More profit driven propaganda!

Because soy is one of the two biggest US government subsidized crops, and because soy is also one of the two most common ingredients, in some way shape or form, in ALL processed foods, and because soy is one of the two biggest GMO crops on the market today, there is an enormous profit driven need and desire to make the public believe that it is healthy.  Many deep greedy pockets depend on it!

So when I read an article like this one in today's health news... Woman who ate more soy survive lung cancer better,  I am not the least bit surprised. Disturbed... but not surprised.

The majority of the soy consumed today as part of the typical American unhealthy diet is through the consumption of processed foods.  And aside from maybe "soy lecithin" the average consumer would never connect the dots between an ingredient listed on the package and its laboratory altered soy derived counterpart. 

This is why GMO soy (and corn) is such big business.  It can be shaped molded and restructured at the molecular level into whatever the food manufacturer wants or needs. 

What this "article with an agenda" fails to mention is that fermented soy (like Miso), not the otherwise heavily consumed filler, binder, flavor enhancer, preservative, etc. that is found in processed foods is the dietary staple for countries like China or Japan. 

It's important to remember that with fermented foods, unlike their unfermented counterpart, any and all anti-nutrients present in the original food are no longer present in this naturally modified version.  In fact fermentation increases the level of nutrients within the given food while adding the bonus of gut-friendly bacteria, which by now you should know is essential in a healthy diet.

So before you jump on the bandwagon and ramp up your already overloaded daily intake of unhealthy soy, make sure you know the facts.

All for a good cause...

I find it disturbing that our society is so hooked on processed sugary foods that it has become socially acceptable... No, expected that we take part in the consumption of them all in the name of "a good cause".

Case in point, Girl Scout cookies.

Today a coworker has brought in boxes and boxes of Girl Scout cookies to hand out to those who previously "contributed to the cause".  My question here is, what exactly is the cause?  Cancer... Diabetes... Heart disease... Autoimmune disease... Obesity?

All valid questions since processed foods (sugar) in the American diet can be blamed for nearly every chronic disease we suffer.  And yet those of us who make a conscious daily effort to NOT support what has become a lifestyle fraught in disease and chronic disorders, but rather support the prevention of disease are left having to explain our actions; or lack thereof.

Label me what you will, I refuse to be a supporter of the leading cause of death and medically induced financial debt in this country.  I stand firmly behind my actions and believe that by NOT taking part in this perceived social obligation is the true action done for a good cause!

I support my local organic sustainable farmers for a Good Cause!

I pasture my own laying hens in my back yard for a Good Cause!

I do NOT support factory farming for a Good Cause!

I support those companies that do NOT support the use of GMOs in our food, for a Good Cause!

I support the act of humanly raising farmed animals rather than the abusive torturous mistreatment they would otherwise endure, for a Good Cause!

I try to live my life with the belief that humans are not a superior all entitled species but rather merely a part (small part in fact) of the circle of life on this planet that starts and ends with the countless microorganisms that make up not only the land we live on but our bodies as well... for a Good Cause!

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

I found this article by Christopher Masterjohn on the benefits and importance of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, K) to be a great example of why a diet high in healthy saturated fat is crucial for optimal health.  The author goes to great lengths explaining how these vitamins along with minerals (Magnesium, Zinc) work together in synergy and how they fall short without the proper daily amounts of each.

The Benefits of Fat-Soluble Vitamins...

I found his detailed discussion on the history of cod liver oil consumption in the US over the last ~100 years to be a great example of the nutritional power of a whole-food supplements, and why taking the right ones can be far superior to simply cherry picking individual vitamins thought to be important.   I started taking fermented cod liver oil a few years ago as a healthy source for Omega-3 fatty acid, but soon found out that it was naturally high in Vitamins D and A along with trace amounts of other beneficial nutrients. 

If you get a chance, give this article a read, I guarantee you it will be well worth your time.  Especially if you are still skeptical on the importance of a high fat diet.

Food allergies start in the gut.

