GMOs Can't Hide in California

There is growing concern among people who eat that our food is not what it seems to be.  And without strict labeling laws we really don't know what that food has been up to before it reaches our table.  Dr. Mercola is not afraid to call out "Big Food" when it comes to the health effects of questionable practices.  An article on his website today shows how several organizations that demand honest food practices are standing up to the giants and they seem to be worried.

The Label Even Monsanto Considers a 'Skull and Crossbones'...

By: Ronnie Cummins of Organic Consumers Association

Monsanto and Food Inc.'s stranglehold over the nation's food and farming system is about to be challenged in a food fight that will largely determine the future of American agriculture.

  "If you put a label on genetically engineered food you might as well put a skull and crossbones on it." - Norman Braksick, president of Asgrow Seed Co., a subsidiary of Monsanto, quoted in the Kansas City Star, March 7, 1994

A growing corps of organic food and health activists in California—supported by consumers and farmers across the nation—are boldly standing up to Monsanto and its minions, taking the first steps to expose the widespread contamination of non-organic grocery store foods with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), and moving to implement mandatory GMO labeling through a grassroots-powered Citizens Ballot Initiative process.

This week, lawyers representing a broad and unprecedented health, environmental, and consumer coalition, including the Organic Consumers Association, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap, Center for Food Safety, Mercola.com, Nature's Path, Natural News.com, LabelGMOs.org, Food Democracy Now, and the Institute for Responsible Technology, filed papers with the California Attorney General's office to place a Citizens Initiative on the Ballot in November, 2012 that would require mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods and food ingredients.

If California voters pass this ballot initiative in 2012, it will likely be the beginning of the end for Monsanto and genetically engineered food in the U.S. According to Zuri Starr, a Southern California field organizer for the Organic Consumers Association:

"The California Ballot Initiative is perhaps our last chance to stop the Biotech Express, to overthrow Biotechnology's dictatorial regime and build a safe and sustainable food and farming system based upon the ethical principles of consumer choice and BioDemocracy."

Read the rest of this article here at Mercola.com

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Grass Fed Cows are Environmentalists

So by now you may be getting the idea that grass-fed animals make better food, but they are also better citizens of the planet.  EatWild.com tells us how factory farmed animals are (unwillingly) leaving their carbon footprints all over their mucky soil...

Grassfarming Benefits the Environment

"When properly managed, raising animals on pasture instead of factory farms is a net benefit to the environment. To begin with, a diet of grazed grass requires much less fossil fuel than a feedlot diet of dried corn and soy. On pasture, grazing animals do their own fertilizing and harvesting. The ground is covered with greens all year round, so it does an excellent job of harvesting solar energy and holding on to top soil and moisture. As you will read in the bulletins below, grazed pasture removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere more effectively than any land use, including forestland and ungrazed prairie, helping to slow global warming.

It’s a different story in a confinement operation. Here, the animals are crowded into sheds or kept outdoors on barren land and all their feed is shipped to them from distant fields. On those fields, the crops are treated with fossil-fuel based fertilizers, sprayed with pesticides, and planted, tilled, and harvested with heavy equipment. Each of these operations requires non-renewable fuel. Then the feed is shipped to feed manufacturers where it is dried, flaked or pelleted, and mixed with other ingredients and then, finally, shipped to the waiting animals, using yet more fossil fuel. 

There is also a day-for-night difference in “manure management” on the two systems. On well-managed pasture-based farms, the animals spread their manure evenly over the soil where it becomes a natural source of organic fertilizer. The manure improves the quality of the grass, which increases the rate of gain of the animals. It’s a closed, sustainable system. 

On factory farms, the excrement builds up in the feedlots and sheds where it fouls the air and releases ammonia and other gasses to the eco-system. The fumes stress and sicken the animals and farm workers, and they lower the quality of life of people in nearby homes. To get rid of the waste, it is shipped to nearby fields where it overloads the land with nutrients. The excess nitrogen and phosphorous pollute the soil and ground water and drain off into streams, rivers, and estuaries where it can create “dead zones” that threaten the fish population."

