If you live in California, you may have started to hear about a campaign underway that would give Californians the right to know if they’re eating genetically modified foods. The Label GMO campaign, started by the Committee for the Right to Know, is the result of a grassroots coalition made up of consumer, health and environmental organizations along with food companies concerned about food safety. If enough signatures are gathered, the initiative will be on the 2012 ballot, and if passed with enough votes, would require mandatory labeling of all foods sold in the state containing GMOs.

The significance hinging on the campaign’s success will be a resulting profound and potentially lasting impact on the health of Californians, and could also alter the course of genetically modified foods for the rest of the country as well.

With an overwhelming amount of genetically modified corn, soy and canola dominating our nation’s food supply, it may be quite surprising to realize that most people don’t even know what a GMO is. For example, as much as 86 percent of the corn grown in the U.S. is genetically modified and designed to produce its own pesticide. Corn, soy and canola are found in most processed fast and junk food items, and according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, nearly 80 percent of all processed foods now contain GMOs.

Companies manufacturing genetically modified foods have received support from the U.S. government, as a number of Wikileaks documents revealed high-level American government pressure being felt throughout Europe on behalf of companies like Monsanto—the St. Louis, MO-based seed and pesticide company and largest seed manufacturer in the world. Most of the European Union has strict bans or restrictions on GMOs because of lacking science supporting its safety for humans or the environment. Microsoft founder Bill Gates is also a proponent of GMOs. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has put resources and funding behind developing GMO crops as a means to end world hunger and poverty issues despite a growing number of issues including low crop yields, pesticide resistant plants and insects, rising food allergies and other serious health issues.

According to the Label GMOs campaign, while the science is indeed lacking on the safety of genetically engineered foods, moreover, the right to know what we’re eating has been usurped by the absence of any government regulations or voluntary transparency from any of the multinational seed companies dominating the landscape of American agriculture.

Fifty countries—including most developed nations—currently require labeling of genetically modified foods, and it’s time for the U.S. to make the same requirements, according to the Label GMOs campaign. If California becomes the first state to force genetically modified foods to be labeled, other states may soon follow, giving more Americans the right to make informed decisions about their health.

Even if you’re not a California resident yourself, you can support the campaign through alerting your friends and family.  You can also sign the petition directed at the FDA, calling on the agency to enact a nationally regulated standard similar to the USDA Organic Seal, which would require labeling on all GMO foods sold throughout the country.

Image: Millions Against Monsanto

January always seems to rush by as we transition back to post-holiday life. And those worthy resolutions we swear we’re going to stick to this year can be left in the wake of our other priorities as life so often sweeps us up in a frenzied fashion. A healthy body—a most common resolution—is vital to a healthy mind, healthy relationships and a healthy home. But sticking to a diet resolution can soon become unrealistic, unappetizing. So instead of vaguely resolving to lose a few extra pounds, or “eat better,” why not give yourself some healthy goals you can really honor?

Cleansing can sound a little scary if you’ve never done it before, but it can actually be very easy. While there are some extreme cleansing programs like fasting and herbal detoxes, you can greatly improve your health with relatively simple changes that will make you feel lighter, clearer and more vibrant in no time. Here are four you can get started on anytime of the year (but we recommend now):

Up your water intake: We all drink water, or at least, we all should. It’s not only vital for hydrating our entire body so that it functions properly, but it is critical in moving toxins out quickly too (like the fruitcake and eggnog most likely still lingering in your system). If you sleep eight hours (as you should!) that means you’re waking up dehydrated, which slows the elimination and detoxification process. Start every morning with at least 8 ounces of spring or purified water. Add the juice from a lemon or lime to increase your hydration and help the cleansing process. And make sure to drink plenty of water throughout your day, preferably not with food, but rather an hour before or after.

Freshen up: Trading in one cooked meal a day for a fresh raw salad and some fruits will improve your health in a number of ways. First, you’re getting lots of enzymes that can be killed through heating. Enzymes help the body to break down toxins and move them out. Fresh fruits and veggies also contain lots of antioxidants that can also help to stop (and even reverse) the damage caused by free radicals (toxins that can come from a variety of sources). Raw fruits and vegetables also contain lots of water—which ups your hydration. They are fiber-rich, which improves your elimination and helps you to feel full and energized.

