‘King Corn’ – basis of the American diet

Americans eat more corn that almost any other vegetable
A field of ‘King Corn’

Released in 2007, this documentary examines the enormous impact that corn plays in the American diet.  From feeding our cattle to high-fructose corn syrup, perhaps no other food has become so pervasive in the American diet.  Is it good for us long term?  There is plenty of debate on both sides of the aisle.  Farmers depend on this crop for income, but should we really be consuming it in such quantities?

Watch this video interview with Curt Ellis, one of the film makers.  Whatever your belief about this grain, it’s well past time we have a real dialog about the health and economic impacts of this crop that consumes a large part of our farming resources.  If you are interested in learning more about the film, you can also check out the website here:  King Corn.

FOOD NEWS: A Conversation with “King Corn” Filmmaker

Part 1 A conversation with filmmaker Curt Ellis about his documentary “King Corn”, the film that may open eyes across America. Surprisingly, corn is present in some…

More Benefits of Dark Chocolate

Dark Chocolate Strawberries

I don’t know too many people who don’t like chocolate and the news that dark chocolate, in moderation, (moderation being the key word) can be healthy for you was great news to a lot of people.  However, you have to be careful of the chocolate you eat because most of what you find in candy bars and other types of candy doesn’t count toward healthy benefits.  They are mostly sugar, sometimes made from oils instead of real chocolate and only have useless fat and calories.  The healthy dark chocolate has to be at least 70% cocoa before you reap any benefits.  The biggest benefit that we hear about all the time is that the flavonoids in chocolate help reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes.  However, in the following post, you can read how it can help your mood and your skin as well.  So sit back, relax and enjoy an ounce of dark chocolate along with some strawberries. cherries or a glass of red wine for even more benefits, with that novel you have been wanting to read…

For All Women To Know About: Beauty Benefits of Dark Chocolate

The good news is some chocolate can have significant beauty benefits. The not terribly bad news is, the only chocolate that can deliver these benefits is dark chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa content—which doesn’t …

 

Are You Using Your Cooking Oils Correctly?

Healthy Cooking Oils

I am a big fan of extra virgin olive oil.  I blend it with lemon juice or balsamic vinegar on salads, pop popcorn in it and I use it for  just about everything else as well.  It wasn’t until recently that I realized I may be using it unsafely and not getting the benefits I thought I was getting.  Some oils can be heated at high temperatures but others can release toxic fumes and break down into chemicals you don’t want to put into your body.  For more information on which oils are best to heat at high temperatures and which you need to be more careful of, please check this link below…

The Best Cooking Oils for Healthy Meals

Cooking oils are not made equal. Learn which oils to use to create healthy meals at home.

 

BHT in Your Food. What is it?

Dangers of BHT in your food
Could BHT be dangerous in your food?

When you look at the labels on the food you purchase do you ever wonder what BHT is?  It seems like it is in almost everything from food to cosmetics.  But should we really be ingesting it?  Personally, we stay clear of anything with BHT marked on the label as well as BHA and TBHQ which are similar preservatives which are all made from petroleum.  I don’t know about you, but eating petroleum doesn’t sound very healthy to me.   Many countries have banned it as well as the State of California.  Check out the following articles below for more information on this preservative…

 

BHT and BHA | Natural Food Mama

Let’s talk about preservatives. I was curious about BHT and BHA–they are very closely related chemicals. I noticed them showing up on many food labels. Have you looked at any of your cereal box labels yet? Let me tell …

The Scariest Ingredients Lurking In Your Food – Who’s Green?

