What? Did you seriously just say that?

From a fast food bag, "Our Secret is No Secret. Why does ********'s food taste so good? Because we make it the way you would. With 100% beef. White meat chicken. Farm fresh produce. From some of the most trusted brands in America."

And the chicken says, "An Excellent Source of Happiness."

WHAT??? There are just so many things wrong with this. I don't even know where to start. First, the idea of marketing fast food as healthy baffles me. Second, they make it the way I would??? um, sorry but no. And selling happiness, I don't think so.

Maybe it should read:

Why does ******'s food taste so good? Because we are careful to make sure it doesn't even resemble real food. We put all kinds of artificial flavors and preservatives. With beef from food lots where cows are walking knee deep in manure, fed food that is not part of their natural diet, crowded into cramped quarters, and pumped full of antibiotics so they won't be sick. With chickens who are bred to have breasts so big they can't even walk, much less forage for food like chickens are supposed to. With produce covered in pesticides and shipped from who knows how many miles away.

But then, who would buy that?

What CAN I eat?

I have been posting recently about nutrition and eating habits. A lot of the information I posted came from the Weston A Price foundation, a non-profit organization that has studied traditional cultures and what foods make healthy people. Their information is based on research, and their website is very interesting. Their focus is the importance of eating nutrient dense food. Of course, what they say is not easy to hear. What, you mean eating pre-packaged, pre-prepared stuff is bad for me? Yes. Sometimes what's the best way to do things is not the easiest way.

Some of the stuff they say is new to me, like soaking/sprouting/fermenting nuts and grains. I still need some more info on that, but with a little planning ahead, sounds like it's pretty easy to do. They also suggest raw milk products(unpasteaurized, whole milk). In other words, getting your milk straight from a farmer, who has not heated or treated it. From what I've heard, if they are using proper techniques of hygiene and storage, it should be germ-free and it has enzymes in it to help with digestion. They suggest some simple ways to use it to make yogurt or soft cheeses at home with little effort. They also suggest using different oils than what other organizations in the United States are currently suggesting.

Those things aside, they have a few ideas that we all could start applying in our lives to help ourselves live longer, healthier lives.
*Eat whole, natural foods (organic, non-processed, with skin whenever possible)
*Eat REAL foods - fruits, veggies, eggs, meat, whole grains (unprocessed is best)
*Use bones to make stock because the bones have good stuff inside

I think those ideas are pretty non-disputable. They are not impossible to do either, even for busy people. What we think is normal and healthy right now in this country is totally messed-up. But in my opinion, the only way to make lasting changes in our lives, is to do it little by little and stick with it. Baby steps. We can eat healthier, and our family can be healthier as a result. It is an investment I am willing to make.

Little by little we are eating differently. We rarely eat anything from a can. We don't eat cereal hardly at all anymore. I need to start making homemade cookies and crackers to replace the store bought, and also to start eating more fruit for snacks instead. I am planting a garden this year, so we will have a large supply of organic veggies for cheap. I try to buy and cook a whole chicken when I can, and we have chicken and broth for soup, plus some chicken left over for other stuff. What stuff are you doing to better your diet? What new baby step could you take?

Dietary Dangers

Dietary Dangers (from Weston A Price Foundation website)

Don't eat commercially processed foods such as cookies, cakes, crackers, TV dinners, soft drinks, packaged sauce mixes, etc.
Avoid all refined sweeteners such as sugar, dextrose, glucose and high fructose corn syrup.
Avoid white flour, white flour products and white rice.
Avoid all hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats and oils.
Avoid all vegetable oils made from soy, corn, safflower, canola or cottonseed.
Do not use polyunsaturated oils for cooking, sauteing or baking.
Avoid fried foods.
Do not practice veganism; animal products provide vital nutrients not found in plant foods.
Avoid products containing protein powders.
Avoid pasteurized milk; do not consume lowfat milk, skim milk, powdered milk or imitation milk products.
Avoid battery-produced eggs and factory-farmed meats.
Avoid highly processed luncheon meats and sausage containing MSG and other additives.
Avoid rancid and improperly prepared seeds, nuts and grains found in granolas, quick rise breads and extruded breakfast cereals, as they block mineral absorption and cause intestinal distress.
Avoid canned, sprayed, waxed, bioengineered or irradiated fruits and vegetables.
Avoid artificial food additives, especially MSG, hydrolyzed vegetable protein and aspartame, which are neurotoxins. Most soups, sauce and broth mixes and commercial condiments contain MSG, even if not so labeled.
Avoid caffeine-containing beverages such as coffee, tea and soft drinks. Avoid chocolate.
Avoid aluminum-containing foods such as commercial salt, baking powder and antacids. Do not use aluminum cookware or aluminum-containing deodorants.
Do not drink fluoridated water.
Avoid synthetic vitamins and foods containing them.
Do not drink distilled liquors.
Do not use a microwave oven.