Skip the junk: Of course, it’s easy to grab a sugary energy bar, a muffin or some other carb-heavy processed foods when you’re hungry and in need of a boost. But research shows that refined carbs make you gain weight, and they lead to an inevitable crash that leaves you searching for the next boost. It’s an unproductive cycle, so skip the junk and opt instead for superfoods like chia or hemp seeds (literally, a few spoonfuls will deliver noticeable results, or mix them into a smoothie), raw nuts, or even a bowl of oatmeal or brown rice.

Consult with a specialist: Environmental toxins, food sensitivities and other factors can cause us to feel unhealthy, lack energy and even struggle with our weight. A naturopath or holistic health practitioner can help you to identify possible sources of toxins in your body and set you on a course for healing that may include herbs or supplements to enhance the work of a cleansing diet.

Are you still trying to figure out what to do with the home gym you got last holiday season but still have yet to use?  If you’re struggling to find a fitness regiment that you can actually stick to without spending an enormous amount of money on equipment that takes up half of your living room, perhaps you want to consider some of these options for getting in shape and staying that way!

1. Ditch the home systems: While these can look amazing on television, chances are you won’t use them as frequently or effectively as you should. Most will lose their value almost immediately as well, decreasing any resale value.
2. Get a trainer: For about the same price as some of those fancy elliptical machines or treadmills, you can invest in a personal trainer to work with either at a gym or at home. They’ll help you identify target areas (inner thighs, stomach, etc) that could most benefit from regular exercise and help you craft a workout for those areas. Perhaps you only use the trainer for a few weeks or months, or even just a consultation visit, but nonetheless, it can help you to identify where you should be focusing your attention.
3. Try new things: Nia, Spinning, Karate…they’re all different exercise programs that work muscle groups in different ways. One of the biggest challenges in sticking to a fitness program is staying engaged. When we get bored or know what comes next, we can easily lose interest and drift, causing our bodies to do the same. Add a dance class one week, try a new yoga teacher, keep it fresh and interesting!
4. Walk: We might not think of walking as the way to a super strong and healthy body, but walking is the only exercise that works every muscle in the body. Every muscle! A number of health experts recommend we walk approximately 10,000 steps per day—that’s close to 5 miles. Most of us walk far fewer than that in a week! Park furthest away from the grocery store entrance, take the stairs, commit to walking anywhere in your neighborhood that’s under 2 miles. Take leisure walks and hikes around town or in nature where the fresh air will recharge you.
5. Buddy up: When we’re by ourselves, it’s easy to cheat and skip a rep. But when we work out with a friend or exercise buddy, we can keep each other motivated and supported. We also tend to push ourselves just a little bit further (never to pain though!) when we’re working with someone else. Games are a great way to exercise and spend time with a friend or loved one. Tennis, racquet ball, basketball—you don’t even have to be good to get the benefits of the workout.
6. Boost your protein: A healthy diet is part of a fitness routine and is critical in helping to flush out toxins in the body, and foods high in protein help us to build new muscles, blood cells and tissue.

Image credit: By lululemon athletica

You’ve likely heard about genetically modified foods. They’re the stuff of science fiction—laboratory altered plant cells injected with foreign compounds not naturally occurring to allegedly make the plants better at resisting pests (and pesticides); they’re designed to grow hardier and faster crops so that we can feed the world, according to the companies behind the science like Monsanto, Cargill and Dow. Actually, it sounds kind of nice—if it were true. But the science is flawed with controversy from the adverse affects on soil, plants, and ecosystems and inability to improve crop yields, to a number of studies linking GMOs to serious human health risks.

The California Department of Health and Agriculture reports that nearly 80 percent of all processed food in the U.S. contain some sort of ingredient derived from GMOs. Most of the corn, soy and canola grown in the U.S. is now genetically modified, and unless you’re buying organic meat, dairy and egg products, you’re eating the genetically modified grains fed to those animals, too.

