Organic Farming Method

 

Last night we hosted an Organictakeover at Atlantis Natural, a children’s enrichment and wellness education center in Miami. During the Q & A part of the event one of the guest was seriously mislead about the organic farming method. We understand how all the information on the internet might lead you astray but we are here to dish out the truth. So we decided to do a quick review on the topic.

In order to qualify as organic farmers, the producers must use renewable resources and endeavor to conserve soil and water to enhance the environmental quality for future generations in the organic farming method.

• Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones during their lives.
• Organic food is produced without using harmful, conventional pesticides; fertilizers containing synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation.

Definition of farmers’ markets: a common facility or area where several farmers or growers gather on a regular, recurring basis to sell a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and other locally-grown farm products directly to consumers.

• “Local Food” is food that is consumed within 100 miles of where it is grown and produced.
• The (only) difference between organic and conventional food is the way how the food has been produced and processed.
• Organic food is defined as the product of a farming system, which avoids the use of man-made fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock feed additives (such as antibiotics, growth hormones and medications in an effort to prevent disease and spur quicker growth)
• Organic farming rely on crop rotation, animal and plant manures, some hand weeding and biological pest control.
• The use of fertilizers and pesticides is restricted in organic production.

Thomas Jefferson used the phrase “All men are created equal” in the Declaration of Independence. But in dealing with “food” not all organic food is created equal. Guess they abrogated that in their declaration. This is an important fact to keep in mind when shopping for healthy food.

For more information please visit http://organicwinds.blogspot.com/2012/08/open-house-childrens-holistic.html

 

 

Staying Fit by Running!

Get in Shape by Running

Running is a great way to get in shape. It can burn quite a bit of calories and help you build and tone muscle easily. Not only that, but you don’t need an expensive gym membership to do it. On the contrary! You actually need to spend very little money to get good exercise while running. If you’re planning on taking up running to get in shape, read below for some great advice!

Look at investing in a good pair of running shoes. Any pair of sneakers will do, but if you buy a good pair that are designed for running, you’ll be able to get the most out of your workouts. Running shoes are designed to minimize the stress on your feet, ankles, and legs as well as effectively tone your leg muscles. A good pair of shoes will also help keep you from getting blisters during your runs.

Make sure you wear clothing that won’t chafe. You want something that’s comfortable and won’t restrict your movement. It’s also recommended that your clothing be somewhat reflective. This will help you be seen by any cars, especially if you’re running early in the morning, at night, or any other time when visibility may be limited.

Make sure you’re running in a safe area. You want to run somewhere where you won’t have to worry about getting run over by a car. Running around your neighborhood or a park can be great; running on the side of a highway not so much. You should also avoid any areas that are high in violence or criminal activity for your personal safety.

You should look into getting something to track your workout. You can either buy a small device designed for runners to log their runs or most smart phones have an app you can install to do this as well. This will give you an easy way to track how far you’ve run and even how many calories you’ve burned.

Try and run a similar route for a while and see how long it takes you to run that specific route. Each time you run, challenge yourself to beat your previous time. Once you think you’ve maximized your time, try increasing the distance and repeat the routine. Keep doing this until you’re running farther, faster.

Try and vary up your runs a bit. If you normally run on a flat, even area, try going somewhere to run that has a lot of hills. You can even go to a trail and try running on dirt. Running a flat mile is a lot easier than running a mile up and down hills or on a natural trail. This can be a great way to change up your workout and increase the pace at the same time.

Running isn’t hard. It’s cheap and can be a great way to get in shape. If you’re looking into running as a form of exercise, keep these pieces of advice in mind. With these handy tips, you’ll be well on your way to looking great.

Gluten Free: Nutritional Information on Gluten Intolerance

What is Gluten?

Gluten is the generic name for certain types of proteins found in common cereal grains – mainly wheat, barley, rye, spelt, and kamut (versions of wheat), triticale (a grain crossbred from wheat and rye), and their derivatives.

Whom It Affects

Current estimates suggest that 1 in every 133 Americans suffers a reaction to ingesting gluten, which is present in many products.

The Gluten Sensitivity Spectrum

Gluten is found in many foods otherwise considered wholesome, making the supermarket- for those who have an intolerance for gluten or those with celiac disease- a minefield.

The sensistivity to wheat and associated glutens range from mildly annoying to very serious.:

Conditions and Symptoms

Allergy

• If you have a wheat allergy, you probably realize it. Allergic symptoms- itchy, watery eyes; runny nose; wheezing; skin rash; or diarrhea- appear very quickly after ingesting this grain. Eliminating wheat may be enough to relieve your symptoms. And you may still be able to eat oat or rye products.

Intolerance

• Digestive distress, such as stomachache, bloating , diarrhea
• Skin complaints like itching, eczema, hives
• Joint and muscle pain
• Fatigue
• Malabsorption of nutrients
•  Headaches, including migraines
• Antibody screenings are used to diagnose gluten intolerance

Celiac Disease

• If you have celias disease (symptoms include those listed above), which up to 3 million Americans are estimated to have, you must avoid gluten totally to avoid destroying your small intestine and possibly leading to more serious diseases, including cancer.

