December 2nd, 2008 cate
From naturalnews:
“Want to know what organic chickens are fed? If it’s soy meal from China — a cheap source of protein — it may also contain melamine.
That’s what happened with 300 tons of soy meal being fed to organic chicken in western France. Authorities discovered the soy meal contained an astonishing 50 times the maximum limit of melamine: 116mg per kg of soy meal.
This cheap Chinese soy meal was delivered to 127 “organic” chicken farms in France. Nobody yet knows how many organic chicken farms in the U.S., Canada, U.K. or Australia might also be feeding their chickens toxic levels of melamine.
This is part of the dangerous widening of the melamine scandal I predicted earlier today: Melamine contamination is now reaching into the meat supply, and it could even include organic meats such as beef, pork and chicken.
The truth is, nobody knows if meats sold in the U.S. are……..
Continue reading
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December 1st, 2008 cate
It’s Cyber Monday, which is when online retailers offer awesome prices. This is the best time to stock up on your organic supplies that have a bit of a shelf life. For example, coconut oil and other stable oils for your kitchen or toiletries. Other things are dry goods like brown rice, whole wheat pasta and organic flours. I would also stock up on organic jams and jellies, spices, protein bars, vitamins - even things like toothpaste and other supplies you’ll need to take good care of yourself.
Don’t forget your self-help books, garden supplies and books, meditation/yoga DVDs, music and books, exercise equipment and kitchen appliances such as juicers, food processors and more. I’m sure you’ll find SOMETHING you need at a great price.
During this Cyber Monday, most online merchants offer free shipping too! Yay. Check out the deals by clicking below:
Organic and Health Related Products on Sale
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November 24th, 2008 cate
This playful, user-friendly guide to macrobiotics has become a well-loved classic (over 180,000 copies sold). A favorite repeat seller in natural food stores and alternative health care clinics, it has been used a textbook for college classes in Holistic Health, and as a handbook for nutritional counselors training at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City.
Much more than recipes, The Self-Healing Cookbook gives fresh, heartwarming support to anyone aiming to prevent or recover from diet-related moods and health symptoms. A starter shopping list, food-mood charts, self-healer’s workbook, and healing foods glossary are included. Along with a wealth of wisdom on how to eat locally, think globally, cook with the seasons, lose weight naturally and nourish growing kids.
Word-of-mouth has carried this book to Great Britain, Canada, Singapore, Israel, and Australia. Over 21,000 copies have sold in the Japanese edition. In April, 2002, it will be published in Brazil, in a Portuguese edition. We’d love to hear from international readers where else it has found a home in your kitchens.
Get it now: The Self-Healing Cookbook: Whole Foods To Balance Body, Mind and Moods
Posted in body, books, depression, diet, eco living, garden, general, healing, health, healthy recipes, herbal medicine, inspiration, kids, lifestyle, medication / prescription drugs, online self help, organic, parenting, popular, real food, recommendations and favorites, safe products, self improvement, setting goals, success stories, you should know | No Comments »
November 23rd, 2008 cate
Yes, I admit this post is to help you get ready for the holidays. Start your shopping early and you will not be stuck in that absolutely crazy last minute crowd. You know what I’m talking about, right? It’s ugly, and you will be better off NOT being in that mess. Why not shop online? Search, order, receive, then all you have to do is wrap and deliver and…… voila! You’re done. You’ll be so happy and you can then just simply get into the spirit of the holiday - and I mean the joyous spirit, not the grump fest at the mall.
Phew. That said, here’s a gift idea for anyone wanting an ergonomic chair that will ultimately help their posture and avoid any kind of back problems. See what it looks like and found out more by clicking the link below:
Wooden Ergonomic Kneeling Posture Office Chair
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November 18th, 2008 cate
Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner, and their other cleaning products effectively clean and degreases hard surfaces both inside and outside your home without producing harmful residues that are bad for you and the environment. Excellent for wet mopping, and made without any irritating scents or perfumes, the All Purpose Cleaner is tough on dirt and grease while being completely free of chlorine, ammonia, strong acids, and petroleum-based ingredients. All other cleaners extremely work well without the chemicals.
While you have a choice, why don’t you pick the safest option for the health of you and your family? Use toxic chemical-free products and never worry about getting poisoned by them. Buy Seventh Generation products now by clicking below:
Seventh Generation Products
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November 15th, 2008 cate
This is an awesome soap. First of all it’s cool looking, being all black. But it’s also an amazing cleanser too.
The bamboo carbon creates tons of thick lather and bubbles. The other ingredients seem to work great together as well. This soap leaves your skin feeling tight and very clean.
It’s great for allergies, psoriasis, dry or oily skin, and acne too. It’s highly recommend as a soap to use when you want a deep, thorough cleanse. Use it daily to deep-clean and rejuvenate your skin.
Best of all, there are no artificial colors, fragrances, or ingredients, it’s anti inflammatory, anti allergenic, anti bacterial, and anti viral.
Order some now by clicking below:
Black Therapy 9 Fine Quality Soap featuring Activated Bamboo Carbon
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November 14th, 2008 cate
Bamboo Charcoal is created using highly sustainable bamboo from the southern coast of Korea.
