Thursday, December 31, 2009

Roger Haeske - on Steamed Vegetables

Some "leaders" in the raw food community would have you believe
that steaming your vegetables and other foods for that matter has
no adverse effects on your health.

Or that eating a little bit of cooked food is necessary for ideal
health.

Let's examine this a bit more closely shall we.

Consider what happens to a food when you steam it? You are
destroying it or breaking it down. You're literally killing and
rupturing all of the cells in the food by the steaming process.

But this is no simple breaking down process. It's a chemical
reaction. A chemist named Maillard discovered that hundreds of
new molecules are created in a potato by boiling it.

You're body treats these molecules as poison. That's why white
blood cell counts go up when you eat cooked food but not with raw
foods.

Do you think that steaming doesn't create new chemical bonds and
molecules?

Imagine what would happen if you steamed your eyes? Ouch it's not
something you'd want to imagine is it. Within 10 seconds you'd have
done permanent damage to your eyes. I'm sure with a minute of
steaming, if you could take the pain, you'd be blind.

But remember this my friends, "steaming is good for you and doesn't
damage your food"

NOT!

So why torture your food and render it poisonous before it enters
your body?

Consider the difference between a raw romaine lettuce leaf versus a
steamed one. They're going to look and taste very different... don't
you think? Can't be from the benign steaming could it?

The steamed romaine leaf would be a shadow if its former self. All
of the life energy would be steamed right out of it. In fact, I'd
bet there wouldn't be very much left after you steamed it.

Or compare the taste, texture and vibration (yes all foods have a
vibration - tis a scientific fact) of a raw cucumber versus a
steamed one. Or what about raw celery versus steamed celery.

They're all going to be remarkably different.

Maybe this example will really bring it home to you.

Compare the feeling and life force of fresh squeezed orange juice
versus pasteurized OJ you can get from the supermarket in the
cardboard box. There's no life, no tingle to it.

Pasteurized orange juice from the supermarket tastes dead because
it is dead. The life force and all of the bacteria has been killed
off by the heating process.

Same exact thing happens when you steam something.

Steaming like any other form of cooking introduces chaos into your
system. Steaming will kill you slowly from the inside out.

Imagine what would happen if you tried steaming an ant. It would
probably be dead in less than 60 seconds. Do you really want to
kill the cells of your food? Think about it.

There are also subtle radiant energies that you can't see with the
human eye that are damaged or destroyed by any form of cooking.
You're literally cooking the light and life out of your food.

We didn't evolve to eat this steamed crap either.

Even if I believed in the "THEORY of evolution" which I in no way,
shape or form do we still haven't had nearly enough time to evolve
to eating cooked food anyway.

Physiologist suggest that we would need up to 500,000 years or much
longer for evolutionary change to occur. Well guess what? The human
species didn't start cooking in earnest until about 10,000 years
ago with the advent of agriculture.

In fact, most of the evidence points to not an evolution from
eating cooked food but an immediate devolution of the human
species.

Just look at your cooked neighbors and see what kind of state of
health they're in.

No way am I going to start eating cooked chaos. Yes that's what
steaming does, it adds chaos to a formerly orderly system.

I'm quite sure if you compared the cellular structure of raw
broccoli versus steamed broccoli under a microscope you'd see
something startling.

Do you think steaming would enhance the beauty of the cells of
broccoli or make it look chaotic, disorganized and unnatural?

Steaming is a health destroyer.

Now if you want to eat some steamed veggies more power to ya. I'm
certainly not condemning you.

It's not my business or concern, but if you want to be as happy,
healthy and vibrant as possible, you simply cannot accomplish that
by eating steamed vegetables.

You have to go 100% raw.

By steaming your food, you steam yourself. Don't allow that COOKED
POISON into your system.

And if you're still eating cooked, that's ok, just remember when
the day comes that you want to have ideal health and happiness
you'll want to drop all forms of cooking, whether steamed, boiled
or broiled its got to go.

Another big problem with steaming foods is a psychological one.
Once you open the door to the super addictive cooked foods via
steaming. Who's to say you don't quickly increase your intake of
cooked foods.

After all you're already eating some steamed veggies, why not eat
some steamed dumplings or heck why not steam some veggies and wrap
them in a tortilla wrap.

By going 100% raw you don't continue to deepen your cooked food
addiction.

But if you regularly eat steamed veggies you'll almost certainly
want other cooked food as well because you can't break the cooked
food addiction while you're still eating it.

Cooked food is highly addictive just like cocaine and other drugs.

Cooking foods creates hundreds and thousands of new molecules that
don't exist in nature and didn't exist until the food was cooked.

Matters not that it was steamed because applying heat beyond a
certain temperature is going to reek havoc on your food and in turn
on you.

So if you haven't figured it out yet, I'm NOT in favor of steaming
vegetables.

To Your Radiant Health, Happiness and Infinite Potential,

Roger Haeske
The 42-Year Old Teanajer

P.S. Instead of steaming your vegetables why not make them into the
most delicious raw stew you've ever tasted.

Check out my Savory Veggie Stews Holiday Sale:

http://SavoryVeggieStews.com

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Fuyu Pomegranate Salad

RECIPE: Fuyu-Pomegranate Salad

Right now the most abundant food is the Persimmon! My town is practically swimming in Persimmons. I love persimmons! Here is a simple, tasy delight to make with this amazing fruit:

3 Fuyu persimmons, cubed
1 Gala apple, cored and cubed
1 Anjou pear, cored and sliced
handful of fresh mint, rough chopped
1/4 C pomegranate seeds

Vinaigrette:
1 orange, juiced
1 Tbsp orange zest
1 Tbsp raw honey
1/4 C cold-pressed olive oil
2 Tbsp champagne vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar ~Jill)
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and toss with vinaigrette to distribute evenly. Serve over a bed of fresh baby spinach or mâche.

This recipe is courtesy of Earth Mother from In The Raw

The 5 BEST Foods on the Planet

Top Ten Best Foods by Natalie

Top Ten Worst Drinks by Natalie

Acrylamide in American Foods

http://www.cspinet.org/new/200206251.html

Acrylamide is a carcinogenic substance. Among the findings:

Acrylamide in Foods: Micrograms per Serving
Water, 8 oz., EPA limit	0.12
Boiled Potatoes, 4 oz.	<3
Old El Paso Taco Shells, 3, 1.1oz.	1
Ore Ida French Fries (uncooked), 3 oz.	5
Ore Ida French Fries (baked), 3 oz.	28
Honey Nut Cheerios, 1 oz.	6
Cheerios, 1 oz.	7
Tostitos Tortilla Chips, 1 oz.	5
Fritos Corn Chips, 1 oz.	11
Pringles Potato Crisps, 1 oz.	25
Wendy’s French Fries, Biggie, 5.6 oz.	39
KFC Potato Wedges, Jumbo, 6.2 oz.	52
Burger King French Fries, large, 5.7 oz.	59
McDonald’s French Fries, large, 6.2 oz.	82

The Ten Worst Foods by Natalie

Arthritis

by Djehuty Ma'at-Ra
LINK TO FULL ARTICLE BELOW

Most modern day suffers of arthritis (and tendonitis and gout) are fighting the symptoms of these inflammatory diseases with pharmaceutical grade drugs. Even though God instructed Bible believers to heal themselves with herbs (Revelations 22:2, Ezekiel 47:12, and Pslams 104:14), in their strange obedience to God, they take the enemy's pharmaceutical drugs that prolong the arthritis. Why and how? Because pharmaceutical grade drugs, though made from alkaloids, eventually break down into ACID (especially ascetic acid, which eats your red blood cells up) in the body, and acid produces inflammation, so how intelligent is it to take something to target the symptom which eventually lengthens and worsen the initial condition?

Mother Nature has provided healing for arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. To heal from arthritis, all one needs to consume is certain herbs. Herbs that are anti-inflammatory in nature are the best to heal from arthritis. These herbs include Meadowsweet, Peppermint, Wintergreen, Birch, White and Black Willow Bark and Balm of Gilead.

However, other certain herbs work synergistically with the herbs supra. Personally, no healing from arthritis can take place efficiently without the following herbs: Devil's Claw, Boswellia (Frankincense), Uva Ursi, Mullein leaves, Saffron, Cayenne pepper, Feverfew, and Guaiac wood.

Devil's Claw, Boswellia, Uva Ursi, and Mullein are the paramount arthritis herbs. They greatly counteract mucus, which is the byproduct of acid, which causes inflammation.

Organic sulfur, commonly called MSM Sulfur, is also great in healing arthritis. So is Noni juice!

You can make your own healing salve as well from a base butter or oil such as shea or cocoa butter, coconut, olive, or almond oil (or any other good oil) and add in a few drops (10-15 drops) of the following essential oils: Peppermint, Clove, Wintergreen, Eucalyptus, Birch, and/or Spearmint.

