized hives, along with their queens, were destroyed by the FDA, and Ingram was given no warning that his bees would be demolished.

List of Crop Plants Pollinated by Bees

While we don’t need bees to pollinate every single crop, here is just a brief list of some of the foods we would lose if all our bees continue to perish:

Apples
Mangos
Rambutan
Kiwi Fruit
Plums
Peaches
Nectarines
Guava
Rose Hips
Pomegranites
Pears
Black and Red Currants
Alfalfa
Okra
Strawberries
Onions
Cashews
Cactus
Prickly Pear
Apricots
Allspice
Avocados
Passion Fruit
Lima Beans
Kidney Beans
Adzuki Beans
Green Beans
Orchid Plants
Custard Apples
Cherries
Celery
Coffee
Walnut
Cotton
Lychee
Flax
Acerola – used in Vitamin C supplements
Macadamia Nuts
Sunflower Oil
Goa beans
Lemons
Buckwheat
Figs
Fennel
Limes
Quince
Carrots
Persimmons
Palm Oil
Loquat
Durian
Cucumber
Hazelnut
Cantaloupe
Tangelos
Coriander
Caraway
Chestnut
Watermelon
Star Apples
Coconut
Tangerines
Boysenberries
Starfruit
Brazil Nuts
Beets
Mustard Seed
Rapeseed
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Brussels Sprouts
Bok Choy (Chinese Cabbage)
Turnips
Congo Beans
Sword beans
Chili peppers, red peppers, bell peppers, green peppers
Papaya
Safflower
Sesame
Eggplant
Raspberries
Elderberries
Blackberries
Clover
Tamarind
Cocoa
Black Eyed Peas
Vanilla
Cranberries
Tomatoes
Grapes

If one of your favorites is on this list, you should consider becoming a bee activist.

Additional posts for FamilyGreen5

2013-08-07T10:16:00.001-04:00

So, I started this blog a couple years ago to get some info out to people and tell what I think more Humans should consider or to give my wellness opinion or something of the like, but I do believe it is time to have a little bit of an addition to what I post now. I am going to add more personal attributes of my life. You may not care for them or you may love them...drop me line and let me know what you think, BUT be nice about it. No need for people to be mean to get their opinion across. :)
As a parent, I have many a story to tell that is funny, emotional, and trying, AND maybe someone out there can give me some advice on how to do things or I can help someone realise they are not alone in their struggles and joys!!!
Not too sure if I will regret this or not, but besides my original blog of info, it will now include my diary...LOL.
Here we go.......

PARODY-Miley Cyrus - "We Can't Stop" PARODY

2013-08-06T14:42:00.001-04:00

This is the best I have heard of MC...EVER!!! She is a spoiled, snot, who has NOTHING to complain about in life, and has no idea what it is like to have to struggle or make important life changing decisions. She just proves that as long as you have a crap load of money, one can buy oneself talent, fans, and out of any trouble one may get into.
For the first time as a parent, I have gone out of my way to make sure my kids do not hear this song or know anything about this person. For this child to publicly shame her family is despicable, and that is all she is, a child throwing a public tantrum to get what she wants! Grow up!
When is American society going to wake up and stop kowtowing to people who are nothing more than expensive trash!!!

Using Chemical flea treatments to get rid of fleas can be deadly for you, your pets and your children.

2013-07-24T10:30:00.004-04:00

Did you know that a flea could jump 100 times its own height? Did you also know that just one female flea will produce 20,000 eggs in a period of only three months? Lastly, did you know that it can take anywhere from three to six weeks for flea eggs to hatch? Not to mention to get rid of these pesky things can be harmful to one's health if chemical treatments are used.

Two of the most common and most harmful pesticides are found in flea products. Both are nerve-paralyzing agents capable of causing convulsions, nausea and respiratory arrest in animals as well as in the insects they're intended to destroy. Consequently, there are many cases of pesticide-related poisonings each year, many involving not only pets, but also children who handle pesticide-treated animals.

Getting rid of fleas is a two-step process -- treat the pet and then treat the house. The combination works, but both steps are necessary.

