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Food, Nutrition, Organics, GMOs

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CATEGORY:  FOOD, ANIMAL WELFARE — 11.FEB.2015

Diet Science

Pastured vs. Free-Range vs. Cage-Free vs. Organic Eggs—What's The Difference? — Dee McCaffrey says the problems with conventional eggs range from low-quality feed to inhumane growing conditions. Organic eggs use better feed and have better growing conditions, but access to outdoors is sometimes more theory than practice in large organic operations. She rightly promotes eggs from backyard chickens as the best choice, with eggs from pastured chickens another good way to go.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   10:53

GP comment:  All that is correct. But McCaffrey also asserts that most people who are use pastured hens to raise eggs are also using organic or non-GMO feed. I suspect not even a majority of them do. I agree that pastured eggs are a top priority, but shoppers should also look for the organic or GMO-free labels. "Trust but verify." She also conflates GMO-free with soy-free, which are not at all the same thing. And "cage-free" usually means "in a crowded barn," and there is no rule that cage-free chickens must have access to outdoors. See the Humane Society's How to Read Egg Carton Labels for more info on terms related to eggs. Bawk!

Original Show Pub Date: 19.Jan.2015

CATEGORY:  FOOD, ORGANICS — 30.JAN.2015

One Radio Network

Keeping Food Clean—Overseeing the Organic Food Industry — Mark Kastel of The Cornucopia Institute talks about agribusiness' constant attempts to weaken the USDA organic standard—and what we can do about it. Topics include ... big companies trying to do organic on-the-cheap; Eden Foods and other food companies using excellent business ethics; the scorecard on the Cornucopia website that lets you research your favorite organic companies; carageenan, yes or no; why Chipotle took pork off the menu in 1/3 of its restaurants; why monocropping hurts soil; long term effects of GMO foods on human health; how buying organic protects you from the worst issues in the food industry.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   59:36

GP comment:  The Cornucopia Institute and the Organic Consumers Association—not to be confused with its evil name-twin the Organic Trade Association—are among the few things that keep the agribusiness juggernaut from crushing the value of the USDA organic standard (which is already a lower standard than it should be!).

Original Show Pub Date: 20.Jan.2015

CATEGORY:  FOOD, GMOs — 28.JAN.2015

Corbett Report

Food—Can DIY Conquer "OMG!"? — The problems of the industrial food system are obvious: food safety scandals, the death of family farming, food supply insecurity, the revolving door between corporate lobbyists and government regulators, and many more. The solution should be equally obvious: rolling up our sleeves and getting in the garden. James Corbett reviews some of the evidence against the industrial food model and then explores growing your own as a simple, natural solution to one of our most fundamental problems.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   55:38

GP comment:  This is a good primer for those who are relatively new to these issues. If you've been grappling with the issue of industrial food for a while, you probably won't hear much new here. See GP's page for gardening and agriculture audio for additional shows on those topics.

Original Show Pub Date: 14.Jan.2015 ~~ Original story title: Episode 299 -- Solutions: Guerrilla Gardening

CATEGORY:  FOOD, HEALTH — 23.DEC.2014

Diet Science

Health Effects of Cinnamon — Cinnamon has been used as medicine since biblical times. Today it is even being studied for possible protection against viruses and diabetes. Dee McCaffrey explores whether small amounts of cinnamon every day can help you be healthier.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   8:20

GP comment:  This report conflates results of studies using high-dose concentrates of cinnamon's essential oils to long-term use of small amounts of cinnamon powder. That's an inappropriate extrapolation. That said, the evidence is strong that cinnamon is a good thing when included in the diet—assuming you tolerate it. My other complaint here is that they do not discuss the different varieties of cinnamon—I know there are at least two—and whether the health effects vary.

Original Show Pub Date: 15.Dec.2014

CATEGORY:  AGRICULTURE, FOOD, GMOs — 09.DEC.2014

Food Sleuth Radio

The Seed Underground—A Growing Revolution to Save Food — Janisse Ray discusses the threat to seed sovereignty posed by multinationals like Monsanto, which are endeavoring to lock up the food-related profit stream from field to fork by owning the means of production. She explains how activism and seed saving both play a role in the fight.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   28:15

GP comment:  A simple solution would be to pass a constitutional amendment banning patents on life forms. Um, did I say simple?

Original Show Pub Date: 13.Nov.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, AGRICULTURE — 17.NOV.2014

Quirks and Quarks

Chicken Big — Chickens raised for meat have quadrupled in weight since the 1950's, thanks to selective breeding. The meatier chickens are also being produced with much less feed, which makes the process of raising and marketing chicken more cost efficient. Martin Zuidhof, Associate Professor of Poultry Systems at the University of Alberta, explains how we got here.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   9:29

GP comment:  This is not a bad thing, but it says nothing about animal welfare in the industry, which is generally appalling.

Original Show Pub Date: 08.Nov.2014

CATEGORY:  AGRICULTURE, FOOD, ORGANICS — 07.NOV.2014

Food Chain Radio

Feeding the Billions — As we head to ever-higher population levels, some say only industrial agriculture can feed the masses; others say only sustainable agriculture can get it done in the long run. Guests are John Kempf of Advancing Eco Agriculture and Mischa Popoff of the Heartland Institute. Topics include the divergent courses of ecological and industrial agricultures; whether government should encourage the development of one form of agriculture at the expense of the other; and the battle over the organic standard and small-farmers' rights.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   43:30

GP comment:  Popoff disses organic advocates for shunning genetic engineering and sewage sludge. Really?? There are very good reasons that those two things are not allowed in organic practice. And to praise Bill Clinton's failed effort to promote their inclusion only proves that Clinton was 100% corporatist and no friend of sustainability.

Original Show Pub Date: 25.Oct.2014

CATEGORY:  HEALTH, FOOD — 27.OCT.2014

One Radio Network

How the Biochemistry of Cooking Food Impacts Health — Bob Marshall uses biochemistry to understand the deepest levels of how nutrients work in the body, and how unwanted substances degrade the body. Topics here include .... using low-heat methods for preparing foods that can't be eaten raw; how frying, grilling, and baking damage food in a way that wreaks havoc on the body; how most people are falling short on mineral intake and food digestion; the problem of anti-nutrients in otherwise wholesome foods like beans, nuts, seeds, and grains.
Go to page A  |  Download/listen A   1:00:41
Go to page B  |  Download/listen B   46:26

GP comment:  I have no doubt that Marshall's science has merit, and we would all be well advised to consider his observations and advice. But at some point, life is not just about optimizing longevity; it's also about enjoyment, and tasty food is part of that. Some food is tasty raw or "warmed"; some isn't. Everyone must find their own balance between palate and preservation.

Original Show Pub Date: 16.Oct.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD — 08.OCT.2014

Diet Science

Study Advises Staying Away from Processed Foods — A new study confirms the wisdom of reducing simple carbohydrates, not saturated fat, as the best way to lose weight and maintain cardiovascular health.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   7:09

GP comment:  Don't go all Homer Simpson and start eating sticks of butter, but once again we see that saturated fat is not the enemy.

