FOLLOW-UP TO DIET OR DIE (and MORE)

I was surprised at the reaction of a few of you to my last blog post. I think the subject of food is tricky in this country. I started off thinking I was writing a humorous piece, however, it ended up pretty damning of the food industry. Or at least what the media has convinced some of us is going on in the industry. I got some good advice and decided to write a little more on the subject.

One friend, Mary, (see her comment on the last blog) reminded me of how I have retreated from my belief in the mind/body connection -- at least where food is concerned. I, too, think that if we believe something strongly enough, our "thinking makes it so"! I also believe that my Creator places the right foods for my consumption, if not in my hand, then in my consciousness. Any woman who has ever been pregnant can vouch for the "cravings" we experienced. Most of the time, cravings indicate a need in our body. (This does not mean the cravings for such addictive elements as sugar, alcohol, caffeine, etc.) The same is true when we aren't pregnant. We just have to be tuned in, and listen to our body's needs.

In my younger years I mostly thought of food in terms of "what can I afford?", and what can I feed my children that corresponds with what the one semester of cooking in Home Economics told me I should. I trusted the food supply completely -- unless my mother told me differently. For years I wouldn't use frozen foods because she told me they were no good! When I reminded her of that when I caught her using them, she laughed at me. Said they weren't very good when they first came out, but that had been years before and they had greatly improved. I'd been missing out on easier and better tasting foods than the canned ones I used, and some cheaper than a lot of the fresh vegetables and fruit.

My diet when I was younger differed greatly from what I eat now. I certainly used more canned goods. I also drank lots of Dr Peppers! The result was a mouth full of cavities. But no weight gain as they say young people suffer from today. However, there were no sugar substitutes until the use of saccharin and then cyclamates in the late 50s and early 60s. And no high fructose corn syrup being used in our drinks as they are today. We mostly ate or drank the "real thing" (in this case, sugar). Maybe that's the problem today. In order to increase profits, so many substitutions that end up being harmful are being used in our food and drinks.

Once we allow certain knowledge into our brains, I don't believe it's possible to unlearn it. We know what we know -- period. However, I can and will cease and desist adding to my already overloaded cache of food additive information! Of course, I still plan to stay away from the additives that I already know are harmful... saturated and trans fats, and especially high fructose corn syrup. If it weren't for the subsidies to farmers growing all that corn, perhaps it wouldn't be such a cheap substitute for sugar. I understand why preservatives are necessary to so many products. Too bad they don't "preserve" our lives as well! And I didn't even touch on the "bad" carbs, or the supposed carcinogens we ingest everyday. Aaaaaagggghhhhh!

When my mother was about my age she had high cholesterol. Rather than put her on medication, her doctor advised her to walk. She bought the first (and last) pair of "sneakers" she ever wore, went to an indoor mall along with other seniors, and walked daily for a month. I don't know how far she walked each time, but it must have been a considerable distance because she brought her cholesterol down by 30 points in one month! So, along with my new (improved) credo of "moderation in everything", I am going to commit to walking at least 10 to 20 minutes daily. When the rain quits, that is. I'll keep you posted.

Food habits have become the new smoking habits for many of us. Kurt Vonnegut (who suffered from depression and attempted suicide at least once in his lifetime) was once asked why he continued to smoke when so many studies pointed out the dangers in doing so. His response was that smoking was the only "socially acceptable form of suicide". Well, that certainly is no longer the truth. Is eating anything and everything we want now the new socially acceptable form? (Or will you go outdoors to ingest that bucket of KFC or double Big Mac?) I hope not. I think it is more a matter of ignorance of the facts of our food supply and its harmful contents that are causing the rampant obesity, diabetes, and heart disease we are seeing in our society today. But too much knowledge can be dangerous as well. Such as my "overload" of info that produces a type of paranoia. One feels like throwing up your hands and giving up! And that can be unhealthy as well.

Enough of that. I began this original blog to be a positive, upbeat, "let's talk about all the good stuff" kind of blog. So now I am going to insert what I have been using as a basic food guide ever since the book Super Foods by Steven Pratt, M.D. and Kathy Matthews was published. SUPER FOODS! Foods we all need to have in our diet. Foods that are not only healthy, but can be a prevention to many illnesses when incorporated into our diet on a regular basis. I highly recommend the book. In alphabetical order, these foods are: Beans, Blueberries, Broccoli, Oats, Oranges, Pumpkin, Salmon, Soy, Spinach, Tea -- green or black, Tomatoes, Turkey, Walnuts, and Yogurt. Since the book was published I have heard of more foods being added to the list. My favorites are Avocado and Mushrooms. With the exception of salmon, I keep most of these in my fridge or pantry. I don't know why I don't do salmon more often, as I really love the taste. I guess I prefer fresh fish (I do buy frozen fillets of tilapia by the bag), and fresh salmon is a little pricey most of the time. Ummm. All this food talk is making me hungry!

