To Bee or Not to Bee

One of the major decisions I've struggled with in becoming vegan is whether or not to consume honey. Most strict vegans do not consume honey, as they consider it an animal product. Some people make the claim that insects are not animals, and in this case could make the argument for using silk as well. I personally think that there is no distinction between insect and animal, as they are both living creatures, and I aim to honor all life.

That being said, I am not opposed to people consuming animal products from their own, well- loved, well-treated, non-suffering animals. For example, I know people who eat goat cheese made from the milk of their own beloved goats. I think that this still honors life. For health reasons, I definitely believe that animal products should be limited, though.

So that brings us back to honey. The bees certainly make the honey, but for some reason it seems so much different to me than meat (of course), milk, or eggs. Although there are valid arguments out there that consider the fact that honey is made from waste products of bees, and it is their own food source, therefore we should not take it from them. This, I understand.

However, I have done a lot of research, and I have learned that organic, raw, local honey has incredible health benefits. There are also some local holistic beekeepers who ensure that the bees are well provided for, have a high quality of life, and do not sugar-feed or otherwise pollute the honey.

Organic, raw, unheated honey is even safe for infants, as the existence of botulism only occurs in heated and processed honey. Here you can find out more.

It is important to note that regular honey you can buy in the store is highly processed, stripped of vitamins and minerals, and has no health benefits. Avoid buying this type of honey. Learn the differences between organic, raw and processed honey. Organic, raw honey has an extremely long shelf life.

Raw honey also promotes wound healing. Medicinal honey has been proven to help heal burns and other skin issues. Here and here are a little more about that.

It's also full of enzymes, phytochemicals, vitamins and nutrients.

It is important, though, to realize that if you rely on sweeteners (sugar, honey, syrup, etc) for your food, you should be careful because all of them are simple carbohydrates, which enter the bloodstream rapidly, causing blood sugar levels to increase, and possibly leading to insulin issues. If you want to use a sweetener, try stevia (see previous blogs).

Raw honey is great medicinally. 1 teaspoon per day has great health benefits, especially if taken along with raw apple cider vinegar.

Just make certain that you are getting local, UNHEATED, raw, organic honey. Talk to the beekeepers. Make sure they aren't sugar-feeding the bees, or otherwise treating them as less than the amazing life they are.

We must honor bees, because they pollinate most of our food.

Food Additives

Do you know what you're eating? Or what you're feeding your kids? It's more than a cracker, or some cereal, or your dinner. Processed food is full of all sorts of additives, many of which are thought to pose serious health risks. Some additives have been linked to cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's, developmental problems, neurological problems, etc.

Artificial colors and flavors have no place in a healthy diet. Neither do artificial sweeteners, or artificial anything for that matter. We are live whole human beings, and we need live whole nutrients.


Take a look:

This article examines 12 food additives worth avoiding: nitrates/nitrites, BHA/ BHT, propyl gallate, monosodium glutamate (MSG), trans fats, aspartame, Acesulfame-K, food colorings: Blue 1, 2; Red 3; Green 3; and Yellow 6, olestra, potassium bromate, white sugar, and sodium chloride.

When is the last time you read your labels?

This is a great site with an alphabetical listing of additives, and a glossary following.

The easiest thing to do to protect your health is to avoid buying foods that are processed or that contain additives. If you must, however, educate yourself and understand what it is you are buying.

Check out the Sustainable Table for some more info about regulation, safety, and what to avoid.

This list of unacceptable ingredients from Whole Foods Market gives you just a glimpse of all the additives that are not worthy of being consumed.

And if it's not good to put in your body, then you won't want to put it on your body. Most body care products (shampoo, soap, shaving cream, lotion, toothpaste) contain harmful ingredients. Again, read your labels. That diaper rash cream could actually be aggravating the rash instead of healing it. And that toothpaste could be poisoning you.

Check out this list from Whole Foods.

Two of the biggest culprits here are sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate. These are known skin irritants, and show up in most body care products, even your toothpaste.

Read all about them: Dangers and Info.

Consider finding products that do not contain these harmful chemicals. Better yet, make your own.

Let's stop supporting the use of harmful substances in our food supply and our hygienic products.

Herbs and Spices

I love refilling my spice jars. I buy all my herbs and spices in bulk from Mountain Rose because they are free of chemicals and pesticides, and because of MRH's business model- they are a waste free company and do everything sustainably. Buying bulk from them also means I don't have an empty spice container every month or so. Instead I refill my glass jars.



