BeOrganic

7 foods experts won't eat!!!

2011-11-18T07:43:00.000-08:00

1. Canned Tomatoes

The expert: Fredrick vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A

The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people's body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. "You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young," says vom Saal. "I won't go near canned tomatoes."

The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe's and Pomi.

2. Corn-Fed Beef

The expert: Joel Salatin, co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable farming

The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. More money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us. A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease. "We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure," says Salatin.

The solution: Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers' markets, and nationally at Whole Foods. It's usually labeled because it demands a premium, but if you don't see it, ask your butcher.

3. Microwave Popcorn

The expert: Olga Naidenko, PhD, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group,

The problem: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize-and migrate into your popcorn. "They stay in your body for years and accumulate there," says Naidenko, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in laboratory animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then.

The solution: Pop natural kernels the old-fashioned way: in a skillet. For flavorings, you can add real butter or dried seasonings, such as dillweed, vegetable flakes, or soup mix.

4. Nonorganic Potatoes

The expert: Jeffrey Moyer, chair of the National Organic Standards Board

The problem: Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoes-the nation's most popular vegetable-they're treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they're dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting. "Try this experiment: Buy a conventional potato in a store, and try to get it to sprout. It won't," says Moyer, who is also farm director of the Rodale Institute (also owned by Rodale Inc., the publisher of Prevention). "I've talked with potato growers who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals."

The solution: Buy organic potatoes. Washing isn't good enough if you're trying to remove chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh.

5. Farmed Salmon

The expert: David Carpenter, MD, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany and publisher of a major study in the journal Science on contamination in fish.

The problem: Nature didn't intend for salmon to be crammed into pens and fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT. According to Carpenter, the most contaminated fish come from Northern Europe, which can be found on American menus. "You can only safely eat one of these salmon dinners every 5 months without increasing your risk of cancer," says Carpenter, whose 2004 fish contamination study got broad media attention. "It's that bad." Preliminary science has also linked DDT to diabetes and obesity, but some nutritionists believe the benefits of omega-3s outweigh the risks. There is also concern about the high level of antibiotics and pesticides used to treat these fish. When you eat farmed salmon, you get dosed with the same drugs and chemicals.

The solution: Switch to wild-caught Alaska salmon. If the package says fresh Atlantic, it's farmed. There are no commercial fisheries left for wild Atlantic salmon.

6. Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones

The expert: Rick North, project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society

The problem: Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1 may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers. "When the government approved rBGH, it was thought that IGF-1 from milk would be broken down in the human digestive tract," says North. As it turns out, the casein in milk protects most of it, according to several independent studies. "There's not 100% proof that this is increasing cancer in humans," admits North. "However, it's banned in most industrialized countries."

The solution: Check labels for rBGH-free, rBST-free, produced without artificial hormones, or organic milk. These phrases indicate rBGH-free products.

7. Conventional Apples

The expert: Mark Kastel, former executive for agribusiness and codirector of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods

The problem: If fall fruits held a "most doused in pesticides contest," apples would win. Why? They are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor. As such, apples don't develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently. The industry maintains that these residues are not harmful. But Kastel counters that it's just common sense to minimize exposure by avoiding the most doused produce, like apples. "Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers," he says. And increasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher body burden of pesticides (from all sources) with Parkinson's disease.

The solution: Buy organic apples. If you can't afford organic, be sure to wash and peel them first.

How to pay less for organic.

The 10 Essential Rules of Liberty

2011-07-12T05:18:00.000-07:00

Rule #1: Never Take Anything For Granted

A lot of people today seem to have serious issues with expectation and assumption; what we in the alternative media often refer to as “normalcy bias”. We have grown used to the idea of abundance and relative safety. So much so, that we fail to notice when our abundance and safety begin to disappear. We assume that the condition of the world today will be the condition of the world tomorrow, and for all time. In the U.S., we have even come to expect not only that our prosperity and our freedom are inevitable, but that they will also increase exponentially with each passing generation. This is a relatively new and narrow cultural mindset likely caused by the explosion in industrial growth after WWII which seemed to erase all memory of the Great Depression in our society, leaving us with the belief that surely, our circumstances would never become so desperate again.