Original Show Pub Date: 15.Sep.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD — 26.AUG.2014

Fresh Air

The Bittersweet Truth About Artificial Flavors — "Flavorings were like gravity or electricity—something that was all around me but that I had never paid any attention to," Stephan Eirik Clark explains. His novel, Sweetness 9—the product of over a decade of research—explores the strange world of food flavorings, where chemicals are used to trick taste buds into thinking they're getting plant-based flavorings. Some of the moral and health issues are explored.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   26:10

GP comment:  Aspartame is to sugar as Mr. Clark's comments are to investigative journalism: The experience is not unpleasant, but it's not the same thing.

Original Show Pub Date: 18.Aug.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, ORGANICS — 18.AUG.2014

Diet Science

Meta-Study Says Organic Produce Wins — A new meta-study says organic produce beats conventional produce: more nutrients, less toxic residue. Organic has higher levels of nutrients like flavanones, vitamin C, and beta carotene, as well as lower levels of sludge fertilizer toxins like cadmium. This is contrasted to the Stanford study from two years ago, in which the researchers claimed there was no nutritional benefit from eating organic. The new meta-study is much larger.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   7:00

GP comment:  I wonder who paid for that Stanford study? Or for the new one, for that matter.

Original Show Pub Date: 04.Aug.2014

CATEGORY:  HEALTH, FOOD — 15.AUG.2014

One Radio Network

Lita Lee on Food, Enzymes, Thyroid Function, and Overall Health — Lita Lee, PhD talks about the importance of proper digestion and assimilation of food, as well as the importance of proper thyroid function, to overall health. Are you eating healthy foods and still not as well as you think you should be? What’s wrong with fish oil and most cooking oils? Why can't people be healthy on a vegan diet? Why does everyone need gelatin for joint health? What is the connection between rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid function? Why types of digestive enzymes work best?
Go to page  |  Download/listen   55:24

GP comment:  Interesting material, but Ms. Lee could be a lot clearer in her presentation.

Original Show Pub Date: 17.Jul.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, HEALTH — 07.AUG.2014

Diet Science

Gelatin—The Cure for Your Joints and Leaky Gut? — Dee McCaffrey discusses the benefits on consuming gelatin, explaining why it works and what types of gelatin to get. (Hint: It's not Jello, and it's not even Knox.)
Go to page  |  Download/listen   8:33

GP comment:  I tried Knox a couple times. Now I know why it didn't work.

Original Show Pub Date: 28.Jul.2014

CATEGORY:  GMOs — 30.JUL.2014

Making Contact

G.M.nO—Genetically Modified Democracy — More than 60 countries either ban or require labeling on GMO foods. The US is not one of them. As efforts by consumers and farmers to regulate and label GMOs move to the state and local level, the seed and pesticide companies are fighting back. In this clip, we hear interviews with a variety of activists working on the GMO issue.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   28:56

GP comment:  This was particularly good for exploring what's been going on in Hawaii on GMOs.

Original Show Pub Date: 11.Jun.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD — 25.JUL.2014

Nutrition Diva

Vitamin E Basics — Nutrition Diva covers Vitamin E—how much do you need, what are its benefits, and what is the best way to get it.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   8:01

GP comment:  Go nuts over nuts and seeds. But read up on soaking and roasting to keep the tannins and lectins down.

Original Show Pub Date: 22.Jul.2014

CATEGORY:  ENVIRONMENT, FOOD — 14.JUL.2014

Food Sleuth Radio

Nanomaterials In Soil—Our Future Food Chain? — Steve Suppan of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy discusses a new report on the presence of nanomaterials in soil and water, as well as their effects on soil health and, ultimately, the safety of food and drinking water.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   28:15

GP comment:  For nanotechnology and GMO technology, the profiteers have been given a license to use the world as their laboratory and us as their guinea pigs.

Original Show Pub Date: 26.Jun.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, AGRICULTURE — 07.JUL.2014

The Lifeboat Hour

Reclaiming the Future of Food — Michael Brownlee, founder of Local Food Shift in Colorado, explains what we're not being told about our food. Topics include the unholy alliance between Big Food, Big Ag, and Big Pharma; the systematic suppression of local food options; water issues; radical climate shift and agricultural output.
Download/listen   56:01

GP comment:  This is generally good, though I find it rather laughable that he promotes agriponics—a growing technology that is solidly in the "industrial agriculture" basket—as part of the solution to food sustainability.

Original Show Pub Date: 06.Jul.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD — 28.JUN.2014

Diet Science

Truvia—Sweetener or Insecticide? — The sweetener Truvia is touted as natural, but one of its major components comes from GMO corn and acts as an insecticide on certain bugs. Is Truvia OK for humans?
Go to page  |  Download/listen   7:33

GP comment:  Sweeteners—there's always a catch.

Original Show Pub Date: 23.Jun.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, AGRICULTURE, CHEMICALS — 09.JUN.2014

Food Chain Radio

Waste, Want Not — Caroline Snyder talks about the toxic chemicals that are found in sewage sludge and the conspiracy of corporations and municipal treatment operations that hides the truth from the public and attacks anyone who dares question their practices. Snyder is professor emeritus at the Rochester Institute of Technology and founder of Citizens for Sludge-Free Land. Joining the conversation is Patty Martin, a former town mayor in California and co-founder of Safe Food and Fertilizer.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   42:22

GP comment:  Just one more reason to eat organic—no sludge allowed on the fields.

Original Show Pub Date: 24.May.2014

CATEGORY:  GMOs, FOOD, HEALTH — 06.JUN.2014

What Women Must Know

The Truth About GMOs and Your Health — Top GMO watchdog Jeffrey Smith offers a flawless review of the politics, science, and dangers of genetically modified organisms in our food supply. Topics include gut disease from GM Bt toxin and from glyphosate, the top GMO pesticide; risks for infants and children; multiple tipping points that suggest consumers are winning the battle against GMOs, despite the political clout and dirty tricks of Monsanto and the rest of the GMO specters.
Download/listen   56:30

GP comment:  Must-listening for anyone who eats food.

Original Show Pub Date: 29.May.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, HEALTH — 05.JUN.2014

Nutrition Diva

Fructose Malabsorption and Gut Issues — Fruit is usually a healthy choice, but for those with fructose malabsorption, the wrong kind of fruit (or too much of it) can cause painful consequences. Nutrition Diva explains how to deal with fructose malabsorption.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   7:45

GP comment:  I suspect a related issue is the amount of FOS in some of these foods, like artichokes. FOS is not necessarily your friend.

Original Show Pub Date: 03.Jun.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, GMOs, CHEMICALS, HEALTH — 28.MAY.2014

One Radio Network

Glyphosate—Either It Goes Away or We Go Away — Stephanie Seneff is a Senior Research Scientist at MIT. She's been studying the effects of GMOs and glyphosate, the primary herbicide used with GMOs, and what she has discovered is devastating: Glyphosate is ubiquitous and exposure is toxic, leading her to conclude that we either ban glyphosate's use or we prepare to die off. Topics include ... glyphosate and gut bacteria; glyphosate as a cause of fungal infections; glyphosate vs. bees, bats and other animals; Europe, Russia, China, and others pushing back against GMOs.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   1:03:24

GP comment:  GMOs are bad, bad, bad. And now they even spray glyphosate on non-GMO wheat as part of the harvest process? Eat organic!

