Health Department Orders Farmers to Destroy Organic Food

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Cherie Miranda

When I read an article about what happened to Quail Hollow Farms back in November, I was in shock. I could not believe that the health department, in a theoretically less regulated state like Nevada, would attack a local farm which was guilty only of serving perfect, organic food to its guests.

What really put me into a state of total shock is that I KNOW these people. I buy from Quail Hollow Farms at a local farmer’s market every Saturday. This husband and wife team is truly a joy to work with. Laura and Monte are two of the most lovely people I’ve ever met. Their mission is to provide good, pure, healthy food to people. Is there anything more decent and honorable than that?

I’m not always a believer in conspiracy theories, but things like this have really convinced me that the government or whatever “powers that be” are determined to seize full control of the food supply. What better, more stealth weapon can there be than food? Genetically modified, processed, preserved, pesticide laden, chemically ridden foods keep us sick, compliant, and dumbed down. Sounds like a sci-fi novel, huh? But mounting evidence shows this crazy theory to be true. Check it out for yourself. There’s tons of information available at Dr. Mercola’s site and hundreds of other sites. Don’t be fooled, be informed and make your own educated decisions.

To read all about what happened at Quail Hollow Farms, click the link to be taken to an article on the Natural News website.I hope you’ll see the seriousness of this issue and the way in which it ties into many similar occurrences across the country. If you’re so inclined, there are a number of ways to take action. Feel free to write to me if you’d like some resources to help you find real food and/or to speak your mind to your elected representatives about what they’re doing to our precious food supply.

Posted in Diet and Nutrition, Organic Living | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

The Difference Between Hybridization and Genetic Modification in Food

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Cherie Miranda

There seems to be a good deal of confusion between the terms “hybrid” and “genetic modification” (note: genetically modified food is also called “GMO” which stands for genetically modified organism).

I want to clear this up, since there is a HUGE difference between the two.

Hybrids are the result of cross-pollination between two species of plants. For example, peppermint is a naturally occurring hybrid. It is a cross between watermint and spearmint. If cross-pollination between those two species never happened, we would have no peppermint, a universally known flavor.

Seedless fruits, such as watermelon and oranges, are the result of hybridization. Even readily available fruits and vegetables, such as broccolini, tangelos, and pluots are all the result of cross-pollinating two species.

The hybrid phenomenon is natural. You could even say that all fruits and vegetables are hybrids, as they’ve undoubtedly changed over the last few thousand years. Whether we create a hybrid or whether it naturally occurs, the process is perfectly normal. Hybrid fruits and vegetables are safe to consume.

Genetically modified foods are an entirely different story. A genetically modified organism can be any plant, animal or microorganism which has been genetically altered using molecular genetics techniques such as gene cloning and protein engineering. In other words, genetic modification involves the actual altering of the organism at the genetic level.

Genetic modification is used, for example, to add a pesticide into a plant. YES, scientists are implanting pesticides right into our food itself! Sure, it makes the crop much easier to grow for the large corporations that are taking over farming. It results in much greater harvests. But at what cost? I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to eat pesticides. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to genetic modification!

GMO is a huge topic, and this brief post barely even skims the surface of the problem. My main concern was clarifying the difference between genetically modified foods and hybrids.

I’m concerned that if people start thinking their seedless oranges are genetically modified, they’ll think GMOs are safe for consumption and are making our lives easier. Neither is true! PLEASE spread the word. Hybrids are NOT GMOs.

One of the best discussions of the difference between hybrids and GMOs I’ve found is at Mark’s Daily Apple. If you’d like more information on this topic, that’s a great place to start.

PLEASE PASS THIS ON!

Posted in Diet and Nutrition | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Why You Should Eat Fish

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Cherie Miranda

Fish has been a staple in the human diet for ages, and for good reason. It’s one of the healthiest, highest quality proteins you can consume.

Fish is vitamin and mineral rich, containing many essential nutrients such as vitamin D, vitamin B2, calcium, phosphorous, iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium, and iodine. But probably the most important health benefit of fish is its high content of omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids are most prevalent in…no surprise…fatty fish such as wild salmon, tuna, sardines, and black cod (also known as sablefish).