Those who are truly independent realize that nations, no matter how affluent, can self destruct at a moment’s notice, especially when they fail to recognize their own weaknesses and confront their own demons. Never suppose that that which is good and just will remain without your own initiative. Never wait for others to fix those problems which you could just as easily solve yourself. Never expect that freedoms won cannot also be easily lost. Always prepare for the worst outcome, and strive for the best outcome.

Rule #2: Educate Yourself

Never become a useful idiot, or a waste of oxygen. Being a part of the herd is nothing to be proud of. Strive for knowledge, and thirst for the truth every moment of every day. Many of the things we deem “important” in modern society are in the grand scheme hollow attempts to fill our lives with distraction, only wasting time until we finally bite the dust filled with regret. Pretending to further the depth of one’s life is not the same as actually doing so. I can’t think of anything more horrifying than becoming a man who rushes around frantically every waking moment, but ultimately accomplishes nothing.

Do not assume that you already have a tangible grasp of the truth, especially if all your knowledge has been handed to you. Instead, research that knowledge for yourself. Put that which you have been taught to the test. Only in this way will you finally learn. Expand your horizons. Learn something useful. Remove unnecessary distractions for at least part of your day and focus on increasing your awareness of the environment you live in. There are very few things in this world more important than this, and self education should take precedence over everything else except your family. “Lack of time” is no excuse for ignorance. Make time! The ignorant are led. The knowledgeable lead themselves.

Rule #3: Don’t Be A Pansy

Liberty is not for the faint of heart. Emotional courage is paramount to freedom, and it can be expressed to incredible effect by even the most unlikely heroes. I’ve seen children with more courage and tenacity than some full grown men.

If one recognizes the gravity of the situation we face as a people, if one understands the considerable danger involved in the fall of a Republic to the depths of fear and autocracy, but still does nothing, that person has not only failed the world, he has also failed himself. “Making waves”, or drawing the ire of “authority”, is the least of our worries. If you have utilized an objective eye, and know you are right in your position, then there is no reason to fear criticism from anyone.

Sociopolitical action, nonconformity, noncompliance, and self defense, are unavoidable aspects of a society that wishes to maintain its freedoms. There is no way around it. If you are not willing to stick your neck out and expose yourself to risk, you remove all chance of possible gain. If you are a self proclaimed activist that refuses to sacrifice, that refuses to struggle, then you have failed before you even began. Talk must lead to balanced action. Never thumb your nose at the devil without being ready to trade punches as well, or all is lost.

Rule #4: Stop Waiting For Others To Tell You What To Do

Independent people not only consider and implement the solutions of others, they also work on their own. Complaints abound lately in the Liberty Movement;

“When is someone going to do something!? What are YOU going to do about our predicament!?”

This is the question of a slave, not a free man. A free man asks, “What am I going to do about this predicament? What is MY solution to the problem?” Therein is the key to liberty; decentralized leadership and movements based on fluidity and spontaneity of action, instead of a great mass of people standing around stiffly waiting for orders on high, or a self styled messiah to engineer their world view. As soon as you place your very initiative under the control of others, you have lost the fight. Always consider the solid strategies of intelligent people, and adopt them if they are useful, but do not remain idle because you are too frightened to exert the effort to solve problems bigger than yourself. Spectators only witness history, they do not make history.

Rule #5: Cast Off What Is Unnecessary, Keep What Is Effective

Yes, I stole this rule from Bruce Lee, but it is just as applicable to social movements and economic stability as it is to the martial arts. Invasive debt creation, for instance, is a tool for subversion, and no people forced to bear the burden of liabilities they can never repay is free. Therefore, exorbitant debt must be avoided, or cast off completely.

