Chicken broth and MSG

Recently I decided to read the ingredients in a typical container of chicken bouillon. I had heard that "fake" chicken broth was unhealthy, but did not realize how unhealthy it was! Here is a list of the ingredients in one single chicken bouillon cube:

Salt, Sugar, Mechanically Separated Cooked Ground Chicken Meat, Sodium Bicarbonate, Monosodium Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Corn Gluten, Corn Maltodextrin, Onion Powder, Chicken Fat, Hydrolyzed Corn Gluten Protein, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and Cottonseed Oils, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Water, Garlic Powder, Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate, Dextrose, Cooked Chicken Powder, Natural Chicken Flavor, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Calcium Silicate, Gelatin, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Turmeric, Corn Syrup Solids, Spice, Modified Corn Starch, Silicon Dioxide, Diacetyl (Flavor), Artificial Flavor, Tricalcium Phosphate, Alpha Tocopherol (Antioxidant), Corn Oil, BHA (Preservative), Propyl Gallate, Citric Acid, BHT (Preservative).

You may notice a few things from this list - many of the ingredients break Michael Pollon's food rule of not eating anything with ingredients that a 3rd grader cannot pronounce. Second, you may notice the presence of a controversial ingredient known as MSG (monosodium glutamate).  

Many experts believe that MSG is dangerous to one's health because it's toxic and can cause problems with one's neurons. MSG has been linked to obesity, migraines, alzheimer, etc. MSG is often associated with Chinese food, but it has become popularly used in MANY commonly purchased foods in grocery stores. One doctor gives his opinion on the danger of MSGs (very interesting - a must see): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-pnzj0c06Q&feature=fvw. 

The doctor also touches upon the problems with artificial sugars and compares these sugars to MSG (they are both detrimental to health according to him). 


So what's the solution for using healthy chicken broth? Either make it yourself using bones or the meat itself, or use an organic natural broth such as the one I have recently started using (love it). You can buy this broth from Costco at a very reasonable price. It is low in sodium and tastes like real broth....not the fake stuff:

Made with ingredients you can pronounce and with only 70mg of sodium.

We begin with free-range chickens raised on an organic vegetarian diet. Our mixture of simple ingredients is cooked together to create a foundation for a rich, delicious low sodium broth you didn’t have to prepare yourself.
Use as a base for more hearty soups, risotto, and pasta dishes or create your own amazing recipe.

Happy Eating!! 

New food rule from Michael Pollen - very interesting

http://fora.tv/2010/01/23/Michael_Pollan_on_Food_Rules_An_Eaters_Manual#Michael_Pollan_Dont_Eat_What_You_See_on_TV

cell phones and radiation

Article from: http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phone-radiation-levels/

Updated January 28, 2010 6:01 AM PST

Cell phone radiation levels

What it all means

According to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, specific absorption rate, or SAR, is "a way of measuring the quantity of radio frequency (RF) energy that is absorbed by the body." For a phone to pass FCC certification and be sold in the United States, its maximum SAR level must be less than 1.6 watts per kilogram. In Europe, the level is capped at 2 watts per kilogram while Canada allows a maximum of 1.6 watts per kilogram. The SAR level listed in our charts represents the highest SAR level measured with the phone next to the ear as tested by the FCC. Keep in mind that it is possible for the SAR level to vary between different transmission bands (the same phone can use multiple bands during a call), and that different testing bodies can obtain different results. Also, it's possible for results to vary between different models of the same phone--such as a handset that's offered by multiple carriers. CNET lists the exposure for voice calls only; the SAR for data use can differ.

It's important to note that in publishing this list, we are in no way implying that cell phone use is harmful to your health. Research abounds, but much of the literature is contradictory. While some researchers have said there is cause to be "concerned," others disagree and say it is still too early too early to be alarmed. Similarly, though some tests have suggested a link between long-term (10 years or longer) cell phone use and cancer, there still is not conclusive or demonstrated evidence that cell phones cause or don't cause adverse health effects in humans. In short, the jury is still out. Research into the matter will continue, and we will continue to monitor its results.

If you're concerned about limiting your SAR exposure, you can take a few easy steps beyond purchasing a handset with a low SAR. You can text instead placing a voice call, use a wired headset or speakerphone whenever possible, and carry your phone at least one inch from your body. Some researchers also caution against using your phone in areas with poor coverage since phones emit more radiation when searching for a signal. Children, which have smaller and thinner skulls, should limit cell phone use, and all users, children and adults, should not sleep with an active phone next to their bedside or under their pillow. 

20 highest-radiation cell phones (United States)
Editors' note: When a phone is discontinued by a manufacturer or a carrier, it will be removed from this chart.

