This is not the end...but hopefully a beginning...

We are a nation filled to the gills with the products of convenience. We are nation facing an epidemic of obesity and related illnesses. We are a nation so set on the ideals of the media, that we are losing our health to gain the bodies we think are desirable. From one extreme to the next, we are losing the battle of food.

In the last few weeks, I have discussed the unhealthy breeding and butchering practices of the food industry. I have discussed the obsession with sugar and the effects of these processed foods have on our bodies. Where does this leave us? In a state of chaos, in my opinion, with too many different channels feeding us information.

We need to take a moment to educate ourselves on the foods we eat. We must not take for granted that the food industry is looking out for itself and the money it can make. We, as consumers, need to be vigilant and aware of things we eat and drink. We need know where things come from and what they can do to our bodies. While this assignment started out as an assignment, it has become very eye opening. I just hope you all have found the information helpful. I took from this experience that I need to do my homework and not take everything at face value. Just because it says something on the label, doesn’t mean that it is. We have to be savvy enough to tell the difference.

So thank you readers for letting me take this journey through food exploration with you. I hope you learned as much as I did.

Metal in what we eat...

So, we wonder what happens when metals invade our bodies and foods. There are metals in everything we eat, the problem becomes when we have too much and our bodies cannot process these minerals correctly. These metals are there naturally or through the processing of foods. Than how does this manifest in our behavior, our emotional and physical well being. Most meats, vegetables,

It has yet to be found what these long term effects of metal does to our bodies. However, short term it produces ADHD like symptoms and anti social behavior. These can compound with other ailments making the person feel like they are spiraling out of control. I can tell you I know firsthand the effects of metals in the body. My youngest child cannot process metals in food.  It was first noticeable because of warts on her hands (later to find out this is a physical sign of metal issues in the body) and ADHD like symptoms. After having her hair and blood tested, it was found that lead, zinc, mercury were doubled in her body.  Learning about what foods and drink she can have has been an arduous task, but in the end has been beneficial.

We have had to rethink the way we eat and drink. Getting water out of the tap is an issue because most pipes are made with galvanized steel and over time start to break down causing lead to flow into her body. She cannot eat much meat because her body cannot rid herself of the metals. Her fruits and vegetables cannot have pesticides (organics only) as they have residue of metals in the pesticides. And were you aware that soy products are one of the most processed foods and because they are so porous they trap the metals in the food. We do not own a microwave, because the microwave cooks trapping the metals inside the food. We cannot eat anything out of metal cans, because as it sits, tiny flakes get into the food. All of this contributes to her issues. It is almost like a hidden allergy that no one understands. Peanuts everyone knows; Metal is a joke.

 My daughter has gone through a detoxification process which rids her body of the metals. From there, we watch what she eats. Within six months the warts, which she had over 25% of her body, have disappeared. Not only that, her ADHD symptoms have dropped.  Now, this isn’t for everyone, but knowing what we are putting in our bodies can only help us.

http://www.foodnavigator.com/On-your-radar/Artificial-additives/How-metals-in-food-impact-children-s-behaviour

E. Coli the gift that keeps on giving…

Bad news for those in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada; your cheese has been contaminated; contaminated with E. coli.  For those in those five states, Cosco is recalling their Gouda cheese from Bravo Farms as twenty five people have become ill.  Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps, and in extreme cases kidney failure. It can be so bad, that the CDC has included some strains as a bioterrorist agent. What?

With those horrible symptoms, I was left wondering what exactly E.Coli is. E.Coli is a bacteria form the manure of cows, sheep, pigs, deer and chickens. Okay, it can be found in the intestines of the freshly butchered meat. When companies are not careful, they can cross contaminate and somehow it gets into the products we consume. In the case of cheese, it was found that the cheese was raw milk and had not been properly pasteurized.

So we need to wonder what we plan to do to take care of the food we eat. With so many e.coli outbreaks recently, there seems to be a lax in the way our food is handled. While only 25 were diagnosed with E.Coli that doesn’t include those who never went to the doctors, and only showed symptoms. I think that lately we have stopped caring where our food is coming from and too many mistakes are slipping through.

http://www.ota.com/organic/foodsafety/ecoli.html
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/05/cheese.warning/index.html?hpt=Sbin
http://www.about-ecoli.com/ (for more info on recent e.coli outbreaks look on the right hand of this site)

If you are what you drink...

...than I must be really sweet.

So my question today is sugar and how much is in that soda you are currently drinking. (admit it, you were). To begin, we need to know that 1 tablespoon equals 12 grams. Therefore, know that in a name brand soda (starting with a CC) can, which is 12 ounces, there are 39 grams or 3.25 TABLESPOONS. Now, knowing most people they drink more than one can a day. If this is you...you could be drinking your daily allowance of sugar in one soda. Based on a 2000 calorie diet, one should allow about 32 grams of sugar a day. Wait. That is one 12 ounce soda. ONE. And that is 6% of your calories for the day. Having four sodas or 48 ounces is 24% of daily allowance. How many calories are in one 12 oz can? 140. So with 140 calories times four...you are drinking 560 calories.