Some of the extraordinary and healthful benefits include Air and Water Purification, Deodorization, Electromagnetic Shielding, Humidity Regulation, and the Release of Negative Ions and FAR Infrared Radiation, all of which can improve the overall environment in your home and office.
Beautiful packaging makes this product a unique and distinctive addition to any decor. Features:
- AIR FILTRATION: Absorbs harmful chemicals and substances from the air.
- DEODORIZATION: Absorbs odors from around the house including bedrooms, closets, bathrooms, the fridge, laundry room, garage, basement, etc.
- RELAXATION: Releases negative ions that freshen the air and FAR infrared radiation that helps you relax, eases joint pain, and improves circulation.
- ELECTROMAGNETIC SHIELDING: Many electrical appliances emit electromagnetic radiation that can raise your body temperature and cause backaches. Bamboo Charcoal absorbs this radiation, helping to improve the environment in your home and office.
- HUMIDITY REGULATION: Absorbs excess moisture in the air, and then releases moisture when the air becomes too dry, helping to regulate overall humidity levels in the room. Order some now by clicking the link below.
Bamboo Charcoal for a Healthful Environment in Your Home and Office
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November 4th, 2008 cate
Pick an ailment–any ailment–and chances are, Bill Gottlieb can succinctly crystallize the problem, propose its root cause, and describe a handful of nonmedical remedies for treatment. Creator and supervising editor of the bestselling Doctors Book of Home Remedies, this 25-year veteran of the health field draws from more than 300 alternative care practitioners (including holistic nutritionists, licensed acupuncturists, massage therapists, and the occasional swami) to present a thick textbook worthy of gracing the reference shelf of any family or health provider. Serious physical ailments like asthma, HIV and AIDS, stroke, and cancer receive equal attention with pesky afflictions like oily hair, acne, nightmares, and wrinkles. Mental health ailments, such as guilt, anxiety, grief, and shyness, also get their due. Gottlieb’s stance is not that individuals should shun their primary care physicians to rely solely on herbs, better nutrition, and other alternative paths. Rather, he seeks to educate readers on the biological effects of such practices and tinctures, to share their documented benefits in helpful detail. Each ailment receives a sidebar titled “Guide to Professional Care,” in which Gottlieb outlines symptoms that warrant immediate medical attention. Other sidebars highlight especially helpful treatment–from aromatherapy to meditation–for various troubles. Gottlieb provides an section on alternative healing where he elaborates on the process, benefits, and safety of each general treatment referred to in the book (from acupuncture to yoga therapy). Complete information, an engaging writing style, and visually appealing graphics make this encyclopedia-style book very easy to digest. Click the link below to get Alternative Cures: The Most Effective Natural Home Remedies for 160 Health Problems now.
Alternative Cures: The Most Effective Natural Home Remedies for 160 Health Problems
Posted in body, books, dangerous / warnings, diet, eco living, fitness, healing, health, lifestyle, medication / prescription drugs, organic, parenting, recommendations and favorites, safe products, wisdom, you should know | No Comments »
November 1st, 2008 cate
Did you hear about the melomine in candy and baby milk powder? A lot of the contaminated products have reached the U.S. as well, but the information has been covered up so as to not eclipse the elections. Please watch this video to find out more about what you need to look for. Don’t let your kids eat this poison. Kids have died, and many have kidney problems and other long term illnesses.
Watch the video now
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October 28th, 2008 cate
PVC is bad in so many ways and I wish everyone would come to the same conclusion, then get rid of it.
From treehugger:
“Phthalates, the plasticizer used to make vinyl soft, have been known to be a gender-bender that has been shown to affect the masculinity of rats. Even the Bush Administration, not renowned for its defence of the public against the chemical companies, has banned it from childrens’ toys.
Now new research has found new evidence of “phthalate syndrome”- smaller penises, and undescended or incompletely descended testicles- in humans. Shanna Swan, director of the Center for Reproductive Epidemiology at the University of Rochester’s school of medicine, who led the research, says phthalates are “”probably reproductive toxins and should be eliminated from products gradually because we don’t need them.”
Chemical Industry dismisses threat
Of course the American Chemistry Council, representing the companies that make the chemical (Exxon Mobil, BASF, Ferro Corp., and Eastman Chemical) warns us to be “cautioned against over-interpreting any individual study.”
Screw that; among guys, penis size is serious stuff. Martin Mittelstaedt of the Globe and Mail writes:
“Scientists have been investigating the possible effects on boys of phthalates because rodent studies have shown the chemical has the peculiar ability to shorten the space between the anus and the genitalia in male mice exposed during fetal development. This space, known as anogenital distance or AGD, is normally about twice as long in young male mice than in females. For mice, AGD is considered a measure of masculinity and a way to determine the sex of the pups. Scientists are so confident of the effect that they’ve given the impact of the chemical on male rodents a name - phthalate syndrome.
Surveys of children have also found that …..”
