Category Archives: reviews

Sunscreen That’s Uv-a Protective

by Mirahealth, ingredients, reviews, summer

After the long dreary days of winter it seems that the sunshine is finally returning. Or maybe you live in an area where you have a high number of sunny days throughout the year. Which ever situation fits your environment you probably wear sunscreen. But are you wearing the right one?

We've all been told that we should be wearing sunscreen. With more than one million Americans per year having some form of skin cancer, we're conditioned to think about using it regularly. Many people seek out the highest Sun Protection Factor, SPF, that they can find. And their examination of sunscreen stops there. But it turns out there's more to it than that. One of the most important things to be aware of is what's in your sunscreen. Unfortunately many brands contain substances that are known to be harmful. Ingredients such as endocrine disruptors, toxic preservatives, highly allergenic ingredients, and more. These are things that we don't want in our food so why would we want them in our sunscreen. Especially when we stop to consider that the skin is the largest body organ and that it absorbs whatever we put on it.

As the author of The Pantry Principle I am passionate about helping people understand what's really in their food. That it's not just what you eat, it's what's in what you eat. The next logical step is to consider what we put on our body. At this time of year sunscreen is certainly a big player in the personal care product department.

I was amazed, therefore, when I had the opportunity to test a sample of a new sunblock that is…get this…food grade edible.* It turns out that it's also the only FDA approved sunblock currently on the market that protects again UV-B and UV-A. UV-B is what causes sunburn. UV-A is what causes aging, wrinkles, suppression of the immune system, and can, potentially, lead to cancer. So even though you're using sunscreen, if you're not using one which is effective against UV-A you could still get cancer and suffer other negative effects.

Developed by a Ph.D. research chemist with a crazy passion for safe ingredients this sunblock is unlike any other on the market. Highly water resistant, no endocrine disruptors, no fillers or other garbage, it's also high in antioxidants and provides optimal pH for skin protection. The absence of endocrine disruptors is huge; we are so surrounded by them in our environment (think BPA in receipt paper, cans, and more) that any lessening of this toxin in the environment is a good thing. According to a study published in the Journal of the Society of Toxicology there is a distinct difference between 3rd Rock Sunblock and mainstream competitors when it comes to endocrine disruptors.

And it's food grade edible. In my book that's pretty amazing given all of the chemical adulterants used in many products currently on the market. Not that I'm going to eat it mind you, but I'm glad that it's such a clean product.

I've been using it for a while now and find that it takes just a tiny bit to provide coverage. Honestly the bottle seems generously sized when you realize how little of the product you actually need for coverage. It seems to go on smoothly and so far I have not had any issues with uneven coverage even though in the beginning I thought I wasn't using enough. The website claims it's a one time application and you're done for the day; so far I have not reapplied at all, even on those days when I am outdoors more, and have not noticed a problem.

Overall I think this a great product and am excited to see sunblock of this quality and ingredient safety available to everyone.

*full disclosure: I did receive a free sample of this product to try however I was not paid for my opinion and was under no obligation to give a positive review of this product.

Fresh – A Review

by Mirareviews

Fresh
by ana sofia joanes

Almost every day we are learning more and more about our food. Sadly much of the time the news is not good. Headlines blare about contamination of packaged foods, the bad health effects of artificial colors or artificial sweeteners are highlighted. The media loves to play up the bad news.

Luckily for us there is a small but growing movement pushing for change regarding our food. Fresh is the latest in this genre of movies providing us with a look at what organic, sustainable agriculture can to do help promote a better impact on the environment and on our health.

Fresh is a documentary film that highlights food activists all around the country and their efforts to make a positive change. Featured in the movie are people like David Ball, who owns a chain of grocery stores in Kansas and Missouri; working with area farmers to bring local produce to the consumer. Or Will Allen, an environmental activist who is working hard to highlight the need for urban agriculture to bring good, clean, healthy food to those in the poorest neighborhoods who frequently don't have access to them.

Providing a look at the differences between conventional agriculture and the growing movement toward sustainability this movie represents an important look at all of the different ways that a positive change, a change for health, can be made.

Watch the trailer and then check out the link below to find a screening near you.

The movie is being distributed grassroots style through small artfilm and community sponsored screenings. To find a screening near you visit the website.

I originally wrote this for a private client. They are no longer publishing their newsletter and I am now able to share this review with you.

