Okay gang! Just came across a great tip on the Sundance Channel's new series, The Green, on tv.

Every Tuesday night, they are running a documentary called Big Ideas for a Small Planet. It's just great stuff. Check it out. Fab, fun people, making you laugh as they explain how we need to change to save the world.

I like that - a little freak out, peppered with a lot of humor. Case in point - a quote from the inaugural episode:

"I feel as if we are in a giant car, heading into a brick wall at a hundred miles an hour, and everybody in the car is arguing about where they want to sit. It doesn't matter who's driving. Someone's gotta say 'For heaven's sakes, put the brakes on and turn the wheel.' A few of us are saying that... but we're locked in the trunk." - David Suzuki
Seriously - Tuesday nights. Give it a go...

Tip from idealbite.com - very cool, very fun...lots of good green energy!

Tipping well! ~j

Get to know where your food comes from. Bottom line!

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Two great articles. Again, I am not saying be fanatical, I am saying do what you can when you can.

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With knowledge and the power of choice! ~j

• Do You Know What Pasteurization and Irradiation Really Mean?
• Michael Pollan: The 2007 Farm Bill 'You Are What You Grow'

May you be praised, my Lord,

for our sister, mother earth,

who sustains us,

producing good green plants.

~Saint Francis of Assisi

Courage is not the absence of fear,

but rather the judgment

that something else is more important than fear.

~Ambrose Redmoon

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This completely fit! And I was compelled to share this message.

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We are all magnificent in our own perfect way. Fear often squelches our dreams and our lives. Fear of the unknown, fear or change, fear of failure. And in a moment of fear when you do the thing that you did not think you could do, it is usually because something greater is at stake. At that moment you know you have to act, courage must overcome the fear or the consequences could be grave.

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When is your moment? What moment is it that will change your life? Will it be a life and death situation? An intense drama? Or is it as simple (but not easy) as an aha moment. Your epiphany. Really, take more than a minute to think about it. You have been blessed with something amazing that is unique to only you. Whatever gift has been given to you, share it with the world and turn it into action. What is the thing that makes your heart skip a beat, quicken your pulse and open your eyes wide.

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Follow it, share it, enjoy it. People will usually think you are crazy when you follow your bliss, that often means you are on the right track! Find the warrior inside of you that is passionate to fight for your dreams. If you are lucky and find someone who gives you a high five...take it and smile...

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Hand held high! ~j

Spinach and Lentil Salad With Toasted Walnuts

Toasted walnuts give this spinach salad some extra crunch! Top this dish with a homemade red wine vinaigrette for a tasty, tangy kick.

START TO FINISH: 30 minutes MAKES: 4 servings

1 cup water

1/2 cup brown or French lentils, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

1/3 cup chopped green onions

1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

6 cups torn spinach or mixed salad greens

12 ounces cooked chicken breast, sliced

red wine vinaigrette & extra virgin olive oil dressing

1. In a small saucepan combine the water and lentils. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until lentils are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. Drain lentils and place in a medium bowl. Stir in bell pepper, green onions, parsley, and walnuts.

2. Divide spinach among 4 serving plates. Top with lentil mixture and chicken. Drizzle with red wine vinaigrette.

Nutrition Facts per serving: 341 cal., 14 g total fat (2 g sat. fat), 72 mg chol., 166 mg sodium, 19 g carbo., 10 g fiber, 36 g pro.

Where the will of God leads you,

the grace of God will keep you.

~Unknown

I thought this was a nice reflection for today. Sometimes we think that we are in total control. Well, we do have free will, but ultimate control? For many that is a lifetime of contemplation, study and/or the 'on the road, take the off ramp for a break' approach. Some know in the depths of their soul what their purpose is here and others discover it along the way. I am always brought back to the discussion around the human experience. It isn't what happens to you in life, it is what you do with what happens.

Have a wonderful day, whatever comes your way! ~j

It's time for spring clean-up...inside your body especially!

Enjoying the balance! ~j

BUY ORGANIC & AVOID THE "DIRTY DOZEN" FRUITS & VEGETABLES

According to the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) analysis of data from over 43,000 tests on pesticides in conventional produce, over 90% of ingestion of pesticides in foods can be eliminated by avoiding the most contaminated foods.

The "Dirty Dozen" most contaminated foods are peaches (97 percent tested positive for residue), apples (92 percent tested positive), sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce and potatoes.

The "Consistently Clean" are onions (90 percent tested negative), avocados (90 percent), sweet corn (90 percent), pineapples, mango, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, broccoli and papaya.

"Federal produce tests tell us that some fruits and vegetables are so likely to be contaminated with pesticides that you should always buy them organic. Others are so consistently clean that you can eat them with less concern." Says EWG Senior Vice President Richard Wiles.

Download your wallet-sized shopper's guide here: http://www.foodnews.org

This information is a little scary to me. I often talk about being aware...and I feel as though my eyes are still opening for the first time! ~j

ps. Remember...I am not saying to buy into an article here or there and get all freaked out. No one can make productive choices that way... I am saying, whoa...it might be a good idea to take a few minutes to find out what this means. I am pretty well convinced that we have little or no privacy already when it comes to the government, but tamper with my food sources or options for immediate choice and I get a little antsy! Have a great day gang!

