United States Department of Agribusiness

everyone totally has to check this out. for those of you who don't know, the united states department of agriculture recently updated their dietary guidelines for all americans and the food guide pyramid. they released this information through their website: www.mypyramid.gov. today, my boss accidentally typed in www.mypyramid.org and found that someone had created a hillarious spoof site that reveals the truth about the usda.

they title their website 'the united states department of agribusiness.' here is an excerpt from their homepage:
"Welcome to MyPyramid.org! USDA hopes the updated food pyramid, MyPyramid, will help to ease much of the confusion that has come from so-called "doctors" and "scientists" claiming that their independent, repeatable experimentation has shown red meat, processed foods, agrichemicals and irradiation to be unhealthy for people and the planet. Many of USDA's top officials have worked in the Agribusiness industry, providing the expertise necessary to develop a pyramid that best represents the truth about healthy eating -- it's not what happens to the food before it gets to your table, but simply that you eat substantial servings of all foods -- Following these guidelines will help ensure the health of American families while guaranteeing the health of Agribusiness Corporations around the world.

everyone should check out this site! www.mypyramid.org

the toxic american diet

can we really make ourselves heart attack proof? one man, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., claims that heart disease can been arrested or reversed by a low-fat, plant-based diet. he believes the typical, 'toxic', american diet is way too heavy on meats, fish, fowl, oils and dairy. his goal is not to slow the rate of progression of heart disease, but to annihilate it.

while his goals are lofty, he does have the research to back up his claims. he conducted a 12-year study of 18 patients who in the 8 years prior to his study had experienced 48 cardiac events - a number of these patients were told by other cardiologists that they had about a year to live based on their situation. during this study, he simply placed the patients on a low-fat, plant-based diet coupled with cholesterol- lowering medication (because their conditions were so severe) and the results were incredible. it's interesting that Dr. Esselstyn focused soley on nutrition. he achieved his results without structured exercise, meditation, stress management and other lifestyle changes that were considered essential in other studies. what he found was that he patients really became virtually heart-attack proof. only one patient (who strayed from the plant-based diet) has had a cardiac event.

not only is Dr. Esselstyn dedicated to annihilating heart disease, but he practices what he preaches. he and his wife began following the plant-based diet several years ago. hearing him speak intrigued me to reevaluate my diet to see if i could cut out products containing dairy and oils. it makes sense, and he pretty much convinced me that these seems like the best way to avoid heart disease, but actually taking that step is hard. baby steps.

Hill Country Ride for AIDS

Hello everyone!

I am writing to tell you all of my newest adventure. Just yesterday, I completed my second half marathon (!), but have decided it's time for a new and different challenge. I have never done anything like this, but have decided to challenge myself while helping others in need. I am participating in the Hill Country Ride for AIDS, a 2 day bicycle ride through the beautiful Texas Hill Country. I am not a cyclist, but with their training program, I'm sure I can do it! We had our first training ride this weekend, and everyone was so encouraging and supportive.

Not only do I want to share this experience with you, but I also need your help. There are more people living with AIDS than ever before. I have committed to raise a goal of $600.00 to provide basic services, things you and I take for granted every day. I need your help to meet my goal!

As you decide your amount, imagine not being sure if you were going to have enough food, or medical care, or imagine being sick and not having any family to help take care of you. The agencies supported by this Ride provide all of these services and more. Together, we can make a big difference for some wonderful people.

If the link did not work or you would like more information, just go to www.hillcountryride.org and it will give you the option to donate to a rider - just find my name!

Thank you!!!