Filed under: Consumer Health, Current Issues | Tags: Grassroots Gourmet, Influenza, news, Pandemic, Pigs, Public Health, Swine Flu, Virus
Swine flu, the new trend in animal to human transmitted viruses, is becoming a world-wide pandemic.Some really scary statistics are out there for current reported cases in the United States, amongst other countries including: Mexico, New Zealand and Israel. So what exactly is swine flu, how can you catch it, and should you spit that half-chewed porkchop out of your mouth before you get sick?
HA!
Current statistics from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) report cases of Swine flu rising up all around the country. Including 10 cases in California, 2 in Kansas, 45 in NYC, 1 in Ohio, and 6 in Texas.
Due to the current spike in reported cases in the US and around the world, the World Health Organization has elevated the pandemic alert to a level 4, only two levels below a full-scale pandemic. The WHO characterizes this kind of alert level with “person-to-person spread of a new influenza virus able to cause “community-level” outbreaks”.
After testing some of the individuals confirmed to have the virus, it was learned that at least 8 of the cases matched the same strain of the virus that reportedly killed 68 people in Mexico (though thousands in Mexico have become ill). These findings caused the WHO to issue travel warnings for Mexico… which I am sure doesn’t do much to their already failing tourist market…drug trade and now pig flu?! Great.
Some FAQ:
What is Swine Flu?
- Swine flu is an influenza virus found in pigs. It is characterized by respiratory disease and low death rate (in pigs.)
- The virus, like human influenza, is notorious for rapid mutation.
How do humans contract the virus?
- Close contact to Republicans who love farm animals…. (haha just kidding)
- The virus is transmitted to humans who have direct contact with pigs.
- The virus is contagious during the first 1-7 days before symptoms appear.
How do I avoid getting it?
- Wash your hands regularly
- Sleep enough
- Eat healthily
- Manage your stress level
Is Swine Flu going to kill me?
- Probably not, however; the virus varies in its level of severity from mild to severe. Between 2005-2009, 12 US cases were reported with no casualties… but in 1976 an outbreak of swine flu in Fort Dix, New Jersey killed off over 200 people… Just depends on the strength of the virus at the particular time.
- In the past, swine flu was tied to severe pneumonia and respiratory problems, sometimes resulting in death.
What are the Symptoms of Swine Flu?
- Common to human seasonal flu: body aches, fever, nausea, respiratory difficulties, lethargy, lack of appetite
- In children, be wary of bluish skin color, irritability, and not drinking enough liquids
I have a bacon addiction, does this mean I can’t eat pork anymore?
- No. Swine Flu cannot be transmitted by eating pork… as long as it is cooked. Like any other bacteria, the heat of cooking kills off the danger of contracting the virus.
So let’s say I have Swine Flu.. Can it be treated or am I going to get sent to a pig colony?
- Yes, certain vaccinations can treat swine flu, including: Oseltamivir and Zanamivir.
- Unfortunately, being vaccinated for the human seasonal flu will not protect you from getting swine flu.
- Because this virus rapidly mutates, it is difficult to say whether or not these vaccinations will always be effective.
The bottom line? After all this talk about swine flu, I felt like there needed to be some real clarification on the issue. Yes it is becoming a pandemic problem, but there are ways to avoid and treat the problem. I was sitting in the library the other day and someone actually said that if you get Swine Flu, you’re also likely to have AIDS…. seriously? Ignorance isn’t always bliss folks
To get an Up-to-date review of the international cases of swine flu…click here
Filed under: Local Food, Produce Profiles | Tags: Farmer's Market, Fruit, Grassroots Gourmet, Local Produce, organic, seasonal produce, spring, Vegetables
Being a Californian, I am totally spoiled by having access to delicious fruits and veggies all year long. But the Spring brings back some of my personal favorites to the farmers market.
Fresh Seasonal Strawberries
To buy in Spring:
- Avocados
- Mangos
- Pineapple
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Snap Peas
- Apricots
- Carrots
- Mushrooms
God, there’s nothing like buying fresh organic strawberries off the little farmer’s stand on the street corner. As I see them all start to open their doors, I remember it’s almost summer!
Some of my favorite farmer’s markets this time of year include:
The Santa Monica Farmer’s Market
And various farmer’s markets around the OC that can be found here
Seasons Greetings and Happy Eatings! Enjoy!
Filed under: Product Review | Tags: American Spirit, Grassroots Gourmet, health, organic, Organic Cigarettes, Organic Farming, Santa Fe Tobacco Co., Smoker, Tobacco
The Santa Fe Tobacco Co., manufacturer of American Spirit, has come out with a new line of cigarettes featuring organic tobacco, advertising their product as a ‘healthier’ alternative to regular blend cigarettes. What exactly is meant by healthy here?
