Rebel With a Fork Blog

Archive for August, 2010

I have kept quiet on the egg issue because frankly, other people have really picked up the ball on this issue and I’m sure you’ve seen at least one of the video clips of how deplorable the commercial chicken farms are.

I’ve even had people tell me they want to raise their own chickens. One town not too far from here has revised their ordinances to allow raising chickens.

So, we know we don’t want eggs from chickens raised in small cages and dirty disgusting conditions.

And we know we don’t want eggs that come from chickens who have been pumped full of hormones and antibiotics. Except that chickens raised in the disgusting deplorable conditions would have to have antibiotics.

So, we think that farmstand eggs from local farmers are the healthiest choice, right? They run free, the coops are clean. Unfortunately, there’s still one more little issue.

What are the chickens fed?

I was talking to a small farmer recently about her eggs. She said she won’t be able to call them organic. Seems she had switched to a cheaper feed to save money.

Cheaper feed is GMO corn.

And eggs are a highly nutritious food. I know you’ll say, “Oh, but the cholesterol!” Turns out that’s a bunch of hooey too. When I was growing up, lots of people at 2 or 3 eggs every morning, and they weren’t anywhere near as sick as people are now. I’m not saying to load up on eggs, but heck – a good Sunday morning breakfast is a real treat. And omelets make a fast, inexpensive dinner – even if you bought organic eggs.

If you want the healthiest eggs, you have to either buy organic, or raise your own. I saw that one of the hot rising products at Clickbank is on building Chicken Coops. Or there’s another hot one on keeping backyard chickens.

I want to have organic vegetable gardens grown with heritage seeds, a windmill, and solar panels. But do I want to raise chickens? I don’t know about that.

Maybe there’s a chicken group, you know like the share croppers groups? Where you just pay your share of the upkeep.

But if you’re looking for ways to make some extra money, there are lots of people looking for locally produced food these days. And don’t forget about jams, preserves, and other food goodies.

I’m making myself hungry. Time to go pick something good to eat

Fighting this bill has been an ongoing effort. We have to keep pounding our Senators and let them know we ARE watching.

This bill would make it illegal to grow a tomato and give it to your neighbor. Its outrageious. It is driven by the likes of Monsanto and other powerful companies with lots of money. If we turn away for a second, that bill will get passed. I have commented to my senators and representatives that I will not vote for anyone who signs this bill – period. I will publicize anyone who signes this bill.

As Dr. Rima points out, this bill effects everyone. Everyone eats.

If this bill passes, there will be little point in even talking about healthy food or vitamins. That’s how bad it is. That will all be taken away from us  in favor if industrial farming, commercial foods, and big pharma.

Take Action Here Now – http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/568/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4613

More information here – http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?p=6300

 

Are you taking nature for granted?

We have a natural sauna, yet everyone would rather pay to go sweat. We do our darndest to keep from sweating, don’t we?  

But its nature’s way of removing toxins from our largest organ – our skin.  

I was reminded of this yesterday when I did a little physical work yesterday, and the sweat was just pouring! Once I came in and took a shower, I felt great!

I haven’t had to do as much physical work outside this year. Except for one major bloom, we don’t have inches of algae muck on the beach this year – so I’m not getting the workout I did the last couple of years.  

Even getting out on a little blow up raft is a good workout. Paddle around on one for a while, and your abs will tell you about it!

Are you getting out and enjoying the summer nights? I know the mosquitoes are bad. I use the bug spray and take a shower before I get to bed. Carleen swears by the fans. She says they work great.  

Oh, and I found that ebook that has the natural homemade recipes for lawns, including bug repellent.

And what about your Vitamin D? Are you getting out and getting natural sun everyday? Without sunscreen?

How much sun you should get depends on your skin type. You want to get as much sun as your skin will tolerate before starting to turn pink. That’s Before you burn, OK? For some, that means 15 minutes. For me its hours. The darker your skin is, the harder it is for your body to make Vitamin D.

So while I may be fortunate that I really don’t burn – I have to be in the sun for a long time to stay healthy. I’m sobbing, can you tell? To me, the perfect weather is sunny and low 80s. Its been a little uncomfortable the last couple days. But that’s what they make lakes and swimming pools for, right?

