We do the best with what we have. A few weeks ago, I had new test results, a grumpy grin, and an intuitive sense that there must be something more out there for me on this journey. I have always preached that when something doesn't feel right with your soul, you need to change that something. I am already feeling better about what lies ahead. I can't predict what's to come, but I am certain that I will feel more free from extreme restriction. Happiness = health ...You simply cannot have one without the other.
I can and cannot believe it's almost been a month since my last blog post. I've been quite the busy bee, as most of us are around this time of year. So much has happened in the past month. In reading my last post, I realize that what I have to share here today may have some of my readers inferring that my plan for the next steps in my health journey has changed almost entirely. In so many ways this is true. I have come to a fork in the road. A fork that is stacked to the clouds with the most tantalizing Christmas cookies. In going one way, I would follow the protocol as I had mentioned in my previous post- an option that doesn't feel right with that all-knowing soul self we all have. The other path I have chosen to take will allow me to explore some other options. I have come to a point in my journey where I am feeling that the MRT testing and protocol no longer work for me. The idea of continuing to eliminate foods and restrict myself again is causing me stress and anxiety, which is no recipe for healing. MRT worked for me during the first few months of this journey and for this, I am thankful. I believe this is because I really did have to eliminate certain foods in order to start the healing process. The fact of the matter is, I would not be able to get my nutrition through my diet if I decided to follow through with the protocol for these latest test results. Supplements have been helpful throughout this process, but I can't rely so heavily on different supplements to give me everything that I need and would be lacking in my diet. Shortly after my last post, I began following the restrictive elimination diet for phase one of the protocol. Some nights I would go to bed hungry. One night, I opened the fridge and just began to cry. A fridge full of food and there wasn't a single thing in there that this sensitive bitch could eat. I was really emotional during these first few days. I spent a lot of time thinking about the less-obvious reasons for my emotional state. I began to feel like my body was going into survival mode- my primal instincts were kicking in and everyday was an internal fight of, "what can I eat? How will I get through my day?" It came to my attention that for the longest time, all I've been thinking about throughout the course of a single day is FOOD. I have become so OCD about everything I eat- how is this food going to make me feel? Will this food make me break out? Should I eat this or not eat anything at all? What am I going to make for lunch tomorrow? Will it be enough? While being cognizant of one's sensitivities could prove beneficial, I have come to the conclusion that I am over-aware or hyper-sensitive to my sensitivities and just all food in general. As such, it's likely that I'm causing my own symptoms. I don't have time for that shit though. I fear that eating a small list of foods on a restrictive diet will make me sensitive to that small list of foods due to lack of variety. I fear that eating foods I know I'm reactive to will make me symptomatic. With the mind-body connection being as strong and powerful as it is, there is no way in hell that I could possibly feel well with all these thoughts going through my noggin. Looking back at my relationship with food over the past several years of my life, I have come to the realization that food has always symbolized control and power for me. My weight has fluctuated from my childhood until now, and this is something that was always in my control. I no longer have control over the food I choose to put in my body- I'm told which foods I can and cannot eat. While using food as a means for "control" or "power" is in no way healthy, I have to argue that the same is true when food has control or power over YOU. I feel like this realization helped me to understand why I would get so angry or emotional when I was told what I could and could not eat. I am at a point in my life where I just want to eat to be well. To do this, I have to work on my relationship (for lack of a better word) with food and resolve any issues surrounding food from my past. I am currently exploring some other options and finding other ways to manage my health and find balance as I move forward with this journey. This Thursday I will be meeting with an internal medicine doctor at Brigham and Women's in Boston. He focuses on integrative, preventative medicine and practices holistically. I'm really excited to meet with him and find out how he can help me. I will also be going for energy therapy sessions more regularly after the New Year. I know that this will be a tremendous help, as it has been in the past.
We do the best with what we have. A few weeks ago, I had new test results, a grumpy grin, and an intuitive sense that there must be something more out there for me on this journey. I have always preached that when something doesn't feel right with your soul, you need to change that something. I am already feeling better about what lies ahead. I can't predict what's to come, but I am certain that I will feel more free from extreme restriction. Happiness = health ...You simply cannot have one without the other.
