On a lighter note and in honor of St. Patrick's Day

The first time I had a pint of Guinness is over 12 years ago when I was in Ireland with my husband at a pub that is near-and-dear to him and his family.  I also happened to be three months pregnant.  Now, before you start with the sticks and stones - here's the story:

With less than a week to go on my first trip to Europe (in my mid-30s) I discovered I was pregnant.  The first night we met up with family and friends in the local pub and as the stories and pints flowed - I placed my American brewed pint on the drink rail behind me - it smelled like a bottle of chemicals. (Ask any pregnant woman if she has any food or drink aversions.)  Not even 15 minutes later, the farmers' practical and frugal wives all wanted to know, "whose pint is on the rail?"  I sheepishly smiled and they all congratulated me and told me I have to have a glass of Guinness with a shot of black currant.

"It's full of vita-mins," they all encouraged.

I leaned over to my husband and whispered in his ear, "do you think it's okay to drink a glass of Guinness with a shot of black currant?"

He smiled and whispered back, "this is the most fertile land in the world."
It was delicious.  And when I returned to the states - the #1 ingredient in my liquid multi-vitamin for anemia that's manufactured in West Germany: Black Currant.  And also discovered that Guinness is actually a stout - less alcohol.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

'Pink Slime' Controversy: Schools Will Be Able To Opt Out Of Ammonia-Treated Ground Beef Filler

Wow! This is frightening. Mind if I post to my blog?*

My idea is to use Congressional cafeterias as the test kitchens for all the genetically modified, highly processed, hormone/antibiotic fed, fake food in America's food supply that has been "scientifically" proven to be nutritionally void AND "healthy."

Come to think of it - the USDA's commissaries should be included too! So, just like a church potluck - if the food is still in the dish - uneaten two hours latter - the USDA can't "sell it" to orphans, widows, school children...or feed it to the dog.

My question to NIFA: since when do I need a PhD in chemistry, a white lab coat and a scientific study to make my children a "healthy and nutritious" lunch?

Best health always!
About Food
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

*USDA------ Roger Beachy, (long-time president of the Danforth Plant Science Center Monsanto'ss nonprofit arm) was appointed by Pres. Obama as chief of the USDA's newly created National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). As the director of NIFA (a nomination that doesn't require congressional approval), Beachy will oversee the distribution of nearly $500 million in grants and other research funding. Sustainable agriculture initiatives are likely to suffer, as research dollars are awarded to projects that promote Beachy's vested interests in biotechnology.  

'Pink Slime' For Lunch: Schools Can Opt Out Of Ammonia-Treated Ground Beef Filler

Dog food?
Only the manufacturer can make pink slime look...appetizing?

Terrific article! In my humble opinion there's a simple way to test whether the highly processed, growth hormone-steroid -antibiotic fed, genetically engineered, fake food products that we are serving our children should be served at all:

Have the test kitchen be Congress and only serve the same foods in the government cafeterias as in America's lunch rooms.

I doubt very much that the USDA cafeterias serve pink slime. Heard they have a lovely array of fresh produce...

And, to those individuals that may have (ahem) ties to the food and beverage industry that are posting comments: since when do I need a masters in chemistry, white lab coat and "scientifically proven" study to make my children a "safe and healthy" lunch?

Common sense is not so common. - Voltaire
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Don't forget about mechanically separated chicken

p.s. Additional comment posted: TRUE! Pink slime (a "food product" with zero nutritional value and serious safety concerns because it is not edible - in it's "natural" state) is simply a bi-product of factory farmed beef and a "food" manufacturer (most definitively with government ties) has found a way to make a bundle using our tax dollars.

It should be on the menus of Congress (and the USDA) - Congress controls the wallet.

Check out the SuperMom-in-training behind "Pink Slime"

Well this is one "Pink" issue I can get behind.  Check out the informative website The Lunch Tray and follow the breaking news as one SuperMom-in-training changes the "Pink Slime" that's on America's plates.

Pink Slime....What's on Your Child's School Lunch Plate?

(My comment to another terrific post on Fooducate:)

Fooducate rocks!  My question to those that may comment here [Fooducate] that have (ahem) possible industry ties: since when do I need a PhD in chemistry, a lab coat, and an industry funded study to make my kid's lunch?

Common sense is not so common. - Voltaire

Here's an excerpt from the Fooducate Blog:

How’s this for taking care of our kids? McDonald’s refuses to put a dubious meat by product into its burgers, but the government orders 7 million  pounds of “Pink Slime” for its school lunch program.

