~ My Goal ~
To help myself and others to promote and to maintain a healthy, vital and sustainable lifestyle ~ to become more consciously aware of the foods we eat ~ the water we drink ~ the air we breathe ~ and the thoughts we think.
~ The affects of global warming on the Hawai'ian Islands ~
~ Images courtesy of u.s. geological survey ~
(click images to enlarge)
Everything we do in in life - every choice we make - is ultimately motivated by our choices in the food we eat ~ making the right choices involves asking the right questions and getting the right answers ~ all too often we're fed lies about how our food is grown and about how that growing process affects our physical bodies and our environment.
95% of all the food purchased in grocery stores contain either genetically modified organisms (gmo's), or were grown with the use of dangerous chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, rodenticides, herbicides fungicides, growth hormones, and antibiotics ~ before our meat and produce reaches the supermarkets, they are irradiated with cancer-causing nuclear radioactive isotopes called cobalt-60 ~ the u.s. epa's website informs us that our food supply is also currently being irradiated with spent nuclear fuel rods, and that they are testing the safety of this method on u.s. army soldiers ~ and of course we've taken for granted that most of our foods are laden with various synthetic substances such as chemical preservatives, artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, and animal by-products, etc.
~ Islands at Risk - Genetic Engineering in Hawai'i ~
The following documentary video "the future of food" offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled u.s. grocery store shelves for the past decade.
These genetically-modified, chemically-saturated, nuclear-irradiated foods cause birth defects, cysts, tumors, skin discolorations, rashes, acne, brittle hair, headaches, migraines, gastrointestinal disorders, learning disabilities, cancers, leukemia, degenerative diseases, arthritis, viral infections, bacterial illnesses, allergies, blood toxicities, age acceleration, and lower nutritional absorption ~ other far-reaching affects on the environment include plant and animal defects and genetic mutations, air and water pollution, soil erosion, water shortages, and vast contributions to global warming.
~ Top 10 Reasons For Opposing Food Irradiation ~
1 ~ In legalizing food irradiation, the fda did not determine a level of radiation to which food can be exposed and still be safe for human consumption, which federal law requires.
2 ~ In legalizing food irradiation, the fda relied on lab research that did not meet modern scientific protocols, which federal law requires.
3 ~ Research dating to the 1950s has revealed a wide range of problems in animals that ate irradiated food, including premature death, a rare form of cancer, reproductive dysfunction, chromosomal abnormalities, liver damage, low weight gain and vitamin deficiencies.
4 ~ Irradiation masks and encourages filthy conditions in slaughterhouses and food processing plants ~ Irradiation can kill most bacteria in food, but it does nothing to remove the feces, urine, pus and vomit that often contaminate beef, pork, chicken and other meat ~ Irradiation will not kill the pathogen that causes mad cow disease.
5 ~ Irradiation destroys vitamins, essential fatty acids and other nutrients in food -- sometimes significantly ~ the process destroys 80% of vitamin A in eggs, but the fda nonetheless legalized irradiation of these products.
6 ~ Irradiation can change the flavor, odor and texture of food -- sometimes disgustingly so ~ pork can turn red; beef can smell like a wet dog; fruit and vegetables can become mushy; eggs can lose their color, become runny and ruin recipes.
7 ~ Irradiation disrupts the chemical composition of everything in its path -- not just harmful bacteria, which the food industry often asserts ~ scores of new chemicals called "radiolytic products" are formed by irradiation -- chemicals that do not naturally occur in food and that the fda has never studied for safety.
8 ~ The World Health Organization did not follow its own recommendation to study the toxicity of "radiolytic products" formed in high-dose irradiated food before proposing in November 2000 that the international irradiation dose limit -- equal to 330 million chest x-rays -- be removed.
9 ~ Soon, some irradiation plants may use cesium-137, a highly radioactive waste material left over from the production of nuclear weapons. This material is dangerous and unstable ~ In 1988, a cesium-137 leak near Atlanta led to a $30 million, taxpayer-funded cleanup.
10 ~ Because it increases the shelf life of food and is used in large, centralized facilities, irradiation encourages globalization and consolidation of the food production, distribution and retailing industries ~ these trends have already forced multitudes of family farmers and ranchers out of business, reduced the diversity of products in the marketplace, disrupted local economies in developing nations, and put American farmers and ranchers at a great economic disadvantage.
Diet for a New America (part 7)
The environmental effects of animal-food production
The importance of choosing organic, natural, life-enhancing, sustainable, and locally-grown foods is imperative ~ the act of grocery shopping must cease to be a passive experience ~ we must educate ourselves about where our food comes from ~ we must learn to read our food labels ~ and we must take political action to ensure that we are not being used as human guinea pigs in this vast profit-motivated, corporate-owned, mass-production, genetically- modified food-farming experiment.
Ancient Hawaiians were deeply connected to their 'aina ~ they wasted nothing ~ they used the abundance the 'aina provided without depleting or destroying precious natural resources ~ post world war II has brought uncontrolled development and wasteful consumerism which now threatens to end the pristine nature of the beautiful Hawaiian Islands.
