You Are What Your Fish & Poultry & Livestock Eat

You are not only what you eat, but also what your fish, poultry and livestock eat.  It's no coincidence that Cancer and other diseases have been on the rise for the last 50 years.  In addition to industrial pollution, I believe the other major contributing factor is linked to the fact that poultry and livestock have been fed antibiotics since the 1950's when their diet was changed from grass in the pasture, which gave us a good source of the desired Omega 3's, to corn and soy.

The fish that are Wild Caught have the desired Omega 3 health benefits, but the fish that are farm raised are consuming a diet of corn or soy, which negates any health benefits.  Corn has a known propensity for aflatoxins and I believe should be avoided if you are seeking to maintain an anti-inflammation diet.

There are some strides being made to eliminate the practice of feeding antibiotics to healthy livestock causing dairy products and supermarket meat to be nothing more than cartons and packages of inflammation-promoting drug resistant bacteria.

There was a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, New York recently asking the court to declare that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) had violated federal law by failing to withdraw approval of using penicillin and tetracycline in animal feed when the animals health is not at stake.  And it further states that as early as 1977, the FDA has had knowledge that this practice could promote antibiotic-resistant bacteria that could infect people, but failed to curb their use.

So although this is belatedly a good step in the right direction,  and I applaud the parties bringing suit, the necessity of a nutrient-rich, whole food plant-based diet is still critical in trying to maintain good health and promote longevity.

And relying on the FDA's seal of approval, when there is known collusion with the big Pharma companies is a mistake we can ill afford to make.  That's a case of the fox guarding the henhouse.
(With antibiotic-laden hens in that henhouse.)

I can't stress the advantages of a plant-based diet enough.  Many people mistakenly associate a protein diet with meat only.  Lentils, beans, Tofu and Nuts, to name a few, pack a powerful protein punch and are a much better choice over animal based protein.

If you need to segue from a being a major meat eater to a plant-based way of eating, then buy red meat that has been grass fed and poultry that is hormone and antibiotic-free.  Organic is not enough.  Make sure whatever you eat is not eating a diet of corn, soy or antibiotics.

And real men do eat a plant-based diet.  Now, treat yourself to better health!

The Power In Deleting White Flour

White flour products are one the top offenders if you are striving for an anti-inflammation, anti-cancer diet. I have adapted all of my life-long recipes to delete white flour and substitute it with 100% whole wheat or brown rice pasta.  Other delicious options are quinoa pasta and kamut pasta.  Once you try these healthier and tastier alternatives, you'll wonder why you ever liked white flour products, which have no nutritional value, in the first place.

This goes for rice, too.  Get some long or short grain brown rice or basmati rice.  Ditch the white rice at the next wedding you go to!

Breads can be a little tricky, because not only do you want them without any white flour added, but you want them without sugar, honey, molasses or other sweeteners.  There are a lot of breads that "sound" like a healthy choice until you read that they have used unhealthful preservatives.

I spent a lot of time reading labels on breads at various markets.  Luckily, my daughter found Ezechial bread for me a few years ago and that is my perfect alternative to the white floured, sugar and preservative laden unhealthy choices out there.  I put it in the freezer when I get home and it doesn't even have to be defrosted when I lightly toast it.

Don't be fooled by deceptive marketing techniques when shopping for your pastas.  Read the labels!  There are many brands that still add a percentage of white flour to the whole wheat.  It has to be 100% whole wheat.  99% is not good enough.  There are many good organic whole wheat and brown rice pastas at the markets now.  I even found good brands in France last year, when I ran out of my coveted stash.

Spinach pasta "sounds" like a better choice, but doesn't hold up when you read the fine print.  It is usually made with white flour and has a small percentage of spinach in it.  So if you want spinach pasta, make it yourself from scratch with whole wheat flour.  No time for that?  Find a nice Italian nonna to make it!