This is an excellent inspirational talk by Jamie Oliver at TED Talks about the current climate of our food culture. This video was recorded in 2010, and over the last few years I have seen a small change for the better, however we have a LONG way to go.
Children are very vulnerable to what is around them, and it all starts at the home, then at school. If we don't know about proper nutrition then how can we teach our kids. Schools teach nothing about nutrition, and the food that is offered to our kids at school is astounding! Sugared milk, pop, chocolate, chips. No healthy options.
Take a look at your workplace. We have six vending machines at my work, and not one row has a healthy option. They are stocked with chips, chocolate, pop, sugary "juices" etc.
We need to change, and it is not acceptable that this generation of children will live shorter lives than us.
Take an 18 minute break and watch this video. What you will learn will benefit not just yourself but everyone that you can help with this new knowledge. Pass it on for change!
Showing posts with label Articles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Articles. Show all posts
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Presenting the Weightless Project
Deepak Chopra is presenting a new initiative that you really have to look at.
If you own a Jawbone or a Fitbit you can link it to this worthwhile cause. It is no charge to you, and for every 1,000 calories you burn The Weightless Project will donate $1 to help fight undernourishment and hunger, essentially giving the pounds you lose to those that need to add weight.
There really is no reason not to sign up.
Watch the video below and go to https://weightlessproject.org for more information and to sign up.
If you own a Jawbone or a Fitbit you can link it to this worthwhile cause. It is no charge to you, and for every 1,000 calories you burn The Weightless Project will donate $1 to help fight undernourishment and hunger, essentially giving the pounds you lose to those that need to add weight.
There really is no reason not to sign up.
Watch the video below and go to https://weightlessproject.org for more information and to sign up.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Storing Juice
When you juice vegetables and fruit, it is always best to consume the juice immediately after making it. This way you are enjoying 100% of the vitamins, enzymes, minerals, proteins, fiber, carbohydrates, phyto-nutrients, chlorophyll, and lipids. Minutes after making your juice some of this beneficial goodness starts to degrade. When you juice fresh fruit and vegetables you are breaking open the cell walls, and many of the nutrients are very sensitive to light, air, heat and time. So the best thing to do is to make only the juice you will consume, and consume the juice that you just made.
That said, often I find myself making an extra serving. Instead of wasting this, and assuming my wife isn't home to drink it, I want to save it for later. Granted like I said above it will never be as nutrient dense as it was when it was made, but there are ways to store the juice to limit the loss or degradation of the nutrients.
The best way to store your juice is to find yourself some glass Mason Jars. Get the appropriate size. You want to fill the jar right to the top. I mean RIGHT to the top! This is important as you want to eliminate any air in the jar. Seal the lid on the jar and put it into the fridge. Don't store your juice at room temperature it won't last, and will oxidize quickly. If properly filled, and no air is present, your juice will last up to 8 hours if juiced with a centrifugal juicer, and up to 24 hours if juiced with a twin gear or single auger low RPM juicer. Don't try to store them longer, they will essentially be just water.
So there it is. No more wasting your left over juice. I tend to make one for myself in the morning, and then store one away for when my wife gets home from work so she has one ready to go.
That said, often I find myself making an extra serving. Instead of wasting this, and assuming my wife isn't home to drink it, I want to save it for later. Granted like I said above it will never be as nutrient dense as it was when it was made, but there are ways to store the juice to limit the loss or degradation of the nutrients.
The best way to store your juice is to find yourself some glass Mason Jars. Get the appropriate size. You want to fill the jar right to the top. I mean RIGHT to the top! This is important as you want to eliminate any air in the jar. Seal the lid on the jar and put it into the fridge. Don't store your juice at room temperature it won't last, and will oxidize quickly. If properly filled, and no air is present, your juice will last up to 8 hours if juiced with a centrifugal juicer, and up to 24 hours if juiced with a twin gear or single auger low RPM juicer. Don't try to store them longer, they will essentially be just water.