Original Show Pub Date: 20.May.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, ENVIRONMENT, LABOR — 26.MAY.2014

Sierra Club Radio

Green Coffee — Helen Russell of Equator Coffee discusses the reasons we should care about sustainably grown, fair-trade coffee. Russell also talks about how she went from two coffee shops to a $9M green coffee company.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   14:02

GP comment:  Shade-grown. Organic. Fair-trade. Bird-friendly. Try to get at least two of those in your choice of brews.

Original Show Pub Date: 17.May.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD — 21.MAY.2014

Diet Science

Canola Oil—A Hidden Source of Trans-Fats — Nutritionist Dee McCaffrey discusses the unfortunate truth about canola oil. The only way to get canola oil out of its source, the rape seed, is to press it using high heat. That destabilizes the oil, makes it go rancid, and produces trans-fats. Manufacturers then use chemical deodorizers to make the product usable. This is a problem even in organic and non-GMO canola.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   7:22

GP comment:  Yikes. Canola was already fairly low on my oil list, but I guess it's gone for good now!

Original Show Pub Date: 21.Apr.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, CHEMICALS — 14.MAY.2014

Living on Earth

Guide to Pesticide Residues on Produce — The Environmental Working Group has released its annual "dirty dozen" list of the twelve fruits and vegetables most contaminated with pesticide residues. This clip lists many of the top 12 and reminds us that extra washing of non-organic produce is not a solution.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   5:40

GP comment:  PROCESSED organic foods are quite expensive. But the extra cost to get fresh organic veggies and fruits and other basic commodities is not huge—and is well worth it.

Original Show Pub Date: 09.May.2014

CATEGORY:  GMOs — 07.MAY.2014

Diet Science

Hail Vermont! ... the First State to Require GMO Labeling — California and Washington voters failed to approve GMO labeling laws in their states. Several Northeast states passed laws that only kick in if a sufficient number of other states pass similar laws—that is, they want strength in numbers when they get sued by the GMO lobby. But now the Vermont legislature has struck a blow for food freedom—it has passed a GMO labeling law. The governor has said he will sign the bill. Dee McCaffrey talks about the victory and the reasons we should not be eating GMO food.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   7:06

GP comment:  Gentlemen, start your lawyers! Hopefully, Monsanto and their ilk will ultimately be beaten into submission with sticks and stones and sensible legal decisions.

Original Show Pub Date: 05.Mar.2014

CATEGORY:  NUTRITION — 06.MAY.2014

Diet Science

Don't Fear the Saturated Fat — A new meta-study finds that there is insufficient evidence to recommend consumption of saturated fat only in moderate amounts. Simultaneous consumption of simple carbs with saturated fats is, however, something to be avoided.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   6:51

GP comment:  The artery-clogging reputation of saturated fats is undeserved. Rancidity is much more of a problem, and saturated fats are very resistant to going rancid. That said, with all that delicious saturated fat, eat your vegetables!

Original Show Pub Date: 07.Apr.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, CHEMICALS — 05.MAY.2014

Living on Earth

Pesticide Residues Found to Contaminate GM Soy — A recent study found “extreme levels” of the chemical pesticide glyphosate in genetically modified soybeans grown in the US. Glyphosate, which is the typical herbicide farmers use with GM crops, has been linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and birth defects. The study also found samples of organic soybeans and non-GMO soybeans to be free of glyphosate residue. ~~ Also in this clip, a new law in Vermont will require labeling of genetically modified foods starting in 2016.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   6:44

GP comment:  Buy organic or make sure the label specifies non-GMO soybeans.

Original Show Pub Date: 02.May.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD — 05.MAY.2014

Diet Science

A Processed-Free Diet—Good for Your Brain! — A new study finds that processed foods and certain other foods—including industrial-milk products, salted fish, eggs, sausages, sugary drinks, candy and desserts—increase incidence of dementia and certain other diseases. Conversely, the protective/helpful foods include vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish; broccoli, kale, beets, red pepper, and other dark-skinned veggies; and blueberries, cherries, prunes, and raisins.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   4:44

GP comment:  It takes time to obtain and prepare fresh food, but the investment in time now will pay back in years added to your life.

Original Show Pub Date: 28.Apr.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, GMOs — 30.APR.2014

Connect The Dots

Update on GMOs — Dave Murphy and Lisa Stokke, co-founders of Food Democracy Now, discuss GMO labeling laws at the state level, industry efforts to influence food safety standards, new science on the risks of GMOs, and more topics related to genetically modified crops and faux foods.
Download/listen   56:13

GP comment:  Starts off a little unfocused but soon finds it's groove, and there is a lot of good info here on the battle to protect organic and defeat the scourge of GMOs.

Original Show Pub Date: 23.Apr.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD — 25.APR.2014

Diet Science

Natural Flavorings—Possibly Gross, Possibly Not Natural — Food chemist Dee McCaffrey explains why when you see the word "natural" applied to the flavorings in your food products, you should pause. Vaguely described natural flavorings can come from literally anything that isn't manmade, gross or not. And the language rules here are tricky, with important differences to be found in "flavor" vs. "flavoring."
Go to page  |  Download/listen   7:44

GP comment:  Weird animal and insect parts may be off-putting but are not really a health concern. The one valuable piece of info here is that "natural flavor" may or may not be OK, and "natural flavoring" is almost never OK. Damn food lawyers.

Original Show Pub Date: 14.Apr.2014

CATEGORY:  HEALTH, FOOD, PESTICIDES — 15.APR.2014

Living on Earth

Study Links Pesticides and Lowered Intelligence — Studies conducted in the Salinas Valley and New York City have found that the effects of pesticides on development in children can be similar to those of lead, including lower IQs and slower mobility. Journalist Susan Freinkel discusses the findings.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   6:27

GP comment:  Freinkel soft-pedals on her recommendations. Forget that "wash the pesticides off" nonsense—washing reduces but does not eliminate pesticide residue. Buy organic, or grow 'em yourself. And for heaven's sake, if you are still using lawn chemicals or "Turfbuilder" type products, STOP!

Original Show Pub Date: 11.Apr.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD — 10.APR.2014

Nutrition Diva

The Carageenan Controversy — Carrageenan is a seaweed extract widely used in the food industry, mostly as a thickener and gelling agent. You'll find it in ice cream, cottage cheese, non-dairy milks, jelly, pudding, and infant formula. Some scientists have presented evidence that carrageenan is highly inflammatory and toxic to the digestive tract. Equally respected scientists have detailed the reasons that this evidence is flawed and misleading, concluding that there is no valid reason to ban its use. The Diva dives in on the controversy.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   7:05

GP comment:  Probably better to not eat it regularly.

Original Show Pub Date: 19.Mar.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD — 07.APR.2014

Diet Science

The Skinny on Evaporated Cane Sugar — The health food industry routinely—and intentionally—misuses the terms like "evaporated cane sugar" to allow consumers to incorrectly infer that the ingredient is essentially "sugar cane squeezin's" and better for you than white sugar. Dee McCaffery explains the nuances of cane sugar—and why you should beware the "evaporated" moniker.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   7:49

GP comment:  Oh, those rascally corporate foodies, what will they think of next? That said, let's all take personal responsibility for our sugar habits.