	Manufacturer and model	SAR level(digital)
1	Motorola V195s	1.6
2	Motorola Zine ZN5	1.59
2a	Motorola Rival	1.59
4	Kyocera Jax S1300	1.55
4a	Motorola VU204	1.55
6	RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 (Sprint)	1.54
6a	RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 (U.S. Cellular)	1.54
6b	RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 (Verizon Wireless)	1.54
9	Nokia E71x	1.53
10	Pantech Matrix	1.52
11	LG Rumor 2	1.51
11a	RIM BlackBerry Bold	1.51
13	HTC SMT5800	1.49
14	Sony Ericsson W350a	1.48
15	T-Mobile Dash 3G	1.47
16	Samsung Instinct	1.46
16a	Samsung Spex SCH-R210	1.46
18	Kyocera X-tc	1.45
18a	Motorola i576	1.45
18b	Motorola Adventure V750	1.45

20 lowest-radiation cell phones (United States)
Editors' note: When a phone is discontinued by a manufacturer or a carrier, it will be removed from this chart.

	Manufacturer and model	SAR level(digital)
1	Beyond E-Tech Duet D8	0.109
2	Samsung Eternity SGH-A867	0.194
3	Samsung Blue Earth	0.196
4	Samsung SGH-G800	0.23
5	Samsung Soul	0.24
6	Samsung Impression SGH-A877	0.27
7	Samsung Innov8	0.287
8	Beyond E-Tech Duet D888	0.32
9	Samsung SGH-T229	0.383
10	Samsung SGH-A167	0.452
11	Samsung SGH-i450	0.457
12	Samsung Rugby SGH-A837 (AT&T)	0.46
13	Samsung Propel Pro	0.473
14	Samsung Gravity	0.487
15	HTC Imagio (Verizon Wireless)	0.498
16	Samsung Alias 2 SCH-U750	0.541
17	Samsung Gravity 2	0.547
18	Motorola Karma QA1	0.55
19	AT&T Quickfire	0.563
20	Sonim XP1	0.6

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Article from: http://environment.about.com/od/mobilephones/a/phone_safety.htm

Cell phones are almost as common as pocket change these days. It seems nearly everyone, including an increasing number of children, carries a cell phone wherever they go. Cell phones are now so popular and convenient that they are surpassing landlines as the primary form of telecommunication for many people.
 
Is Growing Cell-Phone Use Increasing Health Risks?
In 2008, for the first time, Americans are expected to spend more on cell phones than on landlines, according to the U.S. Labor Department. And we not only love our cell phones, we use them: Americans racked up more than a trillion cell-phone minutes in the first half of 2007 alone.
Yet, as cell-phone use continues to grow, so does concern about the possible health risks of prolonged exposure to cell-phone radiation.
 
Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer?
Wireless cell phones transmit signals via radio frequency (RF), the same kind of low-frequency radiation used in microwave ovens and AM/FM radios. Scientists have known for years that large doses of high-frequency radiation—the kind used in X-rays—causes cancer, but less is understood about the risks of low-frequency radiation.
Studies on the health risks of cell-phone use have produced mixed results, but scientists and medical experts warn that people should not assume no risk exists. Cell phones have been widely available for only the past 10 years or so, but tumors may take twice that long to develop.
Because cell phones haven’t been around very long, scientists haven’t been able to assess the effects of long-term cell-phone use, or to study the effects of low-frequency radiation on growing children. Most studies have focused on people who have been using cell phones for three to five years, but some studies have indicated that using a cell phone an hour a day for 10 years or more can significantly increase the risk of developing a rare brain tumor.
 
What Makes Cell Phones Potentially Dangerous?
Most RF from cell phones comes from the antenna, which sends signals to the nearest base station. The farther the cell phone is from the nearest base station, the more radiation it requires to send the signal and make the connection. As a result, scientists theorize that the health risks from cell-phone radiation would be greater for people who live and work where base stations are farther away or fewer in number—and research is beginning to support that theory.
In December 2007, Israeli researchers reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology that long-term cell-phone users who live in rural areas face a "consistently elevated risk" of developing tumors in the parotid gland compared with users who live in urban or suburban locations. The parotid gland is a salivary gland located just below a person’s ear.
And in January 2008, the French Health Ministry issued a warning against excessive cell phone use, especially by children, despite the lack of conclusive scientific evidence linking cell-phone use with cancer or other serious health effects. In a public statement, the ministry said: "As the hypothesis of a risk cannot be entirely excluded, precaution is justified."
 
How to Protect Yourself from Cell-Phone Radiation
“Precaution” seems to be the approach recommended by an increasing number of scientists, medical experts and public health agencies, from the French Health Ministry to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). General recommendations to minimize the potential health risks include talking on cell phones only when necessary, and using a hands-free device to keep the cell phone away from your head.

