What I've Learned From Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution: Part 1

Jamie Oliver, love or hate him, has started a Food Revolution. It's about damn time. I know some vegan and raw foodists out there will focus on "it's not enough" but if I've learned anything on my own food journey, is that most people are not going to completely revamp their diet overnight, and especially not an establishment. Baby steps people. Jamie is focusing on improving food in schools, because, really, shouldn't the next generation learn from our food corruption? He is determined to teach parents and children the truth about what's really in our food. Bless him. 

So what have I learned so far? 

• It takes only one voice to make a change
• It starts with you
• Demonstrations are a powerful thing
• Parents do want the best for their kids; they just don't know how to provide that
• There is more sugar in chocolate milk than a donut
• Ground beef is more disgusting than I could imagine
• Some people would rather be ignorant 
• Money speaks volumes and in most cases is more important to the establishment than our kids health 

Sugar is a huge issue affecting our children right now. This is a demonstration Jamie showed on how much sugar the kids in the LA school district consume in a week, a WEEK!!! JUST from flavored milk! So donuts, ice cream, candy, etc. not included. This is just the sugar from flavored milks! A fourth grade class from Canada has started their own blog, The Milk Revolution, to educate their classmates and explore the consequences of sugar. Jamie has started a campaign to take sugary milks from school. You can sign his petition here. 

 

While I found the sugar issue to be particularly disturbing (hello childhood obesity, ADD, diabetes, etc.) I found myself thanking the Universe that I am a vegetarian. Jamie gave a particularly disturbing presentation that I am sure will turn most people off ground beef, unless it's 100% organic. During his presentation he showed how the industry turns "pink slime", essentially the excess parts of the cow that are not appropriate for human consumption, wash them with ammonia, yes, you read that correctly, and turn it into ground beef. Up to 15% of the ground beef you purchase can legally have this delightful filler, meaning in addition to the hormones you consume anyway by buying regular ground beef, your product also consists of toxic slime. Who wants to go to McDonald's and and get a hamburger? If you have a strong stomach, or are a meat eater, I STRONGLY recommend watching this video where Jamie breaks it down for you. 




Would you be willing to pay an extra $2.50 for a hamburger that did not use toxic slime or hormones? Or would you rather "take the blue pill" ala the Matrix? 

The Food Revolution airs Tuesday nights on ABC.

Sugar Alternatives: The Pros and Cons

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog admitting that I am a sugar addict. Since then I have stopped using basic white sugar in my cooking and have started to explore the alternatives. I've found there are many things out there, some, of which I feel are not much better than sugar. Dates, maple syrup and brown rice syrup for example may appear to be healthier alternatives, but all of those rate just as high, or higher, than white sugar on the GI scale. I have found five alternatives that seem to have a better health benefit, and little to no affect on your blood sugar.

1. Stevia. This gift from nature grows in South America and is naturally sweet. It promotes insulin production and enhances the body's tolerance to glucose. It is also 300x sweeter than regular sugar, so little is needed to sweeten your treats.

2. Yacon Root.  This plant is an excellent substitute for traditional sweeteners. It's a great blood sugar balancer and ideal for diabetics. It is great for colon health, creates healthy flora in the body and promotes the growth of probiotics.

 3. Agave Nectar. I've been using Agave for quite awhile and have found it to be an excellent substitute in most recipes. As it is found in syrup form, it can make some baked goods slightly more moist. I found information listing Agave rating anywhere from 15 to 30 on the GI scale. I imagine this has to do with how it is processed. This little plant has been the source of much debate recently, as to whether it's truly healthier than processed sugar. I recommend doing a little research, use in moderation, and go with your gut.

4. Honey. This one is debatable for some. Many vegans are against bee products because of some of the methods Beekeepers use. If you choose to use honey, go with a local product, and IT MUST BE RAW!!! Processed honey isn't healthy for anyone. Raw honey, however, is filled with vitamins and nutrients and can have many health benefits when used in moderation.

 5. Coconut Palm Sugar. The latest craze on the healthy alternatives to sugar market, this baby rates 35 on the GI scale. This comes from the sap of a coconut tree, contains 17 amino acids, minerals, vitamin C, varies B-vitamins and has a nearly neutral PH. I recently purchased it from Whole Foods and plan to experiment in the next week.





 For more information on how sugar affects us, I highly recommend checking out these series of posts from blogger Sarah Wilson on why "I Quit Sugar." Great information here, really makes you think about how even "healthy" sugars are affecting our body.

Hello, My Name is Shanna and I am a Sugar Addict

I dream about chocolate. I make chocolate plans. I start to twitch when chocolate isn't near. I think about it hours before I know I'll "need" it, plotting, planning, making sure I'm never in a position where I don't have easy access to chocolate. I'm a chocoholic. I know part of it is the sugar, that addictive white powder that destroys immune systems with a grin.

This summer I'm attending a Vipssanna Retreat.  This 10 day experience includes a vow of silence, 4:30am rising time, 15 hours a day of deep meditation, and simple meals. This doesn't faze me. However, my Ego started to freak a few days ago when I realized that I would be going through a sugar detox during my experience. NO SUGAR NO CHOCOLATE FOR 10 DAYS!!! Yikes!

This is when I realized I need to get  a grip. At some point I am going to do some minor sugar detoxes before the retreat, however, until then I am vowing now to buy any more sugar for cooking. I have completely run out, so from here on out my baking needs will be experimenting with Stevia, Agave Nectar, Yacon Syrup, the new coconut sugar, etc. I will write a blog detailing the pros and cons of each alternative later in the week. For now, I'm going to drink a green smoothie and forget about those dark chocolate bars, lurking in the pantry.

21 Day Adventure Cleanse: The Wrap Up

The last week of my cleanse went well. My detox symptoms slowed, as my body adjusted to the new diet and finished releasing it's baggage. I had several days where I had extreme fatigue, but my mid-week that improved greatly.

Some of the lessons I learned:

1. I do not have a gluten intolerance, so I will allow it back into my diet. However, I do know that overdoing it, makes me queasy, and pasta seems to be the biggest culprit. So when at home at least, I will stick with Quinoa pasta, which, tasty! I also don't want to overindulge on white flour, so I will be staying away from that, making it more of a treat, or simply using gluten free and healthier flours when I do indulge my baking bug. 
2. Drinking green smoothies each day gives me energy and keeps my system clean. I really enjoyed getting back into smoothies over this 21 day period and intend to continue incorporating them daily. 
3. I need to refocus on exercise and find ways to motivate myself. I'm sure the weather is part of it, but still, that's an excuse. 
4. I am a chocoholic, which, not a surprise, but I think I need to do a sugar detox at some point. I may have an emotional attachment that needs to be addressed. 
5. I didn't eat a lot of dairy anyway, I've been drinking almond milk for the last decade, but still indulge in cheese from time to time. I really didn't miss dairy at all, and in fact was glad it was gone, so I will focus on not letting it back in. If I do indulge, local/organic only. 
6. I journaled about my progress daily, and rediscovered my love for keeping a journal.

What things are you doing to improve your health? What would you like to learn about health? Have you done a cleanse?