I read an article in today's health news about a doctor who treated (desensitized) a child of multiple food allergies at once with the use of a "powerful drug" along with small daily doses of the allergen. 

What bothers me most about this is this treatment is that it does not fix the underlying issue at the root of the problem... Poor diet resulting in a damaged and compromised gut (immune system)!

Unfortunately like most children in this country (adults as well) this 10-year old's diet most likely consists of excessive amounts of sugar and grains (glucose), which ultimately leads to insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, an unhealthy environment within the gut, and a damaged lining of the intestinal wall (compromised immune system).  And it's my guess that most people are all too familiar with the resulting diseases and disorders; obesity, diabetes, Chron's disease, heart disease, cancer, and basically every other autoimmune disease on record... the list is endless!

But in sticking with the topic at hand (food allergies) whether the allergic reaction is minor or severe one thing is for sure, the damage within the body should be the focus of attention not simply minimizing the resulting side effects.  When allergic reactions occur it means the intestinal wall has been compromised.  As microscopic food particles penetrate the intestinal lining entering the blood stream, an all-out war within the body begins as the compromised immune system battles these foreign intruders.  The resulting allergic reaction with varying intensities causes acute side effects ranging from minor skin irritations to anaphylactic shock.  But it's the chronic effects that will ultimately lead to disease and disorder. 

It has been over seven years since I found out that I am allergic to both (cow) dairy and soy.  And rather than make it my life's mission to find a drug that simply blocks the pain and discomfort, I have made it my mission to find and fix the root of the problem.  Sure in the beginning I was consumed with finding food alternatives to those I was allergic to, but this has since morphed into a journey in search of the true meaning of a healthy diet.  And what I've learned is that a healthy diet is key.  

In short your diet should:

1. Promote a natural healthy insulin response
2. Promote a healthy bacterial friendly environment within the body
3. Inhibit (not promote) inflammation

And this can easily be done with a diet low in sugar and processed foods; gluten free and low in grains; high in healthy saturated fats and high quality protein, high in unpasteurized fermented foods like homemade sauerkraut, pickles and kombucha.  Remember, maintaining a healthy gut is the most important thing you can do to improve your health.  

The POWER to make a difference!

If you're thinking how can I one lowly person possibly make a difference when it comes to our food industry, think again. 

Every time you choose NOT to support the use of GMO's by buying organic; and every time you choose to "buck the (factory farmed) system" by supporting your local organic sustainable farmer, you are no doubt making a difference.

Every time you choose food raised in a humane sustainable manner, you are making a statement LOUD AND CLEAR that says you will not be a part of a failing food industry that poisons its people, animals, and the environment alike. 

Every time you question what's in your food instead of blindly looking the other way, you are setting a precedence.  You are saying I want the right to know what's in my food and I won't let a company's profit and greed overshadow what really matters when it comes to the food we eat. 

So the next time you're thinking what's the use, remember this... a consumer's power to choose may just be the biggest weapon we have!  You don't need legislation to mandate, and you can't rely on others to look out for your health and well-being.  It's your responsibility to educate yourself on what it means to live a healthy lifestyle. 

It's your right to be a part of the solution, supporting those (people, farms, and companies alike) who are making a positive difference, just as it's your right to refuse to be a part of the problem!

Fewer calories does NOT equal weight loss!

Over the past year or so I have learned a lot about what a healthy diet truly means.  That is, what the common misconceptions are and why we should avoid them.  So what I don't quite understand is that if I can "see the light" when it comes to a healthy diet then why can't the medical and nutritionist communities?  It's headlines like this one in today's health news US obesity mystery... that boggles my mind.

So if you are as confused as the "experts" when it comes to obesity, rest assured you are not alone.  But there is something you can do.  Familiarize yourself with 4 of the most common dietary misconceptions, and then do the opposite! 

