A Cow's Best Friend

CUD from Joe York on Vimeo.


The other side of last week's video post.  This man is my (and his cows') hero :)

Meet Your Meat

Alec Baldwin narrates this important look into the meat industry, encouraging you to "meet" the meat you have been consuming all of these years.  I have posted this before, and each time feel the need to apologize for the graphic nature of the video; however, I realize now that the only thing to apologize for is the years I spent eating this food without any regards to how it got to my plate, and the support that I inadvertently gave to those who allowed these cruel and disturbing practices to take place in order to get it there.  I hope you will watch this with an open heart, an open mind, and with the understanding that it was made with the intention of highlighting the truths that the meat and dairy industries have worked so hard to conceal all of these years.  Remember, what you dont know can hurt you, our planet, and its creatures.   

In posting this video, it is my intention not to suggest that everyone immediately become vegetarian or vegan, but to shed light on the importance of making food choices that are in alignment with your own beliefs and intentions.




For information on how to find humanely raised sources of meat and dairy, here are some links to try:

http://www.animalwelfareapproved.org/index.php?page=consumersmainpage
http://www.americangrassfed.org/aga-producer-members/ 
http://www.certifiedhumane.org/about/ 
http://www.eatwellguide.org/i.php?id=Home
http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

Get a Flu Shot, Increase Your Risk of Cancer?

The title of this post may seem alarming and dramatic, though unfortunately not exactly untrue according to a recent study* by some of the world's top virology researchers.  To preface, the authors are NOT anti-vaccine (though I hate to use that unforgiving, overused term), and in fact have spent the majority of their research careers aiming towards the formation of new and improved vaccines, quite contrarily.

The study set out with the aim of examining the immune systems of a small sample of children in order to compare the effects of vaccination (and/or lack thereof) on the immune system of healthy children and those previously diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF).   

The Scientific Findings and Rationale:

Authors found that children in both groups who were vaccinated against the flu had the same CD4 cell (see below for explanation of these terms) response as those who were unvaccinated, suggesting that this response was in fact initiated, though suggesting that a vaccine may not have been necessary to elicit this response.  However, appropriate CD8 cell (otherwise known as "killer T cells") response which was present in unvaccinated children, even as they got older, was not present in the vaccinated children. 

CD8 killer T cell

The Simple Explanation: 

CD4 cells are "helper" cells, meaning that though they cannot kill infected cells themselves they help to mediate the immune response to such cells with various mechanisms.  CD8 cells, aka "killer T cells, are responsible for destroying cells that are infected with viruses or are malfunctioning in some similar way (such as tumor and cancer cells). 

The Bottom Line:  
This study suggests that while flu vaccines in childhood may help to prevent whatever flu strains happen to be in any particular vaccine (typically only 1-3 out of dozens of known strains) for the year they are administered, they seem to actually leave a child more vulnerable to other disease in the immediate and distant future.  Given the observed absence of the CD8 cytotoxic T cell response seen in children who were vaccinated, these children theoretically would be at higher risk for any infection or illness which thrives on malfunction within these killer T cells.  Theoretically this includes other strains of flu, Hepatitis B, and even Cancer.   

While the authors in no way seemed to set out to conclude this hypothesis, nor did they specifically mention cancer (only indirectly, via proposing the vaccine-induced malfunctions in the mechanism by which cancer manifests itself), they respectfully published their data in a seemingly honest and direct fashion, leaving room and emphasizing the need for future follow up research to further explore the surprising, albeit concerning, results.  While the study is preliminary, it may be an important factor to consider in the difficult decision of whether or not to vaccinate your child against influenza, among numerous others.
 

* Bodewes R, Fraaij PL, Geelhoed-Mieras MM, van Baalen CA, Tiddens HA, van Rossum AM, van der Klis FR, Fouchier RA, Osterhaus AD, Rimmelzwaan GF. Annual Vaccination against Influenza Virus Hampers Development of Virus-Specific CD8+ T Cell Immunity in Children. J Virol.   2011 November  85(22):11995-2000.  Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

The Greater Good

A documentary which looks at both "sides" of the vaccine debate, including the state of the science of vaccine safety and policy in our country.  It is definitely worth the time, and is only available for free here until November 4th.  Comments encouraged and welcomed... 

