Eat seasonally and locally

Okay, I know I said I'd continue on with my 'perils of high fructose corn syrup' post, but I'm in a very positive mood. Rather than focus on what you shouldn't eat, today I'd like to talk about what you should be eating to maximize your heath. One of the best ways to ensure you're getting the most bang for your buck from your food (nutrient wise) is to eat food at the peak of ripeness, as close to the time it was picked as possible. Fresh produce loses its nutrient value after it has been picked. The longer you go from the time of harvest, the fewer nutrients are in that food. If you are eating fruits and vegetables that have been transported long distances, they will be more depleted than those fresh from the field. So how do you get around this? Eat seasonally and locally!

When you eat foods that are in season, you are consuming them at their most flavorful and nutritious. To me, one of the most striking examples of the taste benefits of seasonal eating is tomatoes. There is no comparison between the sweet, juicy tang of an heirloom tomato fresh off the vine, and an out of season, flavorless, mealy tomato from the grocery store that has been shipped here from the southern hemisphere. And when you eat seasonally, you are also eating foods when they are most readily available, which translates to most affordable!

Those of us in Lancaster County and the surrounding areas are incredibly fortunate to have a bevvy of fresh, seasonal produce widely available. We are surrounded by some of the richest, most productive, non-irrigated agricultural soil in the world! Stop at any of the farm stands scattered along the roadsides, visit one of the local Farmers Markets, or sign up with one of the growing number of area Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs for fresh, nutritious, local foods year round. Not sure where to start? Lancaster Buy Fresh Buy Local is a fantastic resource! Check them out on Facebook or click here to check out their April news. Not from Lancaster County? Check out http://www.buylocalpa.org/ to find your local chapter.

Better yet, grow it yourself! Plant a garden! This is the perfect time of year to start thinking seasonally, and it doesn't get any more local (or cheaper) than your own yard, windowsill or patio! No matter how little space you think you have, you can probably grow something, whether it is potatoes in a bucket, herbs in a pot by the window, or a garden full of the freshest, most flavorful and nutritious produce. Not sure where to start? Check out my the following links to interesting container gardening ideas (like growing carrots in an empty 2 liter bottle or turning an old pallet into a vertical patio garden). So what are you waiting for! Get out and garden! Or join a CSA! Or visit a local market! Your tastebuds, wallets, and health will thank you!

http://www.recyclart.org/2011/05/diy-pallet-garden/

Pallet Garden

http://www.smallkitchengarden.net/small-kitchen-garden/soda-bottle-carrots-a-very-small-kitchen-garden

Carrots in a 2 liter bottle

http://www.instructables.com/id/VERTICAL-VEGETABLES-quotGrow-upquot-in-a-smal/#step1

Hanging Herb Garden

http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/square-foot-gardening.html

The article lists how many of each kind of veggies to plant in each square of a square foot garden.

http://www.thegardencentral.com/vegetable-garden/growing-vegetables/

Guidelines for growing vegetables chart: planting timing & watering frequencies for the garden

High Fructose Corn Syrup: Is it really just corn sugar?

Have any of you seen these new "Corn Sugar" commercials that claim High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is the same thing as sugar?  Are any of you falling for this nonsense? 

It makes perfect sense that the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) is trying to rebrand HFCS as something- ANYTHING- other than what it really is.  Over the past few years, manufacturers of HFCS have seen their products shunned by savvy consumers everywhere as awareness over the hazards of this chemically produced food product have come into the public consciousness.

The CRA has asked the federal government to allow it to change the name of HFCS to "corn sugar" and launched an enormous multi-million dollar public relations campaign to try to convince American consumers that there are no dangers associated with their product.  They are trying to convince you that sugar is sugar regardless of the source, that your body doesn't know the difference, and that attacks against it by groups like the Weston A. Price Foundation and the Naturopathy Movement are completely unfounded and devoid of scientific research.  All of this despite the fact that in 1997, the CRA openly admitted in an affidavit during court proceedings regarding exportation of HFCS to Mexico that the two products are as vastly different as "the horse and the automobile... in terms of their physical and functional characteristics, as well as in their production process, distribution and commercial application," according to Peter Buzzanell, a corn industry expert.  I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like sugar is sugar to me.  The sugar industry has gone as far as to sue the CRA for making these claims that they say are inaccurate and misleading to consumers.