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Well, there are quite a few updates that I have to share this evening. I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was planning to get retested for my food sensitivities, as I haven't felt very well over the past couple of months. Well, I haven't felt as well as I did back in April or May. After a long discussion with Deb yesterday, we have decided to try a new elimination diet instead. The fact of the matter is, I've been working off of a road map that was made for me when I was not well. Since then, my sensitivities have changed- I'm certain of this. It makes no sense to follow a map that's outdated- it won't get me from A to B when new bridges and roads have been built over the past few months. My new elimination diet isn't extremely different from what I was doing with the LEAP diet before, but it certainly has changed a handful of items on my "can eat" list. We decided that I should still completely avoid all of my highly-reactive foods and food chemicals from my LEAP MRT results. My new diet allows for some foods I haven't eaten in a while and actually eliminates some foods that I have been eating for a while. The good news is, I feel like I'm going to have a bit more variety in my diet, which is something worth celebrating. It's been really difficult for me to feel like I'm eating the same foods day after day after day. I'm not picky when it comes to eating food- I always enjoyed foods from different cultures and I was never hesitant to try anything new. I have a wonderful appetite and so, my restrictions have had me feeling like a caged animal for quite some time now. I came to realize how serious this was when I became wildly excited over the fact that I was going to be able to eat escarole, kale, kiwi, and artichokes on my new diet among other things. My life should be riveting now- agreed? :) I had some lab work done to check my iron, vitamin D, and zinc levels. They were all extremely low, which didn't surprise me much seeing as I don't get a whole lot of nutrients from my diet. There isn't enough variety for me to get everything I need out of my diet alone. If it weren't for my supplements, I'd be in biiiig troubs. I went and had my B12 blood work done today- I'm sure that this will be low, as well. I've been off of my B Complex vitamin for a week now because I ran out and had to order more. This actually worked out because I had to be off of it for a week in order to do the blood work. Unfortunately, I'm really feeling the effects of not taking it everyday. I'm miserably lethargic/fatigued. I really hope all my supplements arrive tomorrow so I can stop feeling like zombie. While I take a B Complex vitamin, I'm secretly hoping that my B12 is low enough that I can be considered for B12 shots, which I think would be more beneficial for me in the long run. So what does this blood work tell me? For one, research shows that hair loss is a sign of iron deficiency. So, I can link these two pieces of the much larger puzzle together. My fatigue, pale complexion (on some days), dry skin, random bruising, aching joints, and brittle nails can also be attributed to my low iron levels. Low vitamin D and zinc levels also play a role in hair loss and some of these other symptoms. Triple whammy. Thankfully Deb gave me two big lists of foods that are significant sources of iron and zinc. Only a few of the foods are some of my highly-reactive foods, so I have plenty to choose from to get my levels up. As for the vitamin D, I have to be ridiculously careful with how much of it I allow myself to take. My kidney stones are 100% related to my vitamin D intake- if I get too much vitamin D, you can bet your ass you'll find me curled up in a ball in the hospital, hooked up to an IV, convinced I'm hours away from my death. This sensitive bitch never has time for that. Another update, which I'm saddened to report: I'm breaking up with my beloved coconut oil. It has come to my attention that this "miracle ingredient" simply is not cutting it for me anymore. Yes, it did miraculous things for me towards the beginning of my sensitive journey, but I have come to terms with the fact that it is to blame for my not-so-flawless complexion right now. I blamed my diet, my lack of nutrients, and possibly everything else I could come up with- but I'm past the denial phase and I am no longer using coconut oil as a face wash and moisturizer. Even when I wasn't well, 10 months- a year ago, I never had issues with my skin with the exception of getting hives every time I would shower. I now know that the hives were caused from a sensitivity to basic body washes. I was fine using regular face wash and so, there's really no reason why I can't go back to doing just that. I was always very fortunate to have clear skin- even as a teenager. My friends would get so mad at me when I'd flip out over one blemish on my face and insist that I was "breaking out like crazy." I now know how ridiculous I must have sounded. I stopped using the coconut oil a few days ago and I'm now using Burt's Bees Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream. For a moisturizer, I'm using Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Day Lotion. I'm already noticing a difference, which validates my suspicions about the coconut oil. Don't get me wrong- I'm surely going to use it for other things, but not as a face wash or moisturizer on my face, chest, and back. I will stand by my claims that it works wonderfully as a deep conditioner for hair, a moisturizer for hands and legs, and it's GREAT to cook with! Check out these links for information on deficiencies and foods that are significant sources of iron, zinc, and vitamin D:
CDC- Iron Deficiency Top 10 Foods High in Iron Dietary Sources of Iron Iron Rich Foods Mercola- Zinc Deficiency Top 10 Foods High in Zinc What Can Foods High in Zinc Do For You? Vitamin D Deficiency Vitamin D Fact Sheet Top Foods for Calcium and Vitamin D Top 10 F00ds High in Vitamin D To all my beautiful followers, The Sensitive Life wants to know! Please, please, please take a few minutes to fill out this VERY quick and pain-free survey. I would like to know what your favorite organic, gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, antibiotic-free, no preservatives, uncured, etc. products are. I would like to know what your favorite "sensitive-friendly" personal care products and brands are, as well. The only mandatory boxes are the email address box and the very last question. For the last question, all you have to do is make a selection by clicking on a bubble. It's not as bad as it sounds. ;) You may also use the other boxes to leave additional comments if you'd like. Many thanks in advance to those of you who take the time to complete my survey. I