Of Ostriches in the Sand

I hate becoming educated. I much prefer to be like an ostrich with my head stuck in the sand. Life is simpler that way...and cheaper.

O.K., I don't really want to be like the ostrich, but WHY DOES EVERY STINKING BODY PRODUCT I USE CONTAIN SUSPECTED CARCINOGENS?! Not to mention the food I eat! Blah!

O.K. So after reading Kayla's blog on homemade shampoo, I have been doing a little research of my own. So yeah, all those unpronouncable chemicals in my shampoo and body wash?...not so good for you, and toxic to the environment. I will be making my own shampoo and body wash as soon as I finish my current bottle. I don't want my babies exposed to any more chemicals then they have to be.

Food. Yeah, made the mistake of watching Food, Inc. (a documentary on mass food production, specifically meat) on Netflix instant play. Now I am thoroughly disgusted by the normal meat I buy from the grocery store. Nor have I have touched a fast food hamburger since watching that movie. Don't get me wrong--I like meat, and if someone puts a hamburger fresh off the grill in front of me, I will most likely eat it, but from now on, I will be looking at the health food store for more healthy (and sustainable) alternatives to the meat I normally get from Food-4-Less. By the way, if anyone wants an incredible money maker, here is an idea for you. There is a guy who comes to our local Farmer's Market who sells free range grass fed cows (and free range chickens and pigs, etc.). The cheapest item he sells is $9/lb. Hamburger, or stew meat maybe? The most expensive item he sells is $27/lb (a steak fillet), with most items selling for somewhere in between that range. I have not done the math or anything, but I would suspect he earns about $5-8,000 per cow. Last time I went to the market, his was the only stall that had a hoard of people standing around it, so I assume there is a big market for organic meat like that, especially as more and more people are becoming educated about what exactly is in their food. Another reason I want to have my Oregon Organic farm!

O.K. Here is just a little teaser info to scare you from a book I have been reading (The Gorgeously Green Diet):

1. Nitrites/Sodium Nitrate; Found in lunch meats (I confess that I scoffed inwardly at a lady I heard asking at the deli for nitrite free lunch meat. Not any more!), bacon, sausage, hot dogs, canned meat, etc.

Effect: Can form "carcinogenic nitrosamines" in your body--in other words, they can cause cancer (breast, prostrate, stomach).

I found some nitrite free bacon and lunchmeat at our local health food store--it was really good! A couple bucks more expensive, but we will eat them less often. (Which is probably healthier anyway!)

2. BHA/BHT: Chemicals found in chips, veggie oils, cereal, gum, and soup bases.

Effect: Can cause neurological problems (I love chips--maybe that explains something!), can cause allergic reactions, and can be harmful to liver and kidneys.

3. MSG: This stuff is in tons of foods, from your Campbells soups, to your Ranch dressing mix. I have started making my own salad dressings because of this. (They are SO good, too!)

Effect: Can cause sudden cardiac arrest; often causes severe headaches and nausea.

4. High Fructose Corn Syrup: This is in just about everything in your grocery store. Look at the label, if you don't believe me.

Effect: (Copied and pasted the following from the internet)

Please see: http://www.reuters.com/article/idAFN0210830520100802

Tumor cells fed both glucose and fructose used the two sugars in two different ways, the team at the University of California Los Angeles found.

They said their finding, published in the journal Cancer Research, may help explain other studies that have linked fructose intake with pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest cancer types.

"These findings show that cancer cells can readily metabolize fructose to increase proliferation," Dr. Anthony Heaney of UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center and colleagues wrote.

5. Pestcides on fruits and vegetables

Effect: They are all neurotoxins, according to Sophie Uliano. I will be researching natural pesticides for my farm produce.

Eeeks. There's more, but I will have to save that for another day, as Leila just woke up from her nap.

My feelings upon learning all of this? The more natural you can get, the better. It's what my Grandma always told me, and I believe it wholeheartedly.