What’s in Your Eggs?

Does anyone remember the original Orange Julius? You could add a raw egg to give it a nutritious boost. Orange Julius is still around today, and uses egg white powder and whey powder, but no more raw eggs. Body builders used raw eggs for decades. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he drank raw eggs and cream to build his sculpted muscles.

Would you drink raw eggs today? You could, but only if you chose pasture-raised eggs. These are eggs laid by hens who have farm land to run around on and are able to grub for bugs and grass like real birds. The hens are never given non-organic feed and are not treated with chemicals or antibiotics. The quality of life of the chickens is considered as a factor in healthy eggs. There is a certified Humane designation if the space allotted to the chickens meets Humane standards. http://vitalfarms.com/pasture-raised-eggs/

Pasture-raised eggs go beyond organic. The designation Organic eggs means that the chickens eat organic feed and are raised in an organic environment. The hens may be fed organic corn or other organic feed, vitamins and minerals. They also receive vaccinations and antibiotics as needed, but do not receive growth hormones.  Since 2010, the hens must have access to the outdoors and cannot be caged inside. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/constitutes-organic-chicken-egg-79176.html

Free-range eggs means that the chicken must have some access to outdoors (which they may or may not use) and the size of the territory may not be large. The hens may be given non-organic food and they may receive routine antibiotics. There are no other standards set by the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), so it is up to the egg farmers to decide.

Omega-3 eggs, Antibiotic-free eggs, Vegetarian eggs, Soy-free eggs, and Natural eggs are designations not monitored by government regulatory agencies regarding their claims. So, you are relying on the honesty of egg manufacturers may who cut hens’ beaks, confine them to battery-cages, feed antibiotics constantly and are feeding the hens GMO corn and other non-organic feed. The cages may be filthy and dead chickens may not be removed. Consider all of these eggs as Commercial or Conventional eggs. In one study Omega-3 eggs were found to be higher in Omega-3 fats and lower in Arachidonic Acid, which is associate with inflammation. If the hens are fed fish oil, the eggs may also taste fishy! www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814609003513

Battery-cage (electric cage) farming of chickens has been banned in Sweden since 1992, and in other European countries since 2012. The USDA has not banned the practice in the U.S. It is hard to imagine that such inhumane practices lead to the healthiest of eggs.

Eggs are very nutritious. The egg white contains 20 different amino acids, nine of which are essential” for humans, and only 71 calories on average. They have 6 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat. A healthy liver makes 2,000 mg of cholesterol a day, so you don’t need to worry about the 190 mg. of cholesterol in an egg. Eggs have no carbohydrates, so they will keep blood sugar in balance.

In 2007, Mother Earth News tested commercial eggs vs. pasture-raised eggs and found that the pastured chickens laid eggs that had two-thirds more Vitamin A, twice as many Omega-3 fats, three times more Vitamin E and seven times more beta-carotene. Carotenoids are anti-oxidants that reduce inflammation in the body.

Organic eggs are one of the best sources of B12, and also contain iron, B6, Vitamins D and A, Calcium and Magnesium, and a host of traces minerals.

It is best not to over-cook eggs, which causes the protein to become rubbery and unusable by the body. Poached, soft-boiled and raw (organic only!) are easiest for the body to digest. Commercial eggs are dangerous to eat raw, as they may contain salmonella, but organic eggs should be safe. Keep eggs refrigerated and consume within the indicated date on the carton.

To check out the best brands of eggs go to www.cornucopia.org/organic-egg-scorecard/  Also, look for the following certifications from The Humane Society:

Animal Welfare Approved, Certified Humane, Food Alliance Certified, United Egg Producers Certified, Certified Organic.

Egg shells are porous, and what is outside passes through, so be careful about what rubs against them. Use a quick warm water rinse or use vinegar diluted in water to wash away any debris. Commercial eggs may be washed in chlorine and coated with mineral oil, both of which will penetrate the shell.

