Many people are aware that chemical pesticides and herbicides used on crops are bad for human health and the environment, but relatively few people are aware that they can also make you gain weight.

Many chemical pesticides and herbicides are known or suspected xenoestrogens. Xenoestrogens are a type of endocrine disruptor, a man-made substance that interferes with the body’s hormone balance. Xenoestrogens interfere with hormone balance by mimicking the behavior of the hormone estrogen in the body. Estrogen is a very important hormone that is vital to good health, especially for women. However, if estrogen levels get too high, either naturally or because of the effects of xenoestrogens, it can cause many health problems, from menstrual cramps and migraines to infertility and breast cancer. Excessive levels of estrogen are known as estrogen dominance.

How Xenoestrogens Make You Gain Weight

Another common side effect of estrogen dominance is weight gain. This is because of the interaction between estrogen and another major hormone called insulin. Insulin is used by the body to convert glucose, a type of sugar created when the body digests food, into energy. The body can become resistant to the effects of insulin over time due to any of several factors. When insulin resistance develops, the body can no longer convert glucose to energy and instead begins to store it as fat. If left untreated, insulin resistance can lead to obesity, diabetes, and many other serious health problems.

Estrogen is known to increase the body’s resistance to insulin. When estrogen levels are normal, the effect is negligible. However, when there are excessive levels of estrogen in the body, estrogen dominance can be a major factor in the development of insulin resistance.

Unfortunately, once the body become estrogen dominant and insulin resistant, it often becomes trapped in a vicious cycle. Estrogen is produced by fat cells, so excessive estrogen causes the body to become more insulin resistant and create more fat cells. The fat cells produce more estrogen, causing the body to become more estrogen dominant, which results in more insulin resistance, which leads to more weight gain, and so on.

How Organic Foods Can Help

Organic foods can help break the cycle by reducing the levels of xenoestrogens in your body, decreasing estrogen dominance.

Chemical residues on foods might not seem like much, but over time, they do add up. Studies have found that the average American consumes about one pound of pesticides and other chemical residues every year from food.

The effect of this exposure over time is still poorly understood. However, it is known that many chemicals break down very slowly. One of the most notorious xenoestrogens of all time, DDT, was banned decades ago in the United States, yet detectable levels of the pesticide are still found in the breast tissue of many women. Women who have detectable levels of the pesticide in their breast tissue are five times more likely to develop breast cancer than those who don’t – often 20 or 30 years after their initial exposure to the chemical.

Switching to organic food reduces the chemical load in your body and begins to restore your body’s natural hormone balance. Although switching to organics may not help you lose weight if it is the only step you take, by reducing your body’s level of insulin resistance it can help you lose weight more easily when combined with other diet and lifestyle changes.

The Most Important Fruits and Vegetables To Buy Organic

If you can’t afford to go completely organic, you can still reduce your exposure to xenoestrogens by buying these fruits and vegetables, which typically have the highest chemical residues, organic:

• strawberries
• spinach cabbage
• pineapples
• green beans
• asparagus
• apricots
• raspberries
• cherries
• apples
• peaches
• grapes
• sweet peppers

Other Important Foods To Buy Organic

The other most important foods to buy organic are meat and dairy products. Growth hormones fed to conventionally raised animals to make them reach slaughter-weight more quickly are another major source of xenoestrogens in food. Conventional dairy is triple trouble. Non-organic dairy products combine naturally occurring female hormones found in milk with the growth hormones given to the cows to make them produce more milk. Chemical residues from non-organic feed are also stored in fatty tissue in cows just as they are in humans, so milk can become contaminated by chemical residues stored in the udder. Organically raised animals are fed organic feed and never given growth hormones. Organic standards also seek to ensure a more humane and natural lifestyle for the animals, in addition to the health benefits for consumers.

Article originally posted by blogger Kerry G on Hubpages.