Sigh, I have a long way to go.

Dietary Guidelines

Dietary Guidelines (from Weston A. Price Foundation Website)
Eat whole, natural foods.
Eat only foods that will spoil, but eat them before they do.
Eat naturally-raised meat including fish, seafood, poultry, beef, lamb, game, organ meats and eggs.
Eat whole, naturally-produced milk products from pasture-fed cows, preferably raw and/or fermented, such as whole yogurt, cultured butter, whole cheeses and fresh and sour cream.
Use only traditional fats and oils including butter and other animal fats, extra virgin olive oil, expeller expressed sesame and flax oil and the tropical oils-coconut and palm.
Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, preferably organic, in salads and soups, or lightly steamed.
Use whole grains and nuts that have been prepared by soaking, sprouting or sour leavening to neutralize phytic acid and other anti-nutrients.
Include enzyme-enhanced lacto-fermented vegetables, fruits, beverages and condiments in your diet on a regular basis.
Prepare homemade meat stocks from the bones of chicken, beef, lamb or fish and use liberally in soups and sauces.
Use herb teas and coffee substitutes in moderation.
Use filtered water for cooking and drinking.
Use unrefined Celtic seasalt and a variety of herbs and spices for food interest and appetite stimulation.
Make your own salad dressing using raw vinegar, extra virgin olive oil and expeller expressed flax oil.
Use natural sweeteners in moderation, such as raw honey, maple syrup, dehydrated cane sugar juice and stevia powder.
Use only unpasteurized wine or beer in strict moderation with meals.
Cook only in stainless steel, cast iron, glass or good quality enamel.
Use only natural supplements.
Get plenty of sleep, exercise and natural light.
Think positive thoughts and minimize stress.
Practice forgiveness.

A new way of thinking about nutrition (or should I say an old way)

What's Wrong with "Politically Correct" Nutrition? (from Weston A Price Foundation website)
PC DIETARY GUIDELINES
PC DIETARY DANGERS

Avoid saturated fats Saturated fats play many important roles in the body. They provide integrity to the cell membrane, enhance the body's use of essential fatty acids, enhance the immune system, protect the liver and contribute to strong bones. Saturated fats do not cause heart disease. In fact, saturated fats are the preferred food for the heart. Your body makes saturated fats out of carbohydrates.

Limit cholesterol Dietary cholesterol contributes to the strength of the intestinal wall and helps babies and children develop a healthy brain and nervous system. Foods that contain cholesterol also provide many other important nutrients. Only oxidized cholesterol, found in powdered milk and eggs, contributes to heart disease. Powdered milk is added to 1% and 2% milk.

Use more polyunsaturated oils Polyunsaturates in more than small amounts contribute to cancer, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, learning disabilities, intestinal problems and premature aging. Large amounts of polyunsaturated fats are new to the human diet, due to the modern use of commercial liquid vegetable oils.

Avoid red meat Red meat is a rich source of nutrients that protect the heart and nervous system including vitamins B12 and B6, zinc, phosphorus, carnitine and Coenzyme Q10.

Cut back on eggs Eggs are nature's perfect food, providing excellent protein, the gamut of nutrients and important fatty acids that contribute to the health of the brain and nervous system. Americans had less heart disease when they ate more eggs. Egg substitutes cause rapid death in test animals.

Eat lean meat and drink lowfat milk Lean meat and lowfat milk lack fat soluble vitamins needed to assimilate protein and minerals in meat and milk. Consumption of low-fat foods can lead to depletion of vitamin A and D reserves.

Limit fat consumption to 30% of calories 30% calories as fat is too low for most people, leading to low blood sugar and fatigue. Traditional diets contained 40% to 80% of calories as healthy fats, mostly of animal origin.

Eat 6-11 servings of grains per day Most grain products are made from white flour, which is devoid of nutrients. Additives in white flour can cause vitamin deficiencies. Whole grain products can cause mineral deficiencies and intestinal problems unless properly prepared.

Restrict salt Salt is crucial to digestion and assimilation. Salt is also necessary for the development and functioning of the nervous system.

At least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day Fruits and vegetables receive an average of 10 applications of pesticides, from seed to storage. Consumers should seek out organic produce. Quality counts!

Eat more soy foods Modern soy foods block mineral absorption, inhibit protein digestion, depress thyroid function and contain potent carcinogens.

More on electrolytes

I found some info on this:
http://www.causeof.org/electrolytes.htm
Don't you love the internet? The answer to your questions with just a few clicks...basically the unscientific explaination is that electrolytes are minerals. We have certain minerals in our body that need to be maintained (like sodium, calcium, potassium, etc.) and lots of exercise or dehydration can deplete these. There are also recipes on the internet of how to make your own electrolyte drinks, which would of course be less expensive, and avoid all the artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, etc. They all have different ingredients and different amounts so it's hard to say what's best. Wouldn't it just work to drink to drink some lemonade with a pinch of salt (sweetened with a little honey)? I guess it might depend on what your intent was? If you had a 24 hour bug, and needed to stay hyrdrated, you could sip on tea with a little honey and a pinch of salt?

