We’ve all had those days when other people want to control us. We come home from work or school, or we walk out of a meeting or away from a partner, feeling less than ourselves.
When we’re feeling pulled in too many directions, or dragged against our will, there are things we can do… besides shout “you’re not the boss of me!” (You know you’ve wanted to do that…)
We can stick to the routine that makes us feel the healthiest – that makes us feel empowered.
Eat foods that make your body stronger – vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fruits, and lean proteins.
Exercise every day – get your heart muscle in shape and get fresh air into your lungs.
Go to bed at a reasonable hour and get enough sleep.
Skip the chemicals, caffeine, and alcohol. Stay hydrated with water..
Your mind and your body will be able to deal with life’s difficult situations when you take care of yourself. It’s the best way to take control of your life.
Now get up and get moving – this song is all about empowerment.
Consumers (that’s you) need to know the facts about chemicals, additives, and preservatives. An educated eater is a healthy eater. Usually. Because the thought of eating nitrate, sodium stearyl lactylate, and monocalcium phosphate for lunch isn’t really appealing, is it? That’s what you’re eating in a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread, with potato chips. For many of the foods we eat, food = chemicals.
Additives are “any substance the intended use of which results or may reasonably be expected to result in affecting the characteristics of the food.” Hmmm. Sounds like the whole intent is to change the food into something it’s not.
Of course, that’s not always bad. Herbs and spices are added to change flavors. Salt is a preservative, and has been for years (anyone who’s eaten lutefisk might say that’s not such a good thing, but we’ll keep that as the exception that proves the rule).
ASSIGNMENT – For every meal you eat today, pay attention to how much of the food is just the way it grew, and how much has been “enhanced” with chemicals, additives, or preservatives.
If you’ve been gaining weight each year and blaming it all on getting older, well, sorry, but that’s not a very good excuse.
Yes, it’s true that as we age, changes in our hormones make gaining weight easier. In women, they can contribute to decreased muscle mass and energy, and increased belly fat and insulin resistance. But, ummm, those things are all within your control, just like they’ve always been.
The more we eat clean, live clean, and work out, the better our hormone balance will be, and the healthier our metabolisms will remain. Yep. That weight gain is still related to our lifestyle choices.
Keep exercising. Whether you like doing it is not the question here. You need to do it for your health. You know, so you can continue to enjoy your career, travel, kids and grandkids, hobbies, friends… life. Your body needs exercise like it needs air and water.
Eat whole foods, preferably foods that are not loaded with pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals. Whole foods (”the way they grow” as opposed to processed or packaged) help fight disease and balance hormone levels.
Stay vigilant about your health for as long as you live, and you’ll live longer to enjoy it!
Did you know that the average consumer eats about 140-150 pounds of additives every year? Yuck! That’s like an entire human body full of chemicals!
These preservatives are put in our foods for the benefit of the seller not for us, the consumer. These foods could sit on the shelf for years! Some preservatives keep produce from spoiling (ever!).
Some additives give certain foods more color, some give it a different flavor.
These chemicals and additives have side effects, making us lethargic, sleepy or wired, headachy, and can even cause cancers and other life-threatening diseases.
We should all be reading those labels so that we know what to avoid. If you can’t pronounce an ingredient or if it sounds like something you used in Chemistry 101, you probably shouldn’t be eating it!
ASSIGNMENT – Read the ingredient labels on all the food you eat or buy this week. Do you understand what the ingredients are? Or does it sound like chem lab?
Trade in carbonated beverages for water, and see your weight change and your health improve. It’s not instant, but it’s a small change that will add up fast.
Sodas made with sugar or corn syrup add calories without nutrition, and lead to tooth decay (just ask your dentist).
Even diet sodas cause problems. The chemical sweeteners can lead to cravings for more sweet foods, or for salty foods (to balance the sweetness of the soda). Either way, you don’t need those extra foods. And we really don’t know what all those chemicals are doing in our bodies over time.
Drinking a carbonated beverage means drinking in gas… and then you have to get rid of the gas. No matter which end it comes out, it’s not the image you want to project. At least we don’t think so.
Seafood is part of the Total Health Makeover® for those who choose to eat animal protein. But not all seafood is good for you. How do you know what’s good for you, and what’s really not so healthy? (Don’t trust the person trying to make the sale…)
Monterey Bay Aquarium keeps this information updated and available for everyone. We love that they’ve dedicated themselves to gathering this information and publishing it.