We're back!

Sound Mindfulness has returned from hiatus!  And now for an important message from our sponsor... reality.  

The Harlem Children's Zone Needs Our Support!

 Post taken from The Harlem Children's Zone 

What is The Harlem Children's Zone?


An innovative and unique community-based organization, offering
education, social-service and community-building programs to children and families since 1970.

This summer over 340 communities nationwide applied for Promise Neighborhoods grants from the US Department of Education. Their goal is simple - they want to break the cycle of poverty for their
children and families by creating comprehensive initiatives based on the Harlem Children's Zone model.

President Obama proposed $210 million in his fiscal year 2011 budget for Promise Neighborhoods so communities can transform their visions into reality for poor children nationwide. But the House of Representatives recently slashed the proposed Promise Neighborhoods budget from $210 million to $60 million. Quite simply this means that for thousands of children, the failing schools, dangerous streets,
poor health care and other ills may not be addressed in the holistic way that the communities need.

We ask you to let your Senate and Representatives know that you want Promise Neighborhoods funding restored to $210 million for fiscal year 2011 in two ways:

1) Send a message to Congressional Leaders

http://support.hcz.org/site/R?i=dsPiIhnGAXYYTnwfra_7CA..

2) If your organization is interested in signing onto a letter calling

to restore the funding, (view letter) contact HCZ's Policy Director

Kate Shoemaker at kshoemaker@hcz.org to add your organization.

click here to help

Thank you!

Pesticides and ADHD

    A new study, receiving ubiquitous media attention recently, has shown a possible link between certain types of pesticides and a diagnosis of ADHD.  The study was published in Pediatrics and conducted by University of Montreal and Harvard Universtiy researchers.  The urine concentration of certan byproducts of organophosphates, a type of pesticide which accounts for over half of the pesticides used in this country, was tested in over 1100 children.  Researchers found that for every ten-fold increase in urine concentration of organophosphates, children were 35% more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.  Perhaps an even more worrisome finding was that children who had even the lowest levels of organophosphates in their urine were twice as likely to have ADHD than those whose urine showed no previous exposure.  

   The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) approved 32 classes of organophosphate pesticides in 2006, despite the numerous requests from its own scientists not to do so.  One particularly disturbing letter, written by the EPA union presidents, can be found here.  

   The findings of this recent study are significant, but it is near impossible to show that pesticides were, without a doubt, the cause of the ADHD.  However, the connection shown here as well as several other studies may be reason enough to make a conscious effort to lower the amount of pesticides you and your family are exposed to daily.  Here are some ways to minimize dietary pesticide exposure:

Below is a beautiful video of an infant hearing the sounds of his mother's voice for the first time after receiving cochlear implants.  May it put the worries of your day into perspective, and remind you of your forgotten fortunes...

Study Finds Kids' Diets Linked to Asthma Risk

View here:

Eating a Mediterranean diet -- one high in fruits, fish, and vegetables and low in saturated fat -- is associated with a reduced likelihood of asthma in children, a large observational study found.

(Not) Milkin' It

Millions of Americans have chosen to limit milk products or go completely cow's milk-free for a variety of reasons - some of which include lactose intolerance, casein (milk protein) allergy or intolerance, animal rights issues, or simply because they don't like it.  Today's post is designed not to delve into the potential problems with milk ingestion - although I will address this in later posts - but to provide the readers with an overview of the milk alternatives available in today's grocery markets.  While knowing the pros and cons of these alternatives will hopefully help you be more mindful of the ones you choose, the taste can vary quite a bit among the choices.  I'd urge you to buy small samples of each, after considering your own dietary needs, to find the one that suits you (and your taste buds) best.
Here are the most commonly available cow's milk alternatives:

1. Soy "Milk" -  Soy "milk" is created using pureed, whole soy beans to produce a thin milk-like liquid.  Some of you may remember a post published last year entitled The Truth About Soy.  The risks and benefits of soy consumption were discussed here in detail, and I'd encourage you to check it out for a more thorough history on soy and its baggage.  Soy milk tends to be the most commonly chosen alternative to milk products, as it is the most readily available and typically the least expensive out of all of the options.  Here are some of the positive points in choosing soy milk as a milk substitute:

