Does good nutrition starts with “Everything in Moderation”? Have we not heard the captioned phrase numerous times throughout life? It has become so common that we have learned to accept it as self-evident. Very few people (if any) give it a second thought, let alone evaluate it critically. It is parroted every time someone desires to put an end to a discussion about lifestyle choices, especially when the issue of popular “standard American” foods is raised. Most people think that if they eat unhealthy foods “in moderation” they will be just fine, because this overused adage is so all-encompassing that it “allows” us to “safely” indulge in numerous addictive foods and activities that are highly detrimental to our bodies, our minds, and our environment. This directly benefits large corporations, which spend billions on advertising artificial and disease — causing foods with addictive properties, long shelf life (no other living organisms are interested in it), and high profit margins.

So what common food ingredients do we feel safe eating “in moderation”? Artificial preservatives, flavors and colors? Pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides? Mercury, lead, and other heavy metals that contaminate so much of our food supply? Advanced Glycosilated End-Products (AGE’s) from baking, broiling, frying, and barbequing glycoproteins in meats, cheeses, grains, legumes, and seeds? Acrylamides from high-temperature cooking of starchy foods? Carcinogenic (cancer-causing) nitrosamines from animal flesh and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH’s) from burning of flesh and other organic matter? Inflammation-promoting arachidonic acids from flesh and dairy products? Refined, concentrated, and processed sweeteners and flours? Trans-fats (partially-hydrogenated and hydrogenated vegetable oils) and rancidity-prone poly-unsaturated fats? Nutrient-depleting stimulants (in coffee, tea, colas, and cacao beans/chocolate) that cumulatively poison our brain, damage our energy metabolism, and poison our liver and kidney cells, blocking our ability to detoxify our body effectively?

Each and every one of these (and other) “food products” were non-existent nor were they considered “edible” until very recently. Their quantity in our environment is alarming, and some we can’t control even if we tried (thus, we must control the ones we can, while relaxing about those we can’t)!

Whether individually or in devastating combinations (similarly to known and unknown drug interactions), they are all proven to cause numerous health dysfunctions and diseases that are now plaguing our Western society with staggering epidemic statistics never previously encountered. Literally all people over 25 years of age are chronically ill, suffering from various symptoms and losing their vitality, vigor, vibrancy, and enjoyment of life as a result of “enjoying” poisons “in moderation.” Cancer, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, developmental disorders, brain fog, depression, anxiety, auto-immune disease, degenerative neurological disorders, and many other syndromes are all directly associated with accumulation of many toxic substances that we ingest or breathe, especially when combined with exposure to other substances, stress, radiation, and activities that lead to cellular nutrient depletion. Even children today are suffering from conditions that previously were only affecting older people.

Quality of life is degraded for many years, eradicating productivity and eliminating the joy of living. Yet it seems easier to simply disregard the consequences of our own actions and come up with trite blanket statements that provide excuses for our behaviors, instead of intelligently taking responsibility for our actions and gradually seeking ways to improve our long-term fortune!

What else should we safely be doing in moderation? Smoking? Drinking beer? Taking prescription drugs? How about injecting street drugs? Is it not clear now that “everything in moderation” becomes an excuse to perpetuate lifelong habits and maintain addictive “comforts” that gradually destroy us while financially supporting the industries that knowingly create poisons for profit? Do we really want to let them control us and our choices, so they can win their corrupt game, at the expense of our entire society? It’s time to develop a clear and critical vision of reality (recall “The Matrix”?), leave the advertisement-blinded, media-confused, big business-misguided, soon-to-be-slaughtered herd, and become independent of these corporations to take charge of our own environmental, mental, and physical health!

Eating “in moderation” can also have a positive meaning: If we make certain that at home (and at restaurants) we regularly eat wholesome, unrefined, unprocessed, nutrient-rich foods, while avoiding nutrient-depleting stimulants, toxins, stress, and un-natural substances, then we can allow ourselves to be “moderately” flexible when we join our friends and families for special occasions. In such events, we can eat a few foods that a case, means that we don’t continually obsess about our food choices, but that we are honest with ourselves about the integrity of what we put into our body, rather then find excuses to support eating harmful substances on a regular basis! Therefore, “moderation” can actually be our path towards truth, health, and the pleasure of community and family, instead of the path to self-deception! And the side effects? Ecological health, sustainability, and thriving community!

(related articles: “ href="http://www.ecopolitan.com/ask-doctor-t/junk-food">the Occasional Junk Food“, “ href="http://www.ecopolitan.com/newsletter-articles/eco-raw-living">Eco-Raw Living” ).

Dr. Adiel Tel-Oren, href="http://www.ecopolitan.com/doctor-t">http://www.ecopolitan.com/doctor-t, founder of href="http://www.ecopolitan.com">Ecopolitan’s Eco-Health Network — harmonizing Health Sciences, Nutrition, Ecology, Community, and Education to Secure a Joyful, Sustainable Future for Life on Earth! ;
President Emeritus & Professor, University of Natural Medicine, Santa Fe, NM; Professor, Clinical Nutrition Certification Board, International & American Association of Clinical Nutritionists; President, Integrated HealthCare Clinics, Inc., Minneapolis, MN; President, FDH Foundation; Medical Director, CCODER Nepal.

How is your eco-health today? And what about your loved ones? Visit Ecopolitan’s Eco-Health Network to get science-based eco-health information and products, and engage in activities. To stay informed — join Ecopolitan’s Eco-Health newsletter.

Bookmark to:

For parents, providing your kids with healthy, nutritional lunches that they find interesting can be quite a challenge. The “if it is good for you then it must be boring” mentality makes this particularly challenging and you have such favorites as lollies, sweets and fizzy drinks to compete with.