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Supersize Me – A Review

by Mirahealth, reviews

Supersize Me
Directed and Produced
by Morgan Spurlock
Samuel Goldwyn Films,
Roadside Attractions

Although this film came out in 2004 the information in it is still relevant today. The basic premise of this documentary film is what would happen if you only ate at McDonald's for one month.

Director Morgan Spurlock did exactly that. At the beginning of the film his personal trainer shows that he is in above average shape as compared to the majority of the American public. Some of the rules for Spurlock's McDiet were that he must eat three full meals a day from McDonald's, he could only eat food that came from McDonald's, and that he could only supersize his meal if that option was offered to him (if it was not offered he was not allowed to make that choice on his own).

Within the first week Spurlock gained nearly 10 pounds and began to suffer health consequences. As you watch the documentary, and Spurlock's decline, you are shown how nutritionally deficient fast food is for your body. The more processed the food the less it meets your body's needs. The film is interspersed with some very sobering facts. One of the most eye-opening is that McDonald's calls people who eat a lot of their food heavy users. People eating even more? They are the super heavy users. Heavy, of course, has a double connotation here and the sad choice of the word user speaks to how addictive and unhealthy this stuff really is.

At the end of the film Spurlock is in seriously bad health. It took Spurlock more than a year to lose the weight that he gained in 30 days and to return to a healthy state.

While the film is extreme in that he only ate at McDonald's and did it continuously for 30 days, it clearly highlights not only how non-nutritious this food is but how well entrenched it is in our culture. Most children can recognize McDonald's distinctive golden arches before they are able to talk complete sentences.

McDonald's did remove their supersize option shortly after the movie came out. They also added salads and more grilled options. They claim that these changes had nothing to do with the movie. Whether it did or not the fact remains that this is still an unhealthy meal option that should be avoided. McDonald's themselves states, any processing our foods undergo makes them more dangerous than unprocessed foods.”

Watch the movie, avoid the food.

I originally wrote this for a private client. They are no longer publishing their newsletter and I am now able to share this review with you.

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Killer At Large – A Review

by Mirahealth, reviews

Killer At Large
Directed by Steven Greenstreet
ShineBox Media Productions

There is an epidemic in our country. A disease overtaking the population which is forecast to increase dramatically over the next decade. That disease? Diabetes. According to a November 2010 UnitedHealth report, by 2020 more than 50% of all Americans may be affected by diabetes. This disease could wind up costing our health care system over $3 trillion dollars. And that is simply the monetary cost. The cost to those suffering from this disease is much greater.

Diabetes is a progressive disease that can result in an overwhelming range of complications from fatigue, weakness and weight gain to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, nerve damage and more. Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, and foot ulcers which often require amputation. Most often diabetes is tied hand-in-hand with obesity. As the rates of obesity in this country soar so do the rates of diabetes and other weight-related illnesses.

Sadly not enough is being done to educate people, especially our youth, about their health. It is a sobering thought that the current generation of youth most likely have a life expectancy that is shorter than that of their parents. It is disturbing to realize that we are surrounded by drugs and surgical procedures but not nutritional education, physical fitness and better food choices. We are assaulted by a host of negative nutritional choices, our physical activity levels have decreased dramatically, and rates for obesity continue to rise.

Killer At Large is a documentary film that looks at this issue. Filmed in 2008 the filmmakers interviewed many public figures including Former President Clinton, Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona (who call obesity “the terror from within”), and best selling author Michael Pollan. Hearing the statistics, seeing the images, this film starkly highlights the overwhelming reality of this epidemic. It is truly disturbing to watch a 12 year old girl receiving liposuction because she believes it is the only way for her to control her weight. This is a tragedy. This epidemic is a crisis.

Watching this film will hopefully encourage people to make changes. To recognize that we make over 200 food choices every day, most of which are unconscious. This film highlights the toxic food environment that we live in and how it affects our society. This awareness is, I believe, the first step toward making healthier life choices which are critical for avoiding obesity and related diseases.

Watch the trailer below and then consider organizing a screening in your community to get started on making a change.

I originally wrote this for a private client. They are no longer publishing their newsletter and I am now able to share this review with you.

