Archive for the ‘Food-Nutrition-Health’ Category

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Common contaminated surfaces, and how to avoid infection

Monday, May 28th, 2012

by Catherine Haug, May 27, 2012

We have become a society afraid of infection, leading us to seek ways to avoid contamination. Infectious bugs live on just about every surface we encounter (including our own skin and hair), and are also present in the air we breathe, so it is impossible to avoid these bugs. But there are things we can do to reduce exposure and enhance our immunity.

NOTE: there are also non-infectious diseases such as cancer that cannot necessarily be avoided by avoiding contamination, but may be avoided by enhancing your immunity

First, lets explore the most contaminated surfaces we encounter every day, then look at ways to enhance your immunity so you don’t succumb to contamination or exposure to infectious disease. (more…)

Posted in Ecology, Health, Home & Ranch, Simplify | Comments Closed

A matter of prescription

Monday, May 28th, 2012

by Catherine Haug, May 27, 2012

This post is my personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of other members of the ESP team.

I recently became ill with “walking pneumonia” caused by mycoplasma bacteria. I understand is going around the valley. I’ve had pneumonia before, and I know that puts me at greater risk for this disease and for a more serious condition. My symptoms were: no fever, wheezing, coughing (sometimes intense, bringing up phlegm), and depleted energy. Because it is bacterial, it can be treated with prescription antibiotics. However, based on the experience I had following this diagnosis, I have some advice to share with you.

But first, my experience. It all came to a head on a Friday, so knowing the weekend was ahead with limited access to health professionals, I did two things: (more…)

Posted in Health, Recycle, Remedies | Comments Closed

Organics: Who’s Watching your Back?

Saturday, May 26th, 2012

by Catherine Haug, May 24, 2012

Most people assume if it says “Organic” on the package, it contains no harmful additives and is a healthful food. But this is true only for single-ingredient foods (fresh produce, meat, dairy, eggs); it is not necessarily the case when it comes to processed Organic foods (canned, bottled, boxed, packaged or frozen).

For starters, there are three different Organic labels used on processed foods (foods with more than one ingredient; see The EssentiaList: Natural vs Organic Labeling for more detail):

  • “100% Organic”
  • “Organic” (95% of ingredients by weight are Organic)
  • “Made with Organic” (less than 95% of ingredients by weight are Organic)

And then there are the standards that govern what can and cannot be termed ‘Organic.’ These standards are determined and enforced by:

  • National Organic Program (NOP)
  • National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)
  • Organic Trade Association (OTA)

These organizations are supposed to be keeping the Organic labels true to the name, but recent history reveals that is not the case. (more…)

Posted in Food-Nutrition-Health, GMO, Organics, Shop Local | 1 Comment »

Event Summary: ESP at 2012 Preparedness Fair

Saturday, May 12th, 2012

by Catherine Haug, May 12, 2012

Bigfork Emergency Response Team (BERT) hosted the first Bigfork Preparedness Fair on May 5, 2012. Although the weather was wet, windy and cold, the fair had an excellent turnout: over 300 people signed in and there were many booths both indoors and out, as well as several lecturers.

ESP had a booth in one corner of the main room, featuring a backboard of photos from past gatherings, books on sustainability topics to browse through, and Jeffrey Fund’s pedal-powered grain grinder for people to try out. We had several different grains to grind: spelt, Jeffrey’s wheat and Wheat Montana’s Prairie Gold wheat. (more…)

Posted in Community, Emergency Preparedness, Energy, Food-Nutrition-Health, Gathering Summaries, Home & Ranch, Repurpose | Comments Closed

Seafood Guide: Do you know where your seafood comes from?

Saturday, May 5th, 2012

Salmon at Market

by Catherine Haug, May 5, 2012

Food and Water Watch is watching our backs when it comes to healthful seafood. Much of the earth’s oceans and spawning streams are contaminated with mercury and other toxic heavy metals, PCBs, petroleum-based toxins and lots of other foul stuff, that then contaminate the seafood that live in the waters, and finally us.

Which fisheries are the cleanest?, Which species accumulate less toxic load than others?

Now you can consult Food & Water Watch’s handy 2012 Seafood Guide, to help you make healthful selections at the market, and support clean fisheries. There is an online guide, a downloadable pocket guide and much more. Read on for the links. (more…)

Posted in Ecology, Food-Nutrition-Health | Comments Closed

Barefootin’

Friday, May 4th, 2012

by Catherine Haug, April 29, 2011

Sometimes one of life’s great pleasures turns out to be good for you. And going barefoot is one of them, because your feet can communicate with the soil. True, if you live in the south, it can invite parasites such as hookworm that enters your body through the soles of your feet. But we have little chance of that here in the Flathead.

So take off those shoes and socks and go for a walk on a sandy beach or cool, dewy grass.

When you must wear shoes, choose those with real leather soles and shun plastic or rubber-soled shoes, as these inhibit communication between the soil and the soles of your feet. Besides, natural materials are far more sustainable that plastics made in power-monger industrial factories.

What’s so important about this soil-to-feet communication: grounding! (more…)

Posted in Health | Comments Closed

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