And the summer nights are so beautiful. Get out and take a walk. It takes about 20 minutes to walk a mile at an easy pace. You don’t have to power walk. It releases tension, it clears your mind. The stars are amazing.

Walk now. Its not nearly as pleasant when its 10 outside. Don’t waste nature’s opportunities.

Someone said once that walking barefoot in the sand was a great exfoliator. I sort of laughed at the idea, but you know what? My feet look pretty nice. You would think for as much as I go barefoot they would look awful. Just watch out for acorns. They hurt!

And a healthy diet this time of year is so easy with all of the fresh fruits and vegetables at the farmers markets and stands. Unless your tastebuds have been totally killed and you’ve turned into a lab rat – you have to be digging all this great food.

Everyone thinks it would be so great to go to one of those exclusive health spas. Here nature hands it to you on a silver platter, and you ignore it!

There’s only a little time left before school starts, and the weather will be changing. If your plans include a day at the mall, or seeing a movie, or sitting in front of the TV – Change them! Get outside. Enjoy the last few outdoor concerts. Most are free.  

Walk, go to the park, play tennis or golf, swim, ski, tube, play frisbee or disc golf, have a water balloon fight. There’s tons you can do and have fun doing it.

You’ll be happier, healthier, and you just saved thousands of dollars by not having to go to some exotic spa to do it.

Are you taking nature for granted?

 

We have a natural sauna, yet everyone would rather pay to go sweat. We do our darndest to keep from sweating, don’t we?

 

But its nature’s way of removing toxins from our largest organ – our skin.

 

I was reminded of this yesterday when I did a little physical work yesterday, and the sweat was just pouring! Once I came in and took a shower, I felt great!

 

I haven’t had to do as much physical work outside this year. We don’t have inches of algae muck on the beach this year – so I’m not getting the workout I did the last couple of years.

 

Even getting out on a little blow up raft is a good workout. Paddle around on one for a while, and your abs will tell you about it!

 

Are you getting out and enjoying the summer nights? I know the mosquitoes are bad. I use the bug spray and take a shower before I get to bed. Carleen swears by the fans. She says they work great.

 

Oh, and I found that ebook that has the natural homemade recipes for lawns, including bug repellent.

 

And what about your Vitamin D? Are you getting out and getting natural sun everyday? Without sunscreen?

 

How much sun you should get depends on your skin type. You want to get as much sun as your skin will tolerate before starting to turn pink. That’s Before you burn, OK? For some, that means 15 minutes. For me its hours. The darker your skin is, the harder it is for your body to make Vitamin D.

 

So while I may be fortunate that I really don’t burn – I have to be in the sun for a long time to stay healthy. I’m sobbing, can you tell? To me, the perfect weather is sunny and low 80s. Its been a little uncomfortable the last couple days. But that’s what they make lakes and swimming pools for, right?

 

And the summer nights are so beautiful. Get out and take a walk. It takes about 20 minutes to walk a mile at an easy pace. You don’t have to power walk. It releases tension, it clears your mind. The stars are amazing.

 

Walk now. Its not nearly as pleasant when its 10 outside. Don’t waste nature’s opportunities.

 

Someone said once that walking barefoot in the sand was a great exfoliator. I sort of laughed at the idea, but you know what? My feet look pretty nice. You would think for as much as I go barefoot they would look awful. Just watch out for acorns. They hurt!

 

And a healthy diet this time of year is so easy with all of the fresh fruits and vegetables at the farmers markets and stands. Unless your tastebuds have been totally killed and you’ve turned into a lab rat – you have to be digging all this great food.

 

Everyone thinks it would be so great to go to one of those exclusive health spas. Here nature hands it to you on a silver platter, and you ignore it!

 

There’s only a little time left before school starts, and the weather will be changing. If your plans include a day at the mall, or seeing a movie, or sitting in front of the TV – Change them! Get outside. Enjoy the last few outdoor concerts. Most are free.

 

Walk, go to the park, play tennis or golf, swim, ski, tube, play frisbee or disc golf, have a water balloon fight. There’s tons you can do and have fun doing it.

 

You’ll be happier, healthier, you’ll lose weight, and you just saved thousands of dollars by not having to go to some exotic spa to do it.