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On another note, about a month ago my daughter Carajean and her daughter Ashlyn came for a brief visit. While they were here, son Matthew and his family came over as well. I put Matthew to work on a few little things, like taking down a fire alarm that wouldn't work. He, in turn, put his son Travis to work helping him. To keep from getting a stool, he used Travis to finish taking the screws out of the ceiling:

Pretty nice to have around, huh?

Then there was a rousing game of -- uhhh, something -- with Ashlyn, Aunt Carrie, and his mom. Having played a game or two with Travis in the past, I'm pretty certain he won this game! Kelly and Grandmommy were doing something else at the time. Probably primping!

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Ending on that note, I've got to post this picture of Miss Kelly and the bluebonnets that her daddy took yesterday. What a little doll -- even with the knee out in her jeans! She probably wants to be like the big girls since these shabby jeans are back in style!

I really appreciate feedback on the blog. If you wish to comment, just click on Comments at the end of this entry. Or email me your thoughts as some of you did last time. I will publish them or not, as you wish.

Until next time..

Peace and love,
Marilyn

DIET OR DIE?

When I say "diet", I'm not speaking of a diet to lose weight. Our family is blessed with pretty good genes. As far as I know, there are no really obese members. There are some who think they are too big and go on diets from time to time to lose a few pounds. My late mother and sister both complained mightily about their weight. Looking back at photos of our younger years, I laugh when I remember how "fat" they thought they were, and how healthy and beautiful they really looked. Jean gained quite a bit of weight toward the end of her life, but that was due to all the medications she was taking. Especially the steroids that kept her breathing passages open. I was considered "skinny" by my family. I am now ten pounds heavier than I was twenty years ago, but people laugh if I complain about the weight I've gained.

So.. why the "diet or die" heading? In the 1970s I was told I had high triglycerides and needed to cut out a lot of fat and fried foods in my diet. I did so, according to what we were told was healthy at the time. At a recent physical checkup, I was told I now have high cholesterol levels as well as a high blood sugar count. I am determined to lower both by the next blood test in May. Thus, I've added more research to my ongoing search for a healthy diet. I've already had one heart attack, and do not wish to experience that again. Nor do I wish to go on medications they use to treat high cholesterol or diabetes... both of which could lead to an early death!

I am an inveterate label reader when I shop for food. The trouble is that I don't recognize so many of the ingredients on the labels nowadays. To speed things up, I look for the ingredients we are being told about in the news that are unhealthy for us. That list grows longer and longer, much to my dismay! Watch out for trans-fats, high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin, artificial sweeteners, gluten, and of course, there is a whole school of thought telling us that refined sugar is killing us all! Stevia sounded safe as a substitute sweetener, however, the FDA considered it unsafe in our foods but safe to sell as a dietary supplement. Now I read that the FDA has approved it since Coca-Cola wants to use it in their products! So, as a person with a sweet tooth, I will now try to substitute stevia or honey in my coffee. Of course, I'm warned to be careful with the honey I buy as well... no processed honey! And did I hear that the honey bee population is down?

I dearly love the flavored nondairy creamers in my coffee. They are now banished from my home in favor of Soy flavored with vanilla. (I am lactose intolerant.) Reading that label, I discover it is sweetened with "evaporated cane syrup".. Back to the internet for more research!

I quit frying foods years ago except for the occasional fried chicken dinner I prepare when one of my children visits or I visit them. It is their favorite from childhood (along with chocolate fudge cake). I grit my teeth and buy old-fashioned Crisco just for that purpose. When I needed oil for anything else, I bought corn oil until we were told corn oil was not acceptable -- I needed to use canola oil or olive oil. Anything else I "fry" is stir fried with olive oil. Until my daughter's last visit, when she told me I should not stir fry with olive oil, as the heat transforms it into a "trans-fat"... (Oh, God, I wonder how I've stayed alive this long!) I'm back to canola oil!

Do you see where I'm going with this? I love my cheeses and yogurt. They're out. Packaged goodies like Rice a Roni, some soups, all baked goods and candies, and ingredients I use in some of my favorite casseroles are all "no-nos" now. What's a girl to do? Ahhhh. Fruits and veggies -- all fresh, of course. Have to be careful about what country they come from. Remember all the e-coli outbreaks from spinach and strawberries. Looking at the glycemic index, I see that I have to be stingy with some of my favorite fruits... too much sugar. And what about all the chemicals used in growing them? The organics are pretty expensive.

I've mentioned that my daughter and her family have all become vegetarians or vegans. They did so on ethical grounds, but have also been encouraged by the health benefits. In the past few days, I've seen on the news that American meats and dairy products are not allowed to be sold in many countries abroad due to the high concentration of antibiotics and hormones! I found one kind of beef available in my local grocery that is guaranteed to be antibiotic and hormone free. It is only for sale in a ground beef form, and costs over $3 a pound. The other alternative, which I haven't tried, is bison! Not a big beef eater to begin with, I am going to have to stick to poultry and fish. I am hoping to find a local poultry farm that produces healthy poultry. In the meantime, I am keeping my head in the sand about all the horrors in the poultry industry. Then there is the heavy metal problem we have with seafood!