If you’re even a little health conscious, you’ve probably heard quite a bit about omega-3 fatty acids and their health benefits. Omega-3s have been researched thoroughly and, though research is ongoing, science agrees that they are important nutrients for the health of your brain and heart.

The most important thing that omega-3s do for your body is reduce inflammation. Excess inflammation is linked to heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, asthma, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and more.

Two omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are EPA and DHA, which are both long chain fatty acids. I don’t want to get too scientific, but it’s important to note that the long chain fatty acids found in fish are much better for your health than the short chain fatty acids found in some plants.

Since our bodies don’t produce omega-3s, we must get them through the foods we eat. You can also take supplements, but as Michael Pollan argues in his stellar work In Defense of Food, you should strive to get as much of your  nutrition from food (as opposed to supplements) as possible.

There’s been a lot of controversy in the last few years over fish. Since pollution is growing and spreading to our oceans and rivers, fish have been absorbing toxins, such as mercury. These toxins are passed on to us when we eat the contaminated fish.

While we do eventually eliminate these toxins, putting them in your body in the first place isn’t a wise idea. For one thing, it takes our bodies a good deal of time to get rid of them, so they can accumulate in your system and cause illness.

Certain fish, such as wild caught salmon, are much lower in toxins than other fish. Salmon is one of my personal favorite health foods. Aside from very high levels of omega-3s, salmon also has a couple of other powerhouse nutrients.

Sockeye salmon is the richest food source of vitamin D known to science. Astaxanthin, a lesser known yet incredibly powerful antioxidant, has its own anti-inflammatory properties and is what gives salmon its unique color.

Even though certain fish, including wild caught salmon and sablefish, are lower in mercury and other toxins, you do need to be careful about where you buy fish. I recommend Vital Choice. They are well known and highly respected. From personal experience, I can tell you that their product is exceptional, and their service is fantastic.

(As a sidenote, NEVER buy farmed salmon. It is extremely high in toxins. “Atlantic Salmon” is farmed, so don’t be fooled. “Scottish Salmon” is usually farmed as well. Be sure to ask anytime you buy or order salmon if it is farmed or wild caught. Your best bet is to buy from Vital Choice, which offers not only wild caught salmon but a number of other healthy fish along with a nice variety of other healthy food choices.)

If you’re still concerned about the risks of eating fish in this day and age, the preponderance of published research suggests very strongly that the well-documented developmental and preventive rewards of fish-rich diets outweigh the minuscule, hypothetical risks to human health. I eat fish on a regular basis, and I buy from Vital Choice.

Posted in Diet and Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Finally! Progress in the War Against GMOs

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Cherie Miranda

If you’re not familiar with the term GMO, it refers to genetically modified organism. A GMO is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

Our food supply has been genetically modified for a number of years now. Numerous scientific studies have been conducted showing how harmful GMOs are for our health. To me, it’s just common sense. I mean, think about it. Genetically modifying our food in some lab? Just so it’s cheaper for the food producer? We’re not designed to consume food created in a lab. Common sense says that we need to be very careful when tampering with Mother Nature like that.

The good news is that there is finally some progress in the war against GMOs. An effort was recently announced in California that would put an initiative on the ballot to REQUIRE the labeling of GMOs in foods. Many experts believe this would be the end of GMOs. Hallelujah!

Following are some highlights of the ballot initiative and the use of GMOs in general:

  • The measure does not ban GMOs. It simply mandates labeling, which will allow consumers to decide whether or not they want to buy a food with genetically engineered ingredients.
  • According to one statistic, 75% of all non-organic processed foods contain GMOs.
  • Polls suggest that up to 95% of Americans want to know which foods contain GMOs.
  • The GMO industry will fight this ballot initiative HARD. It is a question of their survival.
    They make claims such as “GMOs are necessary to feed the world” or “genetically engineered crops are perfectly safe.” Both of these statements are patently false.
  • If you live in California, please sign a petition to put this initiative on the ballot. 700,000 signatures are needed. That’s a lot. Go to www.OrganicConsumers.org and click on the “Millions Against Monsanto” campaign to see how you can help.