hope to get enough information so that I can make a solid blog post with it. Love & Light, Meag Let me start off by saying that breakfast IS in fact the most important meal of the day. Too often people think there isn't enough time early in the morning to prepare a healthy, satisfying breakfast. If you think about it though, the choices you make first thing in the morning are really going to set the tone for the rest of your day. It's easy to avoid all those unwanted cravings and hungry horrors late at night by doing something as simple as eating breakfast. Today's post is inspired by a lovely co-worker who is in search of some energy-boosting breakfast ideas. First things first- one thing I highly suggest is drinking a nice big glass of ice water in the morning before you've had anything to eat. Sip away while you make breakfast. Drinking water on an empty stomach purifies the colon and makes for easier nutrient absorption. While I'm on this rant, I'll riddle off some other notable benefits of drinking water in the morning. Just 16 oz. of chilled water in the morning will actually boost your metabolism by 24% and aids in weight loss. It increases the production of new blood and muscle cells and purges toxins from the blood, which keeps your skin radiant and glowing. It also helps balance your lymph system, which is tremendously important as these glands are responsible for helping you perform your daily functions, balancing your body fluids, and fighting infection. If you're looking for a drink to accompany your breakfast foods in the morning, my best advice and honest opinion is not to reach for the juice. I always have coconut water with my breakfast. It's THE natural energy drink and loaded with electrolytes. Learn more about coconut water and its benefits from a previous blog post HERE. Now onto the energy-boosting breakfast ideas. You always want your breakfasts to be high in protein because without it, you'll be running on empty a couple hours into your day. Omelets- eggs are high in protein, but be sure to include the yolk as it contains several important nutrients including vitamin A and zinc, which support immune health and tissue growth. Sure, you can have your eggs scrambled- BUT, omelets are more fun because you add other yummy stuff to the eggs. Note that leafy greens are energy boosting. A yummy omelet to consider (I had this prior to learning of my sensitivities) would be a spinach, tomato, and feta cheese omelet. Whenever I have an omelet, I have fruit on the side. I like to have bananas in the morning because they're high in potassium, which is an electrolyte. Spinach also contains a lot of potassium. Other ideas for veggies in omelets that I enjoy include zucchini, summer squash, onions, and organic mozzarella. Yogurt, fruit & nut bowl- Yogurt is also very high in protein and potassium. I like to add some raw, local honey, pure vanilla extract, and a dash of cinnamon to plain, organic yogurt for flavor. Greek yogurt will keep you feeling fuller for longer if you're not a texture-sensitive person. Chop up a banana, some blueberries, cherries, organic (because they're the dirtiest fruit) strawberries, or whatever fruits you enjoy and toss them in the bowl. I almost always add blueberries to my bowl. Bluebz are rich in antioxidants and fiber, low-glycemic, and support immune health and lower cholesterol. Add raw/lightly salted almonds or walnuts for added protein. If you make a big enough bowl it's VERY filling. This is often my go-to breakfast. If I make a smaller bowl, I might have a rice cake with sunflower butter or almond butter, too. Nut butters are a great way to go in the morning or even as a late-morning snack for protein, energy, and to keep your blood sugar stabilized. One thing I have learned, believe this or not, is that peanut butter contains aflatoxin, which is a fungus that has been linked to cancer. Yes, peanut butter is a moldy nut butter. If you're gonna go the nut butter route, almond or sunflower butter are my recommendations. If you need your peanut butter, buy it organic and keep it IN THE FRIDGE. Steel-cut oatmeal- high in protein and complex carbs, which give us vitamins and minerals that keep us feeling fuller for a longer period of time. Complex carbs provide glucose- our body's main source of energy! I haven't had steel-cut oats in months since I'm sensitive to oat, but when I used to make steel-cut oatmeal, I'd cook some apples in a pot on the stove and add a bit of cinnamon for flavor. Then I would add in the water and oats. Before I learned of my sensitivities, I would add raisins to the mix as well, which was really yummy. Once the oats were cooked, I'd drizzle 100% pure maple syrup for added flavor and chopped walnuts for added protein and crunch. This breakfast would always hold me over and keep me satisfied. You can always add other cut up fruit on top, too. Blueberries go well with all the ingredients I mentioned above! Breakfast smoothies- The classic go-to. I use NutriBiotic rice protein powder, which is vegan and 80% protein. I add in a variety of different fruits, liquid drops of stevia (100% natural sweetener), yogurt for added protein, coconut oil because it's GREAT for you, and almond milk. Coconut oil supports digestive health and nutrient absorption. It also speeds up your metabolism, which is a bonus! I won't get off on my coconut oil tangent though because the benefits are honestly never-ending. If you're anything like me, you'll want to bite into something in the morning. Something other than a straw. I like to have a rice cake with some nut butter on it when I have a smoothie, as well. Another smoothie I'm a fan of is the banana and nut butter smoothie with chocolate rice protein powder! Of course there's always the green smoothie, which when mentioned, will make some of us shutter and dry-heave. BUT as I said before, leafy greens are known for their energy-boosting properties. Please know that when you cook the leafy greens (like you would with spinach in an omelet) you're not reaping the nutritional benefits of the greens that you would be if you ate them raw. No one necessarily likes to prepare a spinach salad for breakfast and understandably so. The solution- a