You do not have to buy exclusively  organic.  Get smart and apply what I’m sharing with you below — tomorrow.  Next time you go to the store or local farmer’s market.

Keep The Dirty Dozen in mind when you are in the store.  I know, I know… most of the time we’re shopping with children.  And I admit it’s not easy to keep eye on them — AND to keep track of what we’re putting in our cart.

What are the Dirty Dozen?  Ok.  Here we go.  In other words these are the most dangerous items to eat and, therefore, most important to eat ORGANIC. Ranked in order of their ability to “bring harm” to you they are:

Celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, bell peppers, spinach, kale / collard greens, cherries, potatoes, grapes.

Tip 1: Print this list

Jot down the list above or print the complete list below.  Keep it in your wallet or purse.  Fruits/vegetables at the top of this list absorb/maintain fewer pesticides.  Those at the bottom have more.  Hence, they are the dirty dozen.

Think of it this way: Everything you’re eating that falls at toward the top of the list that is non-organic is bringing you less pesticides.  Those are fairly safe to buy just about anywhere.  Everything at the bottom that you’re eating is dangerous… and should be sourced as USDA organic.

Tip 2: A simple, cost-effective scrub

Also, you should always wash your produce by using 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide and vinegar.  It helps reduce pesticides — greatly.  Take these 2 steps today and apply them next time when you are taking care of the food for your family!

Source: Environmental Working Group

photo credit: Dain Sandoval.

February 24, 2010 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT
with Diana Raleva and
Dr. Rob Streisfeld, author of A Healthier Ever After

I’m excited to announce our February teleseminar with Dr. Rob Streisfeld, author of A Healthier Ever After. Read on for details but Doc Rob (as he’s known) is helping families create better health through an improved “mindset of health” through his books and speaking. His fairy tale approach to health tips for kids is fun, engaging and effective for children and caregivers alike.

We can’t reform your way out of chronic disease by changing who pays for it. And you can’t solve obesity, asthma, arthritis, diabetes or any disease by insuring all the uninsured. Join us as we learn how to take care of ourselves and our children using a totally new belief system… a new, holistic, affordable, easily implemented and FUN “natural religion.”

Why are most of us so obsessed with the smell, taste and look of chocolate? Because our body NEEDS it. What if I told you that the more chocolate you eat the longer you’re likely to live — AND  you even may lose a few pounds too.  No, I’m not lying, trying to sell you something nor have I lost my mind.  It’s scientific fact.  One of the oldest people to ever live was a French woman who ate 2 pounds of cacao every week!  But put down your Hershey bar – there’s a rule.   Read on and I’ll show you how to live longer, lighter and happier eating as much chocolate as you want.  This includes addressing child obesity by creating low fat, chocolate-rich snacks and desserts. 

Chocolate is one of the most desirable desserts of all.  We love everything from sauces to cookies that are made with the stuff. But I’m talking about the real chocolate — something called cacao.  Sure, you’ve heard of it.  This is the “naked” (eek!) form of chocolate that has never been processed — the virgin stuff.  It’s what’s mixed with milk and sugar to create what most of us know as chocolate.

Raw cacao powder is Mother Nature’s natural form of chocolate.  Unfortunately, processing often destroys or takes away from cacao’s powerful benefits.  Example: Raw chocolate is the the #1 antioxidant in the world… followed by cacao nibs and Acai powder.  Not the diet pills — the natural powder form of Acai berries.

How to grow old & look good (eating lots of chocolate)

One of the oldest people who to live on Earth was a French woman who ate 2 pounds (about 1 kilo) of cacao every week.  She lived 137 years.  Was it chocolate alone that enabled this?  Of course not but it DID contribute significantly and can for YOU too.

Because of its rich concentration of antioxidants  raw cacao powder protects us from age-related health problems, diseases and illnesses.  Raw cacao is the #1 magnesium source — and that is one of the greatest alkaline minerals.  I won’t bore you with why that’s important unless you ask!

Briefly, magnesium supports the heart, increases brainpower, helps build strong bones, causes strong peristalsis (bowel movements).  Magnesium is a problem for most of us.  Over 80% of Americans are not getting enough magnesium.  From constipation in children to heart disease we’re suffering.

But wait, there’s more!

In addition to magnesium raw cacao powder contain 314% of the U.S. recommended daily allowance per ounce. Chromium, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Vitamin C, Omega-6 Fatty Acids are all preset to complete the picture.  Chocolate IS healthy stuff, folks!

What about caffeine?

Who made this stuff up?  Ugh.  Contrary to popular opinion, cacao is poor source of caffeine.  However, cacao contains Theobromine that is from the same Methylxanthines group (as caffeine).  The good news: Theobromine is an effective antibacterial substance that kills the primary organism that cause cavities. Theobromine is a chemical relative of caffeine but it is NOT a nervous system stimulant.

Did I just tell you that chocolate can help prevent cavities?  Yup. I did.

Ready for a South American taste sensation?

I’ll give you a little help by teaching you how to make my Chocolate-Acai  Ice cream. Your children and your husband will fall in love with it too.  Mine did!  We discovered it while on a public speaking, hang gliding and rock climbing adventure in Brazil.