 

Living Gluten Free

You don’t have to give up all foods to live gluten-free: dietitians recommend that patients eat a variety of good things people should eat anyway, such as fresh meats, fruits, vegetables, milk, and legumes. All are naturally gluten free.

But you must become more vigilant about you diet, especially when it comes to:

• Eliminating foods that contain gluten: wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut, and triticale.
• Discovering that wheat-free; a product may have some other gluten-containing grain.
• Reading labels of all bakery and packaged foods carefully.
• Knowing that gluten-containing grains are used as both basic ingredients and additives during processing or preparation.
• Being aware that ingredients may need to be clarified by the manufacturer. Example: Hydrolyzed vegetable protein on an  ingredient list may be made from wheat, soy, corn, or a mix of grains.

Shop Attentively

If you or someone in your family is gulten-intolerant, read the labels of foods every time you buy them, as ingredients may change at any time. To make sure you’re clear about contents, get in touch with manufacturers and ask them questions. It’s vitally improtantn that you know for certain a good is gluten-free. Always remember: If in doubt, go without.

Allowed Foods: Rice, corn, potato, tapioca, beans, garfava, sorghum, quinoa, millet, arrowroot, amaranth, teff, Montina, nut flours, distilled vinegars, distilled alcoholic beverages, wine, brand-name packaged yeast, caramel color made from corn citric acid, pure spices or bottled spices containing silicon dioxide, vanilla and vanilla extract.

Not Allowed Foods: Wheat (durum, graham, kamut, semolina, spelt), rye, barley, triticale, or products containing these items. Malt or malt flavoring, malt vinegar, beers, ales, lagers (are made from gluten-containging grains), brewer;s yeast that is a byproduct of beer, caramel color made from barly malt, dextrin made from wheat, wheat maltodextrin or maltodextrin (wheat), and starch or modified food starch made from wheat.

For more information about gluten intolerance and living gluten-free, visit:

Celiac Disease Foundation: celiac.org

Gluten Intolerance Group: gluten.net

Source: National Digestive Disease, Celiac Disease Foundation, Gluten Intolerance

 

Sensational Smoothies Recipe Book

 

 

 

Order your Sensational Smoothies book now and start your way to not only a cooler you (even though we still think you’re the coolest by being on our website) but healthy smoothie drinks that will boost your long-term health, energy, and physique!! Buy now.

Cinnamon Waffles with Caramelized Pears

 

 

The title alone makes these GREAT.  It was a year ago I was introduced to Williams-Sonoma catalog. It is full of delicious recipes, so it was time to whip out one of their recipes but put my little spin to it. There were no issues with the recipe, since I put my own spin to it. They may be a little more work into making them than your usual waffle recipe, but are totally worth it.  Guys this is a must to surprise that special woman in your life!

Cinnamon Waffles with Caramelized Pears
Yield: 12 4-inch square waffles

Ingredients:
For the caramelized Pears:
3 tbsp. unsalted butter
6 Djourn pears, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla extract

For the waffles:
3 eggs, separated
1 3/4 cups buttermilk
8 tbsp. melted butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
whipped cream, for serving

Directions:
To make the caramelized pears, in a skillet over medium-high heat, melt 3 tablespoons butter.  Add the pear slices, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.  Mix until apples are evenly coated. Cook about 18 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Remove skillet from heat and stir in vanilla.  Set aside.

To make the waffles, in a large bowl whisk together the egg yolks, buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla.  In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.  Whisk the flour mixture into the yolk mixture until smooth.  In another clean bowl, beat the egg whites on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 1 minute.  Gently fold 1 cup egg whites into batter; carefully fold in remaining egg whites.

Preheat waffle maker on medium-high.  Pour 1/3 cup batter into each well of waffle maker; close the lid.  Cook 5-6 minutes.  Repeat with remaining batter.  Serve waffles with caramelized pears and whipped cream.

Of course we couldn’t leave our gluten-free and diabetic foodies out. With 50 Simple Recipes Book you can whip-up all-natural, gluten-free, diabetic-safe, mouthwatering desserts like Chocolate Coconut Truffles, Cranberry Pecan Muffins, or Lemon Ricotta Souffles!!

Source: adapted from Williams-Sonoma Catalog, February 2009

Ladies Day Out Spa Event

2011 Relay For Life at First United Methodist Church

Roosevelt Desir, one of the Co-Founders and Executive Chefs of Be Organic, many of you are aware, is a cancer survivor of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

This past January 15, 2011 marked the fourth year anniversary of his stem cell/bone marrow transplant. He has never felt better! We are reaching out to you to get involved in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life by registering online or donating. The cancer patients and survivors need your support.

After registering online, a personal fundraising web page is issued to the person party registering. It explains what the Relay for Life is and why it is important to get involved. The web page also has a fundraising goal and how much money has been raised so far. Please visit my page and check out more information about Relay for Life, and make a donation to the American Cancer Society?

Your donation will help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. The amount you donate will count towards the fundraising goal.

