Eating GMO free: Day Five - facts and figures

I thought it would be useful to talk more about what exactly has happened over the last few days: what am I eating, what am I feeling, etc.

The first thing I learned is that there are processed foods certified GMO free and organic that I could have eaten. I didn't know about the Non-GMO project that has been certifying processed foods GMO free for over 4 years.

When I talk about processed foods this means anything that's not in it's natural state and had to be altered like blue corn chips, orange juice, salsa...this goes beyond cookies, crackers, bread and junk food (I don't ever recommend drinking bottled orange juice btw - completely over processed, cooked for safety and left devoid of nutrients and flavor that's all added back in...try squeezing an orange yourself - the taste is amazing!).

For my meat and animal product eating friends this also means your animal product - beef, chicken, fish, eggs (no dairy as that's processed) better be organic otherwise you are loading up on GMO's and processed foods via their diet. I believe cows are the number one consumer of GMO soy (please correct me if I'm wrong). It's a food chain issue. Most of these animals aren't eating a natural, traditional herbivore diet - which is how they evolved. They have a very processed and GMO filled diet, among other things.

I don't like being paranoid or living from a place of fear, but I have to say this experiment has freaked me out a bit. It has made me realize just how much we trust our food and the food industry and how little we know about what's in our food and how it's grown. I already pay a lot of attention  to my food but I'm still quite lazy due to time constraints and the demands of my modern life - there is much to learn.

Modern farming methods

Traditional farming methods

If you have a moment for me to digress, just think about how much our food system has changed in just a few generations. Agribusiness and mass manufacturing - most modern changes to our food system started in the 1940's (better living through chemistry). Before this it was smaller scale family owned farms, little processed foods, and minimal packaging. Just think about it for a minute, I'll wait. I'm not one to want to live in the past - women and children were property for goodness sake - but I think we've experimented a bit much with our farms and food.

extra processed extra packaged

shopping at farmers market

As for specific changes, I think the weirdest, and excuse my science background observations here, but my waste is strange. Now that I'm a few days in I can see a change in color. At first I thought I was sick, but I feel fine - my lymph nodes aren't swollen. So that's interesting and I'm not sure what it means yet.

On the second day my left arm was shaking for about an hour. Not major convulsions, just minor, but enough for me to notice. If you were standing next to me you probably wouldn't know anything was going on. I guess this may have been a detox side - effect. I haven't had any break outs which normally occur when I do the Master Cleanse detox. I also had bad headaches the first two nights/mornings, but they went away (with the help of ibuprofen on the second day).

I feel hungry for sure. That is not a big deal in the sense that I over eat - I blame that on evolution and my instinctual need to survive, as well as the endorphin's I receive that make me feel happy and tell me to keep eating. Over all I've lost 2.5 pounds since starting. A bit of cleaning out I suppose.

So I've been eating homemade vegetable soup, quinoa, and eggs. I've been juicing and of course eating fruits and vegetables as well as cashews, almonds, and sunflower seeds. The juice can include any of the following: kale, spinach, oranges, lemon, cucumber, apple, celery, carrots, and ginger.

I still have to get through this day and two more to make it a week. I don't know what I'm going to do tonight though. Going to a Christmas party at a friend's bar....even if I find a GMO free drink, technically it will be 'processed.' I should have JUST gone 'GMO' free - really - and not included the processed foods. In any case I like a good experiment.

Alexandra Gnoske is a nature lover, writer, and environmental expert.

Simple Balance Holistic Center: Experience a little Heaven on Earth

Would you like to experience a little heaven on earth? Dr. Jaena wants to help you do just that.

Dr. Jaena Stanley-Gonzaga is a Holistic and Transformation doctor, (with degrees and certifications in Human Cell Biology, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Bioenergetic synchronization Technique, Psych-K, and Neurostructural Technique) who assists and teaches people how to heal themselves and master their lives. She is the owner and founder of Simple Balance Holistic Center in Elgin, Illinois.

Dr. Jaena's goals are simple:

1. Educate: Our mind and our ability to imagine creates our world.

2. Empower: We do matter and we can make a difference.

3. Create relationships: True wealth stems from pure and authentic relationships we create.

4. Create a community that is loving, supportive, and nurturing: This is the platform that is the catalyst for miracles and possibilities.

Dr. Jaena achieves these goals through workshops, classes and retreats. Her workshops include Spiritual Studies courses, Free Meditation workshops, Reiki Certification workshops, and yearly mind, body and spirit wellness programs.

She also offers monthly  classes on The Art of Sustainable Living, Healing Mastery Intensives, Awaken Your Healing Nature and Inspiration Awareness Mastery Gatherings.

The Centers' first women's retreat is scheduled for June 4th and 5th. Registration is currently open and more transformational weekend retreats will be offered.

Dr. Jaena believes, "the more we can support each other and share each other's message to help make the world a better place, the more we can get our message out their in a bigger way which will automatically make our businesses thrive."

That is why she has included other like minded businesses to join her Center:

• Fusion Mind Body Yoga Studio
• Hear the Earth Store - green essentials and sustainable living 
• Eastern Groove Belly Dance

Her desire to create Simple Balance Holistic Center was inspired and she says, "My vision is to see the world embrace a conscious and proactive wellness lifestyle that creates a healthy and sustainable mind, body, spirit and planet. We are here to live and play out our purpose and passion with enthusiasm, humility and authenticity. I feel it is time to consciously create our heaven on earth within and without."