Greenwashing Hits An All-Time Low with Bottled Water Claims-

I love the show Mad Men, because (among other reasons) it gives us all a glimpse into the advertising industry and every stop they pull to get the public to buy a certain product. The lines advertisers use are, for the most part, heavily sugar coated at best and a downright lie at worst. Enter the new greenwashing trend: Organic bottled water. Llanllyr Water, for instance, is claiming that their water comes from the ground beneath “certified organic fields” and nothing above ground has ever been farmed any other way. They are supposedly certified by the Soil Association, but who can really trace that far back to see whether the farmers used organic or inorganic materials in their farming practices? The company has only been around since 1999, so I would assume a couple years prior is as far back as a soil analyst could hope to find remnants of inorganic materials. While the company has not come right out and said it sells “organic water”, it is certainly insinuating that to get people to purchase their product. Its for this very reason that the USDA has exempted water from organic certification, but that doesn’t seem to put a halt on any of the claims. All I can say is, hopefully the new regulations proposed by the FTC will prevent more companies from misrepresenting their product or business. I wouldn’t put all my eggs into that basket, though.

Hanging Herb System Adds the Beauty of Nature & Organic Living to Any Home-

Created by Ana Arguezo, the Spice Versa concept is a hanging system that grows organic herbs right inside your own home. With its compact design, it doesn’t take up much space at all so it’s perfect for a small condo or apartment. The Spice-Versa hangs from a wall or ceiling and can grow up to 6 different kinds of herbs at once. It comes with a mercury spot light and biodegradable plant gel, which provides all the nutrients and water that growing plants require. The best part about the Spice-Versa is that herbs can be grown year round without worry about weather conditions or garden pests. To boot, its sleek design adds ambiance to any room and keeps the surrounding air smelling fresh and aromatic. Visit here for information on creator/designer Ana Arguezo.

System Supports Sustainably-Grown, Large Scale Food Production for Anyone with Backyard-


Algosolar LLC, a farming research and design group, has announced the launch of Bioponica™ — an organic gardening system geared for homeowners, schools, restaurants and commercial growers. On November 20th, from 6pm until 12am, the company will begin a public displaying event for this innovative growing system. The 10′x4′ table, complete with 120 gallon fish tank, is designed to convert waste such as grass clippings, table scraps and other carbon and nitrogen-rich waste sources into fertilizer. “It is unfortunate that we have relied on our municipalities to dispose of waste, whether that be urine, food or yard trimmings,” says co-creator, Dr. Epstein, a holistic osteopathic physician. “It is not practical or sustainable. When nutrients that come from the environment or from the food we eat are buried in landfills or else incinerated then we lose that valuable resource and it becomes a greenhouse gas that negatively impacts our climate and environment. The alternative is to recycle nutrients with the least amount of effort and cost.” The Bioponica™ system works by taking waste and converting it into worm castings and worm teas which are then used to fertilize hydroponic plant beds.

The system also accomodates the growth of algae and duckweed, as well as microbes and aquatic animals that feed on the algae. The table is intended for ample food production, and will grow a variety of medicinal and edible plants — from micro-greens to wheatgrass. “When growing high value crops such as these, the return on investment is less than one year. And without having to purchase fish food or fertilizer the cost is limited to a small electric bill for water pumps and labor,” says Epstein. The Bioponica™ gardening system will grow indoors or outdoors and also come complete with a UV filtered polycarbonate roofing option to help keep the temperature, CO2 and nutrient load stable. Fellow creator and professional engineer, Kenneth Lovell, says, “By converting carbon and nitrogen rich waste into fish and plant food we are effectively sequestering carbon turning it into a food before it escapes as a CO2 gas. The tables capture heat and warm the water within the fish tanks. On cool nights, the heated thermal mass of water returns to the beds, warming the plant area to extend the growing season into colder months.”

