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Lawsuit Filed on Lead-Containing Honey from Major Groceries - Center for Environmental Health →
Sassy Nation: A Health Alert
This just in– For all of our sassy honies who fancy the honey with your daily tea. The Center for Environmental Health released this statement the other day:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2012
Oakland, CA-Independent testing has found that honey purchased from Ralphs (a Kroger-owned store), Walmart, and Grocery Outlet has been found with high levels of lead, in violation of California law. The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) announced today it has filed lawsuits against Ralph’s and Grocery Outlet for violations of the state’s Proposition 65 law, which limits lead in consumer products to protect children and families from reproductive harm. Walmart’s honey supplier has also been notified of the concern and has been actively engaged with CEH to resolve the problem.
“A bit of honey can help the medicine go down, but it shouldn’t bring a toxic metal like lead along with it,” said Michael Green, Executive Director of CEH. “We’re surprised that a leading company like Ralphs has failed to take action on this health concern for their customers. Ralphs needs to live up to the Kroger claim that “health matters” at their stores.”
CEH purchased honey at Bay Area and Southern California outlets of the retailers beginning last fall and found three brands of honey in violation of California law. Lab testing found that a single tablespoon of Ralphs store-brand honey from Ralphs has more than double the legal limit for lead under California law. The other honey brands had between 1.5 and 2 times the lead limit.
Reports have found that metal barrels that some honey suppliers use for storage contain lead solder, which can leach the toxic metal into the honey. In the legal action, CEH is seeking legally binding agreements that require companies to use non-leaded containers and to test their supplies for lead content, to insure that they meet California safety standards.
Lead is a neurotoxin that can cause learning disorders, brain and nerve damage, hearing problems, stunted growth, and digestive problems. Scientists are increasingly concerned that there is no safe level of lead exposure, especially for young children.
CEH has a fifteen-year track record of protecting communities from the health impacts of toxic pollution and has previously uncovered lead and other toxic health threats to children from wood playground structures, toys, vinyl baby bibs and lunchboxes, imported candies, children’s jewelry, children’s medicines, and many other products. CEH also works with major industries and leaders in green business to promote healthier alternatives to toxic products and practices. In 2010, the San Francisco Business Times bestowed its annual “Green Champion” award to CEH for its work to improve health and the environment in the Bay Area and beyond.
For more information, see www.ceh.org
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Sassy Curves
You’re going to need to do this work out after all of your cinco de drinko mayo festivities. Thank us later.
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Sassy Appétit: Vegetarian "Chicken" Enchiladas
Sassy Appétit
Since cinco de mayo (<– no typo) is one of my fave celebrations, from the parades, to the *ahem* drinking, to the food, it’s a great excuse for me to get in the kitchen and throw down for the friends and fam.
If you’re looking for a crowd pleasing recipe, this one never fails. Of course all of the vegetarian-friendly ingredients can be swapped out for vegan options (or for meat-lovers, for that matter).
What you’ll need:
8 soft taco size spinach tortillas (or corn, your preference. I use what’s on hand)
2 cups shredded Monterrey jack cheese, divided*
2 cups cut chicken substitute (I like Quorn brand)
2 handfuls of fresh, washed spinach
3 tablespoons butter*
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups veggie broth
1 cup sour cream*
1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles**
1 (4 oz) can diced jalapenos**
Chopped, fresh cilantro and diced tomatoes/ fresh salsa for garnish
*Sub with vegan options, if desired
**I try to use fresh ingredients if I have it, so that’s ½ cup of each
What to do:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
1. In a large saucepan, melt the butter. Add the flour; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add the veggie broth, whisk until smooth. Cook over medium heat until sauce is thick and bubbly. Stir in sour cream, green chiles & jalapeno. Remove from heat.
2. Wrap tortillas (3 at a time) in a wet paper towel and steam in the microwave or on the stove for a few seconds to make them pliable.
3. Put a layer of your prepared sauce on the bottom of your pan
4. Distribute the “chicken,” Spinach, cheese & spooned sauce (about a tablespoon in each) evenly among the tortillas. Roll up and place seam side down in the pan.