Original Show Pub Date: 24.Mar.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, ORGANICS — 05.APR.2014

Food Sleuth Radio

Chuck Benbrook on the Benefits of Organic and Grass-Fed — Agricultural nutritionist Chuck Benbrook talks about why organic foods typically have better nutrient profiles than conventional foods; why grass-fed dairy is far superior to grain-fed, regardless or whether it's organic; and why the advent of GMO crop technology has ultimately meant MORE herbicide use, not less.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   28:15

GP comment:  My only complaint here is that it was too short!

Original Show Pub Date: 27.Mar.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, HEALTH — 04.APR.2014

Food Sleuth Radio

FODMAP—Change Your Carby Food, Change Your Bloaty Life — Patsy Catsos discusses the FODMAP diet—which is really more of a "problem-food elimination scheme." Many people have a gut imbalance that causes certain types of sugars, alcohols, and fibers to ferment in the large intestine, causing problems that range from simple bloating and discomfort to full-blown bowel disease. By eliminating the whole complement of fermentable foods and then reintroducing them one at a time to monitor symptom reoccurrence, a person may be able to design a permanent diet that allows their gut to heal and their life to return to normal.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   28:15

GP comment:  Problems with inappropriate fermentation of foods in the lower gut is no doubt a problem for a great many people. Just don't forget that it may combine with other gut issues and make the diagnosis and cure less than simple.

Original Show Pub Date: 20.Mar.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD — 31.MAR.2014

Food Chain Radio

The Modern Diet and the Jungle Effect — Dr. Daphne Miller once had a patient. The person was originally from a jungle area south of the border but had lived in the US for many years, acquiring the subtle ill health effects of modern living. When the patient returned to her jungle home for an extended visit, all the nagging health complaints that had crept up on her vanished. The patient—and the doctor—wanted to know why.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   42:37

GP comment:  Two words: Industrial food.

Original Show Pub Date: 22.Mar.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD — 24.MAR.2014

Nutrition Diva

Farm-Raised vs. Wild-Caught Fish — Eating at least two servings of fish or shellfish per week appears to reduce the risk of heart disease, delay the onset of Alzheimer's and dementia, and (if you're pregnant) make your baby smarter and healthier. Although meat, poultry, and fish are all good sources of protein, seafood is low in saturated fat and high in omega-3 fats. But when you get to the fish counter, does it make a difference whether you buy wild-caught or farm-raised fish?
Go to page  |  Download/listen   9:13

GP comment:  She blows past a couple of standard industry canards and loopholes and, shockingly, does not include radiation when discussion contamination issues. But she pulls it out at the end by recommending the useful Seafood Watch guide.

Original Show Pub Date: 04.Mar.2014

CATEGORY:  GMOs, CORPORATIONS — 20.MAR.2014

TUC Radio

The Safe Food Movement vs. the Agrochemical Giants — Campaigns attempting to label genetically engineered food have swept the US, from California to Washington and on to Connecticut, Maine, Alaska, Oregon and Vermont. But the right to know about the food we put into our bodies is always challenged by a powerful and extremely well funded lobby that represents the interests of biotech/chemical corporations such as Monsanto, Dow, DuPont, Syngenta, Bayer, and BASF, as well as junk-food manufacturers such as Kraft Foods, Pepsico, and Coca Cola. Vandana Shiva and Andy Kimbrell update us on the evidence against genetically modified foods and the war with the corporations that profit from them.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   29:00
Go to page  |  Download/listen   29:00

GP comment:  This is very good overall, though I do find it rather amusing that environmentalists worry about "super-weeds," which by definition are only a problem for industrial agriculture. True, their rise does cause use of more toxic pesticides, but super-weeds are really a small sidebar compared to other GMO issues.

Original Show Pub Date: 05.Mar.2014

CATEGORY:  DIET, NUTRITION — 19.MAR.2014

Diet Science

"Calories In, Calories Out" Formula is Flawed — Dee McCaffrey explains that the "Calories In vs. Calories Out" concept of weight loss is flawed because it ignores the dysregulation of metabolism-related hormones that is driven by many food additives and overloads of simple carbs.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   9:28

GP comment:  An unmentioned aspect of this is the use of healthy fats to buffer glycemic overload of high-carb meals.

Original Show Pub Date: 10.Mar.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD — 15.MAR.2014

Diet Science

A Predictably Cheesy Move by Kraft — Kraft has pledged to eliminate the artificial preservative (sorbic acid) they use in some of their sliced "cheese products." But will the new preservative really be any better?
Go to page  |  Download/listen   8:31

GP comment:  If you're eating "cheese food slices" and you're worried about the preservative, I think you've missed the point.

Original Show Pub Date: 03.Mar.2014

CATEGORY:  GMOs, AGRICULTURE — 06.MAR.2014

Food Chain Radio

GMOs and “The Stomach Study” — Howard Vlieger, an independent crop and livestock nutrition consultant, discusses the troubling results of his study on the long term consumption of GMOs on the stomachs of pigs.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   42:36

GP comment:  Vlieger is a well informed commentator on the ills of GMOs, though his message gets a little lost here because of the awkward interviewing style of the host.

Original Show Pub Date: 16.Feb.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, HEALTH — 26.FEB.2014

Diet Science

Chocolate, Tea, and Berries Found to Reduce Insulin Resistance — New research has found diets containing compounds found in chocolate, tea, and berries can help protect people against diabetes and other diseases.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   5:15

GP comment:  Surprise, surprise—a study has found phytonutrients to help improve the body's functions.

Original Show Pub Date: 17.Feb.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD — 24.FEB.2014

Food Sleuth Radio

Drug-Resistant Bacteria in 50% of Raw Chicken — Urvashi Rangan of Consumer Reports discusses a recent study that found resistant bacteria on 50% of raw chicken samples from supermarkets nationwide. Topics include corporate practices that lead to contamination and drug-resistant bacteria, including overuse of antibiotics in animals; how organic chicken fared against conventional chicken in the tests; and ways to improve food safety.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   28:15

GP comment:  Glad to see Consumer Reports is finally recognizing the consumer advantages of going green.

Original Show Pub Date: 30.Jan.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD — 21.FEB.2014

Nutrition Diva

Does Coconut Oil Raise Your Cholesterol? — Despite reports of coconut oil's "miraculous" powers, there is scant evidence that coconut oil will melt off the pounds, balance your hormones, boost your immune system, or raise your IQ. On the other hand, coconut oil is a very stable oil. It doesn't easily oxidize, spoil, or go rancid, and it has a high smoke point and does not produce harmful chemicals when heated. But that's because coconut oil is a highly saturated fat. Does that mean coconut oil will raise cholesterol levels and increase heart disease risk?
Go to page  |  Download/listen   7:06

GP comment:  Her conclusion is right: Coconut oil is a good choice as part of a suite of go-to oils.

Original Show Pub Date: 12.Feb.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD — 07.FEB.2014

Nutrition Diva

Does Juicing or Blending Destroy Beneficial Fiber? — Smoothies are all the rage, but how does liquefying fruits, vegetables, or even grains affect their nutritional benefits? Nutrition Diva gets to the qnswer at the bottom of the glass.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   7:58

GP comment:  The Diva handles the question expertly, but I guess I have to ask, what ever happened to just eating great salads using raw, fresh super-veggies?

