by Catherine Haug, January 5, 2012
If you are truly concerned about the invasion of GMOs in our food supply, please consider becoming active. A good place to start is the Tipping Point Network (TPN). A conference call for interested Montanans is being organized for Tuesday January 8. When I have more information, I will post it as an event notice.
Read on for more about the TPN, and about Montana Organic Association’s new GMO page. (more…)
by Catherine Haug, December 26, 2012 (also added to catsfork.com/CatsKitchen, 6/19/21)
Last year I wrote His & Hers: Matters of the Heart (5) about my Christmas 2010 heart attack. I had all the classic heart attack symptoms (chest pain, neck pain and numbness of my left arm), and the emergency room said I had elevated heart enzymes that indicated a heart attack.
But I later learned that mine was a ‘false’ attack because it was not caused by any obstruction or clot in my arteries, as my arteries were clear and there was no muscle damage. Mine was caused by cardiac spasms – spasms of the muscles in my arteries due to lack of magnesium that normally keeps them relaxed and humming.
While this explains why I was not laid up by my attack, nor suffered debilitating damage, it was still serious and could lead to more damaging problems if I didn’t take action to restore my magnesium levels.
It’s also important to note that false heart attacks are not the only consequence of low magnesium levels. (more…)
Frankenfood
Catherine Haug, December 21, 2012
Genetically engineered (GE) salmon is about to hit our markets, if the FDA has its way. Dubbed by the OCA as “frankenfish,” this farmed salmon,was created by AquaBounty by inserting growth hormone genes into fertilized salmonid eggs.
It has just been given the green light by the FDA, based on research by AquaBounty. It is absurd and outrageous that the department ignored data from independent researchers like those at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Academy of Science, and Purdue University.
This GE process also affects trout and Arctic char, as well as wild salmon. And NONE of these will be labeled as GE/GMO. Unless our congress or courts put a stop to this fast-track decision, you will be well advised to avoid all farmed salmon, trout and char.
The GE/GMO industry argues that this will only affect farmed salmon, but past history from fish hatcheries indicate that farmed salmon do escape into the wild. According to Salmon Nation, “Estimates of farmed salmon escapees in British Columbia total at least 400,000 fish from 1991 to 2001”
Contact our President, Senators and both our outgoing and incoming representatives; ask them to keep GE salmon off our plates. See Contact our Government for White House and current legislators. See stevedaines.com/contact for our Representative-elect. See Contact the White House
For more about GE Salmon see: (more…)
by Catherine Haug, December 16, 2012
Now that I’m retired and have much more time to cook from scratch (than when I was working 10-12 hours a day), I tend to take this blessing for granted. For those who are still working long hours, I know it is difficult to buy local and cook from scratch, so a short list of packaged/processed foods that are quick and easy to make from scratch, might be welcome.
The following list is from Dr. Mercola, who ‘borrowed’ the first 5 in the list from an article on Grist.org. He explains why the processed versions are best avoided. I’ve added my own comments/ideas as well. (more…)
by Catherine Haug, December 11, 2012
We all rely on the quality of our food to sustain us and keep us in good health. We trust that foods of vibrant color are rich in antioxidants and vitamins; for example, beets, oranges, carrots, cherries and berries. We trust that leafy greens with rich, dark color are rich in minerals, vitamins and bitters. We trust that fresh meats and dairy are rich in protein, essential oils, and vitamins.
But is our trust warranted? Certainly prior to the industrial age, that trust was well-placed. But modern agriculture is all about the bottom line, and food quality is often sacrificed in pursuit of that goal. Crops are treated with chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, and refreshed with contaminated waters. Animals are fed these inferior crops, and in many cases fed crops that are not their natural diet. All of this leads to nutritional deficiency in our foods.
Just how bad has it gotten? What can we do to reverse the trend? (more…)
Frankenfood
By Catherine Haug, December 7, 2012
On this Pearl Harbor day, I write about something far more deadly than bombs. Let us pause to remember those who have died in defense of our country, then vow to work to save ourselves from this insidious danger to our food supply.
GMO or GE foods are created by manipulating the DNA material of different species that would never breed naturally – like the banana-fish Frankenfood logo shown right (used by permission from the OCA). These foods are NOT normal, natural, organic, or safe. They pose a signifiant harm to you and your family’s health, not to mention that of our planet. For more on this, see my earlier posts:
The winter 2012 issue of Organic View, a publication of the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), includes an informative article about the battle for labeling GMO foods. Here are some highlights: (more…)