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twisted cod liver oil by nick@, on Flickr
Another mainstream media moment. The Health article “What Do You Lack? Probably Vitamin D” which ran in the New York Times on July 26th, 2010 points up what WAPF (and other health-concerned) food bloggers have been quoting for years. Here are the highlights:
- Insufficient vitamin D intake is indicated in: “cancers of the colon, breast and prostate; high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease; osteoarthritis; and immune-system abnormalities that can result in infections and autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.”
- Modern lifestyles prevent adequate sun exposure which would alleviate D insufficiency (think cutting back on dairy for its “evil” fat content, more indoor employment and recreation, lower fatty fish consumption, sunscreen)
But the article is not without its faults. For example:
- “The main dietary sources are wild-caught oily fish (salmon, mackerel, bluefish, and canned tuna) and fortified milk and baby formula, cereal and orange juice.” The best dietary source is good old cod liver oil. At 300 times the daily value of vitamin D, it beats up fortified orange juice (25 times DV) and takes its lunch money. There is much to be said for the synergy of a food that contains vitamin D naturally and is used by the body as part of the whole food rather than the nutritionism of fortification.
- “Babies who are exclusively breastfed are at risk for vitamin D deficiency.“ and “The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that breast-fed infants receive a daily supplement of 400 units until they are weaned and consuming a quart or more each day of fortified milk or formula.” Well, that’ll put a pretty quick end to a thriving breastfeeding relationship. A better policy would be to make sure Mom is receiving sufficient D and encourage appropriate levels of sunlight for baby than to start throwing fortified milk or formula at him.
I hear you all groaning out there about “fish burps” and how disgusting your Mom said taking a daily dose of cod liver oil is. I’m here to tell you, it’s not that bad. We have options Grandma couldn’t dream of.
First, try fermented cod liver oil. Not only does the fermentation process make the vitamins much more bioavailable, I find it almost completely alleviates “fish burps.” There are also flavored options and capsules to improve the likelihood the regimen will be adhered to. Take your cod liver oil with a cool drink (not milk and nothing carbonated) to reduce fishy backlash. Oh, and take it with a high nutrient meal, especially one containing butter for the very best nutritional boost. Still bothered? Take it at bedtime and sleep through it!
More reading on Vitamin D and cod liver oil:
20% of Kids Aged 1-11 Not Getting Enough Vitamin D
Start a buying club for great savings!
Kidney Stones, Juice, Sugar…and Brain
This post is part of Fight Back Friday, hosted by Food Renegade.
wtf?! i may have to write a new verse of my song...kombucha, i'm gonna miss yaaa 
by Shira Golding, on Flickr
There was quite an uproar last week when Whole Foods pulled kombucha off its shelves. Those stung by the recent removal of raw milk complained that it was another “corporate sell out to fear of litigation.” Some said they weren’t surprised, that anything containing “that much” alcohol should be regulated lest we poison the kids. Others called those who have received a light buzz off a bottle of kombucha a bunch of fakers.
There was no kombucha on the shelves Wednesday when I did the shopping. I asked my local health food store (NOT a Whole Foods Market) and was referred to a website that contains a lot of good information about this issue, including regular updates and information about affected brands.
But it’s time to set the record straight. This was not a matter of litigation fear. It started when Lindsey Lohan’s SCRAM-shackle (a court-ordered device measuring alcohol content in the blood) blared an alarm on June 5 that there was alcohol in her bloodstream after the MTV Movie Awards. The actress swore she had only been drinking kombucha, and that’s what caught the attention of the grand poohbahs at Whole Foods. A corporate giant pulling a hot seller from the shelves got the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau talking to the FDA, who decided they needed to intervene.
On June 16, UNFI (United Natural Foods, Inc., a major distributor of natural, organic and specialty foods) halted the sale of kombucha products and recommended the same to their member retailers. A statement issued yesterday by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) frames the issue more as a labeling problem than anything:
TTB plans to take samples of kombucha products from the marketplace and test their alcohol content in order to determine if the products are labeled in compliance with Federal law. If TTB finds alcohol beverages that are not labeled in accordance with Federal law, we will take appropriate steps to bring them into compliance. TTB will consult with FDA to ensure that the affected products comply with applicable Federal laws. If the testing results from this labeling initiative indicate potential violations of the IRC, they will be referred to the appropriate office within TTB for further investigation, as necessary.
Right now, I imagine most brands are scrambling to test and submit data, as well as working on possible label redesign. I envision the legal departments of kombucha brewers burning the midnight oil. But it doesn’t look like FDA wants to permanently remove kombucha from the marketplace just yet.
