According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans throw away close to 26 tons of food per year, almost 25% of the food purchased for home use.  A study conducted by the University of Arizona found that Americans spend about $43 billion dollars a year on food that is eventually wasted. Scientists also have found that decomposing food in our landfills creates large amounts of methane gas, which contribute to global warming.  In addition, the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy says that more energy is wasted in discarded food than is produced from all of the oil and gas extracted from the United States coastlines.

Interestingly enough, one of the biggest causes of food waste in our country is the expiration date that is placed on food containers.

For example, the “use by” date refers to the date that the unopened item is at its best as far as quality of taste and appearance is concerned.  As time passes the “use by” date, the degradation of food is gradual.  The “sell by” date has nothing to do with the taste or actual quality of the food, but it indicates that the store should remove the product from sale due to the expected beginning of a decline in quality.  According to ShelfLifeAdvice.com, Americans are most wary of dairy products, such as milk, eggs, mayonnaise, cheese and yogurt.

ShelfLifeAdvice.com lists some handy guidelines.

Milk, if properly refrigerated, will remain safe about a week after the “sell by” date.  Cottage Cheese lasts for 10-14 days past the date on the container.  Mayonnaise, unopened, can last 30 days after the expiration date; yogurt about a week or so.  Lastly, refrigerated eggs should last about 3-5 weeks after the ’sell by’ date.  As far as my personal procedure for food quality, I open and sniff.  If the food passes the sniff test, I taste.  If I don’t gag, I eat.  You may want to try a different method!  But consider employing a method that is more thoughtful than the automatic ‘throw away at the container date’ method.  It could save the planet unnecessary waste and save you a good amount of money.

Researchers are conducting more and more research into body pH.  ’pH’ is the measurement of the acidity of a solution.  In the case of body pH, the solution being measured is the body’s internal cellular chemistry.  The more acidic the environment, the more prone the body is to disease.  The more alkaline (like a battery) the body’s internal environment, the healthier the body.  The pH of the body (not the stomach, as that is supposed to be acidic to digest food) should be on the neutral or alkaline side for greater health.  Optimal pH levels are between 6.0 and 7.5.

You can measure your pH levels by using  pH test strips at different intervals of the day.

Testing the pH in the saliva and the urine will yield the most accurate results.  The urine pH determines how well the body processes minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium.  These minerals are “acid buffers,” as they control acid levels in the body.  A test of saliva pH will reveal how well the digestive enzymes in the body are working.  These enzymes are essential to a properly functioning liver and stomach.  As previously mentioned, it is very important to have a balanced pH for excellent health.

The most common cause of an acidic environment in the body is diet.

A diet high in acid-producing animal products, such as meat, eggs and diary, coupled with a diet low in alkaline-producing foods such as fruits and vegetables, will lead to a pH imbalance.  In addition, acid-producing foods such as white flour, sugar, soft drinks and caffeine all contribute to the problem.  Society’s dependence on over-the-counter drugs and medication, as well as artificial sweeteners, is also a big problem, as these substances, too, are acid forming.

The bottom line is that an acidic environment in the body is a major factor in cardiovascular damage, weight gain and obesity, bladder and kidney trouble, immune system deficiency, premature aging, osteoporosis, joint pain and chronic fatigue.

The best bet to boost alkalinity levels in the body is to eat a diet that is at least 75% plant-based.  Fresh vegetables, fruits,and raw seeds and nuts will not only alkalize the body for optimal health, they will lead to weight loss and more energy.  Sounds like a winner to me.

When I hear the words “raw” and “food” in the same sentence, my first thought turns to uncooked meat, which quite honestly does not sound very appealing. Thankfully, the raw food diet is not about meat, poultry and fish.  It’s about vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds.  According to scientists, cooking food not only destroys the nutritional value and vital enzymes of food, it may even chemically alter the nutrients in the food, changing them into free radicals that negatively affect our health.  Free radicals are reactive molecules that destroy or damage cells in our body.

Raw food experts suggest that cooking foods, such as vegetables, causes the food to create acidic toxins that build-up in the body and lead to ill health.

For the body to be at its healthiest, the internal environment must be alkaline, like a battery.  The more acidic the environment in the body, the greater the likelihood of disease.  Raw foods prevent acidic toxins from building up in the body, fostering good health.  In your daily quest for good health, try eating vegetables in their natural state, uncooked, or as the French refer to them, crudité.

Here is a list of some popular and easy to eat raw vegetables: asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, fennel, green onions, mushrooms, snow peas, tomatoes and sweet corn.  Another benefit, according to Raw Food Life.com, is that raw foods are more nutritionally dense.  As your body learns to absorb the additional nutrition, you will have more energy and actually be less hungry, helping you to lose weight!  So grab a carrot or piece of fruit and enjoy food as Chef Mother Nature intended.

