This blog aims to promote better lives and a better world through better food choices.
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Sustainable Tuna. Is there such a thing?
Published on 2011-10-15 20:24:00
I used to really love fishing. Sometimes I even fantasized about the future when I would have both the time to fish and some grandkids to show how to wait patiently for a bite.I also loved to eat seafood – tuna steaks and lobsters were my favorites. But after becoming vegetarian 20 years ago, I quit eating seafood. While occasionally I still miss eating fish, I really miss fishing.A while back, I went to the Seattle Aquarium with my two grandsons. I find aquariums fascinating, now loving fish for the fish themselves – the incredible variety, their stunning beauty, and their joy (I presume) to be alive. While I still feel sad that my fantasy of fishing with the grandkids isn’t going to happen, sharing the wonders of the life of the sea brought joy to all.However, when lunchtime arrived, I found the cafeteria disquieting. While my opinions represent a minority perspective, it now seems odd that after showing us how wonderful sea creatures are and how our fishing practices are ruining their habitat, I am supposed to revel in the fact that certain fish are not yet endangered, so eat up! At one time that perspective made perfect sense to me as well.When we got home, I did a little research on sustainable fishing. The Monterey Aquarium has extensive consumer information as a guide. What I found was disconcerting.For example, under Albacore Tuna (one of seven kinds of tuna the Monterey Aquarium discusses) their summary table advises:The best choice is U.S. Pacific or Canadian Pacific albacore tuna caught by troll or “pole and line.”Avoid all longline albacore caught anywhere in the world (except Hawaii). This is a problem because this method of fishing tends to catch older fish that have accumulated too much mercury.Avoid even “wild-caught” albacore in the North Atlantic.At a retail level canned white tuna is both a “best choice” and an “avoid.”All the other market names they give – Longfin Tunny, Shiro Maguro, and Tombo are also confusingly both a “best choice” and an “avoid.”So, all of the market names are both the best and the worst!The bottom line is that consumers wanting to learn about sustainable or healthier albacore tuna find information that is, at best, confusing. And if the world of tuna eaters all ate just the tuna from the U.S. or Canada Pacific, how long would that be sustainable? Does this seem nuts to anyone else?If you want a truly sustainable tuna sandwich – try ours. There is no threat to the health or the population of Garbanzo Beans (the base of our “hold the Tuna”) – that we know of.Bon appétit!By Dr. Carl Myers
Our kids deserve a better world
Published on 2011-10-07 22:43:00
Our children live in an obesogenic world. That is the medical term for the things in our environment that make us fat.The causes behind the child obesity epidemic include a sedentary lifestyle plus a diet that is:High in sugar· High in fat· High in salt· Low in fiberThe average 8 year old watches 4000 junk food commercials a year encouraging them to eat the worst of the worst. After 4000 commercials, who is going to listen to Mom?No surprise - high fat and high sugar diets create fat kids.Children 40 years ago rarely had high cholesterol, hypertension, or glucose intolerance. Now 60% of kids who are overweight have at least one of these problems. Obesity in kids also increases asthma, liver dysfunction, sleep apnea and Type II diabetes.We have known this for years, so why does the problem of childhood obesity continue to get worse? Some blame the schools, some blame the parents, and some blame the soda companies or fast food joints.Kids have a sugar habit even before they start school. Four year olds eat over 60 pounds of sugar per year – 40 pounds more than recommended. What can be done?The 5-2-1-Almost None Program is a fantastic start.It stresses a daily routine for kids with 5 or more fruits and vegetables, no more than two hours of screen time, at least one hour of physical activity, and almost no sugary beverages.It’s time to leave the obesogenic world behind!Make the 5-2-1-Almost None guidelines the healthy choice for your family.
Change your world one step at a time
Published on 2011-08-18 10:18:00
Do you have a bad habit that you would like to change? Experts divide aperson’s readiness for change into six groups: 1. “I don’t want to change” (Precontemplation)2. “I might consider changing” (Contemplation)3. “I’m planning on how to change” (Preparation)4. “I’ve changed” (Making the break)5. “I don’t want to go back to the way I was ” (Maintenance)6. “I’m thoroughly changed” (Transformation) Understanding one’s readiness greatly increases the chance for successand each stage requires a different approach. In stage 1, before one is really ready to change you might askyourself, “If I were to stop, why would I? Common answers include “Tosave money” or “To be a better influence on my kids”. Such “what if”questions plant the seeds for future change. In Stage 2, one is ready to think about change. Collecting all the facts ishelpful at this stage. Comparing the gap between one’s principles andone’s actions can generate motivation. In stage 3, when planning one’s strategy for change it is helpful to beinspired by others’ who have kicked your habit. Learning from yourown previous attempts is also key. Let your friends know your plansand elicit help along the way. Create a rallying cry. For instance “ThisChristmas I will once again be a size 10!” When you are actually ready to start a change, make sure you areprepared. Spur of the moment action plans are unlikely to succeed. Setthe stage for success by developing and sticking to your comprehensiveplan. Stage 5, the maintenance stage, requires vigilance. Overconfidence isthe biggest cause of slipping up. For example, learn to celebrate in newways - even if it means avoiding your previous drinking buddies. Like aboy scout, be prepared. If you slip, get right back on your plan. Don’t getderailed for good. Tackling an addiction can be the most difficult obstacle one ever faces -but freedom when one succeeds is ever so sweet.