Here is info on the National I.D. card.....only one year away!!! Montana,Nevada, and Maine (soon to be Hawaii) have stated that they will not comply with this.

http://www.epic.org/privacy/id_cards/
Please note that item # 9 ( (9) A common machine-readable technology, with defined minimum data elements.")has now been updated to RFID chips. So, the national I.D. card will have a radio chip placed in it that allows you to be tracked and identified for every purchase you make, every place you go, and more.

US National ID Cards by May 2008 - article the Jones Report
http://www.jonesreport.com/articles/301006_id_cards_2008.html

"Man is made or unmade by himself.

In the armory of thought

he forges the weapons

by which he destroys himself.

He also fashions the tools

with which he builds for himself

heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace."

~James Allen

Busy busy today. Here is an article that I think reflects important points to ponder when you think about breakfast choices. ~j

Power Breakfast -- Healthy Breakfast at the Root of a Healthy Day

Power Breakfast
I seem to have a daily fight with my teenage daughter about eating a good breakfast. She goes for the carbs, and I push the protein. However, if you don't like eggs, the remaining standard breakfast fare includes dairy products (allergenic for many) or bacon and other breakfast meats. If breakfast really is the most important meal of the day, shouldn't we select what we eat more carefully? And what exactly are the proven benefits of eating breakfast in the first place?
"There's an old saying that goes 'Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper,'" said nutritionist and weight-loss coach Jonny Bowden, CNS. "But most of us do the opposite." According to Bowden, this is exactly the wrong way to eat if we're trying to lose weight. It also works against us if we're trying to keep our energy up during the day and our performance level high. "Remember, you've just completed eight hours without food," he told me. "You're literally breaking a fast. Your body is craving nourishment, and your brain needs glucose to function at its best. Skipping breakfast is one of the worst possible things you can do. You set yourself up for disaster in a number of different ways later in the day."

Indeed, the research points that way. Between 35% and 40% of all Americans skip breakfast, and many kids leave for school without it. The implications are dramatic, both physically and mentally (more on that in a moment). "People who skip breakfast are more than four times as likely to be obese than people who eat something in the morning," Bowden informed me.
Then there's performance. "Numerous studies over the years have shown that skipping breakfast impacts the behavior and mental performance of school kids," Bowden said. "Kids who eat breakfast have better memory, and higher math and reading scores. And kids who are hungry have a large number of behavior problems, including fighting, stealing, having difficulty with teachers and not acknowledging rules."

Additionally, people who eat breakfast are far more likely to get a healthy intake of vitamins and minerals than those who don't. In one study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, researchers found that people who ate a hearty breakfast containing more than one-quarter of their daily calories had a higher intake of essential vitamins and minerals and lower serum cholesterol levels to boot. Sounds weird, doesn't it? Getting adequate and sufficient nutrients when your body needs them is the best way to maintain optimal body function.

THE BEST BREAKFAST
So what constitutes a good breakfast? Is it the high-carb, low-fat "Breakfast of Champions" that was so in vogue several decades ago? Or is it a plate piled high with meat and bacon minus the bread and potatoes à la "Robert Atkins"?

"Higher protein breakfasts translate into a more sustained level of energy throughout the morning and possibly the day," Bowden told me. "Protein fills you up longer, and you're less likely to have midmorning cravings. You're also less likely to overeat at lunch." And higher protein at breakfast may increase metabolism, helping you to maintain a healthy weight. "In one study, a high-protein breakfast increased the metabolism of healthy young women by a shocking 100%," Bowden said.

"There are definite advantages to higher protein intakes in the morning," Bowden continued, "but that doesn't mean 10,000 calories of bacon."

• 
  Eggs. "I think eggs are one of nature's perfect food sources," he told me. "They are loaded with protein and other nutrients such as phosphatidyl choline for the brain and heart." A Bowden breakfast favorite: Scramble some eggs with spinach and sliced apples in some coconut oil, and season with turmeric and lemon pepper. "It's loaded with protein and nutrients for the eyes, like lutein and zeaxanthin," he explained. "Plus the turmeric is one of nature's great anti-inflammatories." (Note: Bowden strongly recommends free-range eggs -- from hens that had access to the outdoors where they could run around and eat more natural food, which changes the fat content and nutrition of their meat and eggs.)
• 
  Yogurt that contains active cultures. "One of my favorite quick breakfasts is yogurt with nuts and red or purple grapes," Bowden said. "I always use goat's or sheep's milk yogurt because it's less likely to have hormones in it and has a better nutrient balance. Then I sprinkle on some walnuts or almonds or pecans."
• 
  Peanut butter and banana sandwich. "If you're someone who can tolerate grains," said Bowden, "buy a good whole-grain bread, preferably sprouted grain, take one slice and make a 'half sandwich' using natural, unsweetened peanut or almond butter, a banana and, if you like, a dollop of yogurt on top."
• 
  Shakes and Smoothies. "You can make a nutritious shake using water, protein mixes and frozen fruit and/or berries, with a little cranberry or pomegranate juice. Or almond or rice milk. Throw in a handful of raw oats for texture -- it tastes much better than it sounds. Experiment. Peanut butter is another great add-in."
• 
  Muesli or granola cereal. Add nuts, berries or sliced apples, and flaked coconut. You can also use raw cold-pressed honey or blackstrap molasses if you like."