The best place to purchase eggs is from small farmers you know and trust. The Burbank Farmer’s Market has a stand called Ha’s Apple Farm. They have delicious organic apples, and sell pasture-raised eggs, some of which have beautiful green shells. Health Food Stores may also sell pasture-raised eggs.

Hope this helps you to look at eggs in a whole new light, after they have been demonized for years. We now know that whole foods are usually heart-healthy foods and that it is sugar and white starches that are the real enemies of hearts and arteries. Nature’s bounty comes in a beautiful oval shape.

Back To School Special for Your Kids

All the stores are promoting supplies and clothes to get kids ready for school.  But the most important part of being a student is happening on the inside. Like adults, kids live emotional and mindful lives. Unlike adults they can’t always tell us about their stresses and body issues, which they may not fully understand.

Very few people of any age are eating a perfect diet. Kids may be picky about what they like and miss out on important nutrients. This can affect their performance in school as well as their emotional stability and physical development. http://www.extension.org/pages/68774/3-ways-nutrition-influences-student-learning-potential-and-school-performance#.VcFO_2RViko

Even if your family is eating well, the nutrient content of food has declined, and is a concern to nutritional scientists. When you eat out you have no idea if you are getting any quality nutrition, with so many shortcuts to food preparation hat even good restaurants are taking to cut costs so they can serve giant portions of food. chttp://news.utexas.edu/2004/12/01/nr_chemistry

Helping kids to get the nutrition they need in a form they will agree to take may be tricky. But it can be done, especially if they are willing to drink a protein shake or smoothie. I taught my kids to take supplements at an early age by telling them to imagine that the supplements were surfers who had to “ride the wave”. If kids can swallow a bit of burger or a French fry they can get down a pill.

If your kids have any body problems natural medicine can provide answers. Just boosting their immune system can prevent school absences and the difficulty of trying to make up missed work.

Concentration problems are often adrenal related. Kids can have a high amount of stress in their lives and that may affect their adrenals.  Irregular menstrual periods are not “normal” and getting on the birth control pill is not the answer. It is far better to balance hormones so that a girl starts her adult life with a normal cycle. Did you know that menstruation should coincide with the moon and tides because the moon “draws” water. Women whose menstrual cycle follows the lunar cycle have less fertility problems later in life. http://www.athenainstitute.com/lunarmpl.html  Women who are on the birth control pill for years are more likely to have fertility problems later on.

Acne may be related to toxins or to hormone imbalances. Drugs and hormones are not the safest answer. Getting to the root cause of the acne not only creates clear, beautiful skin, but prevents scarring and demonstrates the very real relationship between our hormones, our toxicity level, and our health.

Even if you, and many others in your family, had some of these issues, that does not mean they are genetic and fixed.

To help your kids be their healthiest, bring them in for an analysis. Kids’ first consultations are $75, half the adult price. Through 20 September get 10% off protein and nutritional shake powders for kids. You can help them start their day right with a delicious protein shake.

Don’t let your kids go vegan or vegetarian. Protein is vital for their development and mental stability. If they have questions about what they should eat, I am happy to answer them. How we farm and raise animals is often stupid and inhumane and we need to change those practices for the sake of all. But depriving your body of vital nutrients won’t change our farming system and could have long-term health consequences.

Looking forward to meeting your great kids and helping them stay healthy!

Are Your Cells Hungry?

Our grandparents and great-grandparents did not all die young. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams lived into their 80's and 90's! Infant deaths skewed the data, giving us a low AVERAGE life expectancy. People died of infections such as tuberculosis, malnutrition, and accidents. But there was virtually no heart disease, cancer, diabetes or obesity or other diseases we associate with age. http://www.weedemandreap.com/ancestors-live-bacon-lard-milk/

What can we learn from our long-lived ancestors? 

Eat food as Nature provides it and develop clever ways to preserve it in a natural state.

Canning is over 300 years old. The tin can was invented in Britain in the early 1800’s. Before that, meat was preserved by salting it.  Seamen died by the droves for lack of vital nutrients on long sea voyages. A diet of biscuits and salted meat did not sustain life and scurvy could be a death sentence, perhaps killing more than half of those who served during the Seven Years’ War in the 1750’s.

