Genetically Modified Fruits

Homeopathy - My Favorite

I can't tell you the number of times our family has been helped by using homeopathic products. There have been many times that doctors have not been able to help us. We then turn to homeopathic products and find relief. Their poison ivy remedy is my favorite. It works every time!

If you're not familiar with homeopathic remedies, basically Homeopathy is the second most widely used system of medicine in the world. It is very safe and natural to the point that even babies and pregnant women can take it. abchomeopathy.com is a great site to get more info.

Here's a great article that tells about a homeopathic pepper spray that has been effective in treating the symptoms of hay fever. I've never had it but I can sympathize with those that do.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE51G5GQ20090217?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews

Genetically Modified Fruits?

GM or GMO is the abbreviation for genetically modified foods. The practice started in the 1990s and has drawn national media attention. It's good for the growers but not necessarily good for the eaters :)

If you have heard of this and want to avoid them but don't know how, you can find out by reading this article - http://www.idealbite.com/tiplibrary/archives/supermarket-numbers-game - If you don't want to read the article, basically you just have to read those little stickers they put on your fruit.

If there is a 4 digit number on the sticker, then the fruit is conventionally grown. If there is a 5 digit number beginning with 9 on the sticker, then the fruit is organic. If there is a 6 digit number beginning with 8, that means that the fruit is GM or genetically modified.

How Big Are Your Plates?

Here's an idea I heard about that makes a lot of sense. Are your plates bigger than they used to be? Many of the holiday and seasonal plates that we usually get for special occasions are often bigger than our regular plates. Why is this? Maybe we need bigger plates because we eat more during the holiday season.

I think about the size of McDonald's meals when I was a kid. Many people tell me that a "large" soft drink back then is now called "medium". "Large" fries today were called "extra large" 20 years ago.

We all know that we probably eat more than we need to eat. Some propose that controlling your portions can be done with smaller plates. The key is to trick your brain.

Try eating using a big plate or platter. Put on the same amount of food you eat every day. See if you're not tempted to eat more because your plate is not filled. Then try using a smaller plate and see if you can feel full filling a smaller plate.

Help your brain communicate with your stomach by getting a smaller plate and getting satisfied on less. I'm amazed at how little my girls eat. When they are full, they stop eating. I notice that after I have done a couple of cleanse days I am much more able to tell when I am full. My body is more sensitive to what full feels like. It's just an easy idea that I thought I would pass on to you too.

New 14 Day EZ Cleanse Program

I've attached a pdf file with this email that explains a new way of cleansing. There are NO cleanse days. The cleansing is done overnight. This might also help those with stubborn weight loss issues too. You can read it over if you like and let me know if you have any questions.

Eat More Often - Engage Your Metabolism and Much More

I look over many diet, exercise and health books each month comparing them all to Isa. Although I don't usually find anything that works better than Isa, I have found a book that compliments it pretty well. The book is called The 3-Hour Diet written by Jorge Cruise.

The basic premise is to eat every 3 hours during the day to help your metabolism work the most efficiently to help you burn off fat and calories.

He talks about how bad low carb diets are for our metabolism and how they even make us gain weight. This book is a complete guide on how to use his system to the help you increase your basal metabolic rate, increase energy levels, lower cholesterol, reduce the hormone cortisol, and suppress your appetite naturally. There are plenty of testimonials, a 30 day guide, and some great motivational quotes.

If you can't do Isa as often as you like or want to use this between cleanses, I think this is a valid system - and I don't say that very often! You can get the book here - 3-Hour Diet.

Organic Food on the Rise

Organic Food On The Rise Around the World -

Did you know that the sale of organic food in Ireland has increased by 82 per cent in the last two years http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicveg/news/story.php?id=1591

Organic food could be cheaper than regular food in the next few years. Although this is a British article, it makes the point that with rising oil prices, the cost of producing food could be more expensive than organic. Organic growers require less energy. Even Prince Charles has an organic farm at one of his estates.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2668489/Organic-food-to-be-cheaper-than-other-produce.html

The number of organic producers in the country of Turkey have increased by nearly 500% in just 4 years. Turkey supplies many European countries with produce. http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicveg/news/story.php?id=1607

I wonder if this trend will move across the ocean?

Honey better than antibiotics?

Science Daily recently reported that there was a study done in Canada that "in eleven isolates of three separate biofilms honey was significantly more effective in killing both planktonic and biofilm-grown forms of the bacteria, compared with the rate of bactericide by antibiotics commonly used against the bacteria."

They were testing to help find relief for those suffering from chronic sinusitus. This disease plagues more than 31 million people each year.

Honey is used in other cultures to treat bad wound infections, so they were investigating the use of honey for this condition. Who knows. In the future we may be taking honey to treat infections instead of antibiotics....