Continue reading
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October 27th, 2008 cate
“…Anybody who got whacked last week and still thinks McCain-Palin is going to lead us out of the swamp and not into a war with Iran is beyond persuasion in the English language. They’ll need to lose their homes and be out on the street in a cold hard rain before they connect the dots…”
Read the full article at alternet
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October 24th, 2008 cate
In this lively collection
from an array of accomplished writers, readers meet an old woman who imparts an invaluable midnight message on a Greek island; brothers who heal old family wounds in Ireland; and travelers who awaken to the mystery of their souls in such disparate places as St. Peter’s in Rome and a dusty road in India. Contributors include Phil Cousineau, Kim Chernin, David Yeadon, Don George, and Jan Morris. The Spiritual Gifts of Travel reveals the myriad ways that travel renews the spirit. “The tales ring clear and loud with the universal need to travel the road toward self.” — Francesca de Grandis, author of Be a Goddess!
Read more about: The Spiritual Gifts of Travel: The Best of Travelers’ Tales
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October 19th, 2008 cate
Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought I’d post the interesting and shockingly informative article from naturalnews:
“With Breast Cancer Awareness month fully upon us once again, retail stores have been invaded with everything pink, including “pink ribbon” candies and personal care products made with blatantly cancer-causing ingredients. Retail grocery stores like Safeway even hit up customers for donations at the cash register, promising to raise funds to find “the cure for cancer.”
Consumers of course, have virtually no idea where the funds they donate actually go, nor do they know the truths about breast cancer they’ll never be told by conventional cancer non-profit organizations. In this article, I’ll reveal ten important myths about breast cancer, and the truths that can save your life.
Myth #1: Breast Cancer is not preventable
The Truth: Up to 98% of breast cancer cases can be prevented through diet, nutritional supplements, sunshine and exercise
It’s true: Breast cancer can be almost entirely prevented through commonsense changes in diet, the addition of anti-cancer nutritional supplements, boosting vitamin D creation from sunlight, avoiding exposure to toxic chemicals in consumer products, pursuing regular exercise and eating a live foods diet.
The breast cancer industry — which depends on the continuation of cancer for its profits and employment — has so far refused to teach women even basic cancer prevention strategies (such as increasing the intake of vitamin D, which prevents 77% of all cancers). See: http://www.naturalnews.com/021892.html
Myth #2: Pink ribbon products are sold to raise money to support breast cancer victims.
The Truth: Nearly 100% of the funds are used to recruit more ……”
Continue reading
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October 18th, 2008 cate
From natural remedies:
“The line of asthma treatment depends on the types of triggers, your sensitivity to them and the severity of asthma. The treatment includes both conventional asthma cure and natural remedies. In chronic asthma, your physician would generally recommend asthma inhalers for immediate use in asthma attacks. However, if you don’t have a chronic condition, there are some good alternative medicines for asthma that include herbal and homeopathic remedies. These are safe, effective and affordable, and worth a try. Let’s see what they are:
a. Foods or supplements:
Eating fruits and raw vegetables appear to improve asthma. And foods or supplements that contain magnesium, quercetin, vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B6, are all beneficial for optimal lung health and to ward off asthma food allergy. Magnesium causes airway dilatation that counteracts asthma’s constriction. Foods rich in magnesium include red cabbage, red bell peppers, tangerines, kiwi fruit, oranges, strawberries, potatoes, spinach, barley, almonds, to name a few. Quercetin’s antioxidant properties help to neutralize the damaging effects of pollution which can aggravate asthma.
Good sources of quercetin are green cabbage, cranberries, grapes, pears, apples, spinach, garlic, onions and grapefruit. Vitamin C also has a positive effect on bronchial function. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in salmon, tuna and trout, are helpful in reducing bronchial swelling and help in asthma prevention. Vitamin B6, contained in sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds, tuna, salmon, pork, potatoes, turkey, chicken, etc., decreases wheezing and other bothersome causes of asthma.
b. Homeopathy:
According to a new research on homeopathic asthma medication, if patients are given exceedingly small homeopathic doses of the allergens, it can provide significant relief within the first week of treatment. However, the common homeopathic drugs in use are pulsatilla nigricans, carbo vegetabilis and phosphorus.
c. Acupuncture:
Lungs and overall immune system can be improved through the Chinese science of acupuncture. Acupuncture for asthma decreases the sensitivity to allergens, improves lung strength and reduces stress, proving a boon for asthma suffers. Many acupuncturists also use Chinese herbs to supplement the acupuncture treatments.
d. Yoga and meditation:
Since, stress can weaken the immune system and reduce body’s ability to ward off the asthma triggers, it needs to be addressed specifically. By adopting yoga you can improve circulation and reduce stress. Meditation can also lower blood pressure and reduce stress. Following these disciplines will help prevent stress and save you from increased sensitivity to triggers and severity of an asthma attack.
A strong body and strong immune system can certainly help reduce asthmatic symptoms and the frequency of asthmatic episodes. The good news is natural asthma remedies help you achieve this state. But, consult your physician, if you’re opting for the natural line of treatment. [source]
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September 30th, 2008 cate
It’s apple season and they’re everywhere now. What can you do with them besides making apple pie and apple sauce?? Quite a lot of things, you’ll be surprised to know. Apples are one of the most healthful fruit available so dig in and remember that the old saying of “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” is true. But you don’t need to be bored with the same thing, there are so many different ways to eat apples!
