So I stumbled across this list today; they are a dime-a-dozen,but I quite like this little 7 point gem, and the points are all valid. I've added some of my own thoughts at the end of each point.
1. Canned Tomatoes
The expert: Fredrick vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A
The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people's body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. "You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young," says vom Saal. "I won't go near canned tomatoes."
The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe's and Pomi.
Mike's Thoughts: If you can find glass bottled tomatoes, hell, let me know. BPA is an issue, and endocrine disruptors are something that everyone needs to steer clear of, especially pregnant women and children. Your nalgene bottle? Probably harmless for an adult. Canned tomatoes? Limit your use.
2. Corn-Fed Beef
The expert: Joel Salatin, co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable farming
The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. More money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us. A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease. "We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure," says Salatin.
The solution: Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers' markets, and nationally at Whole Foods. It's usually labeled because it demands a premium, but if you don't see it, ask your butcher.
Mike's Thoughts: We don't have a Whole Foods here, but places like Nutter's, Oliver Health Foods, and Harris Farms (my fav) carry grass fed beef. Conventional beef around here is probably more grain that corn fed, which is actually worse---the grain adds to the lectin load, making regular beef more inflammatory.
3. Microwave Popcorn
The expert: Olga Naidenko, PhD, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group,
The problem: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize—and migrate into your popcorn. "They stay in your body for years and accumulate there," says Naidenko, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in laboratory animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then.
The solution: Pop natural kernels the old-fashioned way: in a skillet. For flavorings, you can add real butter or dried seasonings, such as dillweed, vegetable flakes, or soup mix.
Mike's Thoughts: Popcorn? WTF? I don't see popcorn growing on trees or running around on four legs in the wild. It ain't food. Smarten up.
4. Nonorganic Potatoes
The expert: Jeffrey Moyer, chair of the National Organic Standards Board
The problem: Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoes—the nation's most popular vegetable—they're treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they're dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting. "Try this experiment: Buy a conventional potato in a store, and try to get it to sprout. It won't," says Moyer, who is also farm director of the Rodale Institute (also owned by Rodale Inc., the publisher of Prevention). "I've talked with potato growers who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals."
The solution: Buy organic potatoes. Washing isn't good enough if you're trying to remove chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh.
Mike's Thoughts: Not a real big fan of potatoes much at all; they contain saponins, specifically, solanine and chaconine, which increase intestinal permeability the same way lectins and gluten do; this may be more prevalent with white and greenish-type potatoes than other tubers like yams, indicating higher levels of saponins. Regardless, they are a PWO food item at best for glycogen replacement, not an everyday food staple.
5. Farmed Salmon
The expert: David Carpenter, MD, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany and publisher of a major study in the journal Science on contamination in fish.
The problem: Nature didn't intend for salmon to be crammed into pens and fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT. According to Carpenter, the most contaminated fish come from Northern Europe, which can be found on American menus. "You can only safely eat one of these salmon dinners every 5 months without increasing your risk of cancer," says Carpenter, whose 2004 fish contamination study got broad media attention. "It's that bad." Preliminary science has also linked DDT to diabetes and obesity, but some nutritionists believe the benefits of omega-3s outweigh the risks. There is also concern about the high level of antibiotics and pesticides used to treat these fish. When you eat farmed salmon, you get dosed with the same drugs and chemicals.
The solution: Switch to wild-caught Alaska salmon. If the package says fresh Atlantic, it's farmed. There are no commercial fisheries left for wild Atlantic salmon.
Mike's Thoughts: Some farmed fish have such an inverse ratio of omega-6 to omega 3 fatty acids that they can easily be considered a health RISK. Research done in 2008 on farmed tilapia showed massively elevated levels of pro-inflammatory O6 fats, versus the anti-inflammatory O3s. If it doesn't say "wild" on the label, don't even think about it.
6. Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones
The expert: Rick North, project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society
The problem: Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1 may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers. "When the government approved rBGH, it was thought that IGF-1 from milk would be broken down in the human digestive tract," says North. As it turns out, the casein in milk protects most of it, according to several independent studies. "There's not 100% proof that this is increasing cancer in humans," admits North. "However, it's banned in most industrialized countries."
The solution: Check labels for rBGH-free, rBST-free, produced without artificial hormones, or organic milk. These phrases indicate rBGH-free products.
Mike's Thoughts: Today's conventional bovine milk has far, far too many cons versus pros; we're lucky here in Canada in the fact that r BGH isn't used, but the detrimental side effects of a lifetime of dairy consumption far outweigh any minute benefits attained from milk. It does a number of things quite well due to the fact it's EXTREMELY anabolic: It makes people fat, and it gives them cancer. Think about it---as a newborn, what's the ONE food that we take in? Milk. Pure fat, protein, and hormones. It makes us GROW like weeds as babies. Historically, humans eventually lost the enzyme, lactase, because eventually we weened ourselves off the boob in favor of meat, vegetables, nuts, seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar. (heh.)
So tell me: Why are you still drinking it? It does make gaining weight a helluva lot easier for an athlete, but keep in mind, the anabolic and insulinogenic, and inflammatory properties of milk come with serious long term risks.
Unfortunately, we aren't able to buy raw milk in Canada---everything is pasteurized. Raw, organic milk from grass-fed and finished cows would potentially be a viable option, but it's just not the case here.
7. Conventional Apples
The expert: Mark Kastel, former executive for agribusiness and codirector of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods
The problem: If fall fruits held a "most doused in pesticides contest," apples would win. Why? They are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor. As such, apples don't develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently. The industry maintains that these residues are not harmful. But Kastel counters that it's just common sense to minimize exposure by avoiding the most doused produce, like apples. "Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers," he says. And increasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher body burden of pesticides (from all sources) with Parkinson's disease.
The solution: Buy organic apples. If you can't afford organic, be sure to wash and peel them first.
Mike's Thoughts: I agree, especially with thin-skinned fruits and vegetables---buy organic. Studies indicate that while the nutritional value of organic vs non-organic is very similar, the risk from contaminates and pesticides is irrefutable. Avocados? Not a big deal. Bananas? No worries---thicker, non-edible skin. Strawberries? Only organic. Apples? Only organic. You get the picture.
CFLA, 1PM, Dec 10th
After coaching the 11 and 12 classes through "Cindy" today, I really wanted to hit this up, but my shoulder was still aching from the 10-1 reverse pullup/pushup ladder. I've done 10 and 12 minute Cindys, but it's been a loooong time since a full 20. But not today. Gotta ration my pushing movements over the week.
Regardless, I was a bit of an idiot anyways, as you'll see:
45# x many. Meh, seems ok.
95#x10 Meh, kinda sore, 2/10 pain.
135#x5 Huh. Left doesn't want to go up as quick as the right. 3/10 pain
165#x1 The right wants to leave the left in the dust. 5/10 pain.
Stupid? Maybe. But now I know. The unilateral weakness it more concerning than the pain.
Low Bar Back Squat, as planned
95#x10135#x5
185#x3
225#x3
275#x3 Creaking on my left knee, then my right, then nearly got stuck in the hole, lol. Too deep. But got 'er up.
300#x1 Pulled the plug---right knee not happy. Last thing I need is a lower body injury to pair with my shoulder.
MetCon
7 Rounds for time:
50ft sprint
15 situps
50ft sprint
7 BW deadlifts (165#)
6:10. Did this one way back in May, had a 7:09 time. No rest, just blast through everything.
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