8 tips for going green at home

A few tips for going green at home:

1. Lower your heat at home as much as you can bear. This is particularly hard for me since I resent being cold in my own home. However, today I have decided to bring my heat down from 75 to 72 and 70 at night. It will not only save on my gas bill but it can save the environment. I will just put portable space heaters in my living room and dress warmly. Wish me luck!

2. Only wash clothes that really need it. If you just have one dirty spot, consider hand washing that area. Washing clothes uses a lot of water and energy. Again, this one is tough for me. I have a bad habit of just throwing everything in the hamper at the end of the day. Note: when you put clothes in the dryer clean the filter in order to use less energy.

3. If everyone in the United States reduced the junk mail s/he receives every week, 100 million trees would be spared each year. Go to optoutprescreen.com to stop receiving pre-approved credit card offers. I tried this myself and it was simple. Keep in mind your SSN is not required.

4. Opt to use a laptop over a desktop since the laptop uses half the energy of a desktop.

5. Use an aluminum bottle instead of buying plastic bottles. Even if you recycle those bottles transporting the bottles to the grocery store is not good for the environment

6. This one is obvious and I'm sure many of you already do it but turn off the tap as you brush your teeth or shave.

7. Donate old electronics, such as cell phone and batteries, to an electronic store so they can recycle them. I know Radio Shack takes them and probably many other electronic stores. These materials can not only be hazardous to the environment but also spend a long time in the landfills taking up wasted space.

8. Buy products that are green and use recycled materials, etc.

Some of these were taken from: http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/green-living/planet-friendly-tips-10000001604538/page8.html

Recycling 101

If you are still not recycling plastic, aluminum and paper....today is the day to change that bad habit. Read below to discover what recycling just one pop can or one plastic bottle can do for the environment: 

Fact: Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours. So, yes, it pays off. Here’s how to do it right wherever you live.

• Collect newspapers in a paper grocery bag or in tied bundles, depending on your community’s guidelines, and set them out on pickup day. (It takes up to 75,000 trees to produce one Sunday edition of the New York Times.)
• Don’t recycle wet cardboard. It can clog sorting machines. Throw it away to keep it from contaminating the rest of the load.
• Don’t recycle bottle tops; they’re not made from the same plastic as recyclable bottles. But if you forget, don’t sweat it. They’ll be sorted down the line. (The energy saved by recycling one plastic bottle can power a computer for 25 minutes.)
• Rinse cans, but crushing isn’t necessary. The aluminum can is the most recycled item in the United States, as well as the most valuable. It can be recycled again and again, and so efficiently that a can is regenerated and back on the shelf in as little as 60 days. 

http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/green-living/recycling-10000001604587/index.html

How to reduce chances of obesity in children

A recent study found that 3 habits are associated with reducing the chances of childhood obesity:

1. Eating dinner with your family more than 5 times a week
2. Sleeping at least 10.5 hrs
3. Watching less than 2 hrs of TV a day

Children that established the above habits were 40% less likely to be obese. Over 8000 kids 4 yr olds were included in the study and only about 15% practiced all 3 habits. So the lesson is, obesity in children is not only about eating junk food.

You can read more about the study here: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/08/childhood.obesity/index.html?hpt=C2

Eating Whole Foods

The more we learn about nutrition, the more it seems we should eat the way people did a hundred years ago. Recent research appears to be pointing us in the direction of eating mostly "whole foods" – that is, foods that are as close to their natural form as possible.


This could mean eating:

Whole grains instead of refined grains whenever possible.

Fruits, vegetables, and beans instead of supplements to provide the fiber and vitamins they contain.

A skinless chicken breast cooked with healthful ingredients instead of chicken nuggets processed with added fats, flavorings, and preservatives.

A baked potato with chopped green onions and light sour cream instead of a bag of sour cream and onion potato chips.

Fresh berries with breakfast instead of raspberry toaster pastries or breakfast bars.

A blueberry smoothie made with blueberries, yogurt, and a frozen banana instead of a blue-colored slushy or icee.

Many health experts believe that eating more whole foods is our best bet for improving health and preventing disease. Whole foods – like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and legumes -- retain their fiber as well as the whole portfolio of beneficial phytochemicals and nutrients that are often removed in processed foods.



http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/the-whole-foods-diet

Eating Produce in Season

Every wonder how you can find out what produce is currently in season? Here's a website that contains that valuable information: http://www.eattheseasons.com/. Eating produce in season not only tastes better, but it also reduces unnecessary pollutants emitted by transporting foods from far distances. I have to admit, eating in season is a struggle for me since I'm used to having tomatoes all year long..but the more we can do it the better for our personal health (lots of pesticides are needed to transport produce from far away) and the better for our environment.

