Sunday, August 7, 2011

The new "dirty dozen" list of produce 2011


A new report published by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) might make you re-think that "apple a day" -- if it's conventionally grown using pesticides.
According to the group's annual"dirty dozen" list of fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residues, apples ranked number one as the most-contaminated item, up from number four last year.
Other changes from the 2010 findings: this year, cherries dropped off the list, and lettuce, previously absent, now appears at number 11. The EWG uses data compiled by the USDA to produce these findings.
Dirty Dozen 2011
  1. Apples
  2. Celery
  3. Strawberries
  4. Peaches
  5. Spinach
  6. Nectarines (imported)
  7. Grapes (imported)
  8. Sweet bell peppers
  9. Potatoes
  10. Blueberries (domestic)
  11. Lettuce
  12. Kale/collard greens
The "clean fifteen" are also included in the report - these are fruits and veggies with the lowest levels of pesticides so there's no need to waste your money on organic versions. Some popular items include watermelon and avocado.
The EWG points out that if consumers simply chose their daily recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables from the least contaminated list over five from the dirty dozen, they would reduce the amount of pesticides ingested by 92% - without having to shell out extra money for organics.
Clean Fifteen 2011
  1. Onions
  2. Sweet corn
  3. Pineapples
  4. Avocado
  5. Asparagus
  6. Sweet peas
  7. Mangoes
  8. Eggplants
  9. Cantaloupe (domestic)
  10. Kiwi
  11. Cabbage
  12. Watermelon
  13. Sweet potatoes
  14. Grapefruit
  15. Mushrooms

Pesticides on produce

Conventional farmers use an arsenal of pesticides to protect their crops from insects, bacteria, rodents, molds, and fungi. These substances can end up in the food supply. Washing and peeling fruit and vegetables can lower pesticide residues, but not necessarily. When the USDA tests for pesticides, they wash and peel fruit the same way a typical consumer would.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Services acknowledges that scientists do not have a full understanding of the health risks associated with exposure to agricultural pesticide residues through food, soil, water, or air. They also report that farmers who use pesticides experience an increase in neurological symptoms and that the harmful effects on children are greater than on adults.
Recent studies indicate that pregnant women should also be careful of their exposure to pesticides. Three studies published in 2011 in the Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives suggest pesticide exposure can harm the developing fetal brain.

Organic vs. conventional produce

Organic produce is grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. However, organics can be harder to find and prohibitively expensive. If you are concerned about consuming pesticides, the EWG's dirty dozen and clean fifteen lists can help you make the safest and most affordable choices.

The new Dirty Dozen: 12 foods to eat organic and avoid pesticide residue


blueberries
(Photo: Getty Images)



Fruits and veggies are an essential part of a healthy diet, but many conventional varieties contain pesticide residues. 
And not all the pesticides used to kill bugs, grubs, or fungus on the farm washes off under the tap at home. Government tests show which fruits and vegetables, prepared typically at home, still have a pesticide residue.
You can reduce your exposure to pesticides by as much as 80% if you avoiding the most contaminated foods in the grocery store.
To do so, you need the latest info from the why the Environmental Working Group's "Dirty Dozen" list of foods most likely to have high pesticide residues. Since 1995, the organization has taken the government data and identified which type of produce has the most chemicals.
This year, celery takes the number one spot and both blueberries and spinach make an appearance (displacing lettuce and pears).
The best way to avoid pesticide residue on foods is to buy organic produce -- USDA rules prohibit the use of pesticides on any crop with the certified organic label.
Here's a closer look at the 2010 Dirty Dozen:
1. Celery
Celery has no protective skin, which makes it almost impossible to wash off the chemicals (64 of them!) that are used on crops. Buy organic celery, or choose alternatives like broccoli, radishes, and onions.
2. Peaches
Multiple pesticides (as many as 62 of them) are regularly applied to these delicately skinned fruits in conventional orchards. Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include watermelon, tangerines, oranges, and grapefruit.
3. Strawberries
If you buy strawberries, especially out of season, they're most likely imported from countries that have less-stringent regulations for pesticide use. 59 pesticides have been detected in residue on strawberries. Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include kiwi and pineapples.
4. Apples
Like peaches, apples are typically grown with poisons to kill a variety of pests, from fungi to insects. Tests have found 42 different pesticides as residue on apples. Scrubbing and peeling doesn't eliminate chemical residue completely, so it's best to buy organic when it comes to apples. Peeling a fruit or vegetable also strips away many of their beneficial nutrients. Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include watermelon, bananas, and tangerines.
5. Blueberries
New on the Dirty Dozen list in 2010, blueberries are treated with as many as 52 pesticides, making them one of the dirtiest berries on the market.
6. Nectarines
With 33 different types of pesticides found on nectarines, they rank up there with apples and peaches among the dirtiest tree fruit. Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include, watermelon, papaya, and mango.
7. Bell peppers
Peppers have thin skins that don't offer much of a barrier to pesticides. They're often heavily sprayed with insecticides. (Tests have found 49 different pesticides on sweet bell peppers.) Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include green peas, broccoli, and cabbage.
8. Spinach
New on the list for 2010, spinach can be laced with as many as 48 different pesticides, making it one of the most contaminated green leafy vegetable.
9. Kale
Traditionally, kale is known as a hardier vegetable that rarely suffers from pests and disease, but it was found to have high amounts of pesticide residue when tested this year. Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include cabbage, asparagus, and broccoli.
10. Cherries
Even locally grown cherries are not necessarily safe. In fact, in one survey in recent years, cherries grown in the U.S. were found to have three times more pesticide residue then imported cherries. Government testing has found 42 different pesticides on cherries. Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include raspberries and cranberries.
11. Potatoes
America's popular spud reappears on the 2010 Dirty Dozen list, after a year hiatus. America's favorite vegetable can be laced with as many as 37 different pesticides. Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include eggplant, cabbage, and earthy mushrooms.
12. Grapes
Imported grapes run a much greater risk of contamination than those grown domestically. Only imported grapes make the 2010 Dirty Dozen list. Vineyards can be sprayed with different pesticides during different growth periods of the grape, and no amount of washing or peeling will eliminate contamination because of the grape's thin skin. Remember, wine is made from grapes, which testing shows can harbor as many as 34 different pesticides. Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include kiwi and raspberries.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

