Warmer nights and longer days are finally here on the West Coast of Canada. We have an old plum tree in the back yard. Last year, I decided to follow my own advice and create a garden underneath the tree. I planted seed potatoes and watched the budding greens grow and mature into two-foot-high bushes. It seemed that every time a neighbor walked by the house, I was flogging potatoes. By the time the winter was upon us, we had all seen enough of my red little spuds! On top of that, I was giving away plum jam as Christmas gifts.
Gardening is a favorite hobby of many. But for some, gardening is considered a daunting task. I assert that today, more than ever before, we have some very strong arguments for taking the time to become home gardeners.
Consider the following article from Dr. Andrew Weil, MD.
If you’ve gotten the impression that more and more sugar is being added to common supermarket foods – you’re right.
A report in the May 6, 2007 London Sunday Times, based on an examination of an industry handbook on food composition, found that food companies have doubled the amount of sugar they add to their more popular products since 1978.
For example, in 1978, Kellogg’s Special K cereal had 9.6 grams of sugar per 100 grams. This has now nearly doubled to 17 grams. Some canned soups have shown a similar increase.
Interestingly, even fruits and vegetables are now sweeter, probably due to market pressures forcing growers to breed hybrids with higher sugar content. Between 1978 and 2002, the sugar in a banana rose from 16.2 grams per 100 grams to 20.9 grams; pears and carrots got sweeter by a similar percentage.
Is it any wonder that obesity and diabetes are becoming worldwide epidemics? The only rational response to this situation is to bypass the industrial food complex as much as possible.
Buy unprocessed foods from farmer’s markets and health food stores, and, if possible, select non-hybrid, heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables over modern hybrids, which are quickly becoming analogs of sugar beets.
Best choice of all: grow as much of your own food as you can.
I heartily agree with Dr. Weil. As consumers, we have less and less control about what we put into our bodies when we eat. The food industry has all the control.
Take back control and grow your own food; in the yard, on the balcony, at the local community garden... Don't wait until your body starts feeling tired and run down to change some of your daily habits. Making healthy and organic choices, along with taking high quality nutritional supplements, is like extra health insurance.
I haven't had a sick day in over 5 years and I wish the same for you and your family members. For more information on how to take control of your own health, read my free report Traditional Secrets from Mother Nature's Kitchen, How to Eat Healthy & Organic for $7 a Day.
To request my Free Report, send an e-mail to wellness-unlimited@hotmail.com.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Sunday, June 10, 2007
June 10-17 is Men’s Health Week.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common, noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, common in American and European men over the age of 50. While the actual cause is not completely understood, experts believe it is closely linked to hormone levels.
Try the following to help reduce the risk of BPH:
1.) Eat a diet low in saturated and trans-fats, focusing instead on the healthier monounsaturated and omega-3 fats.
2.) Eat more whole soy foods. Asian men have a lower risk of BPH and some researchers believe it is related to their intake of soy foods.
3.) Avoid symptom triggers such as caffeine and alcohol, which increase the need to urinate and may irritate the bladder.
4.) Avoid constipation by increasing fiber in your diet. The pressure from constipation may make the symptoms of BPH worse.
5.) Have regular check-ups. The National Institute on Aging recommends that men get regular medical checkups including a prostate exam.
6.) For additional insurance against male health challenges, I recommend nutritional supplementation:
Male Advantage, from Body Wise International, addresses the unique nutritional needs of men and is specifically formulated to promote heart health, energy, and overall health.
Saw Palmetto and Nettle Root contain nutrients known to provide nutritional support for healthy prostate functioning.
Korean Ginseng Root and Damiana are traditional herbs that have been used for centuries to support healthy male functioning.
Bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapples, is known to support healthy digestion.
Male Advantage capsules are scientifically processed with advanced nutritional technology. They contain no yeast, egg, or dairy, no artificial coloring, no flavoring, preservatives, sodium, or gluten.
Male Advantage contains 17 key ingredients for male health.
For more information on Male Advantage, or to place an order, please send an e-mail to wellness-unlimited@hotmail.com . This product ships free anywhere in the US or Canada (some conditions apply).
I encourage you to share this information with the men in your life...Billie
Friday, June 08, 2007
Eat Healthy & Organic for $7 a Day
An organic product is raised, grown, stored, and/or processed without the use of synthetically produced chemicals or fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, or any pesticides, growth hormones or growth regulators.
Who can afford to buy organic, you say? Well, apparently, plenty of people are trying to. According to recent market research, 73 percent of the US population consumes organic food and beverages at least some of the time. Almost all households with incomes under $50,000 are buying organic foods, as are households with incomes over $50,000.
But how can you eat healthy without going broke?
As you know, I'm a Holistic Nutritionist, and owner of Wellness Unlimited, a health and wellness consulting practice in Vancouver, BC. I recently set off on a mission: to see if a single person could eat a healthy and predominantly organic foods diet on $7 a day. That's $50 a week, or $200 a month.