Find out what you can do with all those apples
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September 9th, 2008 cate
Think about why you are breaking up with this person. If you are simply upset with your partner, you should consider talking about what upset you and focus on resolving it, rather than ending the relationship. But if this same issue has already been discussed, yet nothing changes and you keep feeling unsatisfied, hurt, or betrayed, then breaking up might be the only way to end the pattern. Your partner will ask you why you want out, and you should be prepared with answers. Before having “the talk” that ends the relationship, do your best to articulate the reasons you are breaking up. If you have trouble remembering examples during emotional discussions or arguments, write your reasons down in advance. It may help to talk this over with someone you trust, or with a counselor.
Plan out how long you are willing to spend breaking up. The actual conversation in which you break up with this person can last a lot longer than it should, especially if your partner is devastated or completely surprised by your decision. It’ll be much easier for you to stick to your guns if the conversation doesn’t drag out. Expect to spend at least one hour breaking up, and longer if the relationship lasted a year or more. You may even want to arrange an appointment with a friend in a neutral location so that you can say “I’m supposed to meet John/Jane at the restaurant in fifteen minutes, so I have to go now.”
Break up in person. It is easier to break up with someone if you don’t have to look the person in the eye, but it can also be interpreted as cruel and cowardly. Unless you are a long distance away and choose not to wait until you see the person again, don’t break up by phone, e-mail, or through an instant messenger system. And don’t even think about breaking up with someone by pulling a disappearing act, even if it’s just by suddenly eliminating contact with the person. The lack of closure can be psychologically damaging.
If you don’t live together, break the news at his/her home and in private. They’ll want to feel safe enough to respond emotionally–no one wants to be broken up with in public or near family and friends, and risk bursting into tears, or be forced to bottle up all those emotions. While you can break up with them at your place, making someone go home after getting news like that will be difficult, and could make them more bitter. If you are at your partner’s home, you can leave after you feel you’ve made your decision clear.
If you live together, breaking-up will be particularly problematic and stressful; you should have a place where you can stay until the person you’ve broken up with digests the big change. You can either move all of your stuff while they’re not home and then break up when they come home and notice, or break up and leave with some of your things with the intention to come back when things have calmed down to get the rest of your belongings. Either way will be very difficult for the other person, but only you know what’s best for your situation.
Break up calmly. If you say the dreaded words “We need to talk”, your partner will immediately know what’s going on, and that’s not a bad thing. You don’t want to blurt out “We need to break up” out of the blue, or worse, when you’re in an argument. You need to approach the whole thing calmly and peacefully, with a sense of resolution. Sit down with your partner and let him or her know that you’ve decided to end the relationship.
Expect any or all of the following reactions.
Questioning — He or she will want to know why, and whether there was anything he or she could have done to prevent the breakup. Answer the questions as honestly as possible.
Crying — The other person will likely be upset, and it will show. You can comfort him or her, but don’t allow yourself to be manipulated into changing your decision.
Arguing — He or she may dispute anything you’ve said during the breakup, including examples you used in your reasons for breaking up. Don’t get dragged into a fight, and don’t split hairs. Let your partner know that arguing isn’t going to change your decision.
Bargaining or Begging — He or she may offer to change, or to do things differently in order to preserve the relationship. If the person didn’t change when you’ve discussed your problems in the past, it is too late to expect him or her to truly change now.
Lashing Out — Whether it’s as simple as saying “You’ll never find anyone as good as me” or as scary as saying “I’ll make you regret this”, he or she is usually just trying to make himself or herself feel better. Threats of physical harm, however, are serious and should not be ignored. If you feel that your safety is at risk, stay calm and leave quickly.
Distance yourself. It’ll be difficult, but don’t call them, don’t go places where you know they frequent, and make yourself scarce. Take the time to reflect on your situation and learn more about yourself. Do all the things you’ve ever wanted to do, that you wouldn’t have done if you were still with this person. Now is the perfect time to focus on those missed opportunities. Your ex may try to get in touch, but wait a while (some people suggest six months) before resuming contact, if at all. You felt close to this person at one point in your life, and you will probably always have a soft spot for him or her, but it’s time for both of you to move on.
[source]
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September 7th, 2008 cate
From thedailygreen:
“… bees are still dying from symptoms that have been identified as Colony Collapse Disorder. Not many, yet. But this is when it starts. So let’s look at what’s going on.
Viruses
Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus was implicated early on, but so far it hasn’t moved past the ‘found in some samples’ role. Continuing greenhouse research, where individual honey bees are infected with the virus definitely shows that the pathogen kills bees. But so do a host of other viruses that were found in the initial samples. The jury is still out on IAPV, at least until newer studies are published.
Other researchers are studying viruses, some known, some not, but so far nothing concrete has turned up … or at least nothing that anybody is talking about. That’s the trouble with science … too often the information gets sat on until the results are published … not reviewed and given the green light but actually put on paper (or turned into electrons to grace your computer screen) and released. Some publishing outlets are quicker, some slower but all have the same criteria. So if there’s something out there we’ll just have to wait.