bahn mi

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/articles/web-extras/2011/jul/21/summer-recipes-emsaveurem-banh-mi/

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Farmageddon

Ayurvedic recipes

Recipes

Souen glossary

Agar-Agar Agar Agar is a strong natural jelling agent made from red seaweed. It is Soothing to the digestive tract, aids regularity and also good for constipation.
Brown Rice 
Every rice seed has a structure that is formed of a stiff outer layer called ‘husk’, an inner brown layer that is called bran and a white colored seed under the bran. The husk is always removed from both white and brown rice and it is the inner bran layer that is either retained fully or partially removed, that gives rice the brownish color. Brown rice is rice which has the brownish bran layer clinging to the seed. Some types of brown rice have the entire bran layer retained (fully unpolished) and the rice in this case is very brown. It is widely believed that brown rice helps control blood pressure and also reduces wide fluctuations in blood sugar. The high fiber content of brown rice has a good effect on controlling cholestrol and cholestrol control is of prime importance in keeping away heart disease.

Buckwheat 

Buckwheat is actually the fruit of a plant related to sorrel and rhubarb. It is high in vitamins E and C as well as protein. Compared to other “grains,” buckwheat is a source of quality protein since it contains eight essential amino acids — proteins that your body needs to help repair tissue and build new cells.  It is also a powerful source of  minerals — especially magnesium, which helps regulate blood sugar levels and promote healthy blood pressure.

Burdock 

The burdock plant’s long, slender taproot has a pleasant, crunchy texture and earthy flavor. Highly regarded by ancient practitioners of Oriental medicine, burdock was thought of as a strengthening food-medicine, and was commonly eaten as a blood purifier. It was prescribed to hasten recovery from sickness as well as for relief from arthritis and diseases of the skin. In addition to its healing qualities, burdock is a good source of B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, folacin, and fiber. It is often recommended as part of a diet to counter the damaging effects of excessive sugar and drug use.

Daikon 
A long, white radish. Besides making a delicious side dish, daikon is a specific aid in dissolving fat and mucus deposits that have accumulated as a result of past animal food in take. Grated daikon aids in the digestion of oily foods.

Gomashio 

A condiment made from roasted, ground sesame seeds and sea salt. Gomashio is a rich source of minerals and whole oil and can be sprinkled lightly on rice and other grains. Gomashio neutralises acitities in the blood, strengthens the nervous system, augments natural inmunity and balances yin and yang elements in the body. It can be used for stomach and intestinal pains, irregular menstruation. It favours the production of breast milk and eye problems. When used daily it strengthens our organism and prevents diseases.

Hijiki Seaweed 
A dark brown sea-vegetable that turms black when dried. It has a wiry consistency, may be strong-tasting. Of all the sea vegetables, hijiki is the richest in minerals and it has an abundance of trace elements. It is extremely high in calcium (gram for gram, about 14 times more than milk). In addition, hijiki is rich in iron as well as protein. 

Kanten
Agar agar, a jelly-like substance made from tengusa, a seaweed. It is a vegetable product used as a gelling agent or thickener.

Kukicha-Tea
 

Kukicha is the stem and yang. It is also known as three years tea. This tea has six times more calcium than cows milk and 2 1/2 times more vitamin C than oranges. It helps to make the blood more alkaline. When we are fatigued it will refreshen and strengthen us. It is beneficial for people suffering from bladder infection, heart diseases and indigestion. It is a good healthy drink for everybody including children. It also helps digestion. 

Kombu 

A wide, dark green sea-vegetable that grows in deep ocean water, kombu is a natural flavor enhancer and has the ability to soften other foods that are cooked with it. For example, kombu contains enzymes that help to break down sugars in beans increasing their digestability. High in vitamins A and C, kombu also acts as an antidote to excess sodium consumption and it is known to reduce blood cholesterol and hypertension. 