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Two Angry Moms – A Review

by Mirahealth, reviews

Two Angry Moms
A-Ray Productions
Director: Amy Kafala

Do you know what your child eats at school for lunch every day? Are you sure? Maybe you are one of those moms who packs a healthy lunch for your kids. Perhaps you allow your child to occasionally get a snack or a special lunch from the cafeteria. Can you be sure that they are making the right choices? Are they trading for other food items with friends? Are they bringing their own money? Are they using the money you may give them for things that you don't approve of?

Schools claim to want to promote “healthy eating” and “good choices.” Sadly all of that goes out the window when the Food Service Company walks in the door. Concerned with only one thing, profitability, they twist the message of healthy eating and then say it is the parents job to teach their kids to make good choices. How can they make good choices, even when taught to do so at home, if they are surrounded by bad ones?

Often the school cafeteria is full of fried foods, artificial colors, preservatives, sugary treats, flavored milks and low nutrition, often non-fresh food. School parties with candy, vending machines in the hallway, ice cream machines in the cafeteria, these all add to the lure of bad choices.

Two Angry Moms is a documentary about what happened when two women, both passionate about the heath of their kids and others, got together and attempted to change the system. Amy Kafala, a Certified Holistic Health Counselor, and Dr. Susan Rubin, Founder of Better School Food, created a grass-roots movement. Going across the country raising important questions about school food and it's impact on education, fitness, as a contributing factor to disease, and as part of forming lifelong health habits. According to their press release there are over 4.3 billion (stop and think about that number for a minute) school lunches served every year. The two reached out to luminaries such as Chef Alice Waters, Creator of the Edible Schoolyard program, and Chef Tony Geraci, now the Director of Food and Nutrition in Baltimore, among others to highlight what is wrong with the current cafeteria setup and to show how we can all make a difference. They share the message that it is possible to successfully get real food into the cafeteria and into our kids. Advocating to make a change and help others spread the word they are reaching out across the country.

As stated on their website, http://www.twoangrymoms.org, “Texas Agricultural secretary Susan Combs said that it’s going to take 2 million angry moms to change the school lunch program. Please join us!” Want to learn more? Check out the following organizations, watch the movie trailer, take the School Junk Food Test (you'll be surprised by what you learn). Then become an Angry Mom (or Dad).

I originally wrote this for a private client. They are no longer publishing their newsletter and I am now able to share this review with you.

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The Future Of Food – A Review

by Miragmo, reviews

The Future of Food
Written and Directed by Deborah Koons Garcia
Cinema Libre Studio

Released in 2004 the subject matter of The Future of Food is not only still relevant but increasingly important. The film presents a very sobering and disturbing look at how un-labelled, patented, genetically modified (GM) foods have invaded the shelves of our grocery stores. We literally are surrounded by GM without knowing it because unlike Europe, Canada, and other places, there is no labeling requirement for GM.

Focusing heavily on the persecution by Monsanto of Canadian farmers, whose crops were contaminated when GM seed drifted onto their property, the film brings to light the heavy-handed, threatening tactics Monsanto employs to prosecute farmers for theft of patent even though the circumstances were not of the farmer's choosing, were beyond their control, and represents an end to their livelihood as they know it. The film also reveals a truly disturbing picture of the “revolving door” that exists between major agriculture corporations (Big Ag) and the United States Government which virtually assures the hands-off policy that currently exists regarding GM crops. It also highlights the government's unwillingness to investigate and support bio-diversity and sustainable agriculture.

The film starkly points out “whoever owns the seed owns the food” while reminding us that these seeds are originally from nature. However their modification has created huge corporate profits (and greed) and a reduction in bio-diversity which could potentially lead to failures of epic proportions. Monsanto has even created a “suicide gene” which causes seed to terminate itself after one season, thereby blocking reproduction. Many environmental experts are shown expressing their concern should this terminator gene ever successfully cross-breed in the wild.

However it's not all bad news. The film also shows the resurgence of organic farmers and farmer's markets. Highlighting a a grass-roots grocery/consumer opposition to the attempts by Big Ag to control the food supply. After you watch it be sure to visit the Center for Food Safety, The Institute For Responsible Technology, and the Organic Consumers Association to learn more about what you can do to protect yourself and your family. Remember, your food choices are, and should be, up to you.

The trailer is available on YouTube.

I originally wrote this for a private client. They are no longer publishing their newsletter and I am now able to share this review with you.

disclaimer: cmp.ly/5

Seeds Of Hunger – A Review

by Mirareviews

Seeds of Hunger
by Yves Billy and Richard Prost
Icarus Films

Food security. It's probably not something that many of us think about. We don't worry about where our next meal is coming from, what it will consist of, nor how much it will cost. Yet all over the world, from India and Asia to Great Britain and even the United States, food security is a growing concern.

