Historic Vote Coming on GMO Labeling

On November 6th, California will hold an historic public vote on the issue of mandatory labeling of foods that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

If passed, the California measure (Proposition 37) would be the first law of its kind in the United States. It could start a wave of GMO labeling laws and might even automatically leads to labeling throughout the country, experts say, because it's unlikely that companies selling products nationwide will develop two separate labels - one for California, which has the eighth largest economy in the world, and one for the rest of the country.

Labeling is important not just because it gives consumers the information they need to make informed choices, but also because labeling is a critical tool to help health professionals track the effects of eating genetically modified (GM) foods. It will also make it easier to hold corporations that make GM foods accountable for any ill effects, says Andrew Kimbrell, a lawyer and author of Your Right to Know.

For more information about the California Right to Know campaign, see www.CARighttoKnow.org 

via Better Nutrition

Kicking GMOs Out of the Marketplace

An excerpt from an article by Jeffery M. Smith

...


Concern about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in our food supply is attracting a lot of attention these days: FDA’s attempt to fast-track approval of genetically engineered salmon has resulted in unprecedented media coverage; “GMO-Free" was the fastest growing claim for store brands in 2009; it’s now the fifth fastest overall health and wellness claim; and Supermarket News predicted 2010 would see an unprecedented upsurge in consumer concern about GMOs.
While it would be great if awareness spurred action to regulate GMOs, don’t hold your breath. FDA doesn’t require GMO labeling and this is unlikely to change soon.

Consumers Can Kick Out GMOs

The good news is when it comes to making changes in our food supply, consumers are in control. Since GMOs don’t offer a single consumer benefit, if even a small percentage of shoppers stopped purchasing products containing them, they’d be dropped by food companies.
This is what happened in Europe. In 1999, the biotech industry was projecting GMO seeds would replace 95 percent of commercial seeds within five years. But when a gag order was lifted on a top scientist who discovered GMO health dangers, a media firestorm ensued. Ten weeks and 750 articles later, most European food companies had committed to stop using GM ingredients.
In the United States, consumers forced GM bovine growth hormone (rbGH) out of most dairy products and dairy cases, including Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Dannon and Yoplait.

About GMOs

Short for genetically modified organisms; also known as genetically engineered foods. To create a GMO, scientists inject a host organism (a plant with a foreign gene that will help resist pesticides, pests or freezing. Scientists also inject a virus or bacteria to encourage the foreign gene's invasion and an antibiotic marker gene to determine if the process worked. Because debate over the safety of GMOs continues, the FDA provides testing and regulation updates but the U.S. government doesn' require labeling of genetically modified foods. The only way to be sure you're not eating GMOS is by choosing products from certified organic producers who, compliant with USDA guidelines, do not use genetically modified seeds or ingredients. -Jessica Rubino

Calcium/Magnesium with Vitamin D Recall Update

An update from Michael Leiah, Ph.D., Technical Director of NOW Foods

We recently recalled several lots of Calcium/Magnesium with Vitamin D Softgels (items 1251 & 1252) because of high levels of Vitamin D. The problem came to our attention when we received two adverse event reports from consumers who underwent a regular blood screening and were found to have high levels of Vitamin D. We immediately started investigating. Like most manufacturers, we outsource our softgels, because softgel manufacturing is a very specialized process. Our specifications to our manufacturer were checked and were correct. However, we found that the manufacturer made a mistake in the batch calculation. The day we confirmed the mistake we issued the recall. Corrective actions are now in place to prevent the possibility of a similar error. As of mid-June, a new batch of Cal/Mag with Vitamin D Softgels was released and is now available. It is easy to identify this batch as the phrase "Easily Absorbed" was added  to the upper left hand corner of the label. This new batch has been double and triple-checked to assure formulation accuracy.

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The Healthy Way website is BACK!

We recently celebrated our 5th anniversary! Thanks for all your support! This website hasn't had too many updates in a while but now we hope we can update every month! Please check back every month for exciting updates! Thank You!

Children Need Omega-3s

Numerous studies have reported on the role of Omega-3 fatty acids in support if children's brain and eye development, as well as improved mood, IQ, calmness , and ability to handle stress. Check out our children's section for fish oils and vegetarian Omega-3s that children find delicious and effective.

What's Living In Your Mouth?

There are over 500 bacteria strains in the mouth - some beneficial and some detrimental. A handful of those bacteria lead to foul breath due to the sulfurous odors they produce, with the anaerobic bacteria at the back of the tongue contributing the most to halitosis.

Everyone can and does have bad breath at some point. Halitosis can be caused by:

 • The breaking down of food remnants around the teeth and gums

 • Less saliva in your mouth

 • Tobacco or alcohol use

 • sinus problems

 • Dental issues such as decay or periodontal disease and personal hygiene.

Eat Wild

According to www.eatwild.com, there are numerous benefits provided by grass-fed beef dairy and eggs.

Grass-fed beef is naturally leaner, lower in fat and calories, than grain-fed beef. Animals fed on grass also have significantly higher amounts of omega-3 fatty acids - two to four times as much - than their grass-fed counterparts. The effect of pasteurizing is even more pronounced in chickens. The eggs from chickens who are allowed to pasture contain up to ten times more omega-3s than those fed exclusively grain.

Grass-fed meat and dart products also contain higher amounts of CLA, or conjugated linoleum acid. In fact, they may be the richest sources of CLA, a healthy fat that is missing from many diets.

What's the difference between shelf-stable and refrigerated probiotics?

Comment: Amy Fitzpatrick, RD, dietitian and consultant to the dietary supplements industry.

