by Catherine Haug, June 16, 2013
Dr. Mercola lists 9 common foods you should never eat. I heartily agree with his assessment. If you avoid processed foods, use unrefined sea salt, and buy Organic produce (or locally-grown food from growers you trust), you will mostly avoid the bad foods on the list. The 9 common foods are: (more…)
Huckleberries
by Catherine Haug, May 3, 2013
(Photo, right, by D. Morgan, used with permission)
While there may be a lot of debate about diet: hi-carb vs lo-carb; vegetarian vs omnivore; modern vs paleo; and so on, it seems there are a few foods that transcend the debate – the so-called “superfoods.” These are touted because of their high nutritional value in various categories: vitamin-rich, mineral-rich, antioxidant-rich, and essential oil-rich. But they also have amazing taste. Note, however, there is one category of foods that seldom appear on a superfood list: grains. This is probably because of their difficult to neutralize anti-nutrients, such as gluten. But that’s another topic.
There is a well-founded belief that every area around the globe has its own native superfoods. Many believe – and I am one of those – that we should focus on our own native super foods, rather than reaching around the globe for the ‘latest and greatest’ touted by the media. One example of this is açaí berries native to Central and South America (4), and goji berries native to Asia (5). While these are among the richest foods for antioxidants, we have our own contender for that title: huckleberries.
AARP Magazine has featured several articles about superfoods, including Superfoods That Power You Up, by Rebecca Katz and Monica Bhide in the current April/May 2013 issue (1). This article reminded me of the herbs covered by Linda Peterson in her April ESP presentation on the Nutritional Value of Herbs. (more…)
Linda Peterson
by Catherine Haug, April 18, 2013
January Update: Linda has published her book: Nutrify and Detoxify: Manage Today’s Health Challenges, by Linda Peterson and published by VBW Publishing (1) and available on Amazon.
(photos by Edd Blackler)
This is just a short synopsis; you can find more detail in the complete, printable pdf file: [a link will be added here when available]. Linda had one handout, but requested I not make a digital copy for the website, as her info is copyrighted and will be included in her upcoming book. (more…)
Plastic water bottles (PETE)
by Catherine Haug, April 12, 2013
(photo, right, from Wikipedia)
If you are a recycler, you know that there are not many plastics that we can recycle here in the Flathead. In fact, about the only plastic we can recycle here are the white or semi-transparent milk jugs (code #2).
But did you know that paying attention to the recycle codes on plastic containers could help reduce your exposure to estrogenic and other toxins in the plastic?
You’ve probably heard me say that ALL plastics are toxic (not just BPA/BPS). One study (4) proves that at least 95% of all plastic products tested were positive for estrogenic activity. I maintain the other 5% are also suspect for some type of toxicity, if not yet proven.
Recycle Code #3
The codes to avoid are #3, #6 or #7 (these have red headings in the descriptions below). Those that are generally considered ‘safe’ (but still have potential toxicity, or may be toxic in ways that have not yet been discovered) are #1, #2, #4, and #5. See below for more about each code, and how to find them on a product or container. (image, left and below, from TheDailyGreen.com (11)
In this article I discuss:
Corn kernels
by Catherine Haug, April 10, 2013
Monsanto and other biotech companies maintain that there is no nutritional difference between GMO and non-GMO food. “On its corporate website, Monsanto claims that approved genetically-modified (GM) crops are “substantially equivalent” to non-GMOs, meaning they are not nutritionally different from non-GMO crops.” (2)
In my opinion, that assertion is nothing but shameless, baldfaced lies, and a recent report made public by MomsAcrossAmerica (1) proves the falsity. See also NaturalNews.com (2) for more info. (more…)
by Catherine Haug, February 9, 2013
Ever since I learned how to make plastic in college organic chemistry class; ever since Dustin Hoffman’s Benjamin was advised , “One word:…Plastics” in The Graduate, I’ve been cautious about my use of, and exposure to plastic. It hasn’t been easy. Plastics are everywhere, and very beguiling.
They are in our carpets and rugs; our toothbrushes; shopping bags; food storage containers and wrap; food; blankets, sheets, and towels; purses, wallets, backpacks, lunch boxes; grocery bags; milk jugs, pop bottles, liquor bottles; dishes and drinking glasses; eyewear; wigs; yard tools, lawn mowers, leaf blowers; automobiles; shoes and boots; clothing and decorator fabric; furniture; building materials; water and sewer pipes; appliances; wall paint; picnic supplies; children’s toys; bicycles; sewing machines and supplies; thread, yarn, string, rope; electrical wiring; playground equipment; landscaping materials. I could go on and on, but you get the idea.
It seems we cannot do without them. But……life as we know it cannot last much longer, with them. They pollute our oceans; kill our seafood and disrupt the sea food chain. They pollute our groundwater and the soil that grows our foods. They disrupt our hormones – especially in the womb – so that many children will grow up to be sterile. They affect gene expression.
Plastics require a lot of energy – fossil fuel energy – to be made from precious petroleum or foods like corn and soy. There is only so much fossil fuels on the planet, and plastics are chewing up more than half of our annual fuel consumption, when you consider the raw materials and fuels to make them, fuels to transport them, fuels to haul them to the dump and bury them there.
View the free 90-minute film on YouTube: Addicted To Plastic- Documentary.
Then read on for some suggestions to minimize our use of plastics. And send me your reuse/repurpose plastic ideas for publication on this website. (more…)