So if High Fructose Corn Syrup isn't sugar, what IS it?  It is actually corn syrup that has undergone enzymatic processing to convert some of its glucose to fructose.  Okay, so what's the big deal about that?  This is really a question of HOW it is "enzymatically processed".  Caustic soda containing mercury is used to convert the corn starch to corn syrup and studies have repeatedly shown that this toxic heavy metal can contaminate the corn syrup and make its way into the finished food product.  Let me say that again.  Foods containing HFCS may be contaminated with MERCURY!  Mercury, for those of you who aren't aware, is a well known neurotoxin!  On top of mercury contamination, glutaraldehyde, a toxic embalming chemical, is also used to manufacture HFCS.  This isn't sounding too much like table sugar to me.  Check out the clip below from the documentary "King Corn" where the filmmakers attempt to whip up a batch of HFCS in their kitchen. 

So is HFCS really just corn sugar?  Plain and simple, NO!   HFCS initiates a metabolic nightmare in the human body.  Derrell Jones of NaturalNews.com does an excellent job of breaking down the differences in how the body handles HFCS vs. other sugars here:  http://www.naturalnews.com/030858_corn_sugar_HFCS.html

We'll discuss these issues and some of the other health risks associated with High Fructose Corn Syrup next time.  Until then, don't be fooled by a slick marketing campaign; HFCS is most certainly not sugar!
Sources:
http://naturalsociety.com/study-finds-high-fructose-corn-syrup-contains-m...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/26/AR2009012...

Congratulations- You Did It!

Congratulations! You’ve finished your 7 day detox! While we all had a reason for doing this detox, I hope you’ve realized:

• Taking an active role in your health will make a difference.

• Eating right, and choosing to live healthier, is easy if you have a plan.

• Making better choices in your lifestyle can give you more energy.

• The benefits of detoxification:

1. Weight Loss 2. Hormone Balance 3. Healthier connections to food

I would encourage you to not let this be a one-time event. Just like our car needs a periodic oil and filter change, our bodies need periodic times of detoxification to help clean out all the toxins that accumulate in our system as time goes on. Detox is a great way to keep your “filter” clean and to maintain optimal health. Even if you feel fine, you should consider doing a routine, yearly detox to keep you in good habits of health. I prefer to implement the Core Restore detox plan every 6 months. This provides a maintenance that will ensure our body is performing at an optimal level!

Well done and keep up the good work!

Day Six of Seven - You Are Almost There!

By now I’m sure you’ve found a few new favorite recipes from the Core Restore patient guide. I’ve personally enjoyed the black bean soup, bean burgers and home-made hummus with vegetables!

Here are some food preparation tips that you may not have put to use yet:

• Do you own a rice cooker? A rice cooker is an inexpensive tool that provides an easy way to help you prepare large quantities of rice, requiring little attention. You can then store the excess rice in the fridge to use later with meals – such as with vegetable stir fry or cooked with herbs and spices (healthy fried rice).

• Have you used a Crock Pot recently? In a similar way, a Crock Pot, or slow cooker, is another reasonably-priced cooking device that can help with meal preparation. Since it has a long cooking time, food can be set to slow-cook before leaving for work, and will be ready when you return. This is especially useful for cooking vegetables (beans, peas, etc), stews, soups, meats, and a variety of other dishes. The best part is that cooking in a single pot reduces clean up time and the low cooking temperature and glazed pot make cleaning it trouble-free. Leftovers can be stored in containers in the fridge and eaten later, eliminating the need to cook several meals a day.

These are simple, but great cooking appliances to help you eat well every day! Make sure to keep these handy and don’t be afraid to mix up your favorite spices and flavors into a new recipe. Try it for yourself, and share your secret recipe with the rest of the group.

Don’t hold out! Let’s all eat healthier together!

Day Five of Seven - Feel The Increased Energy!

Have you noticed an increase in energy since starting this detox? I’ve noticed that I feel a lot more energy and my skin is brighter and the whites of my eyes are very white and bright! This is definitely healthy signs of a successful detox program.

I wanted to share a great resource with you. Here is a nice resource that you can print off and carry with you as you do your produce shopping at the grocery store:
http://static.foodnews.org/pdf/EWG-shoppers-guide.pdf

This list of fruits and vegetables is eye opening! The produce that have the highest level of pesticides, which they call the “Dirty Dozen” includes: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce and potatoes. You should always try to purchase the organically grown option when it comes to these foods.
On the other hand, their “Clean 15” list is made up of conventional produce grown with the least amount of pesticides. The list include: onions, avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, mangos, sweet peas, asparagus, kiwi, cabbage, eggplant, cantaloupe, watermelon, grapefruit, sweet potato, honeydew melon.