~ 100% Kona Coffee ~
~ Happy Dancing Organic Milk Cows ~
~ Artificial Food Colorings ~
Artificial food colors are derived from petroleum and coal tars ~ although banned in the european union due to hazardous health concerns, these dangerous artificial food colors are still certified and approved by the fda for use in food production in the united states ~ the following are the seven primary artificial food coloring additives being used today :
fd&c blue no.1 ~ brilliant blue fcf (bright blue) ~ derived from coal tar
fd&c blue no.2 ~ indigotine (royal blue)~ derived from coal tar
fd&c green no.3 ~ fast green fcf (sea green)~ derived from petroleum
fd&c red no.40 ~ allura red ac (orange-red) ~ derived from petroleum
fd&c red no.3 ~ erythrosine (cherry pink) ~ derived from coal tar
fd&c yellow no.5 ~ tartrazine (lemon yellow) ~ derived from coal tar
fd&c yellow no.6 ~ sunset yellow fcf (orange) ~ derived from coal tar
~ Aspartame and Other Artificial Sweeteners ~
In the united states, there are five artificial sugar substitutes approved by the fda : aspartame, neotame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, and saccharin ~ these chemical sugar substitutes are referred to as high-intensity sweeteners ~ of these five artificial sweeteners, the most dangerous and toxic is aspartame ~ there is irrefutable evidence that aspartame is extremely hazardous to human health ~ the digested byproduct of aspartame, formaldehyde, stays in the body permanently and bonds with the body's protein cell structure ~ 91 different adverse long-term toxic effects have been widely documented ~ they include:
dizziness ~ tremors ~ headaches ~ migraines ~ memory impairments ~ irritability ~ confusion ~ numbness ~ tingling sensations ~ chronic fatigue ~ depression ~ insomnia ~ slurred speech ~ blurred vision ~ ringing in the ears ~ joint pain ~ sore, achy muscles ~ arthritis ~ fibromyalgia ~ gastrointestinal disorders ~ burning, frequent or uncontrollable urination ~ urinary tract infections ~ menstrual abnormalities ~ reproductive system abnormalities ~ cysts ~ tumors ~ attention deficit disorder (add) ~ seizures and convulsions ~ aggressive behavior ~ anxiety ~ panic attacks ~ personality disorders ~ phobias ~ suicidal tendencies ~ rapid heart beat ~ tachycardia ~ asthma ~ ulcers ~ chest pains ~ hypertension ~ high blood pressure ~ nausea or vomiting ~ diarrhea ~ abdominal pain ~ painful swallowing ~ itching ~ hives ~ urticaria ~ allergic reactions ~ hypoglycemia ~ hyperglycemia ~ weight gain ~ hair loss ~ impotency and sexual problems ~ excessive thirst ~ excessive hunger ~ bloating ~ edema (fluid retention) ~ infection susceptibility ~ spontaneous miscarriages ~ decreased red blood cell count ~ birth defects ~ lung tumors ~ breast tumors ~ leukemia ~ brain cancer ~ brain tumors ~ brain lesions ~ epilepsy ~ multiple sclerosis (ms) ~ enlarged liver and kidneys ~ lymphoma ~ lyme disease ~ immune system damage ~ nervous system damage ~ genetic damage ~ and death.
aspartame ~ sold as equal and nutrasweet ~ developed by g.d. searle & company in 1965 ~ the fda did not approve aspartame in the united states for many years ~ aspartame was ultimately approved by the fda in 1981 ~ why would the fda allow such a toxic and dangerous chemical in our food ? ~ in 1981, searle's ceo was donald rumsfeld ~ approving aspartame was an obvious political maneuver motivated by corporate greed and profit ~ in 1985, searle was purchased by monsanto ~ in this acquisition, searle’s aspartame business became a separate monsanto subsidiary.
sucralose ~ sold as splenda ~ was originally developed as an insecticide ~ may be less toxic than aspartame, but preliminary research shows that prolonged use can contribute to serious chronic immunological or neurological disorders.
acesulfame potassium ~ ace-k, sunette, sweet one, swiss sweet, sweet & safe ~ less toxic than aspartame ~ preliminary research shows that prolonged use can contribute to serious chronic immunological or neurological disorders.
saccharin ~ sold as sweet n' low ~ proven fact: saccharin is a carcinogen ~ prolonged use will cause cancer ~ banned in canada and european union.
neotame ~ sold as nutrasweet ~ developed by monsanto corp. ~ insufficient research available ~ however, given monsanto’s track record with aspartame, it would be safe to assume that neotame is just as dangerously toxic as aspartame ~ monsanto's policy regarding chemical food additives says it all :
"Monsanto should not have to vouchsafe the safety of biotech food.
Our interest is in selling as much of it as possible.
Assuring its safety is the fda's job."