You can rub this salve directly on your joints or other problems area. It is very soothing and healing.

And of course, as an herbalist, I have formulated my own Joint Formula that consists of all the herbs mentioned above that is a powerful little formula that works wonders for me when my wrists start to hurt from excessive typing (typing up all that legal pleading).

I can't forget about magnet therapy as well for arthritis. Magnets make a problem or injured area alkaline and also enhances circulation to the problem area so that healing can begin.

I should also mention the importance of pineapple enzymes called Bromelain for the healing of arthritis and other acid conditions. Bromelain or pineapple enzymes are anti-inflammatory in nature and effect and therefore provide healing for arthritis. They taste just like candy and are chewable and you can chew as much as you like, although 3-6 tablets after dinner ought to get the job done. You can find Bromelain at most good health food stores.

Soaking inflamed body parts in hot water and essential oils of Peppermint and Eucalyptus is also beneficial for arthritis.

But most importantly in fighting arthritis is modified diet. Cut out or cut down on meat and dairy products. These are two of the biggest culprits in causing arthritis. A vegetable cocktail consisting of celery, parsley, apple and/or carrot (for sweetness and base) 3-4 times weekly will greatly remove acid buildup in the joints. By all means, avoid all acidic beverages (beer, soda pop, milk, orange juice, wine, coffee, etc.).

Please read this excellent article and many others at: http://www.dherbs.com/articles/causes-arthritis-34.html

The Asininity of Egg Consumption

The Asininity of EGG Consumption

by Djehuty Ma'at-Ra

Link to full article below

Most people who eat or consume eggs and products made with eggs are not consciously aware of the reality of what eggs are and what they represent. Now I don't presume to know everything, but I do know about or am aware of the overwhelmingly majority of things I do (and say), especially regarding the things I eat or consume or put on my body. I don't mess around or take any chances when it comes to food and beverage. I am a very conscious, fastidious, and disciplined consumer of food and beverage and I only consume victuals.

If you eat eggs, there are some things you should know about eggs. First of all, what is an egg? The word egg is defined as: 1a. A female reproductive cell; ovum. B. the round or oval reproductive body of various animals, such as birds, reptiles, fishes, and insects, containing the embryo and covered with a shell or membrane. 2. A hen's egg used as food. ]. American Heritage Dictionary (2001), 4th edition, pg. 274

So for those of us who don't or didn't know it, at least consciously, eggs pertain to female ovum. The egg contains bio-genetic makeup of its parent organism and to know something about that egg, we must know something about the progenitor of that egg.

[ABRIDGED]

Eating eggs causes a host of diseases and pathologies. Eggs play a pivotal role in all female reproductive diseases, e.g. fibroid tumors, uterine cysts, breast cancer and tumors, menstrual irregularities, etc. Also, since these chicken eggs that many people eat are STERILIZED or infertile due to the sterilization process to prevent them from rotting (decaying), when women and men eat these eggs, they are in fact blindly helping to impair their own sexual fertility and potency. This is very true! Everything you eat negatively or positively, natural or unnatural, affects you and your entire being. So yes, eggs play a role in infertility and impotence.

Eggs also play a role in high cholesterol. Believe the hype on that.

Egg consumption is implicated in prostate woes. [...]

You should also know that since corporate farms (which are really high rise buildings) have genetically engineered their own birds for evil corporate purposes, they are also producing and marketing the eggs from these Frankenstein creatures. These Frankenstein chicken creatures are pumped with batches of synthetic female estrogen hormone to make the creatures develop bigger and to also produce more eggs. The scary thing to me is that since the companies have the patent on these genetically engineered creatures, they have the rights on their byproducts - the eggs. Therefore, these genetically-engineered chicken-like creatures (who don't have feet, feathers, or beaks) produce eggs that are naturally sterile and devitalized and will not hatch under any circumstances. These are the eggs many of you are eating today and don't have a clue about!

Please read the full article: http://www.dherbs.com/articles/eggs-8.html

The Sweet Lure of Chocolate - Interesting & Fun Site

http://www.exploratorium.edu/exploring/exploring_chocolate/

Chocolate's Potential Health Benefits – and its Effect on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients

by Patti Schmidt
March 29, 2002
LINK TO FULL ARTICLE BELOW

Researchers have some news for chocolate lovers: it may be good for you. Scientists reported preliminary evidence recently that cocoa and other chocolates may keep high blood pressure down, your blood flowing and your heart healthy.

The research, the latest which correlates eating flavonoid-rich foods with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease(1), was presented in February at the American Association for the Advancement of Science's (AAAS) annual meeting in Boston.

One study found that a substance in cocoa helps the body process nitric oxide (NO), a compound critical for healthy blood flow and blood pressure. Another study showed that flavonols in cocoa prevent fat-like substances in the bloodstream from oxidizing and clogging the arteries, and make blood platelets less likely to stick together and cause clots. Flavonoids are plant compounds with potent antioxidant properties; so far, scientists have found more than 4,000 kinds. Cocoa beans contain large quantities of flavonoids, and so do red wine, tea, cranberries, peanuts, strawberries, apples and many other fruits and vegetables.(2) The flavonoids in chocolate are called flavonols.

Generally, science has found that dark chocolate is higher in flavonoids than milk chocolate.(3) The way that cocoa powder and chocolate syrups are manufactured removes most flavonoids.

Nitric Oxide

In the first study, researchers gave Boston volunteers cocoa with either a high or low amount of flavonols. Those who drank cocoa with more flavonols showed more nitric oxide activity.(4)

"Nitric oxide plays such an important role in the maintenance of healthy blood pressure and, in turn, cardiovascular health," said lead researcher Dr. Norman K. Hollenberg, physician and professor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

The residents of an island called Kuna in Panama prompted Hollenberg's study. These indigenous people rarely develop high blood pressure, although they drink about 5 cups of cocoa each day and include it in many recipes. But if they leave the island, the risk of high blood pressure increases, and studies found it wasn't related to salt intake or obesity.

Next, Hollenberg's team will determine if regulating nitric oxide with flavonols has a positive impact.

"If our research results continue to support a link between consumption of flavonol-rich cocoa and nitric oxide synthesis, there could be significant implications for public health," said Hollenberg.

Promotes Blood Flow

The other study compared how blood platelets responded to a flavonol-rich cocoa drink with 25 grams of semi-sweet chocolate pieces and a blood-thinning, 81-milligram aspirin dose. The research found similar reactions to the two from a group of 20- to 40-year-olds: both the drink and the aspirin prevented platelets from sticking together or clotting, which can impede blood flow.(5)

In other words, flavonol-rich cocoa and chocolate act similarly to low-dose aspirin in promoting healthy blood flow. Reducing the blood's ability to clot also reduces the risk of stroke and heart attacks.

Lead study author Dr. Carl Keen cautioned that his team isn't suggesting that people eat a couple of candy bars instead of taking their daily dose of aspirin.

"We're not advocating that people consume flavonol-rich foods in place of aspirin," stressed Keen, who is also the University of California-Davis nutrition department chairman. For people who cannot take aspirin, however, he said eating flavonol-rich foods "may be a useful approach."

He noted one important difference between aspirin and flavonol-rich foods: "The effects you see in aspirin are longer-lasting than the effects you see in flavonols," he said.

Although the trial involved just 40 people, Keen called the results "remarkably robust" and said the platelet effect may be related to the nitric oxide benefits found by Hollenberg's study.

Keen's team currently has an article under review in which they show a direct comparison to low-dose aspirin using the same study group.

"The next thing on our agenda is to look at chronic effects," said Keen. "What happens when a person has a high flavonol intake for two weeks? Do you still see the same effects? Many times...the body adapts or adjusts and you don't necessarily see the same thing after two or three weeks."

CFS & Chocolate

Many CFS specialists consider chocolate one of a few substances their patients should stay away from completely. CFS specialist Chuck Lapp, M.D., is one of them.

"I've always recommended that PWCs avoid sugar, caffeine, alcohol, Nutrasweet and tobacco," said Lapp, director of the Hunter Hopkins Center in Charlotte, NC. (He tells patients to remember the things they shouldn't eat by remembering the mnemonic SCANT, the first letter of each of those words.)

"These items are not tolerated well," he said. "PWCs tend to have hypoglycemia, and eating refined sugar - like chocolate candy - triggers reactive hypoglycemia, or a 'let down' in energy a couple hours later. And the cocoa used in cake, for example, doesn't contain refined sugar, but has a caffeine-like effect."

Dick Bruno, M.D., agrees. He's Director of the Fatigue Management Programs and Post-Polio Institute at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in Englewood, NJ.

