Corn-Fed?!

I recently celebrated my 5th wedding anniversary by going out to dinner. After speaking to the concierge desk we settled on a chain steakhouse that I was assured had high quality food. The atmosphere was fabulous. Dimly lit and oozing romance, they sat us at a quiet booth and our server (she was excellent, by the way) greeted us warmly. As I had just begun to settle and peruse the menu, I was floored when I read the description of their high-quality meats at the top of the menu boast about CORN-FED beef!! What?! That immediately eliminated at least half the menu for me...

So, why, you may ask, am I up-in-arms over whether their cows eat corn or grass? "Elementary, my dear Watson," I would reply! Cows are designed to eat grass! Cows are ruminant (multiple-stomached) animals and their bodies are designed to subsist upon the grasses of the prairie. Corn-fed cattle are routinely fed antibiotics because they are not able to digest it and they commonly develop stomach ulcers. So, now we are talking corn-fed and antibiotic laden (at the very least!)The beef industry loves to feed them corn simply because their cows get bigger, faster. Bigger cows + less feeding time = more money!

Personally, I think grass-fed beef even tastes better, but really, that is besides the point. So, the next time someone tells you their cows are corn-fed, tell them to put it out to pasture!

L&G~
Erin

Biotech...Advancing Our Food?

Currently on my nightstand is a book entitled Lords of the Harvest: Biotech, Big Money, and the Future of Food by Daniel Charles. I am about one-third of the way though and already have learned much about the actual history of biotechnology.

I fully understand that there are many well-intentioned scientists who truly believed they were doing the world a service. I just don't believe they were able to see the larger picture at the time and the financial gain was mighty enticing for the corporate world.

The European Union does not allow GMO's (or Genetically Modified Organisms) into their food without the label clearly stating so. The U.S. has no such regulation. This means that everything you eat may be genetically-modified and you would never know. The only way around this is to find a farmer you trust, stop buying anything processed, purchase only organic (we'll talk more about this) or grow your own food as GMO's are found in more than 80% of foods sold in conventional grocery stores.

So, if the FDA and the powers that be have declared GMO's GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe), why did the Europeans demand labelling? A recent study may confirm what the Europeans have already suspected--that there may be health risks with consuming GMO's.

Our health may only last 120 years or so, but the health of our planet is also a factor. By producing things like Bt corn and other Roundup Ready crops, we create a monoculture that is not easily halted. Once one crop becomes dominant, we begin to lose heirloom varieties and with seed patenting in full swing, our options will be limited. This is true regardless of GMO's, however, simply because of our obsession with growing vast fields of corn, soybeans, and canola, but the GMO factor does nothing to help the situation. As an aside, much of this doesn't even go into our food.

Ultimately, we are responsible to nurture the planet we have been given. The intricacies of nature are so beyond our understanding, that, in my opinion, we are not able to improve upon Mother Nature.

I did say I would address GMO's and organic, grocery store food, so here it is...there are only 4 USDA Organic inspectors for the entire country. You do the math and see if you trust that all the companies growing USDA certified organic are using organic practices. I will tell you that I have seen with my own eyes that this is not the case.

I guess I have begun to ramble, but my point is that we should at the very least know if we are consuming GMO's. We deserve a choice!

L&G~
Erin

If You're Happy and You Know It...

I recently posted a video on the effect of the drug Effexor on pregnant mothers on my Facebook page and got a whole slew of comments. I felt it deserved a follow up for those of you with questions, so here goes...

Remember, I am not a medical doctor and I am not in the habit of handing out medical advice. I am merely an advocate of researching for yourself all possibilities.

My commentary is on psychotropic drugs in general and not any one in particular as they are meant to treat the same or very similar cases.

Let's start by saying that there is no such thing as a "chemical imbalance" in medical terms. There are no objective tests being done to prove that someone's brain chemistry is unbalanced. In fact, those of you who have been on psychotropic drugs or have had the recommendation to begin treating with them, you know that any test you may have taken was completely subjective. You may have filled out a questionaire, consulted with a psychiatrist or psychologist, or spoken with your medical doctor.

There was, in fact, a program called "Teen Screen" that tested thousands of high school kids (with a series of questions) to see whether or not they were candidates for psychotropic drugs. (By the way, there is also something called the Mother's Act being legislated right now to do the same thing for new mothers.) When this particular test was taken by normal, healthy adults, approximately 80% of those tested would have been placed on drugs. Questions went through a range of normal, human emotions that were in no way out of the ordinary.

Our society has convinced us that we need to be "shiny, happy people" every day. That is simply unrealistic and completely untrue. I think of myself as a rather optimistic person, however, I have most certainly had times in my life where I have felt "down in the dumps", anxious (to the point of having panic attacks), or overwhelmed. I consider those feelings normal.

The trick was not medicating to cover up the symptoms I was experiencing, but to face what was causing them head on. It wasn't until I addressed the numerous issues that were causing those feelings that I was able to heal.

Certainly, some of these emotions can be caused by circumstances or events (as we all know), however, they can also be caused by nutritional toxicities or deficiencies, stress, lack of exercise, stress, not following one's passion, and did I mention stress?

Find what is causing your particular issue, be it depression, anxiety, or any other diagnosis, and get to the root. This may mean reaching out to a counselor or psychologist for assistance in recognizing the causes, but it does not mean there is necessity to medicate.

For more information and to understand the serious effects of these drugs, see the film "Making a Killing".

With Unconditional Love & Gratitude~
Erin

A Pain in the Head

I have had several requests for a blog about migraines...so here goes. First of all, a migraine is a symptom of something else. It is NEVER just a condition. A migraine is your body's way of telling you that something is not right.

