Blueberries MIA - Reading Labels for Lies

If ever there was a perfect example of deceptive marketing, this is it!  Please be aware that ANYTHING can be pictured and advertised but only the really investigative label reader knows what they are getting - and in this case it is NOT blueberries!




The companies getting away with this chemically produced fake blueberries are the famous brand names, General Mills, Kellogg's, Betty Crocker and Target brand "blueberry" bagels.  This is such a shame, and such a sham too.  People know - or should know - that blueberries are one of the best anti-oxidants, full of great nutrients.  Obviously they buy this stuff with that in mind, or they like the taste.  The "taste" is fake and made in a science lab, not on a blueberry bush.  Beware of this!   Check your labels carefully.  If it doesn't actually SAY contains real blueberries, you are getting chemicals.  Blueberry "bits" are also NOT blueberries. 

I'd like to thank these manufacturers for being such wonderful examples of what we should NOT eat, namely their foods!  Don't get all bummed out from this - just don't buy their products and they will get the message that consumers are becoming educated, despite their attempts are very clever marketing!  We deserve better!

And now this week in the news is that Taco Bell's meat isn't really meat.  It's getting kind of ridiculous.  I've been known to go there (behind my sunglasses and under the covers so to speak) for a bean burrito but never had their "meat" or whatever it is.  This happens about twice a year - don't think I'm a regular there!  I am assuming I was eating real beans...........but can I know for sure......????

Drugs - Not for YOU but for Profit!

I don't know if you saw 60 Minutes when they exposed a frightening mix-up and contamination of drugs at a Glaxo-Smith-Klein plant.  Here is the link to that -
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/01/18/sixty-minutes-exposes-why-you-cant-trust-drug-companies.aspx



About a decade ago, I went for my first (baseline) bone density test.  My doctor loves to make sure I'm in tip top condition as I am aging - gracefully I'm thinkin'.  When I went again 2 yrs. later, he said there was a change - not a good one - in my bones.  He wrote a prescription for Boniva.  I took it, got the pills from the pharmacy and went home to research.  Should have saved the money on the prescription.  Duh. 

I researched natural alternatives - diet changes, getting more weight bearing exercise and a good calcium/magnesium supplement.  He sent me back for another bone scan the following year and called me with the results. 

"Susan!  Great News!  That Boniva has improved your bone density - you tested super!"  he said so enthusiastically I hated to burst his bubble.  He's so cute! 

"Great, Dr. P.  Only thing is I never took the Boniva!"

To say he was shocked is an understatement.  It ranked right up with the nearly identical situation we had over my cholesterol.  I refused to take the Lipitor and went on an intense program, lowering my cholesterol by 68 points.  Yes, shocking.  I cannot begin to tell  you what I will do to avoid taking drugs, any drugs.  And when I read articles like the one I'm linking you to, I'm really glad I find alternatives, natural ones.

I want to help other people do the same, but gosh people are seemingly scared to death of trying "other" methods.  How can it be that we are so darn pill (drug) dependent?  Is it that we don't want to bother doing anything extra that may take some effort and involve making changes?  I guess one has to be as angry as I am that the drug industry is so powerful and yet has failed to really CURE anything!  Billions in profits, billions!  Because the general population is convinced thru the most clever marketing ever, that we NEED these drugs for everything from allergies to zits.  Makes me wonder how my grandparents, and their grandparents ever managed to live to be almost 100!  Hmmmm.

Here are a few of the drugs that according to several sources, can cause more harm than good.

Lipitor, Crestor, Yaz, Yasmin, Lyrica, Topomax, Lamictal,Humira, Prolia, Chantix, Ambien, Tamoifen, Boniva, Pempro and Premarin.  (Alter Net, November 19,2010)

You can read Dr. Mercola's comments on his newsletter.  I am obviously not a doctor.  And I'm sure if I was going to flat out die without a drug, I'd be more inclined to take it.  But prescription medicine is one of the leading causes of DEATH all by itself.  So if there is any natural way, thru food, herbs, supplements, to make changes that will balance the body and bring it to a healthy state, I am all over it. 



There will be a NEW BLOG, on my NEW WEBSITE very soon - it is under construction as we speak.  I  will link you to it, not to worry!  Hope you will continue to follow my adventures in discovering optimum health, naturally!


http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/09/15-dangerous-drugs-big-pharma-shoves-down-our-throats.aspx

Eating Raw - It's a Good Thing!

I have written so many posts on what NOT to eat, I want to spend some time on the other side of the issue by talking about things TO eat!  For those of you out there who don't like to cook, you will love this - no cooking involved.

When I tell people to eat more raw foods, they conjure up the image of raw carrot sticks but usually are unable to think beyond that or maybe a green salad.  There is SO MUCH fun with raw foods - endless combinations of nutrient rich, energy producing, cell nourishing foods.  I'll share a few of my favorites here and encourage you to try these and then create your own.

Susan's Non-cereal cereal
If I'm not having the standard oatmeal with walnuts, cranberries and vanilla coconut milk (oh try coconut milk, by the way!) I make a "cereal" out of a cut up banana, a cup of blueberries and about a cup of walnuts.
I use either Acai Berry juice (in lieu of milk) or orange juice.  A heaping bowl of this is rich in anti-oxidants and will keep you energized all morning.

