Category Archives: organic

Question: Where can I find local organics?

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Since you know the Philly area, is/are there specific place(s) you suggest I do my grocery shopping? 

Here are a few tips that anyone can use to find quality food in their respective locations…

http://www.eatwild.com – Here, you can find all local grass-fed meat, dairy, and pastured egg sources. The website allows you to search by state and local area by zooming in on the pin-pointed map. It provides locations, product info, and contact info for farms, grocery stores, and things of the like.

http://www.localharvest.com – This site provides all of the above for local organic food sources: Online Stores, Farms, CSA’s, Co-Ops, Grocery Stores, Restaurants, Wholesale outlets, and Farmer’s Markets.

For those who travel, I managed to MacGuyver this way of finding organics while on the road: Google Map search on my iPhone (this can be done a computer, too) a group of key words before or when I arrive in a different city/area. My searches include: Organic, Grocery, Market, Co-op, Farm, Local, Vegetarian, Vegan, Health, Holistic, Whole Foods, or Trader Joe’s. Although I’m not a Vegan, if a Vegan place was nearby I’d walk to and inquire if they knew of any other “health” locations in the area that were more up my alley. It’s always possible to find quality, organic food no matter where you are or where you’re from. For example, while I was on tour with my band we had a show in Toronto. Through a Google Map search I was able to find a Co-op that was 2 miles from the venue we were performing at that night (we were only in town for one night). We got into town early and I walked the 4-mile round trip to the Co-op so I could get a good meal for the night and purchase food for the next day, too. Yes, that’s a bit much, but it’s an example of how it’s certainly possible to find organic food just about anywhere; it just takes a little creative effort and an understanding of the value that quality, organic food bring to life.

As for Philly, I highly recommend Birchwood Dairy Farms in Newtown, PA. They sell high-quality raw milk, raw cheese, raw butter, pastured eggs, grass-fed meats, fresh juice, homemade ice cream, and much more.

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The Secret to Life: How to Lose Weight, Gain Muscle, and Get Healthy Now!

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The Secret to Life! How to Lose Weight, Gain Muscle, and Get Healthy now!

Here it is! The answer everyone is looking for: How to Get Healthy and Stay Healthy in three easy steps!

Sound too good to be true? It’s not!

No hype.
No bull.
No marketing campaign.
No diet or detox miracle.
You don’t have to take any pills.
You don’t have to take any drugs.
You don’t have to starve yourself for weeks.
You don’t have to go from one diet craze to the next.
You don’t have to drink protein shake after protein shake.
You don’t have to weigh your food or weigh yourself every day.
You don’t have to run miles upon miles and do sit up after sit up.

Want to know how the heck you can get healthy starting right now?

L. F. B.

  • Love yourself.
  • Forgive yourself.
  • Be happy with yourself.

L. F. B.

Why do we become sick in the first place?
Why do we become sad?
Why do we eat too much?
Why do we not eat enough?
Why do we go from diet to diet?
Why do we go from exercise to exercise?
Why do we burn the wick at both ends?
Why do we believe that a fit body means a healthy body?
Why, now more than ever, is the United States becoming so unhealthy despite all of the diets, studies, and supplements available that apparently promote health?
Why, no matter what we do, can we not seem to get healthy?

  • Health comes when we take responsibility for our lives, our choices, and how we experience life.
  • Health comes when we are aware of why we may be unhealthy.
  • Health comes when we understand what it means to be healthy by questioning everything and listening to hour body.
  • Health comes when we have respect for ourselves, our body, and the food that we choose to become part of our body – our life.
  • Health comes when we balance our life’s wants and needs.
  • Health comes when we let down our ego and open up our heart.
  • Health comes when we provide a healthy external environment to reflect our internal environment.
  • Health comes when we do not place unrealistic expectations upon ourselves, others, or our experiences.
  • Health comes when we forgive our past so we can be present in the now and work towards hour future.
  • Health comes when we stop self-sabotaging.
  • Health comes when we are not ashamed of who we are on the outside because we accept ourselves on the inside.
  • Health comes when we accept who we are, and how we came to be.
  • Health comes when we do not compare ourselves to others.
  • Health comes when we understand that we are doing our very best in every moment and that no moment is ever wrong nor a mistake.
  • Health comes when you Love yourself.
  • Health comes when you Forgive yourself.
  • Health comes when you Be happy with yourself.

L. F. B.

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Fats101: What makes a Fat UNhealthy?

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This is a huge subject for me (and I’m sure it is for other health fact debunking enthusiasts) because I believe that there is a lot of false or misinformation out there that’s hurting more than helping the American people. Specifically, we are told that Saturated Fats (Butter, Dairy, Meat) are unhealthy and rampantly causing disease, while we are promoted and marketed to consume Polyunsaturated Fats (Vegetable, Nut, & Seed Oils) as a part of an “anti-inflammatory” and “heart-healthy” diet.

