Before I launch into my post for today, I want to let you know that I’m aware of the computer glitches that are occurring on my site and am in the process of figuring all that out. I have a Mac and am using Apple software to create the website and blog myself and apparently things don’t look quite the same on a PC (pictures may be missing, the formating is off, etc.). I’m also aware, thanks to two sweet, friendly, and experienced GF bloggers (Cindy at Cindalou’s Kitchen Blues and Seamaiden at Book of Yum), that the URL situation I’m dealing with isn’t working that great either. So please hang in there with me and I’ll keep posting recipes, nutritional information, and health tips while ironing out my technical difficulties. HELP!
Okay, back to the point of all this, which is to share in a healthy, nutritious, active, and fun gluten-free lifestyle. Like the Beatles so aptly sang, I get by with a little help from my friends. Going to try with a little help from my friends.
Don’t we all need a little help from time to time? And part of “getting by” on this GF journey is sharing ideas, recipes, survival tips, humor, and creativity with each other. This is a wonderful little subculture; a cyber community that links us all together, even if we’ve never “officially” met. I love it!
Onward . . .
Organic. Is it worth the money? I briefly touched on this a couple of days ago in my “lots about lettuce” post, which (drats) was missing the second picture if you viewed the post from a PC. I’m a fan of organic food and from what I’ve read, most of the time there is a difference in the nutritional value, not to mention the avoidance of pesticides and the effect on the environment. A National Academy of Sciences study stated that, “Low level pesticide exposure can cause serious, developmental risks to infants and children, some with lifelong consequences.” Also, for those of us dealing with digestive conditions such as celiac disease, avoiding pesticide exposure whenever possible is a good thing; less junk for our hard-working livers to deal with. At least try to minimize exposure by choosing organic when purchasing the following fruits and vegetables (the first list below). These have been labeled the “Dirty Dozen” by the Environmental Working Group after running over 50,000 tests for pesticides on produce collected between 2000 and 2005. If you can’t opt for organic in all your food choices, try to make your conventional choices from the “Cleanest 12” and your organic choices from the “Dirty Dozen” list.
The Dirty Dozen (highest in pesticide residue in order as listed)
peaches
apples
sweet bell peppers
celery
nectarines
strawberries
cherries
lettuce
imported grapes
pears
spinach
potatoes
The Cleanest 12 (lowest in pesticides)
onions
avocados
sweet corn (frozen)
pineapples
mango
sweet peas (frozen)
asparagus
kiwi
bananas
cabbage
broccoli
eggplant
Get the full list of results at www.foodnews.org.
Here’s to good health!
Melissa
