There's a (Healthy) Fungus Among Us

Although I have always enjoyed eating mushrooms, I never really paid too much attention to them--except on a few occasions when trying to determine if a newly discovered fungus could be used in a culinary creation or was to be avoided like the plague.

It wasn't until the Cosco Busan oil spill in San Francisco Bay, that I started seeing mushrooms in a new light--I actually began to realize their deeper, more meaningful purpose on this planet.

Now, you may be asking how do mushrooms and oil spills even fit together in the same sentence? Well, I found the answer to this very interesting question as I listened to a radio talk on NPR where the show's main purpose was to educate the public about totally organic methods of the cleaning up and disposal of massive amounts of spilled oil.

This new and exciting process is executed using hair mats made from human hair in a project started by Lisa Guatier, called Matter of Trust. In the clean-up mission, volunteers use the hair mats to suck up the offending oil. Once the hair mats become saturated, they are layered in a giant tank and the mushrooms are then put to work. In this system, Oyster mushrooms are placed on the mats to grow and absorb the oil. The mushrooms take approximately 12 weeks to complete the job, converting the oily hair mats into nontoxic compost.

A national mushroom expert named Paul Stamets donated $10,000 worth of Oyster mushrooms to the clean-up effort when he heard of the project. Paul actually claims that when the mushrooms have finished cleaning up the oil, they are still edible.

Because this information completely amazes me, I decided to do my own research about the miraculous mushroom. Here are some of the interesting facts I found:

• Mushrooms are actually the fruits of fungus. The fungus itself is simply a net of threadlike fibers, called a mycelium, growing in soil, wood or decaying matter. Mushrooms on a mycelium are like apples on an apple tree.
• There are an estimated 38,000 species of mushrooms.
• Most mushrooms provide a substantial amount of protein, fiber, B vitamins, and vitamin C, calcium and other minerals.
  
• While medicinal mushrooms have been used in China and Japan for more than 3,000 years to boost immunity and fight diseases such as cancer, only in the last decade has their power become acknowledged in the United States.
• At least three species have demonstrated phenomenal healing potential: maitake, shiitake, and reishi.
• Harry Preuss and Sensuke Konno, Ph.D., authors of Maitake Magic, say that studies show Maitake (Grifola Frondosa) can hamper growth and spread of cancer cells, protect normal cells from environmental carcinogens, reduce side effects of and augment chemotherapy, stimulate anti-tumor and anti-microbial activity, and help to halt HIV proliferation. The National Cancer Institute declared Maitake more powerful than AZT, with no toxic side effects. Those with high blood pressure can expect a gradual decrease and Maitake also reduces blood and liver cholesterol and triglycerides, thus reducing risk of stroke and heart disease.
• According to The Medicinal Benefits of Mushrooms by William H. Lee, R.Ph., Ph.D., Reishi increases vitality, improves coronary arteries, inhibits platelet aggregation, normalizes blood pressure, relieves stress and asthma and prevents and treats certain types of cancer and other degenerative diseases. The beta-glucans found in Reishi support the body's immune system in fighting cancer cells and countering the effects of aging.
• According to Kenneth Jones in Shiitake: The Healing Mushroom , these mushrooms provide benefits for ulcers, high or low blood pressure, liver problems, allergies and autoimmune diseases. Shiitake (Lentinus Edodes) is the second most commonly produced mushroom in the world because of having both medicinal and food value. When eaten, it yields 26% protein by dry weight, carbohydrates, fiber, linoleic acid, vitamins B2, C and D, ergosterol and possesses abundant quantities of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron and all the essential amino acids needed in our diet.
• Crimini and Portabello (Agaricus Bisporus) are the same mushroom, the portabello being left to grow longer and larger. These mushrooms contain a variety of B complex vitamins, are an excellent source of riboflavin, pantothenic acid and niacin, are a very good source of thiamine, vitamin B6 and a good source of folate. Selenium, lysine, protein, zinc, copper , manganese and iron are more benefits of eating this mushroom.
• Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus Ostreatus) are a fleshy, gilled mushroom growing in shelf-like fashion on wood that are good food and have promising medicinal properties. Protein quality is nearly equal to animal derived protein. Low-fat content is mostly of the good unsaturated kind. Also contained are carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins B1, B2, plus minerals, especially iron. This mushroom shows activity against cancer and high cholesterol.
  