We all live in a nanny submarine
Published on 2011-08-09 10:16:00
Healthy Yuma 2011 is a community effort to help those opting for healthier lifestyle choices. This raises some concerns. Is this a “nanny state” effort? Is this a misguided project trying to exert excessive control over people’s lives? Shouldn’t we let everyone come to their own conclusions? After all, don’t people already know what foods are healthy? Unfortunately we already live in a “nanny” state. Government strongly influences what we eat through billions of dollars of direct and indirect agriculture subsidies. Less than 5% of that money goes to the most healthy, highly nutritious foods, while the rest goes to less healthy food or pure junk. You can see the result of this subsidy imbalance everywhere. Our employee break rooms are toxic food dumps while our celebrations are sugar on top of sugar. Our daily food routines overcome our natural tendency to be fit and healthy, leaving us fighting those extra pounds of fat. So our current governmental nanny is alive and well, supporting a foodenvironment where our kids are addicted to soda and salty snacks even before they are out of diapers. Our nanny has revolutionized our children’s diseases as well. Thirty years ago hypertension and high cholesterol was rare. Doctors even needed to rename adult onset diabetes as Type II diabetes because it is now a disease of kids, too. The Beatle’s Yellow Submarine artfully sketches the benefits when we are in balance with our priorities: As we live a life of ease,Every one of us has all we need,Sky of blue, and sea of green,In our yellow submarine. Societies are so immersed in their culture that it is easy to forget its profoundinfluence. It is time to reconsider ours. As we live a life diseased,Every one of us consumed in need,Feeling blue, and feeling green,In our nanny submarine.
Just the facts, ma’am”
Published on 2011-07-14 14:53:00
Sergeant Friday, from the Dragnet series, was careful not to get derailed in getting to the bottom of a case. He was only interested the facts. So, here are just a few facts – see if you can figure out the identity, of the offender. The facts were recently released in a World Health Organization report.Here are the clues. What is it?The world’s third largest cause of disease and disabilityThe cause of almost two and a half million deaths per yearThe cause of over one in five cancer deathsThe leading cause of death in men from age 15 to 59The cause of 30% of deaths from injuriesThis offender can make you permanently stupid, or in medical jargon causeneuropsychiatric dysfunction.Have you guessed yet? The cause of this destruction and a real poison to our health, is the abuse of alcohol.Is it a growing problem? In AZ it is. Newsweek recently reported that binge drinking is up 74% in AZ, in the last decade.However, because alcohol is addicting and getting smashed is somehow cool, such facts alone are unlikely to change risky behavior. But there comes a time when people decide enough is enough.So if alcohol is disrupting your life or the health of your relationships, there is no better time than now to begin the process back to normal. Call 866-407-4380, to assist you in getting started, whether for you, your family, or a friend.Healthy Yuma 2011 is a year for the citizens of Yuma County to join together to get healthier, a time to pitch in, to make a better community. What do you plan to do?This is Dr. Carl Myers for Healthy Yuma 2011.
Avoid the Salt Assault
Published on 2011-06-29 13:58:00
We vastly underestimate the health risk of a high salt diet. It is estimated that150,000 lives could be saved every year if Americans cut their salt intake to therecommended amount.To put that into perspective: In just two years, as many Americans die from a high salt diet as died in combat during all of World War II.Here are five facts you should know about salt:1. Excessive salt raises blood pressure, wrecking havoc with one’scardiovascular system and kidneys.2. After one high salt meal one’s arteries are inflexible for hours3. Only 6% of our salt comes from the saltshaker; the vast majority comes fromprocessed foods and restaurant meals4. Salt is listed as “sodium” on food labels. If the sodium number (in milligrams) is bigger than the number of calories per serving, it is a high salt food.5. The average American eats over 3600mg of sodium per day which is doublethe recommended amountAt first it might seem hard to cut back on salt, but in just six weeks of eating anormal amount of salt, your taste buds become more sensitive. Foods that werebland in the past become flavorful and foods that you once craved taste too salty!Adding fruits and vegetables to your day are a great way to start. They are verylow salt - just one of the reasons they are the best foods on the planet!So if you’d like to enjoy your food more—and perhaps tack a few more years onto your life - cut down on your salt intake.
