Does your Whole Foods ‘organic’ produce come from China?

via: NaturalNews
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
By: J. D. Heyes

[NaturalNews] Most everyone who buys organic foods knows the benefits. While it can tend to be a little more expensive, it is at least pesticide free and much more wholesome.

But did you know that an increasing amount of our “organic” food may be coming from China (which immediately throws into question the organic labeling)? That could include some of your favorites from Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods, which brands itself as the nation’s organic foods leader.

WJLA, the ABC News affiliate in Washington, D.C., reported recently that the “leading food retailer selling the image that local and organic is better for the environment and better for you,” but that may not be the product consumers are getting.

At more than 175 stores nationwide, Whole Foods promotes a homegrown concept, but, according to WJLA’s investigation, many of the supermarket chain’s goods are marked “Product of China.”

What’s wrong with that? Well; for one, importing food from China is anathema to Whole Foods’ concept of “locally grown” and “organic.” For another, China’s agricultural development regulations are nowhere near as stringent as they are in the U.S. And finally, despite Whole Foods’ assurances to the contrary, how is a consumer – or the company, for that matter – to know whether all of its Chinese-grown products are indeed pesticide-free?

Produces identified by the WJLA investigation marked as a “Product of China” included spinach, sugar snap peas and, ironically enough, a “California Blend” of broccoli, carrots and cauliflower – all under Whole Foods’ “365 Organic” brand label. (Editor’s note: Since the initial March 2012 investigative report by WJLA, Whole Food’s “California Blend” of vegetables are now being grown again in the U.S.)

Continue Reading At: NaturalNews.com

Chronic Inflammation Causes Virtually All Leading Diseases

via: NaturalSociety
by: Lisa Garber
July 18, 2012

Glancing through the channels of news media and pharmaceutical ads, the overriding impression we have about health is that cancer, dementia, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes are things that simply happen to us. We are simply genetically pre-programmed to get sick at some point past age 40, but this just isn’t true. While genes may play a role in our health quality, many experts agree that chronic inflammation causes virtually all leading diseases due to a poor diet and lack of exercise.

Inflammation in the Body

When we experience an injury, our bodies’ natural response is inflammation. Wendy Weber, a program director at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, explains: “You need to have inflammation when you have a wound and the immune system goes in to heal it. Yet we don’t want too much inflammation in our system causing damage to our arteries” and the body.

Cat scratches swell on our arms because our bodies are fighting bacteria. Our glands swell when we’re experiencing allergies or a sniffle because it’s fighting irritants or infection. The problem is when the irritants and infection don’t go away—smoking, excess fat in the diet, lack of detoxification of the body through sweat and exercise.

Reducing Inflammation and Risk of Disease

“We’ve learned that abdominal fat tissue is a hotbed of inflammation that pours out all kinds of inflammatory molecules,” says Dr. Peter Libby of Harvard Medical School. Losing excess weight lowers levels of C-reactive protein, an indicator of inflammation. This can be achieved in a matter of weeks.

Another Harvard medical professor, Christopher Cannon, advocates an anti-inflammatory diet—high in whole grains, unsaturated fats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, poultry, eggs, and some dairy.

As The Daily Show faithfuls will remember, Dr. David B. Agus touted other ways to reduce inflammation earlier this year with his book, The End of Illness. They include:

1. Avoiding vitamins and supplements and obtaining nutrients from whole foods wherever possible.
2. Exercising regularly and moving during the day.
3. Attaining a lean body mass.
4. Minimizing use of tobacco products.
5. Avoiding sources of inflammation (including foods like butter, sugar, red meats, and white foods like pasta and rice).

We’ve already celebrated how turmeric is fantastic at preventing chronic disease and reducing inflammation. In numerous studies, researchers have attributed turmeric with preventing Alzheimer’s, slowing the spread of breast cancer into lungs, and reducing pain and stiffness in osteoarthritis patients. Turmeric even exhibits cancer-blocking properties according to a UCLA study – allowing many individuals to realize that beating cancer with nutrition is indeed possible.

To harness the anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric, try:

1. Brewing turmeric tea.
2. Sprinkling turmeric over deviled eggs, egg salad, or over grilled meat.
3. Add turmeric to almost any lentil or cauliflower recipe.
4. Mix turmeric into party dips and serve with raw vegetables.
5. Try this healthy smoothie: blend or juice half an apple, a teaspoon of local honey, and ¼ teaspoon of turmeric with milk or an unsweetened alternative.
6. Or, purchase a high quality organic turmeric supplement.

Additional Sources:

Freakonomics

The Wall Street Journal

Continue Reading At: NaturalSociety.com

Monsanto’s Bt GMO corn to be sold at Wal-Mart with no indication it is genetically modified

Via: Natural News
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
By: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer

[NaturalNews] Most of the genetically-modified (GM) corn products forced on American consumers today are hidden in processed foods in the form of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), corn oil, corn starch, and various other corn-based additives. But soon to be available at a Walmart near you is Monsanto’s Bt sweet corn, the agri-giant’s first ever GM corn product made available to consumers as whole ears right on the cob in the produce section– and like with all other GMOs, neither Walmart nor Monsanto has any intention of labeling this new “Frankencorn.”

Monsanto first unveiled this new variety of GM sweet corn back in August, which rivals Syngenta’s GM sweet corn that has already been on the market in limited form for the past ten years, claiming that it would be available to farmers for planting during Fall 2011. Now, the corn appears set to make its debut in Walmart stores across the country as early as Summer 2012, unless massive public outcry is able to convince the multinational retailer to scrap the corn, or at least voluntarily label it.

This disturbing development comes courtesy of both Food & Water Watchand Sum Of Us, which recently drew attention to the issue by creating petitions against Walmart’s potential sale of the corn. Though Monsanto’s GM sweet corn contains three genetically-engineered (GE) traits that have never been used in food eaten directly by people, and that have never been properly tested, Walmart still intends to quietly stock its produce shelves with this phony corn in the very near future.

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