My husband, on the other hand, thinks that if he is sick, he MUST drink Pedialyte. It WILL make him feel better. I actually know quite a few Latinos (here in the States) who say this (not my Colombian friends, but people from Mexico/El Salvador/Honduras)...is this a cultural thing? I don't think it's the best thing for him, but I can't convince him otherwise. :) I guess there are worse things he could take...

Well, I am glad to have learned something. To my friend H, will you post your LaborAid recipe (it's pretty much the same thing, huh?)

But it has electrolytes!

I just finished watching the movie Idiocracy on TV. Stupid movie by the way. Two people are put into hibernation, and accidently forgetten until 2500. Evidently, all the smart people have been thinking before having babies(their careers, their finances, etc, until whoops they can't), while the not so smart ones don't, and end up reproducing like crazy....after generations of this, humanity ends up completely idiotic, hence the name of the movie. The only redeeming moment is when the protagonist is trying to convince the people that they should water the plants with water, not a gatorade type substance. Their response is quite ridiculous, which is what makes it funny. "But it has electrolytes!" "What are electrolytes?" he responds. "It's what plants crave."

Who the heck knows what electrolytes are anyway? Just that they are supposed to be good for you. In my opinion, just another marketing ploy to get people to think they need something because it's supposedly good for them. Has anyone else noticed all the advertising lately? It seems like you can sell any piece of crap as healthy if you just add something to it... a vitamin, probiotics, whole grain. No matter that the product is not healthy for you in the first place.

Here's one advertisement that really bugs me, to give an example. Sunny D. It has vitamins. And some other bologna about being a good mother or being with your kids all through the day. Whatever! It's sugar water with artificial colors and flavors and preservatives, and who knows what else. I don't care how many vitamins you put in it, it is NOT healthy. When I was teaching, I had students that seriously thought it was good for them. Let's just say we used that as an opportunity for learning...

Well I am not being duped! I try to stay away from foods in boxes or cans to begin with, buying things in their natural form (or close to it). Fruits, veggies, meat, grains(whole grains most of the time, and unprocessed if I'm being really good). When I do buy stuff from a box or jar (which I do buy some), you better believe I read my labels and try to stick to stuff I can pronounce (organic products do a good job of that, but there are some all natural ones that do a pretty good job too).

I have to say that I am completely astonished at what I see people buy when I go to the regular grocery store (as opposed to the health food store). Sometimes not a single vegetable. Frozen and prepared foods. Soda. Candies. It is no surprise to me that the acronym for the Standard American Diet is SAD!

"But it has electrolytes!" Media sends a lot of messages about what we should be eating. Do your own research. Make your own conclusions. In the end, it's your body and what you put into it will determine what you get out of it.

Bach Rescue Remedy - Kid's Formula

Bach Rescue Remedy is something that I had heard recommedations for, and had on hand, but had never used. It is a homeopathic remedy that is for stress or trauma. The other day, Chili woke up from her nap crying and nothing I did could calm her. I wasn't sure what was wrong or what to do for her. I remembered I had Bach Rescue Remedy on hand, and figured it was a good moment to try it out. I put four drops on her tongue and within seconds she had stopped crying. She was clingy for a few more minutes but after that she was back to her normal self. Wow! I was really impressed with the results! Yeah, for Bach Rescue Remedy!

You can check this out at: http://www.bachflower.com/

Environmental Working Group

Check out this website: http://www.ewg.org/ Environmental Working Group has a lot of great information about health and the environment. I read this site periodically and always find something interesting!

One Reason High Fructose Corn Syrup is NOT sweet!

Forget all those commercials claiming it's "nutritionally the same as sugar" and that it's "fine in moderation." There are many reasons why it's not good, including a recent article from the Washington Post saying that they found mercury in it...NOT GOOD! Check it out here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/26/AR2009012601831.html

Skin Deep

We all care about our family's health. Sometimes the products we are using for our skincare (shampoo, soap, makeup, sunscreen) can have ingredients that with long-term use can adversely affect our health. We all have products we are accostumed to using. But how can we know what is in them? Ingredient lists are usually hard to understand. One rule of thumb I use is: If I can't pronounce it, I probably shouldn't be using it. Another thing you can do is use the Skin Deep database to search for a specific product you use. It will tell you which ingredients in that product are harmful and why, which might possibly be harmful, and which haven't been studied. Another tool it has is a rating system. So, if you want to know which lotions have the best ratings, you can check out a list. You can also see what ratings the products you are using have. It's http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ or just google Skin Deep.