List of Best Organic Wines & Benefits of Buying Organic-

The craze of natural and organic shopping is now becoming more about moral obligation, as consumers are realizing the potential health and environmental benefits of going green. Traditional wines, for example, use grapes that are heavily sprayed down with synthetic, chemical-based pesticides and are grown in such fertilizers as well. The effects of these pesticides are far reaching, negatively influencing the environment and human health alike. First off, scientific testing has shown that chemical pesticides penetrate deep into grapes (as well as other types of fruits and vegetables), so it is impossible to completely remove chemicals from the product. Not to mention, over farming with these chemical pesticides and fertilizers have actually led to nutrient depletion in soil, which causes a drop in the nutritional content and flavor of the produce. It has been said that grapes grown organically offer better, bolder flavors due to the lack of synthetic processes. Much more than that, even, is the “pesticide runoff” caused by spraying down crops with large quantities of chemically-made pesticides. This farm runoff can often be fatal, since local river and ground water supplies become contaminated without warning. An under publicized, unfortunate reality of traditional farming methods. The good news, though, is that the average consumer can help reduce these man made disasters by supporting organically-grown products. So, without further ado, here is the list of my 10 favorite organic wines with overall taste, quality and price in mind.

➢Stellar Organics Shiraz 2009 ~ $10
This organic South African Shiraz has a rich, dark garnet color. Smells earthy and peppery, with slight herb tones. Tastes of dark cherries and red currants. A full-bodied Shiraz, but not too dry. Pairs well with barbecued red meats and bold cheeses.

 

➢Yarden Chardonnay Odem Organic 2006 ~ $15
This Israeli-born kosher Chardonnay has very fruity, floral notes with hints of oak and butter. Has ripe apple and pear flavors, with a bit of spice. Medium bodied and slightly dry. Pairs best with herb-crusted fish and poultry.

➢Natura Carmenere 2009 (Emiliana) ~ $11
This wine is absolutely phenomenal. Fairly dry with strong tannins, but has an exceptionally smooth finish. An earthy essence, with mint, pine and blackberry. Has a bit of black plum and black cherry notes. A perfect compliment to dark chocolate.

➢Nuova Cappelletta Barbera del Monferrato 2008 ~ $16
This wine is grown in Italy’s Piedmont region, with bio-dynamic and organic practices. Deep burgundy color. Full bodied with a complex finish. Red fruit flavors with hints of dark plum. Spicy, earthy tones. Pairs well with bold cheeses and red meats.

➢Kawarau Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2007 ~ Under $25
This full bodied organic wine is grown in New Zealand and aged 10 months in French Oak. Has dark plum and cherry flavors with a light touch of cocoa and spice. Silky tannins and lasting finish. Pairs well with grilled salmon and creamy cheeses.

➢Temple Bruer Shiraz-Malbec 2005 ~ $15
This Australian organic wine has warm cherry and blackberry aromas, with a touch of cinnamon and vanilla. Full bodied with strong tannins. Hints wild berries, cherries, vanilla and coconut. Earthy, black spice tones with a smooth finish. Pairs well with full flavored red meats and poultry.

➢Badger Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 ~ $13
The grapes in this stellar Cabernet were sustainably and organically grown in the Pacific Northwest region of Columbia Valley. This full bodied wine is incredibly smooth with intense flavors. Has aromas of cherry, currant and red plum, with hints of floral. Pairs well with red meats and pungent cheeses.

➢Stellar Organics Merlot 2009 ~ $10
This award-winning wine is grown with certified organic grapes in South Africa. A deep violet color, with mild smell of blueberry, sage and tarragon. Medium bodied, finishes crisp. An everyday Merlot for the occasional rookie wine drinker. Sulfite-free. Pairs well with stews.

➢Amity Vineyards “Eco-Wine” Pinot Noir 2007 ~ $27
This organic wine is from Willamette Valley, Oregon. Has a pleasant aroma of dark cherry and cranberry, with a hint of vanilla and spice. Dusty, earthy tones with a very smooth finish. Pairs well with fish, pastas and poultry.

➢Natura Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (Emiliana) ~ $11
This medium bodied wine is very dark purple in color, with a mild scent of blackberry and oak. Has essence of ripe cherries, strawberries and blackberries – with a light touch of vanilla and toffee. Pairs well with red meat and dark chocolate.