raw green smoothie. Benefits of leafy greens, even if it means a green smoothie: Energy! Reduces inflammation Blood purification Supports digestive health Benefits depending on the fruits you add to your green smoothie: Great doses of vitamins A, C, E, and K Great doses of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and potassium High fiber content prolongs energizing effects Fights against aging and disease (Steckler, 2013). I've never prepared my own green smoothie so I don't have recipe suggestions based on what tickles my own palate. Here are some websites I found with different recipe ideas. If anyone knows of some good green smoothie recipes, please send them to [email protected] and I'll share them! :) Fruit & green smoothie recipes Simple green smoothies Yummy Mummy Kitchen- "best green smoothie recipe" 5 delicious green smoothies for beginners ...Just some ideas :) Also, I take no responsibility for whatever kind of weird shit happens in your blender. SEEDS, SEEDS, SEEDS- Nuts and seeds add great texture and flavor. Seeds such as flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds give us those omega-3's and monounsaturated fats we need for good heart health, as well as vitamin E and protein. My favorite seeds to add to just about anything are chia seeds! Many of you may be familiar with them. They're easier to digest than flaxseeds and have a long list of benefits. Please note that the maximum amount of chia seeds you should have in a day is 1 oz. *Help weight loss *Reduce food cravings *Regulate appetite, sleep, and mood *Feel fuller faster & longer- they absorb 10 times their weight in water forming a bulky gel, which slows down the digestive process. This gel is also hydrating. *Reduce inflammation *Omega-3's *Slow down how fast our bodies convert carbs into simple sugars, thus controlling blood sugar. *Beneficial for diabetics.* *Great source of protein, fiber, antioxidants, and calcium One source explained that when shopping for chia seeds, quality is obviously important. Black and white seeds are solid choices. Avoid red chia seeds, which are immature chia seeds and small black seeds that are visibly smaller than regular black chia seeds. Check out this awesome source HERE and learn more about the benefits of chia seeds. To conclude, always eat breakfast. Also NEVER reach for those GOD AWFUL meal replacement bars. They're LOADED with all kinds of chemicals and preservatives. If you want REAL energy, eat real food. Don't get me wrong, there was a point in my life where meal replacement bar was my middle name. It got me nowhere and based on what I know now, the thought of them is nauseating. I'll probably have to do an entirely separate blog post on that shit now that I think about it. Another important thing to consider is making sure you have an energy-stabilizing snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Also check out my blog post on L-Glutamine supplements HERE and learn about the benefits this amino acid has to offer in terms of boosting your energy and stabilizing your blood sugar! *If anyone has other ideas for energy-boosting breakfasts please feel free to comment on this post and share them! :) Work Cited
Steckler, Joshua. "Green smoothies provide health benefits, energy boost." Daily Herald . N.p., 19 Mar. 2013. Web. 1 Aug. 2013. <http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130318/entlife/703189983/>. I was debating on whether or not to share this story with the TSL community, but sometimes it's best to make fun of yourself and seize the opportunity to educate. I went to the GNC in town today to buy some more L-glutamine for my trip. Two young guys were working the store- one of them particularly hot as sin, and the other cute as a button and very helpful. One of them was helping me find what I needed, as I was trying to figure out how many capsules I would need for the duration of my trip. He asked me how many capsules I take daily. I told him that I take 6 500mg capsules each day, so I would need a bottle with at least 100 capsules in it. He seemed surprised to hear that I took as much as I did. He asked me what I take it for. When I said, "digestion," he looked at me strangely and said, "I've never heard of anyone taking L-glutamine for digestion. People usually take it for its healing properties." My impulsive, defensive reaction and only way I could politely say, "I know what I'm fucking talking about and I'm taking it for the right reasons," was to utter the sexiest words that will ever come out of my mouth- "I HAVE LEAKY GUT." For a hot second I had an outer body experience where I envisioned me bitch slapping myself across the face and saying, "did you really just say that?" Oh, but I did just say that. I could have said that I take it because it stabilizes my blood sugar or because that's what my nutritionist recommends, or ANYTHING ELSE. I could have jokingly said, "well I'm going to be in a bodybuilding competition, can't you tell?" Just to show them how fabulous my sense of humor is. But instead I sabotaged myself and I knew it instantly after I saw the look of sheer horror painted all over both of their faces. Probably what the GNC boys envisioned ^ Whatever. Now for part B of this blog post- the most important part in my opinion. The words leaky and gut are far from attractive and that's all anyone on the outside looking in would need to know. Most people have no idea what leaky gut is, which is why I never should have used it as an excuse in the first place. So, what is leaky gut? Leaky gut occurs when the lining of the intestinal walls has become porous, causing undigested food and all kinds of bad toxins seep into the bloodstream. Most absorption occurs in the small intestine. The walls of the small intestine are covered with Villi, hair-like protrusions that have a very important job. We absorb all useful nutrients through the Villi, which are then passed into the blood stream. Anything that is not useful continues on (or it should at least) to the large intestine. However, with food and food chemical sensitivities, the Villi become damaged, brittle, and weak overtime. What results here is leaky gut or an absorption issue (as many of my fellow