- Most varieties of soy milk contain 30% of the daily value of calcium, which is the same amount as in typical cow's milk.  This lessons the need to increase calcium products and/or take supplements when switching from cow's milk to soy.  Of course, always read your product's label as there can be some variation here.  
- soy milk contains, on average, 7g of protein per serving - comparable to cow's milk which typically has 7-10 grams per serving.  Even better is that soy is a complete protein, which means it contains all of the essential amino acids our bodies require to utilize the protein fully. 

The 9 Worst Things to Order at a Restaurant

CSPI's Xtreme list:
The Cheesecake Factory Chocolate Tower Truffle Cake. Six inches long, three-quarters of a pound, and over 1,600 calories, this "slice" of cake is the equivalent of eating fourteen Hostess Ho Hos.
Outback Steakhouse New Zealand Rack of Lamb. The lamb alone has 1,300 calories and 60 grams of saturated fat, but add the buttery sides (even the veggies) and you're up to 80 grams of saturated fat.
California Pizza Kitchen Pesto Cream Penne. Before you add any chicken or shrimp, this creamy version of an Italian classic has 1,350 calories, 49 grams of saturated fat and 1,920 mg of sodium.
Chevy's Crab & Shrimp Quesadilla. Technically an appetizer, this cheesy platter has 1,790 calories and 63 grams of saturated fat.
Bob Evans' Cinnamon Cream Stacked & Stuffed Hotcakes. Take pancakes, stuff them with cinnamon chips, spread cream cheese, top with cream sauce and whipped cream and you get a breakfast that brings in 1,380 calories and 34 grams of saturated fat. You could eat a hungry man's breakfast: two country-fried steaks and four eggs for about the same.
California Pizza Kitchen Tostada Pizza with Grilled Steak. The equivalent of a pepperoni pizza plus six beef tacos, this pie weighs in at 1,680 calories and 32 grams of saturated fat.
Five Guys Bacon Cheeseburger. This burger alone is 920 calories and a day-and-a-half's allowance (30 grams) of saturated fat. Adding a large order of French fries adds 1,460 calories (three times the amount in large McDonald's fries).
P.F. Chang's Double Pan-Fried Noodles Combo. It's hard to know what's more impressive: the days' worth (1,820) of calories in this dish, or the five days' worth of salt.
The Cheesecake Factory Pasta Carbonara with Chicken. Bacon-y, buttery, creamy, and carb-y -- this pasta dish brings 2,500 calories and 85 grams of saturated fat to the table
source: abcnews.com

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Gardening season is (finally) upon us!  Many of us turn to man-made, synthetic fertilizers to enhance our lawns and gardens, simply because we are unaware of the more natural, less expensive alternatives.  Here are some recipes for homemade fertilizers you can try at home:

1.  Coffee Grinds - Put your used coffee grinds to work as food for your acid-loving plants and lawn.  Coffee grinds are rich in Magnesium, Potassium, and Nitrogen, which are all essential plant nutrients.  You can use them by spreading them directly on your lawn, or by sprinkling them around the base of acid-loving plants such as roses, rhododendrums, and blueberries.  Be sure the grinds are dry before using them.
2.  Vinegar - This ingredient works best to make fertilizers for houseplants and for all types of acid-loving plants, as it works by increasing the acidity of the soil.  Mix 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar into 1 gallon of water, and water your plants with the solution every 3 months for fertilization. 
3.  Fireplace Ash - Fireplace ash that is produced from burning wood contains ample amounts of needed potassium and phosphate.  It can be used in place of Lime, as long as your soil is not alkaline. 
4.  Egg Shells - Dry out your used egg shells and blend them in a blender until they form a fine powder.  They can then be used in place of lime in your lawns, as egg shells and lime are composed of almost the exact same ingredients.  The main purpose of lime and its relatives is to balance soil acidity, increase beneficial bacteria activity, and to make other nutrients more easily available.
5.  Seaweed -   Sounds odd, I know.. but seaweed can be beneficial to our plantlife in many ways.  First off, it is a major source of carbohydrates which serve as food for the beneficial bacteria needed for optimal plant growth.  They also contain a plethora of necessary plant nutrients in their most bio-available (chelated) form.  If you live near the water, you can use whole pieces of collected seaweed (dried-out) directly on your lawn or plants.  It is also available as a liquid extract from many gardening stores or nurseries. 