5. Spoon the sauce in an even layer over the enchiladas. Don’t drown, though or it’ll be mushy. You may have extra sauce. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake covered for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Garnish with cilantro & tomatoes/salsa.
Serve and enjoy with rice & vegetarian beans!
For A Quick, Fresh Salsa
What you’ll need:
3-4 ripe Roma tomatoes, diced
¼ small white onion, diced
1 diced green Serrano chili pepper
1 garlic clove, diced
1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro
What you’ll do:
Chop & mix ingredients. Add a dash of salt/pepper, to taste.
Make your cinco de mayo a fun & safe one!
Smooches,
Tea
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Sassy Appétit
Avocado nutrition facts - six things about this amazingly healthy superfood
(NaturalNews) Beware of popular health myths. For instance, throughout the 1990s and into the first few years of this century, popular health “experts” often warned against eating coconut oil or coconut milk, causing many people to eschew a food now known to offer many health benefits. Another lingering popular health myth warns against avocadoes, which wrongly labels them as a dietary culprit because of their caloric and fat content. Yet, the truth is avocadoes can boost health in at least 5 ways:
1. Protein
Avocadoes provide all 18 essential amino acids necessary for the body to form a complete protein. Unlike the protein in steak, which is difficult for most people to digest, avocado protein is readily absorbed by the body because avocadoes also contain fiber. If you are trying to cut down on animal sources of protein in your diet, or if you are a vegetarian, vegan or raw foodist seeking more protein, avocadoes are a great nutritional ally to include not merely as an occasional treat, but as a regular part of your diet.2. Beneficial Fats
Avocadoes provide the healthy kind of fat that your body needs. Like olive oil, avocadoes boost levels of HDL (the “good” cholesterol). HDL cholesterol can help protect against the damage caused by free radicals. This type of cholesterol also helps regulate triglyceride levels, preventing diabetes. A study published early this year in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that a vegetarian diet, which includes HDL fats, can reduce levels of LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) as effectively as statin drugs.3. Carotenoids
Avocadoes are an excellent source of carotenoids. Although many people associate carotenoids only with red and orange produce, avocadoes are also an excellent source of this phytonutrient. Avocadoes, also known as alligator pears, offer a diverse range of carotenoids including not only the better known ones such as beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and lutein, but also lesser known varieties of this type of phytonutrient such as neoxanthin, zeaxanthin, chrysanthemaxanthin, neochrome, beta-cryptoxanthin and violaxanthin. Every time you consume foods rich in carotenoids, you deliver high quality vitamin A to your body, thereby protecting eye health. Carotenoids also enhance the functioning of the immune system and promote healthy functioning of the reproductive system. Since carotenoids are fat soluble, eating avocadoes optimizes the absorption of these nutrients.4.Anti-Inflammatory
The combined effect of the deluxe package of nutrients contained in avocadoes offers powerful anti-inflammatory benefits. Avocadoes’ unique combination of Vitamins C and E, carotenoids, selenium, zinc, phytosterols and omega-3 fatty acids helps guard against inflammation. This means avocadoes can help prevent or mitigate against both osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis.5. Heart Health
The fat content, which causes some uninformed health “experts” to deem avocadoes as unhealthy, actually provides protection against heart diseases. Studies have shown that oleic acid improves cardiovascular health. Oleic acid is the primary fatty acid in avocadoes. Many people now take supplements in order to consume more omega-3 fatty acids to lower their risk of heart disease. Avocadoes are rich in omega-3, delivering 160 milligrams per cup of alpha-linolenic acid.6. Choosing and Eating
To get the most nutritional value from avocadoes, avoid those which have become over-ripe. You can identify these at the store because they will have dents and feel overly soft when you hold them. A ripe avocado should have no dents in its skin and will feel slightly soft when squeezed. You can also buy unripe avocadoes, which feel very hard when gripped, and permit them to ripen at home. The portion of the avocado closest to the skin is the most dense in nutrients, so be sure to scrape the skin clean before discarding it.
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