Homemade Mac n Cheese

In an attempt to follow Pollan's Food Rule about only eating junk food if you make it yourself - I made mac and cheese from scratch for the first time! It was very easy. I used vegetable macaroni and mild chedder cheese shredded. When the pasta boiled, I added cheese, salt, pepper and oregano and mixed until the cheese melted. The difference in taste between homemade and the powdered junk out of the box was enormous! Try it yourself and you'll never go back to boxed mac and cheese again.

Note: to make the dish even healthier and a more balanced meal you can add grilled chicken and peas or corn.

Benefits of Flax Seed

Flax Seed is a very healthy seed that you can sprinkle on many foods to increase their nutritional value. I put it in my children's cereal every day. Here are some health benefits (mainly from the high amount of omega-3 essential fatty acids found in this seed):

1. Can help reduce the inflammation that is a significant factor in conditions such as asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches, and osteoporosis.
2. Can promote bone health and reduce bone loss.
3. Protects against heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
4. Helps prevent and control high blood pressure.
5. Can help reduce cholesterol.
6. Can reduce hot flashes or dry eyes.
7. A good source of fiber.

Where to use flax seed:

1. Hot or cold cereals.
2. Homemade muffin, cookie or bread recipes.
3. Breakfast shakes. 
4. Cooked vegetables. 



Some tips about buying flax seed:

Ground flaxseeds are usually available both refrigerated and non-refrigerated. It is highly recommended to purchase ground flaxseed that is in a vacuum-sealed package or has been refrigerated since once flaxseeds are ground, they are much more prone to oxidation and spoilage. Likewise, if you either purchase ground flaxseeds or you grind them at home, it is important to keep them in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator or freezer to prevent them from becoming rancid.

Flaxseed oil is especially perishable and should be purchased in opaque bottles that have been kept refrigerated. Flaxseed oil should have a sweet nutty flavor. Never use flaxseed oil in cooking; add it to foods after they have been heated.

Grind whole flaxseeds in a coffee or seed grinder in order to enhance their digestibility and therefore their nutritional value.

Some concerns:

While flaxseeds contain cyanogenic glycosides compounds, at normal levels and without protein malnutrition, researchers currently maintain that this is not of concern and should cause no adverse effects (they consider 50 grams, which is more than 2 TBS, to be a safe amount for most people). The heat employed by cooking has been found to eliminate the presence of these compounds.

Some people have gastrointestinal symptoms, such as flatulence and bloating, when they first begin to incorporate flaxseeds into their diet. It is suggested to start with a small amount, such as one teaspoon, and slowly build yourself up to your intake goal. When increasing fiber intake in the diet, it is also a good idea to include fluid (water) intake as well.

Several animal studies (involving rats and mice) have raised questions about the safety of high-dose flaxseeds during pregnancy - not for the pregnant females, but for their offspring. "High-dose" in these animal experiments has meant flax intake as 10% of the total diet, or about 4 tablespoons of flaxseed for every 2,000 calories. Although it is impossible to generalize from animal studies to humans, we recommend that women who are pregnant (or considering pregnancy) consult with their healthcare providers if they are consuming or planning to consume flaxseeds in these high amounts.


Important notes:

If adding ground flaxseeds to a cooked cereal or grain dish, do so at the end of cooking since the soluble fiber in the flaxseeds can thicken liquids if left too long. 

The nutrients in ground flax seeds are more easily absorbed and thus, much healthier!








Some of the information in this post was taken from the Whole Foods website.

Fluoride in Water

Whether the govt. should or should not actively put fluoride in regular drinking water is a controversial topic with many people on opposite ends of the argument. Below I will share some opinions from each perspective (taken from the internet) and let you be the judge. I would love to hear your views or more resources on the subject:

Those opposed to fluoride in water:
1. Many who oppose water fluoridation consider it to be a form of compulsory mass medication, thus raising ethical issues. Like vaccinations, fluoride presents a conflict between benefiting the common good and infringing on individual rights.
2. Tooth decay has dropped at the same rate in countries with, and without, water fluoridation.
3. Constant ingestion of high levels of fluoride can cause adverse effects including dental fluorosis - a condition that causes tiny white streaks or specks on children's teeth and in some cases, black or brown stains.
4. Adding fluoride to water costs too much and it's a waste of tax dollars.

Those for fluoride in water:
1. Water fluoridation is effective at reducing cavities in both children and adults.
2. Reduces oral health inequality between rich and poor since everyone gets the fluoride.

It's interesting to note that bottled water typically does not contain fluoride, and some water filters remove some or all fluoride. For this reason, some dentists may recommend on drinking tap water for their patients.