While it would seem that refrigerated products are more likely to retain their potency, some nonrefrigerated probiotic pills, particularly those with specific technology to protect the bacteria from heat, light and oxygen, can also remain viable for an extended period of time.

Manufacturers of high-quality, nonrefrigerated probiotic products place a guarantee of probiotic content at the time of manufacture. They should also include an expiration date. Whether selecting a refrigerated or nonrefrigerated product, retailers should steer customers toward a pill with a high dose of probiotics, and preferably one that also contains probiotics. This helps ensure viable amounts of bacteria remain at the time of purchase. I look for pills that contain a minimum of 1 billion colony-forming units per dose, but I prefer 10 billion CFUs or more.

The reality with probiotics is that the choice is not just between what’s in the fridge and what’s on the shelf.

4 Terms to Know: Beauty Products

Phthalates

Found in lotions, perfumes, deodorants, shampoos and cosmetics, phthalates make fragrances last longer and help ingredients penetrate the skin. Scientific studies show they may disrupt the endocrine system, and phthalates have been linked to atopic allergies and asthma, reproductive-health issues such as decreased semen quality, and even obesity. On the ingredients label, these chemicals often appear as “fragrance.”

Lactoperoxidase

This natural enzyme obtained from milk is commonly used in moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners and skin cleansers for its antibacterial properties.

Clean Cuisine

Is it possible to eat clean in a dirty world? We say yes! you can avoid polluted food and eat a (mostly) pristine diet. Clean up your act with these simple steps:

Be a (Mostly) Vegetarian

Saturated fat, added antibiotics, genetically engineered hormones, and the potential for pathogens—meat’s a pretty scary proposition these days. Eat only organic, grass-fed animals, and with great restraint; there’s no specific formulation borne out by scientific research, but a 3- or 4-ounce serving of meat is more than enough, and twice a week is plenty. Best yet, skip the flesh foods altogether or even go vegan. It’ll keep you off milk and cheese, further cleaning up your diet.

The Dirty Dozen

This month marks the Organic Trade Association's 10th Annual Organic Harvest Month. Two popular lists from the Environmental Working Group -recently updated- can help you in your quest to eat more organic fruits and vegetables.

Dirty Dozen

Buy These Organic:

Celery, Peaches, Strawberries, Apples, Blueberries, Nectarines, Bell Peppers, Spinach, Cherries, Kale/ Collard Greens, Potatoes, Grapes (imported)

Clean 15

Lowest in Pesticides:

Onions, Avocado, Sweet Corn, Pineapple, Mangos, Sweet Peas, Asparagus, Kiwi, Cabbage, Eggplant, Cantaloupe, watermelon, Grapefruit, Sweet Potato, Honeydew Melon

Debunking Detox Myths

Debunking Detox Myths

Fact: The liver is the body’s primary detoxification organ and a major channel of elimination. A typical four-pound liver manufactures 13,000 different chemicals, maintains 2,000 enzyme systems, filters 100 gallons of blood daily and produces one quart of bile daily— and this is just one of the body’s seven channels of elimination.

Fact: Approximately 80 per- cent of the body’s natural immune defenses (i.e., the immune system) are located in the digestive tract, so maintaining an ideal balance of good/neutral to harmful bacteria there is the key to achieving and preserving optimal digestion, and therefore optimal health—since our health depends largely on our ability to effectively break down the
foods we eat, absorb valuable nutrients from those foods and eliminate waste efficiently.

Fact: It is not recommended for a nutritional newcomer to begin with a detoxification pro- gram. Someone just beginning to support their bodies nutritionally can become alienated because the process of detoxification can sometimes cause temporary physical discomfort as toxins are being removed and the organ systems are adjusting and re-balancing themselves. Headaches, fatigue, constipation, joint pain, muscle aches or cravings for sugar or starches can be common during the detoxification process. It is not unusual for old injuries or inflammations to show themselves.

Taming the Fire Within

by Marcia Zimmerman
excerpts from the original The Zimmerman File

Allergies, asthma, arthritis and arterial plaque – what do these conditions have in common other than beginning with the letter “A?”

Inflammation has often been described as the fire within because it’s usually not visible on the surface. Swollen sinuses, mucous membranes, bronchial, and alveolar tissues in your lungs may be irritated but not obviously inflamed. Arterial linings that are inflamed cause no pain initially, yet this is the first phase of cardiovascular disease and stroke.1 By contrast, swollen red joints that are painful, hot to the touch, and obviously “fiery,” cue us they are inflamed. To overcome these and many other chronic conditions, we must first tame the fire of inflammation.

Inflammation is a natural protective response to environmental, infectious, or psychological stress. The acute response is a short-term life saving event. It may become chronic – persist for long periods of time – and cause great discomfort and disability. Chronic inflammation is basically a hyperactive immune response that is heavily influenced by stress.

Companies with a Cause

Eden Foods
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."

In the late 1960s, a group of young health nuts launched Eden Foods as a fledgling co-op in Ann Arbor, Mich., with two goals: Find the purest, most vital foods for themselves, and make these products available to everyone else.
What’s changed?
“The best thing about Eden Foods is that we’re doing exactly what we set out to do,” says company Founder and President Michael Potter. “And we’ve gotten pretty good at it.”
So good, in fact, that Eden Foods’ canned beans, soymilks and pastas are regulars on natural products store shelves. In 2009, Eden was selected as the third best company on the planet—and the best food company—by betterworldshopper.com, which ranked businesses based on their social and environmental responsibility record over the past 20 years.