So there it is. No more wasting your left over juice. I tend to make one for myself in the morning, and then store one away for when my wife gets home from work so she has one ready to go.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Power of Juicing
"Juicing is the 15 minute nutrient express to health" - Jason Vale
Juicing is something you can benefit from immediately. Both my wife and I started juicing probably 6-8 months ago, and right away realized a difference in digestion, energy, sleep pattern, and overall feeling of good health.
Check out these benefits of juicing:
- Juicing allows you to take a large amount of fruits and vegatables into your body in one go. Many more than you would be able to sit down and eat.
- Many of us have impaired digestion. Juicing bypasses digestion allowing the nutrients to go straight to the blood stream, which carries them throughout the body wherever they are needed.
- Juicing allows you to enjoy a wider variety of vegetables you may not eat whole. This allows you to rotate the food you eat and reduces the risk of developing a food allergy. Don't eat the same salad everyday, mix it up.
- Green juices are high in chlorophyll, so concentrate on those. They are a great way to cleanse the body of the daily toxins you ingest. Chlorophyll attaches to toxins and heavy metals and helps remove them from your body, it also stimulates red blood cell production.
Watch this quick recipe by Jason Vale
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Weekday Veg
I'm not a vegetarian but I do believe that at least 70% or so of your diet should come from the earth.
The main portion of our meals is always the vegetable/fruit component, and I make a point to try and do at least 3 meatless days a week.
I came across a TED talk by Graham Hill, (founder of TreeHugger.com), who talks about a new concept called weekday veg, (or weekday vegetarian). I found this very interesting and thought I would share it.
Here are a few points that I learned:
The main portion of our meals is always the vegetable/fruit component, and I make a point to try and do at least 3 meatless days a week.
I came across a TED talk by Graham Hill, (founder of TreeHugger.com), who talks about a new concept called weekday veg, (or weekday vegetarian). I found this very interesting and thought I would share it.
Here are a few points that I learned:
- A hamburger a day increases your risk of dieing by 1/3
- The 10 billion animals raised for meat each year are kept in horrible factory farming environments, (I already knew this)
- Meat production accounts for more emissions than all transportation combined
- Beef production uses 100 times more water than most vegetable production does
- Cutting your meat out for 5 days decreases your meat intake by 70%
Friday, May 11, 2012
24 Hour Fasting
A topic that stirs up controversy is fasting. The general perception is that our bodies require food every couple of hours to be considered healthy and that not eating throws the body into misalignment.
I've recently been asked by one of my readers to do an article on 24 hour fasts. What are the benefits, what are the drawbacks? I've done some research and what I've found about fasting is very interesting, and quite to the contrary of general beliefs.
First off, fasting is not for everyone. You need to be in good overall health to start with. People prone to serious blood sugar issues such as diabetes and the like, should obviously consult with their physician before fasting. It is actually a good practice to consult regularly with a physician about your health anyway. This way you can get a baseline of where you've been, and where you are currently. Try to find a good naturopathic physician since they will understand better as to your goals.
Fasting has been around for thousands of years. Fasting in both a religious and medical sense helps with the cleansing and purification of body and mind. It will aid in detoxing your digestive tract, liver, and kidneys. Fasting will also give the body a break from digestion and allow it to focus on the healing of other ailments throughout your body.
Your 24 hour fast should be on a day when you have nothing planned. For the full 24 hours drink plenty of water, nothing else. Remember that you are going to want to eat. You are conditioned to eat. In a 24 hour fast, you are going to realize how many times you reach for food due to boredom, stress, habit, peer pressure etc... Resist this urge and be committed to your fast. It is only 24 hours, and the self control that you show is a bench mark for further fasts.
Completing your 24 hour fast is going to give you a real sense of accomplishment. You are going to realize that you aren't going to die of starvation, you don't need to reach for food every couple of hours and you can alter your eating habits with this new knowledge. It is said that you have enough calories in your body to last 30 days without food. Most importantly you are giving your body a break so that it can focus on other healing.