Original Show Pub Date: 05.Feb.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, AGRICULTURE — 06.FEB.2014

Progressive Commentary Hour

"Organic Cannot Feed the World" is the Century's Biggest Lie — David Montgomery discusses a variety of farming related issues, including soil health, topsoil loss, monoculture vs. polyculture farming, and the role of failing agricultural models in the collapse of civilizations. Jeffrey Smith discusses the role of genetically modified crops in making our agricultural system—and us—ill. Though GMOs are still going strong, we may be on the verge of a tipping point, as natural foods companies join the Non-GMO Project labeling campaign.
Download/listen   58:08

GP comment:  You can rid your own diet of GMOs by following the steps at the Non-GMO Shopping Guide.

Original Show Pub Date: 03.Feb.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, HEALTH — 01.FEB.2014

Nutrition Diva

Does Dairy Weaken Your Bones? — The milk industry would have us believe that dairy is essential for good bone health. Some in the alternative health community think milk is fit only for baby cows and, specifically, that it actually diminishes calcium deposition in bones. Which is it?
Go to page  |  Download/listen   7:20

GP comment:  My info says that magnsium deficiency, not calcium deficiency, is the biggest problem with bone loss.

Original Show Pub Date: 29.Jan.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, HEALTH — 25.JAN.2014

Diet Science

Study Shows Chocolate Can Help Reduce Body Fat — Dee McCaffrey talks about a new study that shows eating chocolate can reduce your body fat. Of course, there are some catches.
Go to page  |  Download/listen   6:58

GP comment:  It's good that she recommends dark (minimally sweetened), organic chocolate, but her practice of putting cacao nibs in her smoothie could reduce digestion and uptake of the chocolate's nutrients since the chocolate would bypass salivary interaction.

Original Show Pub Date: 16.Dec.2013

CATEGORY:  HEALTH, FOOD, NUTRITION — 13.JAN.2014

Diet Science

The Healing Power of Carrot Juice — Dee McCaffrey talks about the many healing properties of carrot juice. The orange nectar includes live enzymes and antioxidant compounds called carotenes; promotes clean livers; builds bones and blood; and helps your eyesight.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   8:27

GP comment:  Their site recommends the Champion juicer. Had one; didn't like it. Got an Omega—much better because it puts less froth in the juice.

Original Show Pub Date: 06.Jan.2014

CATEGORY:  FOOD, GMOs, ORGANIC — 12.JAN.2014

Food Chain Radio

Is "Natural" a Food Con? — Consumers spend an estimated $40 billion a year on foods labeled "natural." What does that even mean? Is it regulated? Can consumers trust the labels? Stephen Gardner of the Center for Science in the Public Interest discusses these topics and his organization's legal actions against food manufacturers that label products "natural" when they contain ingredients that the general public does not consider natural.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   42.32

GP comment:  The "natural" label is always a distant second-best to organic. And as is made clear here, in some cases "natural" on the label is indeed a con. Beware especially when something contains any of the following ingredients and they are not labeled organic or non-GMO: soy; corn or high fructose corn syrup; sugar; cottonseed oil; summer squash and zucchini; milk.

Original Show Pub Date: 07.Dec.2013

CATEGORY:  FOOD — 10.JAN.2014

Diet Science

Low-Heat Pasteurization vs. Raw Milk — Dee McCaffrey talks about the various approaches to milk, from raw to low-heat pasteurization to ultra-pasteurized, as well as organic and grass-fed.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   7:54

GP comment:  With Fukushima radiation continuing to be a problem, I'd love to know if anyone has assayed milk products for contamination. Milk was a big problem after Chernobyl.

Original Show Pub Date: 23.De.2013

CATEGORIES:  FOOD, ENVIRONMENT, ANIMAL WELFARE — 06.JAN.2014

Sea Change Radio

Meat—From Livestock to Lab-Stock? — "Cruelty-free" products abound in our 21st Century market place, from cosmetics to fake fur. But can you imagine a cruelty-free filet mignon? Food journalist Tom Levitt discusses recent advances in lab-grown meat.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   30:00

GP comment:  This is good—a balanced, sober assessment of the status and potential of lab-grown meat to eventually reduce the environmental problems and animal suffering associated with livestock operations.

Original Show Pub Date: 10.Dec.2013

MORE AUDIO (old format)

Nutrition Diva

Chocolate vs. Carob — 22 Nov 2013 — What is carob? Is it related to chocolate? How do its nutritional characteristics compare to chocolate? Nutrition Diva serves up answers.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   6:00

(GP comment:  Not mentioned here is that chocolate is highly acidic whereas carob is alkalizing, which for some people means it will be easier on the intestinal tract and body overall)

Nutrition Diva

Ways to Reduce Food Waste — 05 Nov 2013 — The production and distribution of food is significant source of environmental pollution and resource usage. Reducing food waste helps reduce these impacts. The Diva offers numerous tips for reducing food waste, including: plan meals before you go grocery shopping; and strategize ways to easily identify and eat leftovers in the fridge.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   9:09

(GP comment:  She also identifies composting as a way to get value out of unusable food, but she should have mentioned growing more of your own food, too.)

Living On Earth

GMO Study Retracted—Censorship or Caution? — 06 Dec 2013 — A French study in 2012 led by Gilles-Eric Seralini found animals fed Monsanto's Roundup Ready corn had increased mortality and more tumors than a control group. Amid heavy industry criticism from industry, the journal that published the research has retracted the study from its archives. Michael Hansen, a senior scientist at Consumer's Union, explains why he thinks the retraction was unwarranted and amounts to scientific censorship.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   7:16

Nutrition Diva

How Much Protein Can the Body Absorb? — 16 Oct 2013 — The idea that the body can only utilize a certain amount of protein at one sitting has become widely accepted nutrition lore. But is there any validity to the claim? It all comes down to what exactly you mean by "utilizing" protein.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   7:00

Food Chain Radio

Eat Local, First and Foremost — 12 Oct 2013 — Using a local-food celebration in California as a discussion platform, Michael Olson interviews farmers and local-food advocates on how the purchase of local food has a positive echo effect on the local economy in general. Dollars spent with local entrepreneurs recirculate locally far more than dollars spent at corporate outlets.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   42:00

One Radio Network

GMOs and Glyphosate—Slow Poison Over Time — 19 Sep 2013 — Scientist Stephanie Seneff discusses the biochemistry of glyphosate and explains why it is so damaging to human health. The GMO content of foods is bad enough, but glyphosate—the herbicide that goes hand-in-hand with most GMO crops—adds another level of contamination, one that messes with the body's sulfate usage and liver function, among other things.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   1:07:05

TUC Radio

Vandana Shiva on Genetically Engineered Food and the Militarization of Agriculture — 01 Oct 2013 — Vandana Shiva has spent decades challenging GMO corporations and scientists, dedicating her life to the protection of "seed sovereignty" and the practice of non-chemical, non-GMO agriculture. Here she discusses efforts to promote biodiversity conservation by supporting local farmers and rescuing, conserving, and distributing plants that are being pushed to extinction by industrial agriculture.
Part 1:  Go to page  |  Download/Listen   29:00
Part 2:  Go to page  |  Download/Listen   29:00

Nutrition Diva

Tips on the Most Nutritious Way to Eat Vegetables — 17 Sep 2013 — The Diva talks about how to get the most out of your veggies. Topics include cooked vs. raw (nutrients destroyed vs. nutrients released), variety, and edibility.
Download/Listen   8:00