Herbs and spices are the key to every tasty meal, in my opinion. Cheese and meet have nothing on ginger and cayenne. Plus, they have incredible nutritional and medicinal benefits. Here are some more common herbs that you can add to your dinner, to spice up your health:

Cinnamon: this warming spice is also an antiseptic, so it helps fight bacteria, viruses, and other infections. It also helps your digestion. So add this unassuming medicine to your oatmeal, or if you're feeling really adventurous, to a barley sweet potato pilaf.

Fennel: this is native to the Mediterranean, and it contains flavanoids and essential fatty acids. It aids in digestion, works great for a mouthwash, and contains antiseptic oils which help fight infection. Add this to your mashed potatoes to tickle your tastebuds.

Ginger: this delicious root is ancient. Fresh or dried, it relieves nausea and congestion, gets your blood flowing, and helps with digestion. Next time you make soup, try shitake mushrooms, broccoli, ginger, cayenne, and a little soy sauce and rice vinegar. It will make you feel great.

Lavender: this lovely herb is only enjoyed aromatically by far too many people. Put it in your mouth! It's oh so lovely. It contains flavanoids and tannins (those things that are also in tea), and it relaxes the nerves, reduces fevers, helps move toxins out of the body, and can relieve vomiting. Steam some veggies and toss with some herbes de provence, starring lavender!

Parsley: so unassuming. This subtle little plant can help with allergies and respiratory issues. It's also full of vitamins and nutrients, and helps cleanse the body. Put it on everything! There's nothing parsley isn't good on.

Rosemary: for remembrance, right? Actually credible, since this little herb is a tonic. It works on the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems, acts as an antidepressant, and helps you relax! Rosemary lentils are one of my favorite dishes. Cook the lentils with rosemary, then add a little olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper. Yum!

Sage: with its unmistakable scent, this salvia is also ancient in use. It's loaded with vitamins and mineral, helps with congestion, digestion, blood sugar regulation, dry skin, and reproductive issues. What does it not do? Great addition to italian inspired dishes- toss over buckwheat or whole grain noodles with oregano, thyme, parsley, and basil. Add a little olive oil, throw in some veggies, and you're all set. Also one of my favorite teas.

Thyme: this delicious herb is part of the mint family. It's great for allergies, colds, and other respiratory ills. It's also antiseptic and antibacterial, so it'll help ward off infection. It's got necessary vitamins and minerals to boot. See above for a recipe idea.

So stock up! Medicine is supposed to taste good!

Simple Living Feature

If you want to be inundated by a wealth of wonderful information about how to live more simply, more consciously, and closer to our wonderful earth, then head on over to A Girl and Her Scout, where October is Simple Living Month.

There's tips every day, so there is a way for everyone to to reduce your ecological footprint, improve yours and your family's health and well-being, and support others who are working hard to preserve the integrity of our land, our agriculture, our animals, our air, our water, and our souls.

I am her guest blogger for part of this week, so check out my tips as well as the many others she's posted already this month.

Milk, It Does A Body Bad

Recognize this??

Most of us were brought up in schools that had this chart in every classroom, in homes that these food groups were considered important parts of our daily diet. Most Americans think that meat and dairy are absolute necessities for good nutrition.

Think Again

Did you know that the dairy and meat industries provide the funds that print and distribute these charts to schools and parents?

Did you know that the majority of the human population does not drink or use cow's milk?

Did you know that our ancestors, the hunter-gatherer's, consume no milk or dairy?

Did you know that the calcium contained in cow's milk does not actually contribute to stronger bones, but in fact studies have shown that instances of osteoporosis in women is higher in those who consume cow's milk?
Because the calcium is taken in with the protein in cow's milk, the alkaline nature of the calcium is overridden by the acidic protein, causing the body to take more calcium from the bones in an effort to balance the acidity level of the milk.

Did you know that cow's used to produce only a couple thousand pounds of milk each year, but now they can produce forty thousand or more?
This is possible thanks to addition of artificial growth hormones and antibiotics to diets of dairy cows.

Did you know that growth hormones given to the cows can get into the milk they produce? This is also true for the antibiotics, and genetically modified feed.

Did you know that minerals such as manganese, chromium, selenium, and magnesium are all found in higher levels in vegetables than in milk?