Celiac Disease people understand) - the inability to absorb nutrients from the food we are eating (Reasoner, Leaky Gut Syndrome in Plain English- And How To Fix it). So where does the L-Glutamine come into play with all of this? Like Mr. Cute-as-a-button explained, people often use L-glutamine for its healing properties. L-glutamine aids in healing leaky gut by strengthening the intestinal walls. Some more benefits of taking L-glutamine are listed below. You know, just to give you an idea of all the different excuses I could have used to spare me the complete humiliation and self-sabotage. * Major energy source * Improves brain functioning * Stabilizes blood sugar * Reduces alcohol cravings * Maintains the health and functioning of lining of the gut * Supports muscle function * Boosts metabolism * Enhances exercise performance * Helps with wound healing * Helps maintain acid alkaline balance * Protects normal cells from chemotherapy in cancer patients * Some studies have even shown that it helps to prevent kidney stones Additionally, L-Glutamine helps with the following health conditions: * Anxiety * Crohn's Disease * Insomnia * Depression * Ulcerative Colitis * ADHD (Slagle, The Way Up Newsletter) What's the moral of this story? There isn't a good one, really. I guess just don't assume anyone knows what the hell you're talking about ever. Or, word vomit is a real thing and it can happen to anyone. I had a good laugh about it afterwards if I'm being completely honest. Either way, I will be going to the GNC in New Hampshire from now on. Work Cited
Reasoner, Jordan. "Leaky Gut Syndrome In Plain English – And How To Fix It." SCD Lifestyle. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2013. <http://scdlifestyle.com/2010/03/the-scd-diet-and-leaky-gut-syndrome/>. Slagle, Priscilla. "Benefits of the Amino Acid L-Glutamine." The Way Up Newsletter. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2013. <http://www.thewayup.com/newsletters/041501.htm>. When I started The Sensitive Life website, I made it clear to my followers that I'm human- I have my good days and I have my bad days. The lifestyle change rocks your world [not always for the better] when you make the switch. For the first month or so of my elimination diet, it was so difficult for me to keep my eyes open past 5PM. The withdrawals from everything I had to cut out of my diet took a serious toll on my body and my emotional health. Pushing through that first phase [getting over the withdrawals] and sticking with it was easily the best decision I have EVER made in my entire life- the best and most challenging. Once I was in the clear and able to start taking my supplements [cod liver oil, Vessel Care, L-glutamine, & Culturelle probiotic] I began to feel alive again. Not only am I able to stay awake past 5PM, but I'm able to work a full-time, physically demanding special ed support services job and come home with enough energy to get in a good workout almost everyday. If I don't get a workout in, it's usually because I'm too busy building up The Sensitive Life empire :] I don't know that I've ever felt so strong and fit in all my life. As an individual who has struggled with weight fluctuation issues throughout most of my life, I can say I'm so happy to feel at home and healthy in my body as it is today. The Sensitive Life has helped me tremendously throughout this process. Hearing from so many of you through my site, email, Facebook, and Twitter has been so unbelievably encouraging. You all keep my spirits up and remind me why I started TSL in the first place- to build a sensitive, supportive community of wonderful people on unique journeys to find health. I encourage all of you just starting out on your journey to stick with it and know that there is such a brilliant, beautiful, bright light at the end of the trying tunnel. There always is. I learned this very early on in my life. I wouldn't say it if I didn't know firsthand. The journey for better health and in essence, life, is priceless. I support you. I believe in you. If I can do it, so can you! "Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength." Take heart <3 Today I want to talk a bit about GMOs, the Non-GMO project, and the Non-GMO Shopping Guide. For more in-depth information click the links I provide in the text. Here I go... What is a GMO? According to the Non-GMO Shopping Guide, "GMOs are genetically modified organisms made by forcing genes from one species, such as bacteria, viruses, animals, or humans, into the DNA of a food crop or animal in order to introduce a new trait." Sounds positively scrumptious. Not-so-fun facts: As stated by the Non-GMO Shopping Guide, here are just a few of many combinations that have been tried... * Spider genes were inserted into goat DNA with the hope that goats' milk would contain the spider web protein. This protein would be used in bullet proof vests. * Jelly fish genes lit up pigs' noses in the dark * When potatoes needed watering, they glowed in the dark * Cow genes turned pigskin into cowhides Health risks associated with GM food: - Infertility - Immune problems - Accelerated aging - Faulty insulin regulation - Changes in major organs and gastrointestinal system. How do we avoid GMOs? 1. Look for that beautiful USDA certified organic stamp of approval I love so much. 100% organic products cannot intentionally contain any GMO ingredients. You may also buy products that say "organic" or "made with organic ingredients" but in my opinion, it's best to look for the USDA certified label. 