The Hand That Feeds You

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:06:08 +0000

Eating for your health and the health of the planet

By Dr. Summer Baptist, ND, LAc

Times have changed, and for the better. We use to think that being healthy meant counting calories and getting the recommended daily numbers of fruits and veggies, maybe even adding minimal exercise to a daily routine. Yes, being aware of what we eat and how much we exercise is very important and still considered healthy for our bodies, but it’s not the last word in achieving optimal and long-term health. To ultimately achieve our optimal health, we must consider the everyday choices we make for ourselves as well as our environment.

The Gaia hypothesis, which simply views the Earth as a single organism, proposes the health of our bodies reflects the health of our environment. It states that all living and non-living parts have a regulatory effect on the Earth as a whole. In other words, the Earth is a mirror of our collective personal and global health. Whether we agree with the Gaia hypothesis or not, we can’t help but to notice the daily changes in our environment and how it directly affects us, a constant reminder that we are connected to the Earth. These reminders range from the increased incidence of seasonal allergies and respiratory complaints to the detrimental effects of global warming on sensitive environments and wildlife.

As we become more aware of our own health and how it is married to the Earth’s health, it’s easy to contemplate, “What can I do to bring balance to my health and the health of our Earth?” Good question. Here are some answers and ideas to think about when considering daily health choices that can be made for your health as well as the health of Mother Earth.

Grill it. Taking food outdoors to cook is not only a fun summertime event, but also a good way to reduce energy. Grilling on a barbeque uses less energy than cooking on a stove or indoor grill.

Opt for organic. Eating organically grown food reduces your intake of pesticides, insecticides and antibiotics that contaminate the soil and much of the prepackaged and processed food available to the public. You can taste the difference between organic and non¨organic. It’s definitely worth the long-term investment for health and delicious food.

Ditch the plastic bottles. Filling your reusable bottle with purified water from a home water-filtration system is a great habit to get into. You can cut bottled water out of your budget as well as the waste produced from all the small plastic bottles.

Eat Local. When we decide to eat foods that have been grown, harvested, and raised close to our home environment, we reduce the amount of fossil fuels used to transport food and goods to our grocery stores. Local foods are fresher and can contain have more nutrients because of their natural ripening process. Local farmers’ markets are the best place to get local produce and fare.

Buy Bulk. Buying bulk goods cuts down on paper and plastics used for packaging. Thinking of ways to reduce the amount of environmentally unfriendly waste will cut down on environmental pollutants. Buying bulk goods usually costs less than their packaged counterparts, always a great incentive.

Use reusable grocery bags. We can all relate to coming home from a weekly run to the grocery store and putting away the groceries only to be left with a pile of plastic bags that we don’t need. Instead of finding creative ways to horde your plastic bags, use your cloth bags for your next grocery store trip.

By being mindful of our environment’s health we are being mindful of our own health. Incorporate these healthy eating strategies into your daily life and you’ll be pleasantly surprised how they will help transform your personal health awareness as well as contribute to the sustainability and health of the environment.

Dr. Baptist is a contributor and HSNP member. She practices on Oahu in Honolulu.
See www.drsummerbaptist.com for more.

O is for Organic

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:40:04 +0000

It’s a good idea to remind ourselves of the importance of organic foods. This is a topic I find myself addressing on a daily basis with patients and the more I read and experience, the stronger my belief that this choice is paramount to optimal wellness.

There have been numerous studies demonstrating that organic food is NOT more ‘nutritious’ or ‘flavorful’. (But note – there have been just as many that prove it DOES contain more nutrients.) The truth is, the reason people should eat has nothing to do with the number of vitamins they contain (a non organic carrot still has a lot of beta carotene for example) – but because what they are AVOIDING by choosing organic.

Organic foods are those guaranteed free from pesticides, herbicides and other synthetic chemicals that we know to be harmful to humans. The reason these chemicals are used in farming is to kill any bugs, weeds or microbes that might interfere with the crop growing bigger and faster. Although faster crop growth may seem thing for the farmer, it is a huge problem for the consumer, and in the end, everyone is harmed.

It is important to remember that organic applies to ALL foods, not just produce. And buying organic meat and dairy products is actually the most important choice of all. When animals are raised on organic farms, not only are they fed produce free of herbicides and pesticides (therefore eliminating any of these chemicals in their flesh) but they are free from the growth hormones and steroid- like drugs that lead to serious health consequences in humans. These drugs and chemicals were designed to make animals grow bigger and faster just like produce, but the result is disastrous for the humans that eat them! Do you want to grow like baby cows do? Synthetic growth hormones affect human growth and many other systems of the body.

In some cases it may not be possible to find every thing on your grocery list in the organic section. So what foods do you really have to watch out for? The Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes a list of the ‘cleanest’ and ‘dirtiest’ produce every year. If you can’t make your entire shopping list organic, make sure to avoid the ‘dirty dozen’ and always choose organic for these items. You don’t have to worry quite so much about the ‘clean 15’.

At the end of the day, most people want to feel that they have done everything possible to keep themselves and their family healthy. Committing to buying organic is one of the easiest ways to feel good about your efforts.

DIRTY DOZEN (foods typically with the most pesticide residue when not organic )
1. apples
2. celery
3. strawberries
4. peaches
5. spinach
6. nectarines
7. grapes
8. bell peppers
9. potatoes
10.blueberries
11. lettuce
12. kale / collard greens

CLEAN 15 (foods typically with the least pesticide residue when not organic)
1. onions
2. sweet corn
3. pineapples
4. avocado
5. asparagus
6. sweet peas
7. mangoes
8. eggplant
9. cantaloupe
10. kiwi
11. cabbage
12. watermelon
13. sweet potatoes
14. grapefruit
15. mushrooms

Allison Bachlet, ND, PhD, LAc

Dr. Bachlet is a contributor and HSNP member. She practices on Oahu in Honolulu.
See www.drallisonbachlet.com for more.

Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians

The Hand That Feeds You

O is for Organic