1 cup almond milk

2 Tbs. cacao powder

1 Tbs Acai

5 dates

splash of raw honey

1/2 banana

1 cup ice

Put together in the Vitamix or any other blender. Blended for 2 min. Voila! Chocolate Acai Ice cream to die for. Enjoy.

Need to purchase the ingredients?  No problem — look here!

Time to read: 7 minutes

Everything in the store is “low sodium” or “no transfats” or “fat free” or “low sugar “or “lite”… yet we’re all getting heavier. Fact.  Child obesity rates have more than tripled since 1980.  Fact.  Constipation in children is a growing problem.  Fact.  You can blame evil marketers and their manipulative ways or you can join me in DOING something about these trends.  Let’s “call bull” on food that isn’t food.  Ok — if you read the following weight loss tips for kids and constipation tips you’ll be more successful at raising healthier children.  I promise.  Stand with me and say, “hey, that yogurt and bread isn’t yogurt OR bread!”  Let’s quickly take a quick look at why you should — and HOW you can — help treat child obesity and constipation in children — by doing what you’ve always wanted to do.  Dump fake “food” and say yes to healthier kids. 

To keep it simple, I’m listing off my top “good foods gone bad.”  We’ll discuss how to avoid them without going totally insane.  Ready?  Go!

Open your fridge…

Open your fridge.  See that cheese that isn’t cheese?  You know, the stuff that our government reluctantly insists marketers call “cheese food.”  Toss it!  And while you’re at it take a closer look at other faux foods like most yogurts that aren’t yogurts, pizzas that aren’t pizzas, canned soups that aren’t soups, sliced breads that we all know aren’t bread and cereals that we’ve always known aren’t cereal.

Ok — I promised you that this wouldn’t make you insane and by now you might be wondering, “is she one of those organic ‘food Nazi’s?’”  I’m not asking you to “go organic.”  I’m asking you to act on what you KNOW is true.

When we indulge on foods that we willingly believe are good and healthy for us — when deep down in our hearts we know otherwise — we’re lying to ourselves.

As Dr. Phil likes to say, “and how’s that working for you?”  (lying to yourself)  For most of us, the results are ugly.

Solve the health care crisis: Stop eating junk

According to a new report adult obesity is also increasing in 23 states.  Here’s the worst part: is not decreasing ANYWHERE.  Not a single state in the past year, according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009, a report by the Trust for America’s Health.  The percentage of overweight children is at or above 30 percent in 30 states.

The report warns that half of America will be dangerously obese by next year.  Literally.  We are facing national crisis if we continuing to act on ignorance — or look the other way.  If you’re looking for an answer to the national health care crisis it’s right here.  We are what we eat.  So what do we eat?

Food that isn’t Food

There are a lot of causes of obesity — many are psychological.  Today, I’m aiming my gun at food itself.  Fish, cereal, yogurt and other basic foods can be very healthy — until they’re corrupted by mass manufacturing.

Scientific fact:

The more food is processed, the less nutritious (unhealthier) it becomes.

Fish Sticks

The name sounds patently silly doesn’t it?  Ever think about that?  Fish is considered a healthy food — and it is.  Mass produced fish sticks are usually made of pollock… rather healthy.  The “stick” part seems to be the remaining TWENTY ingredients listed on the box which typically aren’t healthy.

Solution: Fish is healthy food when the ingredients list contain mostly one ingredient: FISH

Yogurt

Where I grew up people made their own yogurt: essentially milk fermented with certain bacteria. Done! This is high in protein, calcium and vitamins.  We humans do not have the the necessary enzymes to digest the protein in milk — and yogurt’s properties make it a better choice.

Next time you find yourself in the diary section browsing packages (because that’s how most of us buy our bacteria+milk) get a grip! What’s sold in mainstream American supermarkets under the name “yogurt” is not yogurt — by definition.  It’s a dairy dessert loaded with (you’ve convinced yourself it’s ‘complimented by’) high fructose corn syrup (or sugar if you’re real lucky!) and processed fruit.  It’s labeled as a healthy food when, in fact, it’s damn un-healthy and in many cases dangerous.

Not to mention the price of the stuff!  We’re paying a premium on fake “healthy food.”  You’re welcome!

Solution: Invest in an in-expensive yogurt maker.  They exist!  It takes 5 minutes to bring the milk to a boil, mix it with yogurt starter and leave it it overnight at 90 degree temperature.  You are both in control of what’s in the yogurt and saving money.

Canned Soup

Soup is remarkably healthy, inexpensive and easy to make.  A lunch of hearty homemade soup and bread, cooked in bulk and frozen in individual containers for the week, will cost less than a dollar a day.  Nearly all canned soups, on the other hand, are un-nutritious concoctions of salt, fat, artificial additives, preservatives, water and maybe part of some vegetables (with their color so fadeed that they do not look like veggies).  One serving typically contains 1,000 milligrams of sodium — about half your daily allowance.  Makes sense right?!?!

Solution:  Invest 15 minutes of your time and make your own home made, fresh soup and be in control of all the flavors — and save money.

