Mars, ConAgra, Kellogg Jump to Label GMOs

By Hannah Furlong - Sustainable Brands 

The U.S. Senate might be waiting to make a decision regarding the labeling of genetically modified organism (GMO) ingredients, but Big Food companies are not. This week, Mars, Incorporated, ConAgra Foods, and The Kellogg Co. jumped on the bandwagon with pledges to label their products for GMOs nationwide.

Image Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

Back in January, Campbell Soup was the first to announce a nationwide GMO labeling commitment, and urged the federal government to enact nationwide requirements to avoid a ‘patchwork’ of state laws. On March 16, federal legislation to nullify GMO labeling stalled in Congress, when both supporters (49 votes) and opponents (48 votes) of the bill failed to reach the necessary 60 votes to advance the bill in the U.S. Senate. Now, the Senate is in the midst of a recess, with decision-making resumes in early April.

“Disappointed that a national solution has still not been reached,” executive vice president Jeff Harmening announced on March 18 that General Mills, too, would disclose GMO ingredients nationwide. While the company did not declare support for mandatory nationwide labeling, it did insist that “a national solution” is needed.

Similarly, ConAgra Foods urged “Congress to pass a national solution as quickly as possible,” in a statement released earlier this week, adding that “addressing state-by-state labeling requirements adds significant complications and costs for food companies. With a multitude of other states currently considering different GMO labeling requirements, the need for a national, uniform approach in this area is as critical as ever.”

Kellogg North America’s President Paul Norman joined the call to the government, stating on Wednesday, “We will continue to strongly urge Congress to pass a uniform, federal solution for the labeling of GMOs. In fact, we believe an agreement on one is achievable. But until a federal solution is reached, and in order to comply with Vermont’s labeling law, we will start labeling some of our products nationwide for the presence of GMOs beginning in mid-to-late April. We chose nationwide labeling because a special label for Vermont would be logistically unmanageable and even more costly for us and our consumers.”

Norman also stressed that the company “believes in transparency,” and noted the launch of OpenForBreakfast.com, a website “where consumers can ask questions about [Kellogg’s] food – including whether a particular product contains GMO ingredients,” that is similar to the Ask.GeneralMills.com site that General Mills launched with its labeling announcement.

The influence of “Vermont's looming labeling mandate,” as the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has called it, is not to be understated. It has been clear in each corporate announcement for national labeling that the small state’s law has been a key driver.

Mars’ short statement on GMO labeling explains, “In 2014, the state of Vermont passed a mandatory genetically modified (GM) ingredient labeling law that requires most human food products containing GM ingredients to include on-pack labeling as of July 2016.

“To comply with that law, Mars is introducing clear, on-pack labeling on our products that contain GM ingredients nationwide.”

ConAgra’s news release simply stated, “ConAgra Foods will begin adding labels to products nationwide by July 2016 to meet Vermont’s GMO labeling requirements.”

Labeling according to Vermont’s law may not be sufficient for companies to avoid legal issues in other states if a national resolution is not reached. Industry-backed group The Coalition for Safe Affordable Food (CFSAF) explained, “What remains to be seen … is what happens if other states reject these labels as inaccurate or misleading, or implement laws requiring slightly different labeling language.” CFSAF has repeatedly asserted that consumers, farmers and companies will be forced to pay the price of resulting legal issues, recently stating, “Unfortunately, it's happening as a law established by a state with 600,000 people is dictating the labeling for 300 million people.”

All of the companies firmly ‘stand behind’ the health and safety of all of their products, including those with genetically modified ingredients. Mars’ statement noted that “Food developed through biotechnology has been studied extensively and judged safe by a broad range of regulatory agencies, scientists, health professionals, and other experts around the world.”

After reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same way again

By Sina Anvari – Karenstan.net

This is interesting. After reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.

But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

BANANA FIGHT DEPRESSION:

According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS:

Forget the pills – eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

ANEMIA:

High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

BLOOD PRESSURE:

This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

BANANA BRAIN POWER:

200 students at a Twickenham school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

CONSTIPATION:

High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

HANGOVERS:

One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

HEARTBURN:

Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

MORNING SICKNESS:

Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

MOSQUITO BITES:

Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

NERVES:

Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system..

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

ULCERS:

The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chroniclercases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL:

Many other cultures see bananas as a ‘cooling’ fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has FOUR TIMES the protein, TWICE the carbohydrate, THREE TIMES the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals.. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, ‘A BANANA a day keeps the doctor away!’

Coconut oil halts tooth decay by attacking the bacteria that cause it

by Jonathan Benson – Natural News

If health authorities are going to remain insistent upon lacing the water supply with additives to thwart tooth decay, then they really should be using all-natural coconut oil rather than fluoride chemicals, based on the findings of a new study. Researchers from the Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) in Ireland have found that coconut oil effectively inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria that can cause cavities and mouth infections, without causing any harmful side-effects.

For their study, a team of researchers from the school added enzymes to coconut and several other oils to mimic how these oils would normally be processed during digestion. The team then applied the digested form of each of the oils to several strains of bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans, a common acid-producing bacteria often found inside the mouth, and Candida albicans, a highly problematic yeast strain that can cause oral thrush infection.

What they discovered was that only the coconut oil exhibited clear antibacterial and yeast-fighting properties when exposed to the different bacterial strains. In fact, enzyme-modified coconut oil was found to fight all sorts of bacterial strains without triggering any negative side-effects, or promoting the development of antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” like antibiotic drugs do.

