Photo Credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service

“I asked my grandfather what date in the past when we could have changed and he said the date was 2010,” the little English girl says as the camera scans a dead coral reef sea bed. It is that scary image shown on a video at the Columbus, Ohio Zoo Aquarium entrance. According to the WWF, “As many as 90% of all the ocean’s large fish have been fished out.” Also if we don’t change the current situation, by 2048 all species currently fished are predicted to collapse.

When fish are irresponsibly taken many other species of fish, mammals and birds are also killed and then thrown back into the ocean. One of the most endangered birds the Albatross are injured or killed by fishing equipment. Greenpeace said with top predators disappearing from the oceans at a quick rate we may see an increase in jelly fish which will replace the fish we eat. By eating too much of one type of fish especially slow growing fish it changes the whole ecosystem of the oceans.

With all of this in mind, you may wander what we can do to make a difference for the future of the oceans and our planet. (continue reading…)

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While chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, can be part of a healthy diet in moderation, the fats and sugars (not to mention caramel and nougat) add unneeded calories to what is otherwise a powerhouse of antioxidants with potential cardiovascular benefits. Cocoa powder and cacao nibs provide chocolate’s health benefits without the drawbacks of the fats and sugars in chocolate candy.

While you can eat unsweetened baking chocolate out of hand like a candy bar, it doesn’t have the flavor or mouthfeel most people have come to expect from bar chocolate, and packs quite a bit of fat, though the types of fats in cocoa butter (the solid fat in pure chocolate) may not be all bad. Half of the fat is a monounsaturated fat also found in olive oil. The remainder is two saturated fats, stearic acid and palmitic acid; stearic acid doesn’t appear to have any effect on cholesterol, though palmitic acid, comprising a third of the fat calories in cocoa butter, does have some negative effects on the “good” LDL cholesterol. These five serving ideas provide an alternative to munching on baking chocolate regularly to get the benefits of chocolate without sugar. (continue reading…)

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Insulin, the body’s defense against excess sugar, normalizes blood sugar levels in the body. Insulin resistance is a condition in which body’s cells build up tolerance to insulin, which makes the body less effective at keeping blood sugar level normal. Feeling tired after eating and being overweight are some common symptoms of insulin resistance. Sometimes called as Syndrome X or Metabolic Syndrome, insulin resistance can lead to more serious problems such as diabetes and heart disease.

Food and beverages high in refined sugars contribute to insulin resistance by causing a spike in blood sugar levels. Blood sugar can spike even with unrefined sweeteners like honey. Human are not built to handle that much sugar, and we do not show any sign of adapting to our increased sugar intake. Fortunately, this condition can be prevented, greatly improved, or even reversed by avoiding sugar, eating more fiber, being active and stopping smoking. Luckily, there are sweet yet healthy alternatives to both sugars and synthetic artificial sweeteners. Natural calorie-free sweeteners are going mainstream, and you may be able to find some in your local supermarket. (continue reading…)

The USDA’S official food guide pyramid is misleading and incorrect. It gives the impression that only the foods groups in the pyramid are needed to achieve health but that is not true. My friend, Mike Adams from NaturalNews has developed an Honest Food Guide that is safe and accurate. This is the only guide that gives you an unbiased view, with no under the table corruption, of what you should eat and what you should avoid. As parents, we need to know the truth if we want our children to be healthy mentally, physically and emotionally. Click here to read the full interview and download the Honest Food Guide. (continue reading…)

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Chile peppers grow in nearly every climate. Chances are your CSA, co-op grocery, or farmer’s market is over run with peppers of all varieties. Peppers are a delicious and nutritious family of veggies if only you knew what they were! Here is a guide to picking the perfect pepper for your family.

If you are concerned about spice, always remove the pith (the white fleshy part inside) and the seeds. Wear examination gloves when cooking with very hot peppers to protect your hands. Capsaicin is an oil and spreads very easily. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or other mucous membranes while handling peppers. (continue reading…)

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Summer is cookout season, particularly on holiday weekends. Barbecues, picnics and cookouts are a great way to get together with friends and family, but also provide a perfect environment for foodborne illnesses. Bacteria cause two thirds of the cases of food poisoning in the U.S., and the conditions around cookouts are ripe for Staphylococcus, Clostridium perfringens and Salmonella, the three most common culprits in foodborne illnesses.

Foodborne illnesses from bacteria cause stomachaches, cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea headache and fever lasting anywhere from a few hours to several days. While many cases of foodborne illnesses are mild enough confused with a viral infection and people will recover on their own in a day or so maintaining proper hydration, severe cases, including cases in children, the elderly and immune-compromised individuals can be life threatening or fatal. By paying attention to hygiene, cross contamination risks and temperature control, you can ensure that your summertime cookout is memorable, and not because everyone spent the next day in bed or in the hospital. (continue reading…)

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Jam-packed lives with jobs, kids, parents, studies, friends, spouses and numerous other obligations leave very little time to map out meals with proper nutrients. For many of us, grabbing something and going becomes much easier. But sometimes this ‘grab and go’ kind of food increases health risks and improper intake of calories, which may result in weight gain and poor nourishment. Meal replacement bars and beverages can offer some help.

These supplement foods are formulated with proteins, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. These are convenient and are strictly portion controlled. They are usually designed to be filling, reducing hunger between meals. Keep in mind, though, that nothing can replace the benefits of real food. These energy-controlled meal replacements provide rounded nutrition that can fill in nutritional gaps and keep you from straying into unhealthy eating habits when you are tired, busy or over committed. (continue reading…)