Marketing, ad campaigns, published medical journals, government recommendations, controlled [insert asian country name here] studies, health benefits, and nutritional values aside… let’s look at the molecular structures of Saturated and Unsaturated Fats, and how their structures are effected by heat or pressure…

Saturated Fatty Acid
Examples: Butter, Coconut Oil, Dairy Fat, Egg Yolks, Animal Fat

  • One chain of Carbon and Hydrogen atoms
  • No double bonds on the chain
  • Very stable structure due to the lack of bonds (no weak points)
  • Stability = High heat and high pressure threshold
  • Not susceptible to turn rancid, spoil, oxidize or become a Trans Fatty Acid

Monounsaturated Fatty Acid (Omega -3)
Examples: Olive Oil, Macadamia Nut [Oil], Egg Yolks, Fish, Nuts, Seeds

  • Two chains of Carbon-Hydrogen atoms
  • Contains one Carbon-Carbon double bond on the chain
  • Moderately stable due to one double bond (weak point)
  • Stability = Moderate heat and moderate pressure threshold
  • Is susceptible to turn rancid, spoil, oxidize or become a Trans Fatty Acids

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (Omega -6)
Examples: Vegetable Oils, Fish, Nuts, Seeds, Above Ground Vegetables

  • Three or more chains of Carbon-Hydrogen atoms
  • Contains two or more Carbon-Carbon double bonds on the chain
  • Low stability due to two or more double bonds (weak points)
  • Stability = Low heat and low pressure threshold
  • Highly susceptible to turn rancid, spoil, oxidize, or become a Trans Fatty Acid

What about Trans Fatty Acids?

Take a look at the last bullet point for each Fatty Acid and tell me which Fats are capable of becoming a Trans Fatty Acid… ONLY the Unsaturated Fatty Acids. Why? Because UFAs structures are much less stable than a one-piece Saturated Fatty Acid due to the double Carbon bond(s). In Fats’ case, bonds are weak points, thus encouraging a susceptibility for change (or mutation if you want to be real about it). Trans Fatty Acids are predominantly man-made (with few occurring naturally within Ruminant animals), and TFAs are primarily a result of heat and pressure. When an Unsaturated Fat is heated or pressurized beyond its threshold, the molecule mutates so that the Hydrogen atoms located at the double bond shift to opposite sides, which creates an unnatural molecular structure… aka Trans Fat. The more double bonds a Fat molecule yields, the more susceptible its structure is to become mutated (i.e. Polyunsaturated Fats – but that doesn’t fully discount Monounsaturated Fats!).

I’ll end with this…

Are the molecules the real problem or does the problem lie within how the molecules are used, treated, heated, cooked, pressurized, pasteurized, packaged, stored, ingested, and react? Not only are Unsaturated Fats unstable when they experience an oxygen-exposed, pressurized, tumultuous, and prolonged high-heat manufacturing process, but they are equally unstable when they experience an oxygen-exposed, pressurized, tumultuous, and prolonged high-heat digestive process. Think about that for a bit and get back to me…

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Inflammation: Grains, Nuts, Seeds, & Omega 6 Fats

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I bet you can guess that this post will tell you that some of your favorite foods/snacks are unhealthy. To an extent, yes… but my main point is to give you some perspective as to why these health foods aren’t so healthy after all…

Let’s start with Phytic Acid… one unhealthy property of Grains, Nuts, and Seeds. P.A. is a natural outer coating, which protects the nut and the germ/bran portion of a grain. This layer exists to ward off passer-by animals to avoid consumption because it will certainly cause digestive issues, thus allowing the plant to fully thrive/grow. What kind of digestive issues? Malabsorption (causing nutrient deficiency) and inflammation (food intolerance, food allergy, bloating, cramps, gas, fatigue, etc.). When consumed, the acid can actually bind to certain trace minerals such as Calcium, Iron, Potassium, or Magnesium and prevent the digest system from absorbing these (and other) nutrients. So, while you may be eating a healthy food, the digestive system actually cannot break down nor absorb any of the food’s healthy properties. Soaking (8-12 hours) or Sprouting (3-4 days) Grains, Nuts, and Seeds prior to consumption can help release most of the Phytic Acid, but trace amounts may still remain.

