Urgent Call To Action - Tell USDA to Protect GMO Free Farmers

If you buy organic food or are at all concerned about our food supply, this is an important issue and we need to let the USDA know we are paying attention and want them to protect GMO free farmers and us as consumers.  

Tell USDA to Protect GMO-Free Producers  

Submit Comments on Proposed Coexistence with GMOs   

Deadline midnight Tuesday - March 4, 2014  

Farmers who don't want to grow GMO crops must establish wide buffer zones to protect their crops.    Submit Comments by Mar. 4, 2014 Take Action - How to Comment   Talking Points

    

It's a fact: farmers' crops have been contaminated with genetically engineered crops, also known as GMOs. And as long as the U.S. allows GMOs to be planted, this will continue and likely increase.

Farmers who don't want to grow GMO crops face significant burdens. To protect their crops, farmers must establish wide buffer zones, losing the use of significant amounts of land. They spend time and extra money to find non-GMO seeds. And if they are contaminated despite their efforts, they lose sales in organic and non-GMO markets.

Who is responsible for GMO contamination?

   

In 2011, the USDA convened an advisory committee to discuss the issue. The topic was labeled "coexistence," based on the assumption that GMO and non-GMO crops can coexist in the same area. But that's already been proven false: non-GMO farmers are inevitably harmed by pollen that is blown or carried onto their farms, GMO material caught in harvesting and cleaning equipment, and the numerous other ways that contamination occurs.

  

The advisory committee recommended that farmers buy crop insurance to cover the costs of unwanted GMO contamination. How is this fair? Organic and other non-GMO producers would have to spend even more money to protect themselves, while the companies that profit from GMOs would continue to escape their responsibility for GMO contamination prevention and compensation.

USDA is now asking for comments from the public on the issue of coexistence. Tell them it's time to take steps to prevent contamination and put the costs where they belong!

Submit comments to USDA by midnight Tuesday, March 4 (11:59 p.m. Eastern)

Please share this alert with family and friends.

For more info and links to directly respond, go to http://www.farmtoconsumer.org 

Colds and Flu: are you con-FLU-sed?

Understanding cold and flu symptoms: are you con-FLU-sed?

Guest Post:  Dr. Jamie McManus

This year’s flu is turning out to be a nasty one. One of the primary strains we are seeing in folks this year is called H1N1 (also known as swine flu) and is the same strain that caused such a bad flu season in 2009. H1N1 is thought to be the same strain that was responsible for the global pandemic of 1918. Because the flu can be dangerous and the fact that most people cannot distinguish between a cold and the flu, I thought it might be helpful to give you some of the differentiating features.

I’ve made up a little cheat sheet, which I think will be helpful. (See below.)

Enough sickness to go around

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Americans suffer from a staggering one billion colds every year and, on average, each of us has a 20 percent chance of getting the flu. Adults average 2-4 colds a year; kids typically get more (with some getting as many as 12 colds every year).

Colds rarely cause serious complications; only about one percent of cases lead to complications (mostly sinus or ear infections). The flu, on the other hand, is responsible for around 35,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations every year.

A virus is the cause of both colds and flu and though they share many symptoms, each illness has unique telltale signs.

Flu versus cold

In general, flu tends to come on quickly—meaning you go from feeling fine to bed-ridden in 24 hours or less. Most people will have a high fever, feel extremely achy and chilled, usually have a dry cough, and little appetite. The good news is that most people with the flu will have their symptoms resolve in a few days, while a cold can linger on. People with underlying health issues are much more likely to have complications from the flu—including pneumonia.

Colds, on the other hand, start with a runny or stuffy nose and a sore throat that you have probably felt coming on for days. When you have a cold, you rarely will have a fever, or it is very mild.

If you are coughing, sneezing, feeling a little run-down, with a scratchy throat, then you are more likely to be in the cold camp. If you are achy all over with a strong headache, you probably have the flu. Allergies can sometimes be mistaken for a cold or flu. Allergies typically present with itchy eyes, nasal congestion, or runny nose and sneezing—with no sore throat or fever.

Take a look at this cheat sheet to help you determine if it is a cold or flu:

Cold or Flu?
Questions	Flu	Cold
How fast was onset?	Sudden	Gradual
How tired do you feel?	Severe	Mild
Do you have a fever?	Yes, high fever	No (or mild) fever
Do you have cough or congestion?	Non-productive cough	Nasal congestion
How are your muscles?	Achy	Fine
Do you have the chills?	Usually	No

Prevention is the key

As with almost any illness, prevention is your best strategy. Remember to eat especially well, take your vitamins, get some regular exercise, and get enough sleep. The number one prevention tool you have is to wash your hands frequently.