We constantly have to make decisions about food for both ourselves and our families. While trying to decipher … BHA and BHT are oxidants which form cancer-causing reactive compounds in your body. Found in: Potato chips, …

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Is Kale the new “Great Food”

I grew up eating kale that my parents planted in their garden every year. But over the years I have gotten away from eating it because I just didn’t think about it.  Last year when I visited my parents they stocked me up with kale to take home and we enjoyed it so much we decided to grow it this year in our own garden.  It has been so enjoyable eating fresh kale from our garden.  However, I didn’t realize until recently just how great the benefits of kale are.  Click on the link below and see for yourself all the great benefits of eating his wonderful green plant.  I think you will be surprised…

Polk County EFNEP: Kale Is It the New Beef?

Eating a variety of natural, unprocessed vegetables can do wonders for your health, but choosing super-nutritious kale on a regular basis may provide significant health benefits, including cancer protection and lowered …

 

Is Aspartame (Nutrasweet) Harming Your Health?

Years ago when Aspartame (Nutrasweet) first came out I noticed that I would get terrible headaches after drinking a diet cola containing this product.  At the same time, my cousin was starting to blackout and become disoriented after she would drink these diet colas.  Her doctor told her aspartame affected the neurological system.  We both stopped using aspartame and felt great after that.  That was probably twenty-five years ago and instead of this product being banned, as it once was, it is now everywhere, bigger than ever.  If you are having any kind of health issues and you use a lot of aspartame, you may want to read the article below for the 92 different health problems it may be causing.  Who knows, taking the aspartame out of your diet may change your life.  Click below for more info…

The Dangers of Aspartame – Holistic Health Practitioner, Dr Alan Trites

The dangers of aspartame are almost too numerous to count. and I think it should be a crime for any food manufacturer to use it in food.

 

Coconut Oil for Alzheimers

Alzheimers Disease is on the rise and, to me, a very scary illness.  The article below gives a testimony on the benefits of coconut oil to help prevent and reverse the disease.  This, as well as a proper diet may have life changing benefits to you or someone you love.  Click on the link below to read more…

Coconut Oil Preventing and Reversing Alzheimers | True Activist

While we tend not to worry about diseases that occur much later in life, knowing how to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s is essential. Lifestyle choices such as diet can help prevent the disease, with some research pointing to the …

 

Which Nut is Healthiest for Your Needs

I don’t know about you, but I love nuts.  It doesn’t really matter what kind, I like them all!  However, I like to know what nut to eat for specific nutrients and which ones are lower in fat or have the type of fat my body needs the most.  They are a great snack if you don’t overdo it because they do have a lot of calories but they are filling and nutritious and, to me, so much more satisfying than chips or pretzels.  Check out the article below for a complete look at all the nuts and what benefits each of them have and which ones you may want to stay away from…

Best And Worst Nuts For Your Health

Of course, you can get too much of these good things: Nuts are high in fat and calories, so while a handful can hold you over until dinner, a few more handfuls can ruin your appetite altogether. And although nuts are a healthy …

 

The “Dirty Dozen”

We all know it is important to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, but what are we really getting?  It appears that some of the fruits and vegetables that we eat regularly are loaded with pesticides.  The FDA says they have an amount that are okay for our consumption.  Really?  Some of them have 15 or more pesticides in them.  Would you take a can of weed killer from your garage and mix it into your water for extra flavor and say it was good for you?  Read more or watch the video below…

Dirty Dozen: EWG Reveals List Of Pesticide-Heavy Fruits And Veggies

Still, even the researchers who conducted the pesticide exposure studies don’t recommend giving up the “Dirty Dozen” outright. “The health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of pesticide …

 

Are Diet Sodas Ruining Your Health?

Could we be sabotaging out diet by drinking “diet” soda as well as putting our health at risk for other diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes?  The article below explains how the artificial sweeteners can harm our bodies instead of helping us lose weight and get healthy.  Click on the link below for more info…

Buzzkill of the Year: Diet Soda Is Making Us Fat [POLL] | LimeLife

Diet soda is not only making us gain weight, according to a new report, but is leading to risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. … Read: Diet Soda Drinkers May Be At Higher Risk for Stroke. “An evolution of the gut …

 

Inside Your Food