Please join us on June 3, 2011 at First United Methodist Church: 9087 Glades Rd Boca Raton, FL 33434 as we raise resources to continue to help and find cures. We will be serving some great organic healthy meals and refreshments as you join us for this great cause. See you there!!

Thank you so much for your help – there will be continued updates on the Relay for Life efforts’ progress!

Reasons To Cut Back On Meats

1. Better Health

Animal foods, especially red meat, are among the largest sources of saturated fats in our diet. Eliminating meat―beef, pork, lamb, poultry―one day a week can reduce your risk of dying from heart disease and some cancers. What’s more, “cutting down on meat encourages people to eat more vegetables,” says Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University, in New York City. Adding a serving of produce to your diet each day (say, ½ cup of melon or broccoli) may lower your risk of heart disease by 4 percent and your risk of stroke by 6 percent.

2. More Money in Your Pocket

Consuming less meat boosts your bottom line. The average cost of a pound of sirloin is $6.20, compared with 90 cents for a 15-ounce can of beans, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. If a family of four replaces a steak dinner ($9.30 for 1½ pounds) with a fresh bean and vegetable salad ($1.80 for two cans of beans) once a week, they will save $7.50. After a year, that’s an extra $390.

3. A Greener Planet

The livestock industry creates almost a fifth of all greenhouse gases and takes up 30 percent of the earth’s usable land, according to a United Nations report. (Vegetables and other produce don’t even come close.) Eliminate 1½ pounds of meat (about what a family of four eats for dinner) once a week, says Gidon Eshel, a professor of physics at Bard College, in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, “and you’ll get almost the same benefits as trading in a standard sedan for an ultra-efficient Prius hybrid.”

Souce: Dailyrecnews

Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival 10th Anniversary presents: The Grand Tasting Village

This is the first year that we were given the opportunity to be invited to South Beach Wine & Food “The Grand Tasting” event. For those who aren’t aware of these festival let us give you some insight. Imagine a big tent…..a really BIG tent that probably is about half a mile long and about two semi-trucks length. Now picture all types of different prestigious wines, liquor, and mixed drink vendors. Now picture foods from almost every nationality you can think of and the best of the best chefs preparing and serving them. Now place them all under one roof; and what do you have? Well that’s what the Wine & Food Festival is about!! We want to thank everyone that support us doing this years fest and hope to see you next year.

You Are What You Eat. So Who’s Your Farmer?

Time and time again we always hear how there is no nutritional difference between organic and conventional foods. Why is one called organic and the other conventional? There MUST be some kind of difference, isn’t there?

Let us ask you question, “Who’s your farmer”? Do you know where his or her farm is located? Around the block? 15 miles from your job? Or maybe 5,000 miles from your home? Now let us ask you do you know if your farmer is using pesticides, steroids, or any other chemicals? And if so are any of these chemicals possibly harmful? Well to be quite frank with you, the food that your eating is likely killing right now and you don’t even know it!!

Finding out where your food comes from and what is use to produce it is one of the most important decisions you can make towards living a healthier life. Because our daily schedules are full with work, kids, family, school, and other activities we rarely stop to think about where our food comes from and it’s production. One of the best ways to find out where your food comes from is by taking a trip with your family to your local farm or farmers market. There you can get all the right information about the food that is being grown. Information such as is the food being grown organic, how long has the land been certified organic, if not what types of pesticides or, steroids, if any are being used.

“Methyl bromide is a fumigant gas used nationally to protect crops from pests in the soil and to fumigate grain bins and other agricultural storage areas. Methyl bromide was linked to the risk of prostate cancer in the entire group, while exposure to six other pesticides was associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer only among men with a family history of the disease.” National Cancer Institute

“Six chemicals in all, including two fungicides (Benomyl and Maneb/mancozeb) and two insecticides (Carbaryl and methyl/ethyl parathion) were found to double the risk of developing skin cancer with repeated exposure of more than 50 lifetime days. The incidence of cutaneous melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, tripled from 1975 to 2006 in the United States, and it has been estimated that there will be 68,720 new cases of melanoma and 8,650 melanoma deaths in 2009.” Environmental Health Perspective

“The chemical has been banned in the European Union since 2004 but is still one of the most widely used herbicides in the U.S. with 77 million pounds applied in 2003.  It has infiltrated its way into the drinking water of an estimated 33 million Americans, and the article explains that there have been breakdowns in regulation and oversight of atrazine levels in public water.” Eileen Mericle Ames in a Des Moines Register newspaper article titled, “Pesticides Lead to Much Destruction.”

It is generally accepted that one contributing factor to the fall of Rome was excess lead poisoning (or plumbism) which disproportionately affected the aristocratic class.  It would probably be unfair to chalk this up to hubris since the ancient Romans lacked sophisticated knowledge about the neurotoxic effects of lead.

Our culture, however, has no excuse.  We have information at our finger tips and technology advancing at the speed of light (at least to us it seems like it). So take initiative and find out where your local farms are located. Be proactive in always asking questions. Don’t always assume that just because you might be eating your fruits and vegetables that they are always safe for you. Food for thought. You are what you eat!!

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