Did you know that milk consumption has been linked with increased instances of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers including breast and prostate?

Did you know that most people stop producing lactase, the enzyme needed to digest milk, by 3 years of age or earlier?

Did you know that cow's milk provides almost 9 times as much saturated fat as soy milk? Saturated fat leads to obesity and other chronic illness.

Did you know that you can get more than adequate calcium from plant sources such as figs, spinach, broccoli, and almonds (among other things)?

Still think you need your dairy group? Then organic is the ONLY way to go, and severely limit your intake!!

A circuit court in Ohio just this past month ruled that labeling of milk as rBGH (bovine growth hormone) free is completely legal because scientists examined samples of conventional milk and organic milk and found significant differences in its composition.

Consider switching to soy milk, rice milk, or nut milks. Cut out butters, creams, and yogurts in favor of olive oil, and soy alternatives. Whatever you do, don't give your kids non-organic cow's milk, as studies have suggested that consumption of milk among children contributes to chronic ear infections and tonsillitis, among other things.

And don't even get me started on the fallacy that we need meat to survive or be healthy.

sources: www.truefoodnow.org, The Optimum Nutrition Bible by Patrick Holford, John Robbins, Harvest for Hope by Jane Goodall, The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan, www.rense.com/general26/milk.htm, www.nomilk.com, common sense (just like human milk is only perfect for human infants, cow's milk is only perfect for baby cows)

Hydrogenated Oil

When hydrogen gas is forced into oil, inducing a chemical reaction, the oil has been hydrogenated. Manufacturers do this to preserve shelf life because the hydrogenated oils are more solid than regular oils, so they will take more time to spoil. Also they may feel less greasy.
(http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-hydrogenated-oil.htm)

Hydrogenated and Partially Hydrogenated oils contain Trans- fat. Trans fat is to be avoided!

Consumption of trans fats
-increases LDL levels (bad cholesterol)
-lowers HDL levels (good cholesterol)
-contributes to the development of atherosclerotic plaque
-plays a role in the development of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes
(Fish Oil, Omega-3, and Essential Fatty Acids by Barbara Wexler, MPH)

Not only are trans fats almost impossible for your body to use, they also block the body's ability to use healthy polyunsaturated oils.
(The Optimum Nutrition Bible by Patrick Holford)

Margarines and shortenings are the biggest culprits, containing hydrogenated oils. Limit your use of these products. Use olive oil instead. Read your labels carefully because many seemingly innocent products, especially breads, crackers, cookies, bars, and pastry products contain hydrogenated oils.

Aspartame

Aspartame is masquerading in many "diet" and "sugar-free" foods and also in things like yogurt, children's chewable vitamins, Crystal Light and other powdered drink mixes, ketchup, salad dressings, Slim Fast, protein drink mixes, children's medicines, and of course coffee sweeteners and some creamers.

According to several sources, aspartame
-is the most dangerous artificial sweetener on the market
-accounts for 75% of all adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA
- many of these reactions include seizures and death
- the most common reported symptoms are headache, dizziness, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, insomnia, vision and hearing problems, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, joint pain
-plays a role in the triggering or worsening of the following conditions: brain tumors, MS, epilepsy, CFS, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, and fibromyalgia

It is composed of three chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol

Aspartic acid (40%) is an free excitatory amino acid that can cause serious chronic neurological disorders.

Phenylalanine (50%) is an amino acid normally found in the brain, and ingesting it in such excess can overload the brain, causing serotonin levels to decrease, leading to emotional disorders. Even one use of aspartame can raise phenylalanine levels in the blood enough to affect the brain.

Methanol/Wood Alcohol (10%) is a deadly poison. The absorption of methanol into the body is sped up considerably when free methanol is ingested. IT breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde in the body. An EPA assessment of of methanol states that "it is a cumulative poison due to the low rate of excretion once it is absorbed. Both formic acid and formaldehyde are toxic." One liter of an aspartame sweetened beverage contains about 56 mg of methanol. Formaldehyde is also a known carcinogen, and can cause blindness.

This is scary, especially considering how many children's products have this ingredient. Read all your labels carefully, and avoid anything with aspartame.

Sources: The New Optimum Nutrition Bible by Patrick Holford
Global College of Natural Medicine publications
http://aspartamekills.com/

Nitrates / Nitrites

What are nitrates/ nitrites?