"PWCs shouldn't use anything containing caffeine- including chocolate, coffee, tea or soda-to pump themselves up," said Dr. Bruno. "What's more, we discourage the 'sugar high' carbs provide and recommend a hypoglycemia diet: using protein as a long-lasting source of fuel to supply and turn on damaged, brain-activating system neurons."

Chocolate's Benefits?

A PWC who was a true chocoholic could do a little research and argue that there are several bioactive compounds in chocolate that promote alertness, lessen pain and promote well-being.

For example, the stimulants theobromine, caffeine, tyramine and phenylethylamine (PEA) provide a brain-fogged PWC with a much-needed lift. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, lessens anxiety by producing the neurotransmitter serotonin; endorphins, the body's natural opiates, reduce sensitivity to pain.(6)

Anandamide acts like a cannabinoid to promote relaxation.(7) And last but certainly not least, chocolate is a natural analgesic, and high-fat, chocolate foods trigger the brain's production of natural opiates. (6)

So let's sum up. Chocolate gives you an energy lift, less anxiety, a reduction in pain-who wouldn't recommend something that did all that? Well, a nutritionist or biochemist could argue that chocolate doesn't contain much of these ingredients.

For example, while caffeine does encourage alertness, there is less caffeine in chocolate than there is in a cup of coffee. (6) (There are about 30 milligrams of caffeine in your average chocolate bar, while a cup of coffee contains 100 -150 mgs.)

Another example: PEA causes blood pressure and blood sugar to rise, and you'll feel alert and content for awhile. But those good feelings are likely to be followed by a sugar-induced drop in energy that leaves you more tired than before you ate the candy.

Cannabinoids are substances that mimic marijuana. The chemical in marijuana that makes people "high" - tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - binds to certain receptors in the brain. The anandamide in chocolate can bind to the same receptors, producing a "high."(8)

However, Christian Felder at the National Institute of Mental Health would point out that a 130-pound person would have to eat 25 pounds of chocolate all at once to get a marijuana-like effect. (8)

And what about chocolate's ability to trigger the brain's natural opiates? At a CFS conference held September 1999 in Brussels, Belgium, Professor Jonathan Brostoff of London discussed "Allergy in CFS." He said about 25 percent of the population suffers from intolerances or allergies and the percentage is the same for PWCs.

Brostoff said food and inhalant sensitivities could lead to health problems, including migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, arthralgia and chronic fatigue. He suggested an elimination diet to find out whether someone is intolerant. Furthermore, he blamed the "exorphins" (external morphine-like substances) in chocolate for "gut problems" and even "psychological sequelae."(9)

Don't laugh: A study published in 1999 in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that chocolate contains "several biologically active constituents (methylxanthines, biogenic amines, and cannabinoid-like fatty acids), all of which potentially cause abnormal behaviors and psychological sensations that parallel those of other addictive substances."(10)

So, about those chocolate cravings: At "The Challenge of Chronic Illness" CFS conference in Sydney, Australia, in 1999, Abhijit Chaudhuri, a neurologist on the Glasgow, Scotland-based team researching CFS, said about 40 percent of his patients routinely craved chocolate. He suggested SSRIs or and low-dose tricyclics to help prevent those cravings.

Some people find that Bupropion (Wellbutrin) reduces chocolate cravings.(6) That may be because Bupropion's chemical structure is similar to PEA.(11)

Antioxidant Power

Here's an argument you could win with the nutritionist: Studies show that cocoa powder, dark chocolate and milk chocolate have higher Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) values than many common foods, such as prunes and blueberries. (12) (ORAC values measure how powerful an antioxidant a substance is. An antioxidant is a substance that inhibits oxidation or reactions promoted by oxygen and peroxides, and that include many held to protect the living body from the deleterious effects of free radicals. Examples include beta-carotene, vitamin C, and alpha-tocopherol.

Dark chocolate has more than 13,000 ORAC units and milk chocolate has about 6,700, according to the Chocolate Manufacturers Association in McLean, Va. Unsweetened powdered cocoa starts out with almost twice as much antioxidants as dark chocolate, but when it's diluted with water or milk and sugar to make hot chocolate, the flavonoid total per serving plummets to about half that in milk chocolate. (13)

In different terms, a 40-gram serving of milk chocolate contains about 400 milligrams of antioxidants, the same as a glass of red wine, according to research published by Joe A. Vinson of the University of Scranton, Pa. (14) Vinson's team's results were also supported by ACRI.

Vinson and his colleagues found that the flavonoids in chocolate are more powerful than vitamins such as ascorbic acid in protecting circulating lipids from oxidation.(14) Atherosclerosis studies suggest that oxidation of lipoproteins is part of the process that creates the plaque that clogs artery walls. (1)

"Chocolate just stands out," Vinson said. "It's much higher than anything else."

If that doesn't convince your doctor, try this: researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that those who eat chocolate and sweets up to three times each month live almost a year longer than those who eat too much or those who steer clear of junk altogether. (15)

Link to full article: http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?id=3464&t=CFIDS_FM

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Mario's Sexy Ink Not Mink Ad - PETA - Soulful R&B singing sensation Mario says, "Be comfortable in your own skin, and let animals keep theirs."

https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2051&c=pfs

The Organic Pet

THE ORGANIC PET
By Kim Ridgeway,
CEO Meyer Country Farms, Ltd.

http://www.theorganicreport.com/pages/279_the_organic_pet.cfm

What we feed our beloved pets is as important as what we put into
our own bodies. The American public is becoming more
health-conscious and this attitude includes their pets. A recent
survey by the American Veterinary Medical Association revealed that
nearly 50% of the respondents considered their pets as members of the
family. Most of the remaining viewed them as pets/companions. The
AVMA reported that 58.3% of all households own at least one pet and
60% of the pet-owning homes actually own more than one pet.

[ABRIDGED]

Many of the benefits which result from people eating organic foods
will hold true for pets as well. Clearly the pesticides,
insecticides and other poisons that humans avoid, should also be
removed from the diets of our special pets.

So, where do you find good, wholesome, organic pet food and treats?
When shopping at a large grocery store outlet or pet food warehouse,
you might find yourself empty handed. One alternative is to focus on
the smaller pet food stores as well as doing searching on
www.TheOrganicPages.com. Just as in other important areas of
concern in our life, reading labels and gathering information will
help.

To read the full article:
http://www.theorganicreport.com/pages/279_the_organic_pet.cfm

Herbs At a Glance

Herbs At A Glance

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/herbsataglance.htm

Excellent article: Aboxalypse Now - Overpackaging

[Note: With regard to food, eating raw food eliminates the need for most packaging.]

Aboxalypse Now
Overpackaging, killer clamshells, and other common triggers of wrap rage.
By Elizabeth Gettelman
LINK TO FULL ARTICLE BELOW

Nearly 10% of a typical product's price is for packaging.

The global packaging market is worth $429 billion.

Nearly 1/3 of Americans' waste [1] is packaging. Just 43% is recycled after use.

In 2007, Americans threw away 78.5 million tons of packaging—520 pounds per person. That's a 71% increase from 1960.

A 2008 bill written by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) [2] would have required the EPA to find ways to reduce packaging waste by 30% in a decade. It died with no cosponsors.

35% of Americans say that they seek alternatives to excessively packaged goods, and nearly 1/2 of consumers worldwide say they'd sacrifice convenience for more environmentally sustainable packaging.

Last summer, Sam's Club began selling milk in a stackable plastic jug with a smaller energy footprint. It cut the price of a gallon by as much as 20 cents, but consumers complained that it spilled too easily.

Between Thanksgiving and New Year's, Americans produce more than 1 million tons of additional garbage per week.

If every family reused the wrapping from 3 gifts, it would save enough paper to cover 50,000 football fields.

Holiday waste [3] prompted a British mall to hire a mathematician to devise a formula for using the least gift wrap. The big secret: The wrapping paper should be a little longer than the length of the gift. Its width should be just a little more than the sum of the gift's width and depth.

"I shouldn't have to start each Christmas morning with a needle-nose pliers and wire cutters," said Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos as his company started selling products in easy-to-open, "Frustration-Free Packaging" last November.

A year later, Amazon offers the service for fewer than 100 products.

To fight shoplifting, which costs retailers more than $11 billion a year, clamshell packages are designed so that "human hands have great difficulty separating the backing and cover," according to a 2003 patent.

PLEASE READ THIS EXTENSIVE, EXCELLENT ARTICLE: http://motherjones.com/environment/2009/11/aboxalypse-now

Excellent article: Eating for a Healthy Liver

Eating for a Healthy Liver
by Siri-Ved Kaur Khalsa
LINK TO FULL ARTICLE BELOW - THIS IS ABRIDGED

Are you looking for a way to give yourself a "Liver Tune-Up"? There are
different ways you can approach this, depending on what best suits you,
your current health situation, and lifestyle. This could be anything from
making simple changes in your current eating habits to going on an
extended diet of specific foods.

