Sunday, September 30, 2018

How Toxic is Your Food?

As one of the world’s most common herbicides, glyphosate (the main chemical in “Roundup”) is present in a lot of different foods and is now labeled as a possible carcinogenic since 2015 by the World Health Organization.  I would say it is carcinogenic, for even last month a man was awarded $289 million from Monsanto after Roundup was found liable for causing his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.  He used Roundup as part of his job as a pest control manager for a California county school system.  There are over 5,000 more similar lawsuits filed against Monsanto in the United States.  Yet there are 800 scientific studies and reviews that support the fact that glyphosate does not cause cancer so I guess the verdict is still out.  Yet I don't think it should be.  There is so much research showing that glyphosate has two primary damaging effects. 1) An endocrine disruptor and toxin that accumulates in the liver and bone marrow, lowering immune system and healthy cell replication. 2) It is a potent anti-biotic that kills or damages gut bacteria.

Last December Ministers of Environment or Agriculture of France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Malta and Greece told the European Commission that a new study on the carcinogenic potential of glyphosate and also a study to identify alternatives to the world’s most used herbicide were needed.  Finding an alternative is needed because the European Parliament has expressed its support for the adoption of necessary measures to phase out the active substance glyphosate in the European Union by 15 December 2022 at the latest. 

I'm grateful Europe is making headway and who knows when the U.S. will get on board. Until the U.S. does we have to do our best as consumers and learn what not to buy while making sure we detox the pesticides and herbicides that we do consume.  There are lots of reasons to not eat the following foods but I listed them so you could see how it is present in just about everything.  


  • Kellog’s Raisin Bran
  • Kellog’s Corn Flakes
  • Kashi Organic Promise
  • Kellog’s Special K
  • Kellog’s Frosted Flakes
  • Original Cheerios
  • Honey Nut Cheerios
  • Wheaties
  • Trix
  • Annie’s Gluten Free Bunny Cookies Cocoa & Vanilla
  • Cheez-It Original
  • Cheez-It Whole Grain
  • Kashi Soft Bake Cookies, Oatmeal, Dark Chocolate
  • Ritz Crackers
  • Triscuit Crackers
  • Oreo Original
  • Oreo Double Stuf Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
  • Oreo Double Stuf Golden Sandwich Cookies
  • Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips (Frito-Lay)
  • Lay’s: Kettle Cooked Original
  • Doritos: Cool Ranch
  • Fritos (Original) (100% Whole Grain)
  • Goldfish crackers original (Pepperidge Farm)
  • Goldfish crackers colors
  • Goldfish crackers Whole Grain
  • Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies
  • Lucy's Oatmeal Cookies Gluten Free
  • 365 Organic Golden Round Crackers
  • Back to Nature Crispy Cheddar Crackers
The Detox Project is a great website of research to help understand more about the probable harm being caused by glyphosate-based herbicides worldwide.

The top 3 things you can do to avoid ingesting glyphosate is:
  1. Avoid the primary GMO foods: all soy, corn, canola and the animals that eat it too including the resulting meats, poultry, dairy and eggs
  2. Avoid all non-organic cereals and grains, which are harvested with glyphosate, including wheat, barley, buckwheat, millet, rice, oats, rye, sorghum, wild rice, popcorn, and teff.
  3. Avoid additives such as corn syrup, maltodextrin, fructose, baking powder, natural flavors, and cornstarch.
  4. Eating non-GMO is not enough.  All your food should be as organic as possible.  
Now that the public is demanding non-GMO, a new generation of toxic foods has arrived in grocery shelves and flying under the radar. Marketed as healthy, these non-GMO products are sprayed with plenty of herbicides and pesticides. Don’t buy them. Let food manufacturers know we want CLEAN FOOD. The Non-GMO Project is busy certifying all kinds of nutritionally empty and toxic products from big food companies. Their stamp of approval may indicate there are no GMO’s, but it’s no indication of healthy food.

The food industry’s rapid response to public interest in non-GMO foods shows that they’re really listening to the marketplace. If you’re seriously interested in clean food, then vote with your money. Let the industry know we want CLEAN FOOD, and we want it NOW. We want non-GMO food that’s raised in a sustainable manner, in harmony with the planet, without harmful chemicals. We want no Glyphosate, Atrazine,  Chlorpyrifos, Metolachlor, or any of the thousands of other harmful chemicals that kill bees, humans, and damage the environment. 