"Be aware of images you create about yourself

when you speak to others."

~Sanaja Roman

Too Skinny to Be Fat?

True or false: You can have a normal weight and BMI (body mass index) and still be "obese." It's true. Even if you're no bigger than a minute, you could still be at risk for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome if your fat mass is greater than 30 percent of your body weight. It's called "normal-weight obese syndrome."
Check your BMI here: http://www.consumer.gov/weightloss/bmi.htm

Overall weight and BMI are a good start when estimating health risks, but they don't tell the whole story. (Please be aware of this! You need to look at all of the factors!) What's more important is how much fat you have relative to your overall weight and where that fat is on your body.

The higher your percentage of fat mass -- and the more fat you have bunched around your middle -- the more proinflammatory cytokines you have racing around in your blood.

What's so bad about that, you ask? These chemicals signal inflammation, and the more inflammation you have in your body, the greater your health risks. Cytokines also affect the way your body uses insulin and contribute to hardening of the arteries. Once the inflammation ball gets rolling, your risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome go up. Which helps explain, in part, why skinny people can still get heart disease and may pack on pounds after a certain age. Also why allergies, arthritis and other inflammatory conditions are on the rise.

To lower your risk, use the triple threat:

cardiovascular exercise, weight training, and a balanced diet.

What is metabolic syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical conditions that increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. It is a very common and dangerous medical problem.

Metabolic syndrome is defined as the presence of 3 or more of the following health conditions:

• excess weight around the waist (waist measurement of more than 40 inches for men and more than 35 inches for women)
• triglycerides blood level of 150 mg/dL or more
• HDL cholesterol levels below 40 mg/dL for men and below 50 mg/dL for women
• blood pressure of 130/85 mm HG or higher
• prediabetes (a fasting blood sugar between 100 and 125) or diabetes (a fasting blood sugar level over 125 mg/dL).

Other terms used for metabolic syndrome are insulin resistance syndrome and syndrome X.

Gang! This is really big. Many people are walking around at risk and have no idea. It is easy to find out what is going on and how to make the best choices for health. Be aware. A simple annual blood test. A few calculations and you are informed! You don't even have to go through your dr for the tests...www.directlabs.com, comprehensive wellness package will tell you volumes about your health status. Have someone read the results functionally or call me and I'll do it. It's too easy not to check in at least once a year.

Educating and informing today!! ~j

Today's Tip

Cage-free eggs and free-range eggs are not the same. As far as the USDA is concerned, all eggs are "natural" so buyer beware.

Cage-free means the chickens are out of a small cage and into a big cage with no outdoor access to grass and insects.

Free-range means the chickens do have access to the outdoors. Be sure what they eat is organic. You may want to ask the source how long they are allowed to be outdoors (the longer the better).

Also, remember, healthy eggs do not cause cholesterol problems. Sugar and excess refined starches do.

Eggcellent!! ~j

source - price pottenger foundation http://www.price-pottenger.org/

"Every spirit builds itself a house,

and beyond its house a world,

and beyond its world a heaven."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tomb filled with gold jewelry, coins unearthed in Greece

I am often fascinated by the ancients. Holding on to treasures to take with them to the next life. And many other rituals of their time. Strong, deep beliefs, those that life often hinged on. It is amazing to read of these discoveries in our world today. Enjoy a moment of reflection on a time when life was distinctly different, however...very similar.

With spirit, old and new...~j

PS. not completely unrelated is a book I have recently finished, Magic into Science, the Story of Paracelsus by Henry M Pachter. Fascinating! A curious and contradictory figure of the Renaissance period, physician, scientist, healer and alchemist...just in case anyone is interested in this kind of historical information on medicine & psychiatry ;-)

Whoa...deep thoughts~

"Once we believe in ourselves,

we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight,

or any experience that reveals the human spirit."

~ E.E. Cummings

Do or do not. There is no try.

~Yoda,

'The Empire Strikes Back'

Okay gang! This completely applies to your nutrition as well. When you decide to make healthier food choices, just do it! You will be so glad that you did.

Now, I am not saying to do it all at once. But take it one step at a time and take each step with confidence and completely. You may need a little supplementation to give you a boost, a little direction on how to choose clean, nutrient dense foods or just a basic plan of action to get started.

Doing it! ~j

Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

~Margaret Mead

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Be the change you want to see in the world.

~Mahatma Gandhi

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We can look back through history at the individuals who pioneered new movements and big changes in the world. We can see how consensus swings as if on a pendulum before it reaches a place of equilibrium and acceptance.

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Life is in a constant state of change, as are we, and it may require an act of rebellion to bring change about. But when we act from our deepest beliefs today, we know that we are following the guidance of the universe for the good of the world.

