Get Healthy

In 1986, Cesar Chavez, founder and leader of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW), organized a boycott of grapes, citing that the pesticides found on the grapes poisoned some 300,000 workers each year, which led to severe birth defects and cancer. The documentary produced by the UFW, The Wrath of Grapes, detailed the insidious destructive trail left by these pesticides that were used to produce more and more yield from crops.

Although legislation may make for safer grapes 23 years later, pesticides are still used in abundance, causing many growers to abandon the use of pesticides altogether for a much healthier, and tastier, product. We all know that pesticides are not good for human consumption, and they’re also bad for the earth, seeping into groundwater from agricultural runoff. But the additives in wine—specifically sulfites, which are put into wine to extend its shelf life—are also bad for the body. Many people experience difficulty breathing, abdominal pain or headaches from sulfites—so it may not be that extra glass of vino after all!
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Most people don’t even realize they have a thyroid gland until they have a problem with it. Symptoms of thyroid disorders may include weight gain, depression, thinning hair, tremors, cold sensitivity and insomnia. These are signs that something in the butterfly-shaped gland just below the Adam’s apple in the neck isn’t right. Some 1 in 13 people have a thyroid disorder in the U.S., and the large majority of these people are women. And each year, 20,699 people are diagnosed with thyroid cancer. As researchers investigate these disorders they find many answers, including some that may be environmental.

Dr. Venkatesh Segu, of Endocrinologist Specialists of Indiana in Munster, says thyroid disorders are typically found in women and run in families, but environmental factors are considered as more studies are performed. “Genetics is a big factor, and women tend to be more commonly affected than men,” Segu says. Read the rest of this entry »

We all learned about the food chain in school, where the big fish eat the little fish. But little did we know that this kind of natural process can actually be harmful for us bigger creatures higher up on the food chain.

When the little fish eat plankton or plant life that has been contaminated by chemicals or pollutants, the toxins then pass on to the little fish and on to the bigger fish, and on to us, where the toxins can easily store in our tissues. This causes health problems over time, especially as the toxins build up more and more.

Toxins found in fish are what scientists refer to as “heavy metals.” No, they’re not Van Halen or Aerosmith, but they still can be a pretty Motley Crue—polychlorinated biphenyls (better known as PCBs), mercury, lead, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc and even some pesticides. These chemicals became part of the food supply from contamination decades ago prior to proper regulation, and contamination still exists today when industry violates this regulation. Read the rest of this entry »

Behind the scenes in the corporate meat market

Drive down virtually any farm road in America and chances are you will see one thing in common—the fact that the crops are all the same, acre after acre. Whether you gaze upon corn country, view the vast soybean fields, or see waves of wheat in the wind, monocrops are the way that agriculture has been cultivated for hundreds of years.

But ever since the Industrial Revolution, mass farming has turned to the use of more machines, more chemicals, and more genetically engineered crops grown in the same soil year after year. The result, despite crop rotation or infusion of minerals, is something much different from the nutrient-rich food of yesteryear.

“Industrial agriculture has supplanted a complete reliance on the sun for our calories with something new under the sun: a food chain that draws much of its energy from fossil fuels instead,” writes Michael Pollan in his book The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Read the rest of this entry »

By the Associated Press

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded more than $5 million in federal stimulus funds to help reduce pollution from diesel vehicles in Illinois. and $1.8 million for studies looking at ways to improve water quality around the state.

The Illinois EPA will receive more than $4 million to clean up or replace 675 diesel vehicles and engines throughout the state.

Chicago’s Department of the Environment will receive $1 million to install diesel oxidation catalysts and diesel-fired heaters on city vehicles. The money also will help buy two new hybrid diesel electric aerial trucks.
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Fruits stand on display at the Dotson’s Farm booth during the weekly Farmers' Market at Hubbard Park in Thornton. (Photograph by The Times.)

With summer in full swing, it’s the perfect time to explore the nearest farmers’ market.

There’s nothing like taking to the great outdoors to shop for favorite fruits, vegetables and flowers. Local farmers and other vendors regularly offer everything from strawberries and peaches to onions and organic herbs at fresh-air venues.

As consumers take renewed interest in green living, eating healthier, making more economical food choices and supporting their communities, they naturally seek locally grown produce.