To find out more please visit their website at Simple-Balance.com and the Simple Balance Facebook Page. Look for Simple Balances new You Tube Channel, createheavennow.tv.

 

FIRST POSTED AT Mindful Metropolis Blog.

Alexandra Gnoske is an Environmental Expert. She is the Author/Illustrator of "Loui Saves the Earth" and Founder of RECYCLE ME.

Dynamic Duo Wellness

Traveling through the holidays and entering the New Year, we often feel excitement, anxiety, and a little bloated and run down. Treat yourself, or someone you love to some wellness this holiday season with the ladies at Dynamic Duo Wellness and make the most of life!

Alee Hoffman HHC, AADP and Erin Dunscomb HHC, AADP founded Dynamic Duo Wellness (DDW) in Chicago, 2009. They both are passionate about helping people lead more vibrant and joyful lives. The duo met at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition/Columbia University in New York when they were pursuing their own paths to a higher quality of health and nutrition and developed their professional relationship teaming up for some workshops on the east coast.

Dynamic Duo Wellness is not just about the collaborative partnership between Alee and Erin, it's about the relationship between a person and their food. Or as the gals at DDW like to say, "It's time to join forces with your food!"

What can DDW do for you? Quite a lot! DDW offers in person workshops, private sessions, corporate events, phone and internet sessions and Skype workshops from recipes, cooking classes and general nutrition counseling to personal health evaluations, individual plans and family and children food education.

PROGRAMS

Private Coaching (Single Session $97.00/Package $177/mo). For lasting results DDW recommends 3 months minimum commitment. In both you will receive a detailed health assessment. The package also includes two 60-75 minute session/mo, recipes, hand outs, customized tips and information, access to the DDW natural pharmacy and email support.

Group Program Package ($77.00/mo). Group health and wellness programs in a supportive community of people.

Public Workshop (normally $35.00). Include all foods/materials and discounts.

Private Workshop (up to $55.00/person). You pick a topic and invite up to 20 people to join! (price decrease after 6 people).

The best way to find out what's going on at DDW is to sign up for their newsletter at dynamicduowellness@gmail.com. It includes monthly newsletter detailing current and upcoming programs, what's new, as well as tips, recipes, and special discounts.

COMING UP IN 2011

Happy New Year! DDW will be doing the cooking demos and providing the appetizers/drinks for the ChicagoVeg Meet Up Group Pre New Year's Eve Party.

2011 Jump Start Package Special (January/$200.11). This package includes a 60 minute health assessment with a detailed health history, blood pressure, adrenal glands, and toxicity/pH check; health food store tour; 1 admission to either the New Years Workshop OR Winter Blues/seasonal depression Workshop; additional session at months end; + 10% off on first month of group program or individual counseling if you choose to continue.

LOOK FOR: DDW is currently working on a grant proposal to offer food and wellness education with CSAs in Chicago neighborhoods that don't have quality grocery stores to teach people how to eat and live well on a limited budget.

DDW teaches at Infuse Yoga Spa at 713 West Wrightwood Avenue in Chicago. They also teach in homes, by phone, online, and Skype. You can find them at www.dynamicduowellness.com.

Originally posted in the Mindful Business Matters Blog by Alexandra Gnoske. Alexandra has a degree in Wildlife Biology, J.D. in Environmental Law, is the President and Founding member of RECYCLE ME, the Author and Illustrator of "Loui Saves the Earth," and writes for Mindful Metropolis Magazine.

What is Healthy?

For years I've been interested in living a healthier lifestyle. And while I don't eat fast food, that hardly makes me healthy. But it does make a difference. But I came to some interesting realizations when researching the clothing industry for my green business, RECYCLE ME.

I thought, if you have to make choices, you should be informed. So think about this in your quest for a healthier lifestyle for you and your family.

Cotton, corn, and soybeans are the most heavily sprayed crops in the world. That effects you directly and indirectly in so many ways. From the air pollution, water table, and soil that is soaked up by your food to the actual direct consumption of these products.

You may not realize it, but you probably eat cotton by-products frequenlty, in the form of cotton seed oil in your processed foods from crakers to tortillas to cookies. And in your dairy and beef products through the cow's diet which can consist of cotton seed.

Now I'm not saying cotton, soy, and corn are bad for you in and of themselves, but when you douse them with pesticides and fill them with synthetic fertilizers, you may as well put bug spray on your table as a condiment.

But don't think that you are doing all you can for your health if your food isn't organic. Those chemicals add up in your diet and in your body. And although there has been press that organic food isn't any healthier for you, as in the vitamins and fiber, it is healthier for you in that it isn't covered with chemicals.

And when you buy and eat organic you will also be happy to know that the people who worked on sowing and reaping your food don't have to face cancer and future birth defects of their children because they farmed for a living. It's about health all the way around. It always is.

And if you can't eat everything organic, try to avoid the biggest offenders. The Environmental Working Group lists the most important produce to eat organic.

To you, your health, and the health of those around you!