How to Avoid Genetically Modified Foods

by | Aug 30, 2013 | Food Choices, Nutrition | 0 comments

GMO Genetically modified(GM) foods – are they safe or harmful? While regulatory authorities have approved GM food that is on the market, some people are concerned that there is risk of harm. Most foods we eat may contain ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). If you live in Europe, avoiding GM foods is easier since laws require labeling. In the US and Canada, however, food manufacturers are not required to label if their food is genetically modified or not. Here are some guidelines for steering clear of GM foods in your diet, if that is your choice.

Steps

Become familiar with the most common applications of genetic modification. These are the products (and their derivatives) that are most likely to be genetically modified:

Buy food labeled 100% organic. The US and Canadian governments do not allow manufacturers to label something 100% organic if that food has been genetically modified or been fed genetically modified feed. You may find that organic food is more expensive and different in appearance from conventional products.

Trusted Organic Certification institutions include QAI, Oregon Tilth, and CCOF. Look for their mark of approval on the label of the product.USDA Organic standards pale in comparison , do not consider a product 100% organic if it is only USDA Organic Certified.

Recognize fruit and vegetable label numbers.

Purchase beef that is 100% grass-fed. Most cattle in the U.S. are grass-fed, but spend the last portion of their lives in feedlots where they may be given GM corn, the purpose of which is to increase intramuscular fat and marbling. If you’re looking to stay away from GM0s, make sure the cattle were 100% grass-fed or pasture-fed (sometimes referred to as grass-finished or pasture-finished).

Seek products that are specifically labeled as non-GM or GMO-free. However, it is rare to find products labeled as such. You can also research websites that list companies and foods that do not use genetically modified foods, but be aware that information is often incomplete and conflicting interests may not be declared.
Shop locally. Although more than half of all GM foods are produced in the US, most of it comes from large, industrial farms. By shopping at farmers’ markets, signing up for a subscription from a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, or patronizing a local co-op, you may be able to avoid GM products and possibly save money at the same time.
Buy whole foods. Favor foods that you can cook and prepare yourself, rather than foods that are processed or prepared (e.g. anything that comes in a box or a bag, including fast food). What you lose in convenience, you may recover in money saved and satisfaction gained, as well as increased peace of mind. Try cooking a meal from scratch once or twice a week–you may enjoy it and decide to do it more often.

Grow your own food. This way you know exactly what was grown, and what went into growing it.

Read in detail here

8 Back-to-Basics Nutrition Tips

by | Aug 7, 2013 | Nutrition | 0 comments

Grocery If you’re flicking through Healthy Living, it’s likely that you spend at least some time thinking about what you eat and how you eat it. Staying on top of your nutrition is tough for the average person. Work, travel, time, money and many other factors can get in the way of your “dream” diet.

I want to clarify from the get go that I am NOT a dietitian and I’m guessing that you’re probably not either. That doesn’t mean that we can’t figure out some basics for ourselves — some rules to fall back in when life gets in the way and let things slip a little.

1. CUT OUT JUNK AND PROCESSED FOODS

“What does he mean by junk food?” Come on now, you know exactly what I’m referring to. The stuff you hide in the kitchen and feel guilty about eating and the food you know you shouldn’t be eating but do anyway. If it’s lying around the house, throw it out and stop buying it.

I find it helps to think of food as nutrition and not as a reward, entertainment or an emotional buffer.

2. EAT A LITTLE LESS

This one isn’t rocket science. Try to keep a handle on portion sizes if you want to tackle your nutrition head on. If you’re in charge of the cooking, scale back the amount you’re putting on each plate. Even something as simple as switching out your jumbo-sized diner plates for something smaller can help.

Continue to Number 3

Hospitals treat more ‘child obesity’

by | Jun 27, 2013 | Nutrition, Obesity | 0 comments

Photo by Ed YourdonThere has been a four-fold increase in the number of children and teenagers admitted to hospital for obesity-related conditions in the last decade, doctors in England and Wales warn.

In 2009, nearly 4,000 young people needed hospital treatment for problems complicated by being overweight compared with just 872 in 2000.

Rates of obesity surgery also went up, especially for teenage girls.

Doctors say the UK has the highest rate of child obesity in Western Europe.