American Spirit Organic Light Blend
Cigarette smokers unite! Now American Spirit cigarettes are not only additive free, but use organic tobacco! Sure, smoking cigarettes isn’t a health choice, but if you are already addicted, why not support environmental sustainability?
I was at the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, CA this weekend, and I saw enough hipsters smoking these things to know they are catching on like wild fire. Apparently, hippies, hipsters, bohemians, junkies, and your average smoker are hopping onto this organic tobacco trend. Just think, at least in these cigarettes there’s no rat poison, cyanide, OR pesticides!
According to the guys over at Sante Fe Tobacco Co. the new American Spirit line has contracted with many small independent organic farms to produce hundreds of thousands of pounds of organic tobacco per year. As larger companies partner up with small organic farms, the opportunities for small farms in other business endeavours are exponentially increased!
Looking over the company’s website, I was particularly impressed with the amount of background info they give on the process and overall purpose of organic farming. Check it out here.
I suppose it seems pretty hypocritical to author a health-focused website and then write a press-release for cigarettes, but you know what? I am not one to judge people for their addictions (we’ve all got somethin’) so if you are having a stressful day at work and are in need of a good lung blackening, at least smoke for a good cause!
Filed under: Big Industry, Consumer Health | Tags: Beef, Diet, FDA, Feed Ban, food, Grassroots Gourmet, Mad Cow Disease, Public Health
Canada, as one of our largest import countries for cattle, allows American corporations to pay less for cattle of relatively the same quality as the average American heifer….the difference? Feed regulations for Canadian cattle are much more lenient and have been statistically shown to have high amounts of contaminants that cause Mad Cow’s Disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy)
Eat With Caution
The implementation of a “Feed Ban” limits corporations’ use of animal proteins in cattle feed, however the level of regulation for these feed bans is sub par. In 1997, Canada passed a Feed Ban law, limiting the amount of animal proteins in feed, however the Enhanced Feed Ban law (which would prohibit ANY use of animal protein in feed) is having a hard time getting through the legislation process.
According to an article from The Cattle Network:
“The current U.S. feed ban – which is weaker than the feed ban initially implemented in Canada and found to be insufficient to halt the spread of Canada’s level of BSE infectivity – is likewise inadequate to prevent the amplification and spread of BSE that USDA has forecast to be continually introduced into the U.S. from Canadian cattle.”
How many people have to get sick before these self-interested corporations shape up their act? Allowing high-risk cattle to be imported from Canada and subsequently distributed to consumers is downright irresponsible. I don’t eat red meat, so I don’t really face this issue, but this is just another example of why you must always be cautious of what you eat.
Just because it has a USDA grade A stamp on it, does not mean it is free of disease-causing pathogens. and on TOP of all this, even though we KNOW that much of our high-risk meat is coming in from Canada, our import of Canadian cattle increased 7.31% since last year! Despite all it knows about the imminent danger of this situation, the FDA is still delaying the pass of an Enhanced Feed Ban in America. Why? Money matters I might infer…..
The primary goal should be lowering the risk of Mad Cow’s Disease, because nothing costs more than a law suit. If you’re going to be a big shot businessman, best start thinking like one eh?
Filed under: Big Industry, Events | Tags: Agriculture, Agroindustry, food, Food Documentary, Food Inc, Food Politics, Grassroots Gourmet, Robert Kenner
Food Inc., directed by filmmaker Robert Kenner, is a truly astonishing documentary about the hidden truths of the food industry, and how these big businesses shield American consumers from the ugly inedible face of the foods we have come to love.
Browsing through the New York Times, I came across an article mentioned that this documentary. Interested to see a new food politics documentary, I went and looked up the trailer on YouTube…which I have conveniently embedded for your viewing pleasure:
The documentary has not been released yet, but for those of you readers in the Orange County/LA area, there will be a screening of Food Inc. at the Newport Beach Film Festival between April 30th and May 7th. To find another screening near you, please visit http://www.takepart.com/foodinc/screenings.php
I strongly recommend checking this one out. I’ll be at the Newport Beach Film Festival eagerly waiting to see it.
Filed under: Agriculture, Current Issues, Monsanto | Tags: Alternative Energy, Biodiesel, corn, Corn Fuel, Ethanol, Gasoline, Grassroots Gourmet, Monsanto, Natural Gas
Though it is not yet as popular as gasoline, the production and use of Ethanol is growing at exponential rates in the United States. Advertised as the answer to the world’s limited fuel supply, what is the real deal behind this ‘miracle resource’?