Please feel free to share any homemade fertilizer recipes you may have!

Sources:  http://frugalliving.about.com/od/doityourself/tp/Homemade_Fertilizer.htm; http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/158/1/Natural-fertilizer.html; http://www.jasons-indoor-guide-to-organic-and-hydroponics-gardening.com/seaweed-fertilizers.html

Speaking in Code

 Walking up and down the supermarket aisles we, as consumers, are bombarded with a plethora of words and phrases, designed to grab our attention.  Its becoming more and more commonplace to see words like "all-natural" on product packaging, typically designed to evoke a sense that what you are buying is good for you and good for the earth - which unfortunately, is not always the case.  On the other side of the coin, ingredient labels are often filled with long words that some of us can't even pronounce, with the opposite intent of masking the identity of ingredients which are less than desirable.  Very minimal regulations surrounding the use of these terms on food labeling exist, so it is up to us - the buyers - to crack the code and realize what we are actually buying and consuming.
Here are some commonly used terms and their meanings, clarified:

1.  "Natural" -  This word is likely used by companies in an attempt to convince you that their product is made of natural ingredients, as compared to other products which are "unnatural" or artificial.  Unfortunately, companies have almost complete leeway with using this term, with very few restrictions.  Currently the only FDA restrictions that exist on using the word natural are:

   - natural flavor can only be used to describe flavorings that are derived from from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant (or even animal) material

- Meat products can be labeled as natural only if they are minimally processed (of course, this term is left up to the meat producers to decide what "minimally" means) and free of artificial ingredients or colors.  Please note that this is regarding added ingredients, and means nothing about what the animal consumed, was fed, or hormones or antibiotics that it may have ingested during its life

 Other than these two restrictions, companies are pretty much free to slap the word "natural" on their box without consequence.  Most of the time common sense can come into play here - "natural" or not, a pop tart will never be "healthy".  It is important that we do not confuse "natural" with "organic".  Which brings me to my next term...

Meatless Monday

 An extraordinary  movement - "Meatless Monday" - is gaining momentum and press at astounding rates.  The practice, which involves avoiding all meat-based products one day per week,  is being promoted by the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health with the goal of reducing individual meat consumption by 15% simply by eliminating it from our diets one day per week.  The introduction of the concept can be traced back way before our time, however, as Presidents Wilson, Truman, and Roosevelt all suggested the novel concept of meatless days during the world wars and the Great Depression.  (I can only picture my Great Grandmother's face, filled with shock and horror at the thought of a day without meat, and imagine it was followed with something like, "Whatdoya meanna no meat? How you gonna grow without meat, eh?")
  The "Meatless Mondays" website has a plethora of information about the theories behind lowered consumption of meat, both financial and nutritional.   Here are some of the take-home points behind the practice:

Hungry Munchkins?