2. Look for the Non-GMO Project Seals. The Non-GMO Project is a nonprofit dedicated to providing consumers with explicitly labeled and verified Non-GMO products. They also test those at-risk ingredients. The Non-GMO Project verifies for individual products, not an entire brand. What do you mean, "at-risk ingredients?" Well, unless a product is both organic and Non-GMO verified, products may be made with with ingredients that are derived from GMOs. There are 8 GM food crops: corn, soybeans, canola, cottonseed, sugar beets, papaya from China or Hawaii (most) and a small amount of zucchini and yellow squash. Also be aware that GM alfalfa is fed to livestock. Here's some food for thought- literally: If a non-organic product made in the USA lists "sugar" as one of the ingredients and NOT "pure cane sugar," you can bet that it is almost always a combo of sugar from sugar cane and GM sugar beets. Also, dairy products may be from cows injected with GM bovine growth hormone. rbGH is manufactured by those bastards, Monsanto, and sold to dairy farmers. The hormone is injected into the cows to boost milk production by 10%. As a result, the cows are put at increased risk for mastitis, lameness, and reproductive complications. If your dairy products are not labeled "organic" or have that Non-GMO Project Seal on them, be sure to look for labels that state "No rbGH, rbST, or artificial hormones." So, now we know that to avoid GMOs you need to buy organic, look for the Non-GMO Project Seals, and avoid at-risk ingredients. One last tip for avoiding GMOs: use the Non-GMO Shopping Guide! Just like everything else in our lives today, there IS an app for that. Check it out if you have an iPhone. I wouldn't be a very good detective if I didn't provide you with some brand name alternatives, would I? The thing is, you must remember as I said earlier- Non-GMO Project verifies products individually and not by brand. Most or all of the products for the brands I will list are Non-GMO Project verified. It's up to you to check specific products using the Non-GMO Shopping Guide. :] Alternative Dairy Products: 365, Almond Dream, Amande, Blue Diamond, Coconut Secret, Dream Blends, Earth Balance, Eden, Field Day, Follow Your Heart, Galaxy Nutritional Foods, Good Karma, Growing Naturals, Honey Melt, Luna & Larry's Coconut Bliss, Mori-Nu, Nancy's, Native Forest, Organic Valley, Pacific Natural Foods, Purely Decadent, Rella, Rice Dream, Rich and Creamy Melt, Sambazon, Silk, Simply Soy Yogurt, So Delicious Dairy Free, Soy Dream, Soy Kiss, Soyatoo, Tempt, Tree of Life, Truwhip, Wayfare, WestSoy, WholeSoy & Co. Baby Foods and Infant Formulas: Earth's Best, Happy Baby Retort Pouches, HAPPYBABY Pouches, HAPPYTOT, Little Duck Organics, NurturMe, Oh Baby Foods, Organic Baby, Plum Organics Beverages: 365, Ayala's Herbal Water, Bhakti Chai, Blue Diamond, Botan, Bragg, C+Swiss hemp ice tea, Cadia, Califia Farms, Choice Organic Teas, Coco Hydro, Cocozia, Cuties Juice, Earth Balance, Eco Teas, Essential Living Foods, Inc., Ex Drinks, Field Day, Flax USA, Froovie, Garden of Life, Golazo, Good Karma, Guayaki, Haiku, Harvest Bay, Hemp Oil Canada, High Country Kombucha, It Tastes Raaw, Kiju, Mamma Chia, Meijer Naturals, North Coast, Numi Organic Tea, Nutivia, One Natural Experience, One World, Pacific Natural Foods, Paisley Tea Co, Palo Root Tea, Righteously Raw, Sambazon, SANS All Natural, Soda, Silk, So Delicious Dairy Free, Stash Tea, Suja Juice, Superberries, Tempt, The Republic of Tea, Traditional Medicinals, Tree of Life, Two Leaves Tea Company, WingFoot, Wisdom of the Ancients, Zevia Body Care: Andalou Naturals, Desert Essence, Dr. Arenander's BrainGain & Oral Care Formulas, Dr. Bronner's Magic, EO, HimalaRose, Naked Coconuts, Nature Way, Sunfood Superfoods Breads and Baked Goods: 365, Alvarado Street Bakery, Annies, Barbara's, Berlin Natural Bakery, Boulangerie Nantaise, Buenatural, CaveChick, Country Choice Organic, EatPastry, Emmy's Organics, Ener-G Foods, Enjoy Life Foods, Gabbi's, Genius by Glutino, Ginnybakes, Gluten Free Pantry by Glutino, Glutino, Hodgson Mill, Hol-Grain, HomeFree, LLC, Immaculate Baking, Ines Rosales, Lillabee Allergy Friendly Baking, Lucy's, Mac-n-Mo's, Marge's Bakery, Maria & Ricardo, Martha's All Natural, Mary's Gone Crackers, Meijer Naturals, Mighty-O Donuts, Mt Vikos, One Degree Organic Foods, Ozery Bakery, Plum Organics, Purely Elizabeth, Q.bel, Rudi's Organic Bakery, Silver Hills Sprouted Bakery, Skinny Dipper, Smart Grain, Sweet Earth Natural Foods, Tasty Brand, The Pure Wraps, Tree of Life, Tumaro's, Wholesome Chow Candy, Chocolate & Sweeteners: 365, AH!LASKA, Alter Eco, Annie's, Ciao Bella Gelato, Ciranda, Coconut Republic, Coconut Secret, Crispy Cat, Endangered Species Chocolate, Ener-G Foods, Enjoy Life Foods, Essential Living Foods, Inc, Gin Gins, GoOrganic/GoNaturally, Grain Place Foods, Hail Merry, Himalania, Immaculate Baking, Kur Organic Superfoods, Let's Do..., Licious Organics, Lily's Sweets, Lundberg Family Farms, Madhava, Meijer Naturals, Multiple Organics, Naked Coconuts, NATVIA, NibMor, NOW Foods, NOW Real Food, NuGo, Pyure Brands, Rapunzel, Righteously Raw, Rigoni di Asiago Honey, Stretch Island Fruit Co, Sun Cups, Sunfood Superfoods, SunRidge Farms, Surf Sweets, SweetLeaf, Tempt, Theo Chocolate, Tree of Life, Tru Joy Sweets, Two Moms in the Raw, Vega, VerMints, Vivapura, Wholesome Chow, Wholesome Sweeteners, Woodstock Cereals & Breakfast Bars: 365, Annie's, Arrowhead Mills, Bakery On Main, Barbara's, Chez Marie, Country Choice Organic, Crofters, Earth's Best, Eden, Emmy's Organics, Enjoy Life Foods, Envirokidz, Erewhon, Farm to Table Foods, Field Day, Glutino, Hail Merry, Hodgson Mill, Hol-Grain, Kashi, KIND Healthy Snacks, Lillabee Allergy Friendly Baking, Lundberg Family Farms, Martha's All Natural, Mediterranean Organic, Meijer Naturals, Muesli Munch, Nature's Path, Nutiva, Nuts about Granola, Old Wessex, OMG Foods Inc, Peace Cereal, Plum Organics, Prana Foods, PROBAR, Purely Elizabeth, Ruth's Foods, Sam Mills, Sambazon, Shortstacks, Stark Sisters Granola, Tasty Brand, Two Moms in the Raw, Uncle Sam, Upfront Foods, Van's Natural Foods, Vigilant Eats, Weetabix, Wholesome Chow, Willamette Valley, Woodstock Condiments, Oils, Dressings, & Spreads: 365, Annie's, Atlantic Organic, Aura Cacia, Bainter Extra Virgin Sunflower Oil, Barney Butter, Bragg, Bridgewell Resources, Bubbies, Cadia, California Olive Ranch, Casa Martinez, Cedar's, Chosen Foods, CHS Oilseed Processing, Ciranda, Coconut Secret, Cocopura, Crofters, Drew's LLC, Earth Balance, Eden, Emerald Valley Kitchen, Essential Living Foods, Inc, Field Day, Fiordifrutta, Follow Your Heart, Freeline Organic Food, Garden of Life, Gingras XO, Global River, Green Mountain Gringo, Harvest Bay, Hemp Oil Canada, Himalania, HimalaSalt, Home Appetit, JaynRoss Creations LLC, Jeff's Naturals, Koyo, La Tourangelle, Loeb's, Lundberg Family Farms, Manitoba