Akiia James

Sunday, April 24, 2011

OMG! GMO

How do you like your food -- as nature intended it or manufactured in a lab?

Genetically modified organisms or genetically engineered organisms appear to be the future of the United States’ food supply. A GMO is an organism whose genetic material, or DNA, has been altered.

In order to create a GMO, scientists combine DNA molecules from different sources to create new genes.

According to an article printed in The Washington Post last month, the “USDA has approved 81 GE crops -- it has never denied a proposal -- and 22 applications are pending.”

In terms of food, this means vegetables and some meats are being manipulated to meet increased production needs and create more gene resistant organisms.

While this may sound harmless, some farmers and informed consumers are not happy about it. The use of GMO is very controversial because it’s not natural in the sense that scientists are manipulating DNA to get a desired outcome. And in animals, it goes against the way they naturally evolve.

Currently, one of the United States’ largest cash crops is soy beans. According to the USDA, the US produced the largest soybean crops on record in 2009 and in 2010, was forecast to produce at record-high levels.

More than 25 states contribute to soybean production.

So what’s the connection between soybeans and GMO?

As I’ve shown you with the information above, we are producing a lot of soybeans in order to maintain production as domestic and foreign demand increases.

In comes GMO. By far the most infamous GMO soybean is patented by a company called Monsanto.

The patented soybean yields a larger crop than a traditional soybean, but according to Monsanto soybean opponents, the beans require too many pesticides.

Monsanto currently is awaiting FDA approval for its GMO soybean with fish oil. That’s right, if approved, farmers will be growing fish oil. What a dichotomy -- growing something in the dirt that is naturally occurring in an organism that comes from water?

Farmers are fighting back. There was a drop in GMO soybean planting in 2009 and more farmers are expressing interest in growing non-GMO soybeans, returning to the way they used to grow the crop.

The bottom line is become an informed consumer. Know what you are eating and feeding your family. Read labels to see if a product contains GMO derived ingredients.

I’ve included a lot of reading material for you to educate yourself. I can talk for days about this as I have a strong, definitive opinion on the subject. However, if you don’t know much about it, it’s okay, but now is your time to learn.

More US farmers planting non-GMO soybeans this year

Iowa organic farmer says non-GMO corn outperforms GMO

Information about genetically modified foods published by the U.S. Department of Energy

A variety of articles published by Popular Science

From Fox News, Messing With Mother Nature: Genetically Modified Organisms

I hold a B.A. in communication studies from UNC Chapel-Hill and have worked in the field of journalism for more than ten years. Currently, I am a B.S. dietetics candidate for R.D. and LDN. I am a certified Crossfit Kettlebell instructor, triathlete and former trained dancer. I am not a nutritionist or a doctor. Information I share is based on my own research and experience. Before beginning a diet or fitness routine you should consult your physician or a health professional.

Friday, April 22, 2011

'I don’t eat food out of the refrigerator'

Follow Akiia James on Twitter: http://twitter.com/akiiajames

I was watching that show on a cable network where the cameras go inside celebrity homes for an inside look at living like a star. One of the best known parts of this show is when the celebrity opens his or her refrigerator and shows the pièce de résistance.

So, the refrigerator opens and the person, who I will identify as a multi-platinum selling artist, says, “I don’t eat food out of the refrigerator.”

My husband and I looked at each other with chagrin. All I could say was, "Wow!" The artist literally had nothing but beverages in his fridge.

I get it. He has personal chefs who are staffed 24/7 and can make one serving at a time so there are no leftovers.

Unless you’re making as much money as that guy, have no desire to eat in between meals and have your kitchen staffed with chefs, I advise you to step back into reality.

I’ve heard many people proclaim they don’t eat leftovers and feel the need to have a newly prepared meal every time they eat. Do you realize how much money and food you are wasting?

If you were to hang on to your leftovers for just one day and repurpose them for lunch, you could save about $35 a week -- and that’s just one person. Imagine if everyone in your family avoided leftovers and ate lunch out every day. That adds up to hundreds of dollars a month.

I suggest cooking less at each meal and using the leftover meals and ingredients to create a tasty lunch for the next day. If you’re cooking food that can’t be transformed into lunch, consider changing what you cook to accommodate lunch the following day.

Also, leftovers mean more than prepared meals, it also means ingredients purchased to make specific meals.

Don’t you hate it when you purchase items for a meal and then have leftover ingredients you don’t know what to do with?

Sometimes it’s easy with proteins like beef and chicken, which can easily be transformed into sandwiches, soups, salads and burritos. All it takes is a little imagination and planning.

Your wallet and your waistline will be grateful.

Meals you prepare at home are much healthier and cheaper than prepared meals purchased in a store or ordered from a restaurant at lunch.

For those of you who don’t get around the kitchen well and need assistance in planning your two-for-one meals, check out this article. It highlights websites that assist with using your leftovers.