Young Boy Stands for Health Freedom-

Birke Baehr, an 11-year old activist, is giving up his dream to play in the NFL to be an organic farmer. In the video below, he speaks out against the deceptive marketing practices of companies, as well as the dangers of pesticides and genetically engineered foods. With America drifting closer toward the full scale production of genetically-altered, pesticide-ridden food by large companies such as Monsanto, it is refreshing to know that our future is in the hands of ambitious and tenacious youth, such as Baehr, who are willing to fight for the extremely important, yet under-publicized cause of health freedom. Follow Birke Baehr and his noble cause on Facebook.

Natural, Eco-Friendly Methods to Rid Your Garden of Pesky Bugs-

There are so many reasons to choose organic alternatives today, with health being the main priority. Not only are chemical pesticides toxic to the environment, but they can cause adverse health effects as well. Research into the toxicity of pesticides to humans is ongoing, but animal studies have proven that consumption of chemical pesticides in large doses can cause long-term health problems such as organ failure and cancer (Source: Environment, Health and Safety Online). Areas located near large-scale farms have had major problems in the past with pesticide groundwater contamination. Not to mention, fruits and vegetables sold in standard grocery store markets have been thoroughly tested and have been proven to hold high levels of pesticides (See CNN’s Dirty Dozen Fruit & Vegetable List). The worst part is that even washing or peeling the skin off will not help, since the chemicals saturate deep inside the fruit. Before giving up entirely on eating healthy, raw fruits and vegetables, visit your local farmers market to ensure that you are purchasing 100 percent certified organic products free of any chemical pesticide. If you have a garden of your own at home, check out a comprehensive list of the 10 Best Homemade Pesticides for Your Yard and Garden.

Unethically-Charged Federal & State Police Raids Point to Yes-


One would assume Sharon Palmer runs a marijuana dispensary with the overwhelming police raids she and her family has endured over an 18-month span. Palmer, however, owns a farm where she produces goat’s milk, as well as grass-fed cattle, pig and chicken products. She distributes under Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) which supports local farmers who sell fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meat to consumers, often using organic or biodynamic farming methods. According to the police, the previous two raids were due to mislabeling her goat cheese. This time, she couldn’t even get an answer as to why 20 agents from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, Los Angeles County Sheriff, Ventura County Sheriff, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture showed up at her door for a five-hour plus search to once again confiscate her family’s brand-new computer, as well as the milk she feeds her chickens and pigs. Palmer believes the multiple raids and confiscations on her property are because she allowed a raw dairy farmer to park in her driveway so that he could distribute raw milk to local residents who had ordered it. Surprisingly enough, government raids of producers, distributors, and even consumers of nutrition-dense foods are on the rise. Sometimes the raids are meant to frustrate raw dairy production due to alleged health concerns, other times to challenge private food organizations over whether they should be licensed as food retailers. The same day Sharon Palmer’s farm was ransacked, there was a raid on Rawsome Foods in Venice, CA – a private food club ran by nutritionist and raw-food advocate Aajonus Vonderplanitz. For a membership fee of $25, consumers may purchase unpasteurized dairy products, organic as well as unwashed eggs, a wide variety of fermented vegetables and other products. Vonderplanitz was also visited by the FBI and the FDA, who made off with several thousand dollars worth of raw honey and raw dairy products. Not to mention, they also shut down the company for failure to post a public health permit. The extent of the raid, however, indicates that government officials may have had another agenda.