Food Sleuth Radio

How Big Food Targets Children — 12 Sep 2013 — Anna Lappe, project director at Food MythBusters, discusses the many ways Big Food aggressively targets children, at home and in schools. She also talks about ways parents and communities can fight back
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   28:15

Red Pill Tales

The Abominable Ways of Biotech — 10 Aug 2013— This is an excellent collage of GMO-related news, interviews, and music. Also covered are the health effects of glyphosate, the main ingredient in Monsanto's widely used RoundUp herbicide. This is fun and informative!
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   49:15

Diet Science

Skipping Breakfast Can Be Hazardous to Your Health — 12 Aug 2013— A new study suggests that eating breakfast is essential to good metabolic health.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   5:29

NPR

"Escaped GMO Wheat" Mystery Deepens — 17 Jul 2013 — When a farmer in Oregon sprayed a field with the weedkiller Roundup, some clumps of green wheat stalks kept growing. They turned out to be from a GMO variety. But there are no approved GMO wheat varieties being grown in the US, and no one can agree on the how the seeds got into the farmer's field. Worse still, some scientists believe that there's a chance that genetically modified wheat is still in the seed supply.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   4:05

(GP comment:  All GMOs will eventually escape their designed boundaries. Monsanto knows this; so do the regulators.)

Diet Science

New Study Indicates GMO Feed Causes Digestive Issues — 08 Jul 2013 — A new study finds that pigs fed a diet of genetically modified corn and soy suffer health effects compared to pigs fed non-GMO diets. All other conditions for the pigs were controlled, making this a high quality study. The main effect on the pigs was gastrointestinal inflammation.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   6:49

Unwelcome Guests

GMOs, Glyphosate, and Human Health Risks — 15 Jun 2013 — Anti-GMO guru Jeffrey Smith interviews scientist Stephanie Seneff about a study detailing the health risks of glyphosate (Roundup), the most common herbicide used with genetically modified crops. Her recent paper implicates roundup in gastrointestinal problems, which are linked to a huge range of diseases, including obesity, depression, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, autism, Parkisons, and Alzheimers. This two-parter concludes with a radio adaptation of the 2009 film, Percy Schmeiser—David versus Monsanto, which tells the story of a Canadian canola grower who undertook an epic legal battle with Monsanto.
Ref page:  Go to page
Part 1:  Download/Listen   1:00:00
Part 2:  Download/Listen   1:00:00

Nutrition Diva

Nutrition Tips for Men — Jun 2013 — The Diva covers the nutritional strategies that best support men's health.
Download/Listen   6:30

One Radio Network

New Study Documents Health Problems in GMO-Fed Animals — 18 Jun 2013— Dr. Judy Carman and investigative farmer Howard Vlieger discuss a new study that shows health problems in animals given feed containing genetically modified (GM) crops. The results report reproductive and digestive problems in pigs fed a diet containing GM soy and corn, confirming what many farmers have seen in their operations. Part of the discussion centers on how direct consumption of GMOs (say, by eating conventional corn chips) or indirect consumption of GMOs (say, be eating meat from GM-fed animal) may affect humans.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   1:06:59

Food Chain Radio

Organic—To Test or Not to Test? — 08 Jun 2013 — Organic food sales are growing fast, soon to surpass $100 billion per year. Occasionally, some organic food purveyors have been found to be cheating on the organic standards, taking advantage of the chaotic rise of organic—and taking advantage of consumers. Some monitoring or organic farms and processors is already done, but should more be done? What are the pros and cons of more stringent testing?
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   42:31

One Radio Network

GMO Safety—Don't Believe the Industry Science — 26 Mar 2013 — Howard Vlieger reviews new information on RNA and DNA damage from GMOs. In an Australian study, formaldehyde was found in Roundup-Ready corn. He recounts some of the negative findings in independent studies of GMOs and reminds us that when our leaders say the science indicates GMOs to be "safe," they are referencing GMO-industry-sponsored science, which surprise-surprise, always finds GMOs to be safe. Mothers Across America is a new anti-GMO organization that people can join to fight the GMO scourge.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   1:01:52

Democracy Now

New Extra-Legal Protection for GMO Companies Outrages Food Safety Advocates — 02 Apr 2013 — President Obama and Congress have outraged food activists by approving a spending bill with a controversial rider that critics have dubbed the "Monsanto Protection Act." The rider says the government must allow the planting of genetically modified crops even if courts rule they pose health risks. Gregory Jaffe, director of the Biotechnology Project at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch, debate the provision and the broader issues of genetically modified foods.
Watch 1  |  Watch 2  |  Download/Listen   44:39

(GP comment:  Apparently, CSPI has been captured by the GM industry. Their position that the science so far says "GMOs are safe" is ignorant and ignoble.)

The Wringer

Alexis Baden-Mayer of OCA on Labeling GMOs — 28 Mar 2013— First, an excerpt from the film Genetic Roulette explains the four steps you can take to avoid GMOs in your diet. Then Alexis Baden-Mayer of the Organic Consumers Association offers the latest on GMOs, explains why they are toxic, and offers suggestions on what we can do to get GMOs labeled this year.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   1:00:00

Food Sleuth Radio

The Threat of Genetically Engineered Salmon to Wild Fisheries, Coastal Economies, and Ecosystems — 14 Mar 2013 — Anne Mosness, food policy analyst and former commercial fishing boat captain, discusses the threat of genetically engineered salmon—the first US-approved GE food animal—to wild salmon fisheries and ecosystems, as well as to the economic well being of wild-catch fishermen.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   28:15

Food Chain Radio

New Food Rules from the Government and Monsanto May Overwhelm Some Farmers — 23 Mar 2013 — In the continuing march towards food oblivion, the US government and its Monsanto-spawned food safety chief, the notorious Michael Taylor, have a new 1000+ page document out on the street to tell food purveyors all about the new things they must do if they want to keep being part of the food biz. Oh, and by the way, reserve a few million bucks for fines if you screw up.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   45:00

Diet Science

Cows Fed Flaxseed—Guess What Happens Next! — 25 Feb 2013 — The brains in the food-science industry have come up with a new one: feeding dairy cows flax seeds to boost the omega-3 content of the milk. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are good, so neat! ...right? Wrong—and nutritionist Dee McCaffrey explains why.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   7:41

TUC Radio

Sandor Katz:  The Essential Role of Beneficial Bacteria — 20 Feb 2013— Sandor Katz offers an eloquent defense of the much-maligned microorganisms in our lives, without which our lives would actually not be possible. He briefly reviews the ubiquity of bacteria in nature and spends the majority of the talk discussing the value of fermented foods, from sourdough bread to yogurt to vinegar. He also explains the mystery of why your attempts to use commercial yogurt as a one-time starter for your own yogurt-making efforts are doomed to failure.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   29:02

Food Sleuth Radio

Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Found in Supermarket Pork Chops and Ground Pork — 17 Jan 2013 — Michael Hansen of Consumers Union discusses their report showing that pork chops and ground pork in US supermarkets are often contaminated with antibiotic resistant bacteria. Importantly, he notes that this is largely a problem of the industrial meat industry, and that buying organic is the best assurance that the risk of contamination is minimized. .
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   28:15