Use an herbal shampoo that contains a combination of any of pine cedar, bergamot, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, juniper or geranium. Before you wet down your pet here's a handy trick to ensure that you are successful in killing all of those nasty fleas. Know going into this process that as soon as you wet the animal down, those fleas are going to run for higher and dryer ground; this means they will flea (no pun intended) to the head area. You should never douse your pet's head with water and certainly not soap, so in order to prevent the fleas from escaping make sure that you first pour a thick layer of the shampoo all around the head and neck area; as close to the top of the head and underneath the chin area as you can get. Pour small amounts of water with your hand onto the soapy area and spend some time building up a thick, soapy barrier that will kill the fleas that attempt to pass through it. Proceed by wetting down and lathering up the rest of the animal's body while frequently returning to massage and re-lather the neck area. Fleas are very difficult to kill and it is better for your pet if you can handle the problem with one good bath rather than several of them, so be sure to leave the shampoo on for at least 15 minutes or more while continuing to massage the soap deep into the animal's fur. Rinse the animal thoroughly and dry it off well, especially during cold weather.

For the house infestation of fleas, here's a great way to get rid of the problem. Mix together 1 1/2 pounds of diatomaceous earth, 1 1/2 pounds of natural borax and 1 cup of salt. (Make sure DE is food grade.) The diatomaceous earth works because it contains very tiny particles that have sharp spines, which puncture the exoskeleton of the flea, killing it (dries out their exoskeleton) The borax and salt work by absorbing the moisture of the flea and make all of those cracks and small areas that they might find to live in your home much more undesirable. You can use the mixture by sprinkling it throughout your home onto carpets and into those harder to reach areas. Allow the mixture to sit for a couple of days and then vacuum it up. Although these powders are not poisonous it's never a good idea for you or your pet to breathe it continually for days so if it's possible to go elsewhere while it sits then that's definitely an option you should use. Alternatively, if you prefer not to douse the house with the mixture, you can always pour it into your vacuum cleaner bag and vacuum everything thoroughly so that any of the sucked up fleas will die inside the bag. Keep in mind that this solution will not kill the un-hatched flea eggs and therefore the process may need to be repeated several times depending on the severity of your problem.

Combining these two methods should rid pets of fleas and protect against new infestations. To ensure that dogs and outdoor cats remain free of fleas, apply DE to the yard with a fertilizer spreader. This must be done on a dry day where there is no threat of rain for several days afterwards. DE will not only destroy fleas, but will also kill ticks. To treat bushes for pests, place DE powder in a kitchen strainer and sprinkle throughout foliage. Repeat every few weeks during flea season.

And of course before you do anything for your animals and home, do some research to understand what it is you are using, why, and if it could possibly be harmful to you, your children, or your pets.

Surprising Beer Ingredients: GMO Corn And Carcinogens

2013-07-21T10:57:00.000-04:00

Food Babe blogger Vani Hari investigates beer ingredients, finding GMOs, carcinogens, and corn syrup in many popular beer brands.

BY SAMANTHA OLSON | JUL 19, 2013 02:56 PM EDT

Blogger Vani Hari, also known as the "Food Babe," is a nutrition and general health writer who has gained significant media and publicity over many of her investigations into ingredients, labels, and food establishments. As an ingredients detective, Hari has examined the truth behind labels and analyzed the truthfulness of their products. Recently, she has released findings on the beer industry's mysterious concoctions.

"Caring about what you eat doesn't necessarily translate into caring about what you drink and this is a huge mistake," wrote Hari. "I see it all the time. Someone who eats organic, makes the right choices at the grocery store, is fit and lives an extraordinarily healthy lifestyle but then drinks beer like it is going out of style."

The way alcohol metabolizes in the body can shed some light on how the body digests food, hormones, and medications. Hari looks at not only beer's influence on the organs, but also the general consequences of alcohol consumption on your health.

Alcohol breaks down differently than other substances because it goes directly into the bloodstream through the stomach and intestines, which then filters through the liver. The liver is your body's main fat-burning organ and will prioritize metabolizing alcohol over fat, which ultimately makes weight loss a more difficult process.