So, what will you do? Will you home brew? Give up your habit? If FDA comes back and says it’s too alcoholic for sale in grocery and health food stores, will you still buy it? Would you go to a liquor store to buy it if that is the only place you can get it?
This post is part of Fight Back Fridays, hosted by Food Renegade.
I love berry season. It is way too short, in my book. Someday I definitely want several berry bushes in my yard both for us and for the lovely birds they attract! Right now, where I live, blueberries are in season. I try to buy enough blueberries to dry and keep on hand all year, but the big baskets we get at the farmer’s market rarely get as far as the dehydrator before they get eaten!
At only 81 calories a cup, blueberries are relatively low in calories for the flavor punch they pack. They also have anthocyanins, which provide their color. Anthocyanins work together with vitamin C to neutralize free radical damage to your tissues and work with your body to repair collagen for healthy skin and connective tissues. Unfortunately, anthocyanins don’t survive the canning process, so be sure to freeze or dry (at low heat) extra berries. Blueberries have even more antioxidant action than red wine, so the teetotalers among us needn’t feel shortchanged!
Of course, berries are delicious in pancakes and muffins, but can turn your food strange colors when they are cooked. In acids (lemon juice, vinegar) they can turn reddish. In base combinations (baking soda), they can turn an even darker blue. If your muffin batter has too much baking soda, the blueberries will turn the batter greenish blue! But, to preserve the vitamin C in the berries and keep the B vitamins from leaching out, it’s best to eat these gems raw. Wash berries immediately before eating to protect them from spoilage.
We use dried blueberries to combat diarrhea and urinary tract infections. A tea of a few teaspoons of dried blueberries steeped in boiling water can be enjoyed a couple times a day. The tannins in the blueberries stop diarrhea very effectively, and the acids in the berries will keep bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract and colon (much like cranberry juice, but tastier!) There has been some research indicating one of the bacteria blueberries repel particularly well is our old nemesis, E. Coli.
Blueberries are a classic pairing with peaches, which are just coming into season here. I made this salad for lunch the other day. It combines fresh peaches with chicken leftover from making stock, some standard salad ingredients and is topped with blueberries. The dressing complements the fresh flavors with cinnamon and lemon.
Peachy Chicken Salad
serves 6 as a main course salad
1 head organic green leaf lettuce
1 thinly organic red onion
2 small organic cucumbers
3 ripe organic peaches
4 cups cooked pastured chicken
1 1/2 cups organic blueberries
For dressing:
juice of 3 organic lemons
rind of 1 organic lemon, grated
1/2 cup extra virgin organic olive oil
1 teaspoon flax oil
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
2 teaspoons organic cinnamon
1/4 cup creme fraiche
Combine the dressing ingredients in a pint jar, screw the lid on tightly and shake to combine. Set aside.
Wash all fruits and vegetables and chop small, leaving blueberries whole. Chop chicken into small pieces. Toss all fruits and veggies together in a bowl with chicken except blueberries. Serve salad, stream dressing over and top with blueberries.
A word on organic ingredients: Blueberries and peaches are on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list, onions are on the clean fifteen. I would not use the rind of a non-organic lemon for eating.
This post is part of Real Food Wednesday, hosted by Kelly the Kitchen Kop. Hey, lookie there…blueberries!
I’m guest blogging today at Hartkeisonline with a post about home remedies for minor burns. Please come drop by!
Buttery love... by im.mick, on Flickr
I was jumping up and down excited to read this article in Scientific American. More and more, mainstream scientific research is proving and mainstream media is running stories that we’ve all been told a big, fat lie about the dangers of saturated fat in the diet. Sure, as demonstrated in the comments, there are those who still cling to the fat-is-bad mantra, but the tide is turning. My favorite quote from the article:
The next time you eat a piece of buttered toast…consider that butter is actually the more healthful component.
It reminds me of the wonderful cover of Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes. Most Americans, if asked which are the good and which are the bad, would cite butter as bad, I am convinced.
But, fellow Food Renegades, we know better! We know there are few fats healthier than grassfed meat, too. While you’re here, please take a moment and click over to this post about how grassfed meat could be going down for its final count, and what YOU can do to keep it available!
This post is part of Food Renegade’s Fight Back Friday.
I’m guest blogging at Hartkeisonline today. I hope you’ll drop by and share your favorite headache remedies!