Nutrition Diva

Is Modern Wheat Making Us Sick? — 15 Jan 2013 — Some sources say that wheat bread can spike blood sugar levels even more than consuming a candy bar. The argument is that today's wheat has been modified to a point where the body does not recognize it as something natural and so it goes into a fat-storing panic mode. Is this true? Are wheat alternatives like spelt better?
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   7:12

Nutrition Diva

Artificially Sweetened Soft Drinks, Weight Gain, and Cancer — 18 Dec 2012— People often ask about diet sodas. Many see them as a harmless substitute for sugar-sweetened beverages. Others are deeply distrustful of the artificial sweeteners they contain—and there are plenty of scary rumors circulating on the internet to bolster these suspicions. Monica Reinagel discusses the latest research.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   7:05

Nutrition Diva

Good Mold, Bad Mold — 04 Dec 2012— Mmmm.... Cheese.... But beyond a limited number of foods that actually rely on mold for their delicious existence, molds on foods and beverages (or their containers) are to be avoided. Here are some warning signs to look for, and some guidelines for dealing with suspicious leftovers.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   6:15

Living on Earth

Mechanically Tenderized Meat—A New Frontier in Pathogen Problems — 14 Dec 2012— To make cheaper cuts of beef less tough, processors mechanically tenderize the beef with small needles or blades. Sarah Klein from the Center for Science in the Public Interest worries that the practice can insert dangerous pathogens like E-coli into the interior of the meat, which, depending on how you cook your steak, may not get hot enough to kill the germs. But Christy Bratcher, professor of meat science at Auburn University and spokesperson for the meat industry on the issue, says mechanically tenderized beef is safe as long as it is cooked to appropriate temperatures.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   8:51

Nutrition Diva

Does Drinking Soda Thin Your Bones? — 13 Nov 2012— There are lots of reasons to avoid sodas, and the potential for bone thinning may be one of them.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   8:04

Nutrition Diva

DHA and Your Brain — 20 Nov 2012— DHA is a type of omega-3 essential fatty acid that's important for healthy brain function. Lately, it's been proposed as a possible treatment for ADHD and as a hedge against Alzheimer's disease. DHA is indeed nutritionally important, but the data don't yes support DHA as a treatment for these diseases.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   6:04

The Lifeboat Hour

If You Don't Like GMOs, Stop Buying Products That Support Them — 18 Nov 2012 — Michael Ruppert reads a list of companies and the amounts they contributed to defeat California's Proposition 37, which would have be the first GMO labeling law in the US. It is essential that we understand who the enemy is and withdraw our financial support from the products and companies that were on the wrong side of Prop 37.
Download/Listen   5:29

Diet Science

The Powerful Anti-Oxidant Qualities of Turmeric — 19 Nov 2012 — Turmeric, a commonly used Indian spice and a key ingredient in curry powder, has powerful antioxidant properties. Dee McCaffrey talks about the spice, the important derivative curcumin, and the best forms to ingest.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   6:25

Diet Science

The Unfortunate News About Carageenan — 26 Nov 2012 — Carageenan is a common food additive made from seaweed. It's used in many organic and "natural" foods. But it turns out carageenan is something to avoid.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   7:20

Sea Change Radio

Frederick Kaufman:  The Fix Is In On Food — 20 Nov 2012 — Frederick Kaufman discusses the factors that go into fluctuating food prices around the world, the corrupting influence of the food-commodities market, how our global food pricing system mirrors the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots, and the potential impact of geopolitical and weather trends on the availability of food.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   29:59

One Radio Network

GMOs and Glyphosate Disrupting Digestive Function in Entire Food Chain — 06 Nov 2012 — Howard Vlieger began studying GMO crops in 1994 and has worked with some of the leading independent scientists evaluating GMOs. He says there is more research to be done, but the trend in the evidence against GMOs and its partner pesticide, glyphosate, is damning, showing that at all levels, from soil contamination to bovine intestinal degradation to human health effects, GMO crops are a negative factor in food. GMOs are also giving rise to "super weeds" and causing problems with pollinators. It's getting very hard to totally avoid GMOs in your food, though bans in some countries may be a turning point for the eventual fall of Frankenfood.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   1:17:52

One Radio Network

Jim Riddle on How the Organic Standard Applies to the Food You Eat — 01 Nov 2012 — Organics expert Jim Riddle talks about the USDA organic standard and how it compares to the previous voluntary organic standards. He also clears up some myths, misconceptions, and questions about organic: Does the organic label ensure no GMOs? How can organic foods be contaminated with GMOs or pesticides? How can farmers become organically certified at minimal cost?
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   55:16

Nutrition Diva

Whole Grains—Hype or Health? — 30 Oct 2012 — The Whole Grains Council urges us to increase consumption of whole grains for better health. Of course, the Whole Grain Council is a front organization for companies that sell whole grain products. So is "health through whole grains" just hype? Well, partly....
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   7:12

Food Chain Radio

Federal Mandates Pose Challenge for School Lunch Chefs — 03 Nov 2012 — School lunch chef Jamie Smith and nutritionist Jill Troderman explain how the US government's No Hungry Kids Act, while well-intended, had thrown some curveballs at school chefs, even those who want to cook health-smart meals for picky kids. And where does the parental role fit into the equation?
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   42:42

Food Chain Radio

Who Says GMOs Are Safe? — 20 Oct 2012 — Does the US government say GMOs are safe to eat? No! What they say is that the makers of GMO crops have told them GMOs are safe, and it's up to Monsanto and other GMO companies to ensure the safety. Wheh! As long as someone is an honest watchdog! (Yes, sarcasm.) Michael Hansen of Consumers Union explains.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   43:00

Nutrition Diva

Fat Levels in a Healthy Diet — 09 Oct 2012 — What is a healthy level of fat in a diet? Well, it depends on the type of fat. And it depends on what is being left out and replaced with fats.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   6:41

Corbett Report

The GMO Agenda — 02 Oct 2012— Anthony Gucciardi of Natural Society discusses the GMO agenda that is changing the very genome of the foods that we are eating. He discusses the health effects of GMOs, how people can fight back against GMO foods, and natural alternatives that can help reverse the effects of the genetic damage that is already being caused by these foods.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   45:45

InfoWars

Whole Foods Dancing on Monsanto's GMO Tightrope — 03 Oct 2012 — A controversial video of an undercover investigation into the presence of GMO foods at "organic" grocery leader Whole Foods Market was pulled from YouTube just days after its release, sparking a reaction throughout the health conscious blogosphere and alternative media. Aaron Dykes discusses this and other political aspects of the battle over openness and labeling of foods with genetically modified ingredients.
Watch  |  Download/Listen   19:10

TUC Radio

The Pathology of GMOs — 09 Oct 2012 — A quiet, unwelcome revolution has happened in our food supply over the last 15 years as industrial agribusiness has inserted more and more GMO components into our food. Don Huber, professor of plant pathology, speaks out on the dangers of genetically modified plants and a related pesticide, glyphosate.
Part 1:  Go to page  |  Download/Listen   29:00
Part 2:  Go to page  |  Download/Listen   29:00