Hari found that, after interviewing and researching a wide variety of beer companies, American beer is made with many ingredients aside from the basic hops, malt, and yeast. But the average consumer is blind to the foreign additives that are used to clarify, stabilize, preserve, and enhance the color and flavor of beer, especially because manufacturers are not legally obligated to disclose the ingredients or list them anywhere on the packaging.

Michele Simon, a public health lawyer and president of Eat Drink Politics, spoke to Hari about the matter. "You can also thank the alcohol industry, which has lobbied for years against efforts to require ingredient labeling," she said.

What did the beer investigation reveal?

Hari began her investigation by reading Chemical Additives in Beer by the Center of Science and Public Interest, which provided a basic list of all the generally unknown additives in beer, such as high fructose corn syrup, caramel coloring, and genetically modified organisms (GMO) like dextrose and corn syrup. The more shocking reveals started only when Hari was forced to ask specific questions because beer companies wouldn't release a list of ingredients.

Miller Coors, a very popular American beer brewed jointly with the Molson Coors Company, admitted to their use of GMOs. "Corn syrup gives beer a milder and lighter-bodied flavor. Corn syrups may be derived from a mixture of corn (conventional and biotech)."

Corona, Fosters, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and Red Stripe also join in adding GMO corn syrup into their beer mixtures. Corn syrup seems to be in everything, especially high fructose corn syrup, which can be found in virtually everything from a loaf of bread to yogurt and now even Guinness. Although Guinness originated in Dublin and has successfully become one of the most widely available and popular beers in the world, it is not, in fact, Irish anymore. A multinational alcohol conglomerate based in Britain, Diageo now brews the beer, and Food Babe reveals Guinness contains isinglass, a gelatin substance produced from a fish's swim bladder. The company's public ingredient list doesn't name the hidden ingredient, which is used to remove any "haziness," solids, or yeast byproducts.

Hari thoroughly evaluated each major beer manufacturer, and found that there was a variety of bubbly beverages deemed safe enough to consume. German beers are reliable, safe choices because the German culture takes pride on crafting pure products. In fact, they have a law called "Reinheitsegebot" that limits all German beer manufactures to a core ingredients list of water, hops, yeast, malted barley, and wheat; many consumers believe these beers taste cleaner and report that they don't suffer from hangovers because of the purity regulation, which was enacted on April 23, 1516.

What beer is safe?

A reliable choice of beer that also must abide by law is Certified Organic Beers, which are not allowed to include GMOs and other harmful substances like carcinogens. Carcinogens are, in fact, found in certain beer products, such as the UK brand Newscastle, which uses caramel coloring to give it that deep brown color. Carcinogens at certain levels have been proven to cause liver problems and thyroid tumors in rats and mice.

Craft and microbrews are also safer choices, but it's important to recognize which ones are actual microbrews and which ones are wearing disguises. Miller Coors, for example, has been buying craft beers companies over the past decade and has even created Blue Moon, a popular and sweet wheat beer that consumers could find in nearly every bar.

It shouldn't be that hard to drink clean at the average bar, however; Hari has found Sierra Nevada, Heineken, and Amstel Light are fairly basic beers with non-GMO grains, and no artificial ingredients, stabilizers, or preservatives.

Hari's research took over a year to be fully fleshed out, but the importance of not only eating healthy, but also drinking healthy is what drove her to find the most she could about beer brews. Even though beer manufacturers wouldn't disclose the complete ingredients list to her, she urges consumers to do their own research before they sip the unknown.

"In the end-if you decide to drink beer, you are definitely drinking at your own risk," Hari wrote. "If you like to drink beer and want to be healthy, drink it infrequently and quiz the beer companies for the truth. Find a beer that you can trust and stick with it."

Facts on GMOs!!!

