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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests:
A healthy diet can help protect you from heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. Get tips on how to eat healthy on a budget, plan ahead to save time, and eat healthy away from home.
PG Economics is a UK based research company. They have found:
In the sixteenth year of widespread adoption, crop biotechnology has delivered an unparalleled level of farm income benefit to the farmers, as well as providing considerable environmental benefits to both farmers and citizens of countries where the technology is used.
“Where farmers have been given the choice of growing GM crops, adoption levels have typically been rapid. Why? The economic benefits farmers realize are clear and amounted to an average of over $130/hectare in 2011” said Graham Brookes, director of PG Economics, co-author of the report. “The majority of these benefits continue to increasingly go to farmers in developing countries. The environment is also benefiting as farmers increasingly adopt conservation tillage practices, build their weed management practices around more benign herbicides and replace insecticide use with insect resistant GM crops. The reduction in pesticide spraying and the switch to no till cropping systems is continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture”.
Previewing the study – “GM crops: global socio-economic and environmental impacts 1996-2011”, the key findings are:
* The net economic benefit at the farm level in 2011 was $19.8 billion, equal to an average increase in income of $133/hectare. For the 16 year period (1996-2011), the global farm income gain has been $98.2 billion;
* Of the total farm income benefit, 49% ($48 billion) has been due to yield gains resulting from lower pest and weed pressure and improved genetics, with the balance arising from reductions in the cost of production;
* The insect resistant (IR) technology used in cotton and corn has consistently delivered yield gains from reduced pest damage. The average yield gains over the 1996-2011 period across all users of this technology has been +10.1% for insect resistant corn and +15.8% for insect resistant cotton;
* A majority (51%) of the 2011 farm income gains went to farmers in developing countries, 90% of which are resource poor and small farms. Cumulatively (1996-2011), about 50% of the benefit each went to farmers in developing and developed countries;
* The cost farmers paid for accessing crop biotechnology in 2011 was equal to 21% of the total technology gains (a total of $24.2 billion inclusive of farm income gains ($19.8 billion) plus cost of the technology payable to the seed supply chain ($5.4 billion(1,2)));
* For farmers in developing countries the total cost of accessing the technology in 2011 was equal to 14% of total technology gains, whilst for farmers in developed countries the cost was 28% of the total technology gains. The higher share of total technology gains accounted for by farm income gains in developing countries relative to the farm income share in developed countries mainly reflects weaker provision and enforcement of intellectual property rights coupled with higher average levels of benefits in developing countries;
* Between 1996 and 2011, crop biotechnology was responsible for an additional 110 million tonnes of soybeans and 195 million tonnes of corn. The technology has also contributed an extra 15.8 million tonnes of cotton lint and 6.6 million tonnes of canola;
* If crop biotechnology had not been available to the (16.7 million) farmers using the technology in 2011, maintaining global production levels at the 2011 levels would have required additional plantings of 5.4 million ha of soybeans, 6.6 million ha of corn, 3.3 million ha of cotton and 0.2 million ha of canola. This total area requirement is equivalent to 9% of the arable land in the US, 25% of the arable land in Brazil or 28% of the cereal area in the EU (27);
* Crop biotechnology has contributed to significantly reducing the release of greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural practices. This results from less fuel use and additional soil carbon storage from reduced tillage with GM crops. In 2011, this was equivalent to removing 23 billion kg of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or equal to removing 10.2 million cars from the road for one year;
* Crop biotechnology has reduced pesticide spraying (1996-2011) by 474 million kg (-9%). This is equal to the total amount of pesticide active ingredient applied to arable crops in the EU 27 for one and three-quarter crop years. As a result, this has decreased the environmental impact associated with herbicide and insecticide use on the area planted to biotech crops by 18.1%(3);
* The environmental gains from the GM IR traits have mostly derived from decreased use of insecticides, whilst the gains from GM HT traits have come from a combination of use of more environmentally benign products and facilitation of changes in farming systems away from conventional to reduced and no tillage production systems in both North and South America. This change in production system has reduced levels of GHG emissions from reduced tractor fuel use and additional soil carbon storage.
by Daniel Brouse and The Membrane Domain
To the best of my knowledge there has never been a culture that has thrived as vegetarians.