Leftovers? There's a app for them, too

I am a certified Crossfit Kettlebell instructor, triathlete and former trained dancer. I am not a nutritionist or a doctor. Information I share is based on my own research and experience. Before beginning a diet or fitness routine you should consult your physician or a health professional.

Is your grocery store on the healthy list?

Follow Akiia James on Twitter: http://twitter.com/akiiajames

“America’s 10 healthiest grocery stores,” is a list published by Health.com.

It includes ten national grocery store chains that offer the freshest and healthiest foods.

For shoppers who are looking for the best variety of local, fresh produce and organic and natural foods, I think the list is relevant. Although, I’ve noticed that with some chains, store inventory varies based on where the store is located.

For instance, you can visit a store in one neighborhood and find a larger variety or organic foods and then go to that same chain in another neighborhood or city and be disappointed to not find those items.

The bottom line for the stores’ buyers is they stock the store with the products the consumers in that area want to buy.

However, there are a couple of grocery chains whose brand is built on providing a certain quality of products, so there will be consistency no matter where you are when you shop at that store.

If healthy, fresh, affordable food is your main concern, I suggest visiting your local farmer’s market or join a CSA. You can do the remainder of your shopping at the store of your choice. Don’t be afraid to venture outside of your neighborhood in search of something better.

Finally, when shopping, don’t be fooled. Just because the packaging says organic or natural, that doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Unhealthy foods can be found at any store. And if your grocery store doesn’t offer products you’d like to buy, let management know and they may be able to get it for you.

Some large grocery chains have admitted to adding more organic options after customers requested them. So don’t hesitate to ask for what you want because the consumer drives the product.

See if your store made the list by clicking here.

Ditch your one-note diet

Follow Akiia James on Twitter: http://twitter.com/akiiajames

If humans ate the same foods every day, they likely would become vitamin and mineral deficient.

I was watching a television show about people with unusual eating habits. The episode featured a man who had eaten nothing but cheeseburgers since the age of 5.

And the burger could not have any condiments on it -- just a patty, cheese and a bun. The man, who is now in his 30s, developed his eating habit as a child. His mother said after her son tasted his first burger, he refused to eat anything else.

The man now suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and other disorders related to his poor diet. Not to mention, he fears new foods and has no desire to eat healthy because he doesn’t know how to.

Talk about a lack of variety. Although the man is clearly an extreme case, it is not unusual for children to carry eating behaviors from childhood into adulthood. In fact, childhood eating habits are one of the main factors that shape our adult eating habits, along with socialization, environment, economics, education and tradition.

So, if as a child you enjoyed home cooked meals daily with your family, you are likely to repeat that habit as an adult. And the more educated you are about nutrition and health, the more likely you are to eliminate poor habits practiced in childhood.

In is not unusual for me to have discussion with people about what they eat and why they eat what they eat. Mainly, I find people afraid of the unknown and hesitant to branch out. Ultimately, they find themselves bored with their diets and in need of a nutritional boost in the form of vitamins and minerals.

So what’s the best way to avoid having to take food supplements and to avoid becoming vitamin deficient? Variety!

Assuming you don’t have a disease that’s causing your deficiency, you can change your situation by changing what you eat. The healthiest people are people who eat a variety of fruits, vegetable, grains, seed/nuts and protein. Health professionals say eating a variety of foods also helps you maintain and manage your weight better.

Variety keeps eating fun and exciting while providing your body with everything it needs. Challenge yourself to eat a colorful diet as colorful fruits and veggies have the most nutrients. The best way to try new foods is to ask people who enjoy eating a variety. They can help educate you and show you how to prepare and or eat foods that are foreign to you.

Also, when I focus on a nutritious variety -- i.e. fruits, vegetable, grains -- I find myself satisfied and less likely to snack on or eat unhealthy foods.

If you’re unsure about what vitamins are in what foods, click here for a list.

And if you are concerned about a deficiency, you should see your physician. He or she can request the necessary blood work that will measure your vitamin levels.

Are you addicted to fat, sugar or groceries?

Follow Akiia James on Twitter: http://twitter.com/akiiajames

I was in the car with a couple of friends and we began a conversation about healthful eating. One friend said she was in need of my advice because she is addicted to fat and sugar. My other friend chimed in, “I’m addicted to groceries.”

We laughed and then looked at him puzzled as we tried to get him to define which groceries in particular. He said, “All of them.”

Although most of us aren’t addicted to all food, there is evidence that suggests foods high in fat and sugar are addictive and allow us to develop a dependency on those foods.

Believe it or not, addiction to sugar in food is recognized as a problem. To learn more, click here.

Did you know that when given a choice, rats prefer sugar over cocaine? That's according to a 2008 Princeton University study. After ingesting large amounts of sugar, the rats underwent changes similar to those in the brains of people who use cocaine and heroin. In short, the animals went through withdrawal and wanted more sugar.

Click here to read more about what happened.

So, where does this leave you as a human who is guilty of eating too much sugar?

The solution is cut and dry. However, it may be challenging to achieve. You have to stop eating or at the very least cut back on the foods that are loaded with sugar and fat. The unfortunate part about those foods is the more you eat them, the more you want them.