So, as simple as the mysterious mushroom may appear, it turns out that these fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of a fungus are truly a miracle of life.

Excessive Wastes and Excessive Waists

The United States is an incredible country--priding itself on the fact that its citizens are well taken care of. Sure, many of us may have reason to whine and complain about the intricacies of our daily lives, but overall, we are pampered in a way that a great majority of people in other countries will not ever have the luxury of experiencing.

It is well known that America is a country built upon globalization--promoting endless consumerism, and providing its citizens with a surplus of "in the moment" conveniences--many of which are unnecessarily wasteful. We are also a country that is continuously expanding--with concrete buildings consuming vanishing wilderness as effortless as an artist spreads paint across canvas. Yet, even though we are "gobbling up" our green lands at an alarming rate, it seems we cannot stop. For, we do this in the name of "creature comforts" and we do this to make way for food!

In my eyes, the American public is spoiled. We can drive to any nearby destination and find that which we seek to fill our grumbling bellies. Restaurants, grocery stores, and fast food chains are located on every street corner and there are an overwhelming number of options for us as consumers of food. For example, within a 1/2 mile radius of my own home, there are over 30 culinary establishments--which means that I could eat out for an entire month and not repeat a single dining experience.

What's more, is that here in America we have developed eating habits that aren't so great--we eat while driving, while watching TV, and we eat while we are working. We also use food for a variety of purposes other than its nutritional value. For example, we eat when we are celebrating, we eat when we are sad or bored, and we eat just because we are used to a schedule of breakfast, lunch and dinner time.

Most of us have become so used to the conveniences of "having our cake and eating it too” that our comfortable lifestyles are not the only thing developing--it is quite evident that our waste sizes are expanding too. Current research has found that more than 50% of Americans are overweight and 22% are obese, even though weight-loss products and services are a $34 billion-a-year industry. There are more fad diets existing in this country than there are certain species of endangered animals.

So what causes one to become overweight and/or obese?

According to the Obesity In America website, "weight gain and obesity are caused by consuming more calories than the body needs – most commonly by eating a diet high in fat and calories, being sedentary or both." Although, there are other factors that can be taken into consideration such as genetics, environment, culture, and hormonal imbalances, most cases of weight gain are simply caused by the fact that the body is taking in more calories than it expends--and in this country, it is super easy for a person to devour a large number of calories.

For example: a single meal at McDonald’s can equal or exceed the amount of calories a person actually needs for an entire 24 hour period. Since calories are the so-called equivalent of energy, and our bodies only need a certain amount each day (recommended daily allowance) for us to be productive, any excessive calories consumed have nothing else to do, but turn into fat.

As unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyles continue over time, weight gain manifests itself. Unfortunately, being overweight is not only detrimental to one's self-esteem, it has also been linked with greater risk of certain illnesses--including heart disease, high cholesterol and blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and some cancers.

So what is a concerned person to do? Why, make some self-loving, healthy, life changing habits such as exercising regularly and consuming a plant-based diet.

The United States Department of Agriculture shows the many benefits of eating a plant-based diet which includes an abundance of vegetables, fruits and other "green" foods--all of which show evidence of protecting against:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
  
• Diabetes
  
• Hypertension
  
• Birth defects
• Cataracts
• Cancers
  

A plant-based diet can also contribute significantly to reducing obesity. Thus, not only is this type of diet good for your waist size, it is also good for the planet because it reduces the amount of excessive waste which comes with highly processed and heavily packaged foods. Plus, it provides us with the proper nutrients, vitamins and other beneficial factors that our bodies truly need.