Gluten is another malabsorption and inflammatory property, and it is found only in Grains (with the exceptions of Corn and Rice). Gluten is a Wheat Protein. The body’s digestive organs are lined with a protective mucosa layer. This layer prevents bacteria, fungus, parasites, and you-name-it from entering the body and wreaking havoc. Gluten yields antibody properties that can break down this mucosa layer and penetrate the body’s immune system. Gluten can actually create holes in the intestines and undigested food can pass freely into the bloodstream (called Leaky Gut Syndrome) – holy immune system freak out, Batman! Gluten and its anti-digestive properties can be attributed to many health and mental diseases found all over this country (and world). It makes sense because the American diet is FULL of Gluten-based foods: Bread, Pizza, Flour, Beer, Oatmeal, Cereal, Snacks and the list goes on! Now, I believe that everyone has a Gluten Sensitivity, it just depends on how sensitive a person is and how long they can tolerate its intake before health problems become prominent (a person can even have issues and not even be aware of those issues because they don’t know any different).

Omega -6 Fats, also known as Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs), are also prevalent in American diet with their presence in Grains, Nuts, Seeds, Above Ground Vegetables, and Beans (we’ll stick to Grains, Nuts, and Seeds for now). According to most Doctors, Hospital Journals, and the U.S. Government, Omega -6′s are healthy and anti-inflammatory. I call Bullshit! Why? Because a Omega -6′s molecular structure is highly unstable and are rapidly oxidized (rancid/spoil) at moderate temperatures and at moderate pressures – not only in cooking, heating, or food processing, but also in the heat and pressure of a 98 degree human digestive system. Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids are called Poly-’s because they have more than one double bond (extra flimsy). Monounsaturated Fatty Acids have one double bond (flimsy) and Saturated Fatty Acids yield no bonds (strong like bull!). If these Omega -6 Fats aren’t damaged prior to consumption from food processing, packaging, and transportation, they can certainly be damaged, turn rancid, and cause inflammation when consumed. Now, different Grains have different amounts of Poly’s, as well as different Nuts and different Seeds so it’s a matter of choosing a less-inflammatory one over the other, but is it really worth it in the end if they still cause inflammation to some degree?

We covered how Grains contain THREE anti-digestive/inflammatory properties, while Nuts and Seeds contain TWO anti-digestive properties. These properties can encourage acne, eczema, rash, attention deficit disorder, chronic fatigue, brain fog, dehydration, constipation, weight gain, weight loss, erectile dysfunction, lack of libido, bipolar, mood swings, estrogen dominance (stress, emotional imbalance), dysbiosis, candida overgrowth, chronic infections, low immune system response, thyroid dysfunction, insulin-resistance, sugar sensitivity, dairy intolerance, food allergy, poor sleeping patterns, and you get the point. 

  • Grains to avoid: Wheat, Rye, Barley, Spelt, Quinoa, Millet, Buckwheat, Sorghum, Corn (take note that most alcohol is derived from grains/contain gluten)
  • Grains that are Ok: Rice, Gluten-free (still contains some gluten)
  • Nuts to avoid: Cashew (toxic properties), Walnut
  • Nuts that are Ok: [Soaked, Raw, Sprouted] Almond, Peanut, Brazil Nut, Macadamia Nut, Hazelnut, Chestnut, Pecan
  • Seeds to avoid: Flaxseed [Oil], Linseed [Oil], Hempseed [Oil], Cottonseed [Oil], Chia Seed, Sesame Seed [Oil]
  • Seeds that are Ok: [Soaked, Raw, Sprouted] Sunflower Seed, Pumpkin Seed

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What’s the best kind of detox?

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Breathing properly, drinking clean water, eating organic food, getting plenty of sleep/rest, getting plenty of movement, clearing your mind of wandering thoughts, letting go of excess [past] stress, and loving yourself.

The reason the body becomes toxic is because of a lost awareness of how to take care of oneself - our non-physical unhappiness manifests itself into a physical unhappiness (and reality).

Our external environment (physical body, physical possessions, living space) is a direct reflection of our internal environment (thoughts, beliefs, feelings, emotions, nonphysical body). 

 

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Supplement Question

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Is there a multivitamin you would recommend for a woman in their early 20s? I know some brands are found to not have the amount of vitamins that they claim/do not release the chemicals in the right way. How do I avoid this?

Supplements are a touchy subject for me. I cannot tell you what you should or should not take because I don’t know what your body needs. My questions to you are… 

- Why do you think you need a multivitamin?

- Do you know what your body needs?

- What does your diet consist of?

- Are you eating enough fats and hydrating with clean water so your body can actually absorb the vitamins you’d hypothetically be taking on a daily basis?

For Vitamins to be useful they need the proper environment to actually be digested and assimilated. There are Fat-Soluble Vitamins and there are Water-Soluble Vitamins. For instance, you can pop all of the Vitamin D you want, but if you’re not eating a healthy majority of Saturated and Monounsaturated Fats then you’re wasting your money and cellular energy. The same can be said with Vitamin C – while you may be drinking 1/2 of your bodyweight in ounces each day of pure, clean water… what if you’re downing 2 cups of coffee and eating refined carbohydrates such as bread/pasta every day? Both of which actually dehydrate the body.