Get more info at EatWild.com

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Be an insider and go Beyond Organic  www.GreenFedFoods.com

Eating Organic and Beyond

Are You Eating Beyond Organic?

Many of you may know my good friend and natural health expert Jordan Rubin, CEO of Garden of Life, and author of The Maker's Diet.

Jordan is about to launch a new company called Beyond Organic, which will offer the world’s healthiest foods, including:

·         Beyond Organic GreenFed Beef

·         Beyond Organic raw cheese

·         Beyond Organic 100% GreenFed cultured dairy beverage

·         REIGN - mountain spring water with unsurpassed purity

·         REIGN infused spring waters for enhanced performance in life

·         Beyond Organic certified organic dark chocolate with probiotics and omega-3s

There are MANY significant features that set these foods and beverages apart from what you would find in health stores.

For example, we have all seen "organic" and “grass-fed” beef at Whole Foods.  But did you know that organic beef requires that the cows consume 30% grass?  Only 30%!

Jordan Rubin's new company is taking 8,000+ certified organic acres in Missouri and Georgia to raise cattle that are free roaming, Green-Fed, and genetically superior cows. (By the way, Green-Fed is a more correct description than grass-fed, and you will learn more about that in future newsletters).   You can click HERE www.GreenFedFoods.com for several videos that describe the products.

One reason I am very excited about this company is rather than putting this food in health food stores; Beyond Organic will be skipping the middleman and will ship these foods directly from their farm to your family!  It has always been a huge pain for me to try and get grass-fed beef, and especially raw dairy products.  But now, with Beyond Organic, the foods and beverages come to me!

Another feature that sets this product line apart is the infusion of clinically studied probiotics. Probiotics are the naturally good flora that are so important to supporting digestive function and boosting immune system health.

Also, the dairy products are produced by cows with specialized genetics −producing milk that is highly tolerable and very digestible.

How to Live Beyond Organic

The really great news is you can literally be one of the first people in America to live Beyond Organic.  Since Beyond Organic has not officially launched, from now until October you can become a Beyond Organic Insider.  Anyone who is interested in learning more about these foods and beverages, or even the potential to get your Beyond Organic foods and beverages for free by sharing this message with others, can become an insider nearly four months before the rest of the world hears the good news about the new company.

There is NO fee to sign-up now through September and in that time, you will be educated on the Beyond Organic lifestyle, have the opportunity to try some of the products and discover how you can share the Beyond Organic message with friends, family, colleagues and for physicians, your patients.

All of you have recommended healthy eating options to others, and now you can share with those you know and love, how they can consume the healthiest foods and beverages available and be compensated for doing so.

Over a decade ago, Jordan started Garden of Life, one of the leading nutritional supplement companies in America in his parent's friend's garage with his dad's credit card and a dream. Now you can be part of Jordan's new vision!  This is truly a ground floor opportunity, and I jumped at the chance to become a part of. And now, I am asking you to join me.

If you would like to get insider access to Beyond Organic at no cost, you can register here: 

www.GreenFedFoods.com

Once you hold your place by signing up, you can then invite your friends to do the same.  

Starting in October, you can become involved with Beyond Organic in one of three ways.

1) You can purchase these foods retail

2) You can become a preferred customer and purchase Beyond Organic products at a    20% discount

3) You can become a Mission Marketer, share these foods and beverages with friends and family, and have the opportunity to get your Beyond Organic foods and beverages for free or even earn an income.

I have never been a huge fan of direct selling companies, which often sell products at inflated prices.  However, these are literally the best quality foods and beverages I have ever seen, and they will provide real value to everyone who purchases them.

An area of focus for Beyond Organic that aligns very well with my beliefs is their mission to help feed and clothe widows and orphans by partnering directly with ministries and other non-profit organizations. Their groundbreaking program called “Give a Meal, Get a Meal” is powerful, and once you get set up as an Insider you can watch all these amazing videos and see the vision for yourself!

