Soaking it Up

Hi everyone!  Hope your work week is going well!  I thought I would switch it up today and went to a yoga class. I love yoga but the class times don’t always work out with my schedule.  I am feeling great!

I must say Vegas is having beautiful weather.  As we speak, I am sitting outside on my porch, listening to Pandora while I blog.  It is in the 60’s today and I am just soaking it up.  Sorry for those of you that are in some pretty low temps… you can always come to Vegas.

I wanted to share this article that a fellow dietitian had sent to me a while back from yahoo titled, 7 Foods Experts Won’t Eat.

Starting us off at number one is….

1. Canned Tomatoes

The problem: “The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food.”

The solution: “Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe’s and Pomi.”

My Thoughts:  Fortunately this has a simple solution;  purchasing tomatoes in glass bottles versus canned.  A lot more information has come out recently about BPA.  You might have heard of BPA when the buzz first started coming out regarding BPA leaching into your water from the plastic bottles.  With tomatoes, glass is the way to go.

2. Corn-Fed Beef

The problem: “Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. More money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us.

A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease.”

The solution: “Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers’ markets, and nationally at Whole Foods.”

My Thoughts:  This is one topic we have heard more about recently, with books such as “Food Inc.” discussing this such issue.  Although more pricey, the benefits clearly outweigh the cost in my opinion.  These animals will normally have a better quality of life as well.

3. Microwave Popcorn

The problem: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA.  Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize—and migrate into your popcorn. "They stay in your body for years and accumulate there.   DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then.”

The solution: Pop natural kernels the old-fashioned way: in a skillet. For flavorings, you can add real butter or dried seasonings, such as dillweed, vegetable flakes, or soup mix.

My Thoughts:  Until we know the microwave popcorn is free of PFOA, why not just pop it in a skillet or popcorn maker.  To me, the popcorn tastes better and is much healthier.  Popcorn is a whole grain snack and a serving (1 cup) is only 30 calories so enjoy!

4. Nonorganic Potatoes

The problem: “Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoes—the nation’s most popular vegetable—they’re treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they’re dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting. "

The solution: “Buy organic potatoes. Washing isn’t good enough if you’re trying to remove chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh.”

My Thoughts:  I never thought about purchasing organic potatoes until reading this.  As previously mentioned, washing won’t do the trick in this case. Organic all the way!

5. Farmed Salmon

The problem: “Nature didn’t intend for salmon to be crammed into pens
and fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT.  There is also concern about the high level of antibiotics and pesticides used to treat these fish. When you eat farmed salmon, you get dosed with the same drugs and chemicals.”

The solution: “Switch to wild-caught Alaska salmon. If the package says fresh Atlantic, it’s farmed. There are no commercial fisheries left for wild Atlantic salmon.”

My Thoughts:  This is a similar situation to most other animal proteins.  We do not know the amount of chemicals and antibiotics these animals are receiving..and then we are ingesting it.  In general, I would say it would be best to buy organic for all meat products.  In this case, look for wild-caught salmon as they mentioned.

6. Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones

The problem: “Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1 may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers. "

The solution: “Check labels for rBGH-free, rBST-free, produced without artificial hormones, or organic milk. These phrases indicate rBGH-free products.”

My Thoughts:  Most of us are pretty familiar with this topic.  Again, although pricey, I choose to purchase organic milk.  We don’t know a lot of the side effects to ingesting these hormones in the long run.  I will always encourage to patients to buy organic when they can.

7. Conventional Apples

The problem: “If fall fruits held a "most doused in pesticides contest," apples would win. Why? They are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor. As such, apples don’t develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently.”

The solution: “Buy organic apples. If you can’t afford organic, be sure to wash and peel them first.”

My thoughts:  Simple washing can do the trick if you can’t do organic.  To wash thoroughly, gently rub fruits and vegetables under running water.  Cleaning chemicals are often not advised due to the fact that they will often leave a residue of their own on your produce.  Firmer fruits and vegetables, such as apples can be scrubbed with a vegetable brush while rinsing with clean water to remove dirt and residues.

Although this might be a review to most of you, I would love to hear your thoughts on the article. Does this influence your food purchases?  Do you try to buy organic?  Hopefully, if more people buy organic, the prices of those foods will decrease.  It is sad how much the industry plays a role in the cost of these foods. 

Tonight, I am going over to my parents house for dinner.  After I am going over to a fellow RD’s house.  I haven’t seen her in so long and she is not only a friend but a mentor to me. Were going to gab over wine and dessert.  Can’t wait!