What's more is that there are numerous studies and a wide variety of evidence proving that a fresh, lively, plant-based diet's benefits far exceed those of a highly processed, meat-based diet. So why not start today and make a change for the better--incorporate lots of fresh fruits and veggies into into your lifestyle--which will be beneficial for both you and the planet!

Stop Biotech Intimidation

In May, an article in the Chicago Tribune relayed information that the White House (led by Mr. Bush and his Monsanto pals) is attempting to bully famine stricken countries into planting Genetically Engineered (GE) crops.

This requirement comes as part of a $770 million dollar aid package that seems to justify the forcefulness in spreading untested, unregulated GE seeds--making it "a-ok." To date, there are at least 40 countries around the world that have curbed GE farming as well as the use of GE ingredients in food by requiring mandatory labeling on food packages. There are also plenty of other intelligent nations that have banned the use of GE seeds in both agriculture and food production altogether.

But why doesn't the U.S. see any problem with GE food?
It is apparent that the majority of people in America love their convenience foods so much that they just don't care how the food is made or where it comes from. However, as it is in our own country, food costs are increasing around the world in such a way that the average family is really struggling to put food on the table. Yet, it is even more complicated and disheartening in places such as sub-Saharan Africa.

Therefore, it seems that the propaganda in which GE modified crops will save the world, is something that the average person might want to believe in. However, beyond the obvious environmental and health concerns that have not been studied extensively enough, it has been demonstrated that GE crops do not significantly increase yields.

As a matter of fact, these farmers in the poorest countries who are coerced into growing GE crops are actually forced to stop saving their own seeds, pay for high priced GE seeds which are unable to be saved, and purchase toxic chemicals that aid in seed growth--all of which are patented and owned by my favorite "evil company of all time"--Monsanto--in addition to others such as DuPont, Syngenta, BASF and Bayer. The unfortunate part of this is that the farmers are not actually able to afford to continue purchasing seeds and chemicals, which often leaves them worse off because they become dependent on these major corporations for their crop production. (Monsanto actually has a patented Suicide Gene, which makes it impossible for seed saving.)

On a global scale, currently, the root cause of hunger has much to do with "free-trade" agreements and the current market conditions. It has less to do with crop yields and patented hybrid crops which are not actually guaranteed to be drought resistant. Therefore, struggling countries need to be able to gain control over their own food supply to feed their own people, and not have a majority of it exported or controlled by giant Agri-businesses.

If you feel moved to take action today, please urge your Congresspersons to reject the Bush Administration's $150 million allocation for "Big Biotech" by signing the petition at Organic Consumers Website.

If you want to read more.......go here

Nature's Gas Guzzlers

Photo Created by Grover Casey

Several years ago my husband suggested that we begin searching for a car to provide us with better gas mileage. He was becoming quite active in the "social justice scene" and wanted to make a difference in our world. Plus, he also watched Who Killed The Electric Car? which served to strengthen his awareness about the choices we make as a society and the often unforeseen consequences that follow.

As with any major purchase, I usually overdo it on the research until I start to question everything....but to make matters worse, while tackling this fuel saving topic, I ran across additional information directly connecting consumer choices with the hugely negative impact they have upon the environment. Only this time it had nothing to do with automobiles--this time it was about our diets. It soon became evident that my husband actually needed convincing that his very own meat-based diet impacted the planet more negatively than his driving habits.

Being an avid organic gardener and a self-titled "food snob" I read through the newly acquired information with intense curiosity. Sure, I had become a strict vegetarian while in college many years ago, but that was simply because I was really sensitive and could not stand the sight of dead animal parts on my plate. Back then my decision was based purely upon visual reasons, but now I was happy to find that a plant-based diet has other positive advantages--including benefiting the planet as a whole and for our own personal health and well being.

