David's Organic Blog

Five Easy Food Changes to Live Longer & Be Stronger

Posted on April 4, 2014 by admin

We all want to be faster, stronger, smarter, and happier. But wishing, or even buying a lottery ticket, are longshots. Instead, here are five ideas that will help you, your family, and the Earth:

Five Easy Food Changes to Live Longer & Be Stronger

Eat brown rice every day, and millet, barley, oats, quinoa etc. every week
Eliminate all dairy foods, especially milk and cheese
Add super foods such as miso, shiitake mushrooms, umeboshi plums, and daikon radish
Stop drinking coffee, soda, alcohol, and fruit juice
Go organic, especially for animal foods, fruit, and greens

You will notice, in one month, positive changes. If you get a headache or a rash, go for a walk, do a body rub, and wait 24 hours. It’s your body actually cleaning house, when it previously could not. This is you reducing your risk of cancer, heart attack, stroke, etc.

Go for it!!

Do You Eat Mushrooms, Sprouts, Scallions & Tofu?

Posted on March 30, 2014 by admin

I eat all of these every week. Tofu, if organic, is a fine source of nutrients, and very satisfying if prepared well. Moderation is good, particularly if you are worried about breast cancer. But then you should not be having ANY dairy or sugar or chicken.

Anyway, these foods are great for the liver, which is actively rejuvenating itself this time of year. I just picked up three bunches of scallions for a dollar in Haymarket. But they need to be rinsed well and cooked or salted, because they are grown using pesticides. Organic scallions tend to cost around $.99 a bunch or more.

All of these foods are somewhat more yin than foods we enjoy in the winter, such as root veggies, eggs, meat, etc., and all can be eaten as they are or in millions of recipes for salads, soups, stirfries, casseroles and even desserts.

If you need ideas on how to use them, use our recipes, or see other Internet recipes, or buy a book, or attend a class, or eat at a great vegetarian restaurant.

Or email me at david@kaganmedia.net

Produce Bargains at Haymarket? Hold On…

Posted on March 25, 2014 by admin

I love a good outdoor market. A closure brought me through the Sumner Tunnel the other day, and I found myself at Haymarket, where the senses are delighted.

$17 later, I was carrying four bags of produce with amazing bargains:

3 avocados for $2
2 pints of blueberries for $5
a head of lettuce for $.50
2 giant leeks for $2
a giant head of cauliflower for $2
a giant bag of grapes for $1.50
an eggplant for $.75
a cucumber for $.50
Three scallion bunches for $1.00
a GIANT bag of mesclun salad mix for $2.00
a big bag of fingerling potatoes

All I could think of was the savings of $25 or more vs. Whole Foods

BUT…

The next day I got a headache, then diarrhea, and pains in various parts of my body.

It was the pesticides. And too much fruit. And nightshade vegetables. I should know better.

I had washed the produce, but my body is used to organic produce. I am guessing the lettuce and the grapes had the worst effect, but also a dinner with potato and eggplant did me no favors.

The next day I was worse, not better, so I had only brown rice and miso soup. And I’m staying away from all that garbage I bought on the cheap. I am regaining my health.

Have you had a similar experience? Please learn from it:

Pesticides are dangerous, particularly on grapes and lettuce
Fruit is great in small amounts, but cook them unless it’s summer
Nightshade veggies are dangerously acidic, unless it’s summer

Here is a link to a great organics organization.

Be well!

10 Ways To Live Longer

Posted on March 11, 2014 by admin

Here are your top 10 Ways to Live Longer:

Sleep at least seven hours per day, at least six days per week, preferably 11pm-6am
Eat less and chew more
Reduce consumption of beef, pork, chicken, eggs, and dairy from all sources
Super food: umeboshi, shiitake, daikon, lotus root, sesame seeds, org. soy, azuki, burdock, ginger
Organic kale, collards, cauliflower, broccoli, onion, scallion, leek, radishe, winter squash, cabbage, carrot, turnip, mushroom, celery, etc.
Cook your own food vs eating out
Take a long nature walk every day
Laugh more, love more, create more, give more, relax more, and complain less
Reduce use of media including TV, computers, cell phones, tablets, etc.
Avoid poisons: engine fumes, hair/nail products, perfumes, tattoos, pesticides, cleaners, etc.