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As I look around lately, I am struck with an urgency to convey change. Everything is always changing, but what direction is it that you choose to go? How do you decide or are you on autopilot and in a few years you'll look back and wonder how you got there? A client of mine recently shared with me her experience of this...she had been so distracted by pesky health issues that she was missing being an active part of her child's life. She only realized it once she was feeling better and had the energy put into a better quality of life for herself and her family. WOW! Talk about a basketball in the face! From dazed to awake!

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Change can be so subtle and yet so powerful. Change for those who are ready to listen and even take action can break down barriers, build relationships, heal. Change for those things that are within each persons circle of influence make a difference, because the ripple effect is so powerful and may touch someone who is looking for it, but doesn't even know it yet. Now...can you picture in your minds eye...conscious change?

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With a rebellious spirit and a pure heart! ~j

Does this look like fun or what?!

Okay, so we are heading out to watch persistence and power this am. Amazing athletes and right in my backyard! The California Ironman...I am tired already and I am not even entered. But I have been following a number of blogs of athletes that are really dedicated and on fire! We are going out to cheer them on.

While my aspirations do not reach ironman status, I am looking forward to my own goals and challenges. These are truly inspiring people. So, ummm...What are you doing this weekend? Whatever it may be, dig in and enjoy it!

Long training wishes and personal best dreams~ ~j

A thought for someone very dear to me who is no longer with us.

In memory and celebration of her life ~j

The tide recedes
but leaves behind
bright seashells
on the sand.

The sun goes down
but gentle warmth
still lingers
on the land.

The music stops
and yet it echoes on
in sweet refrains...

For very joy
that passes,
something beautiful
remains.

4 Herbs for High-Powered Salad

Turn your salad into an overachieving super salad by adding fresh herbs and spices. Fresh herbs add extra cell-protecting phenols to salads. To boost the nutrition in your bowl -- and your belly -- add sage, rosemary, marjoram, and thyme. In a recent study, these herbs added the most antioxidants to a salad (fresh marjoram leaves more than doubled the antioxidant value). For spices, cumin soared up the salad chart. Second to cumin: fresh ginger. Keep exploring those herbs and spices, they are amazing and offer powerful nutrition.

Which vegetables pack the strongest antioxidant punch?

Artichoke, beetroot, broccoli, garlic, a variety of leek, a type of radish, and spinach were top produce picks in a recent study. Adding onions also upped the antioxidant ante. Dressing gives you another opportunity to increase the antioxidant quotient of your salad. Extra-virgin olive oil shines brightest. For a healthful and low-fat alternative, try apple or wine vinegars. What about the leaves? Try some crunchy (and slightly bitter) red chicory with your romaine. Its pigments contain antioxidant flavonoids.

Bottom line:

When it comes to your salads, skip the garden variety (iceberg, not terribly nutritious alone) and spice it up.

Recipe Corner: For a refreshing salad with a kick, try this recipe from EatingWell: Citrus-Cumin Splash. Find more recipes at EatingWell.com. Great site for recipes, just keep the guidelines in mind, no to low soy, rBST free, organic or local grown...you can take most of your old favorites and give them a healthy twist, if they aren't already.

Going green and fresh today! ~j

Shall I not have intelligence with the earth?

Am I not partly leaves and vegetable mould myself.

~Henry David Thoreau

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On a much more pleasant topic...Local Harvest! It is spring and with it comes abundant fresh fruits and veggies. I LOVE THE BOX! If you know anyone who gets the CSA box, well, they love it too. Sometimes it can be like Christmas every week. Brilliant colors, fresh smell, often a surprise enclosed. Mmmmmmm.

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I challenge you today to find your local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) provider. You can look it up at http://www.localharvest.org/ - check it out, just for kicks or for real.

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We should strive for 50% off our foods being fresh per day. What does that look like?? Well, take your plate and at each meal, half of it should contain fresh, raw foods. You know, salads are raw, snacking veggies are raw, fruits, seeds, milk and dairy products can be raw too. Even if you are not into juicing, blending or dehydrating or some other ing...you are entitled to the best that is out there, nutrient dense, delicious foods.

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You can often find these foods grown right in your neighborhood at a local market rather than a giant chain. You just might even be able to trek out to the farm and see where it all happens. Better than TV on the weekend.

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The point here is...do you know where to get those foods that really nourish your body rather than just satisfy a basic hunger need? Don't get me wrong, if it is the chain and fruits and veggies or none, go to the chain, but if you can, make time to step outside of your comfort zone.

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In health and exploration ~j

Well, it won't win any awards for best drama, but drama you will find in this film. It's out and creating a stir. Stomach turning, thought provoking, take off your rose colored glasses moments. Some of you may be down right shocked at what you see in this movie. It screams WAKE UP! Let me give you a clue, one of the lines was about having too much fecal matter in the meat patties. Yikes!!

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If you want to get down and dirty with the real details on this topic, I highly recommend the book version written by Eric Schlosser in the late 90's. It really drills down into the specifics. They took the basics and created a story for an audience to follow without it being a documentary.