I can't even go on a bread (whole wheat, high fiber) and water diet. The statistics on the safety of our water supplies in this country are more horrifying than the food safety statistics. Even bottled water is no longer considered a safe bet. Most of the available bottled water is just filtered water from whatever city in which it is bottled. The list of medicines that are now found in city water supplies, even after treatment, makes one wonder if we ever need to go to a doctor when we're ill. We are probably already imbibing the medication he would prescribe!

I guess you could consider growing your own food. That's if you could find farmland that has not been contaminated by years of over-fertilizing and pesticide use. Or -- and this I am tempted to do -- you could just ignore all the scary information out there and cook and eat anything you like! And die!

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You know I'm only kidding about the last paragraph, but I am so frustrated with all the emphasis on health of late. I don't enjoy eating or drinking any more. I am on an aspirin regimen for my heart, and recently read how even one glass of wine might set off bleeding in my stomach so severe I could bleed to death. And they told us a glass of wine at night is healthy!

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Before I close, I need to correct the date I posted in my last blog. Earth Day is April 22nd this year, not the 25th! I don't know where I came up with that date! Reading this you might agree with me that we all need to take better care of our planet earth and the things that live and grow on it!

The wildflowers are absolutely glorious this year, as you can see in the slideshow above.

Peace and love to you all,
Marilyn

INSPIRATION

It is finally springtime in the Hill Country! Spring always floods me with “inspiration”. In-spiration – I like what Wayne Dyer once said about one meaning of the word. “In spirit”, he said. Seeing the gray, brown countryside green up, and then watching as the colors burst free from their winter hiding places seem to renew my own spirit.

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A recent experience also inspired me. This time I had no doubt as to where the inspiration came from. Saturday night before Easter I had my first labyrinth walk at a local church. The congregation had turned the entire sanctuary into a darkened prayer labyrinth for seekers of any faith to “make a pilgrimage” – a spiritual journey – akin to a walking meditation. An opportunity to commune with God and conduct self-examination. At each Station I was led to a greater realization of where I am in my relationship with my God, my family, and my personal path. I was filled with spirit and a desire to do better as I journey through the rest of my life.

I find it thrilling to note that when I am inspired (“in spirit”), good things seem to happen out of the blue. I have been watching the abundance of weeds and wildflowers grow in my yard, and although I love anything green or blooming, I realized they would have to be mowed again very soon. I am on a limited budget, and I’ve been wondering how I am going to afford to have my yard mowed this year. Last fall I had one estimate of $50, and earlier this year, in desperation, I paid someone $35 to mow and weed eat. Those prices were just too much for me on any kind of regular basis.

I heard mowing sounds this morning and looked out my front door to spot two men mowing my neighbor’s yard. Before long, there was a knock on my door. As I told the gentleman I didn’t think I could afford his price, he said to me, “I’m not looking to get rich from this. I mowed your neighbor’s yard for $25, and I will do yours for that also.” I was amazed, as that was a price I had been saying to myself I could afford from time to time. As he turned to get his lawnmower, he handed me his business card. The name of his company? “Heaven Scent”! I do believe he was!

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The brilliant sunshine and balmy temperatures we have been experiencing are perfect for daydreaming. And daydreams open the way to inspiration. At least they do for me. So many creative pursuits come to my mind. It's no accident this happens during springtime, when nature is full of birthing.

Daydreaming also raises memories of times past -- perhaps of sitting on a riverbank with a cane pole in my hand, not really caring whether or not I catch a fish. Picking armfuls of wildflowers to make garlands or lush bouquets to decorate my kitchen table... Or walking barefoot in a cold stream. The memories and good feelings will stay with me forever. The laziness daydreaming brings on competes mightily with the inspiration I am also feeling! If I were an accomplished artist, I would combine the two and create beautiful pictures of my memories of happy times. Instead, I will make pilgrimages into the surrounding hillsides with my camera, and try to capture memories for a future time.

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The prayer labyrinth left me with a lingering notion of "my path", and where it might be leading me. I will continue to open myself to "inspiration" by way of enjoying our beautiful planet, even if only in my little area of the world, as well as meditation, and of course, daydreaming! I will joyfully share my insights as well as photographs as an offering to the Spirit that is within us all.

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I am sorry I missed the recent "earth hour" event. It was very meaningful to me last year, as I turned off all electrical items in my home and read by kerosene lanterns. Be sure to mark your calendar for the upcoming 40th anniversary of the Earth Day celebration. It is April 25th this year. This website spells out some of the things in which you might wish to participate: http://www.earthday.org/

Until next time, may you all be "inspired" by springtime and the re-birth of nature, and may this Spirit remain in your heart throughout the year.

Peace and love,

Marilyn