Pesticides
Some of the early work — simply collecting samples of bees, wax, larvae, and pollen — are finally coming to the top of the pile and the results, some of which have been explored here, have been eye-opening, and mostly downright scary. Beekeeper-applied chemicals to control varroa certainly are hugely evident in the samples collected … not unlike the termite chemicals, lawn chemicals, garden chemicals, pet chemicals, and all the rest that we walk in, swim in, eat, touch and absorb everyday in our homes, work and play. Pesticides, to no one’s surprise, are abundant in our lives and equally abundant in the lives of our honey bees.
One of the unknowns, or maybe-unknowns, are the effects that those well-publicized new pesticides are having. They have made international headlines and definitely can’t be overlooked. And advocacy group, Beyond Pesticides, commented recently on these, and said that two of the primary active ingredients of concern are clothianidin and imidacloprid, both in the neonicotinoid family of chemicals. They are systemic pesticides, meaning the chemical is incorporated into plant tissue and can therefore be present in pollen and nectar, which is of particular importance to bees. They also have long persistence in the soil and can be absorbed by multiple generations of crops, increasing the likelihood of exposure for bees. Meanwhile, the manufacturers claim the chemicals safe and have data to prove it. But others in France and Germany claim just the opposite and are doing everything in their power to rid the world of these new poisons, and in the U.S. the EPA stands in the middle … and may soon be standing in court defending their role in approving these chemicals for use.
Nutrition
But there’s more going on than just pesticides, though those are definitely destructive. Other discoveries came from those samples taken earlier. One surprise was the nutrition deficiencies that were discovered … some of the bees that were sampled definitely were not in the best health because they had not had enough good food to eat. That, too, is a management concept that beekeepers are already turning around. This summer smart beekeepers are making protein supplements available … some of the new diets are being explored, new diets have been concocted, and more diets are on the drawing board, so to speak, and for the most part all seem to have given our bees a boost. Almost anything is better than nothing, and good food can solve a lot of problems, whether it’s your diet, your child’s daily bread, or a honey bee’s ration. That there were so many bees in diet-deficiency seems at first odd, perhaps, but bees have slowly declined for several years, and monoculture agriculture has continued to increase during the same time.
But not only protein-deficiencies were evident … carbohydrates, too were found wanting. Not so much volume, but quality. Is high fructose corn syrup as bad, or good, for bees as it is, or isn’t for us? Some seem to think HFCS is evil incarnate, no matter who or what eats it. Others have shown that if the HFCS is made well, and then that quality preserved and protected it’s just fine. Meanwhile, some beekeepers are switching to plain old sugar … sucrose solution … and seem to see better results. But sugar costs more.
Other Diseases
The new disease … that Nosema cerane thing … isn’t anywhere near being solved either. What is it, how do you diagnose it, how do you treat it, when do you treat for it … all questions needing answers and nobody is looking it seems. Well, not quite. Researchers in Europe are studying this I understand … but again, nothing has been published … so bees die of a disease that we can’t treat. Is this CCD? Hmmmmm. Don’t know.
Which brings up the tired old song of research funding. I talked about the $4.1 million grant delivered recently, and I looked at the scientists receiving the money. One industry spokesperson (me) recently said, mostly in jest, that once that money was spread out over all the scientists, over all the years, each would receive about a buck and a half … That’s not quite true, but the concept shouldn’t be ignored. So far, USDA has been monumentally slow in getting things moving. They have a couple of large scale, actually profoundly practical studies going … funded by existing money, not the new money that was supposed to come down from the farm bill … at least so far. But this begs the question … if the money is being used for these studies, what isn’t getting done? Well, we don’t know, do we?
Colony Collapse Disorder hasn’t gone away. Beekeepers are harvesting honey, if they have some to harvest. They are beginning plans for moving south or west for wintering or pollination, and wondering if they again will have to scratch to get bees to meet pollination contract promises. Or is this the year it would be better to stay home? Honey prices are strong, moving is even more expensive this year, and all that stress … maybe home is where the honey bee is should get more attention.
But one more thing has come to light. Organization.
With all the noise made about lack of funding, one question keeps coming up … why aren’t beekeepers doing some of this funding? Why is it only the government that should do this? Good question.
Research Funding
And here’s the answer. There are four major funding sources within the beekeeping industry that have already made significant contributions to finding the answers to Colony Collapse Disorder. More — way more, actually — than government sources, and more is on the way. And if you are looking to help solve this critical problem and want to know how … stay tuned. We’ll open a whole set of doors and introduce you to the best of the beekeeping world.”
[source]
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September 6th, 2008 cate
Rice flour. This very fine-textured flour is made from polished white rice. Rice flour, brown: Because it contains the bran, brown rice flour contains more fibre than white rice flour.
Amaranth flour. Its milled from the seeds of the amaranth plant, this flour boasts a higher percentage of protein than most other grains, and has more fibre than wheat and rice. It is also higher in the amino acid lysine, which some food scientists believe makes it a more complete protein than flour made from other grains. Amaranth flour can be used in cookies, crackers, baking mixes, and cereals.