When to seek help

The big concern about colds and flu is not the illness itself, but what occurs afterwards.

Bacterial infections are more likely to happen in someone with the flu, but can occur as complications of a regular cold as well. If your cold progresses to facial or ear pain or you develop a persistent fever, it may be best to see your doctor.

Severe flu, like the Swine flu, can have intestinal symptoms, including persistent vomiting and diarrhea. If you are feeling increasingly weak, with a worsening cough, chest pain, or shortness of breath, you should probably be seen by your doctor.

Most colds and flu come and go without any severe problems and are easy to take care of on your own. Paying attention to your symptoms will help you determine if you need to seek further medical advice.

Use the comment section below to let me know what you are doing to prevent getting sick this year.

Stay well, my friends.

Jamie McManus, M.D., FAAFP

You Are What You Drink

One of my New Year goals is to drink more water.  When we were in school we learned that our body is largely made up of water.  Did you know that pure water is the only fluid that hydrates our cells.  Did you know that being dehydrated can cause symptoms like... lack of energy, moodiness, headaches, constipation and can lead to kidney stones.

Many people get side-tracked and only drink when they are thirsty.  But our thirst isn't a very good guide because by the time we are thirsty, our fluid can be very low... especially if we are working out or if the weather is hot (but we don't have to worry about hot weather in the Midwest this time of year).

How much water should you drink?  Most of us have heard 8 glasses of water a day. But we are all different and have different needs.  Most experts now say to drink half your body weight every day in ounces.  So if you weigh 100 lbs, you need to drink 50 ounces.  But did you know that for every beverage you drink with caffeine, you have to offset that same amount in pure water to counter the caffeine?

Our body needs clean pure water.  Dehydration can speed up the aging process.  Imagine a grape as it sits out and becomes dry.

Here are some tricks I use to drink more water...

#1  Drink several glasses of water when you wake up.  Drinking water first thing in the morning is a good detox for your body after slowing down while you sleep through the night.  Adding fresh squeezed lemon juice and a dash of Cayenne Pepper is good for your digestive track.  This will give you a head start for your day.

#2  Eliminate all soda.  Soda was not meant to be a main source of what we drink.  If we go back to "You Are What You Drink"... consider the science projects in school.  Children take cola and show that it can corrode teeth, dissolve raw meet and shine a penny.  Imagine what it is doing to our bodies?  I also have a big issue with diet drinks because of the artificial sweetners.

#3  Jazz up your water the natural way.  Artificial anything isn't good for us but I agree that drinking plain water can get boring.  So, I like to add things like cucumbers, lemons, limes, etc. to a picture of water.  It is a great way to enjoy water and you will be surprised how easy it is to drink water this way.  

Easy Steps to Weight Loss

Guest Post by Dr. Jamie

I’ve spent a great deal of time over the last twenty years helping people go from feeling helpless about their weight to feeling (and being) in control of their weight. What I have noticed is that people who are able to lose and maintain their weight use the same steps to achieve success.

Let me share with you five simple principles from the people who I’ve seen have weight loss success:

1. Make the Commitment:  The first step for any change in your life is to commit to that change—and it seems to work best if it is a public commitment. Permanent weight loss takes a long-term commitment (really, for the rest of your life), but it also starts with the first step. So, decide what you can bite off—maybe that is two weeks or maybe you can commit to two months. I strongly urge you to try to commit to ninety days because that is a meaningful amount of time to change some habits AND to see results!
2. Remove Temptation: I don’t care how strong you are; no one can resist temptations all the time. There are simply too many tasty things around when you are tempted (a bad day at the office, not enough sleep, somebody’s birthday, etc.). The time to be strong is when you are at the grocery store, not when you are standing in front of your refrigerator after dinner. Start by having a protein bar before you go grocery shopping so you aren’t hungry, take a list of what you need, and stay out of the snack aisles!
3. Be Realistic: Who wouldn’t want to lose all their weight in one month? The truth is that it may have taken you a while to get to your current weight and it will take time to lose that weight. Set a goal of losing one to two pounds every week, which means, on average, six to ten pounds per month! That translates to 18-30 pounds in the next ninety days. That is realistic. 
4. Veggies are Your Friend: One type of food that most of us don’t eat enough of is vegetables. It seems unfathomable to me because vegetables are my favorite foods! They are packed with nutrition and low in calories. Make sure to include as many veggies in your diet as possible. This means every meal should include at least one serving of vegetables with at least three servings of veggies at dinner. For example, try including a salad and/or steamed or sautéed vegetables as a side dish.
5. Exercise: You may lose weight without exercise, but research has shown that exercise is the single most important way to keep the pounds off once you’ve done the work to lose them! Exercise will help you burn more calories and maintain your muscle mass as you lose weight. Losing muscle causes your metabolism to drop, which increases the likelihood of the weight coming back on. So, MOVE more!

From my perspective, THE single most important step to better health is weight control. I am committed to making positive changes for my health in 2014—so commit with me to move more, eat better, and be conscious of things that you do that may be counter-productive to being healthier! Even if you aren’t in need of weight loss, what you may notice from all of these changes is long-term value to your health.

Let us all commit to new habits for better health in 2014.

Be well!

Dr. Jamie

Make 2014 A Healthy New Year

Have you set your New Year goals for 2014?  How are you doing on them?  We are a couple weeks into January and it is a good time to check in on your progress and make any adjustments needed.  If you are in the Midwest... you may be a little behind because we have had some crazy cold weather but keeping yourself on track, even if you have an off day, is the key.  

92% of all New Year resolutions are centered on becoming more healthy and losing weight.  Many of us recommit to our goals multiple times during the year; every time determined to be successful.  However, I believe setting realistic, achievable goals is an important part to being successful.  For example... if you are just beginning to exercise, it may be unrealistic to set a goal to run the Indianapolis Mini Marathon in May.  A first step goal might be to walk the mini or run a 5K.

Here are some of my goals for 2014...

*  Drink more water  - A few years ago I stopped drinking diet sodas after learning about aspartame and the long term health consequences of it.  I do like coffee but usually have decaf and I also enjoy hot teas in the winter.  I have been making an effort to drink water with lemon before anything else in the morning.  This is a great way to get a jump start on your daily water intake and it helps flush your system and get things moving.  Remember, if you drink something with caffeine, it cancels out water so for every caffeine beverage, you have to drink an equal amount of water to even out.

* Move more  - It is recommended to get in 10,000 steps every day.  I have tried pedometers in the past and they sometimes fall off or are just in the way.  So for Christmas, I asked for a Fitbit which is a pedometer and more that you wear on your wrist.  It is simple to use, wireless, gives me updates and the battery lasts for multiple days and can be worn in the shower.  Pretty creative tool.  So far, so good.

* Cook with my kids - When I grew up, my Mom made great meals and they were always from scratch.  She would ask me to help her and that was something we enjoyed.  Our schedules were so busy running to all the after school practices and events, that it became easy to lose that opportunity with my family.  I have been taking advantage of the snow days (thanks to the fun winter weather we are having this year) and asking my kids to help me cook.  They are still warming up to it but I think it will make great memories and also help them understand the importance of real food and sharing meals together.

These are a few of my health goals.  I would love to hear what yours are and how you are doing on your path to achieving them so far.

Holiday Stress Busters

Oh the holidays! They can be the best of times and the worst of times. On the good side, I absolutely love spending time with family and friends whom I don’t see regularly, and I love decorating our home and spending more time in the kitchen. But with these fun activities come long lines at the mall, traffic jams, and the general stress of shopping, cooking, and cleaning. So…keep reading to learn how you can learn to reduce stress!

When we should all be spending more time close to home and hearth, we are rushing with so many holiday-related activities on top of our already busy schedules. . And then there is the food; while it is wonderful to get invited to so many parties, your sister doesn’t always have your health or your weight management struggles in mind when she serves creamed onions, stuffed sweet potatoes, and that impossible-to-resist pumpkin cheesecake! And then there is the eggnog and all those appetizers!

All of this can add up to more stress, and that stress can have a big impact on your immune system. Yes, it is true; stress can weaken the immune system. In fact, there is a whole field of science (called psychoneuroimmunology) that studies just how powerfully our mind influences our health and what these scientists are learning is that what goes on in our minds can dramatically affect our bodies.

How do you know if you are stressed?

This may sound a little strange, but many of you may be more stressed than you know.

Typical signs that you are stressed include anxiety, feeling time pressure, forgetfulness, tight muscles, changes in appetite, changes in digestion, and insomnia. But you may also be stressed if you are noticing forgetfulness, anger, low libido, or even changes in your menstrual cycle.

