Wall Mart: Moving in the Right Direction

Just read some promising news in the New York Times! Wall Mart is making steps to support local, small farms! While I would like to see them abolish, if not limit, the use of genetically modified seeds and produce as well as raise their quality standard by including more organic foods... this is a promising, if not long overdue, step in the right direction. They are raising the requirements for farms producing their meat, not allowing for more rainforest depletion.

They have shown their power to change systems- with the success of their packaging design "eco-ver" (eco friendly make over). Whether this is consumer motivated, publicity driven or economically inspired, I am thrilled to see change in such a large corporation.

Better late then never, so big cheers for Wall Mart- but you're not perfect yet so, keep going!

a must see: FOOD MATTERS

I just happened to be flipping through netflix online looking for something to watch this rainy evening and happened upon FOOD MATTERS, an incredibly well put together documentary that rivals some of my favorite food and health documentaries like Food Inc. and Supersize Me. While I am still marinading on what I just watched... I am already excited about the wealth of easy to do's the movie provided to live a more healthy lifestyle.

1) DRINK WATER WHEN YOU WAKE UP, around a litre or two, to flush the toxins out of our bodies. What an easy thing to do, and honestly I don't do it. But you can believe I will tomorrow am- and every morning after that.

2) MAKE SURE EACH MEAL IS AT LEAST 50% RAW FOODS. Heat actually damages food and alters our bodies response to it.

3) TAKE VITAMINS. I wasn't actually a believer until seeing this film, but I am going to my local health food store tomorrow to purchase some. I don't feel confident that I am getting all the nutrients I need just through my food consumption, most americans aren't. Too many is better then too few.

Unfortunately, I took so many notes that my mind is a bit of a jumble... Many hugely interesting points of discussion arose- like HOW WE HEAL OUR BODIES? what do pills actually do? do they "fix" things or just make us less aware of them? why don't we heal our bodies with nutrients and food instead of pills- and furthermore, why isn't nutrition a REQUIRED part of getting a medical degree. Isn't it widely understood that diet is a, if not the, major contributing factor to health??

GO SEE THE MOVIE, it came out in 2008, and is on demand for those of you who have netflix, otherwise look for it. I feel like I am about to start a new lifestyle direction that will effect the rest of my life.

Pick of the Week SPINACH

Popeye the sailor famously promotes spinach to children, purporting that it makes him strong and able. Spinach is actually one of the most nutrient-dense foods around while having very few calories. A great source of vitamin K, A, magnesium, fiber, calcium, protein and antioxidants. With its abounding vitamins its no wonder that its great for cardiovascular health, helps fend off cancer and can help protect the body from aging.

So raw or steamed, enjoy spinach by the bundle!

For more information and my source read up at http://www.livestrong.com/article/2700-facts-health-benefits-spinach/

READING: Vogue "Force of nature" by Ginny Graves

I picked up a copy of Vogue at the airport recently and was thrilled to discover an article about Dr. Daphne Miller. Miller is a San Francisco based doctor who is/has been researching the health properties of diet and how food can be medicine. She has published a book entitle The Jungle Effect and is working on a second. MIller is part of the so called "food as medicine movement." Upon reading the article I am very much looking forward to picking up a copy and learning more!

Great tips from the article include:
feeling congested and under the weather?
try mushroom and ginger soup- ginger decongests while mushrooms are great for your immune system.

depressed?
try a diet with more omega-3 rich foods.

Worried about breast cancer?
include more sea weed in your diet, like the Okinawan's who have a long life expectancy and a lower rate of breast cancer.

Pick of the Week PUMPKINS

Pumpkins are a fantastic autumnal treat! Rich in anti-oxidants and beta-carotene, they also contain pro-vitamin A, vitamins E and C, salts and minerals, carbon hydrates, and proteids. One of the most amazing parts are actually the seeds, they contain strong therapeutic properties, cleaning blood vessels, eliminating intestinal parasites, adjusting cholesterol levels and activating the kidneys.

Pumpkins are very capable healers on the outside as well as on the in. They are great for helping heal and offer relief from burns and other skin irritations like insect stinging.

More then just a for halloween decorations, pumpkins are great boiled, roasted, fried, as juice, in pie, or just raw; pumpkins are versatile and delicious.

for more information and source of my information see http://www.liveandfeel.com/medicinalplants/pumpkin.html

Pick of the Week PLUMS

YUM PLUMS!
Plums are delicious and nutritious, as plums or prunes (dried plums). Prunes are most commonly known for their natural laxative properties, but they boast a host of other nutritional benefits. Interestingly, the dried ones are a european varietal and the fresh eaten ones are a japanese varietal. Plums are a great source of vitamin A, potassium and phosphorus. Prunes, meanwhile, have even higher amounts of each of these vitamins as well as polyphenols which it is believed to help increase bone density. Prunes are also great cholesterol reducers while preventing cardiovascular disease. Plums are believed to help prevent cancer, like most foods high in fiber and vitamin A.


For more information and the source of mine, check out http://www.elements4health.com/plums.html