  Nowadays its becoming borderline impossible to get through a day without hearing or seeing some sort of healthy-eating message, designed to promote health and wellness strategies for anyone who's paying attention.  This broadly represents a very positive trend with the immense potential to positively impact the health of our society as a whole.
   Some experts are beginning to speculate, however, that these messages are being translated into suboptimal nutrition practices for those who, arguably, need it most - our growing infants & toddlers.  A recent government-run study in London found that many nursery-school type programs were insufficiently meeting the nutrition needs of children enrolled, despite seemingly thorough efforts to provide balanced menus.  Some of the common problems were high levels of salt, portion sizes, and a lack of carbohydrates in the daily diet. 
It is important for parents and caregivers to be aware that children have unique nutritional needs, which vary greatly from those of adults.  Some key diet notions for aduts can be counterproductive in chidren - even harmful.  Here are some points to remember when considering nutrition for infant's and toddlers:
- Keep it whole.  Most adults have the tendency to reach for low-fat or non-fat milk due to the potential health consequences of ingesting high levels of the saturated fat that's found in whole milks.  This is not okay for infants and toddlers!  Kids tend to burn more fat than adults, as they are rapidly growing and need many types of fats to build new thoughts, skills, muscles, and cells.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children not be given low-fat milk until age 2.  Note:  If you choose not to give your child cow's milk, other options (soy, almond, rice) can be substituted - talk to your pediatrician about finding the right balance of protein, vitamin D, and calcium within these products so you can figure out which brands and serving sizes are right for your child. 
-  Keep the fiber for yourself.  A high-fiber diet is recommended for adults for optimal gastrointestinal function, prevention of colon cancer, and keeping our bellies full and our blood sugar stable.  However, young children who consume too much fiber may be at risk for getting full too quickly, leaving less room for the calories and nutrients they require from other sources.  The study (above) showed that children were often overloaded with fruits and vegetables - with the best intentions. Kids this age should adhere to the 5 fruits and vegetable servings per day recommendation, but their portions should be much smaller than an adults.
- Avoid the fake stuff.  Sometimes low or non-fat products are reflavored with artificial sweetners in order to make up for the lost fat.  In general, artificial sweetners should not be part of a child's diet, especially in the infant and toddler years.  Carefully monitor the ingredients list on any purchased products, avoiding ingredients like aspartame, nutrasweet, sucralose, and neotame. 
-  Red meat deserves a chance.  If your baby is a practicing carnivores, red meat is not always a bad idea.  While we adults should, in fact, limit our consumption of red meat for various reasons, it can be the primary source of iron for an infant or toddler.  Iron-deficiency anemia is relatively common in this age group and needs to be prevented through diet.  Vegetarians and vegans will need to carefully monitor their children's iron intake in order to establish appropriate diets and supplementation (if needed). 

  With the recent surge in childhood obesity, it is equally important to be sure our attention remains balanced between these children and those who may be on the other side of the spectrum of adequate nutrition.  For more information on infant and toddler nutrition requirements, check out the NIH recommendations here. 

How Much Mercury is in Your Tuna?

Source: ABCNews.com

Amazing Ash

Source: The Boston Globe  April 19, 2010

As ash from Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano continued to keep European airspace shut down over the weekend, affecting millions of travelers around the world, some government agencies and airlines clashed over the flight bans. Some restricted airspace is now beginning to open up and some limited flights are being allowed now as airlines are pushing for the ability to judge safety conditions for themselves. The volcano continues to rumble and hurl ash skyward, if at a slightly diminished rate now, as the dispersing ash plume has dropped closer to the ground, and the World Health Organization has issued a health warning to Europeans with respiratory conditions. Collected here are some images from Iceland over the past few days.

Lightning streaks across the sky as lava flows from a volcano in Eyjafjallajokul April 17, 2010. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

2

The volcano in southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull glacier sends ash into the air just prior to sunset ON Friday, April 16, 2010. Thick drifts of volcanic ash blanketed parts of rural Iceland on Friday as a vast, invisible plume of grit drifted over Europe, emptying the skies of planes and sending hundreds of thousands in search of hotel rooms, train tickets or rental cars. (AP Photo/Brynjar Gauti).  [Click "read full post" below to see all 35 photos.]

The Safe Chemicals Act

 Legislation to overhaul the nation’s failed chemical law has been introduced in Congress by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Congressmen Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Henry Waxman (D-CA). The Safe Chemicals Act is landmark legislation that will overhaul the way the government protects people from toxic chemicals. The Safe Chemicals Act puts our health first, provides better information to businesses, and helps the average consumer avoid toxic chemicals in every day products.

Send a message to your Congressmen and Senator, urging them to support this crucial act here.

Child & Teen BMI Calculator

The CDC has a user-friendly child and teen Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator which can give you a clearer picture of where your child falls compared to other children of his or her age. The website also offers continued guidelines based on the result of the BMI calculation. This is a great resource, and often the first step in identifying and preventing childhood obesity-related consequences.

To try out the BMI calculator, click here.

"Lets Retake Our Plates"