Technically speaking, a nitrate "is a polyatomic ion with the molecular formula NO−3 and a molecular mass of 62.0049 g/mol."(wikipedia)
Nitrites are closely related, and readily oxidized into nitrates.

More importantly, though, nitrates/ nitrites can cause hemoglobin (in your blood) to be unable to carry oxygen . This means that your organs and tissues will not get enough oxygen. This can lead to serious health problems, including death.

Where are nitrates/ nitrites?

In some drinking water (especially from septic systems and water that has been contaminated by ground water), in many vegetables that are grown with nitrate heavy chemical fertilizers, in your food, especially processed meats like hot dogs, salami, lunch meats, and bacon. They are used as preservatives because they maintain the color of the food.

Check out this government website with tons of information on nitrates and toxicity.

Stop eating processed meats, and please filter your drinking water. Especially stop giving your kids ham sandwiches and hot dogs. This stuff is extra harsh on kids.

Even a vegan diet doesn't clear you, sometimes processed soy foods also contain nitrates/ nitrites. READ YOUR LABELS.

Fats

We hear all the craze about good fats vs. bad fats. So what's the deal?

Saturated Fat
animal fats, palm oil, coconut oil (these fats are solid at room temperature)

Unsaturated Fat (includes the following)

Monounsaturated Fat: olive oil, avacado oil (these fats are liquid at room temperature and start to solidify when cooled)

Polyunsaturated Fat: sunflower oil, corn oil, sesame oil (these fats are liquid and stay liquid when cooled)
Trans Fats/Hydrogenated Fats: these are not naturally occurring, but are created when
chemical processes are used to turn liquid oils into solid fats. AVOID THEM AT ALL COSTS

Monounsaturated fats like organic olive oil, organic expeller pressed canola oil , and grapeseed oil are the best for you. Don't use "light" olive oil, as the processing of the oil to make it light removes most of the health benefits.

Many nutritionists recommend that fat intake be around 20% for a health adult. Within this 20%, 5% or less should be of the saturated variety, 5% or less from the polyunsaturated variety, and 10% from monounsatruated fats. Easy things to do include avoiding margarine and shortening of any sort, and using olive oil to cook with.

Let's take this into the vegan world: good sources of fats are avocados, olive oil, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, almonds, and cocoa butter.

Within the polyunsaturated category are important fats that are required for human metabolism. These are called essential fatty acids (EFAs). The body naturally produces all but two of these:
Linoleic Acid (LA) or Omega6
Alpha-Linoleic Acid (ALA) or Omega3

Thus, we must make sure to get these from our diet. They "play vital roles in brain function and the prevention of many chronic diseases as well as normal growth and development." (Wexler)

LA and ALA are needed to manufacture longer chains of fatty acids including:
Omega3's: SDA, ETA, EPA, DPA, DHA
Omega6's: GLA, DGLA, AA

It is recommended that we maintain a 1:1 ration of Omega6's to Omega3's in our bodies. The American diet, however, pushes most people closer to a 20:1 ration (or higher). Therefore, we don't really need to worry about Omega6's. Now, the main Omega3 chains that play a role in human nutrition are ALA, EPA, and DHA. If you consume ALA, your body still has to convert it to EPA and DHA, and
"Human studies show a very limited ability to convert ALA to DHA , the overall conversion efficiency from ALA to EPA plus DHA is estimated around 12%." (source)

So, we need to consume EPA and DHA directly. Many non-vegans get these from fish or fish oil, which are great sources of both, however this method is not risk free. With the arising problems of factory farmed fish, more and more fish are being contaminated with mercury, PCB's, colorants, and now we might have to worry about GMO fish.

So, we turn to plant foods. Walnuts, hemp, chia seeds, flax oil, and purslane are all sources of Omega3's. However, they are also sources of Omega6s (which we certainly don't need), and they are mostly ALA's. This means that our bodies still have to convert to EPA and DHA, at a 12% rate. The amounts of these foods we'd have to eat each day to get optimal amounts (350 mg EPA and 350 mg DHA) of these fats would be impossible!

So, let's go back to the fish. Do they produce these fats in their bodies? No. They get them from the algae they eat. So that's where this whole quest for a plant based source of DHA and EPA has led me: to algae.

Originally most algae based supplements contained only DHA, but recently V-Pure has come out with an algae supplement that contains both EPA and DHA.