Don’t despair, it can be done and here are 13 alternatives to get you started. Instead of…

1. High fat savoury biscuits — why not try

* Plain dry crackers, rice cakes, corn thins or Scottish oatcakes.
* Raw carrots or celery cut into small pieces are also an excellent choice.

2. Pies, pastry or sausage rolls — why not try

* Meat or cheese sandwiches or pasta with mince beef sauces (you can buy wheat/gluten free bread and pasta if required).
* Tuna and sweetcorn.
* Brown rice (or white) with tuna and roasted vegetables.
* Falafel (Lebanese delicacy made from chick peas).

3. Processed meats such as frankfurters, salami or other — why not try

* Mince burger (home made), lentil burgers or bean burgers.
* Leftovers from main meals.
* Quality ham (e.g. Virginia) or cooked bacon, which has been grilled, and the fat/rind removed.
* Quality sausages that are mostly meat and not too fatty (gluten free sausages are a great alternative if you can find them).

4. Biscuits (cream filled or chocolate) — why not try

* Crackers or plain sweet biscuits, oatcakes, rice crackers or rice cakes.

You can make these interesting by having different topics like tuna and sweet corn or avocado (too much avocado may be regarded as fattening).

5. Chocolate / candy bars - why not try

* Cheese cubes or dried fruit or yoghurt with fresh fruit to add to it.
* Dairy products may make you feel bloated, so sheep’s or goat’s yogurt make a great alternative to cows yoghurt and have a different texture and taste. They are less bulky and easier to digest).

6. Muesli bars and breakfast bars (these are often full of sugar and preservatives) — why not try

* Fresh fruit such as grapes, melon cubes, oranges or mandarins/satsumas.
* Nut muesli bars (check the ingredients first though).

7. Cordial or fizzy drinks — why not try

* Water is the best option to add to any lunch box.
* Dairy, soy or rice milk are also good alternatives.

8. Chocolate spreads — why not try

* Sesame seed spread (tahini).
* Humous.
* Dip such as yoghurt, avocado or one that you make yourself, dipping for example, pitta bread or cut up vegetables.

9. Lollies / sweets — why not try

* Dried fruit, nuts and raisins.
* Make a nibbles bag with a variety of nuts and dried fruit and add sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds.

10. Chips / crisps or hot chips — why not try

* Hot homemade soups with the addition of sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds.
* Pecan nuts, almonds and flax seed are all great snacks as they are high in essential fatty acids and are best eaten raw (cooking them can destroy the essential fatty acid component).

The best way to encourage your children to eat these is to add them to soups as an alternative to croutons and to sprinkle them on yoghurt and cereal/muesli in the morning.

11. Fruit leather straps - why not try

* If you have your own fruit drier, then you can dry the fruit yourself.
* Fresh fruit, plain dried fruit e.g. sultanas, dried apricots, mixed nuts, 100% fruit bars.

12. Donuts — why not try

* Raisin bread (you can buy wheat free raisin bread if required).
* Muffins.
* Flapjacks.
* Scottish oatcakes with a banana.
* Tuna and sweetcorn.

13. Potato crisps, corn chips, or similar snack food - why not try

Rice crackers, or rice cakes with a homemade dip or spread, or a bought one as long as it has a low fat content.

Helen Thompson is a qualified child care worker (Nursery Nurse) and Brain Gym consultant who has spent many years working with children aged between 0 - 8 years. Helen aims to provide busy parents, carers and teachers with fun and educational activities for children to develop their creativity.

Her website at http://www.ChildLearningSupport.com includes recipes, craft activities and more. To be kept informed of new additions to the site, please subscribe to her newsletter.

Bookmark to:

In the fast pace world today most people have settled for fast food. Which in turn has put them on a fast pace to poor health like obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and many more. I was a victim to congestive heart failure. Now I eat good nutritious food that is low in fat and sodium. I had a weight loss of 45 lbs just by changing my eating habits and now I feel great because of a low fat, low sodium diet.

The average American eats 6 to 18 grams of salt daily. Your body only needs a half gram or 500mg of salt each day. Here are some of the foods you should limit or stop eating. Ham, bacon, corned beef, luncheon meats, frozen, pre-breaded, pre-fried or smoked fish, canned foods, catsup, mayonnaise and store bought salad dressings.

Here are a few tips that will help. Avoid adding table salt to food. Use salt substitutes or herbs and spices. Eat fresh lean meats, poultry, fish, unsalted pork, egg whites and tuna canned in water. Choose unsalted nuts and use dried peas and beans. Use products made without added salt, rinse canned vegetables, beans and fish.

You also need to eat foods that are high in the good cholesterol or HDL. Foods like fresh fish, avocados, olive oil, soy beans, tofu, raw hazel nuts and almonds. These foods are high in good cholesterol HDL and help reduce bad cholesterol LDL. Also look for foods labeled organic for higher quality products.

Eating food that is low in cholesterol, fat and sodium dose not have to be boring. I have learned how to cook using various herbs and spices to liven up the flavor. When looking for new recipes I came across a great web site for cooking quick and easy foods. It also has links to other great web sites for recipes. Just go to www.quick-and-easyfoods.com on how to prepare great healthy and nutritious meals. You can even find vegetarian and low carb recipes to fit your needs.

Lawrence James has become an expert in healthy, nutritious foods out of necessity. He learned he had congestive heart failure after going to the hospital emergency room with swollen ankles and shortness of breath. After having a defibulator implanted he had to change his eating habits. At first the low fat low sodium meals he prepared lacked flavor and were not appealing. Over time, trial and error plus the help of the recipe web site http://www.quick-and-easyfoods.com he learned he could prepare delicious, healthy food. He now wants to help others continue or regain their health learning to prepare healthy, delicious and nutritious meals.

Bookmark to: