I was reading a nutrition blog the other day that recommended avoidance of root vegetables for diabetics and those wanting to lose weight. The author argued that root vegetables are high in sugar, and sugar, being incompatible with weight loss and diabetes, should be avoided.

Over the years, my own clients have told me they also avoid carrots for similar reasons. I began to wonder why root vegetables were getting such a bad rap, because I put at least one root veggie, and sometimes two (if it is a carrot) in my green drink every morning. I am losing weight, so what possible harm am I doing to myself? After all, people have been eating root vegetables since the beginning of time, right?

I began my research with a website called NutritionData.com for analyses. Along with providing the standard nutritional data, they also have additional tools such as fullness factor, glycemic load and inflammation factor which are useful to determine which foods are capable of causing or preventing disease.

For the ease of comparison, I took the standard portion size of one bag of instant oatmeal (155 g) and compare it to a similar size serving of carrots (158g), this is about 2 carrots.

Results:

Summary:

Carrots contain fewer calories, less fat, protein, sodium, folate and sugar than oatmeal; but, essentially contains more of every other vitamin than oatmeal. Furthermore, carrots also contain more that 100 phytonutrients (plant chemicals) that are important in the prevention of disease.

More importantly, at least in my mind, is the strong anti-inflammatory properties of carrots. Inflammation is thought to be the underlying cause of diabetes, coronary artery disease, and cancer.

It is apparent to me that we should be eating more carrots and not less. Carrot juice anyone?

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Fruits and veggies are an essential part of a healthy diet, but many conventional varieties contain pesticide residues. 
And not all the pesticides used to kill bugs, grubs, or fungus on the farm washes off under the tap at home. Government tests show which fruits and vegetables, prepared typically at home, still have a pesticide residue.
You can reduce your exposure to pesticides by as much as 80% if you avoiding the most contaminated foods in the grocery store.
To do so, you need the latest info from the why the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list of foods most likely to have high pesticide residues. Since 1995, the organization has taken the government data and identified which type of produce has the most chemicals.
This year, celery takes the number one spot and both blueberries and spinach make an appearance (displacing lettuce and pears).
The best way to avoid pesticide residue on foods is to buy organic produce — USDA rules prohibit the use of pesticides on any crop with the certified organic label.
Here’s a closer look at the 2010 Dirty Dozen:

1. 
Celery has no protective skin, which makes it almost impossible to wash off the chemicals (64 of them!) that are used on crops. Buy organic celery, or choose alternatives like broccoli, radishes, and onions.

2. Peaches:
 Multiple pesticides (as many as 62 of them) are regularly applied to these delicately skinned fruits in conventional orchards. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include watermelon, tangerines, oranges, and grapefruit.

3. Strawberries: 
If you buy strawberries, especially out of season, they’re most likely imported from countries that have less-stringent regulations for pesticide use. 59 pesticides have been detected in residue on strawberries. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include kiwi and pineapples.

4. Apples: 
Like peaches, apples are typically grown with poisons to kill a variety of pests, from fungi to insects. Tests have found 42 different pesticides as residue on apples. Scrubbing and peeling doesn’t eliminate chemical residue completely, so it’s best to buy organic when it comes to apples. Peeling a fruit or vegetable also strips away many of their beneficial nutrients. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include watermelon, bananas, and tangerines.

5. Blueberries: 
New on the Dirty Dozen list in 2010, blueberries are treated with as many as 52 pesticides, making them one of the dirtiest berries on the market.

6. Nectarines
: With 33 different types of pesticides found on nectarines, they rank up there with apples and peaches among the dirtiest tree fruit. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include, watermelon, papaya, and mango.

7. Bell peppers
: Peppers have thin skins that don’t offer much of a barrier to pesticides. They’re often heavily sprayed with insecticides. (Tests have found 49 different pesticides on sweet bell peppers.) Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include green peas, broccoli, and cabbage.

8. Spinach
: New on the list for 2010, spinach can be laced with as many as 48 different pesticides, making it one of the most contaminated green leafy vegetable.

9. Kale
: Traditionally, kale is known as a hardier vegetable that rarely suffers from pests and disease, but it was found to have high amounts of pesticide residue when tested this year. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include cabbage, asparagus, and broccoli.

10. Cherries
: Even locally grown cherries are not necessarily safe. In fact, in one survey in recent years, cherries grown in the U.S. were found to have three times more pesticide residue then imported cherries. Government testing has found 42 different pesticides on cherries. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include raspberries and cranberries.

11. Potatoes: 
America’s popular spud reappears on the 2010 Dirty Dozen list, after a year hiatus. America’s favorite vegetable can be laced with as many as 37 different pesticides. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include eggplant, cabbage, and earthy mushrooms.