Keep eating well! Your body is thanking you!

Awesome Recipe!

When I started planning my meals last week for what I was going to eat this week, I knew I was going to have a heavy work schedule and limited time to make meals. So, I decided to choose only 2 new recipes from the Core Restore patient guide to make this week. One of the recipes was for the Bean Burgers. I have to say I have never had a bean burger so I was intrigued and maybe a little apprehensive. I enjoyed getting the list of ingredients out on the counter last night and anticipated a yummy new delight. My husband decided he was not interested in a "bean burger" so he made alternate plans. He was a bit curious though and kept looking over my shoulder while I was preparing. Once done, I added a slice of goat cheese and that really got his attention. As we sat down for dinner, he sampled my bean burger. Let me just say, the left overs I thought I'd have for lunch today were gone by dinner last night! They were very delicious and it looks like we have a new recipe for future dinner plans.

Day Four of Seven - Food Never Tasted So Good!

I would imagine everyone is excited to be eating again. I’ve noticed that food tastes better and my sense of taste is stronger now that I’ve completed the first two days of the detox. The meals I prepared have more flavor than the high salt/high sugar menus served at most restaurants to enhance their food’s taste! There’s nothing like the real thing! Many people think it is hard to eat healthy. I’ve noticed that once you make a commitment to eating healthier, it gets easier. It is all about making the right choices up front. Plan ahead for the best success! Choose the meals you like and make them in bulk ahead of time so they are ready to eat at a moment’s notice.



You are half way through your detox and soon you will be able to eat anything. Make the choice to eat healthy every day. It will make a difference… and who knows… you may never want to go back!

Day 1, 8 pm

Today wasn't too bad and I'm pleasantly surprised. No headache, no muscle aches. I do have to admit I'd like to eat some solid food but I'm ok without it for now. I have also had a lot of energy today. I think the worst thing I've experienced today was how many times I had to go to the bathroom; a good sign the detox is helping to flush fluids. I'm hoping tomorrow will be similar....then I'll be through the most challenging part of the detox.

Day Three of Seven - Let’s Start Eating Again!

Great work! You did it! I’m confident no one even thought about cheating! Now, you get to start eating again. Be sure to pick the recipes that interest you most and make good dietary choices today to keep your detox on the right track. You will notice that even though you have a strong desire for food, you will feel fuller on much less.

This is a great time to examine not only how much we eat, but the quality and source of what we eat. Here are some helpful guidelines to what the stickers on your produce (PLU Codes) really mean:
1. If there are only four numbers in the PLU code, this means that the produce was grown conventionally or “traditionally” with the use of pesticides. The last four letters of the PLU code are simply what kind of vegetable or fruit. An example is that all bananas are labeled with the code of 4011. 2. If there are five numbers in the PLU code, and the number starts with “9?, this tells you that the produce was grown organically without the help of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. An organic banana would be: 94011.3. What about GMO produce? There is currently no sticker system to identify genetically modified organism or GMO produce. One of the benefits of buying certified organic products is that they cannot intentionally include any GMO ingredients. Buy products labeled “100% organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic ingredients.” You can be doubly sure if the product also has a Non-GMO Project Verified Seal.


For more information on the topic of GMO foods, take a look at this website: http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/Non-GMO-Shopping-Guide.pdf

Well, you’ve made it over the hump! I raise my Core Support shake to better health!

Day Two of Seven - One Down. Great Job!

You made it through the first day. Great job! It gets easier.
Try making your shake today with pure fruit juice. Organic Cherry juice is a great choice with the CoreSupport Protein Shake. Add a little ice and a cup of blueberries and you have a great smoothie to drink.

Don’t think about food yet. It is too soon. Your body is resting and clearing out toxins more efficiently today because of your commitment to the program. Stay focused on the bigger picture—GREAT HEALTH! Only 6 days left.