Some fantastic companies and organizations have come up with substantial funding to help make sure this initiative makes the ballot. I’d like to recognize:

  • Dr. Bronner’s – $1,000,000
  • Mercola.com – $500,00
  • Nature’s Path – $500,000
  • Organic Consumers Association – $250,00

There are other contributors, and I thank every person and business who is helping move this forward. I’m sorry I don’t have a complete list. If you are aware of other contributors, please write in and let me know.

And please: do whatever you can to help ensure that this initiative appears on the ballot. It’s going to take all of us to defeat GMOs. Hey, if Monsanto is so concerned just about labeling, there’s gotta be something wrong…

Posted in Diet and Nutrition | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Resources – Part 2

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Cherie Miranda

I trust you enjoyed the first installment of this brief series and had a chance to check out some of the resources I suggested. Part 2 is a continuation of yesterday’s post, highlighting some very useful (and some of my very favorite) websites and resources.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one of my mentors, Kevin Hogan. He is a master of influence, body language, and too many other things to even mention. Be sure to give his site a good, long look. Everyone has something to learn from him.

As I’ve mentioned in other posts, holistic health is about mind, body, and spirit. For a great resource on the health of the mind, don’t miss Michael D. Walker’s Masters of the Mind blog. He has worked with some of the most incredible living legends on the planet and has a wealth of knowledge to offer, so go see for yourself and enjoy. It’s like health food for the mind.

Do you need to get organized? I bet you do. Or I bet you could at least get better organized. Personally, I’ve always been organized. I was taught from an early age that neatness and organization were priorities, and I’m really glad because, as Michael Paulse says, it really stuck with me. However, even I could learn to be better organized. If you’re more organized, you’re more efficient. Organization also helps clear the mind, which we also have to feed (as I just mentioned). Be sure to visit Home Storage Organized.

Staying on track with mental health, I’ve got another great resource for you: Rob Malone. He writes the Brain Salsa blog, which I highly recommend. Everyone needs to set goals. Goal setting is key to personal accomplishment, and the process helps keep your mind focused and on track. Rob writes about goal setting, coaching, personal achievement, and more. For a different kind of mind treat, visit Rob’s site today.

As you probably know by now, spiritual health is a component of holistic health. I’ve written several posts on meditation, and I believe it is one of the best ways to keep your spirit healthy. The really great thing about meditation is that it also improves mental and physical health. It’s an indispensable daily practice for mind, body, and spirit. To learn more about meditation, visit Guided Meditations Online.

Speaking of health, let’s detour back over to the physical body. One of the most important things you can do for your body is take supplements that are appropriate for your specific physiology. There are few supplements everyone should take, but of those few probiotics stand out as one of the most important. I’m not going to explain why everyone needs to take probiotics, since my friend, Neil Dhawan, is the expert on them and can do a much better job. Check out the Geneflora Family of Probiotics and learn all about the unquestionable benefits of taking probiotics on a regular basis.

Everyone could improve their communication. Even if you believe you’re the best speaker, writer or listener you know, there’s always room for improvement. Body language is an undeniable part of communication and one that few have mastered. If you want to learn about body language, and you should, read Scott Bell’s website. He has some fun videos and a lot of fantastic information.

Last but certainly not least, I must recommend my friend Sonya Lenzo’s blog. She has recently relocated to Costa Rica from Minnesota. A big change, no doubt! But she is living the dream and loving it. I, for one, have a strong desire to live outside the US, at least part of the year. Costa Rica is a dream destination for many, and Sonya’s blog can serve as your resource when you begin to plan your transition to Costa Rica, whether it’s part time or full time. Plus, it’s just plain fun and interesting! Don’t miss Sunny in Costa Rica.

I hope you’ll find these additional resources enlightening, informative, and entertaining. I’ll be finishing up our meditation series next, so if you have questions that have still gone unanswered, be sure to check back in over the next couple of days.