 

 

 

These juices and packaged fruits have been found to contain dangerous levels of lead –

1 365 Everyday Value Organic 100% Juice Concord Grapes

2 Beech Nut 100% Apple Juice

3 Best Yet Bartlett Pear Halves in Heavy Syrup

4 Best Yet Chunky Mixed Fruit in Pear Juice

5 Best Yet Yellow Cling Peach Halves in Heavy Syrup

6 Chef’s Review Fruit Cocktail

7 Del Monte 100% Juice Fruit Cocktail

8 Del Monte Chunky Mixed Fruit in 100 % Juice (peach, pear, grape, etc.)

9 Del Monte Diced Pears in Light Syrup

10 Del Monte Freestone Peach Slices in 100 % Juice

11 Del Monte Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup (peach, pear, grapes)

12 Del Monte Fruit Cocktail No Sugar Added

13 Del Monte Lite Fruit Cocktail in Extra Light Syrup

14 Del Monte Pear Halves in Heavy Syrup

15 Del Monte Pear Halves, Bartlett Pears in 100% real fruit juice from concentrate

16 Del Monte Sliced Yellow Cling Peaches in 100 % Juice

17 Del Monte Sliced Yellow Cling Peaches in heavy syrup

18 Dole Diced Peaches, Yellow Cling in light syrup

19 Dole Mixed Fruit in Light Syrup

20 Dole Pear Halves in Juice

21 Earth’s Best Organics Apple Juice

22 Eating Right Fruit Cocktail packed in Sucralose

23 Eating Right No Sugar Fruit Cocktail

24 First Street 100% Apple Cider from concentrate

25 First Street Apple Juice from concentrate 100% juice

26 First Street Diced Pears

27 First Street Fruit Cocktail in heavy syrup

28 First Street Grape Juice from concentrate 100% juice

29 First Street Sliced Bartlett

30 First Street Yellow Cling Peaches in heavy syrup

31 Full Circle Organic Apple Juice

32 Full Circle Organic Bartlett Pear Slices

33 Gerber 100% Juice – White Grape Juice

34 Gerber 100% Juice Apple Juice

35 Gerber 3rd Foods Peaches

36 Gerber 3rd Foods Pears

37 Golden Star Mixed Fruit in Light Syrup (peach, pineapple, pears)

38 Golden Star Peach Halves in Heavy Syrup

39 Great Value 100% Grape Juice

40 Great Value 100% No Sugar Added Apple Juice

41 Great Value Bartlett Pear Halves in 100% Juice

42 Great Value Bartlett Sliced Pears in Heavy Syrup

43 Great Value No Sugar Added Fruit Cocktail

44 Great Value Yellow Cling Sliced Peaches

45 Hansen’s Natural Apple Juice

46 Kedem Concord Grape Juice 100% pure grape juice

47 Kroger 100% Juice Apple Juice

48 Kroger Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup

49 Kroger Grape Juice 100% Juice

50 Kroger Lite Fruit Cocktail in Pear Juice

51 Kroger Value Fruit Mix (Peaches, pears, grapes)

52 Langers Apple Juice 100% Juice

53 Langers Grape Juice (Concord)

54 Langers Red Grape Juice

55 Libby’s Fruit Cocktail No Sugar Added (Sweetened with Splenda)

56 Libby’s Yellow Cling Peach Slices No Sugar Added (Sweetened with Splenda)

57 Market Pantry Diced Peaches in light syrup

58 Market Pantry Diced Pears in light syrup

59 Market Pantry Mixed Fruit in light syrup

60 Maxx Value Fruit Mix in Light Syrup (peach, pear, grape)

61 Maxx Value Pear Pieces in Light Syrup

62 Minute Maid Juice Apple – 100% Apple Juice

63 Motts 100% Apple Juice

64 Mrs. Brown’s Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup (peaches, pears, grapes)

65 O Organics Organic Grape Juice from concentrate

66 O Organics Organic Unfiltered Apple Juice Not From Concentrate

67 Old Orchard 100% Apple Juice

68 Parade 100% Juice Apple

69 Polar Mixed Fruit

70 Polar Peach Slices

71 Polar Pear Halves in light syrup

72 R.W. Knudsen Just Concord Grape Juice

73 R.W. Knudsen Organic Just Concord

74 Raley’s 100% Grape Juice

75 Raley’s Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup

76 Raley’s Premium 100% Apple Juice not from Concentrate

77 Raley’s Sliced Yellow Cling Peaches in Heavy Syrup