Detoxing has certain effects on the body, most of which are positive, and a few that may be uncomfortable. You may notice bad breath, your energy levels may decrease and light headaches if you aren't drinking enough water are also possible. These are signs of cleansing and detox, they are normal and part of the fasting process. However remember, this is not a situation where you should fight through extreme uncomfort or pain. Your fast should be tolerable, not dangerous. If you experience a feeling like you are going to pass out, or feelings that vary from your norm, you need to end your fast and take in some calories. This is possibly due to blood sugar issues, or other underlying health conditions. It can also be from a poor diet. It is said that the healthier you are the less detox effects you are going to experience.
If you have to pull out of your fast, don't end it there. Take 30 days to change your diet to a more natural, healthy, plant based diet and then try again.
Just to be clear, doing a 24 hour fast is not going to rid your body of all that is evil. What it is going to do is put you on a path of self control, give you discipline, clear your mind and help your body to detoxify. After your first fast, plan another. Or better yet plan a longer fast or a juice fast. Once you get into a healthy routine, your body will become more efficient in cleansing. You will physically feel better in your day to day life, as well as feel better about yourself.
I've recently been asked by one of my readers to do an article on 24 hour fasts. What are the benefits, what are the drawbacks? I've done some research and what I've found about fasting is very interesting, and quite to the contrary of general beliefs.
First off, fasting is not for everyone. You need to be in good overall health to start with. People prone to serious blood sugar issues such as diabetes and the like, should obviously consult with their physician before fasting. It is actually a good practice to consult regularly with a physician about your health anyway. This way you can get a baseline of where you've been, and where you are currently. Try to find a good naturopathic physician since they will understand better as to your goals.
Fasting has been around for thousands of years. Fasting in both a religious and medical sense helps with the cleansing and purification of body and mind. It will aid in detoxing your digestive tract, liver, and kidneys. Fasting will also give the body a break from digestion and allow it to focus on the healing of other ailments throughout your body.
Your 24 hour fast should be on a day when you have nothing planned. For the full 24 hours drink plenty of water, nothing else. Remember that you are going to want to eat. You are conditioned to eat. In a 24 hour fast, you are going to realize how many times you reach for food due to boredom, stress, habit, peer pressure etc... Resist this urge and be committed to your fast. It is only 24 hours, and the self control that you show is a bench mark for further fasts.
Completing your 24 hour fast is going to give you a real sense of accomplishment. You are going to realize that you aren't going to die of starvation, you don't need to reach for food every couple of hours and you can alter your eating habits with this new knowledge. It is said that you have enough calories in your body to last 30 days without food. Most importantly you are giving your body a break so that it can focus on other healing.
Detoxing has certain effects on the body, most of which are positive, and a few that may be uncomfortable. You may notice bad breath, your energy levels may decrease and light headaches if you aren't drinking enough water are also possible. These are signs of cleansing and detox, they are normal and part of the fasting process. However remember, this is not a situation where you should fight through extreme uncomfort or pain. Your fast should be tolerable, not dangerous. If you experience a feeling like you are going to pass out, or feelings that vary from your norm, you need to end your fast and take in some calories. This is possibly due to blood sugar issues, or other underlying health conditions. It can also be from a poor diet. It is said that the healthier you are the less detox effects you are going to experience.
If you have to pull out of your fast, don't end it there. Take 30 days to change your diet to a more natural, healthy, plant based diet and then try again.
Just to be clear, doing a 24 hour fast is not going to rid your body of all that is evil. What it is going to do is put you on a path of self control, give you discipline, clear your mind and help your body to detoxify. After your first fast, plan another. Or better yet plan a longer fast or a juice fast. Once you get into a healthy routine, your body will become more efficient in cleansing. You will physically feel better in your day to day life, as well as feel better about yourself.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
3 Questions
A quote from Mike Adams of 'Hungry For a Change'
All you have to do is ask yourself 3 questions:
• Where does my food come from?