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'On any given day, one out of four Americans opts for a quick and cheap meal at a fast-food restaurant, without giving either its speed or its thriftiness a second thought. Fast food is so ubiquitous that it now seems as American, and harmless, as apple pie. But the industry's drive for consolidation, homogenization, and speed has radically transformed America's diet, landscape, economy, and workforce, often in insidiously destructive ways.

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Eric Schlosser, an award-winning journalist, opens his ambitious and ultimately devastating exposé with an introduction to the iconoclasts and high school dropouts, such as Harlan Sanders and the McDonald brothers, who first applied the principles of a factory assembly line to a commercial kitchen. Quickly, however, he moves behind the counter with the overworked and underpaid teenage workers, onto the factory farms where the potatoes and beef are grown, and into the slaughterhouses run by giant meatpacking corporations. Schlosser wants you to know why those French fries taste so good (with a visit to the world's largest flavor company) and "what really lurks between those sesame-seed buns." Eater beware: forget your concerns about cholesterol, there is--literally--feces in your meat.

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Schlosser's investigation reaches its frightening peak in the meatpacking plants as he reveals the almost complete lack of federal oversight of a seemingly lawless industry. His searing portrayal of the industry is disturbingly similar to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, written in 1906: nightmare working conditions, union busting, and unsanitary practices that introduce E. coli and other pathogens into restaurants, public schools, and homes. Almost as disturbing is his description of how the industry "both feeds and feeds off the young," insinuating itself into all aspects of children's lives, even the pages of their school books, while leaving them prone to obesity and disease. '

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But for those of you who prefer the view to curling up with a book, go for it. It still has great impact. There is a dynamic cast of characters...Bruce Willis, Greg Kinnear, Patricia Arquette, Wilmar Valderrama, Kris Kristofferson...

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Get real...this is as real as it gets. ~j

Ummm..yikes folks! These results are astounding when there is so much information on how to prevent disease. Okay, if you are eating well, then darn it! take the survey, because I am sure they did not show up at your door. However, if you are not yet on the bandwagon, please consider some of the recommendations for the new campaign! In health & eating ~j

Americans Eating Fewer Vegetables
5 a Day for Fruits and Vegetables? No Way, Surveys Show


By Miranda Hitti WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

March 19, 2007 -- A new report shows Americans are actually getting worse at eating their vegetables.

This is hardly the first study to document dismal diet habits. Last week, the CDC gave U.S. adults poor marks for fruit and vegetable consumption. Now, researchers from Johns Hopkins University confirm that Americans aren't getting better at eating fruits and vegetables -- even though public health officials urge them to do so. The Johns Hopkins study shows that, among U.S. adults, fruit consumption is holding steady, but vegetable consumption is headed down -- even if you count french fries. The study appears in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.


Fruit, Vegetable Consumption
Johns Hopkins University's Tiffany Gary, PhD, and colleagues reviewed data from two national health surveys.

• The first survey, conducted from 1988 to 1994, included nearly 15,000 U.S. adults.
• The second survey, done between 1999 and 2002, included about 8,900 U.S. adults.

In both, participants reported everything they had eaten during the previous 24 hours. Then researchers checked how many people met these goals:

• Two or more servings of fruit, including fresh fruit, dried fruit, and 100% fruit juice
• Three or more servings of vegetables (fried potatoes count, eeew).

These goals have been touted since 1991 as part of the national campaign to get Americans to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. But apparently, most people aren't heeding the message.

Few Met Goals
In the earlier survey, 27% of participants met the fruit consumption goal vs. 28% in the later survey. But the percentage meeting the vegetable consumption goal fell from 35% in the earlier survey to 32% in the one started about a decade later.

Fruit consumption basically stayed the same while vegetable consumption dropped slightly, note the researchers. In addition, vegetable eaters appear to be in a bit of a rut. They tended to eat several servings of the same vegetable, showing little dietary diversity.
In each survey, only 11% met both goals. Whites, college graduates, older adults, and people with higher incomes were more likely to meet the goals for fruit and vegetable consumption.

New Campaign
Today, the nonprofit Produce for Better Health Foundation launched a national effort to promote fruit and vegetable consumption. The campaign, called "Fruits & Veggies -- More Matters," encourages Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) gives these tips to help you meet your fruit and vegetable goals:
Keep a bowl of fruit handy.

• Go for variety.
• Serve a salad with dinner.
• Add beans to chili or soup.
• If you're ordering pizza, add some veggie toppings.
• Put chopped vegetables in pasta sauce or lasagna.
• Dip fresh fruit in low-fat yogurt or pudding.
• Dip raw veggies in low-fat salad dressing.

Helping Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables
It can be a challenge to get kids to eat fruits and vegetables, according to a survey of 1,000 U.S. moms conducted as part of the "Fruits & Veggies -- More Matters" campaign.


In the survey, more than 70% of moms gave their children grades of "A" or "B" for eating fruits and vegetables. But nearly 30% gave their kids and teens grades of "C" or lower for fruit and vegetable consumption. Those mothers said their children were tempted by other foods and weren't interested in eating fruits and vegetables.

