Offering Monthly Recipes, Tips and Tidbits
along with Answering your Questions Related to Health and Longevity


 

The choices you make in the food you buy and consume, not only affects your own health, but also the health of the planet.  (just like peeling the layers of an onion or the ripple affect of throwing a stone in a pond).  We do live in a world of consumerism and a “throwaway” society; now would be a good time to make some changes.  Take simple steps, one at a time, so as not to feel overwhelmed about all that is going on around you and what needs to be done.

I have been vegan for 20 years and eating organic for just as long.  I also do other things to tread lightly on the planet, such as composting, recycling, taking public transportation, walking, using my own bags when I shop, etc.  I did not do these all overnight, as everything takes time and adjustments to be able to incorporate into your regular habits.

For starters, it is best to buy items in bulk (grains, beans, nuts, seeds, etc at your local health food store) and even bring your own containers to fill them up, as this will lower the cost and also there will be less packaging to deal with.  If you can, organic food is definitely a plus for your body, as there are no pesticides, irradiation, genetic engineering or sewage sludge allowed. 

If you think that organic food is costly, I would agree if you buy the packaged products, as you are paying for the brands and the labor it costs to make it.  If you are buying organic produce, then I would disagree.  What you are not being told, is that conventional produce is grown using an abundance of pesticides that are sprayed into the soil and can't be washed or peeled off.  The real issue is that when there is crop loss, our tax dollars pay for that and with organic produce, the yield is much higher, as is, the nutrient content (it has been tested by scientists).  Besides that, since commercially grown food is depleted in nutrients, you feel the need to supplement your eating with vitamins and minerals (most are what is called “expensive urine,” as your body doesn't absorb them, and they are produced with other ingredients that have chemicals and preservatives and usually have a very small amount of what you want in it, but you wouldn't know unless you took it to a chemist to be tested).

If you would like to support locally grown food, then the next best thing to having your own garden, would be to shop at your local farmer's market.  Most vendors use minimal pesticides or none at all, as they are small farmers who find other ways to control pests.  If you are buying some organic produce, it is best to start with what is called the “dirty dozen” (has been tested to have the most pesticides when grown commercially).  They are: apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, lettuce, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, spinach and strawberries. 

Less contaminated conventional produce are: asparagus, avocados, broccoli, onions, cauliflower, mangos, papaya and pineapples.  For more information, visit the Environmental Working Group's website.  Be cautious, especially if you have babies/children as their bodies absorb the chemicals more readily.  Feed them the best that you can, as they are the future!

HEALTH TIP ~ December 2009

Start purchasing locally grown organic food from your health food store, farmer's market and even at your supermarket.  The more we ask for it and it is provided (supply and demand), the more prices will go down.  Check your mail when you get the circulars from your supermarket, as they run weekly specials and advertise sales for organic items, including produce.  Some stores even have, in house specials that are unadvertised. 

HEALTHY RECIPE 

When I was a child, my mother prepared something yummy for the family that was relatively simple to make.  She called it a “blended salad.”  It was a salad in a glass or bowl.  You could serve it as a drink (veggie smoothie) or a soup.  The ingredients used, were usually lettuce (romaine or another variety and if you make this everyday, please note that it is best to rotate your greens, whether it be romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuce , red leaf lettuce, spinach, etc because there are small amount of poison on the greens that are there to preserve the plant, so that if you eat too much of it, it stops tasting good), tomatoes,  red bell peppers, cucumbers, celery and then it was blended up together and you could eat it with a spoon, as there is some thickness to it and if you want some crunch that add some chunks of celery, carrot and sprinkle sunflower sprouts on top.  Also if you want a “citrusy” flavor, then you can squeeze some juice of a  lemon, lime or orange. 

Wishing you a joyous, healthy, happy, peaceful and prosperous holiday season and a bright New Year!

 
STAY TUNED! In my January 2010 post, I will talk about the “power of buying.”  We can say a lot by buying less!