Kuzu 
A white starch made from the root of the wild kuzu plants. The starch that makes kuzu an outstanding jelling and thickening agent in cooking is partly responsible for its medicinal action.
kuzu also contains a very high concentration of flavonoids, which are responsible for its strong medicinal effect on the digestive and circulatory systems. Flavonoids, which occur naturally in kuzu and other plants, are fairly well known as antioxidants. However, they also have the ability to inhibit the contraction of smooth muscle tissue, thereby increasing blood flow and relieving cramping in the intestines.


Lotus Root 
The root and seeds of a water lily which is brown-skinned with a hollow, chambered with white inside. Very good for the respiratory organs.

Mirin
A sweet liquid flavoring made from distilled spirits and glutinous rice on which a mold has developed. used for its sweetness, not for its alcoholic content though genuine mirin is found in the liquor department. Mirin masks strong fish and meat odors and imparts a sheen to food. In the Edo period, Mirin was drunk as a sweet sake. Otoso, traditionally drunk on Japanese New Year was made by soaking a spice mixture in mirin. Mirin is used to add a bright touch to broiled fish or to erase the smell of it. A small amount is often used instead of sugar and soy sauce.

Miso 

Miso is made from soya beans. It is a product that has been fermented and aged. It has living enzymes that aids our digestive process. It provides a nutritional balance between carbohydrates, essential oils, vitamins, minerals and proteins.It has 11 times more protein than cows milk.Twice as much protein as meat or fish.Its valuable enzymes helps our intestinal flora to digest food.Soya beans are rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron, other minerals and lecithin. When we are suffering from fatigue and tiredness it helps us relieve these conditions.It helps to dissolve cholesterol in the blood.Benefits people with high blood pressure and allergies.

Mu 16 Herb Tea
 

Mu Tea is an ideal, aromatic and caffeine-free blend of 16 mountain grown herbs. The original recipe for this unique and distinctive beverage was created by George Ohsawa, the father of Macrobiotics. It is a balanced tonic that both energizes and soothes the body. It strengthens both the stomach and reproductive organs. Men can reap additional strength and vitality from drinking Mu Tea.
(moutan, Japanese parsley root, cnicus, mandarin orange peel, licorice root, atractylis, cypress, cinnamon, hoelen, peach kernel, ginger root, rehmannia, cloves, herbaceous peony root, Japanese ginseng, and coptis.)


Seitan 

Wheat gluten cooked in tamari, kombu, and water. Many people use it as a meat substitute. Seitan High in protein.

Sesame seeds
 

Sesame seeds are very rich in lecithin. Lecithin is a fosforous fat that contains nitrogen and helps in the elaboration of sexual hormones. It therefore helps in mantaining the body young. Its an excellent food for the nerves and brain. The brain itself normally contains 28% of lecithin. Numerous people register a lack of this substance. All those suffering from memory loss or who need to do great mental work benefit from eating it daily. It additonally helps those suffering from nervous depression. It contains vitamins F, E, and B, calcium, iron, magnesium, silicon, copper and chrome. It also contains 15 aminoacids.

Shiitake Mushrooms

Fresh shiitake can be used in soup stocks or vegetable dishes, and dried shiitake are used in medicinal preparations. These mushrooms are effective in helping the body to discharge excess salt and animal fats. Amino acid in shiitake helps speed up the processing of cholesterol in the liver.

Tahini

Tahini is a paste that is elaborated from sesame seeds and benefits the digestion of fats and helps aboid accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries. It is therefore an important factor against arteriosclerosis, and the accumulation of fat deposits in the organism.

Tempeh 
A dish made from split soybeans, water, and a special bacteria, that is allowed to ferment for several hours. Tempeh is eaten in Indonesia and Sir Lanka as a staple food. Tempeh is a complete protein food that contains all the essential amino acids. 

Umeboshi

Umeboshi Paste has a balanced, centering energy that neutralizes extreme foods and conditions. Ume paste aids in digestion, strengthens the blood, and neutralizes acidity. Umeboshi Paste has a salty, tangy flavor, combining a sour and salty taste, with a wide range of culinary and medicinal uses.

Wakame 

A long thin green sea-vegetable used in making soups, salads and vegetable dishes. High in protein, iron and magnesium, wakame has a sweet taste and delicate texture and has many of the same nutritional benefits of its close relative, kombu. It is especially rich in calcium and contains high levels of vitamins B and C. 

Yamaimo
Yamaimo is a variety of yam also known as “mountain yam” and “mountain potato”. Wrapped in a golden to tan-colored skin, rough skinned yam has a white flesh that has a mild flavor.  Yamaimo is sticky and becomes gooey when grated.  Yamaimo root provides an excellent source of potassium and carbohydrates. It is known to help reduce high blood pressure, regulate digestion, and assist the body in making better use of proteins.  It acts as a tonic for general vitality, including male sexual potency.