This particular supplement contains 50 mg EPA and 350 mg DHA. So, it doesn't contain quite the recommended dose of EPA, but any intake of EPA will help the body not have to convert that amount from ALA.

Also, I think there are other brands/companies that have come out with similar products (I am certainly not advocating one brand over another).

Actually, getting your EPA and DHA straight from algae might lower the risk of toxic effects (like mercury and PCB's) from fish and fish oil. Since, like we said, the fish do not produce these fatty acids themselves, but rather take them in from the algae they eat (for those fish lower on the food chain) or from eating other fish (for larger predatory fish). It's probably best to stay lower on the food chain if you do get your Omega-3's from fish (less of a chance of toxic chemicals, etc.).

Also, you can help your body in the conversion process by doing things like avoiding overuse of alcohol, caffeine, saturated and trans fats, etc. This article has a great list of things that you can do (besides using fish and fish oils) to help balance out your EFAs.

Source: Fish Oil, Omega-3, and Essential Fatty Acids by Barbara Wexler MPH. Woodland Publishing. 2007.

Genetically Modified Foods

Today I came across this article about the possible FDA approval of genetically modified salmon. This makes me feel ill in so many ways. Not only is salmon farming a horrible idea to begin with, as it breeds all sorts of disease, adversely affects wild salmon populations and local fishing economies, and creates fish that has more bad fats, and 50% less Omega3's than w ild salmon (Goodall). Furthermore, farmed salmon has to be dyed pink because it doesn't get the right nutrients in the farm as it does in the wild to be naturally pink. Now we are adding genetically modified organisms to the mix. This sounds like a recipe for disaster! Be wary because this stuff could hit the shelves, and as of now there are no laws requiring its labeling.

There is so much more to eating a healthy diet than making sure to get your fruits and veggies. Unfortunately so many of the crops in the U.S. are genetically modified. This is especially true for soy and corn, and these two foods are used in almost every packaged food you will find in the grocery store. Not only that, but these things are fed to animals that eventually end up on the plates of the majority of Americans. Also canola and cotton are modified frequently.

If you are unfamiliar with GMO food, here is the wikipedia definition: "GMO foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques."

These techniques alter the food to make it resistant to pesticides, drought tolerant, or breed faster. There are so many problems with this, however. GMO crops are contaminating natural crops close to where they are grown. Because they are resistant to things that keep life in check in nature (i.e. wind, bugs, water, other plants), it means that they can proliferate with nothing to stop them. They can take over areas, and other farmers' crops. Since they can unknowingly cross pollinate with other plants, it is impossible to know what percentage of non-GMO foods are actually now carrying GMO genes. This is scary business.

The health risks in humans has not been adequately studied, but several studies have shown adverse affects in lab animals. Humans have reported many allergic reactions and other health problems in association with GMO's. Monarch butterfly caterpillars were proven to have a high mortality rate from pollen from Bt corn, according to one study. In another study, lab rats who were fed GM potatoes "suffered weakened immune systems, and damaged thymus and spleen. Some of the rats had smaller, less-developed brains, livers, and testicles. Yet others had enlarged tissues, including pancreases and intestines. These serious effects were apparent within ten days of eating the potatoes" (Goodall 61). In another study, rats fed FlavrSavr GMO tomatoes developed stomach lesions, and seven out of forty of them died within 2 weeks. (Goodall 60). Furthermore, in many situations, animals have shown preference for organic foods over GMO foods. Wild geese eat canola from non-GMO fields versus the GMO fields. One farmer offered his cows one trough of Bt corn and one of natural corn, and every single cow chose the natural corn. The same has been observed in hogs, mice, rats, and chimpanzees. (Goodall).

So is it really worth the risk? The only benefits of GM food is to the producers, who make a fat profit, and eventually to the drug companies who can sell you drugs when your health declines.

Be aware that there are NO LAWS requiring the labeling of GMO foods in the U.S. These foods can be in anything, and we the consumers have no rights to know this. The only way you can avoid these foods is to buy organic. GMO's are not allowed in organic foods.

GM foods contaminate wild populations, promote the use of pesticides and other chemicals, take resources away from naturally grown food and the people who grow it, etc., etc.

Please visit Say No to GMO's for more detailed information.

More resources include
Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating by Jane Goodall. 2005.
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. 2006.
Seeds of Deception
FDA Hearing