Food was also heated and in glass bottles, and then placed in boiling water by Nicholas Appert. Sterilization was not yet known, so Monsieur Appert was ahead of his time. This method preserved fruits and vegetables and vinegars. But the tin can was important because it could preserve meat without spoiling.

The oldest surviving tin can is in the London Science Museum. It weighs seven pounds and is filled with venal, and was taken by Sir William Parry when he explored the Northwest Passage. Sir Parry was searching for a route from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. He held the record for reaching the highest northern latitude of any European explorer for five decades. Apparently he favored fish on his sea voyage, since the tinned meat made it back intact.

Tinned foods remained a military staple until they were shown to the civilian public at the Grand Exhibition of 1851.

There were several scandals involving food canning, ranging from putrid meat to reports of lead poisoning from poor soldering. People were skeptical about the quality and dissatisfied with the taste of canned meats and vegetables.

The first canned food to gain popularity was condensed milk.  Urban farming was affected by the trend towards canned milk and improvements in transportation made global market penetration a possibility.

The American Civil War increased canned food production six-fold. In 1896,  technological advances improved speed and sealing techniques.  English foods could be exported around the Globe, since the sun never set on the far-flung British empire.

All this while, since the invention of the tin can, there was no easy  means of opening the cans developed. Bayonets and knives were used by soldiers and sailors. But the housewives and household cooks did not have a double wheel, serrated, can opener until 1925.

During the New Deal President Franklin Roosevelt’s program delivered 692 million pounds of food to hungry American people, much of it canned beef. Canned fish because affordable to people living hundreds of miles inland, and tropical fruits could be shipped to cold climates.

Don’t forget that the American invention of soda pop is served up in cans, not to mention the favorite of many-beer. The first beer in a can appeared in 1935, and sodas followed.  Cans were made either of aluminum (75% of world production) or tin. An interior liner was developed, from plastic or a waxy substance, to protect against a chemical reaction with the metal that might affect the flavor of the soda. “Church Key” latches were invented, which cut a triangular hole in the top of the can to pour out the liquid. The pop tab was invented in 1959 by an Ermal Fraze. The pull tab, although convenient, posed problems with safety, including stuck fingers and swallowing. The tabs were also created litter when people disposed of them on the ground.

Next came the push tab in the mid 70’s, which left a sharp edge that could cut fingers but solved the litter problem. The non-removing Stay Tab was further refined in the 70’s and is still in use today.

It would be interesting to discover if canned foods actually contributed to global population growth, since more preserved food because available. And I hope that it saved the lives of many soldiers and seaman, rather than making war more convenient for those who chose to wage it.

For modern soldiers, campers and hikers pouches and cartons are easy and convenient for preserving foods, weighing far less. However, tin cans are still better at preserving the flavor and the original state of the foods. And tin cans are better for stockpiling in the eventuality of a natural or man-made disaster.

Today we take refrigeration for granted, and it has granted us a means to enjoy fresh foods during every season on a scale our ancestors would have found astonishing.

So many of the foods we eat today don’t need to be preserved, by refrigeration or by canning. Only real food needs preserving. So, the majority of the foods that you see in bags and boxes on the grocery store shelves are shadows of food, punched up with chemicals in the form of flavors and colors. They won’t sustain life. Imagine an army marching on Skittles and Doritos. Or Twinkies, the all-time favorite junk food to bash.

Or imagine a child being raised on the same. Every new cell would be made out of red dye and chemical flavor enhancers.

So, what are your cells being made of? All body conditions must have a component of nutrition influence. Good conditions have a nutritional component and that is the good news. It is actually good news that pain, acne, obesity, diabetes and cancer also have a nutritional component. Because that means you can do something about it.

You can stock your refrigerator with healthy food, but you have to find the time (and inclination) to prepare it. I suggest that you try nutritious shakes and smoothies to start your day and/or fill the gap for those times when you arrive home too tired to cook.