DO’S & DON’TS: First off, I’ll give you a list of "helper" foods and a
list of "avoid" foods. What you want to do is gradually increase the
amounts of the helper foods and decrease the others. This is the easiest
way to get started.

HELPERS: beets, radishes of all kinds, carrots, lemon juice, watermelon
with black pepper, onions, melons (always eat melons alone), olives, raw
vegetables, papaya, bananas, grapefruit, yogurt, Yogi Tea, black salt,
black pepper, turmeric, and cardamom.

AVOID: all fried foods, cooked oil, caffeine and other stimulants, fried
grains, all processed foods, cheese, meat, eggs, animal fat, alcohol, any
food that is heavy or difficult to digest (taking more than 20 hours to
pass).

LIVER TONICS: Another easy addition to your program is to start your day,
the very first thing in the morning, with 8 ounces of cold, plain Yogi
Tea. Take the Yogi Tea before you drink or eat anything else, sipping it
slowly and mixing it with saliva well before swallowing. This is a
well-known yogic liver tonic. In the alternative, you could sip
unsweetened lemon juice and water (the juice of one lemon with 12 ounces
of water). I would recommend sipping the lemon water through a straw to
best maintain tooth enamel.

...

AND DON’T FORGET FRESH JUICES: Carrot, beet and radish juice are also
excellent for liver detox. Start with a combination of 6 oz. carrot, 1-2
oz. beet and 1-2 oz. radish (any type radish will do, daikon is a good
choice) juice. The beet and radish juices are very potent and you should
only very gradually increase their proportion. The radish juice,
especially, is best taken immediately after juicing. (It’s flavor quickly
deteriorates.) Always mix juices very well with saliva. They are a very
concentrated food and need that saliva to digest the best and to give you
their full effect. Chew your liquids and drink your solids is an old
saying. Simply put: chew chew chew.

PLEASE READ THE FULL ARTICLE:
http://healthy.net/scr/column.asp?PageType=Column&id=304

Hidden Animal Ingredients

[Note: If you eat only raw food, you do not have to worry about the potential poisons or animal
products hidden in processed, packaged foods. You also can buy unpackaged items, thereby reducing
world obsession with packaging]

Hidden Animal Ingredients

http://www.cyberparent.com/nutrition/hiddenanimalsfoodproducts.htm

Ingredient What It Is Its Use

Albumin The protein component of egg whites. Albumin
is also found in animal blood, milk, plants, and
seeds. To thicken or add texture to processed foods.

Anchovies Small, silvery fish of herring family.
Worcestershire sauce, Caesar salad dressing, pizza
topping, Greek salads.

Animal shortening Butter, suet, lard (see lard below).
Packaged cookies and crackers, refried beans, flour
tortillas, ready-made pie crusts.

Carmine (carmine, cochineal, or carminic acid) Red
coloring made from a ground-up insect. Bottled juices,
colored pasta, some candies, frozen pops, "natural"
cosmetics.

Calcium stearate Mineral typically derived from cows
or hogs Garlic salt, vanilla, meat tenderizers,
salad-dressing mixes.

Capric acid (decanoic acid) Animal fats added to ice
cream, candy, baked goods, chewing gum, liquor and
often not specified on ingredients lists.

Casein (caseinate) A milk protein. It coagulates with
the addition of rennin (see rennin below) and is the
foundation of cheese. An additive in dairy products
such as cheese, cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour
cream. Also used in adhesives, paints, and plastics.

Clarifying agent Derived from any number of animal
sources. Used to filter wine, vinegar, beer, fruit
juice, soft drinks.

Gelatin Protein from bones, cartilage, tendons, and
skin of animals, Much of the commercial gelatin is a
by-product of pig skin. Marshmallows, yogurt, frosted
cereals, gelatin-containing desserts, molded salads.

Glucose (dextrose) Fruits or animal tissues and
fluids. Baked goods, soft drinks, candies, frosting.

Glycerides (mono-, di-, and triglycerides Glycerol
from animal fats or plants. Processed foods,
cosmetics, perfumes, lotions, inks, glues, automobile
antifreeze. Used as emulsifier.

Isinglass Gelatin from air bladder of sturgeon and
other freshwater fish. Clarify alcoholic beverages and
in some jellied desserts. Rarely used now.

Lactic acid Acid formed by bacteria acting on the milk
sugar lactose. Imparts a tart flavor. Cheese, yogurt,
pickles, olives, sauerkraut, candy, frozen desserts,
chewing gum, fruit preserves, dyeing and textile
printing.

Lactose (saccharum lactin, D-lactose Milk sugar.
Culture medium for souring milk and in processed foods
such as baby formulas, candies and other sweets,
medicinal diuretics, and laxatives.

Lactylic stearate Salt of stearic acid (see stearic
acid below). Dough conditioner.

Lanolin Waxy fat from sheep's wool. Chewing gum,
ointments, cosmetics, waterproof coatings.

Lard Rendered and clarified pork fat. Often fat from
abdomens of pigs or the fat around the animal's
kidneys. Baked goods.

Lecithin Phospholipids form animal tissues, plants,
lentils, and egg yolks used to preserve, emulsify, and
moisturize food. Cereal, candy, chocolate, baked
goods, margarine, vegetable oil sprays, cosmetics, and
ink.

Lutein Deep yellow coloring from marigolds or egg
yolks. Commercial food coloring.

Myristic acid (tetradecanoic acid) Animal fats.
Chocolate, ice cream, candy, jelled desserts, baked
goods.

Natural flavorings Unspecified, could be from meat or
other animal products Processed and packaged foods.

Oleic acid (oleinic acid) Animal tallow (see tallow
below) Synthetic butter, cheese, vegetable fats and
oils, spice flavoring for baked goods, candy, ice
cream, beverages, condiments, soaps, cosmetics.

Palmatic acid Animal or vegetable fats. Baked goods,
butter and cheese flavoring.

Pancreatin (pancreatic extract) Cows or hogs Digestive
aids.

Pepsin Enzyme from pigs' stomachs With rennet to make
cheese.

Propolis Resinous cement collected by bees Food
supplement and ingredient in "natural" toothpaste.

Rennin (Rennet) A coagulating enzyme obtained from a
young animal's stomach, usually a calf's stomach
Rennin is used to curdle milk in foods such as cheese
and junket--a soft pudding like dessert.

Royal jelly Substance produced by glands of bees.
"Natural foods" and nutrient supplements.

Sodium stearoyl lactylate May be derived from cows,
hogs, animal milk, or vegetable-mineral sources. Used
in cake, pudding, or pancake mixes, baked goods,
margarine.

Stearic acid (octadecenoic acid) Tallow, other animal
fats and oils Vanilla flavoring, chewing gum, baked
goods, beverages, candy, soaps, ointments, candles,
cosmetics, suppositories and pill coatings.

Suet Hard white fat around kidneys and loins of
animals Margarine, mincemeat, pastries, bird feed,
tallow.

Tallow Solid fat of sheep and cattle separated from
the membranous tissues Waxed paper, margarine, soaps,
crayons, candles, rubber, cosmetics.

Vitamin A (A1, retinol) Vitamin obtained from
vegetables, egg yolks, or fish liver oil. Vitamin
supplements, fortification of foods, "natural"
cosmetics.

Vitamin B12 Vitamin produced by microorganisms and
found in all animal products; synthetic form
(cyanocobalamin or cobalamin on labels) is vegan
Supplements or fortified foods.

Vitamin D (D1, D2, D3) D1 is produced by humans upon
exposure to sunlight; D2 (ergocalciferol) is made from
plants or yeast, D3 (cholecalciferol comes from fish
liver oils or lanolin Supplements or fortified foods.

Whey Watery liquid that separates from the solids
(curds) of milks in cheese-making. Crackers, breads,
cakes, processed foods in cheese-making.

Source: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Being Vegetarian
by Suzanne Havala, M.S., R.D., F.A.D.A., Food Lover's
Companion by Sharon Tyler Herbst, The Vegan Sourcebook
by Joanne Stepaniak, M.S.Ed.

High Fructose Corn Syrup Proven to Cause Human Obesity

High Fructose Corn Syrup Proven to Cause Human Obesity
By Vanessa Barrington, EcoSalon
December 24, 2009 LINK TO FULL ARTICLE BELOW

You've heard it before: a calorie is a calorie is a calorie. If people are fat, it's their own fault for eating too much.

These words are usually spouted by PR hacks for the corn refiner's association – or the dietitians paid by them. They may not, as it turns out, be true.

We finally have the smoking corn cob, as it were: the study processed-food foes have been waiting for, indicating that high fructose corn syrup may be the cause of the huge upswing in childhood obesity and diabetes.

