Know Your Food - GMO's

Today is a big day. Millions will rally worldwide to protest the company Monsanto, the leading producer of Genetically Engineered (GE) seed and the weed killing chemical Round Up.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's) are the crops of GE seeds which are resistant to weed and insect killers, like Round Up, so farmers can produce a larger yield of produce. GMO's can be found in most industrialized foods, but are not currently required to be printed on the label. 

Not only are the practices to produce these crops deemed bad for the environment, it is still questionable if GMO's are actually safe to consume. There have been many links to a variety of growing health problems including cancer, infertility, allergies and so much more. 

Monsanto grossed close to $12 billion dollars last year in GM foods. Commercial sale of genetically modified foods began in 1994. Monsanto feels that they are solving a problem of population growth and keeping up with the demand of food is only possible with genetic engineering.  

GMO's have been banned in many countries such as China, Japan, Brazil, Italy, Greece, England, Ireland, Germany, Spain etc, etc, etc. As you may have noticed, the United States is not on the list. It is actually the American norm to consume GMO's on a daily basis without knowing it. 

Monsanto doesn't feel that they are responsible for consumer safety and thinks "labeling GMO products accordingly would be just like putting a skull and crossbones on the label", said the President of a Monsanto subsidiary, Asgrow Seeds. The director of communications at Monsanto, Phil Angell also added, "Monsanto should not have to vouchsafe the safety of biotech foods. Our interest is in selling as much food as possible. Assuring the safety is the FDA's job." Why isn't the FDA protecting us, you might ask. Rumor has it that many of the major players in the FDA have invested interest in the large industrial food companies or Monsanto itself. 

Bottom line, America is sick because of corporate greed. Awesome. Although it is not the convenience that we are used to, for you and your families sake, do your part to 'know your food'. Author Michael Pollen recommends eating foods that you can recognize and identify where they came from. Try to buy local and know your farmers practices. Buying organic will also save you from ingesting GMO's. Also, try to educate yourself on what you eat and understand the facts to protect you and your family from the many health risks associated with GMO's. 

 

Baby's First Natural Foods

Luna is just about 8 months old. For the past few months I have been struggling with how to start her on solid foods.  There is an overwhelming variety of direction out there coming from doctors, family, friends, books and the Internet. Her first doctor recommended spoon feeding baby food; as in jars, as in the norm for most American babies.  He also recommended rice cereal in addition to her pureed fruits and veggies. The only reason that I began to question this norm was because in our history jarred baby food and a box of rice cereal were not options and somehow babies survived.  I don't feel that there is anything wrong with the mainstream style of feeding, it is easy and convenient. I just wanted to explore a more traditional way of introducing my baby to food. 

Then I switched to a more holistic doctor. She preached instilling healthy eating habits from the start to avoid problems in the future.  Ironically, I found her style to be more logical and convenient than the American norm. First, vegetables should lead the way. If you start your baby on vegetables then they grow to prefer vegetables over sweets. Well, that makes sense!  Next, I was advised to get rid of the spoon. What???  Let her eat her meals you eat yours and simply mash up and share any vegetables that you are having letting her feed herself. That was an interesting concept, but again, it made sense. If you let her feed herself she will eat if she is hungry and until she is full, if she is not hungry she will not eat.  While babies are still mainly getting a bottle or being breast fed they are getting all the nutrients that their little bodies need.  The beginning stages of adding solids (around 6-9 months) are more for exploration than nutrition. As I began to feed Luna in the more traditional manner life got a bit easier.

I also began to read more books on a babies first foods that were in line with what I had learned. I came across a great book that all expecting and new mothers should read if they are they are questioning the mainstream feeding style.  The book is called Beautiful Babies by Kristen Michaelis and Joe Salatin.  It takes you from nutrition before getting pregnant all the way to your babies first foods.  I highly recommend it.  Another is Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. This book also challenges politically correct nutrition and teaches you to feed your baby the most nutrient dense foods that help grow a healthy baby.  What I learned from these books and Luna's new doctor all coincided. Egg yolks, vegetables, avocados, cod liver oil and roe are all great starter foods to get your baby on the right track.  Not once was rice cereal recommended.  I actually discovered that rice cereal is not easily digested by babies and is more of a nutrient lacking filler.  In a world of anorexia and obesity, I have learned that it is best to fill your baby with the most nutrient dense foods and steer clear from any fillers such as rice cereal.

Now, I am not judging one way or another, every situation is different, but I am finding the more natural approach seems to be a good fit for me and my baby.  So far she is accepting it and enjoying it better than she did the spoon! It is a step away from mainstream, but it is not nearly as difficult or inconvenient as I would have imagined.  This style actualy seems to lead to a happier baby and more free time for mom.    