In our personal lives, how many useless goods do we accumulate on a daily basis, instead of useful items that we may one day desperately need? How much of our life is spent accumulating garbage in order to keep up with “socially acceptable” levels of consumer behavior? How many of us cling to careers we hate in order to service our needless consumption? The ability to prioritize must become a virtue once again, and, we all need to shut off the cable television…

This rule also applies to governments. If a government no longer fulfills its sworn duties to the people, and no longer serves the purposes to which it was originally intended, then it too must be cast off and replaced with one that does serve the people, or, it must be forced to return to its inherent foundations. Today, this kind of talk is often referred to as “extremism”, or insurgency, no matter how correct it might be, which brings us to our next rule…

Rule #6: Ignore Establishment Labels

Tactical name calling is only effective if we actually care what other people think of us. Labels like “homegrown terrorist”, “extremist”, “doomer”, or “conspiracy theorist”, are designed to shame people into self censorship. That is to say, they pigeonhole movements and their participants into categories of public shame, causing said movements to fear social reprisal. They are also meant to forcefully assign “outsider” or “fringe” status to particular political positions in order to marginalize and weaken the resolve of those who hold them. Never mind that almost every powerful and honorable cultural movement in history once started out as “fringe”.

Early in our lives, we are taught that it is far better to be accepted, and to avoid standing out, even at the expense of our individualism. Unfortunately, many adults never outgrow this childish belief, and thus become vulnerable to tactics as absurd as simple ridicule. At bottom, being slandered by a thieving bureaucracy infested with soulless parasites bent on centralization at the expense of innocent human life is a bit laughable (this goes for you too, SPLC). Globalists, along with their media cronies and their think-tank sock puppets, will say ANYTHING to get what they want. Empty words and false labels cannot stop the truth, or a movement driven by the truth.

Rule #7: Cynicism Is The Path To Defeat

It is good to be critical, but not to the point of nihilism. America’s past is riddled with mistakes, bad judgments, horrible crimes, and downright stupidity; that doesn’t mean that the principles on which this country was founded are any less vital. We hear often from cynics that humanity has become too stupid and complacent to do what is right. However, stupidity and complacency are not inherent qualities. That’s an elitist fantasy with no basis in fact. Stupidity and complacency are learned behaviors, and they can be unlearned. What IS inherent is our ability to choose what path we will take. For adherents of liberty, we need only remind people that they have this choice. We can whine and cry all day long about how nobody pays attention and how there is no hope, or, we can exhaust all options before throwing in the proverbial towel. We don’t need to “like” society the way it is, but we do need to recognize the underlying potential of all people to become something much more than what they currently are (I can’t stand blind ignorance either, but I’m certainly not ready to accept it as a fact of American life). Remember, no fight is over until it is over.

Rule #8: True Authority Is Derived From Respect That Is Earned, Not Bought, Or Taken

A corrupt politician is just a criminal conman in a nice suit. A law enforcement officer who refuses to follow Constitutional Law is just a petty little tyrant in a black uniform. An economist who knowingly skews data to fit his own political bias or to serve the political biases of men above him is just a liar or an inept buffoon with an embossed piece of paper from an expensive university. A lab scientist or doctor who flubs experimentation to support the interests of the corporate world rather than the needs of the public is just a quack in a white coat. All too often, though, we find ourselves taking these cretins seriously all because they talk the talk and wear the costume. They are just people, and if they cannot do their jobs honestly, then they are useless people, who deserve our disdain, not our respect. We should never allow such men to wield positions of authority over us.

Rule #9: Take It Personally

When someone tries to steal from you, hurt you, or enslave you, unless you are some kind of nut, you take it pretty personally, right? Why should it be any different when a government commits the same grievances? Americans should be furious over the destruction of their economy, their currency, their infrastructure, and their Constitutional freedoms! They should be enraged over the endless wars overseas that are bankrupting the nation. They should be bellowing to the rooftops over the cooption of their political system by a slimy brood of corporate bankers. Is this “extremist” behavior? Who cares!? If your anger is not visible then it is not worth a damn. Don’t just get active, get emotional! This is about your life, and the lives of those you love. That’s not to say that we should take out our frustrations randomly and haphazardly, but if we can’t at least make known our anger over the misdeeds of government, then what the hell is the point of calling ourselves free?

Rule #10: You Are The First And Last Line Of Defense

Like it our not, this is our job. We have inherited a country on the verge of disaster, and we are tasked with cleaning it up, otherwise, there will be little left to pass on. We do not get to bask in illusory prosperity for the rest of our days. We do not get to feed off the entitlement program trough until we are fat and contented. We are not going to retain our rights without blood, sweat, and tears. We will not be building magical floating cities in the clouds or skyscrapers on Mars. We will NOT be remembered fondly as members of some fantastical “golden era”.