Sliced Bread

The most common form of bread in America is the mass-produced white, soft doughy bread in plastic bags with a shelf life of weeks.  Nutritionists agree it is often a major contributor to obesity and diabetes.

True bread is flour and water with a pinch of salt and yeast.  Yes, you need to chew it — I’m sorry.  Some people even like it that way! 

Most packaged white bread contains flour and our good friend sugar (or high froctose corn syrup) — and plenty of it.  Oh, and often a dozen other ingredients.  The processing creates a food product that, once eaten, is quickly converted to blood sugar, called glucose.  This causes the pancreas to work overtime and ultimately destroys the organ.  Even mass-produced whole wheat breads are unhealthy because they are made palatable by a rather unholy trinity of sugar, salt and softening additives.  Palatable to those of us who are trained to only eat cake — oops… I mean, processed white bread!

Solution: Buy bread.  Real bread.  The ingredients list contains the following: Wheat flower, salt, yeast, oil and water (any seeds are fine too).

Breakfast Cereal

The word “cereal” has been hijacked!  Yes, once again by food producers who make tiny, crunchy breakfast cakes out of true cereal with the addition of sugar, corn syrup, salt, food dyes and preservatives.  Because what good is cereal if it goes bad in a few months right? We apparently need more than a year to eat cereal??!!

Hey… this is probably why this “cereal” is so expensive too.  They contain all these ingredients that shouldn’t be there. Real cereals — like  wheat, barley, rice and oats, to name a few – are and have always been the most important food of the human race.

Solution: Real cereal is far healthier and far cheaper.  If you want the healthy benefits of a cereal buy the real stuff.  Just read the label.  Get ready to bypass plenty of boxes on the shelf at the store!

Pizza

I’m sad that most Americans have never eaten pizza and confuse it for the junk food advertised on television and in the frozen section.  In Italy there are laws defining pizza — which set allowances on the type of flour, tomato, mozzarella, olive oil, basil and oregano.  Kinda like Champagne.  You’d not buy fake Champagne would you?

Pizza is inherently nutritious and filling.  Street corner pizza shops in Philadelphia, New York and other large cities kept close to the original idea of simple, fresh ingredients. Then came the pizza chains which put most local shops out of business. Fresh ingredients were replaced with preservative-laden, cheap and fatty ingredients that could be mass-produced, frozen and shipped across the country. Commercial pizza is now a high-calorie, high-fat, high-sodium, low-nutrient food.  

So next time when you thing of a nutrition breakfast, lunch or dinner for your child spend 30 min. to prepare real food. And don’t look at those 30 minutes like wasted time because it’s not. You are investing time to serve your child and your family nutritional needs.  Pay with your time and save big time on your doctor’s bill.

Remember — the healthiest foods have no list of ingredients.  They are what they are.  Got questions?  Think I’m a crazy person?  Get in touch with me.

80 Percent of Americans Have No Idea Which Foods Contain Trans Fats

Read time: 2 minutes. As reported in NaturalNews, most people in the United States now know that they should avoid trans fats but few actually know which foods contain the dangerous ingredients.  Example: food companies selling things like potato chips and fried snack goods stop frying and slap “baked” on the label — they take frying totally out of the equation.  Bingo — their product becomes health food.  Right? Wrong! Consider the actual ingredients — not just what may be added during the cooking process. Read on and I’ll show you who to easily, quickly decide what a healthy snack looks like in the shopping isle.  Here’s how to read the label AND know what to look for. My Golden Rule:s

1. If the list of ingredients is longer than 4-5 ingredients do NOT buy it.  Don’t spend money to poison your child.
2. Watch for multiple forms of preservatives or what even sounds like a preservative (typically these are the words you’ve never heard of and cannot pronounce).
3. Look at the shelf life.  The longer the shelf life the more likely it has “hidden” trans fats or dangerous preservatives.
4. Most fried foods in restaurants contain trans fats — some are loaded

Hidden trans fat: The facts on frying

While food companies are required to list trans fats on nutritional labels, a product can be listed as trans fat free if it contains less than five grams of the fats per serving.

Any product containing “hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated” oils contain trans fats. They are commonly used in baked and fried foods, although some manufacturers have started phasing out their use.

What’s the big deal?  Unlike natural fats trans fats have no nutritional value and drastically increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and death. Like saturated fats, they increase the body’s levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, but unlike those fats they also lower its levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

Trans fats, also known as hydrogenated oils, are artificially produced in the laboratory by adding extra hydrogen atoms to unsaturated vegetable oils. They have long been a favorite of the food industry for their increased shelf life over conventional oils.

Researchers surveyed 1,000 adult residents of the United States in 2007 about their knowledge of trans fats, and found that a full 92 percent had heard of the fats, compared with only 84 percent who had heard of them in 2006. Almost 75 percent of those who had heard of trans fats were aware that consumption of the fats raises the risk of heart disease.

The researchers next asked people to list three foods that contain trans fats, but only 21 percent were able to do so — nevertheless an improvement over 17 percent in 2006.

Laws banning the use of trans fats in restaurants have been passed in a number of cities, including New York, as well as by the state of California.

Source: NaturalNews.com