With no label laws currently in effect anywhere in the U.S., the only way to know that your food is GMO free is by purchasing organic. The term ‘natural’ is used often on products that appear to be healthy, but a recent report from the Cornucopia Institute found that several major cereal brands marketing their offerings as “natural” actually contained genetically modified ingredients. While technically legal, the World Health Organization defines genetically modified foods as undergoing alterations that would not occur naturally.

We were delighted to see Nature’s Path—the leading organic cereal brand—release this stunning infographic that shows just how genetically modified foods affect the U.S. food supply. Chances are, you’re eating them. Every day.  The recent rise in food allergies and sensitivities, asthma and other health problems have many people concerned that the source of these issues are directly correlated with the rise in genetically modified crops over the last ten years. Ninety three percent of soy and cotton grown in the U.S. is now GMO, 90 percent of canola and 86 percent of corn is also genetically modified.

Would you eat GMOs if you had the choice? Many Americans polled say they would prefer to have the choice—and the way to choose comes from a label that lets the shopper know their food is genetically modified. It has become such a contentious issue that from October 1^st-16^th, hundreds of concerned citizens, corporations and advocacy groups walked from New York City to Washington D.C. to bring awareness to the issue. With stops along the way, the Right2Know March held rallies at natural health food stores, toured organic farms and convened in Washington on World Food Day, demanding that the FDA begin a program that would require labeling of all genetically modified foods. You can join that petition at the JustLabelIt.org website. And if you live in California, help make it the first state to require labeling of all genetically modified foods by collecting signatures needed to get the issue on the 2012 ballot. Visit  the LabelGMOs.org website for more info.

Image: Millions Against Monsanto
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Do you ever feel like you hear so much about something that you actually no longer hear it? These words or ideas can become background noise to our busy lives, and this is especially true when it comes to nutrients. Extra fiber, protein-rich, antioxidants, Omega-fatty acids…blah blah blah, right? Today’s food choices are littered with reminders of the nutrients added beyond those naturally occurring, and often just as vital. And even if we eat what we eat first and foremost because we like it, especially here in the U.S, if we have anything, it’s lot of choices to overwhelm us with how exactly we’re going to replenish our body’s daily nutritional needs.

Calcium is one such nutrient we hear a lot about that we may not really hear at all unless we’re a menopausal woman whose changing estrogen levels put us at risk of bone loss. But everyone needs calcium throughout all stages of life, and for a lot more reasons than you may think.

What’s the first food you think of when you read the word “calcium”? Chances are a glass of milk popped into your mind. And that’s true, dairy does contain calcium. Lots of other foods do, too. We’ll explore those in a bit, but first, what body part do you picture that glass of calcium-rich milk benefitting? I’m guessing a bone or skeleton appeared next in your mind’s eye. And that would also be correct. Calcium is critical for bone health and its value for older women cannot be overstated. But do you know what other important functions calcium performs in the body? And did you know that a deficiency may actually kill you?

Beyond strong bones and teeth, calcium is vital in blood clotting and wound healing, controlling blood pressure and nerve function; it produces enzymes and hormones necessary for digestion, energy and the metabolism of fat. Calcium works on cellular levels to move ions through membranes; it helps muscles contract, regulate tissue—including preventing gum disease—and it is crucial in reducing premature heart disease.

A deficiency in calcium can cause hypertension, deformity, nerve sensitivity, spasms, cramps, numbness and tingling in fingers, convulsions, lethargy, decreased appetite, abnormal heart rhythms and eventually death.

The recommended daily intake of calcium varies throughout our lives, but generally speaking, follow these daily guidelines for optimal health:

Children (1-10) 800 mg
Children (11-18) 1,000 mg
Adults (18+) 800 mg
Pregnant, lactating and postmenopausal women 1,200 mg

So, does a glass of milk do the trick? Yes and no. Dairy, including products like Organic Whey, is one of the richest naturally occurring sources of calcium, but take a look at some of these of other foods especially high in calcium that you can eat everyday:

Calcium Content per serving size

Vegetables

• Bok choy, cooked 330 mg
• Bean sprouts 320 mg
• Spinach, cooked 250 mg
• Collard greens, cooked 260 mg
• Mustard greens, cooked 450 mg
• Turnip greens, cooked 450 mg