To avoid both GMO’s and Glyphosate, look for the USDA Organic label, when possible. Talk to your local farmers and find out which ones are using sustainable organic practices. They may not be certified organic, but they’ll know a lot about it, and will be able to guide you. Fresh, local unprocessed fruits and vegetables immediately after picking, are the most nutritious foods on the planet. 

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

8 Steps to Better Brain Health

Brain Health

Brain fog, lack of concentration, feeling tired, poor memory and headaches are all signs that your brain isn't getting the right nutritional support it needs.  Supporting the brain is not easy because of the blood-brain barrier that is a sheet of capillaries that carry blood to the brain and spinal cord that blocks the passage of certain substances.  This filtering system is important to keep toxins from reaching the brain and spinal cord but also doesn't allow many nutrients into the brain as well.

So what can we do to help the brain knowing that not all things can pass the blood-brain barrier?  Here is a list of my favorite things.  Everyone is different and may need different things for support so getting muscle tested is the key to figuring out exactly what you need.

1. Protein - A lack of protein in the diet can cause the brain to slow down.  If you are a vegetarian make sure you are eating enough protein and supplementing with vitamin B12.  The brain loves vitamin Bs and B12 can only be found in meat.  Another good supplement is a vegan supplement from Standard Process called RNA.  RNA is the building blocks of protein and this supplement can really help rebuild the brain at the cellular level.

2, Vetiver Essential Oil - The moment you smell something it goes into the brain because the olfactory nerve responsible for smell goes straight into the brain.  So any smell is fast acting and when you put vetiver oil in a diffuser or on your wrists it helps with boost energy levels when you’re exhausted. In addition, it’s used to cool the body during very high temperatures and soothe feelings of anxiety and nervousness.  Recent research credits vetiver oil for treating symptoms of ADHD and ADD maybe due to the relaxing compenant that it gives. It’s also known to increase libido and treat insomnia.

3. Bee pollen - It is a great brain booster, lifting brain fatigue, improving alertness and helping concentration levels over an extended period of time. Rich in the B vitamins; B1, B2 and B3 – these are essential for a healthy nervous system and powerful detoxifiers, especially to the brain. They are often referred to as “anti-stress” or “morale” vitamins - when the nervous system is working optimally anxiety and stress can be greatly lessened.  Bee Pollen can be eaten raw or can be added to your favourite cereals, smoothies, yogurt or hot drink. I see most people test for 1-2 teaspoons a day as a daily dose.

4. Tuna omega-3 oil - The brain, being about 60% fat, is one reason why the body loves having the right fats in the diet.  Fish oil also has an incredible impact on the brain and I have seen it work wonders especially for mild memory loss and depression.  You do have to be careful to get a good brand, for tuna is known for mercury toxicity.  Standard Process and Nordic Naturals are both brands I trust for their fish oil.

5. Min Tran - It is a vegetarian product from Standard Process that contains iodine and other minerals to support emotional balance when you are stressed and the nervous system is too much in 'fight or flight' mode.  In this way it supports a healthy nervous system, eases stress, and calms us down.

6. Exercise it!  If you don't use it you lose it.  So play crossword puzzles, sudoko, trivia pursuit, read for fun, etc.  20 minutes a day or more.

7. Blueberries - When we follow a diet rich in plant-based foods, like blueberries it can help with dementia. In a recent
 study, researchers found healthy older adults (ages 65 to 77) who drank 30 milliliters of concentrated blueberry juice (the equivalent of 230 grams of berries), had a significant increase in brain activity, blood flow and even memory compared to the placebo group. Flavonoids, abundant in blueberries, are likely to be an important factor in what's causing these effects, which can lower dementia risk.
8. Drink water - One of the main reasons for a headache is dehydration.  So the moment you start feeling head pressure grab a tall glass of water and see that many times the pressure will dissipate.  On average you should be drinking 3 liters of water a day.  This can include herbal teas.

So start incorporating these 8 things in your daily life for better brain health.