Arrowroot flour: The rootstalks of a tropical plant are the source of this flour, often used as a thickener for sauces and desserts; the finely powdered arrowroot turns completely clear when dissolved (giving gloss to sauces), and adds no starchy flavor. Because of its easy digestibility, it is also an used as an ingredient in cookies intended for infants and young children.
Barley flour: This mild-flavored flour made from barley grain contains some gluten.
Buckwheat flour: A common ingredient in pancake mixes, buckwheat flour is also used to make Japanese soba noodles. It is available in light, medium, and dark varieties (the dark flour boasts the strongest flavor), depending on the kind of buckwheat it is milled from. You can make your own buckwheat flour by processing whole white buckwheat groats in a blender or food processor.
Chestnut flour: This tan flour is made from chestnuts, the meaty, lowfat nuts that are often served as a vegetable. The flour is a little sweet and is traditionally used in Italian holiday desserts.
Chick-pea flour (also called chana, gram flour or besan): This protein-rich flour is made from dried chick-peas or chana dal. This flour is used commonly throughout India, and in parts of the Mediterranean as well, in pancakes, pizzas, dumplings, soups and stews.
Corn flour: This is made from whole cornmeal, ground to a floury consistency.
Cornstarch: This silky ingredient is made from only the endosperm (starchy part) of the corn kernel. Avoid wheaten cornflour. It is used to thicken sauces and to create baked goods with a particularly fine texture.
Gluten-free flour mix: Some health-food stores carry this three-grain mixture of rice flour, potato starch, and tapioca flour. It can be substituted for 100% of the wheat flour in many recipes.
Millet flour: This yellow flour is high in protein and easy to digest. It may make baked goods somewhat coarse-textured and dry. Substitute it for no more than one-fifth of the wheat flour in a recipe.
Oat flour: Milled from either the entire oat kernel or the endosperm only, oat flour is frequently used in ready-to-eat breakfast cereals. You can make your own to use in baking by grinding rolled oats in a food processor or blender (1-1/4 cups rolled oats will yield 1 cup oat flour).
Potato flour (potato starch): Steamed potatoes are dried and then ground to a powder to make this gluten-free flour, which is commonly used in baked goods for Jewish Passover (when wheat flour may not be used).
Quinoa flour: Higher in fat than wheat flour, quinoa flour makes baked goods more moist. You can make your own quinoa flour by processing whole quinoa in a blender; stop before the flour is too fine - it should be slightly coarse, like cornmeal.
Rye flour: In combination with wheat flour, rye flour, which contains some gluten, is most commonly used in breads. Rye can be used alone for a substantial-textured bread. Light, medium, and dark varieties (with dark having the strongest flavour) are available.
Sorghum flour: A staple grain in many parts of the world. Sorghum flour works well in breads when combined with bean flours.
Soy flour: Another useful alternative.
Tapioca flour: Milled from the dried starch of the cassava root, this flour thickens when heated with water and is often used to give body to puddings, fruit pie fillings, and soups. It can also be used in baking.
Water-chestnut flour (water-chestnut powder): This Asian ingredient is a fine, powdery starch that is used to thicken sauces (it can be substituted for cornstarch) and to coat foods before frying to give them a delicate, crisp coating.
[source]
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September 5th, 2008 cate
How many of you out there grew up being told that soy is nutritious and good for you? Me too! Well, many years later this new information has been slowly revealed to the public, but still, most of the public does not know about it. What, for example?
You may be surprised to hear that:
- Soy is NOT a miracle food.
- Soy is NOT the answer to world hunger
- Soy is NOT a panacea
- Soy has NOT even been proven safe
Additionally, soy is linked to: malnutrition, digestive distress, infertility, birth defects, cancer, heart disease, thyroid dysfunction, heavy metal toxicities, cognitive decline, immune system breakdown and reproductive disorders. Are you alarmed yet?
You might be asking these questions: Why have we been lied to? What can I do about it now? What can I eat that is safe, healthful and nutritious? What can I feed my children without worrying about harmful substances? Don’t wonder anymore and find out more. Educate yourself for the sake of you and your loved ones.
People who would be interested in The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America’s Favorite Health Food: Americans at risk for cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis and painful menopausal symptoms who wonder if it is true that soy might offer protection; environmentalists who are alarmed by the growing numbers of estrogens and estrogen mimickers in the environment and have begun to wonder about the phytoestrogens in soy; concerned parents who want to know whether soy formula is good for your infants and whether soy foods are good for your children; people suffering from diagnosed or as yet undiagnosed thyroid disease who fears that soy might be the cause; baby boomers who have heard that soy is the dietary fountain of youth; people afflicted with those diseases who wonder if soy might offer a cure; vegetarians who are not enjoying radiant good health and have begun questioning whether the “meat without a bone” is as good at taking care of their nutritional needs; Americans eating soy foods whether you like it or not; homemakers and dietitians who think the price is right but wonder how “the bean supreme” stacks up against meat nutritionally…
Find out more about Soy
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September 4th, 2008 cate
After watching this video and learning how to make a compost bin that rotates…then actually making it yourself, you won’t have to worry about having all those extra veggies scraps that “go to waste” in the trashcan. After composting them, you’ll have excellent soil in 14 to 21 days for your garden. If you don’t have a garden, make one of these for someone with a garden! It would make an excellent gift for a gardener.
