Archive for January, 2010
Eating outside the box
A group of us over here at All Families Natural Health are participating in a Winter Rejuvenation program. The purpose of the program is to expand our food repertoire – to branch out and create new favorite foods, while decreasing our intake of the old reliables (wheat, dairy, wine) .
Research shows that the majority of Americans should join us. According to Dr. Herber of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition there are 50,000 to 200,000 different edible plant foods in the world, and most Americans eat only 3. This is a dramatic decrease from our hunter/gatherer ancestors that included up to 800 different plant foods in their diet.
A recent article in the Medscape Journal of Medicine,by Dr. David Katz discusses the implication of a startling study done by the Center for Disease Control that found that less than 1% of adolescents, roughly 2% of men, and only 3.5% of women met guidelines for recommended daily intake of both fruits and vegetables. And this is despite counting jam, jelly, and orange juice as fruit, and both French fries, and the ketchup poured over them, as vegetables.
This is especially concerning given that The American Institute for Cancer Research cites a varied diet high in fruits and vegetables as one of the best ways to reduce cancer risk. Additionally, a diet focused on plant foods has been linked to healthy weight-loss and a decrease in chronic disease, including stroke and other cardiovascular disease.
In light of this information, we would all do well to follow the dietary advice of food advocate Micheal Pollan:
“Eat food. Not to much. Mostly Plants.”
But where to find these so-called plants and what to do with them?
In the colder months, it often means a trip to the produce department. However, if you are lucky enough to live in Denver, there is the new, year-round farmer’s market to explore. Before you go out to hunt and gather, check out www.whfoods.org. They feature a comprehensive listing of the world’s healthiest foods complete with nutrient information and recipies.
So while changing our ways isn’t always easy, in this case it is definitely worth it. Eat up!
In Health,
Dr. Caitlin
Beauty and the Beast
I love beauty products. From make-up to moisturizer, I have always been a sucker for anything that promised me shinier lips, smoother skin or stronger hair. So you can imagine my dismay when I began learning all the not-so-nice ingredients that go into many of these products, even the “natural” and “organic” ones. Certain chemicals that we lather on to our bodies everyday have been linked to cancer, neurologic problems, auto-immune conditions and hormone disruption. Yikes!
Luckily, the fine folks at the Environmental Working Group have put together Skin Deep a database of cosmetic products that rates their safety on a scale of 0 – 10. Go and look up the products you use everyday and start switching them out for safer, less-toxic alternatives.
Personally, I have recently fallen in love with the Denver-based Moondance Botanicals. They handcraft amazingly effective products from organic and seasonal ingredients that are good enough (and safe enough) to eat. Not a paraben or phthalate to be found. If you are lucky enough to be a local, stop by the store and organize an affordable spa party for you and your friends. Everyone else can get in on the action on-line. My new motto is “Don’t put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t put in your mouth.”
Anyone know of a tasty mascara?
In health,
Dr. Caitlin