I'm going to do this entry a little different. It's not going to be very long, but I wanted to make a few points about eating organic foods. I wish I could afford to make everything we eat organic. I do what we can afford. I am going to offer some reasons why organic foods are best, as well as which foods are most important to buy/eat organically.
*No synthetic fertilizers are used on organic foods. Heavy use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers allow nitrates to accumulate in crops. We've already discussed the use of nitrates and their side effects. Synthetic fertilizers only feed the plants, not the soil. By using them there is a decrease in organic matter in the soil. By organic matter, I mean living organisms. Many synthetic fertilizers contain toxic metals such as, arsenic, lead, dioxin, chromium, and cadmium.
*Organic foods are not genetically modified. Genetically modified foods are modified in a lab. Sometimes these crops cause unintended harm to useful organisms. They can create more allergens. The effects on human health are still unknown. You can Google this topic for more information. It's kind of scary!
*Organic foods are not irradiated. See previous post on irradiation.
*Organic foods are richer in nutrient content and free from toxic residues.
*Organic foods are the best source of vitamins and minerals.
What types of foods should you buy organic? Glad you asked.
1. Baby foods. Even though they say they're safe, pesticides are still present in those little jars.
2. Strawberries
3. Rice
4. Bell peppers
5. Milk-raw is best, but sometimes there is no other alternative.
6. Corn
7. Bananas
8. Green beans
9. Peaches
10. Apples
11. Cherries
12. Celery
13. Apricots
14. Grapes
15. Potatoes
16. Raisins
17. Cucumbers
18. Meat
For more information check out Nourishing Traditions. Also this is a really neat website with a ton of information in an easy to read format. I do my best to prepare as much organic food at home as possible. We do not eat a lot of snacks, and I try to make as many of them from scratch as possible. As a Christian, I am commanded to be a good steward, not only of the money God has given to us, but also of our bodies. There has to be a balance, and that balance is different for everyone. You find yours.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Lunchmeat/Nitrates/Nitrites
This entry is going to discuss lunch meats, and the health concerns surrounding their consumption. Personally, I love a good roast beef or turkey sandwich. However, after researching this topic, I have decreased the amount of lunch meat my husband and I consume. I also am very careful about where I purchase my meat, as well as what kind of meat we eat.
Lunch meats and processed meats such as hot dogs and spam, are cooked at very high temperatures. Because of this, they contain an elevated level of carcinogens. Most lunch meats contain nitrates and nitrites (preservatives), both of which are also potent carcinogens. Read the labels! They preserve the colors of the meats. That is why, often times, roast beef looks rare when it is actually cooked. Nitrates/nitrites do inhibit botulism to some degree. However, these preservatives are linked to cancers of the esophagus, stomach, large intestines, bladder, pancreas, and lungs. They are also used in smoked and barbecued meats. If you like these types of foods, then eat them sparingly.
A study in the JAMA (2005 Jan 12; 293 (2); 1720173) noted that people with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) that ate 14 servings of processed meats per month scored lower on tests of lung function. Colorectal cancers were 50% more likely as well. The babies of mothers who ate a lot of cured meats during pregnancy were more likely to develop brain tumors.
Well, what can you do if you just can't pass up that cold cut trio? Look for nitrate/nitrite free meats. If I get lunch meat, I usually purchase it from the deli at the health food store. Be careful, though, the shelf life of that meat is usually about 4 days. It needs to be eaten soon. Also, Oscar Meyer has a natural turkey lunchmeat. I prefer the deli meats, though.
For more information check out Nourishing Traditions.
--There is an abundant amount of nutritional information here. I don't agree with all of it, but it is a place to start.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Article on Artificial Sweeteners
This is an article I found in the Earth Fare newsletter. It is not original to me.
Booted: Artificial Sweeteners
Sure it tastes like sugar...but what is sucralose, anyway? Sucralose (SplendaTM) is an artificial sweetener discovered by accident in a lab in 1976. It was first approved for use in food by the FDA in 1998. It's 600 times sweeter than table sugar and in bake-goods, it bakes up better than other artificial sweeteners. Splenda is manufactured when you take three of the hydrogen-oxygen molecules that make up normal sugar and replace them with chlorine molecules creating a chlorinated carbon molecule or chlorocarbon. Most chlorocarbons are sold in the modern marketplace today as pesticides.
Google "Splenda allergy" and you'll find a rash of sites (pun intended) where everyday folks have posted their initial reactions to sucralose consumption hives, itching, constricted throat, and diarrhea. Since sucralose has only been in widespread commercial use for less than a decade, who knows what symptoms we have yet to discover?
At Earth Fare, we do not sell foods with sucralose or any other artificial sweeteners. We advocate exercise, portion size, and eating in moderation as teh best solutions for controlling calories and weight gain. Sugar, honey, maple syrup and other natural sweeteners can be used to satisfy your sweet tooth craving, along with naturally sweet herbs like cinnamon, nutmeg, and stevia.
