Category: Fruit

A beautiful hike munching on huckleberries

8/10/2014

I spent the better part of my day, yesterday, hiking up at Sam's Point Reserve in Cragsmoor, NY (http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/newyork/placesweprotect/easternnewyork/wherewework/sams-point-trail-and-hiking-information.xml) with some friends. It is probably the longest hike I've ever done (about 9 miles). Note: never wear boots that are too tight (I'm donning some quite bulbous blisters this morning). But, the hike was well worth the blisters! I'll be shopping for new boots this week. Along the way, we hit some ice caves that were just awesome and refreshing on a warm summer day.

One of my favorite parts of the entire hike was eating so many blueberries and huckleberries! The trail was filled with them. They were quite ubiquitous at Sam's Point - they were EVERYWHERE!. I have to say I consumed almost 2 cups of these tiny, flavorful berries. Of course, I did my share of tripping on rocks in the path because my eyes weren't on the path, but rather on the bushes to the left and right of me so that I could grab a few berries and keep walking.

The area is well known for the abundance of berries. They even have old huckleberry shacks that were used years ago by people who came up there and did nothing but pick the berries and bring them back to New York City or New Jersey.

Many of you know how healthy blueberries are since they are loaded with antioxidants. Here's some info on huckleberries:

They are very good sources of B vitamins.
They contain high levels of Vitamin C.
Potassium is also found in huckleberries.
They are also rich sources of iron.

I think I got a good dose of vitamins and minerals on my hike.

There are all kinds of hikes at Sam's Point. There are shorter and longer ones. All doable. Wear good boots if you decided to do the full loop like we did. There is a lot of sun on top of the reserve. We spent a lot of time in the sun so be sure to wear a hat, bring PLENTY of water and definitely some food to munch on. There are many beautiful crests where you can enjoy a snack and take in the beauty. I'm looking forward to going back in the fall when it's a bit cooler (and have a new pair of boots). Like my friend Todd was telling me on the way down when both of us were dealing with blisters, "Be in the moment." It was fine advice. Thanks Todd!

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10 Reasons to Go Organic - Alternative Medicine

4/11/2014

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Raspberries from my friend Lisa's organic garden in Waterville, ME.

Oh, I've written about it before. Sure, you've been reading it in Facebook posts, articles, seen it in the news (sometimes)...BUT...it cannot be stressed enough. The reasons to eat organically produced food outweigh the extra cost.

I've been repeatedly asked by people "But how do you KNOW that the food you are buying is organic?" It's a legitimate question. How do we know ANY of the foods we eat are safe and healthy? We pay premiums for chicken and beef and then turn around and, with horror, watch or read about different outbreaks of contamination of the very food we feed ourselves and our children. Even the USDA has repeatedly failed to stop the contamination of meat (http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/usda-pilot-program-fails-to-stop-contaminated-meat/2013/09/08/60f8bb94-0f58-11e3-85b6-d27422650fd5_story.html).

So, back to the original question. How do I know that the food I am buying is organic? I don't. But I BELIEVE that the people who supply the food (my local co-op and CSA - Community Supported Agriculture) are honest business people who care about their communities. There is no produce in either of these that they claim to be anything other than organic. Now, if I go to Whole Foods and see they have "conventional" and "organic," I'm not so sure. It's easy to mix them up.

According to the USDA, organic is defined:

Organic Certification
Q. How does USDA define the term organic?

A. Organic food is produced using sustainable agricultural production practices. Not permitted are most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients, or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Organic meat, poultry eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. The USDA National Organic Program website has more information including inspection and certification information.

All this leads me to an article I read in this month's "Alternative Medicine." 10 Reasons to Go Organic - http://www.alternativemedicine.com/alternative-medicine/departments/10-reasons-go-organic

I believe these are very good reasons to at least TRY buying more organic fruits and vegetables.

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Every year more and more savvy consumers are going organic, and it seems that every year the stakes get higher. From protecting the health of your family in future generations to preventing the collapse of the bee population, shrinking the oceans’ dead zones, and doing your part to reduce climate change, here are 10 research-supported resolutions you can adopt this year.

One: Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables—and make sure they’re organic.

Daily consumption of fruits and vegetables can decrease risks of mortality by 10 percent and delay mortality by 1.12 years according to a recent study. (Fresh fruits and veggies had a stronger correlation to longevity in the study than cooked.)

Two: Balance your omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid intake.

Healthy omega-6 to omega-3 ratios are low, around 2:1, but unhealthy diet trends have increased that ratio to between 10:1 and 15:1. A 2013 study showed that organic milk contained 25 percent less omega-6 fatty acids and 62 percent more omega-3 fatty acids than conventional milk.

Three: Save the soil.