Food shortages, the increased cost of staple items, crop losses and failures all contribute to the likelihood of decreased food security that is a reality for many. Billions of people are malnourished and starving, yet the increasing genetically modified, corporate-profit-driven policies do nothing to address the very hunger and scarcity they promised to defeat.

One part of food security is the creation of food deserts, more and more of which are appearing across the landscape. In the United States alone there are 803 counties that are considered food deserts. These are areas with populations so rural that everyone living there is 10 miles or more from a grocery store with fresh fruits and vegetables. Sadly these areas are often highly populated with fast food restaurants and cheap non-nutritious food stores.

Seeds of Hunger, named the Best Documentary at the 2009 Bourges International Festival of Environmental Films, was filmed on three continents and looks closely at these issues and others. It examines the rising number of components which contribute to the growing crisis of food insecurity and instability. Interviews with many different people along the food chain from farmers to manufacturers, exporters, and even financial analysts provide a dramatic picture of food used for fuel, food riots, and how this trend is reshaping the eating habits of billions of people. The film helps viewers understand our changed global economy and it's impact on social structure.

The trailer is available on YouTube.

I originally wrote this for a private client. They are no longer publishing their newsletter and I am now able to share this review with you.

King Corn, A Review

by Miragmo, reviews

King Corn
Independent Lens
Written by Aaron Woolf, Curt Ellis, Ian Cheney, and Jeffrey K. Miller
Directed by Aaron Woolf

Did you know that more than 92,000,000 acres of corn were planted in 2007? Are you aware of the fact that in 2003 the USDA estimated that Americans ate an average of 73 pounds of corn sweetener per year? And it turns out an elemental isotope analysis of your hair may very well show that you are predominantly ingesting corn?

Corn has invaded our diet to startling levels. Aside from the obvious places like corn on the cob, corn syrup and corn starch, corn is also turned into fillers, modifiers, extenders and other ingredients that are used in everything from chips to cookies to beer and more. With almost 200 ingredients made from corn it's exceedingly difficult to avoid. Sadly this extends even further into our diet with cows, pigs, chickens, and now even farmed fish all being fed corn. What they eat becomes what you eat. Corn truly is pervasive in our diet.

This film, King Corn, was created by Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis in 2007. Recent college graduates motivated by America's bulging waistline they decided to try to grow an acre of corn and follow it all the way through it's process. Along the way they discovered just how much of what we eat comes from corn. Unfortunately corn has become a staple products of the American diet. Equally unfortunate it is a crop that brings with it numerous health problems. It is one of the most genetically modified crops, it is laden with pesticides, and it is a highly acidic food. Corn is also not a profitable crop; not, that is, unless our tax dollars are brought into the equation and used to subsidize greater and greater amounts of corn being grown across the country.

In 2005 corn subsidies totaled more than $5 billion, enough to keep the corn empire rolling on and on and on. These subsidies are what keep the junk food cheap, what keeps the corn coming in our diet. It's also what encourages more and more acreage to be turned over into corn crops every year.

The trailer is available on YouTube.

King Corn is an amusing yet eye-opening look at just how much corn impacts our food supply. If you look at the list of ingredients that corn is transformed into such as artificial flavorings, artificial sweeteners, crystalline fructose, potassium gluconate and more, you'll realize just how difficult it is to avoid. In order to understand the impact of corn on our country, our agriculture infrastructure and our waist-lines, King Corn is a movie that you don't want to miss.

I originally wrote this for a private client. They are no longer publishing their newsletter and I am now able to share this review with you.

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The Whole Food Guide For Breast Cancer Survivors

by Mirahealth, reviews

For all of those out there who have survived breast cancer there is now a book, The Whole Food Guide For Breast Cancer Survivors, that goes beyond primary treatment and survival. With the information in this book you can learn how to support your body, to be can be healthy and strong using nutrition and a holistic health focus.

Covering a wide variety of topics including environmental risk factors, understanding hormones, glucose and metabolism, chemical exposures, and even a thorough explanation of those nutrients and foods which are highly supportive to health, this book covers the broad spectrum of what you need to know. Providing background material and in-depth studies the work is well-supported and scientifically grounded.