We have been thrust into the muck and the mire. We are being molded as the lost children of an age better forgotten. We have been slapped in the face with a dilemma so volatile and so incredible it may one day be called the greatest crisis of all time. We have drawn the short straw.

This could be viewed as some terrible doom. It could be held as a star crossed act of ferocious fate. We could fall to our knees and lament with despair, overcome with woe at our unbearable lot. But, this would be in violation of rule #3, and nobody wants to be a sobbing pansy. On the contrary, every “bad luck generation” is only so if they refuse to see the great fortune at their fingertips; if they refuse to seize the moment and conquer the giants of their day. The greater the hardship, the greater the enemy, the greater the heroes. We are faced with possibly the most unrelenting antagonists and the most treacherous obstacles in recent memory, or even distant memory. In the same spark of confrontation, we are also presented with unparalleled opportunity to change the course of the world forever. Whether or not we succeed, is entirely up to us.

(source : http://alt-market.com/articles/164-the-essential-rules-of-liberty)

WIKILEAKS & TRANSGÉNICOS

2011-05-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

Wikileaks confirma que existe una estrategia conjunta de los gobiernos de España y EEUU a favor de los transgénicos. Durante más de una década, el Gobierno de España ha defendido casi en solitario el cultivo de transgénicos en la Unión Europea y es el único país que ha tolerado su cultivo a gran escala, sin cumplir con las normas europeas y españolas de transparencia, sin seguir los productos a través de la cadena alimentaria, sin obligar a etiquetar los alimentos transgénicos y sin realizar seguimiento alguno de los campos cultivados con estas peligrosas semillas.

Se cultivan entorno a 70.000 hectáreas de un maíz modificado genéticamente de Monsanto, un nombre que junto a otras multinacionales (como Syngenta) sale con frecuencia en los cables que la embajada en Madrid envía a Washington. Queda confirmado cómo desde el Gobierno se ha trabajado para favorecer los intereses de estas empresas. Ante estas evidencias, desde las organizaciones Amigos de la Tierra, Ecologistas en Acción, Greenpeace, COAG, Plataforma Rural y CECU se exige a la ministra Rosa Aguilar que la política española sobre organismos modificados genéticamente (OMG) deje de estar controlada por las multinacionales, pidiendo una moratoria inmediata a su cultivo en España.

www.ecogaia.com

CONFERENCIA GRATUITA

2011-05-18T02:20:00.000-07:00

CONSEJOS PRÁCTICOS PARA ALIMENTARSE A PARTIR DE LOS 5 ELEMENTOS DE LA MEDICINA TRADICIONAL CHINA

El sábado 21.05. a las 12h en nuestra tienda BeOrganic la técnico superior en dietetica, nutricion y bioquimica Maria Nicolasa Portales Pairazamán impartirá un curso práctico de alimentación saludable basado en la medicina tradicional china de los 5 elementos. Por favor, inscribirse en la tienda, por email o llamando al 93 180 44 77.

CICLO: DELICIOSOS DESCONOCIDOS

2011-02-19T10:46:00.000-08:00

HOY PRESENTAMOS : EL COLIRRÁBANO!!
En la temporada de invierno, aparecen diversos desconocidos en la oferta de verduras de nuestra tienda, llaman la atención y nos gusta la curiosidad de la gente. Por eso les vamos a dedicar el escrito de hoy indagando en la procedencia y proponiendo alguna receta.

Aqui presentamos al colirräbano, no muy conocido en nuestros parajes y (por lo que pude averiguar) autóctono de Alemania, Suiza y Austria donde se reproduce muy bien ya que no le importan mucho los climas más rigurosos. El nombre en español es una traducción literal del alemán: Kohlrabi y viene de su familiaridad tanto con la col como con el rabano, aunque en mi opinión es más parecido al nabo.

