Would you eat a lab-grown hamburger?

I would. As a clean-eater I enjoy the occasional grass-fed beef dish, but inevitably I find myself at a barbecue or restaurant that serves factory-farmed beef. And as to not be a pain in the butt, I eat it. One day in the future we may have they choice of ordering a hamburger made from either conventional beef or lab-grown beef, I’d choose the latter hands down every time and here’s why.

Benefits and possibilities of lab-grown beef:

• Hormone free and antibiotic free
• No pesticides, tranquilizers, or de-wormers needed
• Cruelty free
• Decreased factory farms = less environmental impact
• Competition with conventional beef may make room for more sustainable livestock farms
• and more land for sustainable fruit and vegetable farms!
• Safer in terms of food borne illness
• Less water used…
• less energy required…
• and more ethical compared to conventional beef production
• Healthier in terms of fats

So how does this cultured meat grow? It’s actually quite simple really. Using stem cell technology, a muscle cell originating from a real cow is programmed to divide over and over again in vitro ultimately producing a meat patty. This cutting edge technology has the opportunity not only to succeed but also to transform the way we feed the world. Did you know what ~70% of antibiotics used in the US are for cattle? How about ~20% of greenhouse gasses coming from cattle farms? It’s time to quit ignoring these issues and start solving the environmental and societal problem of factory farming – lab-grown beef could do just that.

Until cultured beef becomes mainstream – which could take decades – it’s important to weight the potential benefits. There’s a lot of people to feed on this earth and the population is only getting larger.

By Liz Schneider, guest blogger

Eating for beauty

The best compliment I’ve received is that I have great skin. I was actually taken a back given that I have freckles and a long clash with acne. But I’ll take what I can get. After years of trying every cream, lotion, pill on the market I stopped focusing on the things I put on top of my skin and instead focused on what I was putting into my body. Maybe I just grew out of the acne, but I’m eating healthier than ever before and my skin has never looked better. My tip is to try and eat antioxidant and anti-inflammatory rich foods every day, simply put: eat your fruits and veggies.

Antioxidant rich foods are those that contain:

• Vitamin A aka beta-carotene, the orange/red pigment that gives carrots and squash their color, can also give your skin a healthy glow as the pigments accumulate under the skin’s surface.
• Vitamin C and E are often paired together as they help protect against cellular damage in our bodies including skin. In fact a vitamin c deficiency usually manifests with dry, scaly skin and bleeding gums – a testament of vitamin c’s influence of tissue health.
• Selenium is a mineral found in the earth, and thus many foods contain it including seafood, meat, and plants. Depending on soil conditions, the same food grown in different soils can contain varying amounts of selenium. One Brazil nut is usually all you need for a days worth of this antioxidant.
• Zinc – although not really considered an antioxidant, zinc is essential for the proper functioning of the antioxidant pathways in the body.

Anti-inflammatory rich foods are those that contain:

• Healthy fats like those found in ground flax and fatty fish. A soft fluid-like membrane (made up of the fat you eat) protects all of your trillion cells, so you can imagine they are extremely important for skin structure. In the omega-6-fat laden society we live in, it is hard to obtain omega-3 fats, which research has shown to decrease inflammation in the body. A great goal is to incorporate fish into your meals twice a week.

Tips for eating clean

• Go slow. Especially if you are not use to regularly eating whole foods. Try adding one fruit or veggie at a time. Pay close attention to your body. There is such a thing as too much fiber!
• Drink more water. Fiber requires lots of hydration to pass through your gut comfortably and efficiently. Extra water is good for your skin too. Everyone’s hydration needs vary, but generally 6-12 glasses per day will do the trick.

I hope this inspired you to eat your fruits and veggies if not for anything else, for a glowing complexion!

Did you know? Acne is a disease of western civilization. It does not exist in certain countries like Paraguay and New Guinea. As expected, these cultures eat very clean diets excluding processed and refined foods…

Need help finding healthy foods containing antioxidants? Check out this website at www.WHFoods.org

PS – you don’t need to take supplements for great skin. Eat the food, the whole food, and nothing but the food! It’s how nature intending us to get our vitamins and minerals.