The pink slime is a mix of fat trimmings and ammonia-hydroxide that is added to ground beef to fatten it up, and make it cheaper. It’s manufacturer is Beef Products Incorporated (BPI), which claimed in 2010 that its product could be found in 70% of the ground beef in America! From BPI’s web site:

Beef Products, Inc. is the world’s leading producer of lean beef processed from fresh beef trimmings… Our lean beef is an important part of many common foods; from fresh retail ground beef, to foodservice beef patties, hamburgers, cooked meats, and processed luncheon meats to name a few. BPI’s lean beef is a part of nearly 20 billion meals per year, with an unsurpassed food safety record, adding over $250 Million in value to the U.S. beef industry annually… We use a natural compound – called ammonium hydroxide, which is widely used in the processing of numerous foods, such as baked goods, cheeses, gelatins, chocolate, caramels, and puddings – to slightly increase the pH level in beef and improve its safety.

What you need to know:

OK, so these guys figured out a way to take unused scraps of meat and connective tissue and turn it into a profitable business. They should be commended, not chastised right?

WRONG! Turns out these scraps, in the past relegated to pet food, have a high tendency for contamination with e-coli and salmonella. Ammonium Hydroxide – ammonium in water – is an ingredient in many household cleaning products. It kills bacteria. The FDA considers it safe.

So what’s the problem?

Read the entire Fooducate Blog Article here: Pink Slime, Rejected by McDonald's, Goes to School Lunches Instead.

Why We Must Occupy Our Food Supply

America (and her children) have never been fatter or sicker and we can't seem to figure out why. Meanwhile, we have chemists in white lab coats "farming" America's food supply that is nutritionally void, highly processed, genetically modified, antibiotic laced, and steroid pumped.

I had no idea at age 38 when I experienced breast cancer that what I was eating could possibly make me sick! Changed my diet and have been healthy ever since - and that was over 11 years ago.

An "organic" apple a day keeps the doctor away.- Ben Franklin

One more thought: If America's food supply is so terrific and will feed the world why are most of our "foods", seeds, dairy etc. banned from other countries?

Here's a sign in a drug store in Hawaii above the beef jerky:

Beef Jerky made from U.S. Beef will not be allowed into Japan.

(In both Japanese and English.)

Hmmm....Wonder what's in that beef to ban it in Japan?

Best health always!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Are gluten-free products a waste for those without celiac disease?

Are gluten-free products a waste for those without celiac disease?

I too had no idea what I was eating could possibly make me sick until I hadcancer at age 38 and then WOW do I see the light.

Why do we need yet another study to tell a mother whose child had such severe diarrhea for years that when she stopped feeding her child wheat and he started gaining weight, stopped vomiting, etc. that's it all in her head?

"The Unhealthy Truth" by Robyn O'Brien - is a fantastic book that's exposing the "allergy" vs. "sensitivity" vs. "disease" drama and focuses on the genetically engineered franken food (GMO)
that in now the common staple to the America diet and is wrecking havoc on our
physical as well as mental health.

Processed foods - your stomach's perspective...plus, wanna see what happens when you eat green food dyes?

Do you need to worry about lead in your lipstick?

What's also alarming is that Burt's Bees is owned by Cholorox. In my humble opinion lead limits in our liptick is just another way to get rid of the unwanted chemicals that are a by product of some manufacturing process.

All done with those products listed by the FDA. After I had cancer at age 38, I'm a nut about what I put on my fork and in my mouth...now it's the same for on my lips!

Take Dansai water as another example, my 24 year old niece won't drink it because it has "added minerals". We think it's by products from manufacturing Coca Cola.

What are the "added minerals?*
A chemical cocktail leftover from manufacturing Coke?

It's so strange, America (and her children) have never been sicker, fatter or more complacent and we can't seem to figure out why.

Link to entire Blog at Daily Dose:  Do you need to worry about lead in your lipstick? Daily Dose - Boston Globe

*Coca-Cola ... adds trace amounts of minerals, including magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt), potassium chloride and table salt (sodium chloride).

10 Rules to Eat Safely for Life (and What to Remove From Your Kitchen)

Thank you for another terrific article Dr. Hyman. I had no idea that the American/W­estern diet was feeding and fueling our diseases until I was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer at the age of 38 - changed what's on my plate and have been healthy ever since - and that was over 10 years ago.

It's so strange - America (and her children) have never been fatter or sicker and we can't seem to figure out why. Meanwhile, we have individual­s in white lab coats farming our food.

I'd also add to your list food labeled "NON GMO verified" since geneticall­y modified foods don't need to be labeled. And of course... no growth hormones, steroids, antibiotic­s, or dairy in my diet ever...(tu­mor was hormone receptive.­)

I basically follow a diet you listed above with the best, organic, fresh produce and "real" food we can find in the Northeast. And yes, it might cost a bit more - what's the price of one's health? So, for me and my family - it's the quality of our food - not the quantity.

Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. - Hippocrate­s -
(father of western medicine, 431 B.C.)

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Her 4-year-old won't eat - Child Caring - Boston.com

Her 4-year-old won't eat - Child Caring - Boston.com

Terrific suggestions...wonder if it works for a 53 year-old too?