According to the FDA food borne illnesses are killing our family members at the alarming rate of 13 men, women and children per day. Not only are the foods we’re eating unsound nutritionally, but they’re also causing deadly diseases such as Hepatitis A, Listeriosis, Salmonella & Dysentery
It’s appalling that this is happening in our country every single day in this day and age.
Young children, the elderly and anyone with a weakened immune system suffer the greatest risk; however most of the above mentioned illnesses are of great risk to all of us. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that roughly 76 million people in the United States suffer food borne illnesses each year, 300,000 are hospitalized and 5,000 die. According to the CDC children younger than the age of 4 are sickened by food more than those in any other age group, but adults over age 50 suffer more hospitalizations and death as a result of food-related infections.
Food recalls and food related illnesses and deaths have increased nationwide. Food was meant to nourish our bodies; our food safety system needs to be reinvented to fit the needs of today. It’s time to rethink what we’re doing and understand why the current system is not working.
The New York Times recently quoted Dr. David Acheson, associate commissioner for foods at the FDA to say “The system needs to be modernized to address the challenges and changes of the globalization of the food supply and rapid distribution chains” and Dr. Stephen Sundlof (director of the agency’s’ food center) stated “As supply chains get longer and longer, there’s more opportunity to introduce contaminants that have a public health effect.”
Having the variety of foods we have available to us is wonderful, but the truth is that we’ve gotten spoiled. It used to be if you didn’t grow it or couldn’t buy it locally you did without it. We’re not willing to do that now; we’re not willing to make sacrifices to help ourselves, our communities, our environment or our economy. We are an instant gratification, quick fix, feel good society…but at what cost? You can change some of this, but only if you’re willing to be part of the solution.
Eating and buying locally grown and raised foods will ensure safe foods. The reason local foods will be by far the safest is because these growers are feeding these foods to their own families. Organic meats, fruits, vegetables, herbs, wine etc. can be found closer than you think…Here are 5 helpful tips to help you live a longer, healthier, safer life…
1. Plant a garden-You can construct a garden no matter how small or large an area you have. A Cinder Block garden is the easiest system I know of. You’ll use less fertilizer, less water, less tools and will produce a bountiful harvest in any size area. Buy cinder blocks to fit the area you’ll use, mix up a “no fail” soil and plant away-no drainage problems, no weeds, no failure. Row gardens are traditional but they take a lot of work, weeding, fertilizing, tilling etc. There’s also Container gardening, great for small areas (even apartment dwellers). Any style or size container you can think of will work; you’ll just need to adjust each container you use to be plant friendly. Drainage, soil, moisture levels etc. will all need to be watched closely and adjusted regularly until you find what works best.
2. Buy locally grown food-Shop at your local farmers markets, co-op, food shed, or health food store. Ask where your food was grown and if it’s pesticide free. You may not even realize how many growers are within 100 miles of your home. Do your homework, they’re out there. I guarantee it.
3. Join a Co-Op-If you don’t have a lot of time or space to plant your own, or would rather share the gardening experience, join or start a co-op. Co-ops are great because it’s a community project that you can participate in and benefit from.
4. Read labels-The little stickers on every piece of fruit and vegetable you purchase tells you exactly where it came from and how it was grown. Labels with four digits indicate conventionally grown food (using pesticides). Labels with five digits starting with an 8 indicate that the food is genetically modified (stay away from these at all costs…Genetically Modified Organisms are by far the worst foods to consume). Labels with five digits starting with a 9 indicate that the food is organically grown (without using pesticides).
5. Educate yourself-Subscribe to community newsletters. Know where your food comes from. Buy locally grown foods within a 100 mile radius of your home. Share your knowledge and speak up when it comes to asking questions or voicing your concerns about foods you and your family will be eating.
Be aware of the dangers that inhabit your cupboards, refrigerators, lunch boxes and grocery stores…Plant a garden and grow your own, otherwise buy local, buy fresh, buy organic…
When it comes to food, the Chinese have a common saying, â??The masses regard food as their heaven,â? which means that food is peopleâ??s primal want. It should clearly justify the importance that â??eatingâ? holds in Chinese peopleâ??s lives. Eating is not just meant to fill the stomach; having food at oneâ??s disposal, being able to consume a good amount of food, and knowing what and how to eat are all viewed as a good â??fortune.â? Those who promote food culture often use the words of Chinese philosopher Confucius, â??diet and love-making, all primal needs of every human being,â? finding an aspiring and positive thought basis for such an epicurean lifestyle. Thereâ??s probably not another place in this world that has as great a variety of delicious fare as China. If judging by the art and techniques of cooking, aside from France and Italy, perhaps the skills of chefs of no other country can gain recognition from the Chinese.
