JOURNAL
The Truth About Chemical Use In Organic Farming
Over the past decade, the concept of organic food has taken off in a big way. Today, just about every grocery store offers some selection of organic produce, and it is generally accepted that organic growing practices yield produce that is tastier, healthier and more environmentally-friendly than traditionally grown fruits and vegetables. While recent studies have found no significant difference in nutritional value between organic and non-organic produce, health-conscious consumers are still likely choose organic in exchange for the assurance that their food has not been exposed to dangerous chemicals.
But the truth behind the Certified Organic label is a little more complicated than we might like to believe. While it's certainly true that organic crops has been exposed to substantially fewer chemicals than their non-organic counterparts, consumers may be surprised to learn that synthetic chemicals continue to play a significant role in the cultivation of organic produce.
What Makes Produce 'Organic', Anyway?
In order for produce to be labeled USDA Certified Organic, the farm must undergo rigorous inspection and growers must provide documentation that their growing and handling methods fall within the guidelines of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Prohibited substances must be absent from the farm site for a minimum of three years before its produce can officially be labeled Organic.
Angelina’s Surgeries – From Diagnosis to Prognosis
THIS MODERN-DAY GRETA GARBO UNDERGOES A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY
Privately, one can only imagine what the delectably iconic screen goddess must have gone through, although probably not. Publicly Angelina Jolie tried to make the announcement sound as matter-of-factly as possible, attempting to buffer where people’s imagination would take them. She appeared to want, above all, to move on and not to dwell on how her fans and business associates would construe what she had undergone -where her future would take her. “I do not feel any less of a woman,” she said in a first post-surgery piece she wrote for the New York Times. “I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.” A brief sentence that addressed several of the misgivings she needed to allay.
The Effects of Wheat on the Body
With all the recent news surrounding the ill effects of wheat, it is frightening to discover the myriad of ways in which wheat can be harmful to our health. Wheat is among the most genetically modified crops today. Commonly known as a starvation food, wheat provided a somewhat-acceptable level of nutrition during the early stages of farming. Over the years, however, wheat has been modified and irradiated to produce fatter seeds and shorter growth periods. This is good for the profits of large agricultural companies, but less nutritious for humans.
Break Free of the Chains.
Whether you want to get healthier or trying to lose weight, one of your first goals should include avoiding chain restaurants.
It’s probably no surprise that fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s or Burger King sell little -- if anything -- that’s healthy. But what about chain restaurants such as Applebee’s or the Cheesecake Factory? The surprising truth is that these places don’t fare much better.
So what makes chain restaurants so popular? It’s their comfort foods. These preprocessed / prepackaged meals are often loaded with excess calories and saturated fat. Here are just a few examples: Applebee’s sells a provolone-stuffed meatballs dish, which comes with garlic bread and a side of fettuccine pasta. The calorie count? 1,520 per dish. That’s the entire recommended daily intake of calories for women, according to the USDA. On top of that, the dish also contains 43 grams of saturated fat. The recommended daily amount? Only about 15 grams per day on a 1,500-calorie diet. Additionally, the Cheesecake Factory sells a “Bistro Shrimp Pasta, made with a butter and cream sauce and topped with battered, fried shrimp.” The damage? 89 grams of saturated fat and 1,090 milligrams of sodium.
Video Games and Health
Play video games and get … fitter? That’s right. According to a number of recent studies, some video games can actually help you improve your fitness level, lose weight and get stronger and leaner.
A study published in the “Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism” journal, the main benefits come from interactive video games. This is the kind of games where things you do “in the real world” are shown on the screen. This is done through the clever use of cameras, wireless gadgets and a platform in which you stand when performing certain exercises. The first computer games console that comes to mind is the Wii Fit system from XBox -- but others are also available.
And that’s just the beginning.
Green Tea: The Next Superfood
In recent years the popularity of green tea has skyrocketed, due in large part to its perceived health benefits. In several peer-reviewed studies, drinking green tea has been linked with health benefits in key areas ranging from increased metabolism to reduced memory loss. Participants use of the leafy plant during clinical trials also demonstrated preventive properties, including decreased LDL levels, reductions in heart disease, and lower rates of certain cancers.
More than a little stressed out?
Do you find yourself feeling angrier, agitated, and short of patience? Is it becoming more difficult to relax and focus on the things you enjoy? Do you lay awake at night dwelling on the day’s conflicts, unpaid bills, or other common stressors? When stress becomes overpowering it can leave us feeling powerless. It can cloud our judgment, and limit our ability to think lucidly. Moreover, allowing ourselves to become puppets in the hands of our stressors can take a heavy toll on both our physical and mental health.
Fight the Flu Not Your Body
As we head toward Autumn and cooler weather, our attention often turns to preventing illnesses we're likely to face. Those of us who ride city busses and subways are particularly susceptible, especially in cities like San Francisco where commuters pack BART cars like sardines. Fortunately, the body's immune system is our first line of defense against attacks from germs, bacteria, and viral agents like the flu.
Effectiveness of Acupuncture?
When western medicine fails to adequately alleviate a patient’s pain, many turn to acupuncture or other forms of alternative medicine to find relief. As practiced for more than 2,500 years, acupuncture is widely accepted as a remedy for a variety of diseases, and reliance on this art as an alternative treatment has increased worldwide particularly since the 1970s. Moreover, acupuncture has been shown to improve neurological disorders, severe to moderate dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps), and to relieve chronic pain in children and adolescents. By example, a comparative study in which patients with ischemic cerebro-vascular disease, also known commonly as a stoke, who were treated with acupuncture, were compared with those treated with conventional drugs (Chen, et al. 1990).
Television and Obesity
In a 1990 survey, respondents in the United States were asked to identify an activity or activities that consumed a significant portion of their time. Surprisingly, the survey participants ranked television watching as number three after work and sleep (Hive Health Media, 2012). Currently, American households watch an average of 8 hours of television programming each day. More hours than a typical grade school student spends in class or preparing homework.