GO GREEN when eating!

A diet based more on plant-based foods than meats and dairy can lead to extra years of healthy living. This very same diet reduces environmental damage and farm animal suffering.
Here are some tips for eating green:

1. Shop for safer, more sustainable fish. Find fish that are good for you (high in healthful fats, low in environmental toxins) as well as good for the ocean. http://www.oceansalive.org/

2. Eat grass-fed meat and dairy products. Look for meat, poultry and dairy products from animals raised on grass, not grains. Emerging science points to higher levels of anti-inflammatory fatty acids. An added plus is that these animals are not typically given routine antibiotics. What differentiates “grass fed” beef from conventional meat will soon be available from the American Grassfed Association http://www.americangrassfed.org/.

3. Buy pesticide-free produce. Buy produce raised without synthetic pesticides, and on land free of sewage sludge (biosolids) which can contain industrial waste and pollutants.

4. Avoid chicken raised with arsenic. Buy certified organic, which is arsenic-free, or from local producers who can assure arsenic was not used.

5. Be a “locavore”. Buy locally produced foods, when possible. This helps reduce the number of food miles, and supports the economic health of your local foodshed, and helps you learn how your food is grown.

6. Avoid plastic bottles and food packaging. Not only are disposable bottles, made from fossil fuels wasteful, the plastic packaging is often made with polyvinyl chloride or #3 plastic. This plastic used in cling wrap and some squeeze bottles may contain phthalate which can leach into foods or liquids, act as a hormone disruptor, and can increase the risk of reproductive damage and asthma.

7. Know where your food comes from. Ask Congress for country of origin labeling on all unprocessed foods. This is standard in European countries and would be under the auspices of the USDA.

8. Follow an anti-inflammatory diet. Pay attention to omega 3 fatty acids, eat 7-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

9. Choose your foods wisely. Avoid partially hydrogenated oils which can be a source of trans fats and is a sign of low quality food. Minimize processed and refined and most fast food. Eat whole, fresh foods whenever possible.