Does Our Food Supply Make Us Sick?

This is a question I've been pondering as of late. Since changing my diet to contain mostly organic foods and meat from grass-fed/free-roaming animals, I have noticed a significant change in my health. I haven't suffered from allergies when everyone else around me is dying; I haven't used my asthma inhaler in two months; I hardly have any headaches any more (an occasional head "annoyance" as I like to call them, but nothing that impairs my function). Overall, I feel better! I didn't change the actual foods I was eating...basically still the same amounts of starches, fruits and veggies, lean meats. The only thing I've changed is how they were processed or grown.

Years ago, my dad chose a vegetarian diet after reading about all the hormones and stuff which were being pumped into our livestock to produce a cheaper food supply. Back then, free-range and grass-fed were not as affordable and available as they are now (yes, they are still more expensive meats, but as bad in comparison as years ago). He is now nearly 70, doesn't have any pill bottles sitting by his bedside, and out-hike most of us! He used to not be able to enter a house where a cat may have been without his allergies going in full force, and these days he can sit with one on his lap. He grows whatever he can, and carefully selects those things he can't. He is in GREAT health for a man his age!

Which leads me to think...our food supply IS making us sick! All the added sugar, high fructose corn syrup (which is bad in that it aids in obesity), MSG, BHT, BHA, added sodium, and all of this other junk that we cannot even pronounce that is supposedly there to preserve our food and make it taste better! Does it really make the food taste better? Truth is, whether you believe we were created by God, or we came from the earth...we were never meant to eat all of this manufactured and processed crap that litters the grocery store shelves every day! It is very hard to find food that isn't modified in some way. Even that which is supposed to be fresh meat is jacked up with hormones and antibiotics...not to mention that most are stored in some kind of "juice" to help preserve it. You see things like "BHA added to enhance flavor" on the packaging for lunch meat and breakfast sausage. Is this stuff really needed?

I bought some ketchup for the house...all NATURAL ingredients...not HFC or anything like that. After my son had been using it for a week, I asked him what he thought about the ketchup. He said, "It's ketchup...it tastes like ketchup." I then revealed to him that I bought ketchup without all the added junk that was in his old ketchup, and then asked, "So do YOU think all that extra stuff is needed?" His response was, "Guess not."

So, I guess I will continue on my journey, and pray that some day, the food and drug industries will quit trying to poison the population for a quick buck!

Something To Be Said...

...about nearly having your own office space. I share a space with someone, but they only work in the office half day. That means every day, I get a half day of the door closed, lights off, music up, stress-reducing zone! It's a nice thing to have!

Change

Well, I'm settled in my new space at work, and it is refreshing that I don't have to wear sweaters any longer when it is 100+ degrees outside!

New Peter Murphy Video!

Awesome!!!!!

Tuesday Funny...Dancing Man!

This made me chuckle!

Seriously Tired Of Being Cold

I have busted my tail to make my thyroid healthier, but I still sit freezing most of my day. Why? Because my office is so freaking cold! Why must they keep it this cold, I have to ask? Does this constitute a hostile work environment? I spend my whole day shivering. It is sad when the A/C is out on my car, it is 100 degrees outside, and I have to be 20 miles down the road on the way home before I even start to sweat, because at that point I'm finally thawed out!

First Tat!

I got my first (and probably last) tattoo yesterday. Now, I say probably last, but not in a bad way. I mean, really, it didn't hurt as bad as I thought it would. I was really surprised. No, I just had one particular thing I wanted...something that had meaning to me, and that is what I got done. That is the only reason it will probably be my only tattoo...the experience was great. I could change my mind, and if I do, I will surely go back to the same person.

Okay, I Needed This Today!

Not my kind of music, but a friend of mine shared, and I can so relate this little clip.

New Things

In my striving to eat healthier, I have discovered some new foods that I hadn't tried before. For me yesterday, this discovery was black rice...yummy I do have to say...and so good for you! I found out there are as many antioxidants, if not more, in black rice than blueberries (and note, the SAME antioxidants...what helps give the rice it's color). This whole eating healthier, more natural food is getting easier all the time. I didn't know there were so many tasty things out there that were good for me!

Getting ready for the office move. Have all of my stuff packed per orders, but now I'm stuck in a dull, cold, and dreary office! This will surely make the days long.

A Little More Than Usual

Okay...so blogging a little more than usual these days. It's an outlet, I tell you!!! LOL

Office Move = Packing...and I H.A.T.E. packing!!! Even worse, we can't move our personal stuff from one office to the other...it all has to go home this week. This is a bit depressing, because after that, I will still have to be in THIS office for a full week, and a week without my decorations and toys is quite the depressing thought. Not to mention, I have quite a bit of "personal" stuff. I'm trying to save my greatest treasures for last, as to be able to spend more time with these things around me to help me through the work day. They really do change the mood...otherwise, this place would be so dull and dreary. I really hope I will be able to bring these treasures back with me in the new office, or else I may go mad!

Vacation Is Booked!!!

Only problem is, that it isn't until January! UGH! Trying to figure out what to do with the overabundance of leave I have to use THIS year. I really need to take some "sanity" time this summer...when I don't have to get up and drive anyone to school and can just roll back over and go to sleep after my dear hubby leaves for work. Going to try to take some time next month, as it was already requested before my husband switched jobs, and we thought he was going to be forced off that week.

So, with the vacation booked, today is the first official day of what we will affectionately call "The Cruise Diet"! Seven months to lose 15 lbs, get toned, get my metabolism back into tip-top shape, etc. I have a diet buddy this time...and seems my poor husband is going to get stuck in this thing with us. He doesn't seem too happy about it, but I think he will feel all the better once it is done. :)

iPhone Picture Post

This was a great shot I caught with my iPhone when we went to Six Flags last month.

Going Mobile?

So, I found this app that I'm trying out to see if it will work for me to update this blog.

Today was a good day! I purchased some more equipment for my camera, got my hair done, and found a couple of cute shirts and an great scarf. Fun stuff!

Back To The Gym!

I've been to the gym on and off in past weeks, but after today, pretty sure I can get back into it full speed ahead. This is usually the case at the beginning of the summer, and usually when I see the greatest results. With kids out of school, there are fewer days of working from home in order to make it to their various activities and such. Life in general just slows down a bit come summer. Maybe THIS summer I can finally get down to my final goal! I've changed to a mostly organic diet after finding out the horrors of our food industry and what it has been doing to me. I'd become hypothyroid, estrogen dominant and this sure screws with one's ability to lose weight! I have since started taking steps to correct these problems, which are partially hereditary, but greatly exaggerated by bad things I've allowed into my body over the years! The plan I currently follow:

- Mostly organic...making sure to AVOID anything with BHT, MSG, HFC, and the likes. Lots of lean meat, fish, fruits, and veggies.

- Gluten free...since discovering that I'm intolerant, I try to avoid most, if not all, forms of wheat and gluten.

- NO soft drinks...loaded with extra sodium and all kinds of chemical sweeteners, I'll stick to water and unsweetened tea. I've done well to adjust...haven't had a soft drink in months, and tea is full of antioxidants!

- Avoid plastics numbers 1, 3, 6, and 7. These can leach chemicals, including excess estrogens, into your food and drink. If water is even bottled in one of these, I will not buy it. I've typically been sticking with #5.

- Extra spinach and broccoli...these are estrogen metabolizers.

- Using a natural progesterone cream.

- Exercise...get up and get moving!!