Aporta muchos nutrientes como el selenio, vitamina B, ácido fólico, vitamina C, potasio, magnesio y cobre, no contiene casi nada de grasa y se dice que es bueno para el colesterol. Se come crudo o cocido tanto en ensaladas como en sopas o caldos. Su sabor es muy parecido al nabo pero menos picante y más fresco. A mi me gusta mucho crudo pero aqui os dejo una receta para una sopa:

Sopa de Colirrabano, Puerro, Lentejas Rojas y Pelotas de Ternera

Para 4 Personas:
150g lentejas rojas
3 colirrábanos medianos
2 puerros
2 litros de caldo vegetal

Para las pelotas de ternera:
200g carne de ternera ecológica picada
1 huevo
1 pizca de sal y pimienta
1 poco de mostaza
1 poco de tomillo
1 poco de comino
1 diente de ajo picado fino

Se mezclan todos los ingredientes de la carne y se condimienta al gusto. Formar albondigas pequeñas de tamaño de una nuez. Se hierven unos 10-15min en agua salada y se sacan del agua. El agua se puede utilizar perfectamente para hacer la sopa, entonces mejor utilizar menos caldo. Cocer las lentejas unos 10 minutos en agua sin sal, hasta que esten tiernas y luego colar. Mientras cortar el colirrabano en rodajas y luego en palitos tipo patatas fritas. Cortar los puerros en rodajas. Colocar las verduras en el caldo y cuando hierva cocer unos 15min y luego añadir las pelotas y las lentejas. Salpimentar al gusto. También se le puede añadir un poco de nuez moscada.

Espero vuestros comentarios.

ENTREVISTA AL JEFE DEL SERVICIO DE FARMACOLOGIA DE VALL D'HEBRON, JOAN-RAMÓN LAPORTE

2011-01-26T10:20:00.000-08:00

(COPIADA INTEGRAMENTE DE LA CONTRA DE LA VANGUARDIA 26/01/2011)

(INTRO)

Alma médica

No debió ser fácil crear hace 26 años una fundación (Institut Català de Farmacología) que investiga y denuncia los fármacos que representan algún peligro para la salud. Habrá de todo, pero en la industria farmacéutica hay sobre todo dinero, poder e influencias. "..Parece que hayan perdido su alma médica y se hayan quedado únicamente con su alma comercial", dice Laporte que sabe de lo que habla, entre otras cosas presidió el comité de medicamentos esenciales de la OMS (2003/04) cuando se consiguió que se aprobaran los antirretrovirales genéricos que salvaron tantas vidas en África. Aquí ofrezco solo una décima parte de lo mucho que me contó: el negocio de la salud da para hablar.

La diferencia entre un medicamento y un veneno radica en la dosis.

¿Analiza fármacos que ya están en el mercado?
Sí, porque cuando un fármaco sale al mercado ha sido probado por unos pocos miles de voluntarios, pero al comercializarse en todo el mundo es tomado por millones de personas y es entonces cuando pueden aparecer efectos indeseados, en ocasiones con desenlace mortal.

¿Cuál es el medicamento que más gente ha matado?
La aspirina, porque es el medicamento que más gente ha tomado y la percepción de su riesgo está distorsionada. A dosis bajas -cien miligramos al día- es un excelente protector cardiovascular, pero a dosis analgésicas -un gramo- puede producir hemorragia gastrointestinal.

¿Hay datos?
En Catalunya se producen unos 3000 casos anuales de hemorragia gastrointestinal de los que un 40% son atribuibles a la aspirina y a otros antiinflamatorios. En EE.UU. mueren al año por hemorragia gastrointestinal por antiinflamatorio unas 15.000 personas; mientras que de sida mueren 12.000.

Impactante.
Cualquier enfermedad puede ser producida por un medicamento: un infarto de miocardio por un antiinflamatorio y por muchos otros fármacos; una neumonía, cualquier enfermedad neurológica o patología psiquiátrica puede ser favorecida por medicamentos.

Veo que lo de los efectos secundarios va en serio.
Muchos causan depresión, como algunos que tratan la presión arterial o los diuréticos en personas de edad avanzada. Los medicamentos para el insomnio pueden provocar crisis de agresividad, muchos casos de irritabilidad al levantarse se debe a medicamentos de este tipo, como las benzodiacepinas u otros hipnóticos de acción corta.

¿Estamos hipermedicados?
Sí, llegamos al punto de que cuando una persona está triste se dice coloquialmente que esta depre. Los antidepresivos solo sirven para una depresión profunda, y la tristeza no es una enfermedad, es una reacción saludable.