Extremely developed culinary techniques can make seemingly inedible ingredients, to foreign eyes, into dish after dish of delicious treats by the hands of Chinese chefs. The Chinese cookbook also contains quite an extensive list of foods, including just about anything edible with very few taboos. The Chinese, who see eating as a fortune and life as an art, not only created various kinds of regional food styles in its own vast lands, but have also spread Chinese food culture to far across the seas. Today, in this world where even the farthest corners can seem as close as oneâ??s backyard, Chinese food can be enjoyed in each and every metropolitan throughout the world.
Like many other countries with a vast territory, Chinese cuisines are differentiated largely by its northern and southern regional tastes. Although the best quality rice in China is grown in its northeastern regions, people in those regions, however, just as other northerners, prefer to eat pasta or pastry instead. In the north, classic dishes include Beijingâ??s lamb hotpot (fondue) and roast duck, and Shandong provinceâ??s Lu style cuisines. In the south, the principal foods (foods that are the main source of carbohydrates and dietary fibers, e.g. bread and cereal in the west) are rice-based. A relatively greater variety of dishes are found in the south. There you can find the hot and heavily spiced Sichuan food, Xiang (Hunan) food, sweet and delicate Huaiyang food and the Yue (Cantonese) style which are mosdy seafood and soups. Thus foreigners who have been to China are often pleasandy surprised by the great differences in taste and food types by region.
Having Chinese food not only indulges peopleâ??s sense of taste, the sense of sight is also entertained. The Chinese culinary arts rely on the canon of â??color (aesthetic beauty), aroma, and taste,â? missing any one element would not make a good dish. To make the food pleasing to the eye, usually the appropriate meat and non-meat ingredients are selected; it would include a single main ingredient and two or three secondary ingredients of different colors. Blue, green, red, yellow, white, black and brown sauce colors are to be mixed inthe right combination. Through proper cooking techniques, aestheticism in food is achieved. â??Aromaâ? is achieved by using the right spices, such as scallion, ginger, garlic, cooking wine, aniseed, cassia bark, black pepper, sesame oil, shiitake mushrooms and so on, to stimulate the appetite with the aroma from the cooked food. When preparing food, techniques such as fry, stir-fry, roast, steam, deep-fry, quick-fry, simmer and others are put to use, with the goal of preserving the natural taste and juices of the food. One can also add the right amounts of soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, spices, spicy pepper and other seasoning, making the dishes taste salty, sweet, sour, hot and much more. With tomatoes, turnip, cucumber and other sculptural vegetables to create elegant and intricate decorations to the plate, and the use of exquisite fine china for dining ware, Chinese cuisines really become a true art form complete with aesthetic beauty, wonderful aroma, and great taste.
Americans rely on calculating calories and cholesterol content from food to maintain good health and a shapely figure.
The Japanese are into trying various health foods to preserve an everlasting youth. Different from both, the Chinese way of looking at health lies in its philosophy of â??food and medicine sharing the same roots.â? The firm belief that food has healing powers and therapeutic effects has led to the introduction of many edible plants and herbs. And with the benefits of disease prevention and health preservation, they have become regular dishes in Chinese homes. At the same time, there is the pursuit of refinement in cooking. The amount of food and mixing of ingredients is very essential, and it is recommended that meats and non-meats be used in combination. Whether making dishes or soups, foods with suited nutritional contents are put in combination so as to achieve the goal of balanced nutritional intake. And it is recommended to dine until the stomach is about 70% to 80% full, as this practice is passed down the generations as a secret to long life.
At the dinner table, the Chinese has their own set of manners and customs. When dining, the eater must be seated. When people of all ages and both sexes sit at the same table, the elderly must be seated with priority. One must eat food held with chopsticks; when having soup, a soupspoon must be used. Thereâ??s also to be no noise when eating and so on. These etiquettes have continued to this day, but the biggest change is none other than the fact that more and more Chinese have proactively given up the rule of â??No talking when eating.â? Indeed, when dining with the Chinese, one would frequendy encounter a dining environment full of chatting and noises. Many people who have their mouths full still intend to chat away. This phenomenon may be due to the reason that contemporary Chinese have come to consider dining as an important social opportunity. People need, at this time, to relax and talk about certain soothing and joyous topics to increase understanding between those sitting at the table.