Obesity has been linked with serious illnesses during childhood and an increased risk of developing conditions, such as type-2 diabetes, asthma and breathing difficulties during sleep.

National surveys in England suggest about three in 10 two-to-15-year-olds are overweight, while 14-20% are obese.

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A team led by Dr Sonia Saxena, of Imperial College London, analysed statistics on all NHS admissions for obesity – as a primary cause or alongside conditions that had been complicated by obesity – in hospitals in England and Wales over a 10-year period in patients aged five to 19.

Admissions were more common in girls than boys, the team reported in the journal Public Library of Science ONE.

Meanwhile, the number of cases of surgery for obesity rose from just one in 2000 to 31 in 2009, with the majority in teenage girls.

Over the whole 10-year period, a total of 20,885 young people were treated in hospital for obesity-related conditions.

Nearly three-quarters of cases involved problems complicated by being overweight, such as asthma, sleep apnoea, and pregnancy complications.

Read more of this article here

Waistline Index Grows as Emerging Markets Eat Fast Food

by | Apr 8, 2013 | Diabetes, Fats, Food Choices, General Health, Nutrition, Obesity, Sensible Eating, Weight gain | 0 comments

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If anyone doubts the correlation between the increased consumption in fast food and the steadily growing waistlines in both men and women would do well to have a quick peek at this rather informative article from Bloomberg. It shows a direct correlation between the influx of fast food chains into many countries around the world in the late 80s and the average weight gain and waist size increase that has been measured in these countries today.

 Now while it may be unfair to lay the dietary ills of all these reason converts to fast food at the doors of the likes of McDonald’s and Pizza Hut and Dominoes and fill in the blank, it is certain that the changes in diet encouraged by the successful advertising of these companies has had an adverse effect on the eating habits of the countries that they have steadily been achieving a significant market share within.

Link to the article

How carbs are throwing your hormones out of whack

by | Apr 8, 2013 | Carbs, Degenerative Diseases, Diet, Nutrition | 0 comments

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It seems nearly everyday that there are studies coming out that show the correlation between the amount of sugar that we as both a population and individuals consume and the slow but steady rise in one health problem or another.

In this particular article the author shows quite clearly that hormone imbalances suffered by both men and women are the result of our hormonal system under daily attack from the unhealthy things in the food that we eat. As the author says the number one hormonal imbalance in general society is chronically high insulin levels. He goes on to say that the primary problem is related directly to our diets.

We all know that sugar will cause insulin levels to rise but any carbohydrate-dense food will do the same. It goes on to say that this chronically high insulin levels and fluctuating blood sugar levels are a major source of stress on the body and these imbalances can in turn upset the regulation of other hormones.

But it’s not all bad news. As the article also reveals a number of simple steps that everyone of us can take in order to reset our bodies and overcome the problems.

Link to the article

Low-Carb Diet May Slow Alzheimer’s Disease

by | Apr 3, 2013 | Degenerative Diseases, Diabetes, High Fat Diet, How Your Body Works, Low carb diet, Nutrition, Preservatives, Sugars | 0 comments

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You know it’s curious when many people ask me about what I think they should do about such and such a condition. They all seem surprised when I say “well, let’s have a look at what you’re eating before we go any further” because over the years I found truly that so many of the problems, diseases, illnesses both physical and mental far too often have a source or certainly a highly contributory factor in what we eat and having watched my mother suffer with Parkinson’s disease and many of her friends and those in that generation suffer with Alzheimer’s as well.

Nothing yet has convinced me that there’s not quite a bit of truth that the gradual lowering in quality of our food has contributed quite strongly to the gradual increase in many of the health problems that we as a society suffer which is why I’m quite happy to  recommend the article that I’m linking to below by Dr. Mercola who’s looking at the work of another doctor, Dr. Ron Rosedale, who’s a prominent  expert in low carb and high-quality fat approach to improving health and the article points to a very interesting conclusion that Alzheimer’s might well be considered as brain diabetes.

It’s well worth a good read as not only do they point out some of the more cutting edge work about exactly what casues Alzheimer’s but they lead on from that and tell us about how we can avoid Alzheimer’s just by simple changes in our diet and behavior to a certain extent anyway, fairly recommend as well and I hope it helps you.

Link to the article