Nuts

• Almonds 660 mg
• Chestnuts 600 mg
• Filberts 450 mg
• Walnuts 280 mg
• Sesame seeds 900 mg
• Sunflower seeds 260

Fish

• Raw oysters 300 mg
• Shrimp 130 mg
• Salmon with bones 490 mg
• Mackerel, canned with bones 680 mg
• Sardines, canned with bones 1000 mg

Grains

• Tapioca, dried 300 mg
• Brown rice, cooked 20 mg
• Quinoa, cooked 80 mg
• Corn meal, whole grain 50 mg
• Rye flour, dark 40 mg

Beans

• Garbanzo beans, cooked 340 mg
• Soybeans, cooked 450 mg
• Tofu 400 mg

What about fortified foods?

Bread, orange juice, cereals—these foods commonly contain added nutrients including calcium and vitamin D and can often contain far more than even a glass of milk. Like a supplement or vitamin, fortified foods commonly contain synthetic forms of calcium, all of which may not be absorbed by the body.

Image: Taylorkidd http://www.flickr.com/photos/kydd/4666234985/sizes/z/in/photostream/

If you were raised in America, or most any other developed country, you most likely have seen a story about dairy farms that goes a little like this: A nice, somewhat weathered looking farmer rises at the crack of dawn. He quietly enters his barn where waking cows looking rested and happy greet him with a “moo.” He pulls up a stool, sits next to the cow and begins to press by hand, squeezing out pure, fresh, healthy milk that will soon be bottled and delivered your local store.

With the media attention corporate agriculture food giants have garnered recently you probably know this simply isn’t the case when it comes to the massive amounts of commercially produced dairy.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are now the norm when it comes to livestock production, be it dairy cows, animals raised for meat or egg production. There are no real farmers to speak of, but rather supervisors and handlers that survey the seas of fur and feathers, pulling out lame or dead animals, and making sure the rest find their way to the food troughs, or onto the trucks headed to the slaughterhouse.

The numbers are staggering: More than 10 billion animals (not including marine life) just on American soil, tucked away in unmarked buildings off of highways (where rolling hills and barns used to sit) optimized to maximize profits and decrease expenses. But the hidden costs include a rise in harmful genetically modified animal feed, excessive antibiotic use leading to antibiotic-resistant bacteria entering our food supply, growth hormones linked to human health issues, and subsidies that reward the animal hoarding industry and make it more difficult for the family farmer—the few who still do rise at the crack of dawn to head into the barn—to afford to keep the farm.

Except, that’s not the whole story.

Enter the co-op. It’s a term you’ve probably heard applied to a few different paradigms, from housing and shopping to banking; it’s also a powerful tool in farming.

The most successful example of a farm co-op is probably Organic Valley, but there are many. (If you’ve ever shopped in a health food store, or purchased organic milk in your local supermarket, you may have seen the Organic Valley label.) The dairy cooperative works by uniting small farmers (much like the fictitious one mentioned above) and helping them to establish equity. Through a Board of Directors, the member farms have a voice in all aspects of governing the cooperative, which gives these small-scale farms some of the benefits of a big business while retaining all that’s good in a small farm: Healthier food, cleaner air, water and soil, and perhaps most significantly, a farmer who can stay in business despite the cheaper products produced on CAFOs.

By working together, farmers create selling power (Organic Valley has more than 1500 farms in their co-op), able to meet the demands of the nation’s largest supermarkets. And just like the nature of the co-op is to share equally and nurture the community, the end product—be it meat, dairy, spinach or celery—is typically of a higher quality as well.

Just like supporting your local produce farmers at farmers’ markets, supporting small dairy and meat farmers is a key contribution to your local economy, your environment and your own health. Make sure you seek out organic when buying from co-ops, especially with dairy products so that you avoid the toxic antibiotics, hormones and other chemicals routinely fed to conventionally raised animals. And yes, you can even start reverting back to the pastoral image of a farmer truly communing with his cows.

Image credit: http://www.organicvalley.coop/about-us/generation-organic/