Written in a straightforward and easy to understand manner the book provides a solid foundation of knowledge for anyone wanting to gain a deeper understanding of how their food affects their body and their health when breast cancer is involved. It also includes a wide variety of delicious recipes, the foundations of eating for health, a sample meal plan, and ideas for incorporating these healthy and delicious food choices into your diet.

It isn't, however, just a discussion of nutrients and chemicals; the book also points out various types of therapy, diagnostic tools, and laboratories that offer additional or alternative treatments for breast cancer. There are educational resources including books and support organizations. The resource section even lists a number of retreats that are specifically for breast cancer patients, survivors, and some are also for family members.

If you or someone you love is a breast cancer survivors, this book would be a great resource. But it's not just for survivors, it would also be an excellent roadmap for those who may discover that they are at risk for breast cancer.

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Joy Bauer’s Food Cures

by Mirahealth, recipes, reviews, vegetables, vegetarian

Joy Bauer's Food Cures has been revised and updated; I was fortunate enough to have a copy recently come across my desk.

As those of you reading my blog know, I am a huge proponent of food and it's ability to help support a healthy body. We are what we eat; eating whole food and practicing wholesome nutrition goes a long way toward supporting our bodies and in dealing with health issues.

Broken down into several easy to understand categories this book covers the basics of understanding nutrition as well as how to, as Joy puts it, “think like a nutritionist.” She offers information about how to lose weight and support healthy skin and hair.

Speaking of hair, did you know the average person loses about 100 hairs each day? It turns out that since hair is made from protein if we don't get enough we can actually cause the rate of new hair growth to slow down. In the book Joy points out that hair is a good way to determine overall health and highlights which vitamins (and which foods contain those vitamins) are supportive for healthy hair and nails (which are made from the same hardened keratin protein as hair). Offering more in-depth health and nutrition support, the book also delves into conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, migraines, IBS and more.

The book is easy-to-read and laid out with step-by-step encouragement and support to help the reader reach their goals for health. The book is also sprinkled with lots of call-out boxes which cover the highlights and answer questions that the reader may have. She includes stories and examples throughout the book which is helpful. In addition to providing the necessary information to help the reader better understand the basics of their condition and how to best support their body each chapter has a 4-Step Program which reminds the reader of the basics, provides a grocery list, offers some additional suggestions, and then also offers meal plans with some delicious looking recipes. Her Citrus Smooth-See recipe on page 272 is delicious as is the Vegetable Oatmeal Bisque on page 322. And the Parmesan Couscous and Ratatouille with Olives, Tomatoes and Fresh Basil on pages 383 (listed below) is a new family favorite.

Joy Bauer's Food Cures provides what you need to know about healthy eating and whole food nutrition. It also gives you information to help you understand how to make those healthy changes.

Parmesan Couscous and Ratatouille With Olives, Tomatoes, and Fresh Basil
Makes 3 servings (1 1/2 cups ratatouille and 1 1/2 cups coucous per serving

Ratatouille

1/2 pound kale, stems trimmed, thinly sliced
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large yellow squash, cut into small cubes (about 2 cups)
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1/4 cups kalamata or nicoise olives (7 or 8) pitted and chopped
Pinch of ground red papper
1/4 cup whole basil leaves torn

Couscous

1 cup whole wheat couscous
1 cup sugar snap peas, chopped
1 1/4 cups low sodium chicken or vegetable broth, heated
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Kosher salt
Ground black pepper

To make the ratatouille:
Heat a deep saute pan over high heat
Add the kale, a sprinkle of salt, and 3/4 cup water
Cook, stirring occasionally for 13-15 minutes or until softened
If the kale becomes too dry add more water
Stir in the oil, squash, tomatoes, olives, and red pepper
Cook for 5-6 minutes or until the squash is tender and the tomatoes lose their shape
Remove from the heat and stir in the basil
Set aside

To make the couscous:
In a medium bowl, mix the couscous and sugar snap peas
Pour the hot broth on top, stir at once and cover with aluminum foil
Allow the couscous to rest for 5-6 minutes or until all the water is absorbed and the couscous is soft and fluffy
Fold the cheese into the couscous and season with salt and black pepper

To serve:
Spoon the couscous onto a plate or bowl and serve the ratatouille on top

To learn more about Joy and the concept of food cures visit her website.

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