Harvest, Macaroni Naturals, Marinelli's True Italian Pasta Sauce, Manukan, Manukome USA, Mauy Maid, Mediterranean Organic, Meijer Naturals, Miso Master, Montana Specialty Mills, LLC, Mt Vikos, Naked Coconuts, Napa Valley Naturals, Nathan's, Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd. (NS), Nature Way, New Organics, Nexcel Natural Ingredients, Nutiva, Oleicus/Oleico, Once Again, Outta the Park, Pastorelli Italian Chef, Peanut Butter & Co., Rapunzel, Rivara, Riverina Oils, Salba, Salute Santel!, San-J, SK Food, Soyaboo, Spectrum, Spectrum Ingredients, Stubbs, Sunfood Superfoods, Sushi Sonic, Swan Gardens, Tempt, Three Farmers, Tree of Life, Tropical Traditions, TruWhop, Vega, Viterra, Whole Foods Market, Whole Harvest, Woodstock, Yamasa, Ziggy Marley Coco'Mon, Ziggy Marley Hemp Rules Fruits & Veggies (canned & frozen): 365, Bare Fruit, Cadia, Cal-Organic Farms, Cape Cod Select, Central Market Organics, Eden, Emerald Cove, Emperor's Kitchen, Enjoy Life Foods, Essential Living Foods, Inc., Farmer's Market, Field Day, Fruit Bliss, Funky Monkey Snacks, Grain Place Foods, Grimmway Foods, Himalania, Houwelling's Tomatoes, Imperial Gourmet, Intiyan, JaynRoss Creations LLC, Little Duck Organics, Mary's Little Garden, Mediterranean Organic, Meijer Naturals, Multiplus Organics, Nature's All Foods, North Coast, Numi Organic Tea, One Degree Organic Foods, Peggy's Premium, Reese, Sacha, SeaSnax, Stahlbush Island Farms, Sunfood SUperfoods, SunRidge Farms, Sunset, Sunset Kids, Superberries, The Pure Wraps, Tree of Life, Vivapura, Wild Veggie, Wildbrine, Woodstock Grains, Beans, & Flours: 365, Agricor Inc, Alter Eco, Ariven Planet, Arrowhead Mills, Autumn Sky Wild, Barlean's Organic Oils, Beanitos the Bean Chips, Bora Bora, Cadia, Cheweco Organics, Chosen Foods, Ciranda, Coconut Secret, Country Choice Organic, De la Estancia, Della, Eden, Ener-G Foods, Essential Living Foods, Inc, Fantastic World Foods, Field Day, Freekehlicious, GL Soybeans, Gluten Free Pantry by Glutino, Grain Place Foods, Green Island Rice, Hemp Oil Canada, Hodgson Mill, Hol-Grain, Jaali Bean, Kamut, Konriko, Lillabee Allergy Free Baking, Lotus Foods, Lundberg Family Farms, Manitoba Harvest, Meijer Naturals, Mighty Rice, Minsa, Minsley, Multiple Organics, MXO Global, Naosoap Harvest, Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd (NS), Nature's Express, NOW Real Food, Nutiva, One Degree Organic Foods, Pacific Northwest Farmers Cooperative, Plum Organics, President's Choice, RiceSelect, Rivara, Sage V Foods, Salba, Salute Sante!, Simple Origins, SK Food, Stahlbush Island Farms, Stone Buhr Flour Company, Tree of Life, truRoots, Vivapura, Western Foods, WholesomeChow, Woodstock, Yoga Herbs Spices & Other Ingredients: 365, A. Vogel, Cheweco Organics, D & A, Don's Chuck Wagon, Dr. Arenander's BrainGain & Oral Care Formulas, Emperor's Kitchen, Essential Living Foods, Inc, Farmer's Market, Field Day, Frontier, Himalania, SimalaSalt, Hol-Grain, Konriko, LECICO, Mediterranean Organic, Meijer Naturals, Miso Master, Multiple Organics, Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd (NS), Numi Organic Tea, Nutiva, Rapunzel, Ruth's Foods, Sunfood Superfoods, Sushi Sonic, Whole Pantry, Woodstock Meat, Fish, & Eggs: 365, Fairfield Specialty Eggs, Field Day, Giving Nature, Ian's, Keller Crafted Meats, Mary's Chicken, Mary's Duck, Mary's Geese, Mary's Heritage Turkey, Mary's Organic Chicken, Mary's Organic Pasture Raised Chicken Eggs, Mary's Organic Turkey, Mary's Turkey (I think it's safe to say Mary's got what ya need.) Mindful Meats, Natural Sea, Nature Fed, NestFresh, Pure Country Pork Inc., Tonnino, Tree of Life Packaged/Frozen Meals: A Moveable Feast, Artisan Bistro, Bold Organics, Earth's Best, Field Day, Fry Group Foods, Health is Wealth, Helen's Kitchen, Hilary's Eat Well, Hodgson Mill, Indianlife, Lundberg Family Farms, Minsley, Naked Pizza, Nature's Express, PJ's Organics, Prana Foods, Qrunch Foods, Red's All Natural, Rising Moon Organics, Saffron Road, Sambazon, Smart Grain, Sol Cuisine, Sophie's Kitchen, Sweet Earth Natural Foods, The Pure Wraps, Tree of Life, White Mountain Foods Pasta: Annie's, Eden, Field Day, Hodgson Mill, House Foods, Koyo, Minsley, MXO Global, Organic Planet, Rising Moon Organics, truRoots Pet Products...Because they matter too!!: Brad's Raw 4 Paws, HealthForce, Nutritionals, Nummy Tum Tum, Scratch and Peck Snack Food & Bars: 365, Angie's Artisan Treats, Annie's, Arrowhead Mills, Attune Foods, Bakery on Main, Barbara's, Bare Fruit, Beanfields, Beanitos The Bean Chips, Bites of Bliss, Bora Bora, Boulder Canyon Natural Foods, Brad's Leafy Kale, Brad's Raw Chips, Brad's Raw Crackers (Maybe he and Mary should date...) Cabo Chips, Cadia, CaveChick, Central Market Organics, Chunks O' Fruti, Cool-Cups, CrispRoot, Crispy Cat, cruncha ma*me, Crunchmaster, Deli-catessen, Doctor in the Kitchen, Earth's Best, EatPastry, Eatsmart, Eden, Edward & Sons, Engine 2, Enjoy Life Foods, Envirokidz, Erewhon, Essential Living Foods, Inc, Field Day, Flamous Organics, Freeline Organic Food, Fruit Bliss, Funky Monkey Snacks, Garden Bar, Garden of Eatin', Gin Gins, Ginnybakes, Glutino, Gnu Foods, GoMarco, Inc, Good Boy Organics, Good Health Natural Foods, GoPicnic, Grain Place Foods, Green Mountain Gringo, Hail Merry, Haute Cuisine, Hemp Oil Canada, Hi I'm Skinny, Himalania, Hol-Grain, HomeFree, LLC, Jolly Llama, Journey Bar, Kate's, Kavli, Krette Foods, KIND Healthy Snacks, Kiwa, Koyo, Kur Organic Superfoods, La Tolteca, Lassens, LesserEvil, Let's Do...,Licious Organics, Lucy's, Luna & Larry's Coconut Bliss, Lundberg Family Farms, Manitoba Harvest, Marge's Bakery, Mariner Biscuit Company, Mary's Gone Crackers, Mediterranean Organic, Mediterranean Snacks, Meijer Naturals, Mt Vikos, Multiple Organics, My Chi Delights, NatureCrops, Nature's Path, Nejaime's, Niagara Natural, NuGo, Nutiva, Off the Cob, Ozery Bakery, Pan De Oro, Peace Cereal, Plum Organics, Popcorn Indiana, PROBAR, Pure, Quinn Popcorn, Real Foods Manufacturing USA, Route 11, Righteously Raw, RW Garcia, Saffrom Road, Salba, Sally's Smart Foods, SeaSnax, Sharkies, Simple Squares, Simply 7 Snacks, Skout, Snyder's of Hanover, Somersault Snack Co., LLC, Squarebar, Starbar, Stretch Island Fruit Co, Sunfood