A major report published by the World Cancer Research Fund in 1997 recommended that we lower our risk of cancer by choosing a predominantly plant-based diet rich in a variety of vegetables and fruits, legumes and minimally processed starchy staple foods, and to limit the intake of grilled, cured and smoked meats and fish. Yet, in spite of this information, the production and consumption of meat worldwide has more than tripled since 1961. In the year 2007 alone, there was approximately 284 million tons of meat produced in the world. This has lead to a vast decline in small, family-owned farms, and an explosion in the development of large, inhospitable Agri-Farms.

What's more is that these giant, modernized industrial farms keep livestock crammed in horrendously uncomfortable and unnatural conditions which do not allow for the animals to freely graze on grasses (which are their natural diet). Plus, to increase the size and production of cows, farmers feed them a diet full of grains, fat, and soy products (or some similar combination). The animals are also provided with much needed daily doses of antibiotics to help digest this non-typical diet because it induces too much stress and upsets their internal system. This, in turn, leads to needless over-usage of antibiotics which are indirectly consumed by people eating meat leading to strains of new bacteria which are resistant to our current antibiotics.

This type of mega-meat production system also wreaks havoc on the environment by creating huge amounts of waste, polluting surrounding water sources, and using tremendous amounts of energy. Agriculture associated with meat production in the United States, contributes to nearly three-quarters of all water-quality problems in the nation’s rivers and streams, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The meat industry alone consumes over half of all water used for all purposes in the United States. For example: Water utilized to produce 1 pound of meat amounts to 2,500 gallons. In comparison, the water utilized to produce one pound of wheat amounts to 25 gallons. As a result of this, major deforestation is occurring to make way for pastures. This, in turn, robs the planet of the very trees which are perfect for absorbing carbon dioxide. In fact, meat production is so demanding that Brazil alone lost 1,250 square miles of rain forest in five months due to crop production and the need for grazing land.

When it comes to deciding whether to cut back on your fuel usage or your meat consumption, you should be aware that cattle and sheep release vast amounts of methane, which is proven to be a potent greenhouse gas. A recent study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations produced startling findings: The animals' gas outputs, the nitrous oxide gases from their decomposing manure and other factors, including the energy needed to store and transport meat, were responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions --which is more than the entire transportation sector produces.

To put this in layman's terms, GoVeg.com states that, eating one pound of meat produces the same amount of greenhouse gases as driving a Hummer 40 miles.

And guess what? Meat production is also subsidized by our government--just like oil is. So, in all actuality, the massive amounts of livestock are also our nation’s “gas guzzlers”. Plus, we Americans represent approximately 5% of the world's population and eat around twice the global average of meat each day. So the cost of production of all of the crops which are needed to feed livestock and the amount of land needed for growing these crops is ever increasing. What's even more though provoking is that if we took all of the food produced which is lost down the throats of livestock, we could feed millions of people on this planet.

In July of 2007, after hearing a former cattle farmer (now an animal activist, turned vegan, who cured himself of heart disease) give a speech on his first hand account of the negative impacts of the meat industry and the ways in which we, as consumers, can put a stop to this--my husband finally decided to join me and 'go veggie'. So, instead of rushing out to buy that idealistic hybrid car, we chose instead to make a difference by regularly purchasing more environmentally friendly and organic products, shopping at local farmer's markets, supporting our local CSA's (Community Shared Agriculture), utilizing sustainably produced eggs and dairy, and striving to be the shining example we wish to see.

**Make a Pledge to Eat Conscientiously for Animals and the Planet

What Do Conventionally Grown Strawberries, Bananas, Melons, Tomatoes and Beans Have In Common?

Recently, I listened to "A Pair O' Docs" on the radio. The theme was regarding the current health care issues we face as a nation and ways in which people are opening up to alternative medicines and holistic treatments. However, at one point during the show, the hosts were sidetracked and began talking about pesticides and the detrimental effects they have upon declining bird populations--which isn't actually a new subject (remember DDT), but one that has been proven as being a leading cause of this tragedy.