Don't waste your willpower
Published on 2011-06-15 10:03:00
We all know about willpower. It’s that grit inside that gets us to do what we should when it’s not easy. But often our willpower is not up to the task. As Mae West quips, “I generally avoid temptation, unless I can’t resist it.”No one denies that willpower is key when choosing a healthier lifestyle. But why can’t we just choose a plan of action and then do it? How do we strengthen our gumption? The answer - use willpower wisely.Most of us tend to overestimate the strength of our willpower. We sit in front of the TV with a bag of potato chips and expect that with a new diet plan, we will stop at 50 calories. Yeah, right.Science calls this misplaced hutzpah “restraint bias”. Although we might thinkwe can do it, when staring down our main attraction (chocolate, cookies, heroin -whatever) with willpower alone, nine times out of ten, we will fail. This waste of willpower over time creates a habit of failure.Instead, use your willpower to prevent major confrontations with temptation in the first place:- Use a grocery list and only buy what’s on it- Don’t go to the grocery hungry- Just say “no” to stopping for a beer after work and schedule a walk with a friend instead- Take your lunch to work and put an apple on your desk- Never have a cigarette in the house or in the carLook for creative ways to use your gumption to avoid that duel on Main Street in the first place.Using willpower wisely strengthens it so that when you do have to face temptation directly, you’ll be able to walk away with a smile as you create a habit of success.
The transforming power of inner motivation
Published on 2011-05-27 12:56:00
In his recent bestselling book, Drive, Daniel Pink discusses howincentives can actually block the results they are designed to achieve.Studies show that the more we are motivated from outside forces, themore we act in unethical and addictive ways. On the other hand, themore our motivation comes from within, the happier and more honestwe become.The last time that I was a guest lecturer in Professor Lhotka’s AWCComparative Religion class, we explored the question of motivation.During the discussion, one student expressed a philosophy that givesher a strong sense of purpose. I asked the class, “Can we adopt herstatement for ourselves?” There was lively dissent, focusing on thestudents’ widely differing perspectives on life.I suggested that as a group they try to develop a common purpose. Intwo minutes there was consensus - “Life’s purpose is to help otherswithout hurting them and to do the same for oneself.”The clarity of this statement created a significant effect on the students.They began expressing honest concerns that their actions were notconsistent with their ideals, admitting that in their experience it seemedeasier to “do bad things than good.”This classroom experience has direct application to addictions, whichpersist because addictions sap the energy to close the gap betweenone’s actions and one’s aspirations. As the students clarified theirpurpose, they immediately had energy to examine their actions.This is precisely what Pink’s studies showed – as one taps into one’sinternal motivation, one finds a strong desire to help others. As thestudents demonstrated, this desire quickly evolves into an honestevaluation of one’s actions and a desire to act more consistently withone’s higher aspirations. What more can we ask for?
Getting enough vitamin X
Published on 2011-05-03 17:28:00
As essential as it is for good health, scientists have yet to be able to put vitamin X in a pill. It relieves depression, decreases diabetes and heart disease, increases energy, improves sleep, and keeps one slim. Maybe you have already guessed that Vitamin X is exercise! The next question is - how much Vitamin X do you need? Studies have shown that 30 minutes of moderate exercise three times a week has major health benefits. Moderate exercise is defined as the level of exercise achieved by walking 90-100 steps per minute. Would more exercise lead to greater benefits? Yes, more exercise leads to more benefits. But public health experts are concerned that advocating too much exercise will discourage people from even getting started. One practical answer to the exercise dilemma of “how much” is to adopt the following two-tiered approach; Tier I - No matter what, commit to 30 minutes of exercise 3 times per week. If you need to work up to that level, use the next 6 weeks to get there. Tier II – At the start of every month, decide whether you will go beyond 90 minutes of exercise per week. Then do whatever you can to reach this level, but if you fall short, that’s ok. However, don’t ever let your level of exercise fall below the Tier I minimum. Then when the next month begins, decide your new target level. No one else but you can provide your Vitamin X. If you have had difficulty starting or maintaining an exercise program, try the 2-tier method. It is a great tool for success.
Getting started when it isn't easy
Published on 2011-04-25 12:56:00
About halfway through the Welcome and Celebration Rally, I was struck by theimmensity of the Healthy Yuma 2011 goal - not just the milepost goals of 140 tons of weight loss and 3 million miles walked - but the transformational goal of becoming a less addicted community.At the rally, I talked with several people who had already made successfultransformations – alcoholics who had been sober for years; a healthcareprofessional who made it through a major meth relapse; and two women who had each lost over 60 pounds. Two themes emerged: people wanted to share how good it feels to be clean and how deluded they had been under the spell of drugs, junk food, or alcohol.Not one said that it had been easy, but they all realized that not a day went bywithout knowing it was worth it. Besides feeling happier, they found relationships much more satisfying without the uppers, the downers, and the binges.When asked what had been their “aha” moment, their answers were uniquely their own. However, despite the uniqueness, the conclusions were the same – “First I had to admit I had a problem, and then I needed to realize how much I wanted to change.”Whether addiction has created major havoc in your life or your current challenge is the butter pecan ice cream in the fridge, positive change comes in the form of a question and a statement. The question to ask is, “What is a skillful action, right now?’ The statement is, “Then that’s what I’ll do.”Our habits make this difficult, but what I learned from my new friends at the rally -it’s worth it.