Almost a Waldorf
This "salad" keeps in the fridge well for several days, so I often make up a bowl of it to keep on hand for a quick lunch.  Cut up apples, celery, carrots and walnuts, toss with a light mayo - done!  How easy is this?
I've used it for dinner by adding cut-up (organic) chicken, adding diced red onion and sometimes some cheese chunks.  You can get a lot of mileage out of this and of course make up your combo of ingredients.
No need to freak about measurements either.  Add what you want to - I am heavy on the apple component.

Raw Veggies
Several variations on this one so play around and see what combination you like best!  Cut up avocados, a can of garbonzo beans (chick peas), chopped tomotoes and red onions.  Toss with balsamic vinegarette and top with crushed blue corn chips (organic of course!)  Done.  This keeps well in fridge but the avocado gets ugly looking brownish.  I'll often make up a big batch of this salad but add the avocado fresh each time I have it as well as adding the blue corn chips fresh each time - they get too soggy otherwise.

Another version is cucumbers, carrots, broccoli and either chick peas or white beans.  It's great with an Italian style dressing.  Also will keep in fridge so you can make ahead.

Have you noticed I never said to add spinach or lettuce?  Well you certainly CAN of course, but I was trying to show you that those two "normal" salad ingredients need not be present.  Combining veggies RAW is the best way to get the importants vitamins, minerals and nutrients from them.   Cooking does diminish our in-take of  VERY important food for our cells. 

Try to eat at least one raw meal a day.  This is not only a healthy way to eat, you can lose a lot of weight by not eating that sandwich, pizza or burger for lunch.  The caloric content is less than Subway too.  Don't fill up on breads - fill up  on veggies!  It doesn't get easier than this!  Instant healthy diet!

All of these recipes travel well and keep well in the fridge so you can take them to work for lunch.  Raw eating doesn't have to be as boring as you might think and I hope that these examples have given you some basics to work from.  I'd LOVE to hear about what combinations you come up with! 

GMO Foods - God Move Over????

Yes it might as well be God Move Over when it comes to GMO foods.  It is NOT making hybrids as the biotech industry started doing decades ago.  Oh no.  It has gone WAY beyond that and the long term health consequences aren't something the big Ag - or Monsanto - wants to deal with.  Nor does the USDA or FDA!  It is criminal what is going on. 

Europeans, thanks to a media there that is more truthful than ours and not on the payroll or intimidation roll of big business, have learned about GMO's and they BANNED them.  Why don't we?  Because - as yet - not enough people are aware of the serious nature of them.  You sure won't find it on the news in THIS country!

What is really interesting, speaking of pressures and influence?  Wikileaks revealed that US diplomats were MORE than suggesting to their European governments, that they needed to reconsider allowing GMO's into their countries.  There were a few that even threatened dire consequences to their government if they did not drop their ban on GMO's.  How's that for some political intrigue?  Money and greed are up to no good.  And the tentacles of power are monsterously long and powerful. 

I have said it before and I will continue to say it - we are no more than guinea pigs to the good old boys at the Food Industries, Monsanto, the USDA and FDA - all of whom are playing a very dangerous (to us) and INSANELY PROFITABLE (for them) game of roulette with this science. 

Let's make 2011 the year we all stand up and say NO MORE to GMO's.  You can learn more at Seedsofdeception.com or mercola.com or instituteofresponsibletechnology.com  -  I am in the process of  receiving training to join Jeffrey Smiths speakers bureau putting on power point presentations to groups in my area with information on the whole GMO issue.  It was startling information when I first learned of this a few years ago and I have been working and studying dilgently ever since.  I want to help people make better food choices and be healthy.  Eliminating GMO's is a big step in the right direction!  Here is one (of dozens) video with basic GMO information.  It sure doesn't stand for God Move Over - and yet these promoters are sure acting like they are God!  How dare they!  I feel confident God knew what he was doing with plants from the get go, don't you?

Resolution No Brainers - Especially for Parents

Happy New Year! 

Whether you are a fan of New Year's resolutions or not, I'm sure that every one wants to have a Healthy New Year!  I have spent a year putting most health related blog posts together and I know from the many emails I've received this year, that some of these posts have hit home.  Some of you out there HAVE made some wonderfully healthful changes as a result.  Thank you SO much for writing to let me know how your health has improved as a result.  Excellent!  Way to go! 

Changes CAN be made - anytime - not just on New Years but this is sure a good time, calendar wise to start.  At least promising yourself to listen, to read labels, and further investigate some of the information I provide here with the links I give you would be a good start!

But Parents?  If you aren't one, you know one - family, neighbors, friends.  This is a parent ALERT.

GMO's are Genetically Modified foods and we are stuffing our kids with them without knowing it!  I'm putting on only one video in the series that is available on YouTube.  Children are affected more seriously and much quicker than adults for the obvious reasons - their little bodies cannot fight toxins as well for one thing.  It is critically important to pay attention to the growing GMO market.  We are being used as guinea pigs.  No long term studies have been done on them, and the very few short term ones were disasterous and covered up! 

I'm doing a series this month on GMO's.  Resolve to listen, learn what is going on with our food supply and protect your future health and especially your CHILDREN.  It's the best 10 minutes you can experience in making a healthier tomorrow!



Reference - Institute for Responsible Technology
There are several more videos on YouTube - this was only part one.