Or get a mobile application – iPhone users can download this application, or if you have another phone with internet service, just go to mobile.seafoodwatch.org.
We love the scents of fall – especially cinnamon, apple, and pumpkin.
They can be dangerous smells, though, if we only smell them because we’ve been baking – all those treats we don’t need in the house! They can also be dangerous smells if they come from air fresheners – those are usually made from chemicals, or put chemicals into the air.
Get some candles in fall scents that you love. We like soy candles because they seem to burn cleaner. Essential oils and essential oil mists, and reed diffusers are other good options.
They’ll add to your decor, and make the house smell like … home.
Every three minutes, another woman learns she has breast cancer.
There are several strategies that can help reduce your risk of breast cancer. And there’s no good reason to NOT do these things.
Get moving. Regular physical activity (at least 30 minutes on most days) has been shown to be protective against breast cancer.
Get the girls checked regularly by a professional. Do your own monthly self examinations, too. Women between ages 20 and 39 should have a clinical breast exam performed by a health care professional at least every three years; women 40 years of age or older should have annual breast exams and talk with their doctor about mammograms.
Talk to your doctor. If you have a family history of breast cancer, your doctor may want you to start mammograms (or other screenings) earlier.
Supplement wisely. Folic acid, vitamin D, and antioxidants all may help decrease risk. Stay informed about supplements, and always tell your doctor everything you’re taking.
Reduce exposure to xenoestrogens. These chemicals with estrogen-like activity are found in common pesticides and industrial pollutants, and as hormone residues in meat, poultry, and dairy products. Meat-free and dairy-free menus are best. If you eat animal protein, be sure to get hormone-free varieties.
Avoid exposure to radiation, especially chest x-rays. Yes, sometimes they’re necessary. Ask if there are alternatives, especially for children and young adults.
Hey! Good timing. We’ve been doing some posts on the labels we see on food and what they mean for us. And then we got yesterday’s request to support Farm Sanctuary’s Truth in Labeling campaign by telling the USDA that factory farming practices should not be labeled “natural.” (Read it here)
Here’s another label you might see regarding animal care. We’ve also added a link to Farm Sanctuary’s report summary on labeling at the end of this post – be sure to read that for more detailed info.
The Certified Humane Raised and Handled label comes from Humane Farm Animal Care, a nonprofit organization that uses the American Meat Institute Standards for certification
You can expect:
Meat or animal products come from facilities that use responsible farm-animal practices, including providing animals with ample space and shelter, clean water, and hormone-free feed.
Animals aren’t given antibiotics.
Cages and crates are prohibited.
The organization’s scientific committee writes the standards and inspectors conduct annual on-site inspections, including interviews, record reviews, observation and evaluation of operating procedures, and handling and slaughter inspections.
The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Livestock and Seed Program verifies inspections.
Where you’ll see the Certified Humane Raised and Handled label: meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products
Read Farm Sanctuary’s position on the Humane Raised and Handled Certification, along with other certifications and labels used for animal welfare standards and labels.
We bet you’ve seen this label on some of your groceries. Do you know what it means? Here’s a quick summary to help you understand just what to expect when you see this certification.
The Fair Trade Certified stamp comes from TransFair USA, a nonprofit organization that certifies fair-trade products using the standards established and enforced by Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO)—a global network of 20 labeling initiatives.
If you see this certification, you can expect:
Community investment to build better lives * farmers and farm workers from 58 developing countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America receive community-development premiums to be invested in projects such as health care, education, and organic certification.
Better work conditions * farmers and workers work in fair and safe labor conditions, use environmentally sustainable methods, and partake in direct trade.
Accountability * TransFair USA is the leading third-party fair-trade certifier of food goods in the United States.
Where you’ll see the Fair Trade Certified stamp: coffee, tea, herbs, cocoa and chocolate, fresh fruit, sugar, rice, flowers, honey, spices, and wine
Here’s another label you might see regarding animal care. We’ve also added a link to Farm Sanctuary’s report summary on labeling at the end of this post – be sure to read that for more detailed info.
We bet you’ve seen this label on some of your groceries. Do you know what it means? Here’s a quick summary to help you understand just what to expect when you see this certification.