2013-07-14T08:57:00.003-04:00

What are GMOs?
GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals. These experimental combinations of genes from different species cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.
Virtually all commercial GMOs are engineered to withstand direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide. Despite biotech industry promises, none of the GMO traits currently on the market offer increased yield, drought tolerance, enhanced nutrition, or any other consumer benefit.
Meanwhile, a growing body of evidence connects GMOs with health problems, environmental damage and violation of farmers’ and consumers’ rights.
Are GMOs safe?
Most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe. In more than 60 countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs. In the U.S., the government has approved GMOs based on studies conducted by the same corporations that created them and profit from their sale. Increasingly, Americans are taking matters into their own hands and choosing to opt out of the GMO experiment.
Are GMOs labeled?
Unfortunately, even though polls consistently show that a significant majority of Americans want to know if the food they’re purchasing contains GMOs, the powerful biotech lobby has succeeded in keeping this information from the public. In the absence of mandatory labeling, the Non-GMO Project was created to give consumers the informed choice they deserve.
Where does the Non-GMO Project come in?
The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit organization with a mission of protecting the non-GMO food supply and giving consumers an informed choice. We offer North America’s ONLY third party verification for products produced according to rigorous best practices for GMO avoidance (for more info, click here). Our strategy is to empower consumers to make change through the marketplace. If people stop buying GMOs, companies will stop using them and farmers will stop growing them.
Do Americans want non-GMO foods and supplements?
Polls consistently show that a significant majority of North Americans would like to be able to tell if the food they’re purchasing contains GMOs (a 2012 Mellman Group poll found that 91% of American consumers wanted GMOs labeled). And, according to a recent CBS/New York Times poll, 53% of consumers said they would not buy food that has been genetically modified. The Non-GMO Project’s seal for verified products will, for the first time, give the public an opportunity to make an informed choice when it comes to GMOs.
How common are GMOs?
In the U.S., GMOs are in as much as 80% of conventional processed food. Click here for a current list of GMO risk crops.
Why does the Non-GMO Project verify products that have a low risk of containing GMOs?
Some ingredients that seem low-risk may have less-visible high-risk ingredients. Take, for example, dried fruit. Raisins and similar fruit are sometimes packed with a small quantity of oil to keep them moist. This oil, when used, is sometimes high-GMO-risk. As such, it is critical that we do take the time to look carefully at ingredient spec sheets during the verification process, to ensure that risks like this are effectively mitigated, even in apparently low-risk products.
Contamination incidents have occurred with seemingly “low-risk” products (rice, starling corn, flax). Non-GMO Project Verification supports manufacturers in being able to quickly and proactively respond to unexpected contamination issues.
Verifying only high-risk products puts a heavy burden on consumers to know what products are at risk of containing GMOs. Many people, even in the world of Natural Foods, don’t know what a GMO is, let alone which crops and processed ingredients are high-risk. As such, labeling only products that contain high-risk ingredients could give an unfair competitive advantage to products that contain ingredients containing corn, soy, etc. Taking the cereal aisle for our example, if we verified only high-risk products, a shopper might see the seal on a box of verified corn flakes, but not on the wheat-based cereal box next to them, produced with the same high standards by the same company. This could leave them thinking the corn flakes were non-GMO, but that they should avoid the wheat product, even though there’s no GMO wheat on the market. Given the lack of understanding of the issue, this presents some serious issues.
Through verifying low-risk products, the Non-GMO Project’s work builds consumer interest and industry investment in Non-GMO, even for crops that aren’t genetically engineered yet. Biotech is constantly working to patent and commercialize new organisms (salmon, apples, etc.), and the more companies that have committed to Non-GMO production, the more resistance these new developments will see prior to release.
What are the impacts of GMOs on the environment?
Over 80% of all GMOs grown worldwide are engineered for herbicide tolerance. As a result, use of toxic herbicides like Roundup has increased 15 times since GMOs were introduced. GMO crops are also responsible for the emergence of “super weeds” and “super bugs:’ which can only be killed with ever more toxic poisons like 2,4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange). GMOs are a direct extension of chemical agriculture, and are developed and sold by the world’s biggest chemical companies. The long-term impacts of GMOs are unknown, and once released into the environment these novel organisms cannot be recalled.
How do GMOs affect farmers?Because GMOs are novel life forms, biotechnology companies have been able to obtain patents with which to restrict their use. As a result, the companies that make GMOs now have the power to sue farmers whose fields are contaminated with GMOs, even when it is the result of inevitable drift from neighboring fields. GMOs therefore pose a serious threat to farmer sovereignty and to the national food security of any country where they are grown, including the United States.
How can I avoid GMOs?
Choose food and products that are Non-GMO Project Verified! Click here to see a complete list.