All evidence (throughout the history of humankind) shows man to be an omnivore.
Depending mostly on climate conditions, the ratio of plant to animal intake varies. In colder and more severe environments, the meat in-take is usually much larger. This primarily occurs for two reasons:
1) plants won’t grow. You can’t eat what isn’t there. (Ask an Eskimo. He’ll know.)
2) the concentration of nutrients is much higher in meat than in vegetables. This means you can harvest less tonnage of food. It also means the culture can have less of an impact on the environment (then if they cut their meat in-take and became more herbivore-like.)
An Evening For Your Health with Dr. Jen Furcht at Ame (ah-may) Salon and Spa
Whole You Wellness at Ame is committed to providing you with the essentials on how to attain a healthy lifestyle through Bioenergy Chiropractic, Reiki, Nutrition, Meditation and Detoxification. Learn how Bioenergy Chiropractic Alignments are the key component to reducing or improving chronic or acute health issues such as headaches, muscle tightness, fatigue and neck/back pain. These stressors may sound minor but over time can lead to many chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and major depression. Dr. Jen will demonstrate the effects of taking stress off the body for wiling participants.
Date: November 18th, 2011
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Location: Ame Salon and Spa – 111 Waynewood Road Wayne, PA 19087 – Directions
Phone: 610-995-ame1
Cost: FREE
By Heather Rudalavage, Registered Dietitian
www.Intuitive-Nutrition.com
How many times have you said to yourself, “I want to get healthier, I want to have more energy, but I just donʼt know where I would find the time?” Here are 5 things you can start doing today to feel better tomorrow. They donʼt take much time, money or willpower, but will add up to a better feeling YOU.
1. Get more sleep. Okay, so this does require a bit more time on your part. You probably know that less sleep means less energy, but did you know that people who get less sleep are also more prone to obesity? Apparently, our bodies are busy breaking down fats whilst we dream.
2. Put your sneakers on every day. I am not saying you have to take 10,000 steps or jog a 14 minute mile, just put some walking shoes on and go out the front door. The walking is the easy part, for most people putting on their shoes and going out the door is the biggest challenge. Once you are outside with your sneakers on, you will
find it easy to start walking – I promise!
3. Slow down when you eat. You may have heard that there is a twenty minute delay between your stomach being full and your brain sending out a signal to stop eating. This is true! That is just one reason why by slowing down, you will eat less. There are
other benefits to slowing down as well, like allowing you to savor the flavors, aroma and even the presentation of a meal. Eating should be more of an experience, not just a chow fest! There is a reason why the French have less obesity in their country, and itʼs not just the wine.
4. Drink more H2O. Did you know that feeling thirsty means you are already dehydrated? Being in a chronic state of dehydration can make you feel sluggish, headachy, and can cause constipation. It can also make you feel hungry when really you are thirsty. By drinking water all day with a goal of 6-8 glasses you can prevent dehydration. Youʼll be amazed at how much better you feel.
5. Make one small change to your diet and stick to that change until it becomes a habit. Making one small change to your diet, such as, swapping half of your carbs for whole grains, cutting back or eliminating soda, using smaller plates or adding an extra fruit into your daily intake can make a big difference over time. Once your change has
become routine or habit, then add another change. Within 3 months you will have racked up between 3 to 12 small changes that will equal you feeling like a new person!
These are just a few ways to start improving the way you feel. Creating a healthier lifestyle doesnʼt have to mean doing a complete 180 from where you are now. Research shows that by consistently making small changes you will begin to feel better, but more importantly, you are more likely to stick with the changes you have already made. Slow and steady wins the race!