The Docs stated that although America has now outlawed some of the chemicals that are most harmful to humans and the environment, Latin American countries have drastically increased the use of these U.S. banned substances. According to The Independent, Testing by individual EU countries and the US Food and Drug Administration reveals that fruits and vegetables imported from Latin America are three and sometimes four times as likely to violate basic standards for pesticide residues. What's more, is that pesticide usage in Latin American Countries has increased fivefold since the 80's.

But why should that really concern you and me since we don't live there? Believe it or not, we Americans are the very people who consume the majority of conventionally grown fruits and veggies from Latin American countries. We are also the people that demand our "out of season" fruits and vegetables to be available in bountiful supply year round. Which means that a large quantity of warm weather produce grown down south is drenched heavily in dangerous pesticides and then shipped right back to us. Thus, in reality, we are actually munching on foods contaminated with the very chemicals we have banned in the first place....

So, if you would still rather spend a few bucks less on conventionally grown produce as opposed to paying more for quality organics, and if you don't quite understand how buying products that are grown using pesticides adversely affects your own health and/or the health of your family, or if saving a few dollars did not somehow negatively impact the many farm workers struggling to make a living in the first place--there is yet another important side to this topic that one may not ever stop to consider-- the birds!

That brings me right back to the Docs' radio broadcast discussion about conventionally grown produce, pesticide usage and birds. Did you know that there are three major species of birds, one of which is the Songbird, that are being found at a rate of approximately 25 dead per acre, across Latin American Farms? This count does not include the even greater number of birds who do not die on the farmlands, but instead become dazed and disoriented and cannot successfully reproduce. These bird populations are declining at an alarming rate and the underlying cause of this is basically our own self-centered consumer choices.

The Docs on the radio show made a plea to the listeners which went something like this...
"If you do not care about your own health, please stop and think about the health and livelihood of all other earthly creatures who are dying unnecessary deaths." They also asked, "Even if you choose not to purchase all organics, please at least stop buying these top five conventionally grown bird killers!" They are listed here: Strawberries, Bananas, Melons, Tomatoes, & Beans. So now do you know what all five of these have in common??

A Continuing Tragedy

65,000,000 birds are killed each and every year by pesticides. Birds eat sprayed bugs and die themselves. We're killing off one of our best allies. When the birds are gone the insects will really take over. (Bird statistics herein are from researchers at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY)

"Black Gold"

I have been composting for so many years that it has become second nature to view almost any food scrap as future "Black Gold." This commodity is so desirable to gardeners and farmers alike that there have been numerous events held in its honor. Yes, even taste testing contests are held for the finer aficionados of this delectable dirt.

When I use the term Black Gold, I am simply referring to high quality, well composted, nutrient rich soil, which is created via the decomposition of earthly foods and natural vegetation. So, it is somewhat disheartening when I view somebody throwing perfectly biodegradable food into the garbage can--which is directly headed for the landfill.

It should be well known by now that, "If the 21.5 million tons of food residuals generated annually were composted instead of being sent to landfills, the resulting reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would be equivalent to taking more than two million cars off the road." –Resource Recycling, Elizabeth Cotsworth, “Composting opportunities improve food waste management,” Nov. 2000

Since we, as a society, are already burdened with the task of ridding ourselves of an ever growing, humungous heap of trash--it seems obvious that the last thing we would want to add to the pile would be easily compostable items such as food scraps.

Here in Sonoma County, we are fortunate as the Sonoma Dump runs Recycle Town as well as an active composting program which produces fresh, organic compost for the public at large to utilize. However, since only the materials that are in your yard waste bin are used in creating the compost, there is still plenty of food that lands in the gigantic trash heap. Therefore, if the citizens of our community all composted at home, we could make an even greater impact in reducing the amount of trash products we are sending to the dump.

How would this work? Well in my eyes, citizens could either learn to create a small compost station for their home or simply compost their veggies by putting them in the yard waste bin to be picked up curbside. This type of composting is actually encouraged by The Sonoma Waste Management System, as they state that approximately 35% of all resiential garbage is food waste.