~ A Fox News Report on Aspartame ~
~ We Are What We Eat ~
~ Foods that Make us Smart, Healthy & Happy ~
Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, currants, watermelon, canteloupe, honeydew, muskmelon, papaya, mango, starfruit, guava, passion fruit, pineapples, pomegranates, kiwifruit, bananas, lychees, grapes, cherries, loquat, figs, dates, prunes, raisins, apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, lemons, limes, kumquat, tropical fruits, spinach, collards, kale, swiss chard, mustard greens, beet greens, bean sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, barley grass, wheat grass lettuce, watercress, green beans, peas, cucumber, tomatoes, bell peppers, chili peppers, celery, okra, kohlrabi, radishes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, beets, rutabagas, taro, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, jicama, zucchini, yellow squash, acorn squash, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, pumpkin, corn, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, chinese cabbage, napa cabbage, red cabbage, bok choy, brussel sprouts, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, mushrooms, eggplant, artichoke, avocado, onion, leek, chives, garlic, gingerroot, nuts and seeds (almonds, brazilnuts, cashews, chestnuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pecans, pinenuts, pistachios, walnuts, flaxseed, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds) legumes, pulses and dried beans (chickpeas, split peas, black-eyed peas, kidney, pinto, black, red, navy, lentils, dal, lima, azuki, mung, fava, soy), pasta, white rice, basmati rice, brown rice, jasmine rice, wild rice, wheatgerm, bran, cereal grains, rolled oats, oatmeal, barley, buckwheat, bulgar wheat, spelt, millet, quinoa, grits, alpen, kashi, muesli, granola, hummus, tabbouleh, couscous, tofu, tempeh, eggs, cheese, yogurt, fish, green tea, herbal tea, dandelion tea, ginseng tea, banchi tea, kombucha, chlorophyll, chlorella, spirulina, bee pollen, honey, herbs and herbal remedies.
Recommended Food Combinations
To enlarge, click image
I'm not exactly a vegetarian ~ I'm more of a fruitarian by nature ~ however, even though I oppose the mass-production and consumption of meat for ethical, environmental and health reasons, I do eat meat out of physical necessity ~ I advocate homemade chicken soup to treat colds and flus (made with lots of carrots, onions, celery and garlic) ~ I don't eat fast foods ~ I don't eat processed foods (except cheese and chocolates) ~ I don't drink sodas ~ I love seafood (sushi, lomi-lomi salmon, ahi, mahi-mahi, aku poke, striped bass, shrimp, crabs, clams, scallops, lobster and oysters) ~ and I've never set foot in a starbucks.
Hitler was a vegetarian;
The Dali Lama is not;
You decide.
~ Be Kind to Your Body ~ Heal It ~
~ eat fresh fruits and vegetables ~
~ take vitamin & mineral supplements ~
~ exercise, exercise, exercise ~
~ get plenty of sunshine & fresh air ~
~ meditate twice a day ~
~ sleep 6-8 hours a night ~
~ drink 10-12 glasses fresh water daily ~
~ Vitamin, Mineral and Herbal Supplements at Risk ~
Our freedom of choice to take vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements is at grave risk ~ the following video details the ongoing attempts by the fda and several multinational pharmaceutical companies — in concert with the 'world trade organization' (wto) and the 'world health organization' (who) — to limit our access to vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements.
~ We Become Silent ~
~ A World Without Cancer ~
~ The Story of Vitamin B-17 - The Cure for Cancer ~
~ Save the Environment ~
~ Buy Used and Vintage Clothing~
~ Buying hand-me-down, charity shop, "vintage clothing" is far more ecologically friendly than buying brand new, mall-purchased clothing.
~ Buying used clothing saves energy and carbon emissions which would have otherwise been spent in the production, shipping and purchasing of new clothing.
~ Most clothing purchased in our stores today are, for the most part, made in china, where factories are fueled by coal-fired plants.
~ Every item of clothing you own has an impact on the environment ~ synthetic textiles are made with petroleum products ~ cotton accounts for less than 3% of farmed land globally but consumes approximately 30% of the world's pesticide supplies.
~ Here's a hint ~ carpool with your friends, family members or neighbors to all your local charity shops in your area.
~ Another easy way to save the environment is to invite your friends over for a "closet swap," to which everyone brings a few items they want to trade.
Only One Chance to Get it Right
~ The Navy's War on Whales ~
http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/marine/sonar.asp
Environmental News Service
Stay Informed ~ First, Fast, and Factual
http://www.ens-newswire.com/
News Target Network
Information that Empowers
http://www.newstarget.com/
The News Target Network is a non-profit website providing valuable, unbiased information designed to empower individuals to make positive changes in their lives by providing daily news and commentary on natural health, wellness, planetary health and medicine ~ topics include:
~ Help save the planet from Global Warming ~
Switch from using incandescent light bulbs to using compact fluorescent lamps ~ they use 75 percent less energy, and they will help you save significantly on your monthly electric bills ~ in turn, the utility companies will generate less energy to provide the same service ~ If everyone in the united states swapped out two incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent lamps, it would be the equivalent of taking 2 million cars off the road ~ compact fluorescent lamps cost more, and they contain trace amounts of mercury so they will have to be disposed of through recycling ~ but they will last between 3 to 5 years longer ~ the return on investment will be substantial.
~ Wood Spider on Drugs ~