Posted in Uncategorized | 14 Comments

Resources – Part 1 of 2

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Cherie Miranda

When I’m looking for a specific type of service, say air conditioning repair here in Las Vegas, I always ask for referrals. I love working with people who have been referred by others I trust.

On that note, I’m taking some time to acknowledge some of my favorite websites and businesses. I hope you’ll enjoy and take advantage of these recommendations.

While you may not know it yet, I’m a bit of a fitness junkie. I’m a great believer in exercise for health of not just body but of mind and spirit as well. You’ll find a great blog for information on fitness right here.

Do you know anyone who is a caregiver? I have a very close family member who has been unexpectedly placed in that all-consuming, stressful position. My friend, Annie Borne, writes an excellent blog about caring for the caregiver.

Relationships are one of the most challenging aspects of life for most people. Whether you’re currently in one or are looking for the love of your life, April Braswell is an expert on dating and relationships and can help you at any stage of the relationship “game.”

Looking for information on music? I’ve recently come across a great blog that has opened me up to music that has never really interested me in the past. Check out The Knowledge Stylist and be prepared to have some fun!

If you’re interested in natural, holistic health, then you’re probably interested in living a greener lifestyle. Clare Delaney writes an excellent blog about all aspects of going green.

A new favorite site of mine is written by Dennis Perry. While his focus is on creating a rich life, he makes it very clear that living a rich life means a whole lot more than just having lots of money. I highly recommend that you read this informative, inspirational blog on a daily basis. It complements HolisticHealthExpert.net quite well.

Do you have a bad habit or a phobia that you want to get rid of? Maybe you need to lose a little extra weight and want to supplement your holistic diet and exercise plan somehow? A wonderful lady, Eva Palmer, writes about hypnosis and how it can help with so many personal issues. Spend some time on her site (use the translate feature if you need to) and get ready to ditch the bad stuff!

Speaking of bad habits, do you have the really nasty habit of holding yourself back? Do you just KNOW that you have beliefs somewhere deep inside that are inhibiting your progress? My good friend, Jennifer Battaglino, is currently writing an excellent series on this topic. I highly recommend you go to her site NOW.

Looking for some entertaining reading from down under? Check out John Moulder’s blog. It’s great for a quick bit of fun, and I often learn something new.

I’ve got a few more resources for you, so check back tomorrow. For now, enjoy these awesome folks and the amazing things they’ve got to offer.

Posted in Uncategorized | 14 Comments

Common Myths About Meditation

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Cherie Miranda

While I know I’ve covered a few of these in other articles, I thought it would be a good idea to bring all of the common objections together into one post.

Myth #1: Meditation is Hard
Meditation is completely natural and is as easy as sitting down and closing your eyes. If you’re doing an open eye meditation and/or a walking meditation, you don’t even have to worry about those things. It’s a very natural state of being. You don’t have to TRY to do anything at all. Meditation is about being, not doing. Really, it’s the simplest thing you can do.

Myth #2: I Must Be Able to Clear My Mind to Meditate
As I thoroughly covered in my post Why It’s OK to Have Thoughts During Meditation, it’s perfectly normal to have thoughts while you’re meditating. All meditators have them at least occasionally, no matter how experienced. You’ll find that your mind gradually begins to calm down as your practice progresses, but even if you’ve been meditating for years you’ll go through a day or even a few weeks where your mind doesn’t want to calm down.

Myth #3: Meditation is Only for Monks or Religious People
The tradition of meditation goes back thousands of years. Yes, monks, priests, and religious people do meditate. But so do teachers, doctors, firefighters, salespeople, veterinarians, food servers, and people from any other walk of life you can conceive—whether they are religious, spiritual, atheist, or agnostic. Meditation is non-religious, non-sectarian, and it certainly isn’t a cult. For more detail on what meditation is, see my previous post What Is Meditation?.

Myth #4: I Don’t Have Time to Meditate
While many traditions, including one of my favorites, advocate 40 minutes to an hour of meditation daily, it’s possible to reap benefits in as little as 10 minutes per day. It’s also possible to meditate 5 days (or fewer) per week rather than 7 and still see benefit. A little meditation is better than no meditation. I think anyone can take 10 minutes out of a day for a brief meditation.