By: Liz Schneider, guest blogger

Couponing for real food.

Have you noticed the coupon craze sweeping the nation? Food companies seem to be encouraging coupon savings more and more. But the coupons offered often highlight processed foods. It’s tough to eat healthy on a budget – here’s some tips to help you out.

• Collect coupons online. Food companies love to offer coupons, thinking you will try their product and buy it again. Look for the “offers” button on their website, most refresh every month.
• Know your store’s coupon policy. In some stores you may be able to use multiple coupons on one item, re-use your coupons over and over again, or use expired coupons.
• Look out for sales items that you have a coupon for already, this equals double savings. This works very well with Whole Foods, which provides in-store coupon booklets and online printable coupons.

Couponing not for you? Here are some tips for getting the best deal without all the clipping.

• Compare unit prices to get the absolute best deal. For example, a bag of chopped broccoli is marked up to $3/lb compared to a head of broccoli for $1.50/lb.
• Take a minute to look for super savings before shopping. There’s usually a weekly special – stock up and freeze excess for later.
• Discover new dry goods at the bulk section of the store like coconut granola, Turkish dates, and red lentils. These items are priced very low and the best part is that you can control the quantity you purchase!
• Buy the grocery store’s brand. More often than not, the store brand contains the same exact ingredients and is even cheaper than a specialty brand on sale.

Want sustainable meats and seafood, organic produce, and specialty foods? You’re in luck. Shopping at natural food stores will usually give lower prices on these items compared to conventional grocery stores. Check out their flyers for even more savings like The Whole Deal coupon booklet offered in Whole Foods stores.

Happy and healthy shopping!

By Liz Schneider

On Dedication

My friend, Lauren, instilled in me many of life’s lessons. One lesson that resonates most is to remain dedicated to a task – even when all seems lost. Lauren epitomized this; while going through three years of treatment for stage 4 colon cancer she ran, did yoga, lifted weights or swam almost every day. I’ll never forget her pushing the women swimmers on training trip to do 10 push-ups while she managed two for every one they could muster.

I often think of Lauren and what she taught me. Perhaps most recently was while getting into a bike accident during an Olympic distance triathlon three weeks ago. It was a hot day. There was a water stop during the bike. And, I needed it. So, I slowed down to grab a bottle. But, I ran into the guy ahead of me. Next thing I knew, the left side of my body slammed on the asphalt and my bike was being dragged, attached to his rear wheel. I got up and assessed the damage- road rash and a bruised tailbone.

I didn’t feel like anything was broken or pulled so I got back on my bike. I was in pain; I channeled Lauren. What would she do? Lauren would kick it into high gear and make up time lost. So, I did. I finished the race and ended up with a personal best time.

I could have easily stopped after the crash, accepted defeat and limped home. But, I realized persisting despite the accident would make me a stronger triathlete and person. Now, when I start World Championships in London this September I can say I’ve prevailed through pain and raced hard despite it. And, no matter the outcome, I can say I’ve laid everything on the line even when my dedication was tested.

Dedication. To me, it means getting up before 5 am to train while going through an intense, 11-month dietetic internship. It means staying committed to my goals despite the possibility of failure, physical and mental pain and sometimes, even embarrassment crashing in front of the only spectator section at a triathlon. It means asking others for support when I need it. It means even if I “fail” I know I’ll gain more than I expected.

If you’re aiming for a goal like losing weight, getting a job, running your first marathon or making it big in the music industry dedicate yourself to it. Commit. Take risks (calculated ones, that is). Be accountable. Roll with setbacks and view them positively. Don’t expect perfection. If you never try, you will never know what you could achieve. The pay off is always worth it. And, remember that people, like Lauren, are cheering you on even if they aren’t here.

What does dedication mean to you?

By Kate Sweeney, guest blogger and soon-to-be registered dietitian.