Diet Science

Zaaappp! — What's Wrong With the Microwave? — 10 Sep 2012 — The evidence is mounting that microwaves aren't a good way to cook food, or even to reheat food, or even to heat water for tea. It has to do with the way the microwave energy changes the nature of the molecules in the substance being heated.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   6:47

KOPN Food Sleuth

Choosing the Right Probiotic — 06 Sep 2012— Food scientist Mary Ellen Sanders, an expert in dairy probiotics and food cultures, explains the benefits of probiotics and offers tips for consumers trying to choose the right gut bacteria for the job. She also addresses the question of pill-form probiotics vs. foods like yogurt and kefir.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   28:15

TUC Radio

The False Promise of Genetically Engineered Food — 19 Sep 2102— Under the Obama administration, approvals for new GMO plants have been on a fast track, despite the growing number of family farmers, medical professionals, and plant scientists who warn of health risks from foods derived from GMO plants and animals. Winonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch, explains what's at stake—overall and in the fight to start labeling GMOs in California.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   28:58

The Gary Null Show

GMO Dangers—The Laboratory Evidence — 24 Sep 2012 — Gary Null plays clips from an interview with independent French scientists who studied RoundUp Ready corn. The scientists explain how both the Roundup pesticide and the genetically modified corn itself cause tumors and other health effects in lab animals. The corn used in the tests was the same corn found in many US and some European foods.
Download/listen to this segment   12:52

Food Sleuth Radio

Proposition 37 and the Fight Against GMOs — 20 Sep 2012— Stacy Malkan of California Right to Know explains why genetically modified foods are a problem for consumers; why California's Prop 37 is the first step to GMO labeling for the entire US (and, ultimately, to a ban on GMOs); and how consumers can be GMO-free (even without labeling) in the face of more and more GMO-containing foods appearing on the market.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   28:15

One Radio Network

The Many Reasons Why Organic Food Is Far Superior — 10 Sep 2012 — In the face of the recent mainstream media reporting that organic food wasn't really any better than conventional, soil expert George Altgelt discusses the reasons that organically grown food actually is far better for you than conventionally grown food.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   1:05:09

Diet Science

Why Keeping the Body Alkaline Is So Important — 03 Sep 2012 — Did you know that if our blood changes only one degree in its alkalinity, we die! This week Dee McCaffrey talks about why it's so important for our bodies to be alkaline while, unfortunately, the Standard American Diet (SAD) is very acidic. She also explains why sodas are among the worst acidic offenders.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   7:48

Uprising

Food Crisis is Born of Poverty, not Production or Population — 11 Sep 2012 — The number of Americans suffering from hunger or food insecurity is growing, now standing at 17 million. , according to a Department of Agriculture report released last week. Recent warnings by three United Nations agencies point to a spike in global food prices in what could be a repeat of the 2008 food crisis. Raj Patel argues that the world is producing more calories per person today than ever before, concluding that the food problem is a matter of distribution rather than production.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   16:12

Diet Science

Benefits of Juicing 101 — 20 Aug 2012 — Dee McCaffrey discusses juicing: What mix of fruits and vegetables works best? And why does juicing provide a boost beyond just eating veggies?
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   6:32

Guns & Butter

Jeffrey Smith on the Continuing GMO Nightmare — 15 Aug 2012 — Jeffrey Smith gives his usual excellent review of the GMO nightmare, including... problems with the process of gene insertion; genetic mutations and gut problems associated with GMOs; how a chain of GMO-pesticide-related nutrient deficiency propagates up the food chain, ending with humans; the clear reproductive anomalies seen in lab animals tested with GMOs; why we should dismiss Monsanto's claims that Roundup is a biodegradable pesticide; the "mystery organism" created by Monsanto's Roundup-ready Franken-technology.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   59:51

(GP comment:  Are you still eating non-organic soy, corn, and canola? See the Non-GMO Shopping Guide.)

Diet Science

The Antioxidant Power of Whole Grains — 23 Jul 2012 — Wholes grains are known for their helpful fiber content. But it turns out they also are high in antioxidants. Forget about refined flours, though.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   6:12

KOPN Food Sleuth

Food Stamp Follies—Follow the Money — 05 Jul 2012 — As more Americans are slipping into the economic stratum that needs food stamps, big banks like JP Morgan are increasing the profits they make from running the food stamp (SNAP) program. Worse still, food stamps are often used to by sodas and other non-nutritive "food"; thus, taxpayers are subsidizing bad health and feeding the bottom lines of the agribusiness giants that sell junk food.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   28:15

Diet Science

Updated Guide to Pesticide Residues — 09 Jul 2012 — According to an independent study by the Environmental Working Group, 68% of US produce items are contaminated with pesticide residues. The most contaminated items—including apples, celery, blueberries, cucumbers, grapes, lettuce, peaches, and strawberries—should always be bought organic. There's much more to know—find out at EWG's site.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   5:42

Food Chain Radio

Walmart—The King of Cheap Food — 14 Jul 2012 — Wal-Mart now sells to US citizens more than one-fifth of their food, which is more than the combined sales of its three largest competitors. Tracie McMillan, author of The American Way of Eating, explores how WalMart got so big selling such cheap food.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   45:28

Colbert Report

Thought for Food—Super-Mocha-Latte Coffin Edition — 16 July 2012 — Stephen Colbert finds the funny side of two coffee-related stories: A funeral home has decided a Starbucks employees, and another company has decided that your vehicle needs a coffee maker.
Watch  |  Download/Listen   4:17

Shift Shapers

GMO Review—From Consumer Rights to Corporate Malfeasance — 24 Jun 2012 — Shouldn't consumers be able to look at a food label and tell if the product contains genetically modified ingredients? Shouldn't we be upset that top executives from the biotech industry have written (and still write) GMO regulatory policy via the corp-gov revolving door? Shouldn't we be alarmed at the suppression of strong evidence that GMOs cause health issues in animals? Voices heard in this roundup include Jeffrey Smith, Mike Adams, and Pamm Larry.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   58:20

Diet Science

Amazing Avocados — 02 Jul 2012 — Dee McCaffrey discusses new scientific findings about the virtues of avocados for good health and, surprisingly, weight loss.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   7:45

KOPN Food Sleuth

Lunch Wars and the School Food Revolution — 14 Jun 2012 — Author and "angry mom" Amy Kalafa discusses the challenges and opportunities for improving the food available in schools. Topics include getting local food into schools, fighting budget constraints, giving junk food the boot, and how parents can get involved.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   28:15

(GP comment:  This may seem off-season, but it will take motivated parents time to research, learn, and formulate an action plan for the next school season.)

KOPN Food Sleuth

Bill Freese on the Science and Regulation of GMOs — 21 Jun 2012 — Bill Freese, a science policy analyst for the Center for Food Safety, discusses the science and regulation of genetically engineered (GE/GMO) crops, the failed promises of GE crops, and new 2,4-D-resistant crops awaiting government approval.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   28:15

Diet Science

This Is Your Brain On Sugar — 04 Jun 2012 — A new study shows that rates have degraded memory and brain function when refined sugars with fructose are added to their diets. That includes regular sugar and high fructose corn syrup, but not whole fruits.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   7:10

Diet Science

What Is Nutritional Yeast? — 11 Jun 2012 — Dee McCaffrey talks about nutritional yeast—what it is, how it's made, and what's so good about it.
Go to page  |  Download/Listen   7:32

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