1. Fewer calories equals weight loss. 
1. This common misconception is one of the major reasons many of the fad diets on the market do not work.  All calories are NOT created equal!  Sugar (fructose consumption) in the form of High Fructose Corn Syrup is metabolized totally differently than glucose, with much of it being turned into fat rather than utilized by the body as a quick energy boost.  And to make matters worse it has been documented that HF corn syrup interferes with the receptors in your brain that would normally tell the body that it has been satisfied.  And for all those hooked on the so called "zero calorie" foods, keep in mind your body isn't fooled.  The body is designed to expect calories to follow sugar intake, and when this caloric intake is not fulfilled the body will continue to crave calories until it is satisfied ultimately causing you to consume more calories!   And one important side note Aspartame, the most common sugar substitute on the market today, is VERY toxic due to the way the human body metabolizes menthol, converting it into formaldehyde. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/11/07/aspartame-causes-blood-cancer.aspx
2. Eating fat makes you fat.
1. This is another big dietary misconception, and has proven to be one of the most deadly!  The move from diets high in healthy saturated fat (organic pastured meats, eggs, organic coconut, etc.) to diets high in unhealthy vegetable oils which become toxic when heated up during cooking due to their weak molecular bonds, has led to a dramatic increase (not decrease) in cases of coronary heart disease then was present in this country a decade or so ago.  The fact is a healthy diet should consist of 50% or more of healthy saturated fat.  Humans were designed by nature to be "Fat burning machines".  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/31/coconut-oil-for-healthy-heart.aspx
3. A high cholesterol diet will cause heart disease.
1. This all too common and all too deadly misconception ties directly into the "fat = fat" misconception.  What's important to remember here is that cholesterol is utilized by nearly every cell in the body, making it probably the most important nutrient that you can consume.  And a number of new studies have pointed to the American push for a "heart healthy low cholesterol diet" as well as the excessive use of  cholesterol lowering drugs, as the leading causes of many of the diseases plaguing our society today.  This is in major contrast to what most all nutritional and medical experts will lead you to believe.  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/01/16/cholesterol-regulates-cell-signaling.aspx
4. Whole grains are part of a heart healthy diet
1. Grains, especially those containing gluten which are extremely hard to digest, simply put are nothing more than glucose to the body.  That's sugar in Layamon's terms!  And this point cannot be stressed enough; sugar interferes with the body's natural insulin response, causes inflammation, and in excess (which is the case for most American's) is the root cause of most if not all of the major chronic diseases that affect modern society.  http://cookingallergyfree.blogspot.com/2012/11/dont-believe-heart-healthy-advertising.html

Don't Ignore Chronic Inflammation!

I think for our health's sake this point cannot be stressed enough...

Don't Ignore Chronic Inflammation!

Being someone whose journey into the 'world of natural healing' started because of the relentless struggles with chronic inflammation, I feel even more obligated to share every little bit of knowledge I've picked up along the way... and continue to.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/03/07/inflammation-triggers-disease-symptoms.aspx

Whether or not you or someone you know suffers from some form of chronic inflammation (Crohn's, Celiac, Arthritis, Tendonitis, Asthma, Lupus, Heart Disease, Alzheimer's, etc.  ), reading the article link above may be the most important health related news you read all year!  I say this because even if you are not currently aware of a chronic inflammatory problem, if your diet is anything close to the typical American diet high in sugar, grains, and processed foods, you are already most likely years into one of the life threatening diseases.  But don't take my word for it, see for yourself.

Unfortunately in today's world it is nearly impossible, even for the super health conscious, to avoid all forms of toxins.  Fortunately though you can not only control but counteract environmental toxin exposure through a healthy diet low in sugar (including grains) and high in Saturated Fat (from an organic pastured animal source as well as from a raw organic coconut source), Omega-3, Fermented foods (of the homemade non-pasteurized variety) , fresh organic vegetables, Vitamin D (sunlight), and a few extra supplemental antioxidants.

I am not a doctor and I do not have a degree in the medical field.  I do however have years of personal experience suffering from the effects of a poor diet, and more importantly the astonishing positive effects of a healthy diet!

Stay Educated when it comes to your health.

Never assume and always question (the "norm").

And remember that a healthy lifestyle must start in the kitchen!