Healthy Food that Tastes Amazing!

I ONLY recommend to my readers what I eat, and these are the foods I will be eating every day.  And now, I am inviting you to do the same.  

Once you sign up as a Beyond Organic Insider you will receive your own enroller link and code. If you have friends and family who may also want access to these amazing healthy foods and beverages, please share this message with them on FACEBOOK or email your contact list.

To Learn More

Make sure once you sign up as an Insider, you go to the “back office” page to watch the video archives and get educated on Beyond Organic!

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Less Potatoes, More Yogurt! – Amen Clinics

It's not as if we didn't already know this, but perhaps a study in The New England Journal of Medicine will provide the ooomph needed to get folks to think about what they choose to eat.

Less Potatoes, More Yogurt! – Amen Clinics

Do Doctors Use Dietary Supplements?

Ever wonder if your doctors practice what they preach?  When it comes to taking supplements, certain specialists seem to be more likely to do what they tell their patients to do.  The following article breaks it down into three specialities: cardiologists, dermatologists, and orthopedic surgeons...

A new survey of health professionals indicates that the majority use dietary supplements at least occasionally, and that even more of them recommend supplements to their patients. As would be expected, the physicians most often recommended supplements that related to their medical specialty.

Numerous reports have shown that the majority of the American population use dietary supplements. Dietary supplement usage is also known to be common among health professionals. A recent study analyzed the dietary supplement usage patterns within a population of health care professionals.

The "Life...supplemented" Healthcare Professionals 2008 Impact Study (HCP Impact Study) surveyed usage of dietary supplements by physicians in three specialties: cardiology, dermatology, and orthopedics. Respondents were 900 physicians, including 300 each from three specialties – cardiology, dermatology, and orthopedics.

Seventy-five percent of dermatologist said they use dietary supplements at least occasionally, as did 73% of orthopedists and 57% of cardiologists. Multivitamins were the most commonly used supplements, but more than 25% in each specialty claimed to use omega-3 fatty acids and over 20% said they used some botanical supplements. Consistent dietary supplement use was reported by 59% of dermatologists, 50% of orthopedists, and 37% of cardiologists. Ninety-one percent of orthopedists, 72% of cardiologists, and 66% of dermatologists said they recommended dietary supplement use to their patients. Cardiologists typically recommended dietary supplements for heart health or lowering cholesterol. The Dermatologists recommended supplements for benefits for skin, hair and nails, and Orthopedists for bone and joint health.

According to this survey, dietary supplement use was relatively common in this sample of physicians, and their dietary supplement recommendations tended to relate to their individual specialties.

Source: Usana Health Sciences
Reference: Dickinson A, Shao A, Boyon N and Franco JC. Use of dietary supplements by cardiologists, dermatologists and orthopedists: report of a survey. Nutr J 2011 Mar 3;10:20.

No matter what your doctor says or does, it makes sense to choose a supplement that comes from only the most reliable sources.  Not all brands are the same, and not all physicians are trained in the differences.  Do your own homework, ask questions, choose manufacturers and suppliers that you trust based on your values and needs.

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Aspartame ~ Beneficial or Toxic?

 How do you decide between food and drinks that contain sugar (or worse - high fructose corn syrup) which can contribute to weight gain, spikes in blood glucose and insulin, and a crash that usually follows, or artificial sweeteners such as aspartame (e.g., NutraSweet, Equal, etc.) which have no calories, but sometimes bring unbearable side effects and contribute to neurological damage? Seems like an impossible choice to make. It might help to have more information about the ingredients and effects of aspartame before you decide. The following is from an article by Dr. Mercola, author of one of the most informative free newsletters on natural health and alternatives:

Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death. A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by aspartame include: Headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain.

According to researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects of aspartame, the following chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened by ingesting of aspartame: Brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, parkinson's disease, alzheimer's, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, fibromyalgia, and diabetes.

Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. The book Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition by James and Phyllis Balch, lists aspartame under the category of "chemical poison." As you shall see, that is exactly what it is.

Read the rest of this article here.

My experience with this seemingly impossible choice has been to try to avoid both whenever possible. Following my last ankle surgery I gave up soda for 3 months (which is always of the diet variety for me) and I found that my arthritis symptoms and unexplained muscle pain was greatly reduced. So I now only choose to drink my diet Dr. Pepper on special occasions.  I still struggle with the idea of swallowing sugary drinks and almost always opt for unsweetened. I actually enjoy tea and coffee without sweetener, so that really helps. And while there are other problems with carbonated beverages, I will drink sparkling water when I crave the bubbles.

It's not about being perfect. For me it's about being educated and making choices based on information, not advertisements.



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A Week's Worth of Exercise in 1 Hour?

Wouldn't it be nice if someone invented an exercise pill?  Well, it looks like we may have the next best thing... it's called Interval Training. Here's what one expert has to say...

"High-intensity interval training is twice as effective as normal exercise," said Jan Helgerud, an exercise expert at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. "This is like finding a new pill that works twice as well ... we should immediately throw out the old way of exercising."  

What is interval training, exactly? Rather than a long session of aerobic exercise like walking or running on a treadmill, or using the elliptical machine for, say 45 minutes, it may actually be more advantageous to do several bursts of strenuous exercise with rest breaks in between. Here's more...

Intense interval training means working very hard for a few minutes, with rest periods in between sets. Experts have mostly tested people running or biking, but other sports like rowing or swimming should also work. Helgerud recommends people try four sessions lasting four minutes each, with three minutes of recovery time in between. Unless you're an elite athlete, it shouldn't be an all-out effort. 

"You should be a little out of breath, but you shouldn't have the obvious feeling of exhaustion," Helgerud said. 

Cutting down on gym time is a great shortcut to a healthier body. It may also mean not having to join a gym at all, since there are many types of interval training exercises that don't require any special equipment.  Look for more ideas by doing a Google search on interval training and see what others are saying about it. Also be sure to check out what Dr. Mercola is saying about interval training at http://fitness.mercola.com/

source: The Washington Post





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Are your vitamins safe? 

BPA in Plastic Bottles ~ FDA Now Concerned

This is a short but important bit of news coming from the FDA about the potential dangers of plastics that contain BPA, which is a type of plastic that has been accused of leaching toxic chemicals into the liquids that are stored inside. Baby bottles and children's sippy cups contain this type of plastic, as well as water bottles, the linings of cans used for food packing, and many other containers found in our food supply (see below* for more).  Here's the latest...

WASHINGTON - -- Federal health officials Friday said there is "some concern" about the health risks to children and babies from the plastics additive known as BPA, but that they won't restrict use of the substance pending further study.

The announcement is likely to stir concern among some consumer advocates who had campaigned aggressively for a ban on bisphenol-A in food containers.

"In a word, FDA does support the use of baby bottles with BPA" because the benefits of sound infant nutrition currently outweigh the known risks from BPA, said FDA official Joshua Sharfstein, describing the agency's bottom line on the safety of the additive for babies.

source:  
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-nwbrief1-0116jan16,0,6853519.story

* Bisphenol A (abbreviated BPA) is an organic compound with the formula (CH3)2C(C6H4OH)2. Bisphenol A, commonly used in plastics and polyesters, has become controversial because it mimics estrogen and thus could induce unhealthy hormonal responses.

The safest way to serve food and beverages to children (and adults) is in clean glass containers. There are some newer plastic bottles that do not contain BPA, so look for those when choosing a reusable water bottle or children's utensils.

This is my favorite reusable plastic water bottle from Nalgene. It is very easy to use, just pop open the cap which stays attached but does not hit you in the nose while taking a sip. The handy loop makes it easy to carry on one finger if you're loaded down with armloads of stuff on the way out the door, like I usually am.



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