Preventing Heart Disease

Posted on March 2, 2014 by admin

Heart disease is to blame for 25% of deaths in the U.S. each year, over 600,000 last year alone.

Despite a great amount of research, technology, and spending on drugs, procedures, and tests, this is a bold statement that our diet and lifestyle is not working. Further evidence comes from other countries in Asia, South America, Africa, even parts of Europe, where processed foods, sugar, salt, fat and animal protein are consumed less.

Are you headed towards a similar fate?

Take this test, and find out: (my answers in parenthesis)

Are You Likely to Die From Heart Disease?

Do you smoke? (N)
Are you 20 pounds overweight or more? (N)
Do you eat beef, chicken, pork, shellfish or cheese at least six out of seven days? (N)
Do you eat restaurant food on average 3 or more times per week? (N)
Do you use conventional (vs. Organic) animal foods and/or produce most of the time? (N)
Do you use pesticides on your lawn, or use a gas mower and/or snowblower? (N)
Do you do yoga, meditation, tai chi or other stress reducing techniques regularly? (Y)
Do you use sea salt at home, and eat brown rice at least twice per week? (Y)
Do you have sea vegetables, shiitake mushrooms, radishes, and miso weekly more more? (Y)
Do you get to sleep by 11pm at least three days per week? (Y)
Do you skip dessert a couple of times per week, and have whole fruits sometimes? (Y)
Do you do a daily body rub before showering? (Y)

Scoring:

For questions 1-6, YES answers add 2 points. For questions 6-12, NO answers add 1 point.
If you have 12-18 points, you are on the road to ruin, and need to make positive changes
If you have 8-11 points, you are average. Do not panic, just make gradual improvements
If you have 7 or fewer points, you are golden. Keep up the good work. (I have zero points)

Please note that making changes takes effort at the beginning, but is no less fun. Also note that we ignored red wine in this study—we don’t believe that alcohol helps. Also, we ignored family history. We believe that family history and diet are linked.

My job is to help people with motivation, ideas and support to improve their diet and lifestyle, so they can live longer and happier lives. Contact me at david@kagan.co

Chemicals Are Everywhere…And So Is Cancer

Posted on February 26, 2014 by admin

USA cancer deaths are rising despite more testing, medicines, procedures, even vaccines. These interventions actually CAUSE cancer, and are very expensive.

What’s less expensive, and more effective? Prevention. Here’s the recipe (from our front page):

Eat organic plant-based low fat/sodium/sugar meals
Take nature walks and do yoga/stretching/massage
Enjoy meditation, chanting, poetry, music, sleep
Do body rubs every day & see a chiropractor regularly

Avoiding chemicals is not on the list because we really cannot avoid them. Chemicals are everywhere. Acid rain, pesticides, food additives, bodycare products, manufacturing byproducts, and pharmaceuticals are wreaking havoc in our cells. And other species are dying.

Eating well, movement, stress relief and body care help the body detox. Going to the doctor is a waste.

REPENT!

Which of these vegetarian foods have you tried?

Posted on February 17, 2014 by admin

Ten Vegetarian Foods You Might Enjoy (and can prevent cancer, diabetes, obesity and heart disease)

Tofu
Tempeh
Seitan
Umeboshi plums
Shiitake Mushrooms
Kombu, Nori, Wakame, Hijiki, Arame, etc. Seaweed
Kuzu (aka kudzu) Root
Sesame Seeds
Daikon Radish
Burdock Root (aka Gobo) and Lotus Root

Vegetarian foods have more nutrients and fewer toxins, and are gentler on living beings, the environment, and our digestion. They are also less expensive.

Please see our recipe section for more information. Find most of these at Whole Foods.

Get Off Sugar and Salt and Get Your Life Back

Posted on January 28, 2014 by admin

There is so much bad food out there, it’s really crazy. For folks that don’t eat out, and aren’t really overeaters, or snackers, you are probably fine. But foodies, parents, nervous eaters, those who travel a lot, that can be trouble.