American consumption of all sugars is much higher than it should be for our health, but high fructose corn syrup has become a larger share of our sugar consumption due to the fact that much of our ingestion of this super cheap, highly processed sugar is involuntary. That's because it's not just used as a sweetener in cookies and sodas but as a food additive in things like bread, ketchup and other condiments, pasta sauce and coatings for frozen fried foods.

Why is it used so liberally? It increases shelf life and has other characteristics that food processors like. The reason it's really cheap is because the government subsidizes corn so heavily (and if you've read your Michael Pollan you already know this so I'll shut up now).

To read the full article: http://www.alternet.org/story/144816/

Monday, December 28, 2009

Celery: Delicious, & Great For Blood Pressure, Cancer, & More

The health benefits of celery are
more than just lowering blood pressure.
They also contain at least eight families of
anti-cancer compounds to combat cancer

According to Hippocrates (the father of medicine), celery calms the nerve – perhaps because of the high calcium content. It’s good on kidney and will help eliminate body’s waste through the urine. The seeds, leaves and edible root of the plant can all be used. Celery is used in aromatherapy and other traditional way of healing like Ayurveda. In Japan, rheumatic patients are sometimes put on a celery only diet.

1. Eating celery will reduce high blood pressure and give the effect of calmness.

2. Celery clears uric acid from painful joints and may help the treatment of arthritis and rheumatic problems.

3. Celery also helps the kidney an acts an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.

4. Another benefit of celery is the fact that you can eat a lot of it without thinking much about your waistline. Celery actually has almost zero calorie.

Celery provides an excellent source of vitamin C and fiber. It is a very good source of folic acid, potassium, and vitamins B1 and B6. Celery also offers a good source of vitamin B2 and calcium. Even though celery contains more sodium than most other vegetables, the sodium is offset by its high levels of potassium. Studies have shown that the amount of sodium is not significant even for the most salt-sensitive individuals.

Celery contains phytochemical compounds known as coumarins. Studies have shown that they are effective in cancer prevention and capable of enhancing the activity of certain white blood cells.

Coumarin compounds also lower blood pressure, tone the vascular system, and are possibly effective when used in cases of migraines. Due to the high levels of potassium and sodium, when celery-based juices are consumed after a workout they serve as great electrolyte replacement drinks. Studies have also shown that celery may help to lower cholesterol and prevent cancer by improving detoxification. Celery extract that contains 85% 3nB, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of "rheumatism". That is the general term used for arthritic and muscular aches and pains.

The use :

1. Grated or raw celery can be used on swollen glands.

2. To reduce high blood pressure, eat celery raw.

3. For those who are trying to reduce their weight, drink celery juice before meals. It will help to suppress the appetite.

Celery is from the same family with parsley and fennel, the Umbelliferae family. It can grow to the height of up to 16 inches. The white celery is grown shaded from direct sunlight, thus has less chlorophyll, compared to its greener counterparts.

The ribs of celery are crunchy and are often used to make soup or salad. It has a salty taste, so celery juice is a good mix with the sweeter fruit juices. Depending on variety, some may taste very salty.

Nutritional Benefits

Celery leaves has high content of vitamin A, whilst the stems are an excellent source of vitamins B1, B2, B6 and C with rich supplies of potassium, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium and plenty essential amino acids.

Nutrients in the fiber are released during juicing, aiding bowel movements. The natural organic sodium (salt) in celery is very safe for consumption, in fact is essential for the body. Even individuals who are salt-sensitive can safely take the sodium in celery, unlike table salt (iodised sodium) which is harmful for those with high blood pressure.

While many foods lose nutrients during cooking, most of the compounds in celery hold up well during cooking.

Health Benefits

Celery has always been associated with lowering of blood pressure. When combined with other juices, it provides different formula that help other conditions.

Recent studies have shown that celery might also be effective in combating cancer. Read on.

Some of the health benefits of celery juice:

Acidity: The important minerals in this magical juice effectively balance the body's blood pH, neutralizing acidity.

Athletes: Celery juice acts as the perfect post-workout tonic as it replaces lost electrolytes and rehydrates the body with its rich minerals.

Cancer: Celery is known to contain at least eight families of anti-cancer compounds. Among them are the acetylenics that have been shown to stop the growth of tumor cells. Phenolic acids which block the action of prostaglandins that encourage the growth of tumor cells. And coumarins which help prevent free radicals from damaging cells.

Cholesterol: This humble pale juice has been shown to effectively and significantly lower total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Colon and stomach cancer: The phytochemical coumarins prevent the formation and development of the colon and stomach cancers.

Constipation: The natural laxative effect of celery helps to relieve constipation. It also helps relax nerves that have been overworked by man-made laxatives.

Cooling: During dry and hot weather, drink a glass of celery juice two or three times a day, between meals. It wonderfully helps to normalize body temperature.

Diuretic: The potassium and sodium in celery juice helps to regulate body fluid and stimulate urine production, making it an important help to rid the body of excess fluid.

Inflammation: The polyacetylene in celery is an amazing relief for all inflammation like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, asthma and bronchitis.

Kidney function: Celery promotes healthy and normal kidney function by aiding elimination of toxins from the body. While eliminating toxins, it also prevents formation of kidney stones.

Lower blood pressure: Drinking celery juice every day for a week significantly helps lower blood pressure. A compound called phtalides help relax the muscle around arteries, dilating the vessels and allowing blood to flow normally. To be effective, drink the juice for one week, stop for three weeks, and start over.

Nervous system: The organic alkaline minerals in celery juice has a calming effect on the nervous system, making it a wonderful drink for insomniacs.

Weight loss: Drink celery juice frequently throughout the day. It helps curb your cravings for sweets and rich food.

Urinary stones, breaking of: The diuretic effect of celery juice also aids the breaking and elimination of urinary and gall bladder stones.

You can expect many more healing benefits from celery juice as you consume its natural sodium. Read how our body lacks and have been deprived of, natural salt.

Consumption Tips

Choose green celery where possible for its chlorophyll. Ensure that the ribs are still firm, not limp. To store in the fridge, wrap celery in a sealed container or wrap in a plastic bag or a damp cloth.

Do not leave it at room temperature for too long as it tends to wilt quickly. If your celery has wilted, sprinkle it with a little water and put it in the refrigerator for a few hours. It will regain its crispness.

Caution

Celery is such a succulent plant that it produces its own "pesticide" to protect itself from fungi. This protective layer is called psoralens which although protects the celery, may not go down so well with some people.

If you begin having skin problems after eating celery, it might mean that you have some sensitivity to psoralens.

Some people with low blood pressure had complained that celery makes their blood pressure even lower. I personally didn't encounter that problem so I believe it is also your overall make-up. But, you might want to avoid celery if you have low blood pressure. Listen to your body when you take celery.

Report finds pollutants lurking in S. Florida tap water

Posted on Sun, Dec. 27, 2009
Report finds pollutants lurking in S. Florida tap water
BY CURTIS MORGAN
cmorgan@MiamiHerald .com