• What went into the food in terms of attitude, care, love and compassion.
• What is my intention of doing with the food, is the food to support me for a good purpose or is it just entertainment?
Your body is designed to be healthy. Health is its natural state.
All you have to do is ask yourself 3 questions:
• Where does my food come from?
• What went into the food in terms of attitude, care, love and compassion.
• What is my intention of doing with the food, is the food to support me for a good purpose or is it just entertainment?
Your body is designed to be healthy. Health is its natural state.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
FDO Has Arrived
Well our first order from Front Door Organics(http://www.frontdoororganics.com/)
arrived today and it looks promising. The fruits and vegetables
contained are all organic, and are all fresh. Some of the items need to
ripen up a bit, but that is to be expected. The bin had a good selection
of different items, and I can't wait to get cooking.
The bin contained the following:
The bin contained the following:
- 1 Honeydew Melon
- 2lbs Yellow Potatoes
- 2 Leeks
- 1 Broccoli
- 1 Bag Red Radish
- 2 Valencia Oranges
- 2 Jonagold Apples
- 2 Bananas
- 1 Avocado
- 2 Peaches
- 1 Bunch Chard
- 1 Tomato
- 1 Bag Living Boston Lettuce
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Leave the Smog Behind
One thing that we like to do on nice days is grab a tea at Fair Grounds Cafe and Roastery and then explore new parklands in the city. I'm partial to the lake and the feeling of being out of the city when you are around it, so I tend to seek out parks that meet that criteria.
Recently we found a great park south of Kipling Ave and Lake Shore Blvd W. It's actually south of Humber College and is called Colonel Samuel Smith Park. It's a large peninsula that juts out about 2km into the lake. There are great gravel trails, as well as some smaller trails that follow the lake. You can take a stroll, jog or bike right out to the point from the parking lot which is about a 2 mile return trip, or just walk over to the marina and check out the beautiful boats.
Whatever you choose, it's just good to get away from the smog lined noisy streets. You won't believe you're still in the city. Oh ya, in the winter they actually have a skating trail (I have yet to try this out).
Recently we found a great park south of Kipling Ave and Lake Shore Blvd W. It's actually south of Humber College and is called Colonel Samuel Smith Park. It's a large peninsula that juts out about 2km into the lake. There are great gravel trails, as well as some smaller trails that follow the lake. You can take a stroll, jog or bike right out to the point from the parking lot which is about a 2 mile return trip, or just walk over to the marina and check out the beautiful boats.
Whatever you choose, it's just good to get away from the smog lined noisy streets. You won't believe you're still in the city. Oh ya, in the winter they actually have a skating trail (I have yet to try this out).
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Pesticide Exposure!
There are many reasons to eat organic food. Let's face it though, organic is more expensive. I've always made a pact with myself that I will try to eat as much organic as possible. I started with the 10% rule. This is at least 10% of the items in my house are to be organic. I've since gotten to probably about 75% but that's just me.
Make a similar pact with yourself. Decide how much money you can spend on groceries. Look at what you buy that just sits around or goes bad before you get to it. Stop buying processed junk that you will eat but shouldn't, (if it isn't in the house, you can't eat it). Take this money you save on those items and put it towards good healthy organic foods.
In order to maximize the benefits and minimize the cost you should at least avoid purchasing non-organic produce for the top 12 fruits and vegetables that research has shown to have the most pesticides. If you do just this, it is estimated that you can reduce your pesticide exposure by up to 80%.
This list was compiled through research done by the USDA and FDA and included only the most commonly eaten foods. I don't have statistics for Canada, but it will be similar, and also consider that a lot of your food is coming from the USA and elsewhere. The fruits and vegetables were washed or peeled (as a consumer would use the produce) before testing.