If that sounds like your family, here are solutions offered by the USDA:

• Set a good example with your own diet.
• While shopping, let kids pick a new fruit or vegetable to try.
• Kids often like foods served separately, so don't mix vegetables on their plate.
• Offer children a choice of fruits at lunch.
• Top kids' cereal with berries or a smiley face made of sliced bananas for eyes, raisins for a nose, and an orange slice for a mouth.
• Use cut-up vegetables as part of afternoon snacks.
• Let kids decide on the dinner vegetables or what goes into salads.
• If children are old enough, let them help shop for, clean, peel, or cut up fruits and vegetables.
• Whether you have kids or not, pay attention to food safety.
• Wash your hands before cooking or eating, and wash fruits and vegetables in clean, running water.
• Keep fruits and vegetables separate from raw meat, poultry, and seafood, and heed the expiration dates on canned and frozen items.

An Astounding Affirmation

Springtime

Spring comes when the earth, coaxed by lengthening days and warmer temperatures, begins to awaken from her winter slumber. She stretches open to receive the rain that gives drink to flower buds and seedlings. She takes a deep breath, and on her exhale the leaves on trees unfurl like tiny flags heralding her revival as baby animals tumble forth, trumpeting the good news to all who will listen. Rebirth and repopulation fill the void of winter with flurry and fury as what appeared to be gone forever comes into being once again.

Even though it happens this way every year, we stand in awe, our insides trembling sweetly like the legs of a new foal as we too are reborn. This is when we fall in love, again, speak without thinking, say yes to things we would normally refuse. It becomes more difficult to say no when the whole world around us appears to be an astounding affirmation of the resilience, richness, and plain, perfect beauty of life.

We may find ourselves feeling several years younger and 10 pounds lighter without changing a thing. We may feel the urge to cleanse our bodies with a new pattern of eating, clearing our kitchens of cold-weather comfort foods and filling them instead with lighter fare and fresh fruits and vegetables. We may clear our closets of old clothes or cut our hair to express a new facet of who we are, and who we might become. Springtime inspires us to believe that, along with the earth, we too might change, release the past, and give birth to new ideas, new relationships, and new perspectives.

In honor of spring, we could make a list of the many possibilities we envision for the future and bury it in the earth, surrendering the fertile seeds of our imaginations to the nurturing soil. In tune with the season, we can then watch in wonder as the last of the snow dissolves into the rich brown earth, and stark winter gives way to green possibility.

" Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being,
and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. "
~World Health Organization, 1948

Enjoy today's news...this is a great plug for exercise, but it holds true for nutrition just as well. Each nutrient is processed inside the body and either supports health or the decline of health. What a great combination for wellness. Pay attention, it's your choice! ~j

Parade Magazine 3/20/07
New research reveals surprising facts about our changing bodies. You Can Stop ‘‘Normal’’ Aging

By Dr. Henry S. Lodge
Published: March 18, 2007

From your body’s point of view, “normal” aging isn’t normal at all. It’s a choice you make by the way you live your life. The other choice is to tell your cells to grow—to build a strong, vibrant body and mind.

Let’s have a look at standard American aging. Barbara D. had a baby when she was 34, gave up exercise and gained 50 pounds. Exhausted and depressed, Barbara thought youth, energy and optimism were all in her rearview mirror. Jon M., 55, had fallen even farther down the slippery slope. He was stuck in the corporate world of stress, long hours and doughnuts. At 255 pounds, he had knees that hurt and a back that ached. He developed high blood pressure and eventually diabetes. Life was looking grim.

Jon and Barbara weren’t getting old; they had let their bodies decay. Most aging is just the dry rot we program into our cells by sedentary living, junk food and stress. Yes, we do have to get old, and ultimately we do have to die. But our bodies are designed to age slowly and remarkably well. Most of what we see and fear is decay, and decay is only one choice. Growth is the other.

After two years of misery, Barbara started exercising and is now in the best shape of her life. She just finished a sprint triathlon and, at 37, feels like she is 20. Jon started eating better and exercising too—slowly at first, but he stuck with it. He has since lost 50 pounds, the pain in his knees and back has disappeared, and his diabetes is gone. Today, Jon is 60 and living his life in the body of a healthy 30-year-old. He will die one day, but he is likely to live like a young man until he gets there.

The hard reality of our biology is that we are built to move. Exercise is the master signaling system that tells our cells to grow instead of fade. When we exercise, that process of growth spreads throughout every cell in our bodies, making us functionally younger. Not a little bit younger—a lot younger. True biological aging is a surprisingly slow and graceful process. You can live out your life in a powerful, healthy body if you are willing to put in the work.

Let’s take a step back to see how exercise works at the cellular level. Your body is made up of trillions of cells that live mostly for a few weeks or months, die and are replaced by new cells in an endless cycle. For example, your taste buds live only a few hours, white blood cells live 10 days, and your muscle cells live about three months. Even your bones dissolve and are replaced, over and over again. A few key stem cells in each organ and your brain cells are the only ones that stick around for the duration. All of your other cells are in a constant state of renewal.