Blending a laid-back atmosphere with the camaraderie of neighbors, farmers’ markets are wonderful social hubs as well. Vendors are usually open to questions and food talk is par for the course. Free samples aren’t unusual, either; friendly staffers are eager to expose shoppers to new and exciting flavors.
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From the Get Healthy inbox—In response to a comment from a local resident worried that the farmers’ market will put local grocers out of business, Sandra Rodriguez of the Miller Beach Farmers’ Market cites the benefits of buying fresh fruits and vegetables from local growers. The concerned resident writes,

Many of our local folks who have lived here for some time either own or employ citizens at grocery stores. I appreciate the farmers’ market, but I would hate to see these business go away because we don’t shop at them. We don’t have to pray for it not to rain or wait until Sunday to shop. Let’s take a more positive approach to our community and try to support both. —Megan

Rodriguez responds,

Megan, thanks for the comment, but I really don’t think grocery stores are going to suffer because of our twice a month farmers’ market. Here is a quote from Michael Pollan: “Today in America there is soaring demand for local and regional food: farmers’ markets, of which the USDA estimates there are now 4,700, have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the food market. The local food movement will grow with no help from the government, especially as high fuel prices make distant and out-of-season food, as well as feedlot meat, more expensive.”

Part of the mission of our market is to bring the community together for a fun, friendly way to socialize here in Miller Beach and welcome folks who come for a visit. Look what has happened with Chesterton’s Market—they have over 100 vendors, and they are not worried about putting grocery stores out of business! The beautiful thing about our market is it is a ministry—we are trying to help those struggling to make ends meet, we are trying to bring in holistic healing, fitness and nutritious alternatives so people can figure out how to eat a healthy meal and get healthy IN SPITE OF the fast food and sugar and salt laden junk food that corporations are trying to pass off on us, IN SPITE OF lazy doctors and pharmaceutical companies trying to push the next pill off on us.
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We all know that staying healthy in the summer sun means slathering on lots of sunscreen. But did you know that the same stuff that is supposed to protect us from harmful skin cancer can actually be causing other kinds of cancer, and it may be bad for the environment as well?

Many sun blocks contain suspected carcinogens, such as diethanolamine and related ingredients (DEA, TEA), padimate-O, and titanium dioxide. In a 2004 Environmental Health Perspective study, padimate-O was found to cause breast cancer cells to multiply in test tubes. And diethanolamine is also harmful to nature where it enters our waterways while swimming. This chemical then ends up in fish, amphibians and marine wildlife, where research shows it is a threat to the animals’ reproductive cycles. These chemicals also have been linked to the bleaching and death of corals. Think the amount of sunscreen is too little to affect marine life? Think again. Seventy-eight million tourists visit areas with coral reefs every year, leaving behind 4,000 to 6,000 tons of sunscreen. Plus, many sunscreens are petroleum-based, which means they don’t break down quickly in water.
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Printing is a great convenience, but replacing ink cartridges can be a drag. The waste and expense can really add up quickly, making for a wholly eco-unfriendly situation. Enter Ecofont, a holey font that uses up to 20 percent less ink than other fonts, while still maintaining readability. Developed by SPRANQ, a creative communication agency, Ecofont is free to download and use, and will help reduce waste surrounding ink cartridges. Find it at ecofont.eu.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of What You Need and Getting Rid of the Things You Don’t

Victoria Pericon is a family lifestyle expert who appears on national morning shows as Savvy Mommy. She has some tips to help you S-T-O-P and take a different approach to organizing and economizing your household this year:

S - Swap Stories (And Clothes) If a trip to the mall isn’t in the budget, organize a “Frock Swap” with your friends to exchange the clothes that their kids have outgrown for new-to-you outfits for yours.

T - Toss it (in the recycling bin) Instead of throwing away old papers, magazines and mail, reduce the clutter by recycling it. If your area doesn’t offer a recycling program, but your employer does, bag up your paper items and take them to work to toss them.

O – Organize Drawer organizers work wonders for corralling smaller items. If your family runs through batteries, consider buying rechargeable batteries. A good charger will keep them all together, like the Energizer Family Charger, which charges a combination of sizes and is actually stylish enough to sit out on a desk or counter.

P - Purge Unused Toys As your kids get older, the number of neglected toys can really pile up. Resale shops are a great option. Or you can donate to a local charity or children’s center.

Courtesy of Family Features