Maybe you’re able to stop cold turkey, but if not, start with eliminating one thing from your diet. Maybe it’s sodas or baked goods. I find that eating less sugar makes you sensitive to the taste, so after a while, you won’t eat those foods because you won’t like the way they taste.

And what are some of the benefits of cutting back on sugar?

Weight loss
Increased energy
Lowered risk of diabetes
Lower risk of dental problems, included tooth decay

For tips on how to get started, click here.

And for more information about dependency on fat in food, read this article. I think it will help you begin taking the steps you need to take in order to change your habits.

And if you think you may have an addiction to all foods, you can seek help from Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous.

5-step plan to weight loss (at least in my opinion)

Follow Akiia James on Twitter: http://twitter.com/akiiajames

There's one thing I can guarantee -- if you're not eating right, your workouts will be in vain.

Temporary diets and new workout fads are used as marketing tools to suck you with the promise of losing weight quickly. When the diet ends and you plateau on your new workout, you usually end back at square one -- fed-up and frustrated.

Over the last six months, my household has undergone major changes in the kitchen. And what began as an experiment turned into a lifestyle change that both my husband and I have benefited from. The best part is we had no expectations at the beginning and were simply trying to live our lives as healthful as possible.

Listed below are the changes we’ve made. To me the results are staggering. As a household, we’ve lost over 20 pounds, we’ve both decreased in at least one clothes size, my cholesterol (which was already low) decreased even more and we have lots of energy.

No dairy
After cutting out dairy we noticed improved conditions in our sinus area (not stuffy or runny noses) and this eliminated some cholesterol and saturated fat from our diet. I know you’re thinking you have to have dairy. Well, that’s false. Check out how former President Bill Clinton ditched dairy among other things to shed 20 pounds.

No gluten
Out of all of the changes, this one has the least amount of research to back the claims. For my household, eliminating gluten meant eliminating white and wheat flour products -- yes, including pasta. We’re now big fans of anything that is made with brown rice and quinoa.

No eating out
Generally, when you eat out, you don’t know what you’re getting. Even things that seem healthy can be packed with fat and calories. So, if you choose to dine out, check for menu items specifically labeled heart healthy, low calorie or low fat. If the restaurant can’t divulge the calorie count then you don’t need to eat there.

No sugary drinks (including sports and energy drinks)
All you need is water. And water is the fuel for a healthy body. Did you know that more than half of your body composition is water? Water is in your cells, in your muscles and in your organs. So, when you forgo water for a sugary drink (i.e. soda, fruit juice, sport drink or energy), you are consuming about 200 extra calories and sugar that your body will not use. That excess sugar along with any of those calories you don’t burn will turn into fat.

Exercise
Treat yourself to a daily activity that will get your heart rate up and burn some calories. You need at least 30 minutes of activity a day. Remember, you don't have to go to the gym and workout. Consider a walk in your neighborhood or on your lunch break. An outing at the park with the whole family also will suffice. Leisure activities can be just as beneficial as an intense workout session. Just remember to get moving and have fun!

Quick guide to grocery shopping

Follow Akiia James on Twitter: http://twitter.com/akiiajames

One of the biggest complaints people have about cooking is shopping for ingredients and having staple ingredients on-hand at any given time.

Regardless of what I plan to cook, I generally keep the same group of ingredients in my pantry at all times. Those ingredients include:

1.    Salt
2.    Pepper
3.    Onions
4.    Garlic
5.    Chicken stock
6.    Olive oil
7.    Lemon juice
8.    Brown rice
9.    Brown rice pasta (I like brown rice pasta because its gluten-free)
10.    Canned crushed tomatoes
11.    Canned diced tomatoes
12.    Broccoli (frozen or fresh)
13.    Green beans (onions or garlic)
14.    Protein (chicken and fish)
15.    Oatmeal
16.    Eggs
17.    Whole grain bread (I prefer Ezekial Bread which is made from plant sprouts)
18.    Breakfast meat (I prefer uncured bacon because it has less sodium than turkey bacon)

With the above ingredients, I always have options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also are easily combined to make a variety of meals.

Finally, when you go to the grocery store, you should enter with a plan on how to navigate the terrain. The one thing you must always do before going to the store is eat. If you go to the grocery store hungry, you will not stay focused and will inevitably make bad choices.

Here are the sections of the grocery store you should visit and the order which you should visit:

1.    Produce section (choose veggies and fruits)
2.    Meat department (lean cuts chicken, beef and fish)
3.    Dairy (eggs, low fat milk and cheese)
4.    Frozen isle (for veggies you don’t want to buy fresh)
5.    Canned veggies (for tomatoes -- crushed tomatoes instead of buying premade sauce)

That leaves the middle of the store to fill-in the gaps in your cart. You should purchase whole grains (bread, pasta, and plain popcorn), beans and other healthy supplements. I like humus, salsa and almonds for snacking.