You may not have noticed, but most packaged foods have 2-3 times as much salt and sugar as they did 20 years ago. Chock it up to competition, or changing tastes, but people keep buying these foods.

Example: a square breakfast cake, with raspberry filling, made at the grocery store, with plenty of icky stuff, should have a lot of sugar and chemicals, but not that much salt. Well guess what? It had the lowest amount of salt of it’s shelf-mates, and yet it was at 110mg of salt per serving. That’s like the salt of a potato chip.

In fact, I buy vegetable stock that has only 75mg of salt. So what happens when you eat that sweet and salty cake? Naturally, it makes you hungrier for more sugar, so you eat more of the cake, and also have sweet drinks like soda, iced tea, orange juice, etc. You are on a vicious cycle, that destroys your health, starting with your liver, pancreas and mood. One third of us have diabetes. This is why.

You cannot believe how difficult it is to break this cycle. You need to have help. I’m here for you. david@kagan.co

Concussion (CTI) Linked With Animal Foods

Posted on January 15, 2014 by admin

We are getting to be more familiar with the pro athletes going postal, committing suicide, or suffering from cognitive impairment that seems like Alzheimers. In fact, there is an NFL settlement which is now being challenged, but needless to say the protocol for head injuries in sports and in communities is much different now than even two years ago.

What is being lost in this discussion is the eating of large amounts of animal food, which is typical for athletes, and in particular, professional athletes. Before and after games there are large buffets of all kinds of protein-laden foods, most likely not including beans and tofu and brown rice.

As indicated in The China Study, by T. Colin Campbell, and supported by dozens of other studies, eating a diet with more than 20% animal foods can cause a variety of health problems. I believe concussions are exacerbated by a diet like this, and this is part of what we are seeing.

That is, if two pro athletes on very different diets, one mostly vegan, with animal foods at or below 5%, and the other with animal foods at or above 20%, each had five concussions over ten years, odds are that the person on a mostly vegan diet would fare better.

Time will tell.

How to Lose 25-100 Pounds Fast & Forever

Posted on January 5, 2014 by admin

Truth is, doing anything fast can be problematic. Slow and steady wins the race. Better to do it slowly and keep the weight off, and feel great the whole time.

Make it a priority to live more healthfully, be happier and be productive in 2014. You will be glad you did.

Before you start, note your weight, complexion, mood, productiveness, sinus health, etc. More tests

Here’s how: (Whole Foods is a great supplier. See recipe page)

How to Lose 25-100 Pounds Fast & Forever (within 1-6 months)

Throw out any foods in your fridge or cabinet for more than two years
Buy sesame oil and toasted sesame oil, toasted nori, umeboshi plums, shoyu
Buy a pound of short grain brown rice and put it in a glass jar
Rinse 1 cup, soak 4-12, cook :45 in 2 cups water w/ pinch sea salt
Buy wakame seaweed flakes, tofu, shiitake mushrooms, brown rice miso, kale, scallion
Make miso soup with 2 cups water, 1 scallion, 1 shiitake, tofu squares, seaweed and miso
Also enjoy steamed, stirfried or boiled broccoli or cauliflower, turnips, carrots, cabbage, bok choy etc.
Eat two meals per day, and have plenty of water in between. Only drink water or twig tea
Chew well, eat sitting down, think positive thoughts. Pleasant conversation beats TV
Take a long walk before or after meals, get green plants for the house, do daily body rubs

I also recommend Sweet Vegetable Drink. You can make it yourself (send me an email to david@kagan.co for the recipe, or you can also get it delivered if you live in MA.

If you feel like changing other habits, such as taking more work breaks to stretch, having a massage, taking up yoga, writing or reading poetry, helping the needy, or calling an old friend or relative, go for it!

Follow this regime for one month, and see what happens. Compare your baseline tests with current results.

If you feel you got something, go for another month. I guarantee that 3-6 months of this behavior will dramatically change your life.

Good luck!

David’s Organic

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