Courtesy from Non-GMO Project
http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/

MAY 25th...March Against Mosanto!!!

2013-05-24T09:58:00.002-04:00

Celebrate Earth Day!!!

2013-04-22T07:11:00.001-04:00

It won't kill you to take part in keeping our world healthy for us and our future generations, so pick up trash, plant a tree, recycle. You may feel better about yourself knowing you are part of keeping Mother Earth alive and Healthy!!!

Why I use Essential Oils

2013-04-21T11:12:00.000-04:00

Essential oils are also known as volatile oils,ethereal oils or aetherolea, or simply as the "oil of" the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove. An oil is "essential" in the sense that it carries a distinctive scent, or essence, of the plant. Essential oils do not form a distinctive category for any medical, pharmacological, or culinary purpose.

Essential oils are generally extracted by distillation. Steam distillation is often used. Other processes include expression or solvent extraction. They are used in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps and other products, for flavoring food and drink, and for adding scents to incense and household cleaning products.

Essential oils are Nature's best kept secret!!!

Essential Oil Uses:

Reduces stress and anxiety
Helps to fight the flu and other virus'
Increases concentration
Manages pain
Detoxifies the body
Relaxes muscle spasms
Promotes healthy sleep

Also:

Agent to clean house
keeps flies away from horses
Keeps hair on my head!
among other uses...

Essential Oil is easy to use, fun, and works wonderfully in many ways:

Non-toxic to your body
Environmentally friendly
Promotes physical well being as well as emotional
Improves the quality of our lives
Alternative solutions
Brings many benefits that cannot all be listed here, rather than side effects

But remember, that to get great benefits and results you must use therapeutic-grade essential oils that are NOT Adulterated. Adulterated oils contain synthetic chemicals or compounds, which are harmful to our body!

Benefits of Goats Milk Soap

2013-04-19T22:56:00.000-04:00

Most soaps are made with water or harsh chemicals that will dry your skin out and can cause major skin issues. Using Goats Milk Soap is a benefit to the health of your skin, and using unprocessed goats milk from a local farm is the best way to receive all the benefits Goats milk soap can give to you.

It is absolutely amazing for sensitive skin, eczema, psoriasis, and acne to name a few ways it can help!

Alpha Hydroxy Acids. Goat milk contains alpha-hydroxy acids such as lactic acid which help remove dead skin cells from your skin’s surface. This leaves new cells on the surface of your skin that are smoother and younger looking. The alpha-hydroxy acids are so effective because they break down the bonds that hold the dead skin cells together. Removing dead skin cells will help many skin conditions by removing irritation. Water-based soaps may use harsh chemical acids to accomplish this, frequently with skin-damaging results.

Vitamins. Goat milk contains many vitamins, but is particularly high in Vitamin A, which is necessary to repair damaged skin tissue, and maintain healthy skin. There have been several medical studies showing that creams made with Vitamin A reduce lines and wrinkles, control acne, and provide some psoriasis relief. Water-based soaps can be artificially fortified with vitamins, but most aren't.

Cream. Fat molecules are an important part of making good soap. The cream that is present in goat milk helps boost the moisturizing quality of goat milk soaps. Since many people suffer from dry skin, particularly in the winter months, this is an important quality for soap. Goat milk soap will not dry your skin out like many other soaps. This is important because keeping skin naturally moisturized helps keep skin healthy.

Minerals. Goat milk contains important minerals for the skin such as selenium. Selenium is believed by scientists to have an important role in preventing skin cancer. Selenium can also help prevent damage to the skin from excessive time in the sun. Although the water used in other soaps may contain minerals such as calcium, sodium, or iron (commonly found in tap water), that’s not much help when it comes to your skin. (Note: Many areas in the United States have pastures low in selenium. At Goat Milk Stuff, our dairy goats get a selenium booster, to insure their mineral needs are met.)

WORLD WIDE MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO!!!