Earlier in June, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, along with police officials carrying search warrants, raided and shut down Traditional Foods Warehouse — a well-known food club in Minneapolis specializing in locally-produced foods. Two farms were also raided in suspicion of distributing raw milk illegally. Over the last three months, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection have launched three raids on the dairy farm and farm store of Vernon Hershberger. According to the officials, Wisconsin law requires a dairy and retail license with a clause permitting the sale of raw dairy products. The licenses would be astronomically difficult to obtain, however, since Wisconsin prohibits the sale of raw milk. Hershberger maintains that he only sells his raw dairy products to consumers who contract privately for his food. These raids appear to be due to increasing concern among state and federal officials about the spread of private food groups that have been sprouting across the country in recent years — food clubs and buying groups which provide specialized local products that are usually not stocked in grocery stores, like grass-fed meats, pasteurized eggs, fermented foods, and, in certain cases, raw dairy products. In late 2008 and early 2009, the representatives of state agriculture agencies in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin held private meetings with FDA officials to begin targeting raw milk buying clubs in the Midwest. The meetings were made public after Max Kane, the owner of a Wisconsin buying club who was issued a subpoena by Wisconsin authorities for the names of his consumers and suppliers, acquired email accounts of the sessions through a Freedom of Information request to Wisconsin’s Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection Department. Kane has since been prosecuted by Wisconsin authorities for contempt of court for failing to give up the names. His case is under appeal after he was found guilty last December. In December 2008, another raid occurred in Manna Storehouse – an Ohio food club near Cleveland – concerning licensing issues. A mother and eight young children being home-schooled at the time were held at gunpoint for several hours while the officials searched the home and food storage areas. The family filed a complaint challenging the raid, however the motion is still delayed in court. The injustice spreading through CSA-supported farms and food clubs has caught the attention of Pete Kennedy from the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund. He has expressed concern, not only about the raids, but about the suspicious willingness of judges to hand out search warrants for such farms. Kennedy observes, “I haven’t seen an agency turned down yet” over the last four years in requests for search warrants connected with raw milk and other food production and distribution. While the U.S. Constitution’s fourth amendment seems to be frivolously overlooked in these cases, it offers a dim outlook on the future of American citizen’s [health] rights.

The 2nd annual Go Green Expo in L.A. kicked off January 22-24th at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and featured over 300 exhibitors from all around the world looking to market their pioneering green products and services to environmentally responsible shoppers. In addition, attendees had the pleasure of listening to keynote speakers, such as Ed Begley, Jr. and Mariel Hemingway, give their advice on the easiest, most affordable ways that the everyday consumer can go green. Due to increasing water shortage and contamination issues in America and throughout the world, water filtration and conservation were a major feature at this year’s exposition. Green Energy News, video below, had the pleasure of dropping by to help spread the cause.

First Family to Renovate Historic White House into Energy Efficient Exemplar-

In a refreshing change of pace, the newest First Family is really “putting their money where their mouth is” in respects to establishing a more economically and environmentally sustainable country. While First Lady Michelle Obama is doing her part by planting an organic garden to supply healthy food and fertilizer, President Barack Obama is now seeking to attain LEED Certification for the colossal, energy-consuming White House. Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and president of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), has loaned his knowledge in energy efficient home design to aid the White House during its demanding transition, stating, “LEED certification of the White House is absolutely possible and viable… A normal building is already a challenging assignment, and this is something that’s a historic structure, one of [the] nation’s most historic structures,” he says. The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) are working under the USGBC’s guidelines to implement computerized energy efficient heating, cooling and ventilation systems, as well as other energy efficient appliances, automatic light sensor monitors that turn off in vacant rooms, low-flow water systems to avoid waste, and window films that help lower UV rays and save energy. LEED standards usually require windowpane replacement to improve efficiency of the building’s envelope; however the renovation cannot support this due to their ancestral glazing. To lower household toxicity levels, paints and sealers with low-or-no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) will be utilized, as well as biodegradable cleaners and recycled products. To add, the White House staff will be accountable for making improvements into procurement policies; responsible for considering toxicity levels and life cycles whenever purchases are to be made. Both Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton made energy efficient advancements to the White House during their Presidencies, and George W. Bush invested in a small solar photovoltaic system, as well as two solar water heating systems. Nonetheless, President Obama and his family have indeed raised the bar for environmentally-sound living standards, and have continued to exercise what they educate.