Technology Freed

In this case, the norm is 'face buried in cell phone' or computer, iPad, etc. for that matter. Do you remember the last time you had a conversation with someone where there wasn't at least a brief pause to check a text? Or worse, where there wasn't a brief pause to actually make eye contact with you since whatever is on their phone is obviously much more interesting then what you have to say. Talk about annoying! We have turned into such a tech happy country that it has taken the place of social interaction. It has even taken the place of brain power in many cases, why use your own brain when you can just "Google it"? Albert Einstein called it when he said, “I fear the day when the technology overlaps with our humanity. The world will only have a generation of idiots.” Oh snap. He may have just been talking about the chick that fell into the fountain at the Berkshire Mall because her face was burried in her phone, but I have a feeling more people fall into that category. 

I wish I could say I was the exception, but I am not. I am guilty on all accounts. I have been rude to my family, friends, and coworkers by interrupting conversations to converse over text with someone that is not even there, only half listening while I check my emails, and browsing Facebook to check up on the lives of people I haven't talked to in years. I also have noticed a decline in my spelling (no need to know how to spell when you have spellcheck) and an increase in my desire to 'like' things that are not even Facebook related! Wow. Thinking about it wasn't as bad as seeing it written out. I am annoying myself just thinking about it. 

Well in case you wondered, this is why I am challenging the norm of my dependence on technology. Now, most of the technology that we have today wasn't even invented when I was a child so I know it is possible to survive! I am ditching my cell phone, computer and television for a week. I will use my phone to respond to anything important, but it will have to be done the 'old fashion way', over the phone. I will also continue to use my computer for work, otherwise I would get fired and I am not quite ready to challenge the norm of needing money to survive! Besides the few exceptions, there will be no Facebook, apps, random texting, web surfing, TV etc. You get the picture. I will report back at the end of the week and let you know how I made out. 

Farmers Markets Make Sense

The norm is to food shop at a grocery store once a week, but I can't think of any good reason to choose a grocery store over a farmers market. Despite our incredible need to fill our cabinets with snazzy marketing and impressive packaging, you can find everything you need and want at a farmers market.

Grocery stores are convenient at a glance, but what is so convenient about supporting big business and unhealthy industrialized food, while our local systems of quality foods suffer? You also run a greater risk of food borne illnesses with mass produced foods, which already lack nutrient density forcing you to eat more to be satisfied. Food, Inc. is a great documentary to learn about the mass production of food and what it is doing to America.

Farmers Markets are the next best thing to growing the food yourself. By shopping at a farmers market you are supporting local business and helping your community. You also will spend less for more quality foods. You can talk to the farmers and learn their practices to ensure that you know what you are putting in your body. Everything that you need and want can also be found at the farmers market from veggies to meats, homemade snacks and drinks to dairy, grains and spices. So you save money and are eating high quality, more nutrient dense foods.

If you don't know where to find a local farmers market just Google it, you may be surprised. You might have to drive an extra 30 minutes, but it's worth the trip. If a farmers market is still not an option, there are local organic food co-ops popping up everywhere. They deliver local and/or organic foods to your door weekly. They work closely with the farmers so that you are only getting quality products that are in season.

My husband and I buy 80% of our food from the farmers market, the rest comes from Kimberton Whole Foods and a few other local farms. Contrary to popular belief, we actually save money by shopping this way.

Allergy Tea Remedy

Like many, this time of year always brings out my outdoor allergies. I have had allergies for the past five years and have hated every minute, from itchy eyes, heavy head, stuffy nose, scratchy throat, and sneezing. Ugh! The norm for most Americans is to treat their allergies with over the counter medications, like Zyrtec, Allegra, Claritin, etc. My drug of choice was Zyrtec. I think I liked it more for the miniature bottle then the effectiveness.  It was not cheap either, running me $18 for a 24ct. and lasting me less than one month into allergy season.

In order to challenge the norm of allergy medication I (skeptically) tried a homeopathic remedy inspired by the site The Farmacy .  To kill two birds with one stone, I combined a cold remedy with an allergy remedy making the perfect concoction. This time of year it is always hard to figure out which of the two you are fighting anyway.  To my surprise, it actually worked! To think, all of these years I refused to try anything that I couldn't find at a pharmacy. Don't get me wrong, you can find a lot of wonderful things at a pharmacy, but for me this is no longer one of them. I am two weeks (and counting) symptom free during the worst weeks for outdoor allergies.

I found the ingredients at +Kimberton Whole Foods and my local farmers market.  For under $20 I got enough ingredients to make ten pitchers of tea, which will last me way past allergy season. Give it a shot and let me know what you think:

Ingredients:

2 cups - Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar 

2 tbsp. - Lime Juice

5 tbsp. - Bee Pollen

1 tbsp. - Ground Ginger

1/4 cup - Local Honey

5 bags - Traditional Medicinals Echinacea Tea medicinal

1 gallon - Water           

 

Directions:

1. Boil Water
2. Steep 5 bags of Echinacea Tea in 4 cups of water for 15 minutes
3. Pour tea into gallon pitcher
4. Add Apple Cider Vinegar and Lime Juice
5. Add Local Honey and stir until dissolved
6. Add Bee Pollen and Ginger
7. Stir vigorously until Bee Pollen and Ginger have dissolved.
8. Store in fridge
9. Stir first and drink daily

Enjoy!