KansasDC.com

Anti-oxidants are chemicals that prevent cell damage in our bodies and carotenoids are pigments that give fruits and vegetables their yellow, red and orange color.  Observational studies suggest that higher levels of lycopene in the body lower the risk for many types of cancers.  Much of the evidence of lycopene’s protective ability lies in the areas of lung, stomach and prostate cancer.   There is also some indication that lycopene may help to protect the body against breast, mouth, pancreas and colo-rectal cancer.

The most concentrated food source of lycopene is the gac.

That’s right, the gac.  I never heard of it either.  But it is a fruit that grows in Southeastern Asia.  From the photographs, it appears to be a fairly large fruit that sort of looks like a gourd.  The only difference is that the gac is covered in pointy spikes and it changes color as the fruit matures on the vine, starting out as neon green and ending up a bright hot-pink.  Interestingly enough, the outer covering of the gac is poisonous and the edible insides are a disgusting looking mess, sort of like intestines.  Maybe that is why the fruit hasn’t caught on in the western half of the world!  It might catch on soon, though, because the gac has 75 times more lycopene than its next highest competitor – making its anti-oxidant value very desirable.

The gac’s next highest lycopene cousin is the red tomato.

Tomatoes have a very high level of lycopene, which has been shown to boost health and prevent disease.  Tomatoes are easy to include in the daily diet, and studies have shown that tomato sauce is even more beneficial than eating tomatoes right off the vine, as the cooking of the tomatoes seems to concentrate and release even more of the lycopene.

Other foods high in lycopene ….

…. are watermelon, pink grapefruit, red peppers and, understandably, ketchup.  (Though, if I were using ketchup for my lycopene source, I would acquire the organic version at the market because it’s free of high fructose corn syrup).  Lycopene rich foods are available year round, but summer seems to be the season of lycopene.  Enjoy a bowl of tomato salad, while eating your organic hot dog doused in ketchup, followed by a couple of watermelon slices.  Tremendous!

Find High Quality Antioxidants at our nutritional store!

Did you ever think about the best foods to have on hand during an emergency?

Depending on what part of the country you happen to be in, it is either hurricane season or tornado season. Those two weather “events” definitely qualify as emergency situations. Oh, and don’t forget flash flooding and the recent barrage of winter storms. With the way Mother Nature has been acting, it’s a good idea to discuss the types of foods we need to stock in our pantry.

Real Simple magazine listed the top foods to have on hand for an emergency.

Here are some of the best: Peanut butter. Peanut butter is full of healthy fat and protein and, just as the other foods on the list, it does not need refrigeration. Whole wheat crackers are high in fiber and last longer than bread. Nuts and trail mix are high energy foods that supply needed calories when food sources are limited. Individually packed multi-grain cereal is supplemented with vitamins and can help start the day out right. On that note, canned or powdered milk is a great substitute for the real stuff. The ‘ready-to-serve’ milk has a long shelf life, and it will be an ingredient you’re grateful for if the power goes out. Granola bars, sports bars and dried fruit are perfect to have on hand, as they stay fresh for quite awhile and provide a decent amount of nutrition. From the canned arena, canned chicken, turkey, tuna and salmon will last up to two years and will provide necessary protein to your daily diet. Not as good as fresh or frozen (but hey, this is an emergency), canned vegetables such as peas, carrots and green beans provide vitamins and fiber. It is also very important to have a three-day supply of water on hand. In addition, a case or two of Gatorade or Powerade will provide the minerals you may need to prevent dehydration if your water supply is limited. Last, if things are really bad, it wouldn’t hurt to have a supply of multivitamins in storage to make sure your body is getting all of the nutrients required to stay healthy. I hope this Health Tip is not the harbinger of “doom” but, as the Boy Scouts say, “be prepared.”

Kansasdc.com

Most vitamins cannot be made in the body

Most vitamins cannot be made in the body; they have to be taken into the body in the form of food.  The same goes with minerals.  The saying, “you are what you eat” is pretty accurate.  The body takes the food we eat and breaks it down into the nutrients we need to maintain our bodies’ function, repair our cells and supply us with energy.  Poor food choices hamper the body’s ability to be at its best.  Not only that, but poor food choices and an inadequate supply of vitamins and minerals promote ill health and disease.

For every junk desire that one may have, there are healthy alternatives that exist at every health market.

The over abundance of junk food commercials on television increases our desire to consume high calorie, high salt, high (bad) fat, no fiber, low vitamin foods. These foods are not good for you, do not promote health and should only be consumed by people with a death wish. Once in a blue moon, it may be alright to have an occasional splurge, but if you are not healthy or overweight, junk food is not an option.  For every junk desire that one may have, there are healthy alternatives that exist at every health market.  You can even find organic, 100% all beef, no-chemical-added hot dogs. Throw on some natural sauerkraut with organic mustard on a whole grain bun and now you are “living!”   Looking for high quality vitamins?.. ………….          try THE STORE

Thought for the Week: ” The patient must be guided toward discovering the healing powers that lie within him. Faith in pills and eternal treatments can be replaced by faith in oneself. The billions of dollars spent for impotent over-the-counter remedies, for painkillers and tranquilizers, and for solace from physicians can be saved by a medical system which restores faith and hope, not in drugs and physicians, but in each individual and his body.” - Dennis T. Jaffe, Ph.D

D₃ 5000™High Potency, Bioavailable Vitamin D

As adults we know the saying “you are what you eat”, but it is not until we become parents that the saying broadens to “your family is what YOU eat”.  Frightening, I know.  The quick bite to eat at the drive through when running late, the habitual bowl of ice cream at night and the ever nutritious cup of coffee (and if you only have one, you’re good) to start the day off become imprints on our children’s’ impressionable minds of what being “healthy” really is.