Watch the video
[via groovy green]
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September 2nd, 2008 cate
From pickthebrain:
“Do you have trouble getting things done? Have you ever decided to do something that was important to you, but later found you just weren’t making any headway at all? If you’re having trouble completing tasks that you want to do, and which you know you’re capable of doing, you might considering using a technique called benchmarking.
A benchmark is nothing more than a certain level of output that you’re establishing as your bare minimum. When using benchmarking, what you want to do is decide what your daily benchmark will be for a particular task, and accept nothing less than hitting that benchmark consistently.
For a benchmark to be realistic, it should be well below the maximum that you’re capable of, and substantially less than what you really want to do. You want to have an idea of what you’d ideally like to accomplish each day, but if you fail to hit your targets, you want to be sure that you at least achieve a certain minimum standard. Shoot for your goal, but accept no less than your benchmark.
An Example of Using Benchmarks
Let’s say you have a book that you’ve been meaning to read. You know it’s a book that will be very helpful, so you really want to read it in a reasonable period of time. But it’s a really big book and it requires a lot of concentration to fully understand it, so you’ve been procrastinating, hoping that you’ll find the time to read it someday. Of course, that day never comes, and the book continues to collect dust every day. How can you use benchmarking to ensure that you stop making excuses and actually read the book?
First, decide what your goal will be, how many pages you would like to read each day. How about 100 pages? No, that’s too much because it’s a fantasy. You might read that much on the first sitting, but you know the book’s material is too complex and you won’t make the time to read that much consistently. How about 20 pages? OK, you decide that you can shoot for 20 pages a day. That’s your goal.
But it’s OK if you don’t always reach your goal. Sometimes, life gets in the way. Even though you’ll try to read 20 pages a day, some days you might not have the time or the energy to hit your goal. And that’s fine; you’re allowed to sometimes fall short of what you’d like to get done. But you decide to set a benchmark of reading 5 pages a day. No matter what, you’re going to read a minimum of 5 pages a day, every day, without fail.
That means that even if the kids have soccer practice, or you get a flat tire, or you get sick, or you have a huge argument with your boss, or whatever, you still have to read those 5 pages. Your benchmark of 5 pages is considerably less than your goal of 20 pages, but that’s because things are bound to come up once in a while, and you’ll need to have some flexibility to slow down. You’re still shooting for your goal each day, but you’ll accept no less than your benchmark, no matter what.
Read the rest
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August 29th, 2008 cate
The weather is still warm enough to go out and picnic so here are 101 recipes, so you won’t run out of ideas. There’s more to picnic than bbq chicken and potato salad. Really!
Check it out here.
Posted in articles, diet, eco living, general, healthy recipes, kids, online self help, parenting, real food, recommendations and favorites, you should know | No Comments »
August 23rd, 2008 cate
From the newscientist:
Rice bran – a so-called “superfood” – might contain dangerous amounts of a natural poison.
A new study suggests that rice bran, the shavings left over after brown rice is polished to produce white rice grains, contains “inappropriate” levels of arsenic. Andrew Meharg at the University of Aberdeen, UK, and colleagues found that the levels of arsenic in rice bran products available on the internet and used in food-aid programmes funded by the US government would be illegal in China – the only country in the world to have standards for how much arsenic is permissible in food.
Meharg’s team are calling on the European Union and the US to follow China’s example and update food standards for arsenic.
Arsenic is a natural carcinogen, present in drinking water around the world including in Australia, the US and many developing countries.
In previous work, Meharg has shown that brown rice contains more arsenic than polished white rice (Environmental Science and Technology, DOI: 10.1021/es702212p).
Nutritional drink
In the new study, Meharg and colleagues purchased brown rice from China and Bangladesh and polished part of it in the same way that it would be to produce commercial white rice. They found that 1 kilogramme of brown rice contained on average 0.76 mg of arsenic in its toxic inorganic form. The rice also contained some non-toxic, organic arsenic. The polished white rice grains contained 0.56 mg inorganic arsenic per kg, whereas the rice bran contained 3.3 mg per kg on average.
On the surface, this appears to be good news: the bran shavings are usually discarded except in Japan, where they are used in traditional pickling recipes. But in recent years a number of rice-bran products have come onto US and European markets, mainly targeted at health-food consumers. They are labelled “superfoods”: the bran is high in antioxidants, vitamins, mineral nutrients and fibre. Producers say it is the largest wasted agricultural food resource on the planet, with 60 million metric tonnes of it discarded worldwide each year.
Some companies have produced a powdered version with a long shelf life at room temperature. Mixed with water, these “rice-bran solubles” make a nutritional drink and have been distributed as food aid to malnourished children in Malawi, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador. There are plans to further expand the aid programmes in Latin America, India and the Caribbean.
