Tuesday, September 17, 2013

ACTION ALERT: The Monsanto rider is back

A couple days ago I got an urgent email message from a respected nutrition site.  Below the "alert" is my analysis of their message.

ACTION ALERT: The Monsanto rider is back – tell Congress to reject it!

Congress is considering a continuing resolution spending bill that includes the controversial Monsanto rider.

This rider effectively destroys judicial review and gives the biotech industry the power to decide which genetically modified (GMO) crops should be planted even when a court has found that there could be environmental damage or economic damage to farmers.

In recent years, courts have repeatedly found that the USDA has improperly approved a GMO crop and they have required further analysis of the impacts before commercial plantings could happen. The Monsanto rider would override that. The rider would force  the USDA to allow GMOs to be planted even if a federal court rules that USDA hadn’t adequately considered the potential problems.

The proponents claim that the provision is needed to protect farmers, but that’s not true.  No farmer has ever had his or her crops destroyed because of a court decision on GMOs. Every court to rule on these issues has carefully weighed the interests of farmers, as is
already required by law.

This rider was part of last spring’s continuing resolution, which was in effect for six months; the continuing resolution that is now being considered would extend it another three months.  

Tell your Representative and Senators to reject this provision in the upcoming spending bill.  Please take action today!

TAKE ACTION #1
Contact both of your U.S. Senators, and urge them to oppose the Monsanto rider.

If you don't know who represents you, you can find out online at www.senate.gov or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

Below is a sample letter you can use for email, or as a script for a telephone call.

TAKE ACTION #2
Contact your U.S. Representative and urge him/her to oppose the Monsanto rider.  If you don't know who represents you, you can find out online at www.house.gov or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

SAMPLE LETTER:
I urge [Senator ____ or Representative _______] to oppose the inclusion of the Monsanto rider in the upcoming short-term FY 2014 Continuing Resolution (CR) spending bill.  Please speak up for constituents by voicing your opposition to the rider to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee.

Though wrapped in a “farmer-friendly” package, this corporate welfare provision – section 735 in last year’s continuing resolution (H.R. 933) – is simply a biotech industry ploy to continue to sell GMO seeds even when a court of law has found they were approved by the USDA illegally. It is unnecessary and an unprecedented attack on the judicial review process, yet it was quietly slipped into last spring’s continuing resolution without congressional debate, hearings, or input from any of the relevant committees.

Continuing this provision in the new FY 2014 Continuing Resolution is the wrong thing to do. 
This provision effectively guts judicial review, allowing companies to continue selling biotech seeds even if a court finds that the USDA should not have approved the seeds for planting.  The provision forces USDA to immediately approve any request by the industry for continued planting.  The USDA has a duty to protect the interests of all farmers and the environment, not just the biotech industry–the Monsanto rider undermines that responsibility.

The provision is completely unnecessary. No farmer has ever had his or her crops destroyed. Every court to rule on these issues has carefully weighed the interests of farmers, as is already required by law.

I strongly oppose the “Monsanto protection act” and urge you to demand that it not be included in the upcoming short-term FY14 Continuing Resolution (CR) spending bill.

[Name]
[Address]


That message and others like it are total claptrap.  Why do people who promote themselves as health and well-being experts also assume they are experts in agriculture?  Nearly all of these do-gooders have only a cursory knowledge of agriculture.  The know next to nothing about animal science, soil science, plant science, agricultural economics, genetics, what it takes to be truly sustainable, livestock processing, and the laws impacting the agricultural and food processing industries.  Yet they lash out and demonize all the various agricultural factions with flaming rhetoric that promotes their agendas at the cost of the reputations of the highly credible entities that are feeding 330,000,000 Americans three meals a day.  That’s a billion meals a day without interruption!

Unfortunately these wild-eyed fanatics have a disproportionate influence on the few people who are actually striving to improve their health though a better diet.  The consequence are that way too many people focus on all the wrong issues and miss the single most important issue impacting body function which is the chemistry of food.  The actual chemistry of a potato, a seed, a nut, a green leaf, etc. are the most important factors impacting body function.  This is why if all the food in America was “organic” the incidences of chronic diseases would be exactly the same!  That’s because food choices trump everything.