Chronic stress is a bit of a vicious cycle where the hormones of stress tend to create more stress later on. So the more stress you feel, the more you feel stressed. Your immune system takes a big hit when you experience these chronic stresses, but you are also at a higher risk for anxiety, depression, digestive problems, heart disease, sleep problems, and weight gain.

In order to survive this holiday season with your immune system intact, I recommend the following tips to reduce stress:

• Focus on what is important: Your family and friends are what is important during the holidays, not the perfect gift. Nothing expresses love better than love; show them you care.
• Take time for you: Don’t just fill your to-do list with errands for other people. Be a little selfish and remember to find time to relax and also try to set realistic goals on what you can get done each day.
• Find time to exercise: Yes, it is cold outside, yes it is dark outside, yes you had too much to eat last night and want to stay in bed, but getting up and doing a yoga tape or going to the gym will not only help your mood and your energy, but also quells anxiety, lifts depression, and gives your immune system the boost it needs.
• Practice mindfulness (also called thoughtfulness): Call it mediation, prayer, or just quiet time, but research supports the use of thoughtfulness as a way to reduce stress. Deep breathing is often the quickest way to send your whole body a relaxing message.
• Don’t abandon your healthy habits: You know what you should be eating. There are many temptations and you might think that a sugary treat will help your mood, but that good feeling is fleeting and then will be followed by guilt or feeling bad when your sugar rush turns into a blood sugar drop. Check out this article for healthier holiday eating tips.

Stress can have a real and powerful affect on your immune system. What we do each day can either support your immune system or hurt it. Reducing your stress takes a bit of time (to meditate, exercise, etc.) but the payoffs are great for both you and your immune system.

How will you reduce your stress this holiday season? Share your own tips in the comments section below!

Guest post by,

Jamie McManus, M.D., FAAFP

Urgent - Tell USDA to Keep Apples GMO - FREE

Time is Ticking! Tell USDA to Keep Apples GMO-free

Submit Comments by midnight, Monday, December 16 

Keep apples GMO-free  The way they are meant to be! http://farmtoconsumer.org/ Submit comments by   Monday, Dec. 16 at 11:59 p.m.

Now's the time! Tell USDA to keep apples GMO-free by midnight tonight!

I have had this conversation with my children and their friends multiple times.  Just this summer in fact, we picked apples at our friends house and the apples were absolutely delicious but they didn't look perfect like in the store.  The difference was they were fresh, grown without chemicals, radiation and wax.  Explaining those differences is one thing, but now the biotech industry is wanting to add apples to a growing list of foods to grow genetically engineered.  Their promise?  Resistant to bruising and turning brown.  But wait a minute, shouldn't we want food that has a limited shelf life?  Don't we want food in the most natural form?

Below I am sharing with you a "Call To Action" email I received this morning from Farm To Consumer Legal Defense Fund.  I hope you will respond today and share this with your family and friends and in your social media so we can stop this from being approved.  

The old saying... An Apple A Day Will Keep The Doctor Away, may not be true anymore if it is approved.

_________________________________________________________________

 The biotech industry keeps promising to solve major problems, from world hunger to malnutrition. Instead, they've given us herbicide-resistant and pesticide-producing crops, increasing Americans' exposure to toxic chemicals. 

What's the latest genetically engineered crop that's heading for your plate? 

Apples that never turn brown.

Like all genetically engineered crops, these new apples have not been proven safe for human consumption. Even worse, they use a troubling new genetic engineering technique, RNA interference.

A 2012 Cell Research study indicated that ingesting RNA material from certain plant-based foods can have unexpected effects in mammals.  

Humans should not have to serve as the guinea pigs for this technology! 



Although these GMO apples are primarily targeted to the fresh-sliced apple market, they could also find their way into juice, baby foods or applesauce at the processing level--all products frequently eaten by children and babies who are at increased risk for any adverse health effects.

Even the apple industry has opposed this genetically engineered product due to the negative impact they could have on farmers growing organic and non-GMO apples through contamination, and to the image of the apple industry as a whole. If the apple industry doesn't want GMO apples, and consumers don't want GMO apples, then who wants these apples on the market?


This product would only benefit the biotech industry and big food processing companies.

See more info and talking points.

Submit comments to USDA by Monday, December 16, 2013 at midnight.
Please share this alert with family and friends, http://bit.ly/FRN13434