“Incorporating enzyme-modified coconut oil into dental hygiene products would be an attractive alternative to chemical additives (like fluoride), particularly as it works at relatively low concentrations,” said Dr. Damien Brady, lead researcher from AIT, about coconut oil’s amazing antibacterial power. “Also, with increasing antibiotic resistance, it is important that we turn our attention to new ways to combat microbial infection.”

Adding to this sentiment, Dr. Brady also noted that the human digestive system naturally exhibits antimicrobial activity, at least when it is given the proper foods and nutrients. Consuming more coconut oil, in this case, can effectively boost immunity and thwart the onset of harmful, disease-causing pathogens in the mouth and elsewhere throughout the body.

Coconut oil is far more effective at fighting, preventing tooth decay than toxic fluoride

What is particularly interesting about these dramatic findings is that coconut oil was demonstrably shown in a credible study to fight harmful bacteria and prevent tooth decay. Fluoride, on the other hand, which is pumped into water supplies nationwide that hydrate millions of people, has never been legitimately shown to fight or prevent tooth decay when ingested.

What this new study on coconut oil actually helps unearth is the fact that water fluoridation is a complete scientific fraud. Not only has fluoride never been proven to prevent tooth decay when ingested, but recent studies have actually shown that fluoride harms teeth. Ingesting fluoride, it turns out, can cause dental fluorosis, as well as some other very serious health problems in the long term.

“Once ingested, fluoride compounds attack the structural integrity of our insides,” says Shane Ellison, author, chemist, and founder of ThePeoplesChemist.com. “Collagen, a web-like network connecting our skeletal system to muscles, is torn apart by fluoride. We feel it as joint stiffness, ligament damage, and aching bones. This same mechanism leads to browning of teeth, an outcome known as fluorosis.”

Coconut oil, on the other hand, will not only help protect your teeth against bacterial rot, but it will also help improve digestion and metabolism, promote heart health, boost energy levels, and strengthen immunity. Since ingesting coconut oil converts it into a powerful bacteria-fighter, as illustrated by the study, “swishing” coconut oil can also promote improved oral health via the enzymatic activity of its mixing with saliva.

Health Benefits Of Drinking Warm Lemon Water

iloveindia.com

Lemons are vitamin C rich citrus fruits that enhance your beauty, by rejuvenating skin from within bringing a glow to your face. One of the major health benefits of drinking lemon water is that it paves way for losing weight faster, thus acting as a great weight loss remedy. Lemon water flushes out body toxins and is extremely beneficial for the body. Warm lemon water serves as the perfect ‘good morning drink’, as it aids the digestive system and makes the process of eliminating the waste products from the body easier. It prevents the problem of constipation and diarrhea, by ensuring smooth bowel functions.

Lemon, a fruit popular for its therapeutic properties, helps maintain your immune system and thus, protects you from the clutches of most types of infections. It also plays the role of a blood purifier. Lemon is a fabulous antiseptic and limewater juice also works wonders for people having heart problems, owing to its high potassium content. So, make it a part of your daily routine to drink a glass of warm lemon water in the morning and enjoy its health benefits. Read on for more interesting information on the benefits lemon water.

Health Benefits Of Drinking Lemon Water

• Lemon is an excellent and rich source of vitamin C, an essential nutrient that protects the body against immune system deficiencies.
• Lemons contain pectin fiber which is very beneficial for colon health and also serves as a powerful antibacterial.
• It balances maintain the pH levels in the body.
• Having warm lemon juice early in the morning helps flush out toxins.
• It has a synergizing effect on the body as it helps soothe the digestive system.
• It aids digestion and encourages the production of bile.
• It conditions and clenches the liver.
• It is also a great source citric acid, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.
• It helps prevent the growth and multiplication of pathogenic bacteria that cause infections and diseases.
• It helps reducing pain and inflammation in joints and knees as it dissolves uric acid.
• It helps cure the common cold.
• The potassium content in lemon helps nourish brain and nerve cells.
• It liquefies the bile and also helps regulate the excess flow of bile.
• It strengthens the liver by providing energy to the liver enzymes when they are too dilute.
• It helps balance the calcium and oxygen levels in the liver.
• It can help relieve the problem of indigestion and excess gas.
• In case of a heart burn, taking a glass of concentrated lemon juice can give relief.
• In case of pregnant and lactating women, lemon juice will help build strong bones in a child, due to its calcium content.
• It helps dissolve gall bladder stones and other calcium build ups that are dangerous to the body.
• It is of immense benefit to the skin and it prevents the formation of wrinkles and acne.
• It helps maintain the health of the eyes and helps fight against eye problems.
• It aids in the reduction of phlegm (mucus) produced by the body.
• It has an alkalizing effect on the body.
• It helps control the speeding of unhealthy bacteria in the gut.
• Aids in the production of digestive juices.
• It helps purify the blood.
• Lemon juice helps replenish body salts especially after a strenuous workout session.
• It can treat a sore throat. Gargle with warm lemon water to help ease a sore throat.

Nutrition Value Of Lemons

A glass of lemon juice contains less than 25 calories. It is a rich source of nutrients like calcium, potassium, vitamin C and pectin fiber. It also has medicinal values and antibacterial properties. It also contains traces of iron and vitamin A. Since it contains an elevated percentage of carbohydrates and sugars, avoid adding sugar to lemon juice.

Packed with all the goodness, make it a point to begin your day with a glass of warm lemon juice. Its cleansing and medical effects will have positive effects on your health in the long run. However it is very important to note that lemon juice when comes directly in contact with the teeth, can ruin the enamel on the teeth. Hence, it is advised to consume it diluted and also rinse your mouth thoroughly after drinking lemon juice.