Ethanol: What is it? How is it used? Is this the answer in the world of alternative energy? These are questions that are floating in the heads of many of us as the ethanol vs natural gas debate continues to burn.
Ethanol is a type of fuel that is most commonly derived from Corn. After the corn is crushed into a powder, mixed with water, and heated, an enzyme is added that causes the corn mixture to ferment and turn into alcohol. Another process then breaks this mixture down further to create a highly alcoholic substance. After a small amount of gas is added to the formula, ethanol becomes a viable replacement to gasoline as an alternative fuel.
An alternative to gasoline? Sounds great, right? Lets break it down into some pros and cons (because I seem to love doing that lately):
Pros:
- Ethanol is renewable
- Produced on US soil (getting us out of bed with the Middle East)
- Burns cleaner than gas.
Promoters of Ethanol push the above three pros to the extreme, claiming that ethanol is the answer to our search for alternative fuel. Why the debate then? What seems to be the problem with making our cars drunk enough to operate? Here come the cons:
Cons:
- Requires more energy transport than it supposedly saves: Ethanol cannot travel in normal pipelines and must therefore be shipped or trucked to its delivery destination.
- Requires more energy to produce than it supposedly saves: All of the resources used in growing and breaking down corn into ethanol require more fossil fuels than are saved with ethanol. Thus, completely defeating the purpose.
- More expensive than Gas: At the time of analysis, ethanol was $3/gallon where gas was $2.28
Like it or not, Ethanol is already becoming incorporated into our gas. Right now, gasoline at the pump is about 10% ethanol, and these numbers will probably grow in the future.
An energy bill passed in 2005 requires ethanol production to increase by 7.5 billion gallons by 2012.
Who benefits most from increasing ethanol production?? Surely not you. Mr. Monsanto is quite pleased though! At least now, the copious amounts of zombie corn have a place to go besides slaughterhouse feedlots! GREAT!!!!!!
Ultimately? By upping ethanol production, our government is pouring even MORE money into subsidizing corn and that does very little to improve our current economic and environmental situation.
Sure on the outside ethanol seems a lot better than drilling deep into the earth, or calling our friends the Bin-Ladens for oil, but this is only a surface level analysis of the situation.
Perhaps it would be more viable in the future when better technologies are developed to make production and transportation methods more efficient. But right now, Ethanol is nothing more than environmental alcoholism.
Where does the money go? Check it out.
As a response to the bump in traffic (thank you so much!) I have made a Grassroots Gourmet Twitter account, giving you quick news updates youll want to eat right up! (god, I’m hilarious)
Come Follow me! www.twitter.com/GrootsGourmet
See ya soon!
Filed under: Consumer Health, Current Issues | Tags: american health, Consumer Health, contaminated water, environmental working group, EWG, Grassroots Gourmet, Perchlorate, perchlorate in baby formula, rocket fuel, rocket water, water
Though the government isn’t raring to publicize this issue, the drinking water of over 20 million Americans is contaminated with Perchlorate, the main active ingredient in rocket fuel. Thank you Cold War.
Do missles make you thirsty? If not, you might want to be wary the next time you take a sip of water from the tap. Reading over some of the statistics, it’s seriously alarming how much of this contaminent is actually consumed around the country. In Los Angeles alone, almost 10 million of us are drinking water that is contaminated with Perchlorate.
Based on a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group, it was found that at least 43 states contain groundwater and soil that are contaminated. Below is a map of Perchlorate production and contamination sites around the country.
American Perchlorate Production and Contamination Sites. The Brown area is where Perchlorate is produced, and the red dots are known contamination sites.
Alright so what’s the big deal? We drink mineral water that has chemicals in it, so what could possibly be so bad about Perchlorate? HA!
- Main negative health effect is on the thyroid gland: responsible for controlling growth, development, and metabolism. Abnormal thyroid can lead to fatigue, depression, anxiety, hair loss, weight gain, and worst of all loss of libido!!!!!
- Hormone imbalances in fetuses and small children–> mental retardation, problems with speech, motor skill deficits, and problems with sexual development.
As if you weren’t disgusted/alarmed enough… Traces of this rocket fuel were found in several powdered baby formulas (see article) around the country. But don’t worry, that’s why they put iodine in formula mix, as this is supposed to counteract the rocket fuel…Perhaps I’m a bit obtuse, but wouldn’t it make sense to just NOT include ROCKET FUEL as a trace ingredient in BABY FORMULA?! ahhhh!
So basically, If you are drinking water, or are mixing up your baby formula (that already might be contaminated with Perchlorate) with contaminated water (thus giving your baby a double dose of rocket fuel) you could be putting yourself and children at some serious health risks.