Myth #5: I Have to Have a Special Place or Room to Meditate
While some people choose to have meditation rooms, sanctuaries, gardens, altars, or other special venues, it is not necessary. I usually meditate on my living room couch! You don’t need any special place, clothing, or equipment. All you need is yourself and your willingness to meditate.

These are the top 5 objections I receive about meditation. Do you have others? I’d love to hear your concerns or questions regarding meditation.

Posted in Mind, Body, and Spirit | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

The Storm Before the Calm

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Cherie Miranda

I had planned to get back to my meditation series today…but then I realized that I couldn’t possibly write about Dr. Deepak Chopra’s new book without recognizing another of my favorite authors and mentors, Neale Donald Walsch.

Neale is best known for his Conversations with God series. I know, it sounds religious if you’re not familiar with the book. It’s actually anything but that. In fact, it’s one of the most amazing series of texts I’ve ever had the privilege to read.

I’m highly analytical and naturally skeptical towards these types of things. But when I read Conversations with God: An Uncommon Dialogue (Book 1) back in the 90s, I was an immediate believer. Whether Neale contacted “God,” “The Universe,” his higher self, or whoever, the information that came through is some of the most profound and life altering I’ve ever encountered.

It’s normal for me to deconstruct books like this, to find the flaws with ease and point them out in a knowing manner (and, yes, with a bit of glee). But, try as I might, I cannot find a flaw in Conversations with God: An Uncommon Dialogue (Book 1).

I’ve since read Neale’s subsequent body of work, have participated in many of his teleclasses and webinars, and even enrolled as a student in a recent series Neale taught in conjunction with Evolving Wisdom.

When his new book, The Storm Before the Calm, was released a couple of days ago, I immediately ordered it. I was aware of the book and its subject matter ahead of time, as Neale has been speaking of The Global Conversation for quite some time. When I received the book today, I was even more impressed with its content and layout than I thought I would be.

The Storm Before the Calm is book 1 in Neale’s Conversations with Humanity series. The book explores the future of humanity, which is an important spiritual topic that seems to be on everyone’s mind these days. With all the hubbub about 2012, the end of the world, natural disasters, and crashing economies, people fear impending global meltdowns on all fronts, if not outright Armageddon. Neale’s book explains that changes are coming…but not the changes we think.

The Storm Before the Calm argues that humanity will indeed survive and will indeed change—but for the better. It puts a much needed positive perspective on all of the things that have been happening in the world and instills a new kind of hope in the reader. From the book’s inside flap:

Here is a spiritual and social tour-de-force that will leave you flying high, filled with hope, and feeling capable of handling all of Our Tomorrows. At last, there is a positive word about humanity’s future—and a clear and simple way for each of us to affect it.

I recommend The Storm Before the Calm to everyone. Of course, I believe that Conversations with God: An Uncommon Dialogue (Book 1) should be required reading for all. If you’re going through tough times, another of my favorite NDW books is When Everything Changes, Change Everything: In a Time of Turmoil, a Pathway to Peace.

I hope you’ll consider giving Neale’s books a try if you haven’t read any. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Posted in Mind, Body, and Spirit | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

War of the Worldviews: Science Vs. Spirituality

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Cherie Miranda

We now interrupt this meditation series for a book recommendation….

The timing seems quite appropriate, actually. My primary meditation mentors are Drs. David Simon and Deepak Chopra, co-founders of the Chopra Center.

While you may not be familiar with Dr. Simon (who is at least as amazing as Dr. Chopra and will be discussed in later posts for a number of reasons), you’ve probably heard of Deepak Chopra. He’s nearly a household name, having appeared on Oprah, CNN, and loads of other television shows. He is also somewhat of a physician to the stars, as many celebrities and politicians look to him for holistic health advice.

Deepak has written well over 100 books, including his classic The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams. If you haven’t read this book, I highly recommend it. Each of the seven laws corresponds to a particular day of the week, so a great practice is to read the day’s chapter every morning. Sunday starts the week going with The Law of Pure Potentiality. You can figure out the rest from there. :)   I make it a habit to read the day’s law after I’ve completed my morning meditation and have found it to be a very rewarding process.