Unfortunately, when I speak to others about composting, there often appears to be some type of intimidation or disgust around the breakdown of rotting foods and the earthworms wriggling through this topic. However, earthworms are supremely beneficial and creating compost is not as difficult as one may think. Sure, there are scientifically proven ways to get the perfect heated temperature causing the quick breakdown of food stuffs and the killing off of bad microorganisms, but in all actuality, for most home use purposes composting can be quite a simple process.

For example, in dealing with the leftover foodscraps in our home, we have a small, lidded step can, which has a bucket inside that we keep in our kitchen. When the bucket gets full, we transfer it outside to our compost pile. Since our garden space is relatively small, the compost pile is in a vertical fashion. Food stuffs and leaves go in at the top and by the time they reach the bottom (over a period of many months) they are miraculously converted into the sacred Black Gold.

Since composting only takes a relatively small change in our "trash related" behaviors, I have often wondered why there are not composting containers sitting right along side of the recycling bins and garbage cans located throughout our cities. However, one day as I was listening to a talk radio show, I learned that Berkeley is indeed actually implementing such a program. The beauty of this plan is that so much great compost is generated, the city shares much of it with organic farmers in the surrounding areas--which is a beneficial process for everyone involved.

So, it seems to me that since we already have a wonderful composting program in place at our very own Sonoma Dump, taking this one step further to emulate Berkeley's program would be somewhat of a straightforward task---but first the intrinsic worth and supreme coolness of Black Gold needs to rise up the scale of importance like fair trade products, organic food and sustainable living.

"Mom, What is Irradiation?"

Last night as we were sitting down at the dinner table, my son asked about irradiation. At first, I thought he was referring to the aftermath of a nuclear war, but it soon became evident that he was actually speaking of food.

In all honesty, irradiated food is a topic that I haven't thought much about since the time there was a huge protest against the FDA when they wanted to change the wording on food packaging labels. For some reason, the FDA wanted to use the word "pasteurized" in place of "irradiated" to describe preservation techniques used with food--even though their initial studies proved this type of labeling would be misleading to consumers.

So I decided to find out how the idea of irradiation materialized in the first place, and it turns out that e-coli and bacteria growth issues are some of the leading causes. Although these types of problems are actually perpetuated by the unsanitary conditions found within large factory farms and food storage warehouses, big corporations are using food safety scares as a perfectly good excuse to keep our food "protected from disease" by a process which entails the usage of high-energy Gamma rays, electron beams, and super powerful X-rays.

So is irradition really harmless?

Of course, the FDA's research on food irradiation shows evidence that this type of preservation is perfectly safe for human consumption. FDA scientists concluded that irradiation reduces or eliminates pathogenic bacteria, insects and parasites. It reduces spoilage, and in certain fruits and vegetables, it inhibits sprouting and delays the ripening process. Also, it does not make food radioactive, compromise nutritional quality, or noticeably change food taste, texture or appearance as long as it's applied properly to a suitable product.

However, the Center for Food Safety's research proves otherwise. Accoring to them, Radiation can do strange things to food, by creating substances called "unique radiolytic products." These irradiation byproducts include a variety of mutagens - substances that can cause gene mutations, polyploidy (an abnormal condition in which cells contain more than two sets of chromosomes), chromosome aberrations (often associated with cancerous cells), and dominant lethal mutations (a change in a cell that prevents it from reproducing) in human cells. Making matters worse, many mutagens are also carcinogens.

And with over 50 years of investigating, food scientists still do not fully understand how these changes take place. Much of the ongoing research, in fact, is focused on devising new ways to hide the changes that happen to irradiated foods instead of finding safer, alternative methods of preserving food.

So how do we, as consumers, know for sure if our food has been subject to a trip down sci-fi lane? All we need to do is ask--because the main goal is to find out where your food really comes from and how it is treated along the way. Even if you shop at major chain grocers, you can question the meat and produce managers before you make a purchase. You also protect yourself when you buy organics or join a local CSA (which I write about in a previous topic). You can also support local farmer's markets and develop a face-to-face relationship with the producers of your food. Or better still, you can even grow some of your own.