More than 100 pollutants, from farm herbicides to factory solvents, have shown up in Florida tap water during the last five years -- many barely detectable, but more than a quarter exceeding federal standards at least once, according to a report compiled by an environmental group. Miami-Dade, among the largest utilities in the country with 2.1 million customers, recorded no violations. Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale and four other utilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties reported only a handful of violations in thousands of tests since 2004.
But all the systems also detected from 11 to 17 chemicals -- some repeatedly and others occasionally -- at levels above U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health guidelines. Those aren't legal limits, but more-stringent benchmarks that would virtually eliminate any risk of cancer or other illness over a lifetime of drinking a system's water.
The most common:disinfectant s used in water treatment, followed by assorted other toxicsubstances such as cyanide, arsenic, radium and barium.
Olga Naidenko, a senior scientist for the Washington-based Environmental Working Group, said because most EPA standards are based on annual averages, formal water quality violations are rare and mask wider unreported concerns, such as unregulated chemicals and seasonal spikes that could pose public health risks.
``What they are saying to you is they are in compliance, and they usually are,'' said Naidenko, one of the lead researchers for the report, which EWG posted online this month in a comprehensive data base. ``We feel like this is giving a more complete picture of what is happening in Florida and what is happening in the country.''
The database shows that 316 chemicals have been detected in drinking water nationwide. There are no federal or state standards for more than half of them.
The number of chemicals detected in South Florida was roughly triple the national average but better than two North Florida utilities the EWG ranked among the worst of the 100 largest municipal systems nationwide: JEA in Jacksonville at No. 91 and, dead last, Emerald Coast in Pensacola, with 45 chemicals detected overall, 21 topping EPA guidelines. Neither recorded water quality violations.
`EXCELLENT WATER' Utilities and state and federal regulators don't dispute the numbers, compiled from some 20 million regular tests that 47,677 water plant operators filed to state water and environmental agencies.
But they called EWG's report and rankings misleading and skewed to overstate potential risks.
Dee Ann Miller, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which monitors drinking water quality, said utility customers in Pensacola and Jacksonville had nothing to worry about and that Florida has ``some of the highest quality and safest drinking water in the United States.''
``To imply these utilities are supplying unsafe drinking water is both irresponsible and simply not true,'' she said in a written statement.
Rafael Terrero, assistant director of Miami-Dade's Water and Sewer Department, which ranked No. 46 on the list of 100 ``big city'' systems serving more than a quarter-million people, said the county water beat EPA standards by a wide margin.
``To me, it's excellent water,'' he said.
The EPA and DEP have been at odds over a court-ordered plan by the federal agency to impose nutrient standards for Florida surface waters, but both defended oversight of tap water.
MONEY ISSUE They said EWG, which campaigns for tougher toxicity standards, crunched the numbers to suggest the widest number of problems -- placing too much weight on the number of chemicals, including many at trace levels, and the EPA guidelines that aren't intended as legal limits.
For most carcinogens, the guideline to eliminate any health impact is close to zero. That goal, said Terrero, is too expensive to justify.
``How the hell can you get zero? You'd have to go to something like a bottled water and pay $4,000 for it,'' he said. ``If we're going to treat something to get rid of all this, we'll be to a point where people couldn't afford water.''
Overall, 22 different chemicals were detected in Miami-Dade, about average for South Florida utilities.
About half were by-products of chlorine and ammonia treatment to remove bacteria and pathogens. Most of them are suspected carcinogens at high levels or linked to other illnesses. Miami-Dade's tests on average detected only a third of the amount allowed under EPA's legal standard -- based on a 1-in-10,000 chance of developing cancer from drinking two liters a day for 70 years -- but periodically exceeded no-risk guidelines.
The trade-off of reducing disinfectants, the EPA said, would be less protection from the pathogens they kill.
Most remaining chemicals such as barium, an unregulated mineral that can occur naturally but also in mining and industrial waste, showed up sporadically and at levels some 50 to 100 times below no-risk EPA guidelines.
OTHER PROBLEMS Miami-Dade has had other issues that didn't show up in the report, most recently a plume of benzene, typically associated with blasting or fuel spills, found in rock pits near the county's largest well field. The contamination, detected in 2005, forced the county to shut down several wells for years.
In 2003, the department, in negotiations with the DEP, also agreed to spend $400 million to fix persistent leaks from an underground sewage injection in South Miami-Dade that threatened to taint drinking water supplies.
Four South Florida utilities -- Florida City, Coral Springs, Dania Beach and Pembroke Pines -- ranked among 20 in the state with the highest number of chemicals.
Florida City, which supplies only about 10,000 people, had the third largest number -- 38 -- but 30 were detected only once in 2005, all below EPA legal limits but above the lifetime risk-free guidelines. The array suggests some sort of agricultural pesticide spill.
Jacksonville' s JEA and Emerald Coast, the two utilities ranked in the bottom 10 nationally, both dismissed the EWG report.
Kevin Holbrooks, JEA's director of compliance, said the analysis penalized utilities for testing frequently and for a wide array of chemicals.
The average utility conducted 420 tests. JEA ran 17 times more tests and detected 23 chemicals -- some naturally occurring in the Floridan Aquifer that the utility draws from, he said.
``That's 23 hits out of 7,000 test results,'' he said. ``Percentage- wise, our numbers are better than most.''
However, in annual reports, both utilities cautioned that some contaminants could pose heightened risk to people with health problems, especially illnesses that suppress the immune system -- a boilerplate warning repeated by most utilities.
The EPA said it will decide by 2014 whether to write legal limits for up to five new contaminants in addition to the 114 it already regulates. If is does, it would be the first update since 2000.
EXPOSED Environmentalists, saying the data exposed holes in water-quality reporting and enforcement, argue more needs to be done and faster.
Naidenko said with chemical detections rising, regulators need to be considering the impact of exposure to more than one contaminant at a time, and one-day or seasonal spikes that could harm newborns and children.
``The issue we see is being really proactive about what is in the water and how we can protect it,'' she said.

John Robbins: Is it Wrong to Eat Animals?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbVRugmzuDs

send this to your address book for to all to see. start a revolution from home.

25 Ways to Cut Costs on Just About Everything

25 Ways to Cut Costs on Just About Everything
Save a little here; save a little there. It all adds up to real money.
By Russell Wild
March-April 2003

Since we're always trying to save money, I thought I'd share these ideas
provided by:
http://www.magatopia.com/magazines/AARP_Magazine.html?page=lifestyles.html

Think you know everything there is to know about saving money? Bet you
didn't know about the Amish mail-order catalog that practically charges thrift store prices for brand new clothes. Or about how to take a luxury cruise for just $28 a day. Read on to save a bundle.
_________________
Sweat For Less. One way to get in shape cheap: Sign up for a class at a
local community college (as little as $35 a semester). Then, use your ID to work out at the gym. Save $255 on the typical annual cost of a gym membership.
_________________
Tee Off. Like golf? Buy clubs, shoes, and other gear for 20 percent less
than retail at www.golfdiscount.com (call 888-394-4653), says Elizabeth Cline, author of The Bargain Buyer's Guide.
_________________
Blow Cold. A solar attic fan (about $375) pushes hot air out of your
attic, cutting the work required of your air conditioner and typically trimming your electric bills by about $100 a summer.
_________________
Fly Right. Take a working vacation with Volunteers for Peace
(802-259-2759; www.vfp.org). The full cost (excluding transportation overseas): about $200 per two-to-three-week program. A bonus: It's tax-deductible.
_________________
Dress Amish. For simple, sturdy clothes, check out Gohn Brothers, which
caters mainly to the Amish but sells to anyone. You'll usually save one-third off retail prices. Get a pair of denim pants for $21 (that's at least $10 right there). For catalog, send $1 to P.O. Box 1110, Middlebury, IN 46540.
_________________
Slow Down. What's the rush? Driving 55 mph burns 15 percent less gas per
mile than driving 65. The typical driver can save $135 a year this way.
_________________
Follow The Sun. A solar roof panel might cost $2,500 or more to buy and
install, but it can cut your annual water-heating bills by about $400. Find a contractor through the Solar Energy Industries Association (202-628-7745; www.seia.org).
_________________
Wear It Well. Find beautiful clothes in consignment shops—but not just
any consignment shops. "Go to the shops closest to the richest neighborhoods," suggest Ken and Daria Dolan, who host the syndicated radio show The Dolans. Snag a $250 designer dress for $70.
_________________
Sail Away. If you're a single man, 45 to 72, a hot dancer, and the owner
of a suitable wardrobe, the Gentlemen Host Program (708-301-7535) may put you on a cruise for just $28 a day.
_________________
Cut A Deal. The Video Learning Library (800-383-8811;
www.videolearning.com) stocks 20,000 how-to videos to rent or buy. One we like: "Haircutting at Home."
Tape rentals: just $8 for two weeks, plus $10 for roundtrip shipping. Save
$72 a year on haircuts alone this way..
_________________
Become A Writer. Always jot down a list before heading to the supermarket.
Then stick to it. You'll avoid such costly and frivolous items as premade
caramel apple "wrap" and instant bacon. You can save hundreds over the course of a year.
_________________
Pack It In. Traveling overseas? Sell your baggage space to a courier
company to save up to 85 percent on your next flight. For information on reputable companies, contact the International Association of Air Travel Couriers (308-632-3273; www.courier.org).
_________________
Bank Better. Want the lowest-cost mortgage, the lowest-interest credit
card, or the highest rates on CDs? Visit www.bankrate.com. Plug in your desired deal, and see what pops up. One recent example: a Mastercard with a 4.25 percent interest rate.
_________________
Take A Seat. Season tickets at The Austin (Texas) Symphony cost up to
$275, but thrifty music lovers get in free by serving as ushers.. Many concert halls and theaters across the nation do the same. Call your local theater to find out if it needs help. Or search the Internet, using the keywords "volunteer," "usher," plus your hometown.
_________________
Bundle Up. If possible, insure your car and your home with the same firm..
Buying insurance in bulk has two benefits. First, you'll save money. Second, if you have an accident, you're less likely to get dropped, since your insurer wants to keep all your business. Trim up to 15 percent off combined annual auto and home insurance.
_________________
Get Well. Having trouble paying for medications? Contact the
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (800-762-4636; www.phrma.org) for its free "Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs." Income restrictions apply. Save $1,050 on a year's supply of Vioxx.
_________________
Add Some Spice. Seasonings usually come in packages that are tiny. Buy
them in one-pound bags from the Atlantic Spice Co. (800-316-7965;
www.atlanticspice.com) to save up to 90 percent off list. Minimum order: $30.
_________________
Ditch The Fir. Must your next Christmas tree be fresh-cut? Pick a large
houseplant—a ficus, say—and decorate it just like a spruce. Put $35 in
your stocking.
_________________
Beat The Crowds. Always shop for holiday cards, decorations, and gift wrap
as the season ends, and keep them for next year. Save 75 percent or more.
(Just don't forget where you stored them.)
_________________
Score Points. Go shopping during major sporting events like the World
Series or Super Bowl Sunday. Stores are empty, and salespeople are eager to dicker.
Knock at least 2 percent off list price.
_________________
Call Late. The best airline fares typically go to those who call just
after midnight, East Coast time. That's when airlines decide whether a flight is full and begin slashing prices if it's not. Fares can drop by anywhere from $50 to $400.
_________________
Move In. Considering a new home? The best time to buy is in the dead of
winter, when other buyers huddle inside. (Likewise, in the Sunbelt, wait until summer's dog days.) You can save 5 percent off the peak-season price.
_________________
Check It Out. Your bank may charge up to $20 for a box of replacement
checks.
Use independent printers instead. Checks Unlimited (800-426-0822;
www.checksunlimited.com), for one, charges as little as $8.95. Or try
Checks in the Mail (800-733-4443; www.checksinthemail.com).
_________________
See Double. Share three magazine subscriptions with a like-minded friend
to save at least $20.
_________________
Trim The Fat. Once a year, put all your finances under a microscope. A
prime cost-cutting target: unnecessary insurance. For instance, you may be able to drop the credit-life insurance that is often buried in the contracts for cars, major appliances, or mortgage loans. Sure, doing this might save you as little as $4 monthly, but you'll reap a bigger benefit: that special sense of satisfaction that you get from dumping something you don't need.

