Tuesday, July 20, 2010

The Beautiful Truth

"The blueprint for our future, cancer, is a bio-code gone wrong, and it's delighted by what we do to feed it." - The Beautiful Truth

Last night I watched an eye-opening documentary called The Beautiful Truth (thanks to Netflix), which centers around the Gerson Therapy of healing your body through natural foods. The film discusses many food-related topics such as MSG, aspartame, mercury used in dental practices, genetically-modified foods, and fluoride additions to water supplies that are all legal and all carcinogens.

MSG is marketed as a flavor enhancer and added to more processed foods than you'd like to hear. It has been studied numerously with results indicating it causes brain damage, endocrine disorders, retinal degeneration, behavior disorders, learning disabilities, reproductive disorders, obesity and more. Notice MSG isn't labeled on our foods? There is an organization combatting that problem, Truth in Labeling.

The dangers of aspartame poisoning have been a well guarded secret since the 1980s. Aspartame is a true toxin. No other food can be provided as a comparison to the toxic nature of NutraSweet. Upon closer examination, the available research revealed that the manufacturer (Monsanto) and the FDA are manipulating the public into thinking that aspartame is safe. It is not. There are over 92 different health side effects association with aspartame consumption. Watching this segment almost made me throw-up considering I am a huge Diet Coke addict- I'm switching to home-brewed iced tea, which will also lower my carbon-footprint of plastic bottles. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it.

There are over 1,000 tons of mercury in American's mouths thanks to the American Dental Association. Mercury is the most poisonous non-radioactive metal and it was used as fillings. Although it is not currently in use, it is not being removed either. It has been proven that dental hygienists suffer from very high rates of infertility. It is scary to think that the air quality at the dentist office could be toxic with mercury and not regulated.

Isn't it crazy that large pesticide/herbicide companies now control a majority of food supply? Well, to clarify, processed food supply. Monsanto and ConAgra are just two of the companies that are monopolizing seeds through patents (which should be illegal) and genetically altering non-toxic foods into becoming toxic. Corn, soy and cotton are among the most genetically-modified crops.

A doctor researched dental hygiene among native cultures and found no cases of tooth-decay until the cultures were exposed to processed foods like refined sugar and white flour. We now add fluoride to our water supplies, yet ingested fluoride has never proven to prevent cavities, only topical fluoride.  Cities like Juneau, Alaska are now repealing the practice.

It was an eerie feeling watching and learning that our food is contaminated to the point it is killing us. I have seen it before in documentaries like Food, Inc., but I have never seen it compared to disease this significantly. I understand it is a documentary making a point, but the point is evident everywhere. The cure for many of our most-threatening illnesses is to mindfully eat sustainably/organic/non-toxic foods. There is simply to much money to be made by the food and drug corporations and to too much money used to steer politicians into not taking action. It is horrifying to think about.

At times I get anxiety going to the grocery store because it seems like there is nothing to eat. It's not true, it just takes more preparation, awareness, and sadly, money, to find. It helps to shop at a farmers' markets or stores that focus on natural and organic options. Our mindsets have to change from quick and ready to slow and thoughtful food decisions. There are many useful sites to find a farmers' market near you, like Local Harvest.

The Beautiful Truth left with a message of hope. There are solutions and cures already available, we just have to use them.

I'll leave you with the trailer to the movie. It would be a wise-spent hour and a half:

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Highly Impressionable Transitioning Female... Beware.

I am in an impressionable transition period this summer.

  • I graduated.
  • I moved to Portland. 
  • On more than one occasion I have looked into getting a cat, an Old English Sheep Dog, an ancient RV, a plane ticket to anywhere for under $200, a plot at a community garden, a pool membership (even though I can't swim), and an historic farm house in the middle of nowhere Oregon.
  • I've learn to not despise the 7 a.m. hour.
  • I've gone on vacation, but I still feel that itch for a vacation.
  • I thought I knew what I wanted a career in, but now I don't.
  • I studied, but not enough, for a sommelier exam that I take soon, but now I find I despise memorizing things. Isn't that what Google is for?
  • My ENTP really seems to be shining- Innovative, neglectful to prepare, and moves quickly to the next challenge when things get boring.  
  • I watched all five seasons of Weeds (in about 5 days) and fell in love with Nancy Botwin's character. I think we'd be best friends. And we drink similar quantities of Diet Coke when stressed.
  • I have realized I hate confrontation, phone calls, grocery shopping and checking bank statements.
  • I have become a firm believer in astrology- really. Aquarius with Libra rising confirms my ways.
  • I had a psychic do a reading and she said I would go to culinary school and someday own a restaurant. I can see the ownership thing, but cooking? More than eggs and microwavable burritos? Cool. 
Look at all these questions, confusions and realizations. I think I need a road trip.


Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Up, Up and Away!

Waking up at 3:45 a.m. to get to the launch site on time was beyond worth it... 

Thats Chris helping inflate the balloon with 225,000 lbs. of air. Isn't that blow torch insane?

 

Then all 10 of us climbed into the ballon and off we went. That morning three balloons launched, so these pictures are of our neighboring balloons. We got up to about 1,000-1,2000 feet high. I learned that hot air balloon pilots actually have to have a full pilots license. 


We flew over beautiful wine country and the Willamette River. We even got to do a "splash and dash," where our balloon touched the river. 




What an incredible way to start the day and our vacation! We flew with Vista Balloon Adventures of Newberg and I would highly recommend them. The company is run by the very passionate Roger and Catherine (waking up that early four months out of the year takes a lot of passion). Plus when you land they have a fantastic brunch waiting for you. They typically fly May-October, weather permitting.

This is going to become more than a once in a lifetime thing!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

No Impact Man

I just finishing watching No Impact Man and I am ready to give up electricity and toilet paper. Well... maybe not, but I did get some great ideas to apply to my life like further reduction of my plastic use and homemade cleaning products.

I started reading Colin's blog and I'll probably get around to reading his book soon too. But, I thought this post he wrote on March 10, 2010 was beautiful, inspiring, optimistic, and true. It seems fitting to post it on Independence Day- lets break-free.

Thoughts I come back to when thinking about environmentalism 2.0

1. Happier planet = happier people.
2. You make a difference.
3. Our culture is broken.
4. The personal is political.
5. Economic growth ≠ Life satisfaction growth.
6. Jobs are paramount but we should work to make our planetary home better not worse.
7. The concept of zero sum game is for people with zero sum brains.
8. There is a better, happier system out there.
9. If thine eyes (or thine economic system) offends thee, pluck them (or it) out.
10. It’s not about having less. It’s about having more. The question is: more of what?
11. There is dis-ease in our culture. People yearn for something better.
12. People are trustworthy and altruistic and good and will do the right thing if you let them.
13. This does not deny the fact that normal people act abnormally in abnormal situations.
14. Love and good company, the chance to be of service and to matter, connection to something bigger, the use of our most prized talents—these things make most people happier than stuff.
15. Being responsible for the world is not a burden. It is freedom from victimhood!
16. My happiness cannot be complete unless you are happy, too.