12. Grapes
: Imported grapes run a much greater risk of contamination than those grown domestically. Only imported grapes make the 2010 Dirty Dozen list. Vineyards can be sprayed with different pesticides during different growth periods of the grape, and no amount of washing or peeling will eliminate contamination because of the grape’s thin skin. Remember, wine is made from grapes, which testing shows can harbor as many as 34 different pesticides. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include kiwi and raspberries.

From The Daily Green News Blog

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Burnett credits acupuncture for his transformation from one of baseball’s most injury-plagued players into one of its most reliable, a process that began a year-and-a-half ago. The rest of Burnett’s story can be read here. http://tinyurl.com/3aexxtg

Burnett, like many others are taking charge of their health. My goal is to transform the lives of my clients and to make them healthy. I believe this can be done if we come to the understanding we are in control of our destiny. For years, I have studied illness and wellness and the evidence overwhelming favors daily choices as the major contributor of health or illness.

Most of people that come into my practice do so because of pain or another health issue that needs resolve. Rarely, although it does happen, that one seeks acupuncture to stay healthy. This is precisely what we all need to do, invest in health.

As a parent of two children with chronic illness, I have come to understand and value preventative health. It is much harder to fully recover from illness than it is to stay healthy. Everyday I have to remind my children that health is a choice and ask them to make a conscious decision to choose health for the day. Here is our families prescription for daily health.

1. A whole food diet heavily weighted in fresh fruits and vegetables. Rarely do we eat animal products at home.
2. One hour a day of vigorous exercise.
3. Family prayer.
4. A full 8 hours of sleep, more if needed.
5. Monthly acupuncture, more if needed.

I also make a point of telling people about my healthy life style. As Mahatma Gandhi summed it up very nicely:

Your beliefs become your thoughts
Your thoughts become your words
Your words become your actions
Your actions become your habits
Your habits become your values
Your values become your destiny

Thought for the day:
Will you choose health or sickness as your destiny?

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Early in my scientific career, I remember my mother puffing on a cigarette demanding I “find a way to reverse aging.” I don’t recall if I responded with a sarcastic remark or just thought of one to the effect of…“stop smoking.” A number of years later, while on her way to the hospital for breathing issues, a young physician recommended she get acupuncture for smoking cessation when she was released from the hospital. She, unfortunately, died of a hospital acquired infection at the age of 62 and didn’t get the opportunity to try acupuncture.

My grandfather had his first heart attack in his 40’s, subsequently had a number of bypass operations, and took disability and early retirement in his 60’s. He lived almost 30 more years before he died of liver cancer.

Fast forward a number of years, and I have a son born with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). When my son was diagnosed 19 years ago, the prognosis for the disease was, in my mind, relatively poor, most dying before 30. His diagnosis was probably one of the single worse days of my life. Three years later, his sister was born, also, with CF, another devastating blow.

When I asked the pulmonologist how they treat the disease progression, I wasn’t given anything substantially to sink my teeth into, other than compassion.

These life changing events along with the echo of my mother’s words set me on my pursuit of longevity of health rather than one of anti-aging. Because I knew the Chinese had herbs that could boost immunity, I became an acupuncturist.

What I’ve learned so far:
1. Most suffering and premature death could be prevented with life style changes.
2. Diseases resulting from genetic defects, such as CF might progress at a much slower rate with life style changes. Genetics are modifiable with diet.
3. Diet is, signally, the most important lifestyle change we can make, followed by smoking cessation, and exercise.
4. Along with vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables contain a complex mixture of phytochemicals, possessing potent antioxidant, antiproliferative, and cancer-protective activity. Meat is devoid of these compounds.

Benefits of vegetarian and or vegan diet.
1. Lower risk of lung, oral, esophageal, stomach and colon cancer.
2. Diet modifies the risk of lung cancer both in smokers and lifelong nonsmokers.
3. Lower blood cholesterol levels.
4. Lower risk of heart disease.
5. Lower blood pressure.
6. Lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
7. Lower body mass index (BMI).
8. Lower risk of dementia.
9. Lower risk of diverticulitis.
10. May be a useful treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
11. Plant protein can meet the protein requirements at all stages of life, including pregnant women, infants, children and competitive athletes.

Other than fish, I’ve been unable to find scientific studies that show any health benefits associated with meat consumption. To the contrary, I found negative effects related to meat consumption.

1. High protein intake, especially animal protein can increase urinary excretion of calcium.
2. Postmenopausal women with diets high in animal protein and low in plant protein have a high rate of bone loss and an increase risk of hip fracture.

Although scientists have not been able to reverse aging as my mother had wished, they’ve been able to significantly slow it down with calorie restriction, some believing it will be possible to live to a 120 in the near future.
If living to a 120 isn’t your thing but want to live as disease free as possible, let the animals roam wild and eat fruits and vegetables!

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