Pets - Our Teachers and Healers

Pets - Our Teachers and Healers
John Cali
LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION & FULL ARTICLE BELOW

Chief Joseph once told me the major lesson our pets have to teach us is to live in the moment and to love unconditionally. - Chief Joseph

Your domestic pets, especially dogs and cats, are one of the greatest gifts humanity has ever received. We realize you sometimes take these delightful creatures for granted—just as you sometimes do your fellow humans.

Pets are not in your lives solely for your entertainment, though they certainly do entertain you.

More importantly, pets are here as your teachers and, often, your healers.

You have a phrase bandied about much—“dumb” animals. By “dumb” you generally mean “stupid.” Or at least something less than human intelligence.

Dogs and cats have great intelligence.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. While we are in no way diminishing the importance of the human mind, we are saying there is far more “intelligence” in your world than you have ever imagined.

Dogs and cats have great intelligence. Obviously they cannot speak in words, verbally. But they can understand your verbal communication. Yet it’s a rare human who understands dog and cat communication.

Animals communicate with each other and they communicate with you. Their most powerful communication is through telepathy. They read energy. They almost always know ahead of time when something “good” or “bad” is about to happen. They are always tuned into what you sometimes call cosmic consciousness.

Animals have a wealth of intelligence available at all times. This is why, during your tsunamis of 2004,virtually no animals died, though many thousands of humans did.

Without further belaboring that point, we want to stress to you how important your pets are in your lives. They have much to teach you—if you only listen. You may not be able to “hear” what they want to say. But you can sense it if you pay attention.

Spend some quiet time regularly with your pet. Just be together. You don’t have to be doing anything. Just be in a comfortable place. Quiet your mind. Take a few deep breaths. Focus on your pet. Be open to whatever images and impressions enter your awareness. Your pet is quite capable of transmitting images and “words” to you. At least you are able to transmit their communications into images and words that make sense to you.

Practice this regularly. You will deepen the bond and love between you. You will be surprised at what you will learn. You will see life from a whole new perspective, from that wise and broad perspective animals have.

You will learn how to live more fully in the present moment. You will learn to remove the “conditions” you often place on your love for other humans—the “strings” you attach to your human relationships.

You will eventually come to see there are no “dumb” animals. There are no “dumb” humans. You are all one—humans, animals, plants, all of your Mother Earth.

That sense of oneness creates a unified whole. What some of you call All That Is. God, Goddess. The ultimate healer of all life.

About the Channel

John Cali

Since 1992, John Cali has been communicating with a non-physical entity called Joseph. In one of his many physical lifetimes, this spirit was incarnated as the legendary Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe in what is now the state of Oregon in the northwestern USA. These messages are a blend of information from Joseph, other spirits in the "Joseph group," and John.

Joseph and John are available for private readings.
Details here:
http://www.greatwesternpublishing.org/readings.html

TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE:
http://www.cosmiclighthouse.com/book/export/html/494
http://www.cosmiclighthouse.com/nov07/columns/animal_column

Enzymes: Are they the key to raw foods?

Enzymes: Are they the key to raw foods?
by Frederick Patenaude http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/
PLEASE SEE HIS EXCELLENT WRITINGS AND WEBSITE

Dear Frederick. I am Marios from Greece and this is my
second e mail with a question. You say that raw foods are
good for us but not because of the enzymes.. This is really
something ... then why all this raw food movement is expanding
throughout the western world? Many well known hygienists and
raw foodists claim that enzymes are the exact reason of why raw
food is superior to the cooked one.

Can you please clarify this one? Do we really have any scientific
information on whether the enzymes that the foods carry don't or
do take a part in digestion?”

--

That’s an interesting question. In most raw-food books you’ll
read that food enzymes are “the lifeforce” of foods and that
they’re the reason why we should eat a raw diet. That’s what
I used to think when I gullibly believed everything that the
raw-food gurus said. Now my understanding is that food enzymes
are not important at all in the digestive process, and most of them
are destroyed in the process of digestion anyway. If they are not
destroyed, it is unlikely that they have any role to play in
digestion.

You ask if I’ve got any scientific research to back it up. You
should ask the question differently. Do raw-foodists have any
scientific research to back up their enzyme theories? Very
scant. Open up any physiology book and you’ll realize that
all of those theories are pure conjectures. Everything that I just
said about enzymes are recognized facts of physiology.

Here’s what one of my correspondents sent me, and this
summarizes this issue a lot:

“It was SO good to read your snippet about enzymes as you
have put out publicly exactly the conclusions I had come to!
All this hype about enzymes being good for your health flies
in the face of proven science on many counts:

1) Enzymes are biological catalysts and the definition of a
catalyst is that it is something that alters/speeds up a reaction
without being used up in the process. So, by definition, we
cannot 'run out of enzymes'. Even if we could:

2) Enzymes are proteins and are made up of the same amino
acids as other proteins needed in the body. Thus, if more are
needed, more can easily be made from the same materials as
other body parts! Our raw plant foods actually go to make up
enzymes!

3) Enzymes are specific - they catalyze one reaction and one
reaction only. That means that plant enzymes are there to deal
with reactions connected with the plant's life and not to help
humans digest food. Look at the speed at which fruit ripens then
decays. It takes days, if not weeks! But human digestion of fruit
takes only hours. How can the same enzyme suddenly do that?
Simply, it can't. Also, enzymes being specific, human metabolic
enzymes cannot logically be used as digestive enzymes. They
are there only to catalyze the metabolic reaction.

In my opinion, the food enzyme theory and its wide following is
one of the major things against more mainstream acceptance
of raw foodism as a whole. It's blatantly wrong and gives those
who insist on it a bad name. If the raw and natural food
movement wishes to be gain wider credibility, it has to be more
credible.” Elizabeth, UK

Let’s take the example of the banana. An unripe banana is
loaded with various enzymes that are needed BY THE
BANANA to transform its own starch into simple sugars.
As the banana ripen, it becomes sweeter as complex substances
(starch) are transformed into simpler ones (sugar). In the end,
the enzymes are themselves disintegrated in the process.
So when you eat the ripe bananas, there are few enzymes in it.
But then, it is so easy to digest that the body will use fewer
enzymes to digest it than if you ate a slice of bread, which
contains mostly complex carbs. So in the end, you indeed
“save up” your enzymes by eating the raw banana, but this
has nothing to do with the enzymes in the bananas, which
are not needed anyway.

Raw-foodists often say that avocados are easy to digest
because they contain a lot of fat-digesting enzymes (called
lipase). It this were true, the avocado would digest itself.
It would not sit on the counter and ripen, but it would quickly
digest itself down! In reality, when you eat a ripe avocado,
your body has to use its own enzymes to digest it.

Nuts and seeds are easier to digest when they are soaked not
because it supposedly “activates the enzymes” in the nuts.
In fact, they are easier to digest simply because they are
hydrated. A dried fruit is also easier to digest when it is
soaked.