Superfoods, SunRidge Farms, Tacupeto Chips and Salsa, Taste of Nature, Tasty Brand, The Better Chip, The Simply Bar, Tiny But Mighty, Tree of Life, truRoots, Two Moms in the Raw, Van's Natural Foods, Vega, Veggie-Go's, Venus, Way Better Snacks, Whole Alternatives, Woodstock, Wylde, Yogavive, Ziggy Marley Hemp Rules Soups & Sauces: 365, Amy's Kitchen, Arrowhead Mills, Basic Food Flavors, Inc., Brand Aromatics, Cadia, Dave's Gourmet, David's Unforgettables, Eden, Emmy's Organics, Field Day, Imagine, Jaali Bean, Koyo, Marinelli's True Italian Pasta Sauce, Marukome USA, Meijer Naturals, Momo's, Mrs. Renfro's, North Coast, Numi Organic Tea, Rapunzel, Rising Moon Organics, San-J, Tree of Life, Victoria, Wild Veggie, Woodstock, Yamasa Tofu, Tempeh, & Alternative Meat Products: 365, Chez Marie, ecoVegan, Follow Your Heart, Fresh & Easy, Helen's Kitchen, Hilary's Eat Well, House Foods, Lightlige, Metabolic Response Modifiers (MRM), Mori-Nu, Nasoya, Nature's Express, Qrunch Foods, Saffrom Road, Sol Cuisine, Sophie's Kitchen, Sunshine Burger, Sweet Earth Natural Foods, Tofurkey, Tree of Life, Turtle Island Foods, Viana, Wayfare, WestSoy, White Mountain Foods, WIldwood, Woodstock Vitamins & Supplements: Barlean's Organic Oils, Cando Natural Products, Chosen Foods, Ciranda, Coral LLC, DDS Probiotics/UAS Laboratories, Doctor's Best, Dr. Arenander's BrainGain & Oral Care Formulas, Essential Living Foods, Inc., Flora, Fungi Perfecti, LLC, Garden of Life, GlucoLift, Green Gem, Growing Naturals, HealthForce Nutritionals, Herbal Zap, Immortality Alchemy, Lekithos, Manitoba Harvest, MRM, Naked Coconuts, Natural Vitality, Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd (NS), Nature Built, Navitas Naturals, New Chapter, Nordic Naturals (brand I use for Cod Liver Oil) NOW Foods, Nutiva, Nutrigold, Oniya Organics, Powbab, Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems, Salba, Sambazon, Spectrum, Sunfood Superfoods, SunRidge Farms, Tempt, Traditional Medicinals, Tree of Life, Twinlab, Vega, Yummi Bears Organics (Non-GMO Shopping Guide, 2012). Links to check out:
www.responsibletechnology.org NonGMOShoppingGuide.com http://www.organicconsumers.org/rbghlink.cfm http://www.organicconsumers.org/monsanto/ Work Cited Non-GMO Shopping Guide. The Institute For Responsible Technology and Non-GMO Project, n.d. Web. 19 May 2013. <http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/about-gmos.html>. Non-GMO Shopping Guide. Institute for Responsible Technology and Non-GMO Project, n.d. Web. 19 May 2013. <http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/shopping-guide.html>. Organic Consumers Association . N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2013. <http://www.organicconsumers.org/rbghlink.cfm>. I wanted to post a little bit more information on the L-Glutamine supplement I started taking. While it has helped me tremendously and has so many outrageously great benefits, always be sure to consult your PCP about whether this supplement is right for you. [How commercially sounding of me...] Some of the many benefits this amino acid has to offer include: * Major energy source * Improves brain functioning * Stabilizes blood sugar (huge help for me) * Reduces alcohol cravings * Maintains the health and functioning of lining of the gut * Supports muscle function * Boosts metabolism * Enhances exercise performance * Helps with wound healing * Helps maintain acid alkaline balance * Protects normal cells from chemotherapy in cancer patients * Some studies have even shown that it helps to prevent kidney stones! (A plus for me) Additionally, L-Glutamine helps with the following health conditions: * Anxiety * Crohn's Disease * Insomnia * Depression * Ulcerative Colitis * ADHD (Slagle, The Way Up Newsletter) Check out the links below for more information on this dietary supplement. Uses and benefits Natural News The other dietary supplement I'm currently taking is Vessel Care made by Metagenics. I began taking this supplement after receiving my nutrient level lab results. Not to my surprise, I was on the verge of being iron, B12, and vitamin D deficient. My folic acid number was through the ground and all my other levels were extremely low, too. This explains why I felt like an emotional zombie all day long. This supplement helps with the absorption of B12 and folate. It also helps with cardiovascular function and supports healthy Methylation and Homocysteine levels. I'm also taking Arctic Cod Liver Oil soft gels. I'm using the Nordic Naturals brand, which is a well-known, reliable brand. Brand, or quality, is extremely important when looking at dietary supplements. I chose the soft gels because apparently some say the oil tastes foul. I'd rather not find out for myself. =P Some of the benefits of taking Arctic Cod Liver Oil include: * It contains anti-inflammatory properties * Soothes aches and pains caused by arthritis * Reduces stress * Reduce allergic reactions * Helps with PMS and mood swings * Improves brain function * Improves eyesight, skin, and nervous system (Vitamin A) * Helps maintain skeletal health (Vitamin D) and ensures proper calcium levels in the blood (super important for those like me who get kidney stones) * Assists those at risk for Alzheimer's disease * Helps those with ADHD, Psoriasis, high cholesterol, and heart disease * Greatly reduces the risk of children getting Type 1 diabetes * Reduces the levels of "bad" cholesterol while increasing the levels of "good" cholesterol in your body * Supports blood sugar stability (MD-health.com, Cod Liver Oil Benefits) ...Again, always check with your PCP before looking into taking any dietary supplements. What's right for one person is not necessarily right for another. If you think you may be able to benefit from any of these supplements, consult a professional first. Work Cited
"Cod Liver Oil Benefits." MD-Health.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2013. <http://www.md-health.com/Cod-Liver-Oil-Benefits.html>. Slagle, Priscilla. "Benefits of the Amino Acid L-Glutamine." The Way Up Newsletter. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2013. <http://www.thewayup.com/newsletters/041501.htm>. |
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