This video is worth your time

This video is really worth watching. It's a long one - about 18 minutes, but trust me - it's worth it... carve out some time. I promise, this one doesn't have any animals being tortured. It WON'T make you feel guilty for eating meat... it's an education on foods you are probably eating every day, and foods your family is likely eating. It's information I've tried to share in the past, but Robyn O'Brien is much more eloquent in her delivery. If you can't watch the whole video, can you commit to watching the first 10 minutes? Do you think you know all there is to know about Milk, Corn, Soy? I suspect you may learn something new from this, like I did. After all, It really does matter.... Education IS Power.

Ammonia in Meat - Seriously!

This week I learned something new. Sadly, I was SHOCKED And DISTURBED!

While Watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution this week, I learned that in the US, our FDA has allowed ground beef to be treated with ammonia! Much of this ammonia processed meat has found its way into our fast food industry. The bigger shocker is that meat treated with Ammonia does not have to be labeled!

I wondered how could our Government justify this? The answer: Our Federal officials agreed that the ammonia be classified as a “processing agent” and NOT an ingredient - therefore it didn't need to be labeled! So that "100% beef" advertising we are all exposed to?.. well... I guess that definition depends on if you mean, WHAT you are eating or HOW it was processed? Does that matter to you and the health of your loved ones? Seems to me that might be a bit deceptive.

I was shocked to learn of this, and wanted to get the word out to as many people as I could - I am encouraging you to read the facts for yourself! To make this story even more appalling, I learned that besides the fast food use of this type of processed meat, that much of this ammonia processed beef has made it's way into our children's schools.

I did some online research and found these articles. This New York Times article, is credited with busting this disturbing practice open! This article was also very eye opening. Please educate yourselves! We REALLY need to work towards KNOWING what we are ingesting! Is there any wonder we are getting sicker - at younger ages?

We need our government to protect us - food labeling of GMO's and ammonia treated meat - it's a no brainer. But they aren't going to do it unless we demand it! Get involved with an organization that is working towards honest food labeling! I hope you agree - this REALLY DOES MATTER!

Have a Peaceful Day

Today, I met a friend for lunch at a new vegetarian restaurant. Prior to our meeting, my friend and I exchanged a few texts to make sure this was something we still wanted to do... Crazy, huh? How often do we make plans with friends, then have those plans fall through, because either we have too much going on, are too busy, or simply don't feel up for it? Well, I was really looking forward to keeping these plans, which I did. We met at an amazing restaurant, had an amazing lunch. I sat there with her and realized, THIS is exactly where I need to be. I needed time away from the deadlines, the crazy race to DO stuff -whether that stuff is drive the kids somewhere, run errands, or simply take care of things at home. I needed a PEACEFUL day with a friend.

After lunch we decided to cross the street for some relaxing tea at THE most charming tea house. I also got a lesson on my new MAC from my friend. But the most important lesson I learned today was to take time to enjoy the peaceful things in life.

As I was walking back to my car after our time together, I thought to myself what a wonderful day I was having! Take time to make Peace with yourself and with those people in your life that matter. You will always have your family, take some time for your soul by growing the seeds of friendship. Call someone you have been meaning to catch up with - make some time. Those kinds of things really do matter.

Organic Eggs - not all they are CRACKED up to be!

I have been guilty of buying organic eggs for YEARS! As it turns out, in some cases, that might have been a large waste of money. I used to purchase most of my eggs by convenience - at grocery stores and large food retailers. I came across this report by the Cornicopia Institute, and figured it was time to post my findings. Wouldn't you have thought that organic eggs may have been healthier, and come from birds treated more humanly? I'm learning, that is not always the case. Check out the scorecard ratings that were used in this study. Worth reading is the note regarding the Organic Valley Brand. As always, do your own research and do what YOU are comfortable doing.

I've recently switched to purchasing my eggs from local farmers markets. These farmers are less likely cleaning their eggs in chlorine, or other toxic chemicals that can leach through the shell. And I like supporting my local farmer. One benefit is they aren't as large a polluting operation as the big national companies which is good in many ways like: there is less transportation involved, and that usually means a smaller footprint towards pollution.

My advise, strike up a conversation with the farmer and ask questions! Not only will you learn alot, but you'll be making educated decisions. What we eat and feed our families, really does matter!