560 calories. Pishposh say some.  But think about this:
400 calories could be a grilled salmon, 1/2 cup brown rice and grilled veggies. The extra 160 could be ice cream.
560 calories could be a personal pizza with ham and cheese
560 calories are SEVEN eggs

Now, I don't know about you...but I am thinking I would rather eat my calories. Drinking them makes me thirsty later (sodium is 50 mg in 12 oz.) and makes me crave more sugar. It is no wonder that  obesity is abound...soda has become a staple. Children younger and younger are becoming addicted to the sweet drink. It has been found that there is a link between diabetes and high fructose corn syrup (sugar). So, is it worth it? Drinking this sweet elixir causes long term health problems. But is this okay? Or are the soda manufacturer's disguising this fact in flashy advertising or gifts for purchasing their product (think C point system...the more you drink the better the prize.) Our health should be more important than an MP3 player. Sadly, to many its not.

Refrence:
http://education.wichita.edu/caduceus/examples/soda/tbspn_in_can.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/028340_diabetes_sodas.html
http://health.yahoo.net/experts/joybauernutrition/sugar-how-much-should-we-eat

Fast Food...and opinon

Obesity is a national epidemic. The rich are growing richer, the poor are growing fatter. With so many fast food options being made available for a dollar, many of the lower income levels seek out these deals, but with options so limited and money so scarce these are a way to feed the family.

The problem is this cheap food is filled with sugars and calories; both of which aids in the obesity epidemic.  With 15% of children and 1/3 of adults losing the battle of the bulge, we need to find ways to overcome the fast food chain’s addiction. But how do we overcome the cheapness of food? How do we change the way we have been programmed? We accept the weight as the way things just are and with the world being so fast paced that we often eat fast food on the way somewhere.

But in reality, the fast food industry needs to take responsibility for their actions. Instead of making meals larger (coughcoughBurgerKingcoughcough) they should be finding foods that aren’t so calorie laden. Find foods that protect the consumers. Yeah it’s going to cost some money but it will work in the long run. People are tired of the same old foods and are seeking an alternative. Instead of marketing for cheaper, these companies should be making new products that would make the consumer healthier. This is where the future is going and fast food companies need to make a change.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/05/health/main591325.shtml

Here a chick, There a chick, Everywhere a chick chick....

Say we are sitting down to a nice fried chicken dinner. Beneath the crunchy layers is the large, juicy breast. But if see most chickens you will notice that they are smaller.  So where do these mammoth breast come from? Well if you are asking….

Most chickens from the stores are found on farms. Once upon time, these farms had chickens that took 85 days to grow from baby chicks to adulthood. Now it takes 45 days. The chickens are growing so rapidly that they are now having issues with their hearts, lungs, legs, etc. These new chickens are growing so fast that their bodies cannot support the weight and pressure that they are under. Chickens now are being diagnosed with brittle bones and are dying from malformed hearts quicker than we can grow them.  Many growing rooms allow for 20,000 chickens or one bird for 130 square inches, which gives these chickens little to no room to grow.

Once these chickens are ready to be slaughtered, they are loaded onto a conveyer belt that slits their throats. With as many as 8,400 chickens being killed an hour some chickens are being boiled alive as they are over looked by the machines.

Food is our sustenance, yet we never think where it comes from. These chickens are being genetically modified to grow larger and faster. What are these hormones doing to our body and what are the lasting effects? As these practices are relatively new, there is not much known about the long term effects on our bodies. However, I can safely say that knowing how our food is treated makes me think twice about what I put into my mouth.

Reference http://www.chickenindustry.com/cfi/broilerindustryreport/
(look at the pictures if you dare...see how your chicken is grown.)

Look ma...shiny

Our food seems to be unappealing unless it is pretty. So, what does pretty food look like? Shiny, pest free, without bruising or damage… How does this occur? With pesticides. Yes, it kills squishy things that enjoy the fruits as much as we do. But what can lasting exposure to pesticides to do our bodies?

Recently pesticides have been linked to ADHD in children. So, when we stop giving our children sugars gave them fruit and this is what is contributing to our children’s problems.  I must stop here to say it is not known if pesticides are what is causing ADHD, it does contribute to the effects of ADHD. It is known that organophosphate (a building block in pesticides) somehow inhibits a nervous system enzyme in growing children. It has been found that those with ADHD have higher levels of organophosphate in their urine.

So what do we do? Be aware. Foods with light skins (i.e. strawberries, peaches, etc.) are more prone to absorb the pesticides, therefore we should take careful consideration and choose organic. Foods with thicker skins (i.e. mangos, avocados, etc.) don’t hold as much. Take the time, do the research and know what we are not only putting into our mouths, but the mouths of our children.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2010/05/17/pesticides-on-produce-tied-to-adhd-in-children.html