That being said, I am not able to give you a panacea BUT what I can do is give you some troubleshooting information to discover what may be causing your migraines.

There are 3 causes of all disease: physical, emotional, or chemical. The same is true for migraines.

Physical: Whether or not you have had truama (which may have been everything from the birth process to a minor fender bender to jumping on the trampoline), you may have a subluxation. This means that one or more of your vertebrae are out of alignment and the best way to alleviate this is with a chiropractic adjustment. The musculature around the cervical spine may be tense, and in this case, massage therapy may be helpful.

Hormones may also play a role, however this is a whole other blog!

Emotional: This one is a biggie. Stress is the number one cause of any disease. If you suspect this may be an issue, try some stress-relieving exercise such as yoga or tai chi (exercise in general would be helpful), some deep breathing, or some aromatherapy such as lavender. Make a list of the things that make you feel most anxious or stressed and either eliminate those things or focus on changing your attitude towards them.

Chemical: Chemical simply means that it is coming from the outside in. What we put in our bodies is definitely a factor when it comes to migraines. There are certain dyes, preservatives, additives, and ingredients that many people will find they are sensitive to. You can either eliminate processed foods or make a journal of exactly what you ate (brand and everything) and pay attention to when the migraines begin. You may find commonalities among certain types of foods or foods with the same additives.

Chemicals can also come from the environment. Pay attention to where you are when you begin to get the migraine. Did the cleaning lady just come? Did you spray something in the garden? Did you just use a new make-up moisturizer?

Ultimately, remember that a migraine is a symptom of something else going on with your body. Be mindful and be your own detective. Finding the cause of your migraines is the key to eliminating them.

Love & Gratitude~
Erin

Green Tomatoes...Not The Fried Kind

I just returned from a short trek up to the San Jose area and drove through the farming communities of the Salinas Valley, Gilroy, etc. As I looked out the window at the vast monoculture of agri-business this area has become, I saw something very peculiar. Not one, not two, but three large truckloads of GREEN tomatoes...puzzling.

Now, you know as well as I they are not selling them that way. I mean, how many fried green tomatoes can one eat? That left me with only one other thought...they must be ripening them artificially. Yuck! It's no wonder store bought tomatoes taste nothing like those delectable home-grown sweets!

My veritable vegetable guru Melanie informed me recently that somewhere in the ballpark of 90% of California grown produce is being shipped elsewhere. In fact, when I spoke with a local large scale grower he confirmed that the produce grown just 2 blocks from my house will likely end up as a mixed green bagged salad sold in a Vons somewhere in North Dakota. Yet, my local supermarket carries produce grown everywhere from Mexico to South America to New Zealand and in some cases it is the exact same vegetable! Does this seem ludicrous to anyone else?!

Not only are our store shelves filled with produce that has traveled many miles, but that produce must be picked before ripe, handled by several people, irradiated (yes, ALL produce-including organic-that goes through distribution must go through radiation), and placed on a shelf to sit for several days. Doesn't it just make more sense to eat what you can grow 2 blocks from your house?

Ok, so maybe I'm a bit preachy, maybe I'm the female Michael Pollan, but all I am saying is I'll take my tomatoes ripe, please!

For more info on how to eat local check out these websites:
www.lavidalocavore.org
www.localharvest.org

With Love & Local Gratitude~
Erin

Do I Need a Gallbladder?

I had the opportunity to speak with a couple of people who were told by their doctor (for one reason or another) that they did not need their gallbladder. Most of these people had suffered from gallstones and, at the recommendation of their doctor, decided to have it removed.

Let's first examine what the function of the gallbladder actually is...

The liver produces bile in order to digest our food. The liver than transfers some of that bile to the gallbladder where it is stored and turned into a sort of "super-bile". Humans (and some other vertebrates) eat in large quantities at one time, so this "super-bile" is especially effective at breaking down fat and neutralizing acids.

When we eat a diet high in sugar, animal fat, white flour, soda, etc. and not enough alkalizing vegetables, the gallbladder begins to get overloaded. (There are also many opinions that state prescription drugs contribute to this.) The stagnation of bile or inability of the gallbladder to completely empty creates gallstones. Gallstones are made up of bile, cholesterol, calcium, or bilirubin.

So...prevention of gallstones is simple. You can regulate with diet to begin. If you suspect you may have some gallstones due to your diet, there are many gallbladder cleanses that can clear it out in 1-2 days. Remember, however, that even still, you will want to make some dietary changes or you may very well end up in the same position yet again. (Of course, consult with your care provider for additional information before beginning a cleanse.)

A gallbladder is defined as a "non-vital" organ, but let me ask you...when does an organ become vital? If it does not kill us immediately to be without, then it is not vital, of course, but what if it makes our quality of life suffer? What if, as a result of our gallbladder being removed, we become violently ill when consuming any healthy fats or have trouble digesting acidic foods? Isn't "vitality" a feeling of 100% well-being?

Ultimately, you are the ruler of your own body. Do not let anyone tell you what to do without thoroughly researching on your own and remember that we were created perfectly. We do not have extra or useless body parts. The body works in such harmony when we treat it correctly. Here's to your gallbladder!

Love & Gratitude~

Erin

This One's for the Girls!

For all my local gals!

You are invited to:

Healthy Girl's Night Out!

Join us for an evening of cardio dance, yummy appetizers,“mock”tail smoothies and other healthy girl products!

WHEN: Wednesday, June 3
6:15-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Tullius Chiropractic &
Pilates Center
902 W. Grand Ave. Grover Beach

RSVP: 805.481.1566 or
Erin@dr-t.net

* Cardio Dance class begins at 6:30 & will be followed
by reception. Come ready for a great workout!