In recent years, due to the accelerated development of industries and commerce, aside from traditional menu-ordered food services, Chinese fast foods have dawned onto the scene. And not only this, cuisines from every corner of the world have, one after another, made their grand appearances in all major cities in China; Italian pizza, French gourmet, Japanese sushi, American burgers, German beers, Brazilian barbeque, Indian curry, Swiss cheese and more. Anything one can think of can be found, a true all-inclusive list of dining choices. It justifies the saying â??Eat in Chinaâ? even more so.
Introduction
Your dog’s health and wellbeing is important to you and your family. Not to mention keeping down the cost of veterinarian bills! So you need to carefully consider the food that you give your dog. People sometimes just pick the first dog food bag they see at the store. It’s easy to overlook the importance of dog food but it is essential to pick the right one for your dog.
To keep your dog healthy he needs plenty of fresh water and should be fed good quality dog food in amounts just right to meet his energy requirements. Always follow the guidelines on the dog food package for recommended feeding amounts.
Picking a dog food
The first challenge in choosing a dog food is picking one that has overall quality. The term that comes up a lot about dog food is human grade. Human grade implies that the dog food is good enough for us to eat. Many commercial dog foods are made from materials unusable or less desirable for human consumption. Often the meat that is used in dog food is of a quality considered unfit for humans to eat.
Major dog food companies try to provide balanced proportions of vitamins and minerals for maximum benefit to your dog. Although you may see that many brands of dog food have almost identical labels, a reputable dog food company will provide an explanation for each supplement and how it benefits your dog.
Always read the label to see what proteins, vitamins and minerals are being provided to your dog. Try not to use store brand dog food they may short change your dog on much needed nutrition.
Studies have shown that the primary ingredient in dog food should be meat-based protein, not corn meal, flour or corn gluten meal. According to reviews a better quality dog food results in a healthier coat, fewer digestive problems and firmer stools. Pet-nutrition experts agree that the best dog food is made from human-grade ingredients like meat, whole grains and vegetables. Premium dog food is so important because good nutrition is essential for a long, healthy life.
Types of dog food
There are many varieties of dog food to choose from. The three most popular types of dog foods are dry, semi-moist and canned products. Check the color of your dog food. Usually dog food made from natural ingredients will have soft earth tones and contain no preservatives, artificial colors and flavors.
Raw dog food is becoming more popular. More and more veterinarians recommend feeding your dog with raw dog food. They feel that this is the best choice and is the healthiest food for your dog. After all, you’ve never seen your dog enjoy commercial dog food the way he enjoys a good meaty bone.
Raw food advocates concede the diet costs more than traditional dog food, but they argue it’s worth it. You may find that locating free natural home made dog food recipes is not easy. Try making a mixture of ground turkey, rice and carrot as your own dog food. Your dog will thank you for it.
If you decide to go the commercial route, try and choose a good premium dog food since it contains more energy and protein than an economy brand. Unfortunately not all dog food brands contain high quality and natural ingredients, so always check the label. It is best if you seek advice from your veterinarian before deciding on which dog food to feed your dog or puppy. He will know your dog’s dietary needs and you will find that veterinary offices and feed stores often carry excellent and natural dog food.
All Natural Dog Food
Many natural dog foods contain only fresh, natural and wholesome ingredients for your dog. Not only are the protein ingredients digestible, but the carbohydrates in the dog food are digestible. Natural dog food has 100% nutritional value which is important for healthy strong dogs. Chicken, egg and fish are examples of protein that is provided in natural dog food. There are also ingredients in natural dog food that really help the health of your dog’s skin and also your dog’s coat. One of the main draw backs of natural dog food is that it has a shorter shelf life and may spoil before it is used.
Dried Dog Food
A good high quality dry dog food will work out to be more economical than the generic brands even though they cost more per pound. A vast majority of dog owners go for dry dog food for its convenience and ease of storage. The cheaper dry dog foods are made from soybean, corn or rice, while many premium dry dog foods are made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients.
Vegetarian dog foods
There are dog foods specially formulated for dogs that are allergic to wheat, corn, and/or chicken. There are also vegetarian dog foods marketed to owners who do not want their dogs to consume meat products. Most vegetarian dog foods use soy as a protein source. If your dog has allergies consult your vet before putting him on a specialized diet.
Conclusion
Overall it’s usually best to let dogs enjoy dog food and not our food, even though they may prefer what we’re eating! Of course you can feed your dog treats from time to time, every dog needs some TLC from time to time!