Eating organic can help improve soil quality by building organic matter and supporting the soil microbiome. Recent studies show that long-term organic management resulted in more biologically active organic matter, better resistance to erosion, and an increase in the soil’s ability to sequester carbon.

Four: Focus on future generations.

New animal studies in 2013 have shown that it is possible for future generations to be affected by the chemicals that their ancestors were exposed to, even if the future generations were never directly exposed to the pollutants themselves.

Five: Listen to the frogs.

Amphibian populations have been in dramatic decline over the past decade, leaving many scientists worried that several species of frogs will go extinct in the next few years if we don’t change our agricultural practices. Studies published last year suggest synthetic pesticides may be contributing to the decline.

Six: Avoid antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a report detailing the threats of antibiotic-resistant diseases to the public. One of the factors contributing to antibiotic resistance is the broad application of low doses of antibiotics in rearing animals. About 80 percent of all antibiotics sold are used in livestock facilities, and antibiotic resistance has been linked to this use of antibiotics in conventional animal rearing.

Seven: Bee friendly.

Unfortunately, 2013 saw a continued trend of bee population decline—without bees, many important crops would disappear, such as apples, almonds, blueberries, cherries, avocados, and oranges. One of the most recent studies examining honey bee population declines showed that a combination of insecticides and fungicides can have a negative impact on bees’ immune systems. The pollen that bees collect to feed to their larvae contained an average of nine different pesticide contaminants.

Eight: Shrink the dead zone.

Dead zones are low-oxygen zones in the ocean caused primarily by nutrient pollution from synthetic fertilizers. Oxygen levels in these areas are so low that most aquatic life cannot survive. They affect large areas of the ocean—especially in the Gulf of Mexico and Chesapeake Bay and have been growing in size since 1985. A current project by The Organic Center has found that organic production cuts nitrogen pollution by 50 percent. You can also personally contribute by avoiding chemical fertilizers on your own lawn and garden.

Nine: Stabilize the climate.

Climate change will continue to be a major concern in 2014, and organic production may be a key part of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A study from Germany showed that organic farming not only produces less greenhouse gases, but also uses less energy than conventional farming techniques.

Ten: Go bird-watching.

Organic agriculture benefits birds on a large scale, according to a 2013 study from France. The study cited “bird-friendly” practices used by organic techniques—such as diverse crop rotations, reduced use of pesticides, and the creation of more heterogeneous landscapes—as being responsible for these benefits.

Source: The Organic Center

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EU vs USA on Food Safety and Health

1/20/2014

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My parents just got home from Hungary a couple of weeks ago. Yay! I've spent the last two weekends with them and one topic which came up several times was how much BETTER food tastes in Hungary. The meat. The vegetables. The fruit. I have to agree. When you go to the local supermarket in Szombathely, there are vendors outside the store selling local fruits and vegetables. We always end up buying from them before buying in the store (although the produce in the stores I would take over US produce in big chains).

My parents' comments got me thinking about the food practices we use here in the United States and so, I started searching the Internet. I came across a wonderful chart in one of my favorite magazines (http://www.yesmagazine.org) which shows how the United States stacks up against the European Union on food safety issues like GMOs, hormones, questionable chemicals, and other food additives.

A great chart indeed...Check out the magazine. Subscribe if you like it and want them to survive. If you would rather just read the articles online, you can donate to them (which I did). If we don't support the media which represents us, we have a great chance of losing them and all we're left with is NY Times, CNN, People, US Weekly, etc. etc. I think you get my point.
https://store.yesmagazine.org/donate/?ica=Don_txt_Donate_multi&icl=TopNav_100

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Flu Season!

10/17/2013

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Oh, I'm sure you are being bombarded with messages about the flu. Well, here's another one! Ha Ha! Flu season will be around for awhile. So, it is that time of year for cold and flu. Yes, you'll see people around you coughing, sneezing, and worse. Here are 5 VERY IMPORTANT things (from Plant Based Dietician http://plantbaseddietitian.com/) you can do to protect yourself and maximize your immune function:

Exercise daily (cardio, resistance, and flexibility) to pump muscles and move lymph through your system, stimulating detoxification.
Eat *a lot* of colorful fruits and vegetables (raw and cooked). These are the foods that provide powerful phytochemicals and antioxidants to support optimal immune function.
Avoid immune-zapping processed foods like oils, sugars, refined flours, dairy, and all meats.
Drink plenty of water and tea for continual hydration and extra phytochemicals.
Wash your hands often and avoid touching your facial orifices (eyes, mouth, nose, ears) to reduce viral and bacterial transmission into your bloodstream.

Keep healthy!

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A beautiful hike munching on huckleberries

10 Reasons to Go Organic - Alternative Medicine

EU vs USA on Food Safety and Health

Flu Season!

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