**I obviously don't use sugar, but other than that, the rest are fine.
Booted: Artificial Sweeteners
Sure it tastes like sugar...but what is sucralose, anyway? Sucralose (SplendaTM) is an artificial sweetener discovered by accident in a lab in 1976. It was first approved for use in food by the FDA in 1998. It's 600 times sweeter than table sugar and in bake-goods, it bakes up better than other artificial sweeteners. Splenda is manufactured when you take three of the hydrogen-oxygen molecules that make up normal sugar and replace them with chlorine molecules creating a chlorinated carbon molecule or chlorocarbon. Most chlorocarbons are sold in the modern marketplace today as pesticides.
Google "Splenda allergy" and you'll find a rash of sites (pun intended) where everyday folks have posted their initial reactions to sucralose consumption hives, itching, constricted throat, and diarrhea. Since sucralose has only been in widespread commercial use for less than a decade, who knows what symptoms we have yet to discover?
At Earth Fare, we do not sell foods with sucralose or any other artificial sweeteners. We advocate exercise, portion size, and eating in moderation as teh best solutions for controlling calories and weight gain. Sugar, honey, maple syrup and other natural sweeteners can be used to satisfy your sweet tooth craving, along with naturally sweet herbs like cinnamon, nutmeg, and stevia.
**I obviously don't use sugar, but other than that, the rest are fine.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
More on Soda
First off, this article is not original with me, but I found the contents very interesting. I am working on my next entry, but thought I would share this in the mean time.
Health hazards of too much soda
Dear Friend,
Americans guzzle soft drinks at an alarming rate. No one seems to care that the only thing these overpriced sugar concoctions do is make you fat, diabetic, and toothless. But now a new study says that these downsides could be the least of your problems.
According to research done by Dr. Moses Elisaf of the University of Ioannina in Greece, drinking too much soda can lead to weakness, muscle paralysis, and even a drop in your levels of blood potassium.
For most people, the only pain or discomfort caused by cola drinking is the tightness around the waist as their expanding tummies strain against their pants. But this research indicates that there's plenty more going on behind the scenes that could take years before it finally rears its head.
Elisaf's researchers concentrated on patients who consumed between two and nine liters of cola EVERY DAY. That might seem like more than any normal person would ever drink, but trust me... it adds up quicker than you might think.
"We are consuming more soft drinks than ever before and a number of health issues have already been identified," Elisaf said. "Including tooth problems, bone demineralisation and the development of metabolic syndrome and diabetes."
As you might expect, when the people cut back on their cola consumption, the symptoms of muscle weakness, fatigue, and even derailed potassium levels returned to normal.
The ingredients in cola that can lead to all of these maladies are glucose, fructose, and caffeine. As you know, I've been an outspoken defender of caffeine for years. But when there are such high quantities of all of these items in just one serving of cola, you realize that the gluttonous intake of nearly ANYTHING just can't be good for you.
In his commentary on Elisaf's study, Dr. Clifford Packer of the Louis Stokes Cleveland Medical Center said that "the soft drink industry needs to promote safe and moderate use of its products for all age groups," even suggesting that the companies reduce the recommended serving size.
Oh, please. As always, the companies are blamed before the lunatics who are drinking two gallons of soda every day. Clearly, the people at risk from the symptoms that Elisaf covers in his study are beyond the reach of mere serving size recommendations.
As I said before, I'm not a fan of soda, but I am a fan of common sense. And it's clear that the people who were the subjects of Elisaf's study don't have any.
Health hazards of too much soda
Dear Friend,
Americans guzzle soft drinks at an alarming rate. No one seems to care that the only thing these overpriced sugar concoctions do is make you fat, diabetic, and toothless. But now a new study says that these downsides could be the least of your problems.
According to research done by Dr. Moses Elisaf of the University of Ioannina in Greece, drinking too much soda can lead to weakness, muscle paralysis, and even a drop in your levels of blood potassium.
For most people, the only pain or discomfort caused by cola drinking is the tightness around the waist as their expanding tummies strain against their pants. But this research indicates that there's plenty more going on behind the scenes that could take years before it finally rears its head.
Elisaf's researchers concentrated on patients who consumed between two and nine liters of cola EVERY DAY. That might seem like more than any normal person would ever drink, but trust me... it adds up quicker than you might think.
"We are consuming more soft drinks than ever before and a number of health issues have already been identified," Elisaf said. "Including tooth problems, bone demineralisation and the development of metabolic syndrome and diabetes."
As you might expect, when the people cut back on their cola consumption, the symptoms of muscle weakness, fatigue, and even derailed potassium levels returned to normal.
The ingredients in cola that can lead to all of these maladies are glucose, fructose, and caffeine. As you know, I've been an outspoken defender of caffeine for years. But when there are such high quantities of all of these items in just one serving of cola, you realize that the gluttonous intake of nearly ANYTHING just can't be good for you.
In his commentary on Elisaf's study, Dr. Clifford Packer of the Louis Stokes Cleveland Medical Center said that "the soft drink industry needs to promote safe and moderate use of its products for all age groups," even suggesting that the companies reduce the recommended serving size.
Oh, please. As always, the companies are blamed before the lunatics who are drinking two gallons of soda every day. Clearly, the people at risk from the symptoms that Elisaf covers in his study are beyond the reach of mere serving size recommendations.
As I said before, I'm not a fan of soda, but I am a fan of common sense. And it's clear that the people who were the subjects of Elisaf's study don't have any.
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