My point is to focus on an organically-abundant diet that’s full of nutrient-dense foods and, also, a stress-free lifestyle before you go spending copious amounts of money on supplements that may not actually “work.” Organics can yield up to 60% MORE nutritional value than commercially grown/raised foods. Plus, you eliminate any of those lovely toxins: Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, growth hormones, antibiotics, and genetically modified organisms. Yes, I understand that it’s physically impossible to get all of your “daily recommended” vitamins from diet alone but that’s not a reason to focus less on whole, organic foods and more on life-fuel in pill-form.

I agree with you that the majority of supplements are not true to their marketing campaigns and labels as they often contains lead, aluminum, soy, corn (maltodextrin, dextrose), rice, and non-pharmaceutical grade vitamins. Don’t just buy a pack of Emer Gen C and think all will be well because chances are it’s 1/3 Cancer, 1/3 Fillers, and 1/3 Vitamin C from China. Now to somewhat answer your question, here are some of the companies that I back…

Designs For Health - http://www.designsforhealth.com/

Thorne Research - http://www.thorne.com/

Pure Encapsulations - http://www.pureencapsulations.com

Gaia Herbs - http://www.gaiaherbs.com/

Jarrow Formulas - http://www.jarrow.com

NutraBio - http://www.nutrabio.com/

And you can find these supplements for sale at…

Pure Forumlas - http://www.pureformulas.com/

iHerb - http://www.iherb.com

Rockwell Nutrition - http://www.rockwellnutrition.com

Hope this lands well. If you’d like to discuss yourself in detail and what you may or may not need, e-mail me at jdperryhealth@gmail.com

Fight Fire with… Nutrition?

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You are in a 30-story building. You set a fire on the 1st floor and call the fire department to put it out. They come immediately with the hook-and-ladder, break out their hoses, and put the fire out with ease. All is well. You then start a fire on the 2nd floor and call the fire department again. They’re confused but go back, give it 110%, and put the fire out. You proceed to set fires on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and so on; calling the fire department each time and each time they have to suit up, drive to the building, unpack their equipment, put out the fire, repack, and head back. By the 3rd time they’re tired, by the 10th time they have some some leaks in their hoses, and by the 20th time only a few show up and it takes them that much longer to put out the fire. The 30th time you’re on your own, champ! 
Now, imagine what happens to your immune system, your digestive system, your hormonal system, your muscular system, your skeletal system, and your neurological system when you eat crap food every single day of your life. The excuse of “I USED to be able to eat whatever I wanted” is not attributed to age, rather the body is tired of and eventually unable to put out the same fire over and over and over and over and over and over and over again (eating three times a day = 1,095 fires a year). The body is a very smart machine and it does its best to keep itself alive with what we, as emotionally-driven-egotistical-learn-by-experience-trail-and-error-we-all-make-mistakes-rome-wasn’t-built-in-a-day human beings, provide for an environment (internally: water, food and externally: sleep, exercise, stress).  This fire-started example can be a condensed version for some people that develop dis-ease later in life or it’s a current testament to how their body reacts from eating crappy food just once.
So, what’s “crappy food”?

Enough of this processed, boxed, packaged, microwaved, synthetically-fortified, ready-made, science-birthed, ecosystem-killing, greedy-bastard-touting, two-year-shelf-life, propaganda-marketed, spoon-fed NUTRITIONALLY VOID GARBAGE FOODS. 

Say NO to: All whole/refined grains, corn, soy, gluten, non-organic/processed dairy (whey included), omega 6’s (vegetable, corn, canola, soy, cottonseed, rapeseed, sunflower seed, safflower, flaxseed, peanut, and walnut oil), white flour, white table salt, white sugar, non-organic/vegetarian fed animal products, microwaves, anything that’s boxed, canned, plastic’d, or has a extended shelf-life, and not found in nature.

Eat real, organic, nutritious, highly caloric, saturated-fat-filled, cholesterol-laden, tree/root/walking-creature-derived, less-than-five-legible-ingredients FOOD. 

Say YES to: (ALL Organic) meats, full-fat/non-homogenized dairy, pastured raised eggs, shellfish, extra virgin coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, root vegetables, tropical fruits, fresh/unpasteurized juice, raw honey, raw can sugar, gelatin/collagen protein powder, sprouted nuts and seeds, celtic sea salt, and spices. Organic because it naturally yields 60% MORE nutrients than commercial foods (plus you don’t get any of those lovely chemical toxins and poor living conditions that come FREE of charge thanks to Ol’ Uncle Sam).


(edit: forgive the formatting… something’s gone awry!)

“All Natural”

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Don’t be fooled by labels and marketing gimmicks… “All Natural” means about the same as me saying that my shit is “All Natural.” If you want quality then buy USDA Organic or talk to your local farm about their standard practices.