For a relatively unbiased take on the so-called Monsanto rider look at this U.S. News & World Report article.  The article is well written and tells the real story.  As you can see by the comments from the mob below the article, many people refuse to believe the truth.

Furthermore, while I’m on this soapbox I’ll point out another fact.  The anti-Monsanto movement is a modern-day witch hunt by people who know nothing, and I mean nothing, about copyright law, the seed industry, genetics, and the chemistry of plants and soils.  This link tells us a few things about one of the leaders of the anti-Monsanto movement.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Many Paleo Recipes Are Nutritional Disasters


    The Paleo Diet, as its cofounder Loren Cordain defined it, is being debased by marketers.  It really disturbs me when I see so many people struggle to adapt to  The Real Diet of Man only to be led astray by the many marketers of Paleo recipes.  These recipes usually replicate traditional common dishes with different ingredients.  Yet when one analyzes the ingredients, the "new" dishes are still nutritional disasters.
    My first pet peeve is with the meat selections in all too many of these diets.  Many of the authors of these diets do not emphasize only 100% grass-fed meats.  That alone is ridiculous.  Many suggest "lean meats" in general.  That is wrong no matter what.  Lean grain-fed meats are nutritionally deficient and they still have high Omega-6 loads versus small quantifies of Omega-3.  They are the problem, not the solution.  On the other hand, when it comes to 100% grass-fed meats, we WANT fatty meats.  The fats have the most favorable Essential Fatty Acid (EFAs) ratios!
    This is why we sell so many knuckle and straight marrow bones.  People are focused on the fat inside these bones.  We also sell fat (external fat) and suet (internal body fat).  Many of our customers want these fats for soups and broths plus to render down for cooking fats.  If we want optimal nutrition, lean is not preferred.  The problem we have is that too often our 100% grass-fed meats are too lean.
    My exasperation with some of the Paleo diet suggestions does not end with the meat choices.  Look at these ingredients I found with a brief search of just a few recipes.

almond meal/flour - huge Omega-6 source, low in nutrition
eggs - no mention of the Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratios
honey - worse than sugar, high glycemic
coconut sugar - similar to sugar, high glycemic
tapioca flour/powder - huge Omega-6 source, low in nutrition
coconut flour - Omega-6 source very low in nutrition
pecans - huge Omega-6 source, low in nutrition
almond butter - huge Omega-6 source, low in nutrition
maple syrup - worse than sugar, high glycemic
skinless chicken breasts - no mention of the Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratios
coconut oil - Omega-6 source very low in nutrition
coconut milk - Omega-6 source very low in nutrition
avocado - not a good EFA source
sunflower seed butter - huge Omega-6 source, low in nutrition
shredded coconut - Omega-6 source very low in nutrition
mini chocolate chips - just more sugar
dried dates - very high glycemic and low in nutrition
lean meats - this term has no meaning in nutrition circles

    To avoid being deceived I encourage everyone to download the Food Analysis tables.  With that information you'll know the key points in proper food selection.  The foods required for optimizing body and brain function must cover all three of the critically important "a, b, c" parameters or else don't eat them.
    a)  Each food item consumed must provide 90% or more of the nutrients required for optimal body function.  100% is best.  (Why eat foods that are empty?)
    b)  Each food item consumed must not contribute to the Omega-3 deficit.  (This is critical for a strong immune system.)
    c)  Each food item consumed must be low glycemic.  (High glycemic foods are foreign to body function and cause fungal issues that negatively impact the body.)
    The most basic, most fundamental thing everyone must know is that the green plant must be at the bottom of their food chain.  Nuts, seeds, grain, fruit, and even some vegetables do not belong in The Real Diet of Man.
    If our goal is optimal health, we must not be lead astray by the traditions of the thundering herd.  The thundering herd is plagued with chronic diseases and nearly every chronic health problem they have is due to the foods they eat.  I do not want to join their plight.
    If you want more low down on the advantages of grass-fed meats read Grass-Fed Beef In A Nutshell.