Dr. Royal Lee, the developer of the first multi-vitamin in 1929, said, “One of the biggest tragedies of human civilization is the precedence of chemical therapy over nutrition. It’s a substitution of artificial therapy over nature, of poisons over food, in which we are feeding people poisons trying to correct the reactions of starvation.” He made this statement in 1951 after studying nutritional therapies for twenty-five years.

Food chemistry was really developed after WWII, and was a new field. Imagine how far the field has come today. Scientists know exactly what their research rats need to eat to be healthy, and they know that if they remove any vital nutrient the rats will get sick.  We can apply this same principle to humans, but the food companies don’t have to worry about your health, only your marketing buttons. You could go your whole life and hardly ever eat any real nutrient. But you won’t be well. Your body may actually be starving, even if you are carrying 10-100 pounds of extra weight. There is no substitution for what is in real food.

Live as long as Jefferson, Adams, or my great-grandmother who died at 96, but live healthy and strong.

For more about the history of canning see www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21689069

Lower Blood Pressure Naturally

The standard advice for elevated blood pressure has been to reduce salt intake. However, salt is a vital mineral and the human body cannot function without salt.

Even if you reduce salt to a minimum, the salt content of the blood remains the same as someone who over-salts their food. The body maintains a consistent level of salt in the blood.

New research indicates that the benefits of cutting out salt are debatable, and may even increase your risk of heart disease. ?ttp://www.medicaldaily.com/sugar-hurts-heart-health-more-salt-mostly-heart-disease-and-blood-pressure-313780

Of course, no one is suggesting that you should eat processed or fast foods, which do contain levels of sodium that are off the charts. But salting your whole, natural foods to taste, with sea salt or Himalayan salt,  both of which contain other trace minerals, appears to be beneficial. And if your adrenals are weak, salt is even more vital. http://www.drlam.com/articles/adrenal_fatigue_and_blood_pressure.asp

How can you safely lower your blood pressure? By reducing sugar. Eating 25% of your calories from sugar can triple your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Sugar causes inflammation which is more damaging to your arteries than salt.

Fruit sugar is not the culprit, although I suggest limiting your fruit intake to 1-2 servings per day to see if your body responds better. Fruit juice should be completely avoided. High fructose corn syrup and agave should never be used. Agave is just anther form of high fructose corn syrup, made from cactus.

Honey in moderation should not pose too much risk, and real maple syrup may be enjoyed. If you also have Diabetes, even these sweeteners should be used only in the smallest amounts.

Bread and other simple carbs like rice, oats, and corn also break down into sugar in the blood, so regard these as foods to avoid.

If you are on blood pressure medication, and you increase your healthy fats, and limit sugar and grains, you will have to monitor yourself carefully because your need for medication may diminish or cease altogether.  Work with your prescribing physician to adjust your medication accordingly.

One diet plan that you can try is the Ketogenic plan. It is Paleo to the extreme and will challenge all we have been taught about healthy eating. Ketogenic eating causes your body and brain to operate off ketones instead of glucose and it is how many people like Inuits (Eskimos) have eaten traditionally. The Inuits had no history of heart disease, cancer, obesity or Diabetes. So they were on to something! To calculate your ratio of carbs to fat to protein and calories you should consume, you can use the Ketogenic calculator. http://keto-calculator.ankerl.com/  Check it out-you may be surprised what it says.

One factor in blood pressure appears to be the flexibility of our veins and arteries. Naturally aging and poor diet can make arteries stiff and brittle. Blueberries consumed daily appear to reduce inflammation, measured in blood work as C-reactive protein, and to reduce blood pressure over an eight-week period. Frozen blueberries may be used, so you may want to include blueberries as your daily serving or fruit.  http://www.medicaldaily.com/blueberries-may-help-control-blood-pressure-321276

My theory on aging is that it is all about keeping the body supple and hydrated, with water, good oils and minerals. How you eat has everything to do with how your feel and how well your body functions. We don’t treat our cars as badly as we do our bodies. A new car only becomes a vintage collectible when someone gives it the proper maintenance all its life!