I’m very excited about Deepak’s newest release, War of the Worldviews: Science Vs. Spirituality. Deepak co-authored this book with Dr. Leonard Mlodinow, a physicist from CalTech. Here’s the description of the book from Amazon.com:

Two bestselling authors first met in a televised Caltech debate on “the future of God,” one an articulate advocate for spirituality, the other a prominent physicist. This remarkable book is the product of that serendipitous encounter and the contentious—but respectful—clash of worldviews that grew along with their friendship.

In War of the Worldviews these two great thinkers battle over the cosmos, evolution and life, the human brain, and God, probing the fundamental questions that define the human experience.

How did the universe emerge?
What is the nature of time?
What is life?
Did Darwin go wrong?
What makes us human?
What is the connection between mind and brain?
Is God an illusion?

This extraordinary book will fascinate millions of readers of science and spirituality alike, as well as anyone who has ever asked themselves, What does it mean that I am alive?

Sounds like quite a compelling conversation, doesn’t it? Very nourishing for the spirit. It’ll be on my bookshelf soon.

Posted in Mind, Body, and Spirit | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Why It’s OK to Have Thoughts During Meditation

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Cherie Miranda

I hear it all the time: “I can’t meditate because I can’t stop my mind from thinking.” It’s the most common objection I hear from people when it comes to meditation.

It seems there is a widespread belief that meditation is impossible unless you can completely empty your mind. Nothing can be further from the truth.

It’s your mind’s JOB to think. That’s what it does. It’s very hard to silence that chatter, what Buddhists call the “monkey mind.”

But what most people fail to realize is that meditation is the process of quieting the mind. It doesn’t require a quiet mind to begin. In fact, a quiet mind isn’t even necessarily the goal of meditation. You can reap huge benefits from a meditation that seemed like nothing but a thought-a-thon.

If you’re using the racing mind effect as an excuse for not meditating, I hope you will reconsider your position after reading the rest of this post.

First off, when you sit down to meditate, you should take a few deep breaths and remember what you’re intending to do. As you begin your meditation, it’s helpful to focus on something, whether it’s your breath or a mantra. As a side note, I’m a huge fan of mantra based meditations, like Primordial Sound Meditation, but we’ll leave that discussion for a future post on types of meditation.

When thoughts come into your mind, as they undoubtedly will (and yes, they may stream non-stop), do not try to resist them. Resisting your thoughts will only cause them to be more persistent. Simply acknowledge the thought and continue with your focal point (breath or mantra).

Another important point is don’t chase the thought. If, “What am I going to make for dinner?” pops into your head during meditation, don’t start planning your menu. Don’t chase that rabbit down the hole. Simply acknowledge the thought and return your focus to your breath or mantra. Repeat this process as thoughts continue to cycle through the duration of your meditation.

In my post What You Will Experience During Meditation, I describe the different experiences you can have during meditation, one of which is thoughts. I also mention that there are different types of thoughts.

Some may believe that experiences they are having during meditation fall outside the three types of experiences, but that’s because they don’t realize how many different forms a thought can take. Here are some examples:

  • You may have trains of ideas, images, memories, or other everyday thoughts go through your mind.
  • You may see pictures, colors, light, or other visual images.
  • You may become aware of a physical sensation in your body, such as tingling, twitching, warmth, or some slight physical movement.
  • You may become aware of a mood or emotion, like happiness, sadness, or even a slight sensation in the area of your heart.
  • You may find yourself listening to a sound in your body or a noise outside in the environment.

When you realize your attention has drifted away from your focal point, gently bring your attention back to your breath or mantra. Whenever you have a choice, choose the focal point over other thoughts.

The key point here is be easy with these experiences without attempting to force them out of your awareness.  Just allow your attention to flow effortlessly back and forth between your focal point and any other mental activity.

I hope this clarifies the racing mind effect and convinces you that having thoughts during meditation is completely normal.

Happy meditating!

Posted in Mind, Body, and Spirit | Tagged , , | 15 Comments