Why the anti-chemical obsession?

The other day, a close friend of mine told me that she’d watched one of my favorite documentaries, “DMT – The Spirit Molecule” (you can watch it free by clicking the link). The film is about DMT, Dimethyltryptamine, a naturally occurring psychedelic produced by the human brain. DMT is released naturally from the pineal gland, a pine cone shaped gland that is located behind the eyes. As you can see, nearly any topic of conversation that comes up with me, I almost immediately go into “encyclopedia” mode, spouting facts. The next question from my mouth was, “Did you know that fluoride has been known to calcify the pineal gland, thus making it less efficient at releasing DMT?” As the answer left my mouth, I remembered why I REALLY do this, why I love rants about organics, avoiding chemicals from food and skin sources, why I love clean water, my water filters, my chlorine-free shower, and my non-fluoridated drinking water. The real reason is this: Because when the human brain and body run at full capacity we all benefit. We are meant to be thinkers, to come up with new ideas, to share our gifts with the world. Whether gifts of thought, creation, ideas, we are here to improve the place! It’s just like when you’re a guest in someone’s home – leave the place better than how you found it. It’s not that I have a superiority complex about my discoveries – everything I have learned has been a journey, an unfolding. One day I felt the light bulb come on, and since that time an entire landscape has emerged. Seeing the truth of our world can be disturbing. It can make one feel out of control, overwhelmed, and somewhat helpless. There’s simply no way to avoid every bit of chemical exposure from every source. The one thing I do know is that since stepping onto this path I feel better, my mind is more clear, my energy is more clear. I promise you all that I step off the path occasionally. Sometimes… I just want ice cream. Sometimes I go back to my old ways for one meal or one day or whatever it may be. I find that flexibility is the only way I can navigate this challenge. I don’t always have the budget to eat 100% organic 100% of the time. I do what I can, and I share what I’m learning while trying not to sound too preachy or judgmental. This is important to me – not to be perfect but to share what I’ve discovered. I keep a running list of topics for blogs and articles to come. If you have something you’d like to ask, or a topic you’ve always wondered about that you need me to dig into, please – say the word! I write this blog for two reasons, for me, and for you.

The Grass Fed Difference

Beef is beef, right? Wrong. The factory farmed beef in grocery stores and fast food chains is not the same beef we grew up on. When a cow eats its natural diet, grass, the composition of its muscle is less fatty, but more importantly contains healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and high levels of vitamins A and E. In addition, the iron content is much higher. In short, cows are not meant to live on corn and soy, standing in lots so crowded that they can hardly move.

According to grassfedbeef.com (aka. US Wellness Meats) “Grass-fed beef is rich in omega-3 anti-inflammatory fatty acids (the healthy fat found in salmon), in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a proven cancer fighter and lean muscle-building tool, as well as vitamins A and E, essential nutrients that are known for their antioxidant properties. When it comes to nutrition, grass-fed beef truly is a completely different animal.”  Here’s another great article printed in Time Magazine, The Grass Fed Revolution.

According to Food, Inc. a cheap factory farmed hamburger patty can contain the meat from up to 2000 cattle. If that doesn’t paint a picture for you, do some of your own research. I’m certainly not here to force veganism onto anyone, and while I’ve tried to adopt that lifestyle my extreme anemia and need for lean proteins in my diet have kept me eating meat. I will say this, I would much rather support humane practices if I am going to continue consuming meat. In addition, having a high-quality protien 1-2 times per week rather than several times a day is what works and feels right for me.

Not all people can be healthy on a vegan diet. Not all people can be healthy on a protein-heavy diet. Some studies suggest that there are 9 different metabolic types and each respond to foods in different ways. There’s also the Blood Type diet, that suggests that our ancestry and genetic makeup determine how foods will react with our biology. There are healthy fat people, and unhealthy thin people, and a wide range of what works and what doesn’t.

What’s important is that you know what works for you. When armed with as much information as possible you can make informed decisions and have intelligent questions for your doctor. You can also take what seems like an enormous challenge (cleaning up your diet) and make it seem much less daunting. Eating whole, healthy foods is much easier than you may expect. I once heard a woman say “Eat only what you’d find in nature. You’d never find a muffin tree or a cookie vine.” which almost seems like laughable advice – however looking down at my breakfast plate this morning and seeing only whole foods with a single ingredient made me feel really good.

When consuming red meats, some other excellent choices include buffalo, elk, deer and venison. Making that list made me realize how much I miss certain things about living in Wyoming! Here in Tennessee, you can find buffalo at Publix – I’m not so sure about that last part of my list so if you know of a resource, feel free to share it!

Go to your local Farmer’s Market today, support a local farmer, and pull your dollars from an industry that no longer deserves our support. I’ll continue to say it, your dollars are your votes and you are what you eat.