¿No hay medicamento sin efectos indeseados?
No, cada medicamento tiene su peaje. La Agencia Europea del Medicamento calcula que cada año fallecen en Europa 197.000 personas a causa de efectos adversos. En EE.UU. los efectos adversos son la cuarta causa de muerte, detrás del infarto de miocardio, el ictus y el cáncer; y por encima de la diabetes, las enfermedades pulmonares y los accidentes de tráfico.

¿Es una lotería?
No, si la toma o la prescripción del medicamento fuera más atenta a los riesgos que conlleva se calcula que se podría evitar entre un 65% y un 75% de estas muertes.

Anunciar fármacos por televisión debería estar prohibido.
Opino lo mismo. En España solo se pueden anunciar los que no financia la Seguridad Social, sino la arruinarían. Somos el país de Europa que en relación al PIB, más medicamentos consume.

Hablemos de sus precios.
Son arbitrarios. Fabricar el medicamento más caro, de cien a quinientos euros, no cuesta más de dos euros incluyendo el envase. Supuestamente pagamos el esfuerzo de investigación. Pero entre un 30% y un 40% del gasto medio de los laboratorios se destina a la promoción comercial.

El precio lo negocia el Gobierno.
Sí, pero con poco éxito. En España el precio del medicamento está alcanzando el de Alemania que nos duplica la renta per cápita.

Qué gran negocio.
Según el informe de desarrollo de la ONU es el tercer sector económico detrás de la industria armamentística y el narcotráfico.

Dicen que se inventan cada año nuevas enfermedades.
Sí, sobre todo en relación con la mente y el sexo. Convierten la timidez en enfermedad y la medicalizan. Ahora se han inventado la disfunción sexual femenina: “Padeces disfunción sexual femenina..., no se ría...

De acuerdo.
…Si en los úlitmos seis meses has rechazado una proposión de relación sexual o no has tenido una con satisfacción plena”. Cada vez que se reúne uno de los comités de hipertensión arterial (el estadounidense, el europeo, o el de la OMS) bajan el nivel de presión arterial considerado normal, y lo mismo ocurre con el colesterol.

Explíqueme.
En pocos años se ha disminuido de tal manera el límite de normalidad del colesterol que cada vez hay más población que debe tratarse. En EE.UU. ha aumentado de 3 millones de personas a 25 en 10 años.

Asombroso.
La industria farmacéutica dedica el doble (en España el triple) de su presupuesto a promoción comercial que a investigación. Una visita del representante comercial viene a generar unas 35 nuevas recetas del medicamento. Lo asombroso es que no haya en Sanidad una especie de central de compras de medicamentos con gente formada.

¿Quién se ocupa de la formación continuada del personal sanitario?
Los laboratorios, así que es muy difícil asegurar que no haya una influencia de intereses comerciales.

mercadillo BeGreen

2010-11-25T01:30:00.000-08:00

Estoy colaborando con la organización del Mercadillo BeGreen que va a tener lugar el 11 de diciembre en el Bar del Convent de Sant Agusti en Barcelona.

La verdad, estoy muy ilusionada porque a parte de ser una cosa útil (productos ecológicos, artesanales y ropa/ jugetes/ productos infantiles de segunda mano) me parece que va a ser una tarde mágica y bella.

También tendremos talleres y charlas: sobre plantas medicinales y terapias naturales - todo gratuito.

Estoy especialmente ilusionada con la participación de The Clorofilas (Jeanette con sus nuevas creaciones que son una pasada) y Nico Osuna, que hace una esculturas colgantes muy bellas y delicadas.

Bueno, watch this space for more info. Hope you can all join us!!!

http://mercadillobegreen.blogspot.com/

tienda del mes en CaosMagazine

2010-09-22T02:18:00.000-07:00

http://www.caosmagazine.com/
estamos en la sección de shopping, destacados como tienda del mes. gracias a todo el equipo de CaosMagazine!