You replace about 1% of your cells every day. That means 1% of your body is brand-new today, and you will get another 1% tomorrow. Think of it as getting a whole new body every three months. It’s not entirely accurate, but it’s pretty close. Viewed that way, you are walking around in a body that is brand-new since Christmas—new lungs, new liver, new muscles, new skin. Look down at your legs and realize that you are going to have new ones by the Fourth of July. Whether that body is functionally younger or older is a choice you make by how you live.

You choose whether those new cells come in stronger or weaker. You choose whether they grow or decay each day from then on. Your cells don’t care which choice you make. They just follow the directions you send. Exercise, and your cells get stronger; sit down, and they decay.

Men like Jon, who go from sedentary to fit, cut their risk of dying from a heart attack by 75% over five years. Women cut their risk by 80%—and heart attacks are the largest single killer of women. Both men and women can double their leg strength with three months of exercise, and most of us can double it again in another three months. This is true whether you’re in your 30s or your 90s. It’s not a miracle or a mystery. It’s your biology, and you’re in charge.

Dr. Henry S. Lodge is on the faculty of Columbia Medical School and is co-author of “Younger Next Year” (Workman).

Shipping is a terrible thing to do to vegetables.

They probably get jet-lagged, just like people.

~Elizabeth Berry

Hi gang~

WOW! Time magazine really stepped up to the plate on this one. This is a great article sharing viewpoints on 'local' being the 'new organic'...um what does THAT mean? Well, read on my friends. I am all for organic, but always choose my local grower over one that is across the country or in another country.

Gone local! ~j

Eating Better Than Organic

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1595245,00.html

Here is more food for thought...I LOVE his advise on the last page...sound familiar??

http://www.foodreference.com/html/local-organic.html

This is a good one guys...you may not eat twinkies, but it is a representation of the long list of ingredients found in many of our packaged foods, both natural and commercial. Enjoy the information! ~j

Damien Donck for Newsweek

What's Inside: One ingredient in the Twinkie is described as 'food-grade plaster of Paris'

View related photos
By Anne Underwood

Newsweek: March 5, 2007 issue - As Steve Ettlinger dropped down a Wyoming mine shaft, plummeting 1,600 feet in an open-mesh cage, he wondered how many other food writers had ever donned hard hats and emergency breathing equipment in pursuit of a story. But it was too late to turn back. He'd promised his editor a book tracing the ingredients in a Hostess Twinkie to their origins—and one of them was down this shaft. At the bottom, he and his hosts climbed into an open Jeep and hurtled for 30 terrifying minutes through pitch-black tunnels. Their destination: the site where a mineral called trona—the raw ingredient of baking soda—was being clawed out of a rock face by giant machines. "To say that this does not suggest Twinkies or any other food product would be an understatement," observes Ettlinger. "There you are at an open rock face, wondering why they do all this for the sake of a little snack cake."

If you've ever puzzled over why packaged foods contain "polysorbate 60" or "mono and diglycerides," Ettlinger's new book, "Twinkie, Deconstructed," is a treat you'll want to try. Chapter by chapter, Ettlinger—the author of previous food books like "Beer for Dummies"—decodes all 39 ingredients in the little crème-filled cakes. He explains their uses and the processes by which raw materials are "crushed, baked, fermented, refined and/or reacted into a totally unrecognizable goo or powder with a strange name," which then appears on a label full of other incomprehensible and barely pronounceable ingredients. Unraveling it all was a major undertaking—and Ettlinger received no help from Hostess and its parent company, Interstate Brands Corp., despite appealing directly to the Vice President of Cake.

At the heart of the book is the fundamental question: why is it you can bake a cake at home with as few as six ingredients, but Twinkies require 39? And why do many of them seem to bear so little resemblance to actual food? The answer: To stay fresh on a grocery-store shelf, Twinkies can't contain anything that might spoil, like milk, cream or butter. Once you remove such real ingredients, something has to take their place—and cellulose gum, lecithin and sodium stearoyl lactylate are a good start. Add the fact that industrial quantities of batter have to pump easily through automated tubes into cake molds, and you begin to get the idea.

What Exactly Is In a Twinkie?
Even so, it can be unsettling to learn just how closely the basic ingredients in processed foods resemble industrial materials. Corn dextrin, a common thickener, is also the glue on postage stamps and envelopes. Ferrous sulfate, the iron supplement in enriched flour and vitamin pills, is used as a disinfectant and weedkiller. Is this cause for concern? Ettlinger says no, though you wouldn't want a diet that consists solely of Twinkies. Ultimately, all food, natural and otherwise, is composed of chemical compounds—and normal ingredients like salt have industrial applications, too. Still, it gives you pause when he describes calcium sulfate, a dough conditioner, as "food-grade plaster of Paris."

In the end, you may learn more than you really wanted to about the Twinkie-Industrial Complex, as Ettlinger calls it. But you will never read a label the same way again.
© 2007 Newsweek, Inc.