Coconut Milk to the Rescue!

As you know by now, I am trying to do a better job at monitoring the chemicals I am ingesting in the foods I eat. One of the better changes I think I have made lately is to switch my coffee additive, to SoDelicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk! And YUM - does it ever taste good! So Delicious also makes a coffee creamer that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! It doesn't contain any of the nasty chemicals the more popular coffee creamers have, and I can get this in yummy French Vanilla or Hazelnut flavors. I have found it in the dairy section at Whole Foods. It isn't crazy expensive either! Just good, healthy Coconut Milk based creamer! Try it.

Now, if that didn't quite sell you, this notification just came through my email today, and I thought I'd pass it on. The manufacturers of SoDelicious have a current promotion going where you can help resucued farm animals courtesy of Farm Sanctuary, just by mailing in the UPC code from the carton! So, you can do something good for you, and something good for a very worthy organization, not to mention the cute animals. Check it out, and let me know if you like it as much as I do!

Grass Fed Beef

I realize not everyone is a vegetarian, but it seems like these days, most of us are more careful about the foods we buy and serve to our friends and family. I came across this video and information regarding Grass Fed Beef. So much of the Beef we eat has been fed Corn, which is NOT natural for cattle. Have you ever seen pictures of heards of Cattle grazing in corn fields? Yeah, I didn't think so.
Grass Fed Cattle are naturally more healthy, and the meat is leaner. Look for it, and preferably, make sure it hasn't been fed anitbiotics or growth hormones either.

If you want to learn MORE about the dangers of Corn in the US - (we are hearing more and more about how corn and its sugars are not good for humans, but it's not healthy for cattle either), please read "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan.

For now, I hope this information is useful!

Inflammation and Acidic vs. Alkaline

Many of you may be reading more and more lately about foods that can produce more acid or foods that create a more alkaline condition in your body. Highly acidic foods can lead to inflammation in our bodies, which in turn can lead to sickness and poor health. Whereas some foods help to provide a more alkaline balance to our bodies. The trick is to balance our pH levels - or neutralize it. In other words, we don't want to be too acidic, or too alkaline, but balanced between the two conditions. Balancing this pH level will help in our aging process, and who doesn't want to age gracefully and with health energy?

So can you guess which kinds of foods create the more undesirable condition of higher acid? If you answered, processed and engineered foods and meats, you are correct. It appears that with each new generation, our bodies are becoming more and more acidic! And it should be no surprise then that the rates for cancer and diabetes keeps on climbing.

What happens when we are too acidic?
When you eat foods that increase your acid levels, your body works to get rid of this excess acid by excreting it in urine, feces and perspiration.
It uses fat cells as an "acid dump".

When your body exceeds its ability to maintain, from food, a "neutral" balance it has to "steal" from bones, teeth and tissues as an acid neutralizer.

Over a period of time of this stealing process can make your bones become a hollow shell and you have to be extremely careful of slips or falls. 30% of rest homes tenants are there as a result of osteoporosis and a fall that broke a hip etc.


For the diabetic, acidity has and continues to interfere with the response of insulin receptor cells which results in higher and higher insulin resistance.
Correcting this acidic condition will reverse the ever rising insulin resistance and will aid in halting silent inflammation contributing to the problem.

High acidity interferes with full digestions of vitamins and supplements as well. So all that good we think we are doing by taking supplements, may not have the impact we were hoping for if we are acidic!

So, what SHOULD you be eating or doing?
First let me give you list of what you should AVOID: all of these raise acidity!

Alcohol
Caffeine
Low fat foods
Fear or Anger
Lack of essential nutrients
Sugar and High Fructose Corn Syrup
Stress
Lack of Fiber
Most drugs
Fatigue
Sedentariness
Artificial Sweeteners, Asparatame VERY acidic

Here is a list of Alkaline rich foods - as well as a chart showing some acid rich foods. Other lists are readily available on line.

If you can Neutralize the acidity, your body will start to heal itself immediately!

To find out whether you are in an acid or alkaline state, you can purchase pH testing strips at almost every health food store. They are activated with a little urine, very easy to do! Try it out, than start adjusting your diet to get yourself into a neutral zone. Let me know how you feel!

It's a constant battle to do the right things: eat right, exercise and simply get enough sleep. But what have you got to lose? There is much to gain!