GREAT IDEAS FOR EARTH-FRIENDLY SUMMER PICNICS!
Some good reasons to picnic and/or dine outside:
Here are some tips to help make your outside dining experience more comfortable and more earth friendly:
ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM IODINE DEFICIENCY?
The U.S. recommended daily allowance of iodine is set at 150 micrograms for adults. Unfortunately, this is only enough to prevent a goiter and does not provide enough iodine for the rest of the body's important functions. The immune and endocrine systems depend upon a steady supply of this life-giving nutrient in order to carry out their daily processes efficiently. Children depend upon iodine for proper development and growth. In fact, the World Health Organization reports that iodine deficiency in pregnant women is one of the primary causes of preventable retardation and brain damage. Thus, without enough iodine, optimal health cannot be achieved and disease is often inevitable. One of the first signs of iodine deficiency is hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland requires iodine in order to create necessary hormones that regulate the body's metabolism. Given this, its no wonder that an improperly functioning thyroid gland can manifest itself in a multitude of symptoms. Symptoms of hypothyroidism may include weight gain, poor memory and concentration, fatigue, cold hands & feet, dry skin, brittle nails, infertility, menstrual irregularities, muscle cramps, and puffy eyes. According to the American Medical Women's Association, Hypothyroidism now affects more than 11 million Americans. This number is expected to continue to grow. So, why are we all so deficient in iodine? The answer to this question is not a simple answer. In fact, there are several reasons for this alarming deficiency. First, modern diets do not consist of many iodine rich foods. Sea vegetables like kelp, dulse, bladderwrack, and nori are the richest food sources of iodine. These sea vegetables are consumed in abundance in traditional Japanese diets. In fact, its estimated that that the Japanese ingest nearly 14 mg of iodine daily from sea vegetables. This is almost 100 times more than the U.S. RDA. Given this, its no wonder that the Japanese also have extremely low rates of breast, endometrial, ovarian, and prostate cancers - all organs that require good amounts of iodine for proper functioning.
The most perplexing and frustrating reason for iodine deficiency involves chemical toxicity. We are currently being bombarded by chemical toxins that completely block the uptake of iodine into our bodies. The controversial fluoride that is often added to municipal water and dental products blocks iodine absorption. To make matters worse, fluoride has been found to take up residence in iodine dependent organs like the thyroid and pineal gland. The pineal gland secretes melatonin which regulates the sleep cycle. In lieu of this, you have to wonder how much of an influence fluoride may be having on all the sleep disorders Americans currently experience. Another water additive, chlorine, also competes with iodine for absorption much the same way that fluoride does. Before the 1980s, iodine was used as a dough conditioner in bread making. In the 1980s, iodine was replaced with bromine, a known carcinogen. Bromide, the source of bromine, is in the same chemical family as fluoride and chloride. It is no wonder then that bromine exhibits some of the same iodine blocking effects in the human body. Bromine is used in crop fumigation, pest control, certain medications and has been linked to several types of cancer. Given this information, its more crucial than ever to make sure we are saturating our bodies with iodine. Its important to note individuals with severe iodine deficiency often have to supplement with iodine rather than solely depending upon iodine from food sources. In these cases, it is often recommended to work with a health care professional to achieve optimum levels. By making sure that we are regularly consuming iodine rich foods we are taking a proactive approach to our health. For more information on Iodine check out these resources... Int'l Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders www.iccidd.org The Book... Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It by David Brownstein, M.D. Fluoride Action Network www.fluoridealert.org
THE TURNIP TRUCK GARDENThis year, we are thrilled to have Urban Organix, a local small business, responsible for making the Turnip Truck garden look so amazing. They have worked so hard to make our space beautiful and are working on securing arrangements to have all the produce donated. Urban Organix services include- custom built raised-bed vegetable and herb gardens, traditional tilled gardens, soil testing and amendment, irrigation alternatives, weekly and bi-monthly garden maintenance, companion gardening/ succession planting, eco-friendly pest control, and household composting. Their business goal is to maximize the use of square footage for the highest yield in small urban spaces while staying true to their convictions with regards to growing in a sustainable and eco-friendly way. As much as possible they heed the Farmer's Almanac when planting. By grouping plants together when they are complimentary to each other and keeping them apart when they don't get along, they utilize tried and true companion planting principles. When one crop's season has passed in the garden, another takes its place to ensure some nutrient-rich food is always available. Where possible, they use rain barrels to collect chlorine-free water to give vitality to the garden during dry spells. And once the garden has become productive, they like to set up a series of compost bins to process yard clippings and organic kitchen waste into rich fertilizer so that nothing is wasted. This is what Urban Organix envisions to be a baby step in the right direction to reduce our negative impact on our planet and ourselves. In this whole process, they hope to increase the nutritional content of our diet, lessen the fuel burned to bring the foods from the farm to us, reduce the chlorine and chemicals we release into the environment (and ourselves). To find out more about Urban Organix or get in touch with them, you can visit their website at www.urbanorganix.net. |
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We know July in Tennessee can be rough with warm temperatures, high humidity, and lots of bugs. But this shouldn’t keep you indoors all month. With careful planning and a little research, you can still enjoy the great outdoors. We suggest that you plan a picnic to enjoy delicious summer foods with family and friends.
Most of us are iodine deficient and don't even realize it. In fact, more than 50% of the U.S. population is currently deficient, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This is very unfortunate given that this trace element is essential for the optimal health of every cell in your body.
Second, the soil that most of our crops are grown in are lacking iodine. This is due to soil erosion and poor farming practices that deplete the soil of its valuable minerals. Mountainous areas and inland areas already typically contain very low levels of iodine. Overuse of synthetic fertilizers and poor crop rotation exacerbate this problem.