Meharg and his colleagues purchased nine commercial rice-bran products online, including rice-bran solubles from NutraCea, a company that participates in food-aid programmes, and analysed their arsenic content. The products contained between 0.48 mg/kg and 1.16 mg/kg of inorganic arsenic. China recently updated its standards, and set the limit to 0.15 mg of inorganic arsenic per kg of food.
Risk analysis
“The arsenic concentrations reported are worrisome, but the risk assessment is complex,” says Philippe Grandjean, professor of environmental health at Harvard University’s School of Public Health.
Indeed, “safe” standards for arsenic intake are controversial. The risk of skin, lung, bladder and kidney cancer increases proportionally with arsenic intake, which has lead toxicologists to the conclusion that there is no “safe” limit. But risks must be weighed against the benefits gained from drinking water and eating certain foods that contain the poison.
NutraCea has carried out a pilot project distributing their rice-bran solubles to 67,000 pre-school children in Guatemala. They monitored the nutritional state of 150 children. Whereas at the beginning of the trial, 37% were deemed malnourished, that dropped to 5% after taking 15 g of the rice bran 5 days a week for 6 months. The project was funded by the US Agency for International Development USAID and the Christian Children’s Fund.
Marie Vahter, an environmental toxicologist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden who has done extensive studies on the health effects of arsenic believes the nutritional benefits do not necessarily outweigh the risks, given the availability of other supplements. “Recent reports indicate increased fetal and infant mortality due to fairly low-level arsenic exposure via drinking water,” says Vahter. Arsenic also impairs brain development and impairs the body’s ability to repair DNA.
Unwanted substances
“Rice-bran solubles are not the only way of getting nutrients to malnourished children,” argues Meharg. “If aid agencies want to go down the bran solubles route why not wheat, oat or barely bran solubles. All these crops have ten times less total arsenic than rice and are just as nutrient rich.”
“One would expect dietary supplements to be virtually free of unwanted substances like arsenic, especially when aimed at children, who are particularly vulnerable to arsenic,” says Grandjean.
Drinking water limits on arsenic levels are more widespread than food limits, despite animal studies showing that the body does not distinguish between arsenic derived from food and from drink. Water limits tend to be based on the World Health Organization’s “provisional” guideline limit of 0.01 mg of arsenic per litre of drinking water – although the WHO itself admits that “based on health criteria” the guideline would be less than this. It says the value is restricted by measurement limitations, hence its provisional nature.
According to China’s standards, all of the rice-bran products tested by Meharg would be illegal. According to the UK’s 50-year-old standards, two of the nine products are safe – yet all can be purchased online in the UK. The US has no standards for arsenic levels in food, and has a limit of 0.01 mg/l in drinking water.
“We totally agree with the overall message that it is important to set standards for inorganic arsenic in our food,” comments Walter Goessler, an arsenic expert at the Karl-Franzens University in Austria.
“Rice-bran solubles are being produced by commercial companies who profit from this commodity,” says Meharg.
At the time of going to publication, NutraCea had not replied to New Scientist’s request for comment.
[source]
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August 23rd, 2008 cate
I guess this is from the department of DUH! Of course, it’s better late than never…
From newsobserver:
“A Bayer CropScience pesticide is at the center of a legal battle for research data that could help explain what’s killing U.S. honeybees in large numbers.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in a Washington, D.C., federal court, accuses the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of hiding the honeybee data.
The Natural Resources Defense Council sued after the EPA missed a deadline to respond to a Freedom of Information request the council submitted July 17.
It’s not unheard of for federal regulators to take years to fulfill an FOIA request. But in the case of Bayer’s pesticide chlothianidine, the Natural Resources Defense Council decided to push hard.
“It’s an aggressive suit,” said the group’s spokesman, Josh Mogerman. “But in a scientific mystery that threatens the U.S. food supply, business as usual is not acceptable.”
Dale Kemery, an EPA spokesman, declined comment until the agency fully reviews the lawsuit.
John Boyne, a spokesman at Bayer CropScience’s U.S. headquarters in Research Triangle Park, said some of the data the Natural Resources Defense Council is seeking was published in a scientific journal a year ago.
“I don’t know why they filed the lawsuit,” Boyne said.
Chlothianidine is made to coat corn, sugar beets and sorghum seeds and protect them from pests. But the chemical has the potential to be very toxic for bees. Three months ago, German regulators banned chlothianidine and related chemicals after the family of pesticides was blamed for the destruction of about 11,000 bee colonies earlier this year.
The EPA approved the use of chlothianidine in 2003 on the condition that Bayer submit safety data, including how the use of the pesticide affects hives over the life of a honeybee.
“We met all the requirements of the conditional approval,” Bayer spokesman Boyne said. Results of a field study that monitored the long-term effects of chlothianidine on honeybees were published in the June 2007 Journal of Economic Entomology, Boyne added.
The NRDC thinks the data from that study might show whether chlothianidine plays a role in the sudden loss of millions of U.S. honeybee colonies.
The phenomenon, also known as colony collapse disorder, threatens a significant portion of the U.S. food supply. About one out of every three mouthfuls in the U.S. diet stems from crops pollinated by bees.”
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