78 S&W Natural Style Fruit Cocktail in Lightly Sweetened Juice

79 S&W Natural Style Pear Slices in Juice

80 S&W Natural Style Yellow Cling Peach Slices in Lightly Sweetened Juice

81 S&W Premium Peach Halves Yellow Cling Peaches in light syrup

82 S&W Sun Pears Premium

83 Safeway 100% Juice Apple Cider

84 Safeway 100% Juice Apple Juice

85 Safeway 100% Juice Grape Juice

86 Safeway Diced Peaches in Light Syrup

87 Safeway Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup

88 Safeway Light Sugar Fruit Cocktail

89 Safeway Lite Bartlett Pear Halves in Pear Juice

90 Safeway Lite Fruit Cocktail in Pear Juice

91 Safeway Organic Grape Juice

92 Safeway Pear Halves in Light Juice

93 Safeway Yellow Cling Peach Slices in Pear Juice

94 Santa Cruz Organic Concord Grape Juice

95 Simple Value Yellow Cling Peaches in light syrup

96 Stater Bros. 100% Juice Apple Juice

97 Stater Bros. 100% Juice Grape Juice

98 Stater Bros. 100% Juice White Grape Juice

99 Stater Bros. Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup

100 Stater Bros. Yellow Cling Peach Halves

101 Stater Bros. Yellow Cling Sliced Peaches in heavy syrup

102 Sunny Select 100% Apple Juice

103 Sunny Select 100% Grape Juice

104 Sunny Select Fruit Cocktail in Juice

105 Sunny Select Pear Halves in Pear Juice

106 Sunny Select Yellow Cling Sliced Peaches in Pear Juice

107 Trader Joe’s Certified Organic Apple Juice, pasteurized

108 Trader Joe’s Concord Grape Juice made from fress pressed organic concord grapes

109 Trader Joe’s Pear Halves in white grape juice

110 Trader Joe’s Yellow Cling Peach Halves in while grape juice

111 Tree Top 100% Juice Apple Cider

112 Tree Top 100% Juice, Grape

113 Truitt Brothers Pacific NorthWest Bartlett Pear Halves, in pear juice from concentrate

114 Valu Time Grape Drink from Concentrate

115 Valu Time Irregular Bartlett Pear Slices

116 Valu Time Yellow Cling Peach Slices

117 Walgreens Apple Juice from concentrate 100% juice

118 Walgreens Grape Juice from concentrate 100% juice

119 Walnut Acres Organic Concord Grape

120 Walnut Grove Market 100% Apple Juice

121 Walnut Grove Market Grape Juice

122 Walnut Grove Market Natural Peaches Sliced Yellow Cling in Light Syrup

123 Walnut Grove Market Natural Pear Halves in Heavy Syrup

124 Welch’s 100% Grape Juice (from Welch’s Concord Grapes)

125 Welch’s 100% Red Grape Juice from Concentrate

 

For More Information, see – Notice of Violation of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65), Section 25249.6 of the California Health and Safety Code for Exposing Consumers of Apple Juice, Grape Juice, Packaged Peaches, Packaged Pears, and Fruit Cocktail to Lead.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Group Finds Lead In Kids’ Drinks (npr.org)
• “Report: lead in popular children’s fruit juice brands” and related posts (boingboing.net)
• Testing finds lead in juices, fruit products aimed at kids (timesunion.com)
• Oh Boy! Now they’ve Found Lead in Kids’ Fruit Juice/Products (fooducate.com)
• Local nonprofit finds lead in kid foods (sfgate.com)
• Reader Tip: Lead in Juice, Baby Food (eatdrinkbetter.com)

By fitness and nutrition author Jon Benson

I took a big, huge, massive sigh of relief today.

Finally… the FDA did something right when it comes to bogus “magic” diet-fatburn pills.

A panel of experts reviewed Vivus Inc.’s new wonder-pill “Qnexa” today.

They gave it the thumbs-down.

Why?

Oh… pesky little reported side-effects like… (are you ready for this?)…

Heart Attacks
Stroke
Increased Risk of Suicide (yikes!)
Memory/Concentration Loss

You know… “minor” stuff like that.

GEEZ. What the hell are these drug companies thinking?

Oh, right…

Quick-Fix =
Big-Bucks

Got it.