But enzymes supplements work, you’ll say. Sure they work.
The enzymes used are specific digestive enzymes. However,
when you use them, you cripple a natural function. If you’re
experiencing digestive problems and you find relief in using
supplemental enzymes, you’re simply not addressing the
cause of your problem. Over time, your digestion will become
less and less efficient because you are using a natural “aid”
like a crutch – you’ll end up with a weaker digestion.

"Vegetarian" Family Lists Contacts

"Vegetarian" Family Lists Contacts

KidsHealth@egroups.com
VegeFamily@egroups.com
Veg-Parent@EnviroLink.org
VeganChildren@eGroups.com
VegKids@list.nurtured.com
1VeggieKids@egroups.com
VeganParents@egroups.com
VeggieMums@egroups.com
VegetarianParenting@egroups.com
VegetarianParents@egroups.com
VeGhomeschoolers@egroups.com
Hindu_Family@egroups.com

Organic A-Z

Organic A - Z

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/az-organic.html

Staying Alive

Staying Alive
A century ago, most Americans lived to be about 50. Today people over 100 make up the fastest-growing segment of the population. As some researchers bet that children born today will live to be 150, others say there is no
upward limit on longevity By Karen Wright Photography by Mary Ellen Mark DISCOVER Vol. 24 No. 11 | November 2003 | Biology & Medicine
LINK TO FULL ARTICLE BELOW

A few years back, biodemographer Jay Olshansky called his friend Steve
Austad, a gerontologist, after reading an outrageous quote attributed to
Austad about aging. Olshansky, at the University of Illinois, and Austad,
at the University of Idaho, have long shared an interest in the human life
span. But they differ on some points. Austad had been quoted as saying
that someone alive today could survive to the unprecedented age of 150.

“You don’t really mean that,” Olshansky told his friend.

“Oh yes, I do,” Austad replied. In fact, he would bet on it. Before long
he and Olshansky had agreed to put $150 each into an investment fund, to
be distributed to the relatives of the winner in 2150. They agreed that,
in order for Austad’s progeny to collect, the 150-year-old has to be in
reasonably good health and that proof of the person’s age has to be
impeccable. By adding $10 each every year, they figure that by 2150, the
$300 fund will grow to be worth $500 million.

Austad isn’t worried about his kin collecting: “We’ve made phenomenal
progress in understanding aging in other animals in the last 10 years. I
can’t believe we won’t make improvements in [human] antiaging treatments
in the next hundred.”

Most students of human longevity agree that exercise, antioxidants,
low-fat diets, and prostate exams will join forces with a battery of new
techniques to extend the lives of seniors and improve their quality of
life. But that amiable projection raises a tough question: If medical
science were to eliminate geriatric infirmity and disease entirely, how
long would the human body last? Is there some built-in expiration date for
each member of our species beyond which no one will ever survive? If so,
what is it, and why does it exist?

Demographics of the last two centuries seem to be on the side of soaring
life spans. Worldwide, average life expectancy has increased from about 27
years to more than 65. In the United States, a person born in 1900 lived,
on average, less than 50 years; now the average life span is 78. Japanese
women, the longest-lived people ever known, now have a life expectancy of
85 at birth.

These unprecedented gains are reflected in the number of people surviving
to extreme ages. The longest-lived human whose age has been unequivocally
documented is Jeanne Louise Calment, a Frenchwoman who died six years ago
at age 122. Although people of such advanced age are still rare, they’re
becoming more commonplace by the minute. The United States now boasts a
population of more than 40,000 people aged 100 and older. In 1950 there
were only 2,300 centenarians in this country. James Vaupel of the Max
Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock, Germany, says the
number of centenarians in many industrialized nations is doubling every
decade.

Vaupel has shown that the maximum life expectancy among such countries has
risen steadily by more than two years each decade since 1840. The increase
is “so extraordinarily linear that it may be the most remarkable
regularity of mass endeavor ever observed,” Vaupel wrote in a 2002 paper
coauthored by Jim Oeppen of Cambridge University. If that pace continues,
Vaupel maintains, the average life span in industrialized countries in
2150 will be 122.5, making 150-year-olds common.

Demographer Ronald Lee of the University of California at Berkeley says
Vaupel’s analysis came as “a big surprise. We just did not expect to see a
linear increase in life expectancy. It’s hard to resist extrapolating that
line. That’s a 25-year gain every century.”

PLEASE READ THE FULL ARTICLE: http://www.discover.com/issues/nov-03/cover/?page=1

Lentils These nutritious legumes are versatile, delicious and easy to prepare

Lentils
These nutritious legumes are versatile, delicious and easy to prepare
By Cary Neff Link to full article below

Lentils, those tiny lens-shaped legumes you find in dried soup mixes
and curries, are delicious — and packed with nutrients. A prized
dietary staple of Southern Asia, Europe, the Mediterranean and the
Middle East, lentils are thought to be one of the world’s first
cultivated crops, dating back more than 8,000 years. Today, these
nutritious gems are slowly making their way into the American pantry.

Food Basics

Lentils are part of the legume family, which also includes beans and
peas. They are sold dried, whether whole, hulled or split, and come
in a wide range of colors and sizes. The most common varieties in
American markets are green and brown, which can be used
interchangeably in recipes. Red and yellow lentils are now available
in most better markets. No matter what color or size, lentils cook
quickly and are versatile enough to toss into a wide range of dishes.
They also serve up nicely on the side — ideal in place of starchier
choices like potatoes or pasta.

Nutritional Know-How

Lentils are rich in B vitamins, iron, zinc, manganese, phosphorus and
magnesium. They’re also full of isoflavones, some of the
best-understood phyto-nutrients. Phytonutrients protect the body and
fight disease, help your heart, boost immunity, and function as an
antioxidant.

When paired with whole grains like rice or barley, lentils form a
complete protein. They are also rich in soluble and insoluble fiber,
which help moderate blood-sugar levels and assist with good
digestion. One caution: Because lentils contain purines, naturally
occurring compounds that can be broken down into uric acid, those
suffering from gout or kidney problems should avoid them.

...[ABRIDGED]...

* For a tasty main dish, mix cooked lentils with cooked rice, and
add your favorite spices. This entrée should be served alongside
cooked vegetables to make a balanced meal.

* Combine cooked lentils with chopped peppers and other
vegetables to make a delicious cold salad. Green lentils, which are
small, delicate and peppery, soften in about 30 minutes and are
especially good for salads, because they hold their shape well when
cooked.

* Red lentils soften quickly, in about 15 minutes, so they are
ideal for purées or as a thickening agent for soups. Simply stir
vigorously or purée in a blender.

* Because lentils have a mild taste, it’s great to pair them with
strong flavorings, such as garlic, turmeric, chilies, cumin or
cardamom.

Chef Cary Neff is the president of the consulting firm Culinary
Innovations and the author of The New York Times bestseller Conscious
Cuisine (Sourcebooks, 2002).

PLEASE READ THE FULL ARTICLE:
http://www.lifetimefitness.com/magazine/index.cfm?strWebAction=article_detail&intArticleId=657

Chimp Sanctuary Celebrates Chimpmas!! VERY CUTE!!

http://us.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2009/12/25/zarrella.chimpanzee.christmas.cnn

Sunday, December 27, 2009

DIY Skin Care Inspired by the Holiday Season

From the excellent blog Eco-Chick -
check them out for vegan/eco fashion & more

Candy Cane Body Scrub

½ cup granulated white sugar
¼ cup coconut oil, melted and slightly cooled
2 candy canes, finely crushed to powder
3 drops peppermint oil

Mix together all ingredients in a small bowl or jar. Make sure that you keep the mixture in a warm place before use so that the coconut oil stays in liquid form, and scrub away! It’s a great way to use up candy canes that you don’t want to consume, the scrub smells awesome and it’ll slough away all that flaky, dry winter skin.

Gingerbread Face Mask

1 teaspoon blackstrap molasses
Pinch ginger
Pinch cinnamon

Ginger, cinnamon and blackstrap molasses combine to give this face mask a delicious, seasonally appropriate scent while also providing benefits for your skin. The ginger is soothing and warming, while molasses will leave your skin feeling silky-smooth with a youthful glow. Just mix it together, apply to the skin (avoiding the eye area), let dry until it’s stiff and remove with a damp, warm washcloth.

Cranberry-Green Tea Skin Treatment

½ cup fresh cranberries
1 bag of green tea
1 cup of water

The anti-inflammatory properties of both cranberries and green tea, plus all of the antioxidants these two nutritional powerhouses contain, will work wonders on tired skin – especially puffy under-eye circles. The vitamin C and natural fruit acids in cranberries aid in gentle exfoliation and green tea may have anti-aging effects.

Just simmer the cranberries in the water for about 20 minutes or until soft, remove from heat and add the tea bag. Let it sit until it reaches room temperature and remove the tea bag. Toss the mixture in your blender or food processor and pulse until smooth. Apply it to your face and leave it on for about 10 minutes.