When I used the term "healthy diet", it included a healthy balance of protein, starchy carbohydrates, vegetables, and fruits. It also meant low sugar, low fat, and low junk. Could it be done?
What I found when I went shopping...
Protein sources were the most expensive. But at three different stores, I discovered organic and antibiotic-free items on sale. For example, I noted Specialty Farm chicken thighs, pork loin boneless centre chops, non-medicated chicken thighs, and non-medicated pork chop rib ends.
Next, the prices on some of the high quality carbohydrate sources were impressive. Nature's Path Heritage Heirloom Cereal, Bob's Red Hill 7-Grain Cereal, Peace Cereal in Maple Pecan, Oat Honey Bread, and Lundberg Brown and White Basmati Rice were well within my budget.
Sometimes people shy away from the produce aisles, when it comes to organics, due to the perception of higher prices. I was pleased to find a wide array of affordable choices in fresh vegetables. I found imported spinach, local organic broccoli, organic romaine hearts, certified organic fresh carrots, and leaf lettuce.
Organic fruit was harder to come by, but that will likely change, once the Farmer's Markets are under way. I was able to find good prices on imported strawberries.
I went to the store with my $50 budget in hand, paper, pen, and a calculator. Sometimes I had to sacrifice one item for another of better value but, each week, I came away with a selection of items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 7 days. Some weeks, I even came away with a few snacks, such as a big bag of Old Dutch Restaurant Multigrain Tortilla Chips and San Marcos Salsa, again on sale. The probiotic yogurt with fruit juice was a fabulous find at $3.49 for the 650g tub. Born 3 eggs didn't cost much more than their non-organic counterparts, and were worth the price of $3.55 for a dozen.
Next post, we'll talk about cooking at home and packing your own lunches. This saves you an incredible amount of money, freeing up the cash for higher quality items in your grocery cart. One of my most popular blog postings was on strengthening the immune system with quality food, and we'll revisit that subject when we discuss using excellent ingredients in your slow-cooker.
Saving money and time, while enjoying high quality, are my specialties, which is why I'm known as Vancouver's Budget Gourmet...you too can learn how to eat well and lose weight, without breaking the bank!
Until next time, happy "eating healthy and organic"! Give it a try!
Who can afford to buy organic, you say? Well, apparently, plenty of people are trying to. According to recent market research, 73 percent of the US population consumes organic food and beverages at least some of the time. Almost all households with incomes under $50,000 are buying organic foods, as are households with incomes over $50,000.
But how can you eat healthy without going broke?
As you know, I'm a Holistic Nutritionist, and owner of Wellness Unlimited, a health and wellness consulting practice in Vancouver, BC. I recently set off on a mission: to see if a single person could eat a healthy and predominantly organic foods diet on $7 a day. That's $50 a week, or $200 a month.
When I used the term "healthy diet", it included a healthy balance of protein, starchy carbohydrates, vegetables, and fruits. It also meant low sugar, low fat, and low junk. Could it be done?
What I found when I went shopping...
Protein sources were the most expensive. But at three different stores, I discovered organic and antibiotic-free items on sale. For example, I noted Specialty Farm chicken thighs, pork loin boneless centre chops, non-medicated chicken thighs, and non-medicated pork chop rib ends.
Next, the prices on some of the high quality carbohydrate sources were impressive. Nature's Path Heritage Heirloom Cereal, Bob's Red Hill 7-Grain Cereal, Peace Cereal in Maple Pecan, Oat Honey Bread, and Lundberg Brown and White Basmati Rice were well within my budget.
Sometimes people shy away from the produce aisles, when it comes to organics, due to the perception of higher prices. I was pleased to find a wide array of affordable choices in fresh vegetables. I found imported spinach, local organic broccoli, organic romaine hearts, certified organic fresh carrots, and leaf lettuce.
Organic fruit was harder to come by, but that will likely change, once the Farmer's Markets are under way. I was able to find good prices on imported strawberries.
I went to the store with my $50 budget in hand, paper, pen, and a calculator. Sometimes I had to sacrifice one item for another of better value but, each week, I came away with a selection of items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 7 days. Some weeks, I even came away with a few snacks, such as a big bag of Old Dutch Restaurant Multigrain Tortilla Chips and San Marcos Salsa, again on sale. The probiotic yogurt with fruit juice was a fabulous find at $3.49 for the 650g tub. Born 3 eggs didn't cost much more than their non-organic counterparts, and were worth the price of $3.55 for a dozen.
Next post, we'll talk about cooking at home and packing your own lunches. This saves you an incredible amount of money, freeing up the cash for higher quality items in your grocery cart. One of my most popular blog postings was on strengthening the immune system with quality food, and we'll revisit that subject when we discuss using excellent ingredients in your slow-cooker.
Saving money and time, while enjoying high quality, are my specialties, which is why I'm known as Vancouver's Budget Gourmet...you too can learn how to eat well and lose weight, without breaking the bank!
Until next time, happy "eating healthy and organic"! Give it a try!
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