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080923091335.htm

Accupuncture more helpful than drugs?

In a recent study, accupuncture treatment was actually found to be "just as effective as Effexor, also called venlafaxine, in managing symptoms including hot flashes and night sweats, according to researchers led by Dr. Eleanor Walker of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

After 12 weeks of treatment, symptoms were reduced for 15 additional weeks for women who had undergone acupuncture, compared with two weeks for those who had taken Effexor, Walker said."

While accupuncture causes no side effects, the drug Effexor has quite a list of side affects as with many drugs.You also would only have to have a treatment 3-4 times a year instead of taking a pill every day.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN2228263220080922?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews

How much chocolate should you eat?

As much as possible, right? Well, not exactly. This article mentions that people that eat 6.7 grams of dark chocolate per week (about 1/2 a bar) have these results: "Our results have been absolutely encouraging: people having moderate amounts of dark chocolate regularly have significantly lower levels of C-reactive protein in their blood. In other words, their inflammatory state is considerably reduced. The 17% average reduction observed may appear quite small, but it is enough to decrease the risk of cardio-vascular disease for one third in women and one fourth in men. It is undoubtedly a remarkable outcome".

They go on to say that milk chocolate and white chocolate do not qualify. They do not have any of the health benefits of dark chocolate.

You know it works....

Almost anyone who has done either a 9 or 30 day Isa cleanse knows that it works. There are SO many programs out there that people use to try to lose weight. Cleansing gets to the source of the weight issue and provides the health benefit as an added bonus. Many people have more of a desire to eat healthy foods after a cleanse time because their bodies received the nutrients they needed and got back on track.

Is it time to jump start your health and weight loss goals? You can still eat well and exercise like you planned to do in your New Year's resolutions, but cleansing will make those goals even easier to achieve.

Concerned about the economy and don't think you can afford cleansing? You can just cleanse for 2 days if you like which would require just a bottle of cleanse drink and a bottle of snack wafers.

Let me know if you want to get the wholesale cost through my account. Otherwise you can order retail at this website www.greatfit.isagenix.com

20 Diseases and Conditions Directly Attributed to Being Overweight

Unfortunately this list is pretty depressing. More motivation for Americans to take charge of their weight and, in turn, take charge of their health.


http://www.food-intolerance.ca/14/20-diseases-and-conditions-directly-attributed-to-being-overweight/en/

More local produce at your grocery store....

Supermarkets are selling more local produce - Here's an encouraging article that talks about how many grocery store chains are switching to purchasing more local produce. I don't know if they gas prices have caused this or not, but I think it's certainly a great idea.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/dining/06local.html?_r=2&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Where does your favorite restaurant get their food?

You would think that a hot dog from Yankee stadium and a meal at a 5 star restaurant would have nothing in common, but in this case they do. They both come from the same supplier. Sysco foods supplies more than 400,000 hospitals and restaurants including the fast food and 5-star ones!

There is nothing wrong with getting food from the same place. Let's hope they're not serving the same thing with the 5 star restaurants calling it "home made."

Here's my favorite quote from the article - "As the company notes on its Web site, our "unique 3-D technology gives you the look and texture of a solid muscle chicken breast, at a fraction of the cost. …""

It's pretty hard to stay away from MSG and partially hydrogenated oils when eating out, but my advice is to eat as much unprocessed foods as possible and you'll be much better off.

http://www.slate.com/id/2160284/

US Food Portions- Just About Right?

Not according to this article! "Portion sizes in the United States not only exceed those in less-developed countries, but also in the developed world. In fact, Americans have the highest per capita daily consumption in the world, eating 3,770 calories a day, more than a Canadian at 3,590 calories or an Indian at 2,440, according to data from the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization.

"We've looked at large portion sizes almost entirely in terms of whether it's healthy for us, and now we have to consider is that sort of a demand going to be sustainable," said Paul Roberts, author of "The End of Food."

They say that the typical American adult eats at a restaurant 6 times per week and more than ½ say it's an essential part of their lifestyle. Some of this portion problem comes from the sizes of processed food portions. We've gotten used to eating those sized portions. I'm sure that advertising also contributes to how much we think we need to eat.

Here's the whole article for you to read: http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSN2639845320080729

Nano Foods?

I guess I hadn't really heard of nano foods before I read this article. It talks mostly about labeling food that contains this nano technology.

Here is what nano foods are: "Nanotechnology involves the design and manipulation of materials on molecular scales, smaller than the width of a human hair and invisible to the naked eye. Companies using nanotechnology say it can enhance the flavor or nutritional effectiveness of food.

U.S. health officials generally prefer not to place warning labels on products unless there are clear reasons for caution or concern. But consumer advocates say uncertainty over health consequences alone is sufficient cause to justify identifying nano-foods."

Read the whole article here - http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN3044875220080730?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=10003