So, I am going to believe that YOU are much smarter than the morons who tried to get this drug past the FDA.

I’m going to assume you want a solution to this obesity pandemic and your own fatloss issues (if you have them) that do NOT involve risking your life for a thinner you.

“Oh, Marge… she looks so thin in her casket…”

THIS IS NOT A GOOD EULOGY! : )

Listen: I get it. I really do.

I’m an athlete and we are always looking for tricks to help increase our performance. But your body is simply too smart for these fatloss-pills people are trying to pass off as “a break-through medical discovery.”

Nonsense… more like heart-breaking medical waste of time.

One day… perhaps even in my lifetime… someone will invent a chemical that actually works to shed bodyfat without harming the body. That will be a great day for all of us.

Even so, I can all but promise you that this chemical will have its nasty side-effects and/or be limited in duration or power.

Nothing, repeat NOTHING you can pop in your mouth will give you the JOY that managing your dietplan and bodyweight can give you.

NOTHING!

It’s one of the greatest feelings in the world.

And here’s a fantastic clue for you: The reason we want to be thin is because of the FEELING it gives us. Most everything we do is based on feelings.

Quick-fixes negate the most powerful thing about feelings: Earning the right to have them!

Think of it this way: Would you feel more alive and powerful if you climbed a mountain or if you took a helicopter ride to the summit?

Sure, the helicopter is easy… but which is more personally rewarding?

Think of your own body transformation goals as your personal mountain to climb.

No helicopters… just really good guides (I volunteer) and solid climbing tools (like a great real-world dietplan, solid workouts that work WITH your schedule, and realistic but exciting goals.)

Your goals will become your base camps along your summit of your personal journey to the best you possible.

Color me silly, but I think that sounds FAR more empowering and rewarding that popping pills.

As you probably know I wrote one of the top books in the world on “real-world” weighttloss (spelled that way so the spambox won’t eat your email… : ) I made this dietary System as easy as possible… but NO plan is “easy” and there is NO quick-fixes out there without serious pricetags.

That said, I have some “rebel tricks” to share with you today… and they won’t put you six feet under before your time.

Just click on the page below and then click on “Articles”… then you’ll see it. It’s the first article, “3 Diet Secrets Revealed”.

Go here:

Video Plus Articles Homepage

You can’t sell this stuff in a bottle… but it works to get the bodyfat off and keep it off.

Remember:

Don’t Quit… Get Fit.

Sincerely,

J O N  B E N S O N

P.S. If you pick up my dietplan (on the article page above) you’ll find in the Member’s Area three supplements that actually DO work to help you burn-off-fat… but they do not work like magic. They work like they’re supposed to: Realistically, and without harming your body. I take them. So should you.

Have you been buying those seedless watermelons?

Have you noticed how hard it is to get a good one?

We’ve experienced all sorts of weird things when we cut into one.

We’ve had all white meat.

Thick white veins.

The one I cut open today had hard white sections that looked like some other kind of fruit was trying to grow there. I should have taken pictures, but I was so disgusted I just threw it out. Mutant watermelon. Cool.

In all my years, I’ve never seen the likes of what we’ve seen the last couple of years when we cut into a watermelon.

I knew I should have bit the bullet and bought the real watermelon! But it’s so big…  That’s how they get us. The genetically modified watermelon cost $1.99 today and it’s smaller. The real watermelon cost $6.99 today,  is big and has those black seeds. Of course Monstanto is laughing all the way to the bank. Once the real thing becomes extinct, no one will be able to grow a watermelon without buying the seeds from Monstanto. They already own most of the corn and soy in the US.

You think healthcare is a problem now? Wait a few years. We’re already the fattest country, and we’re racing toward the sickest.

I’m going to have to start sharing with a neighbor or something. I’m sick of these genetically modified things, and hopefully it won’t kill us in the long run. It has gotten so hard to avoid GMO foods in the US. Other countries have banned them, but Monstanto is very powerful here in the US, and our regulatory agency is allegedly one of the most corrupt in the world.

Yeah, it does take some effort to avoid these foods. And it often takes spending a few more bucks on real and organic food. But I think that’s a lot better and cheaper than the alternative, don’t you?

Let’s try and stay off the drug-rolls as long as possible!

Related Article – Monsanto: the evil corporation in your refrigerator

Also see - The Non-GMO Shopping Guide