"Fresh Farm whole chicken, $ .79/ lb."    Supermarket Ad

"Lean ground beef,
$1.99/lb."  
Supermarket Ad

Americans are addicted to cheap food. Just look at the proliferation and popularity of the big box stores that sell cheap food in huge quantities. We spend only about 9.7% of
our income on food, which is a smaller share than any other nation. And, about 16% of our income is spent on healthcare - more than any other nation. Is that a surprise?

If it is, it won't be when you see the newly released documentary, Food, Inc. As the film
brilliantly points out, our entire food producing system is a kind of "shell game" where
the true cost of our so-called "cheap" food sloshes over into so many other areas. Two major areas of hidden cost include the cost of our healthcare and the cost to our environment.

The message is so important that I think it's critical that every American see this film.
But be prepared to make some changes in how you eat, and how and where you purchase
food.  I don't think anyone can see this film and not think hard about making at least
some changes in their shopping and eating patterns.

For far too long we have been in the dark about how our food arrives at our tables. Although this movie is certainly provocative and even disturbing at times, I actually came away feeling optimistic that as we become more educated we will be able to use our
power as purchasing citizens to bring about change. How our food shopping dollars are spent can support more humane farming practices, more sanitary conditions for food production, less E. Coli contamination in our food supply (which currently is accelerating at frightening rates), better opportunities for small farmers and more local and organic
farming in general. We do have choices and we have the power. What better way to spend our food dollars than to contribute to our personal health and the health of the planet?

Here are three suggestions of better choices we can all make:

1) Poultry and meat: buy grass fed (not corn fed); free range (animals actually graze and have outdoor access); hormone-free poultry and meat. Support small farmers that are farming the old-fashioned way, with animals living on the land.
Yes, this meat will cost more in the short-run, but less in the long-run.
2) Buy organic and local: support the farmer's that are treating the land, our environment, the farm animals and our food respectfully and healthfully. The
more we support these farmer's, the lower the price of this higher quality food will be. Again, we are thinking long term here.
3) Eat less animal protein and more vegetarian protein. Perhaps start with one vegetarian day of the week where all your protein comes from the many varieties of beans, or tofu and tempeh. Or, have a smoothie made with protein powder, and fresh organic fruit for one meal a day. This will immediately save you money.

Seven Ways to save the health of the planet, our family's health, and lower costs?

1) Have smaller servings of meat and poultry. Most serving sizes are too large. Reduce to 3-4 oz servings.
2) Eat more vegetarian protein.
3) Buy real food. The more processed our food, the more chemicals, sugars, salts, and unrecognizable ingredients added. And the more processed, the more expensive the food.
4) Shop Farmer's Markets: one of the fastest growing trends in America is the proliferation of Farmer's Markets. And these markets are not just for produce anymore! Also for grass- fed meat, wild fish, organic eggs from free range chickens, organic cheese and dairy from grazing cows.  Again, the more we support these farmer's the more the prices will come down.
5) Cook home more: And not with processed, microwave-ready foods. I've included a simple, 30 minute recipe for a high quality, balanced, vegetarian meal in the sidebar of this newsletter. Build your repertoire of easy, healthy recipes. For the price of one meal out for a family of four, you can eat a healthier meal at home for at least four nights.
6) Plant a garden (even a small one, or a few potted veggies).
7) Eat less! Overall, Americans eat too much food. Cut your serving size down by one-third. Then wait 30 minutes to see if you are still hungry. Usually 30 minutes after eating, most Americans are just too full. Try it. You'll be amazed.

We get to vote every time we sit at the table to eat. What are you voting for?

Challenging making changes? I can help. I'm also available to speak for your corporate groups, as well as your social and family networks.
Call for information or an appointment.

There is a growing trend of promoting exotic fruits and berries like Noni, Goji berries and Acai berries, as having health benefits and even miraculous properties. There is a great deal of money being made packaging and promoting these fruits.

Goji berries, also called wolfberry, are native to Europe and Asia, with most of the commercially grown goji coming from China. They are delicate berries and organochlorine pesticides are commonly used in their cultivation. Acai berries, at least 8 varieties, are native to Central and South America.

These exotics do have very high levels of anti-oxidants and flavanoids, which are disease fighting and health-promoting natural compounds. Acai, the latest rage, is high in nitric oxide, a potent blood vessel dilator, in addition to potent anti-oxidants.

However, these high-priced specialty products are not without concern. These fruits are transported long distances, to be consumed far from where they are grown, using lots of petro in the process. They may have been exposed to pesticides in cultivation, in countries, like China, with very different regulations. Irradiation is often required of many fruits arriving at our shores, depending on where they are coming from. And, lastly, many of these expensive exotic fruit products are promoted in drinks and other products with sugar added.

We do not need these exotic fruits in order to be healthy, as many of these manufacturers would like us to believe. In fact, we have local fruits that are loaded with these same phytochemicals.

Blueberries, especially wild American blueberries, with the highest level of anti-oxidants per serving, are also the most concentrated source of the anthocyanins.  These flavanoids have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, giving them great potential to fight aging, Alzheimer's disease and other chronic inflammatory ailments. They can decrease the age-related decline in cognitive and motor function. They are anti-viral, blood thinning, and promote healthy skin and hair.

Maintain a very berry diet!  Our common blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, and also grapes, cherries, plums and prunes are loaded with anti-oxidants.
Raspberries, pomegranates, strawberries, cherries, grapes, apples, blueberries, grape seed extract (and also nuts - especially walnuts and pecans) contain ellagic acid -which blocks the enzymes essential for cancer cell metabolism, and also prevents angiogenesis, which is the production of new abnormal blood vessels by the cancer cells.

Eat local, organic berries (and all fruit) in season, when they are least expensive, most tasty, and highest in health-promoting properties. No need to go beyond our shores for healthy fruits.