I pride myself on being up to date on nutrition for my children.  They have been given a largely organic, low sugar, whole wheat diet from birth.  My biggest frustration as a parent is their lack of, let’s call it “enthusiasm” for vegetables.  It has been a source of frustration every evening for the past four and a half years.  I’ve bribed, overly praised, made fun veggie kabobs, and even resorted to hiding veggies through puree in their foods only to find myself slowly giving up at times.  It was not until recently that I looked around our evening table to discover the leaders of our tribe, my husband and I, were falling short in the “health” department too.  We have three children under five, my husband works a demanding job and I stay home to do pretty much everything.  (There are my excuses)  Even with all that said what WE eat as a family effect every waking hour of our lives.  This is too important to say there is not enough time in the day.

My husband decided to begin the clear path detox program with his main goal being weight loss.  The wonderful, supportive wife I am (I am smiling while I write this) served foods he could enjoy on the detox which included mainly veggies, fruits and whole grains.  I was embarrassed when our daughter, who is four years old, says the first night “Why are you eating that”?  Are you kidding me?  Whole, nutritious foods cause alarm in our children, but Mc Donald’s was perfectly normal?  This only added fuel to our fire.  I have to say my husband is doing awesome on the program.  He is down over fifteen pounds (in just a few weeks), feels more energized and really thinking about what he puts into his body.  The best part is about a week into the program my children were getting excited about these wonderful, nutritious foods and adding new veggies to their diet.  I was shocked and a little speechless.  No coercing or bribes, just leadership and being a good example!

Parenthood is a noble calling when done right.  I always joke that I knew the answer to everything until the day our first born arrived and the moment she looked at me I realized I didn’t know much at all.  What I have learned so far is that the solution to most problems is less complicated than it seems.  If nutrition is something that keeps your parental brain awake at night simply add color to your plate.  Show your crew how enjoyable REAL food can be and take inventory of what you consume because the apple literally does not fall far from the tree.

Motherly Moments- Alexis, Chiropractic Assistant

The Clear Path Program

The Clear path program has two parts: 1) the 10 or 28 day detox phase and 2) reintroduction of healthy food phase. Each phase integrates a specialized product called medical food. This program is like resting your digestive system back to its original settings.

The detox phase is composed of eating a detoxing diet while eliminating foods such as sugar, soda, artificial sweeteners, dairy, caffeine, and meat.  During the 10 days most of your meals will consist of fruits, veggies and legumes (beans).  Additionally, during this time you will integrate a medical food called UltraClear Plus PH. This product is designed to help you liver pull out toxins while shifting your body’s PH to a more neutral state. (less acidic)  This step prepares you your body’s receptors and intestines for a new nutritional program.

The second phase of the Clear Path Program is to start reintroducing good nutrition back into your body again while taking a medical food called UltraMeal Plus 360 and UltraMeal Bar.  This medical food is nutritional support for the management of conditions associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.  The result of treating each condition is less body fat and more energy plus it helps your body create a state of better muscle building.  This comes with a guide (if needed) to guide you though a meal plan to fit your desired goals.

The Clear Path Program

The Clear path program has two parts: 1) the 10 or 28 day detox phase and 2) reintroduction of healthy food phase. Each phase integrates a specialized product called medical food. This program is like resting your digestive system back to its original settings.

The detox phase is composed of eating a detoxing diet while eliminating foods such as sugar, soda, artificial sweeteners, dairy, caffeine, and meat.  During the 10 days most of your meals will consist of fruits, veggies and legumes (beans).  Additionally, during this time you will integrate a medical food called UltraClear Plus PH. This product is designed to help you liver pull out toxins while shifting your body’s PH to a more neutral state. (less acidic)

The second phase of the Clear Path Program is to start reintroducing good nutrition back into your body again while taking a medical food called UltraMeal Plus 360 and UltraMeal Bar.  This medical food is designed to decrease the bad cholesterol and triglycerides while increasing the good cholesterol.  Also this medial food reduced inflammation and promotes lean muscle mass.  This comes with a guide (if needed) to guide you though a meal plan to fit your desired goals.

Clear Path Program includes:
UltraClear Plus PH
UltraMeal Plus 360
UltraMeal Bar
Quick start Guide to Detoxification
Ultra Meal Guide
Clear Path Case

Cost: $165.95