BUT not to fear, there IS something you can do. As we DO live in some form of democracy, though the status of that I sometimes question, there is currently a petition to California Senator Barbara Boxer and Chairman Waxman to bring action to stop this ridiculous problem.
For more information, please visit: http://www.ewg.org/reports/rocketwater
Click the link and sign the petition, unless of course you like your daily dose of cancer and thyroid disease with your morning coffee ;0)
Filed under: Product Review, Recipes | Tags: Chocolate, Chocolate Chips, Cookie Recipe, Diabetic Food, Grassroots Gourmet, Healthy Chocolate, Healthy Cooking, Product Review, Sunspire Chocolate
Shopping at the supermarket can sometimes be a dangerous endeavour. Weaving in an out of isles chock full of obesifyingly delicious and tempting treats. I may, however, have found the cure to my intense calorific cravings: Sunspire Natural Chocolates.
Sunspire Chocolate Chips
Sunspire chocolates are all organic and grain sweetened.
-”Michelle, did you just say grain sweetened?”
Indeed, indeed I did. These babies don’t use refined sugar that is overprocessed and stripped of nutritional value, but by no means does this indicate a loss in taste. In fact, I actually enjoy the grain-sweetened chips more than regular chocolate. They have a deliciously rich and earthy taste that’s lacking from your typical Hershey’s.
Plus, eating this stuff isn’t going to boost your blood-glucose levels to a Kamakazi-esque demise. They are such a healthy alternative that Chef Jason Graham of world famous Cal-a-Vie spa uses them in his cookies for spa guests.
No, I am not being paid to endorse Sunspire (though this would be nice!!!!) but I just thought this product could be appreciated by more people than just me (as a pour half the bag of these chocolate chips down my throat, Gluttony? indeed.)
You can even use the chips to bake, which is nice considering my after graduation life is going to consist of living with my parents and baking copious amounts of cookies to ease the pain of unemployment. haha oh the cynicism is running hard this morning.
Anyway, the company makes more varieties of their chocolate chips including caramel, peanut butter, and even white chocolate. They have single-serving candy and chocolate bars too.
ISNT THAT EXCITING?! AREN’T YOU MOTIVATED STOP WHATEVER YOURE DOING AND RUN TO THE GROCERY STORE TO BUY SOME RIGHT NOW?!
haha. sorry folks, sometimes life is just a little too entertaining. but seriously, this stuff was a great find, check it out.
Ah, and a recipe, to leave you with something sweet: Taken from the Sunspire website.
Sunspire® Chocolate Chip Cookies
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine in a large mixing bowl, softened butter and sugar. Cream until a silky texture appears. Add eggs and vanilla into the sugar and butter and mix thoroughly.
In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking soda and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until completely incorporated.
Now add your favorite Sunspire Chocolate Chips and other ingredients, if you wish. Bake for 9-11 minutes on an un-greased baking sheet. Cool on a wire rack and enjoy!
Enjoy!
Filed under: Restaurant Review | Tags: Diet, Grassroots Gourmet, Healthy, Irvine, Restaurant Review, The Veggie Grill, vegan, Vegan Restaurants
This past weekend I indulged in some delish fare from The Veggie Grill, located in Irvine California at the Irvine Spectrum.
Strolling through the overly crowded outdoor mall on a Sunday can be a draining event, so as my stomach began to rumble I decided to take a lunch break at The Veggie Grill.
The Veggie Grill is an all Vegan restaurant, offering even the most squeemish eaters a delicious introduction to the world of soy meat and vegetables. Here, even the most manly of men can order a crispy ‘chickin’ sandwich with a side of fries (SWEET POTATO FRIES THAT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL THEYRE SO GOOD).
Anywho, I walked up to the counter and ordered my chinese ‘chicken’ salad and a side of sweetheart fries, took my number and sat down at a fabulous table outside in the sun. My salad came and though I was a little skeptical to try the ‘chickin’ I was VERY pleasantly surprised with the texture and overall taste. As you folks know, sometimes the vegan stuff can taste like absolute cardboard….not very good press for those promoting healthier eating.
The ambiance is a little stark but they do a nice job to keep the atmosphere as warm and friendly as possible. And honestly, the line is constantly out the door, something I found quite surprising considering vegan food isn’t the most tempting cuisine for those who aren’t gastro-curious.
Overall Review? 4/5 stars.
- Great Service
- Great Food
- Close to my house (always a plus, less carbon emissions from my car….)
It’s not an upscale place, but a great place to grab a casual bite to eat.
For more info check out: The Veggie Grill