2013-04-10T15:23:00.002-04:00

https://www.facebook.com/MarchAgainstMonstanto

Locations so far: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0Ah7h2ApbBPnpdGhOMElaSVg1QUQtRlJQWm1FaUZISlE&toomany=true

Mark Your Calendars – Worldwide March Against Monsanto in May

by Ali Papademetriou

Even for those who are not entirely up to date on what a GMO is, many people have heard of them, and most have heard about at least one study regarding the potential health and environmental defects caused by genetically modified organisms.

Nearly all of the corn and soybeans grown in the United States are genetically modified, and more than ¾ of the processed foods in our grocery stores contain these two crops. More than 50 countries around the world have banned GMOs and scores of countries are labeling them. Even multiple states in the U.S. are introducing labeling legislations.

Regardless of its shady past and its crony background as a chemical company, Monsanto Corporation has been famous for over a decade now for being the world’s largest producer of genetically engineered seeds. The corporation holds a powerful seat with the federal government and has proven to be corrupt.

Marches and rallies organized by anti-GMO and anti-Monsanto grassroots organizations have become popular in recent years for not just the U.S. but also other countries as well.

The latest event coming up is expected to be a big one, considering it is a worldwide march. On May 25th, 135 March Against Monsanto events are scheduled to take place in nearly 20 countries and more than 100 cities in the U.S.

On the event page on Facebook, the worldwide events’ mission statement reads:

Voting with your dollar by buying organic and boycotting Monsanto-owned companies that use GMOs in their products.
Labeling of GMOs so that consumers can make those informed decisions easier.
Repealing relevant provisions of the US’s “Monsanto Protection Act.”
Calling for further scientific research on the health effects of GMOs.
Holding Monsanto executives and Monsanto-supporting politicians accountable through direct communication, grassroots journalism, social media, etc.
Continuing to inform the public about Monsanto’s secrets.
Taking to the streets to show the world and Monsanto that we won’t take these injustices quietly.

Beginning a new life!

2013-04-08T07:34:00.000-04:00

I am basically a city girl, and have just lived life the way I was told, which wasn't bad or so I thought! I never realized that the food I was eating and feeding to my kids are slowly, but most assuredly killing us. I heard of preservatives while growing up, but it wasn't that great big of a thing, but now that 25 years (yes, I am showing my age by saying this) has passed by and we can see the effects of said preservatives and added GMOs and pesticides and all other types of chemicals (just to make food look good and last longer).

I started to ask myself why were the pesticide/chemical companies buying into food companies and WHY did the banana that has been sitting on my counter for over a week not rot yet...the light bulb went off! Preservatives!!! If these chemical companies (such as Monsanto) can preserve my banana for weeks on end what in the world is it doing to me and my kids!? So, I started my research, because anyone who wants to learn about something NEEDS to research it and not just listen to the blog they read (yes, I am saying to look further than my all-knowledge, LOL). I watched documentaries such as "Tapped" http://www.tappedthemovie.com/, "Forks Over Knives" http://www.forksoverknives.com/, and others, and what I found out scared the life out of me! I won't go into what I found out, because I do not have enough time to type a 10,000 page blog to cover all that theses chemical companies are doing to us!

With that said, this city girl is beginning her own farm!!! Pig, ducks, chickens, turkeys, geese, and excited children who are learning more about life and the meaning of being healthy, loved, and responsible all from our everyday life!

So here it is. Our farm. Doesn't look like much yet does it? The long driveway takes it back to the barn, and we are moving Romeo, My very 1st pig, into this week. We tried yesterday, but the pig was smarter. LOL and bigger and more stubborn!

Romeo

This, my friends is Romeo! He is a 650 pound boar with the sweetest disposition there is. Short of me getting on his back to ride him, he would not leave the fence he was already in. :)

I am excited to start this new venture, and experience a life I never imagined let alone wanted to experience!!! Stay tuned for the theatrics of this city girl raising her own livestock and providing for her family like nobody's business!!!

A Perfect Marriage

2013-04-01T18:26:00.001-04:00

What is the Monsanto Protection Act? Is it evil???

2013-03-31T07:49:00.001-04:00

What Is the So-Called ‘Monsanto Protection Act’? Is It Eeeeeevil?