Cross eyed by net_efekt, on Flickr
This just in: Samsung has issued a warning on its Australian website that watching 3D television can be hazardous. Interesting that the same warning has not yet appeared on its American site. For info on how 3D can cause health problems, see my post from earlier this year.
Flynn's Duck by jandhands, on Flickr
Maybe you’ve heard the rumblings about BPA, teflon, mercury, PBBs, PBDEs, triclosan, 2,4-D, or phthalates, but don’t know what the fuss is about. Maybe you shrug and assume if it’s touching our lives it’s been tested and is safe. Maybe you suspect differently but are overwhelmed by the thought of that much change all at once. Maybe you have done some research, but find that there are too few studies to bother taking action.
I’ve been in each of these situations over the course of the last several years. As I come across issues, I do some research only to find three camps:
- This stuff will kill you. Avoid it at all costs. (Fear)
- It’s gotta be safe or the government wouldn’t allow it. (Ignorance*)
- Maybe it is dangerous, but it’s everywhere so it’s useless to fight it. (Hopelessness)
Over and over again, these are the three viewpoints I hear. I’ve even heard each of these come out of my own mouth at one time or another!
I picked up Slow Death by Rubber Duck at the library a few weeks ago because I thought the title and the cover photo of a cute little yellow ducky were hilarious and titillating. In its pages, I found compelling evidence, enjoyable reading, sobering facts and an action plan.
Since 2005, authors Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie have been involved with Toxic Nation in Canada, testing the blood of citizens from all walks of life for 130 pollutants. The people tested would always ask the same questions: “How did this get in me?” “How do I get it out?” “If I reduce my exposure to it, will it go away?” Since science offered no answers, the authors set about creating their own experiment, turning themselves into human lab rats.
The results of their experiment were immediate and conclusive. Exposure produced increases of toxins in their blood and urine, some by more than a thousand-fold, detoxification after exposure provided improvement for most pollutants.
The book is well researched but not dull to read with lots of quotes from TV, films and music, old ad copy (“DDT is good for meeee!”) and photos. The arc a concept rides from being laughable to believable to enforceable is well-demonstrated, as is the idea that Everymom and Everydad have louder voices than they know.
The sub-title “The Secret Danger of Everyday Things” might seem alarmist, but the book offers a whole chapter of hope. You can affect your health, and your children’s futures by making simple changes to your life and your purchases. The “powers that be” will hear our concerns as we become educated and able to speak intelligently about the pollutants in our kitchens, bathrooms and toy boxes. Slow Death by Rubber Duck is a great primer for this revolution.
*Please know I am not calling any individual that espouses this view ignorant. I am saying that the assumption that these untested substances are safe is based on lack of information.
- The ONLY good use for Diet Pepsi in school. rocket science (mentos eruption) by woodleywonderworks, on Flickr
You gotta admire the tenacity of soda companies. I mean, they’re in there swinging every chance they get to bat. They’re on the cutting edge (albeit possibly the wrong end) of advertising, food science, and especially PR. When High Fructose Corn Syrup gets a bad name, they come out with “throwback” formulas: Made with REAL (genetically modified) sugar! When concerns of overconsumption hit the press, they respond with cute little “mini” cans. When the outcry against sugary soda at school gets too loud, they magnanimously retreat and brag about how they care for our children.
Big news in the world of soda was announced in the Wall Street Journal this week:
PepsiCo Inc. said Tuesday it will remove full-calorie sweetened drinks from schools in more than 200 countries by 2012, marking the first such move by a major soft-drink producer.
Well, Pepsi has beat Coke in this skirmish of the “Less-Cola War.” But before you prepare the laurel wreath to hang on their shoulders, let’s let the other shoe drop. From the same article:
In primary schools, PepsiCo will sell only water, fat-free or low-fat milk and juice with no added sugar. In secondary schools, it will also sell low-calorie drinks like Diet Pepsi.
Bottled waters, some not even different in composition than tap, served in a nice BPA-laden plastic bottle. Yum! Fat-free and low-fat milk, the drink of overweight, lactose intolerant children everywhere. Fruit juice with no added sugar, as if fruit juice needs more sugar. Feeling better about PepsiCo yet? So far I’m not seeing a great improvement in the choices. Then there’s low-calorie drinks like Diet Pepsi, full of aspartame. Here’s where PepsiCo and I enter the ring as grudge match opponents.
You can sort of justify water, juice and milk. Kind of. But PepsiCo has shifted the attack from HFCS soda’s assault on young bodies to aspartame’s devastation of growing brains.
PepsiCo, you get no gold star for this assignment.
Further reading:
Stop Childhood Obesity: Serve Whole Milk!
