Health - How to Tell GM Foods by Label

Labeling Standards
Source: International Federation for Produce Standards, "Produce PLU: 2006 User's Guide," plucodes.com
These 4 or 5 digit numbers, assigned to loose and bunched grocery items, are international designations used for coding - and they're a quick way to tell whether produce is conventionally grown, organically grown or genetically modified (GM).

• Organic produce has a five-digit number beginning with a 9. Organic bananas, for example, would be given the designation of 94011.
• Conventional produce has a four-digit number beginning with a 3 or 4. Therefore, the number on conventionally grown bananas would be 4011.
• Genetically Engineered produce also has a five-digit number on the label and begins with an 8. Again, the number on genetically altered bananas would be 84011.

GE Labeling
In 1992, the FDA declared that biotech foods were the same as conventional foods – because the biotech companies said so. The number 8 was then instituted since the produce industry thought consumers would prefer genetically modified food moreso than conventionally grown food. It did not take long for them to find out differently. Although the number 8 designation can still be found, it is rare. The biotech industry is also fighting any sort of labeling for their inventions – now that they know consumers really do not want them. As it stands now, Hawaiian papaya is about the only food you will find that has the number 8 in front of it.
Unless the label specifically states “certified organic”, it is a safe bet that any food containing corn, soy, and cottonseed oils has a GE origin. These processed foods will not have the genetically engineered PLU code that would alert the consumer. In addition, manufacturers of GE products are not subjected to any special review, approval, or labeling. The organic producer is, however. Ironic, isn’t it – something that is grown naturally requires more scrutiny than does something containing any number of harmful substances?

Green Smoothies - for your Plants!

Two months ago I transplanted two tiny Hedera Ivy plants, and here is a picture of how they look now. Thanks to weekly feedings of leftover Green Smoothie, the plants are a vibrant abundant addition to my home!

Plant Food: After drinking your Green Smoothie, don't throw away what is left over in your blender. Just add water to the remains of Green Smoothie in your blender, shake, and pour around the base of your houseplants. Do this once a week and your plants will thank you!

Basic Recipe: If you are not already drinking Green Smoothies, they are a wonderful introduction to the raw and living foods lifestyle. In the beginning you may desire a sweeter taste, so try blending 2 cups purified water, 60% fresh or frozen fruits, and 40% dark leafy greens. As your tastebuds begin to change you may notice a gradual shift to a 50/50 ratio of fruits/greens. Mix all in your blender and drink a blender full each day (preferrably in the morning). Pay attention to how your body responds to its daily feedings of raw living, concentrated, whole, nutrient rich food!

Health - DVDs that are worth watching!

DVDs are a great way to keep informed about the benefits of eating Organic Raw Living foods, GMOs (genetically modified foods), and to learn what you don't know about how commercially sold foods are grown. These DVDs are available from the library, with the exception of the last three.

• Gardens of Destiny - Salt Spring Island seed sanctuary about the benefits of organic food.
• The World According to Monsanto - huge corporation that is controlling the world's seeds.
• Healing Cancer, from inside out, Mike Anderson - cancer industry vs natural nutrition.
• The Great Warming - what today's rising temperatures mean for our own future.
• One man, one cow, one planet - the farming revolution in India, and one man out to save the world.
• Earthlings - film about the suffering of animals for food, fashion, pets, entertainment and medical research.
• Eating - Rave diet (available at Silver Hills Bakery)
• Reversing the Irreversible - testimonials of the health benefits of people eating raw (available at http://www.rawfamily.com/ )
• Greens can save your life - Victoria Boutenko describes the benefits and reasons behind eating raw and drinking green smoothies (available at http://www.rawfamily.com/ )

Recipes - Raspberry Ganache Fudge Cake

Here is a beautiful RAW cake we made at the "Uncooking" class on Feb 7th. It has two layers with chocolate frosting and raspberries in the middle and then more frosting on top and sides.

Raspberry Ganache Fudge Cake Yield: 6 servings

To cut down on the caffeine in the cacao you can use only carob - or try half carob and half cacao (which is what I do).

Fudge cake:

3 cups dry walnuts
1 cup pitted Medjool dates

2/3 cup unsweetened cacao powder/carob powder

1/4 tsp sea salt

Combine the walnuts, cacao powder, salt in a food processor and pulse until coarsley mixed. Avoid over processing. Add the dates and pulse until mixed well. Shape into 2 stackable cakes of desired shape and set aside.

Frosting:

1/3 cup pitted Medjool dates
1/2 cup avocado (about 1 medium)

1/4 cup Agave syrup
1/3 cup cacao powder/carob powder

Combine the dates and Agave in food processor and process until smooth. Add the avocado and process until smooth. Add the cacao powder and process until smooth.

Filling:

1/2 cup raspberries

Frost the top of one of the cakes with 1/2 the frosting and top with raspberries. Stack the second cake on top and frost the top and sides. Serve immediately or place in fridge for couple of hours to firm up. The cake on its own will keep in the fridge for many weeks. The frosting will keep separately in the fridge for 1 week. The assembled cake with raspberries will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Recipes - Juicing & Green Smoothies

One difference between using a juicer and a blender is that the juice contains no fibre. Therefore when the body has a hard time digesting the fibre in food, juicing is a way to slowly introduce the much needed nutrients. Juicing can contribute to health in specific situations such as a severely weakened immune system. If you notice digestion is a problem as you are transitioning to raw food you may want to try this: drink one or more glasses of juice each day for 2 weeks - then switch to drinking green smoothies once a day for the next 2 weeks. Become aware of how your body feels during this 4 week period. Allow your body time to adjust while the assimilation of nutrients from juicing takes place, and notice how you feel as the intake of fibre from green smoothies begins to eliminate toxic waste accumulations.

JUICING - Be aware that combining starchy vegetables with fruits can cause gas in the intestines - personally the only fruit I add when juicing is an apple.

Carrot Juice

5 medium carrots

Juice through a juicer - simple! Serves 1.

Joint Lubricator Juice

1 bunch celery

2 cucumbers

1 apple (for mild sweetening)

Juice through a juicer and enjoy while fresh. Serves 2.

Carrot Beet Ginger Juice

3-4 medium carrots

1/4 to 1/2 beet, sliced (begin with less)

1/2 to 1" slice of ginger

1 small clove garlic (optional)

Juice together in a juicer and enjoy. Serves 1.

GREEN SMOOTHIES - from the Boutenko Family
Dark leafy greens are the only food group that helps digest other foods through stimulating the secretion of digestive enzymes - so greens can be combined with any other foods!

Blue-Green Aloe Smoothie

2 cups water

1 head Romaine lettuce

1 medium Fuji apple

1/4 lime

1/4 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)

1 small leaf of Aloe

Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth. NOTE: Great drink for diabetics because blueberries and aloe naturally reduce blood sugar. Serves 2-3.

Minty Thrill

4 ripe pears

4-5 leaves of Kale

1/2 bunch mint

2 cups water

Mix all in blender. Yield: 1 quart of smoothie.

Parsley Passion Smoothie

1 bunch fresh parsley

1 cucumber, peeled

1 Fuji apple

1 ripe banana

1-2 cups water

Mix all in blender. Yield: 2 quarts of smoothie.