salmon off the menu

2010-09-18T07:59:00.000-07:00

Últimamente al comer salmón, tanto en casa como en restaurantes, el sabor desagradable y la textura grasienta me han llamado la atención. Antes el salmón era un pescado fino y ligero que seducía por su sabor delicado, ahora hasta en el aspecto se puede comprobar una sustancia gelatinosa entre la carne color salmón. Investigando un poco he encontrado noticias que me han provocado un shock tremendo.
La Salmonicultura no es una novedad, ni aquellos que no estaban informados se sorprenderan, lo que sí me ha provocado un asco profundo son las condiciones en las que estos peces "viven":

el espacio disponible es muy reducido y los peces viven en agua contaminada por sus propios desechos
el salmón, en estas condiciones, es un huésped ideal para enfermedades y parasitos, entre otros los piojos
para las enfermedades de los peces se utilizan grandes cantidades de antibioticos y pesticidas
los piojos se estan haciendo inmunes contra los pesticidas
toda esta contaminación esta expandiendose en el mar, especies silvestres y también al ser humano por el consumo de salmón
cada año escapan cerca de 3 millones de peces, en consequencia, los salmones silvestres estan en peligro

http://www.puresalmon.org/problemas.html
http://whyfiles.org/shorties/159salmon/
http://www.eco-world.de/scripts/basics/econews/basics.prg?a_no=20107

strawberries in a jar

2010-07-20T07:25:00.000-07:00

delicious and easy to make strawberry jam recipe:
1kg organic strawberries
aprox. 400g organic brown "panela" sugar
1 organic lemon
2 coffee spoons agar agar

whatever the quantity of strawberries - cleaned, cut and hulled - use a bit less than half the amount of sugar, depending how sweet you like it. place the strawberries in tray, with the grated peel of one lemon and a squeeze of juice over it, then pour sugar on top, until fully covered.
leave in fridge for at least a couple of hours, i leave it for a day.
then pour the content of the tray into a saucepan. bring to boil, remove froth, boil on low heat for about half an hour. pour in agar agar slowly stiring it in.
put boiling water in the jars and let dry for a bit on a clean cloth. spoon in the jam to the top, close and turn on it's head. leave for about 10' - 15' minutes.
finished and delicious.

let the snail be with you.

MAKING GOOD FOOD THE BASIS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

2010-07-20T06:29:00.000-07:00

I really recommend the latest Food Progamm on Belfast's culinary revolution. The council has been investing public money to create a thriving gastronomy in the city, which before was unexistant. Belfast Bred, for exampl, is a walking and eating tour based on this new "foody culture": fun, entertaining, original and delicious.
But the real implications are so much more far reaching: what I mean, and I won't stop rallying about it, is that there are so many ways to create a prosperous economy based on sustainable and longterm values such as agriculture, small businesses and excellent LOCAL quality.
It's not difficult to understand is it? One doesn't need to be an economist or a politician to see the logic in it. One doesn't need much to understand that these would be the foundations for a solid economy based on local people, elements and crafts. This is the basis of culture - anywhere you go, it can be found - and it needs to be pruned, watered and looked after for it to flourish into a beautiful, healthy plant that will give back plenty and more.
Of course, I'm talking from the point of view of Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain - and no, I won't start going into all that is wrong with this place, but we should make a move away from tourism and construction - or in the long term it will destroy us.
....let the snail be with you!

love and food

2010-06-26T06:24:00.000-07:00

La comida es "el descanso de las tareas, liberación para
los cuidados y nutrición del genio; es demonstración de
amor y esplendor, alimento de la buena voluntad,
condimento de la amistad, levadura de la gracia y solaz de
la vida". Marsilio Ficino.

Just discovered this Italian philosopher (1433-1499) reading, once again, Connie Palmens The Laws, which I highly recommend. In the book he is referenced as having said that you can only start to think once you have truely and deeply loved. Isn't that wonderful? To link thought and love really speaks to me...and No, this is not to say that stupid people can't love or something in that direction. To me it just means that to explore and analyse life and humanity you have had to feel the depth and extasy of love.

I couldn't find the quote which it refers to in the book but found the one I listed above, which obviously also made me tilt.

2010-06-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

Inauguramos este blog, desde nuestra sede central en la Calle Flor de Lliri 4.
Allí nos podreís visitar en persona y conocernos.

First blog entry. Not every entry is going to be translated, lucky those of you who understand both spanish and english.
It's nearly 5pm, must go and open the shop: BeOrganic @ Carrer Flor del Lliri 4, Barcelona. Come, meet and greet us - if ya like.