Make a similar pact with yourself. Decide how much money you can spend on groceries. Look at what you buy that just sits around or goes bad before you get to it. Stop buying processed junk that you will eat but shouldn't, (if it isn't in the house, you can't eat it). Take this money you save on those items and put it towards good healthy organic foods.
In order to maximize the benefits and minimize the cost you should at least avoid purchasing non-organic produce for the top 12 fruits and vegetables that research has shown to have the most pesticides. If you do just this, it is estimated that you can reduce your pesticide exposure by up to 80%.
This list was compiled through research done by the USDA and FDA and included only the most commonly eaten foods. I don't have statistics for Canada, but it will be similar, and also consider that a lot of your food is coming from the USA and elsewhere. The fruits and vegetables were washed or peeled (as a consumer would use the produce) before testing.
- (worst) Celery
- Peaches
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Blueberries - U.S. Grown
- Nectarines
- Sweet Bell Peppers
- Spinach
- Kale and Collard Greens
- Cherries
- Potatoes
- Grapes – Imported from outside U.S.
- Lettuce
- Blueberries - Imported
- Carrots
- Green Beans – U.S. grown
- Pears
- Plums - Imported
- Summer Squash
- Cucumbers - Imported
- Green Beans - Imported
- Hot Peppers
- Red Raspberries
- Oranges
- Grapes – U.S. grown
- Cantaloupes
- Cucumbers - U.S. Grown
- Cauliflower
- Tomatoes
- Bananas
- Broccoli
- Winter Squash
- Cranberries
- Plums - U.S. Grown
- Honeydew Melon
- Sweet Potato
- Grapefruit
- Watermelon
- Cantaloupes - U.S. Grown
- Cabbage
- Eggplant
- Kiwi
- Asparagus
- Sweet Peas (frozen)
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Sweet Corn (frozen)
- Avocado
- Onions (least)
Monday, April 30, 2012
Front Door Organics
I heard about Front Door Organics a couple years back when they were just starting up. It seemed like an excellent way to 1) get produce delivered right to your door, and 2) try things that I normally wouldn't usually try. It's not overly priced either, (just $37 for a box).
Well for the past couple years since hearing about them, I've been meaning to check them out, but keep procrastinating. Recently we were at The Green Living Show and saw their booth. It peaked my curiosity once again, and I just signed up today for a weekly delivery.
I'll keep you updated on how this service pans out, but I'm looking forward to trying new produce and fruit that I've never tasted before.
In the meantime you can check out their site at http://www.frontdoororganics.com
Well for the past couple years since hearing about them, I've been meaning to check them out, but keep procrastinating. Recently we were at The Green Living Show and saw their booth. It peaked my curiosity once again, and I just signed up today for a weekly delivery.
I'll keep you updated on how this service pans out, but I'm looking forward to trying new produce and fruit that I've never tasted before.
In the meantime you can check out their site at http://www.frontdoororganics.com
Friday, April 27, 2012
Greens+ Multi
If you are in the market for a good multi-vitamin, you should look at Greens+ Multi by Genuine Health. This is a great multi that includes all your daily greens rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants, plus a high-potency multi-vitamin/mineral supplement.
Greens+ Multi is a powder that you mix into a glass of water so you get instant absorption of the nutrients instead of waiting for a pill to dissolve. It really does give you an energy boost!
A lot of multis give me a nauseous feeling, however, I don't experience that with this brand, which is a good thing since that is the single factor that causes me to quit taking a multi.
It's on the more expensive end of multis and will cost you about $60 a month, but for the quality I think it's worth it.
Greens+ Multi is a powder that you mix into a glass of water so you get instant absorption of the nutrients instead of waiting for a pill to dissolve. It really does give you an energy boost!
A lot of multis give me a nauseous feeling, however, I don't experience that with this brand, which is a good thing since that is the single factor that causes me to quit taking a multi.
It's on the more expensive end of multis and will cost you about $60 a month, but for the quality I think it's worth it.
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