Big Pharma makes me sick

I'm sick to death of all the TV drug advertisements that I see on cable. I really don't want to be paying for cable TV so I can listen to people talking about erectile dysfunction, restless leg syndrome, bone density medication, hair regrowers, etc. Just listening to all these commercials, which come on every 5 minutes or so, is enough to make me sick.

Recently, a bill was passed which further illustrates how Big Pharma and the FDA are in bed together, allowing them to charge the highest possible prices for pharmaceuticals. If you want to read the article, you can click on the link below:

FDA drug safety bill passes in the U.S. Senate; health freedom advocates outraged at betrayal of American consumers

This is one of the primary reasons why the "healthcare economy" has taken on a life of its own in the U.S., with the highest expenditure per person in the world. Unfortunately, that price tag does not provide us with the best care in the world. And it's certainly not producing healthier citizens. This escalation will have to crash somewhere. I certainly behooves us to live as healthy as possible, lest we be held captive by "Big Pharma."

Why I've become a vegetarian

Just recently, I made the conscious choice to become vegetarian. As a die-hard consumer of seafood and dairy, it's a decisiono that didn't come easy. However, it was hard not to make switch, in light of all the information I've gathered while writing about organics. The older I get, the more committed I become to being a better steward of our resources.

Much has been written about the negative impact of beef processing on the environment. But I'm not much of a beef eater anyway. But factory farming is a concern with regard to chicken and pork, as well. Animal cruelty is not something I endorse.

Just as important is the impact on my waistline. High cholesterol, diabetes,and heart disease run rampant in my family. Our diet of steaks, bacon, and pork chops no doubt contributes. That and the fact that, as I grow older, my digestive system slows down, making these heavy meals harder to digest. I feel that lighter, high fiber fare would improve myhealth on many fronts.

So what to do? The good thing is that vegetarians have a myriad of optionsfor cooking and dining. I myself have cooked many vegetarian dishes (some of which I might share here), and have found them most satisfying. More and more restaurants carry vegetarian options, and there are even ready-made entrees available. So I don't feel that I'm missing anything. Being vegetarian is about more than tofu.

These stories make it clear food handling is not what it should be

More stories have appeared in the headlines regarding such things as botulism and e.coli, two nasty little bugs. It bears repeating that concerns about food safety continue to command the limelight.

The first story, which appeared on msnbc.com, relates the story about a canned food recall related to outbreaks of botulism poisoning; http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19891614

E. coli in beef continues in places like Tennessee, N. Carolina and Pennsylvania. It does not instill confidence in the way beef is being processed. Although e.coli could be found in organic meats as well, it would be smart for consumers to cook their meats thoroughly, as this will destroy the bacteria. As for the canned food, it's not common for canned food to be tainted. Hopefully, tainted food can be recalled before too many people become ill.

Beware the "all natural" claims on food products

More and more companies have been using the term "all natural" on their products. For those of us who are looking for healthier choices, this may seem confusing. After all, how can everything suddenly become "all natural"? And what does that term mean?

I found a great article on the subject on the website Newstarget.com that I wanted to share. Please read it by clicking below:

http://www.NewsTarget.com/021937.html

Now more than ever, it behooves us to become good label readers. For those who suffer from food sensitivites, it becomes really important. I'm reminded of the time when I purchased sugar-free cookies because they did not contain aspartame. It wasn't until I developed diahhrea that I checked the label again, and learned that it contained sorbitol. No more sugar-free for me!

More points for organic farming

There are many forces that are doing their best to detract from the benefits of farming organically. Prominent among them are companies that have the least to gain - gm companies, pesticide and synthetic fertilizer companies.

Well, according to an article in Planetark.com, a study conducted by Ivette Perfecto from the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environment showed that organic farming can yield up to three times as much food as conventional farming, in developing nations, without the need to increase the land base.

Consider the fact that organic farming methods encourage biodiversity, which helps to cut down on harmful pests. Crop rotation also helps to maintain good soil quality, while compost replenishes the soil. These methods mitigate the need for toxic chemicals and monoculture farming, which depletes the soil and leaves crops more susceptible to stress and disease.

I'd say that, from a consumer standpoint, it's a no-brainer. Organic farming is better for me and the planet. Take that, Monsanto.

Keeping up with the news

It can be hard to stay on top of the latest news regarding food safety, organics, and agriculture. The Farm Bill is being revised, food irradiation is being questioned, the honey bee mystery continues, and the FDA is considering making supplements less readily available. What next? You can read a little about all these topics, and more, by going to http://www.organic-nature-news.com/organic-news-information.html. It doesn't matter what your political leanings are. Taking charge of our food choices is what's at stake if we remain complacent, instead of educating ourselves and taking action. Power to the people!

A word about the Live Earth concert

Today, LiveEarth.org sponsored an all-day concert to raise awareness about global warming. I watched part of it on Bravotv.com, which included appearances by celebrities, including Al Gore.

It's unfortunate that, with Al Gore's participation, an event like this should have become politicized. It took away from the spirit of unity that was undoubtedly wished for by many. I sincerely hope that the performers offset their carbon "emissions" due to all that traveling! It also would have been nice to have heard new songs created specifically for this event. After all, what does "loosening up my buttons" have to do with global warming?

Seriously, though, it does demonstrate that people can come together when something is important enough. I only hope that "green living" and environmentalism is not attached to the rich and the famous, who are the only ones used as spokespersons these days.