Petition:FDA: Require Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods

FDA: Require Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods

Have you been eating genetically engineered (GE) food? Most of us have without knowing it.
Despite valid concerns about their threat to public health there is currently no labeling requirement for GE foods, which are appearing on supermarket shelves with increasing frequency. From 60 to 70 percent of processed foods available in American grocery stores likely contain some genetically engineered ingredients, according to the Congressional Research Service. These ingredients are prevalent in many everyday products like breakfast cereals, cookies, chips, sweetened soda, frozen meals and more.

We have a right to know what we are eating, and to purchase foods we have no doubt will be healthy. Sign the petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calling for products that include genetically engineered ingredients to disclose this information on the label.

View and Sign the Petition Below:
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=hsQ1ERhXnQCJ7lxW%2FHAKB3G3QjWmxPPp

Change Your Diet, Change Your Being

Disease arises from inaccurate and rigid views of reality. A dietary transition is a remedy for rigidity since it brings change and the opportunity to melt, on both a physical and emotional plane, fixed and painful parts of one's personality. With perseverance, such transformations become a gradual immersion in a sea of unending renewal. ~Paul Pitchford from Healing with Whole Foods

3 Factors Necessary for Health Transformation

I recently heard Dr. Nick Hall, PhD, discuss how nutrients affect mental health and mood. It was great presentation--he's a wonderful speaker with lots of biochemical knowledge. One of the most practical pieces of information he gave out, however, did not have to do with nutrients, per se. He layed out 3 factors necessary for keeping it together during adversity (he's a hard core adventure racer):

What is an Integrative Registered Dietitian?

I refer to myself as an Integrative Registered Dietitian, so I get asked quite a bit about what that means. Let's first examine the word, Integrative, the root word being integrate.

in·te·grate   /ˈɪntɪˌgreɪt/ Show Spelled [in-ti-greyt] Show IPA verb, -grat·ed, -grat·ing.



verb (used with object)


1. to bring together or incorporate (parts) into a whole.


2. to make up, combine, or complete to produce a whole or a larger unit, as parts do.


3. to unite or combine.


4. to give or cause to give equal opportunity and consideration to (a racial, religious, or ethnic group or a member of such a group): to integrate minority groups in the school system.


5. to combine (educational facilities, classes, and the like, previously segregated by race) into one unified system; desegregate.


For me, being Integrative means being open to other belief systems and being willing to learn about them as well as weave them into one's original knowledge base. As a western-trained dietitian, I love to learn about Eastern and Indiginous healing systems and integrate them into my recommendations as well as how I work with my clients and patients. Being Integrative not only means being holistic, but also culturally competent. Additionally, I love to learn about Western Functional Medicine, which is a more holistic and preventive way of practicing Western medicine and which places a high value on diet and lifestyle.  Being an Integrative practitioner also means that one is supporting unity of body, mind and spirit and recognizes that this is the ultimate balance that we should encourage our patients to achieve. The Integraive practioner, therefore, is also continually working on achieving and maintaining this balance for him or herself, in order to be able to guide others along this path. The Integrative practioner is both a traveller and a guide along the path to optimal health.

Today's Positive Vibration

Today's Positive Vibration:

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own. ~Kurt Vonnegut

This quote is courtesy of my fabulous office mate, Jessika Brown, RD--an innovative and passionate dietitian, specializing in the treatment of eating disorders. 

Self-Compassion Leads to Healthy Choices

FEBRUARY 28, 2011, NYT, by Tara Parker-Pope                                                                                                                                         

 Do you treat yourself as well as you treat your friends and family? That simple question is the basis for a burgeoning new area of psychological research called self-compassion — how kindly people view themselves. People who find it easy to be supportive and understanding to others, it turns out, often score surprisingly low on self-compassion tests, berating themselves for perceived failures like being overweight or not exercising. The research suggests that giving ourselves a break and accepting our imperfections may be the first step toward better health.

Coconutty Spiced and Stuffed Butternut Squash

I got inspired tonight. I wanted East Indian flavors, but we recently found out my husband is sensitive to turmeric. So, I improvised and came up with a very delicious and nutrient packed recipe that was still very East Indian-esque...I have eaten stuffed butternut squash at some fine restaurants, and I have never had as good as it was from my own kitchen tonight! Just the right amount of sweet, savory, smooth and crunchy, this recipe also happens to be vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free. But you won't miss a thing!