Beware City Dwellers: Ticks Moving In
Tick season is fully upon us, and it is not just people living in the woody areas of the country that should take precautions against these blood-sucking creatures. Sure, they love the woods, they love dogs, and they love tall grass, but they are also learning to love city life. Knowing how to prevent, diagnose and treat tick bites is...
GMO Crops Leading to Drastic Increases in Pesticide and Herbicide Use
The nasty effects of pest and weed resistant GMO crops on human health and the environment are beginning to show - the insects and weeds are developing immunities, and many farmers are responding by using more pesticides and herbicides than ever. According to a May report in the Wall Street Journal, "insecticide sales are surging after years of decline,...
Bolivia Sets an Example for the World by Driving Out McDonald’s
After 14 years of trying to sell their fast food wares in Bolivia, McDonald's closed the last of its franchises in the country last month. While frighteningly effective in the United States, McDonald's marketing campaign of cheap, quickly-prepared processed meals simply did not sit well with Bolivians. The food philosophy of many Bolivians, 60 percent of whom are indigenous to...
The Dreaded “D” Word: Changing Your Mindset
When you think of the word diet do you envision a lone carrot stick and a cup of water? Perhaps you feel tense and empty every time you think of "going on a diet." Unfortunately, diet is often associated with deprivation, restriction and struggle. The problem with the word diet is that it is used as a verb instead of...
4-methylimidazole and 4 Other Reasons to Dump Your Soda Down the Drain
It has happened again: a beverage manufacturer has been hit between the eyes with a spotlight and everyone is talking. This time it is all about Pepsi and their caramel coloring. While this synthetic ingredient is surely no good for us, is it all that we should be worried about when we pop the lid on a soda? Pepsi...
Long John Silver’s: Turning a Healthy Protein Into a Deep-Fried Disaster
Fish can be a wonderfully healthy and delicious meal when prepared properly. However, not all fish dinners are created equal. Long John Silver's Big Catch meal, for example, is loaded with trans fats and chemicals, which greatly outweigh the health benefits of the fish. While no 'fast food' meal is entirely healthy (the very nature of the processing involved negates...
Not Really Swiss but Still a Superfood
If you planted nothing else in a container on your back deck this summer but Swiss chard, also known as silverbeet, you would be doing your body a huge favor. This not-so-common vegetable is vitamin-packed and has crisp, green leaves that are brightly veined, with a colorful stalk. This leafy green is one of the most nutritious vegetables around,...
No “Stock” In Store Stocks – Make Your Own Broth
If you buy chicken or vegetable stock labeled “No MSG” or even products labeled organic believing you’re making the best choice for your family’s health, you might be surprised to find what lurks inside. Most products that are labeled this way actually do contain MSG, or monosodium glutamate. While you may not see it spelled out on the ingredient list,...
Splenda Earns Caution Label – Consumers Beware
The Center for Public Interest (CSPI) has reduced its safety rating of Splenda, a common brand name for the artificial sweetener sucralose, from 'safe' to 'caution.' This downgrade follows an Italian study which has linked sucralose consumption to an increased risk of leukemia in lab animals. Hundred of millions of people around the world use artificial sweeteners, and one by...
It Kills Fish and It Could Kill You Too
If you are on a public water line, it is likely that your household water supply is loaded with chlorine. Chlorination has been around for nearly 100 years. In the early 20th century, it was first used by Great Britain to try to stop typhoid fever. It had some success and was incredibly cheap, so the United States jumped...