BPA hazardous to developing brain tissue
Environmental Working Group’s assessment of bottled water, including Pepsi’s Aquafina
The Use and Misuse of Fruit Juices, an AAP study
View the sugar contained in fruit juices as sugar cubes
Aspartame: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
Aspartame Toxicity Info
Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills
This post is part of Fight Back Fridays, hosted by Food Renegade and Prevention Not Prescriptions by The Kathleen Show.
cabinet of food and poison 2 by jessamyn, on Flickr
There are certain species that science looks to as indicator species. When these species first show problems, an alarm is sounded that something is happening that needs our attention. We have several things happening right now in these indicator organisms and how we react is very important.
Alarm #1: Atrazine Causing Sexual Abnormalities in Amphibians
(Beyond Pesticides, March 3, 2010) A recently published study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that male frogs exposed to the herbicide atrazine can become so completely female that they can mate and lay viable eggs. This latest study adds to the growing scientific evidence which shows that atrazine, one of the most common herbicides used in the U.S., disrupts the development and behavior of aquatic animals, and negatively effects their immune, hormone, and reproductive systems.
Alarm #2: Silver Nanoparticles Lethal to Fathead Minnows
(Beyond Pesticides, March 4, 2010) Scientists at Purdue University have found that nanosilver that is sonicated or suspended in solution is toxic and even lethal to fathead minnows, an organism that is often used to measure toxicity on aquatic life. The study is the latest research to demonstrate the need for federal regulatory agencies to regulate emerging nanotechnologies as a unique pesticide.
Alarm #3: Pyrethroid Pesticides in Streams Found Toxic to Indicator Species
Pyrethroid insecticides, commonly used to kill ants and other insects around the home, have been found in street runoff and in the outflow from sewage treatment plants in the Sacramento, California area. The insecticide ended up in two urban creeks, the San Joaquin River and a 20-mile stretch of the American River, traditionally considered to be one of the cleanest rivers in the region. Although the pyrethroid levels were low, around 10-20 parts per trillion, they were high enough to kill a test organism similar to a small shrimp that is used to assess water safety.
One thing that strikes me is the incredibly small amount of substance required to cause problems. Two parts per trillion of pyrethroid are enough to paralyze one indicator species.
What does this have to do with real food?
Indicator species are more than just thermometers, taking the chemical overload “temperature” of our environment. They are food for other organisms. Because people are at the top of the food chain, we need to heed these alarms and not just roll our eyes and inwardly giggle about male frogs capable of giving birth.
Kate, my teenaged daughter and I both adore wild-caught Pacific and Alaskan salmon. While developing from egg to fish, salmon feast on amphipoda, small shrimp-like organisms similar to the type killed by pyrethroid. No amphipoda, no salmon. Animals eating large quantities of hermaphroditic amphibians could likewise become ill or damaged, and pass that up the food chain eventually leading to…us. And even if you are a strict vegetarian, these poisons are in the water used to irrigate your crops—yes, even organic crops.
Okay, so what can I do?
Getting rid of the toxic waste in your own home is an essential first step. Avoid antibacterial and antimicrobial products. If you are a germophobe, I recommend Why Dirt is Good: 5 Ways to Make Germs Your Friends by Mary Ruebush. Plain soap is good for washing hands, triclosan, used in antibacterial hand cleaners is a very dangerous chemical. You absolutely do not want an antibacterial cutting board, which leaches chemicals (usually triclosan) into your food with each swipe of the knife. Evidence is emerging that triclosan in our water supply doesn’t break down and that it builds up in the bodies of marine animals to the point that it might be toxic to them. One researcher, after using triclosan-containing products in the course of a normal day, discovered that his body absorbed 2900 times more triclosan after only two days of use.
Next, search your cabinets. Pesticides are not something you want in your everyday living space. There are many good natural remedies for bug infestation which can be located in an internet search. Some might not work for you, but keep trying until you find one that does. You may not like ants in your kitchen but poison on your food is not a good trade-off. And for heaven’s sake, if you must keep poison in the house, please do not store it near food, like in the above photo!
Finally, if you’re a letter-writing, phone-calling type, make your concerns known to the governing bodies that are paid with your tax dollars to protect you. Sign petitions, join associations, bookmark Beyond Pesticides, the Environmental Working Group and Grist.
Caring about the world in which we live has less to do with tree-hugging than with breathing, eating and drinking clean. You should absolutely start with your own body and your family’s health, but please don’t stop there.
This post is part of Prevention, not Prescriptions.