Have you ever thought about how toxic the cities we live in are? We are bombarded with toxins everyday just living a metropolitan lifestyle. Forbes magazine listed the 40 most contaminated urban areas in the United States due to lack of clean water and high rate of environmental hazards. I've included the link so you can read them for yourself. Thankfully, Lancaster did not make this list, however, Philadelphia and Baltimore/Towson did! Pass this link along to anyone you may know in the cities that made this toxic list.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/02/toxic-cities-pollution-lifestyle-real-estate-toxic-cities_chart.html

Day One of Seven - You can do this!

If you are reading this email you have chosen to take an active role in your health.

You have chosen to live healthier.

You have chosen to make better choices in your lifestyle.

You have chosen to enrich your daily diet.

You realize the importance of detox.

The biggest complaint I get on day one is the lack of food. Drink water… Lots of water... Keep drinking. This is very important and speeds up the purification process. You will quickly forget about food when you drink your Core Support protein shake. It mixes well with rice milk or almond milk. This makes it more filling and enhances the flavor.

I know many of you will miss your hot coffee in the morning. If you need a hot beverage or a new way to drink more water, try sipping hot water with a wedge of lemon or lime. It is very refreshing and has a great aroma!

Stay strong and focused. Stay hydrated. You can do this. You will feel better.

Detox with your Doctor Kick Off

If you missed our Detox with your Doctor educational seminar last night, you missed a room of people, lots of questions and answers and most importantly what and why detox is so important to your overall health. Matt from Orthomolecular gave us a fantasitic presentation on the subject and we all learned a lot! One of the most interesting facts I learned was about the herbicide sprayed on crops by farmers, atrazine. Locally, it is so heavily used and is known to contribute to insulin resistance and obesity. I hadn't really thought about that before and it shed a new light on another way I could be getting toxins into my body causing all sorts of additional health concerns including, headaches, inflammation, joint and muscle pain, insomnia....and the list goes on and on.
Ok...so many of us are preparing to start our detox program together this Saturday, Jan. 21. Now is the time to start looking at the meal plan and making your grocery list of what you are going to eat. I find it helpful to highlight the foods on the list of allowed foods that I enjoy and use this as my grocery list. For me, it's imperative I create a menu for the week ahead of time so I have no added stress of wondering what I am going to eat and whether I have to make a trip to the grocery store or not. With such a busy schedule, if I don't prepare ahead of time, I set myself up for failure from the start and definitely extra stress. So....let's get ready and line up those meals and snacks that are Core Restore compliant and set ourselves up for success from the start!

Apprehensive about detoxing?

I totally understand the apprehension of starting a detox program....it's the commitments! Which involves the unknown, fear, stress, the "out of my comfort zone" and the "I can't add another thing to my daily routine" mantras.

Even though I have experienced our 7 day Core Restore detox program before and I know it's healthy, relatively easy to do and boy do I need it at this time of the year!!, I still find myself making up excuses why I can continue to put this off until next month or maybe the spring or fall. Hey, I can come up with all kinds of excuses (and there are actually some valid ones at this time of my life), but I'm making the commitment knowing I have over 30 other busy people that have also committed to take the detox challenge with me, Dr. Joe, Emily and Andrea. I also know I will be held accountable (since I've decided to share my detox journey via blogging) and I know that will really help in keeping on track.

I'd love to hear some reasons why you have decided to detox at this time. For me, I want to feel like I felt last time I did the detox. Way more energy, less bloating, no more low blood sugar issues like shakiness or headaches to name a few.

Detox with your Doctor event announcement

I am excited to personally invite you to join me in a unique “Detox with Your Doctor” event! I’m offering this event exclusively to my clients and their guests. I will be doing the Detox right along with you, so we can experience all the challenges and benefits together and the timing is ideal: right after the holidays!


Why Detox?
Today, we are exposed to more pollutants than ever before. Your body was not designed to deal with the considerable onslaught of these toxins. But, by cleansing these toxic materials from your body and lowering your exposure to further toxins, you can feel better and reduce your risk of illness.

Let me guide you through a 7-day, science-based detox program that I’ve experienced and trust. During the kick-off presentation I will share with you the expectations and benefits of the Core Restore Program and answer any questions you may have. I’ll be communicating with you each day of the program through email; sharing tips, recipes and encouraging you throughout the week.

The kick-off presentation will be held on Tuesday, January 17th, from 7 - 8:00 p.m. in my Leola office. We already have many, many people that have registered for this event; space is limited, so please RSVP by email or calling 717.556.8103. And remember, you can bring a friend!

I look forward to joining you on this detox experience that will revitalize our health!

In natural health,
Jeannie