I do not understand the mystery of grace,
only that it meets us where we are,
but does not leave us where it found us.
~Anne Lamott

Currently, about 90 percent of soybeans and 60 percent of corn grown in the United States are genetically engineered, and Funk said the "ability to contaminate the supply is increasing."

Leading Organic & Natural Foods Retailer & Wholesale Distributor Will Test All Their Private Brand Labels for GMO Contamination

This is an opportunity to make some significant changes Since GMO is infiltrating the non-GMO organic foods, measurements and testing will tell a story. Whole Foods private label, Eden foods and Lundberg Farm are all on board with this testing. The fact that they are finding GMO in fields and countries where it has not been planted nor is wanted is awful. Monsanto is going after small farmers telling them that they are owed compensation when the farmer doesn't want the modified crop, and the land is now contaminated! It is an outrage! Many farmers have lost their livelihoods, long time family farms and dignity after being crushed by the Monsanto Giant.

Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods

Jerry Garcia's wife, Debrah Koons Garcia, produced a wonderful documentary called 'The Future of Food'...very powerful portrayal, if you have the means to see it, I recommend it is worth your time!

Living non-GMO today! ~j

For cleanness of body was ever esteemed

to proceed from a due reverence to God,

to society, and to ourselves.

~Francis Bacon

Just last year, the European Union passed a directive dictating that personal care products must be free of chemicals known or strongly suspected to cause cancer, genetic mutations, or birth defects. As a result, over 1,200 chemicals were banned. But almost all of them are still authorized for use in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require makers of shampoos, soaps, or deodorants to test products for safety before they're sold. Among the roughly 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products, only 11 percent have been evaluated for safety.

Learn about the possible effects of using bath and beauty products containing questionable chemicals and how to avoid those products.
Read More


To chemical free cleanliness...~j

Weekend Inspiration~

thanks Jordan Rubin for prompting today's message!

Is Your Body Truly a Temple?
Paul tells us: "What know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Primary to optimal health is how we treat our physical body — what we eat, how much and how well we sleep, and how much stress we encounter. After all, it's hard to focus on the spiritual when your body is crying out for help, whether due to disease, obesity, or lack of energy. What steps have you taken this week to treat your body as a sacred and important place?

Whatever your spiritual practice is...it is important to find your balance. It is easy to overcompensate in one area or another and then just tip over. When you are lying sideways wondering what happened...recognize that YOU have a great opportunity. There is no perfect, only perfect for you.

Remember, no one area of life is more important that the other. It all works together and I believe is divinely orchestrated (you know...higher power at work...just one girl's belief). With spring arriving, it is a time for renewal and reflection. Take advantage it, it can be very deep and rewarding.

If you are curious about Jordan, he has an amazing story and some great recipies as well. Just steer clear of the soy, otherwise, very sound and nutritive advice.

Finding and reaffirming the balance in my temple! ~j

"Do not take my word for everything.

Just listen to what I have to say,

use what you can and discard the rest."

~ Stuart Wilde

Yep! ~j

Coffee smells like freshly ground heaven.

~Jessi Lane Adams

This very valuable question was asked and is a response to the last post. I thought it was important enough to put in plain site!

Well, I am with you on the vices. We all have them. My love affair with coffee has been on again off again as well. Here's the deal...

1. Coffee has benefits, as long as you are not drinking it every day -can lead to caffeine addiction, even in the slightest way it effects the body. So 3 or 4 time a week is preferable.

2. It MUST be organic, shade grown - there are so many pesticides and herbicides in regular coffee. This is a sad little tidbit, but the DDT we outlawed back in the 70's we sold to third world countries who use it on their crops that they sell back to us. Shade grown offers many eco benefits, but More importantly to you...no systemic poisoning to the plant. Hmmmm...

3. Fair trade - are also an important factor - this is really about honoring a delicate and valuable ecosystem as well as quality of life and fairness for a multi-billion dollar commodity to the farmers. OCA is hitting Starbucks hard for their role in popularizing coffee and taking advantage of the little guy.

4. Swiss water decaf - If you drink decaf, make it the swiss water process. There is a tremendous amount of processing that does on and this is the cleanest way available.

So...make a difference in being conscious about where you spend your dollars and enjoy your cup of joe! ~j

In number 2 what I meant was systemic, where the poisons are absorbed into the soil and feed the roots of the plant. Yikes!

If you love the coffee houses, many of them are now very aware of offering organic, fair trade and shade grown.

Here's the OCA link...http://www.organicconsumers.org/fairtrade.cfm they can be extreme, but they do have their facts correct.

Again, it is all about being aware so you can make the best choices possible.

If you have any physical concerns regarding hpb, adrenal fatigue or even intolerance to caffeine, that would be a good time to consider no longer drinking it.

The world we live in is amazing! Enjoy ~j

Article - Total lunar eclipse thrills stargazers worldwide
Video clip - Rare eclipse

Speaking of Vienna, here is a great little snippette on coffee. We are going to chat more in depth about this. It is a HUGE area of health concern as well as conscious choice. I myself have a love hate relationship with this black gold.

Choosing Coffee with a Conscience