Max Rivlin-Nadler

If your Facebook feed wasn't busy being filled with some rant or another on either side of the gay marriage argument this week, your liberal friends might have been steaming about the so-called "Monsanto Protection Act," more precisely known as Section 735 of HR 933, a spending bill signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday.

Section 735 effectively shields large biotech companies, like Monsanto, from the federal courts in case something is found to be harmful in their genetically-modified seeds. Because of Section 735, federal courts would be powerless to stop Monsanto from selling their product (not that the courts are the ones that necessarily will make them stop, but it's a pretty huge concession to the biotech giant).

Wait a second, you say. This was a massive spending bill — surely this provision would have gone before the Agricultural or Judiciary Committees, right? No way! Section 735 was an anonymous rider attached to the spending bill (the one everyone wanted signed really, really quickly) and received almost no consideration or attention before being signed into law. Whoops! (or, Yay!, if you're a large biotech company).

Some watchdogs like the Center for Food Safety have now pressured Democratic Senators into paying better attention about sneaky riders like this one, with the office of Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski releasing this statement:

As Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski's first responsibility was to prevent a government shutdown. That meant she had to compromise on many of her own priorities to get a bill through the Senate that the House would pass. She will continue to fight for a regular and timely Appropriations process and other valuable priorities, including food safety.

Essentially: Shit guys, come on, we wanted this done real fast and attaching this rider made it possible.

So is this so-called "Monsanto Protection Act" evil? Pretty much! If you can't be protected from a consumer product by the federal courts, you're essentially playing with fire (fire being a corporate entity with no checks on it). However, by sticking this into a spending bill and not actually passing it as legitimate legislation, the "Monsanto Protection Act" will expire in six months —- and then this whole crazy process starts again.

http://gawker.com/5993042/what-is-the-so+called-monsanto-protection-act-is-it-eeeeeevil

"Head Above Water"

2013-01-13T15:08:00.001-05:00

For everyone who is battling the thing called life...

All Natural Rum Aftershave and Astringent

2013-01-10T17:08:00.002-05:00

This all natural tonic is a braising astringent or aftershave to tighten and firm pores.

Bay leaves (fresh if possible, dried is not as intense)

Allspice (ground or grated)

Whole cloves

Ginger (grated or ground, grated is preferable)

Rum

1-Pack a wide mouthed jar with Bay leaves, leaving some room at the top.

Add the desired amount of allspice, cloves, and ginger to give it a bit of spicey aroma.

Fill the jar with enough rum that is rises to an inch or two of the herbs.

Cover tightly and let it sit for 3-4 weeks.

2-drain the herbs (cheese cloth works great for this)

Rebottle the liquid.

After you may wish to add a drop or two of essential oil of bay to strngthen the scent (especially with dried bay leaves

(recipe found in "Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health" Gladstar)

Allspice for Success and Luck

2013-01-10T17:05:00.001-05:00

Allspice for Success and Luck-

Allspice is widely considered to be lucky and is used by many people for the purpose of bringing good fortune in business, money matters, and games of chance.

This aromatic spice is especially effective when cooked in water in a double boiler to fill a room with its scent. Doing so opens the brain centers to greater achievement and creates a happy, efficient work environment.

Other ways to use it include the following:

Add Allspice to any success formula to increase chances of beating out the competition.Carry the whole berries in your pocket to improve your chances on interview or winning clients and making sales.Sprinkle the powder across a place of business or dust the hands when you want to succeed.

For winnings in games of chance (cards, slots, keno, dice, the racetrack, the lottery, and bingo) carry Allspice berries in a small green flannel bag. To enhance your chances of winning, add one or more of the following lucky money herbs: Nutmeg, Chamomile, Bayberry, Cinnamon, Alfalfa, Irish Moss, John the Conqueror. Before handling your cash (ticket, cards, etc), recite the 23rd Psalm while concentrating on your desires.

If you have access to a living Allspice tree, crush a leaf between your fingers and rub a little behind your ears when preparing to go on a date or interview. It's guaranteed to make you more appealing.

"I'm a Daddy and I Know It!"

2013-01-09T10:04:00.002-05:00

This is a FABULOUS parody of the song "I'm Sexy and I Know it" from a father of two + triplets! Crazy amount of kids! Great dad!!!

Terrific!