You know I had brought this up before, and little concerned to bring it up again. However, the more and more I look into "hormones", "peri", "menopause", there is one little dirty nasty thing keeps coming up.... That is the stuff that is allowed to be put into our foods. It is no secret, well atleast not anymore, that in all conventional meat, poultry, milk there are hormones being added. These hormones are added to "help" the animal mature and grow faster, so they can make a faster profit. It is also no secret that there are alot of pesticides in our food as well, and not mention all the other stuff they put in our food that we can't even pronounce.

It is also no secret that young girls are hitting puberty younger, and younger. They are now saying as early as 8 years old, what's up w/that. Think about it, take a lot at your average 8 to 10 year old girl, some of them are more developed than I am. They are curvey, and good Lord the breast only seem to get bigger and bigger, earlier and earlier. Well there is alot of evidence, and research to the fact that this has alot to do with you food supply. It is no secret that farmers are injecting their animals w/estrogen, progesterone, and testoterone (sp); it is fact!

Not too far where I live now, and where I so wanted to buy before we purchased the house I am in now, there is an entire community that is developing Brain Tumors, this include kids, and it such a high cluster of cases that they are testing the water supply. They are saying that it could possibly from the run off of farms in the area, and the pesticides. Well excuse me, if the run off from the farms can make people sick, would not common sense tell the FDA that it is in our food supply. I am sorry ladies, but it seriously makes you wonder....

I will tell you this, about 5 months ago or so, I switch to almost totally organic, and yes I have seen a difference in me! I am not 100%, and I don't tell my son he can never have Wendy's or BK again. But I will tell you this, each time I take him to Wendys, w/in an hour this kid is jumping off the wall, he is hyper and he gets more angry at the simpliest things. I work in a School, with our ESE Dept, and things such as AD and ADHD is on the rise. It makes me wonder...

I don't tell you all this be OMGish, run for the hills, we are all doomed... No, I tell you this, bcz perhaps we all need to make better choices when it comes to our food. Honestly, and trust $$ is tight right now, I REFUSE to buy any kind of meat (chicken, meat, fish, whatever, even hotdogs) that is not organic; I wont but any milk product that is not organic, I won't buy any sugar product that is not organic; or any veggie and/or fruit for that matter. Is it a little more expensive, yea, is it harder or should I say more time consuming to perpare, yea. But the funny thing is when you but these types of products, omgish, it goes a long way. What I mean, a side of veggies becomes lunch, dinner and snack. Do I feel better, yea. Is it the organic, I don't know, but for that, and from everything I read, I really really have to wonder...

Just my opinion ladies. But there is alot of evidence to support this. I truly believe way down the road, if not sooner, the truth will start to show it's ugly head about what they are putting in our food. I tell you what, going thru the hormonal roller coast that I am going thru, I am surely ain't going to eat no cow that has been injected w/hormones, ain't going to....

I absolutely agree with you 100%. I have said this to my friends many times over. I am buying more and more organic but I really believe I need to go all the way with this. I have cut out sugar quite a bit. Yeah, it's more expensive but so is all the medication and HRT that you have to put in your body to feel better and even then there is go guarantee. They say we are living longer, but, are we really living? I think it's hitting girls/women the hardest. So much of our bodies rely on so many hormones, much more than men's. I don't even want to use deodorant anymore (but I do if I need it) Fortunately, I have not been one to use a lot of products so to speak, perfume, lotions etc. I have never smoked (I hope that puts a good check in my column) I need to exercise, get proactive and make good choices. Right now ironically I am on my way to the psyche Dr. to ask for AD's so that I can cope with my anxiety and depression. Ughhh!! One thing at a time. Thanks for the post, it needs to be said.

Thanks, I am sure all may not agree... But I am really starting to think that there is something to it. Is it the end all of end all answer to our problem w/hormone, no, but you know what, I surely don't want to make it any worse...

Thanks again...

I agree we should eat clean food, and cut out processed food. But as history of womenkind goes, women suffered bad menopause way before hormones, chemicals, and pesticides made their way into our food chain, you have to agree. My mother had the same bad anxiety and mood swings, back in her 50s, even she cooked from scaratch, bought only organic produce, and never tried milk or meat raised with hormones.
The girls hitting puberty too early due to soy based formula, genetic predisposition, and body fat %, that certainly plays role in early puberty.
Add BCP since age 15-16 for 30+ years, and how this may affect women, no one talks about it.

We can cut out 100% processed food, easily, many organic meats and dairy, and produce available, but it does not garantee good health and longevity either.
Back to my home country, we had no hormones in meat and dairy, and yes, ppl were dying from cancers and heart disease, and women aged faster than in this country.Overall population was not healthy, man who made it pass age 60, were happy they lived long life.
It is all in perspective, food is imporant, but also, daily stress we endure, does more damage than all hormones and pesticides and chemical put together, JMO.
We can't avoid it all, but we can make wiser choices and start cooking from scratch and stop eating junk food, drinking sodas, eating frozen food, start reading labels, this is for sure, one step at a time.
hard to avoid breathing air, that is more contaminated than our food, and when we think heart disease is caused by high CHO, we may think air pollution, but it is not profitable for big pharma, statins are.
We can also use organic skin and hair hair products, perfumes, etc. but is there garantee we will be around for another 50 years, I doubt it.
JMO
I.

The expert speaks

you know the ole saying- " you are what you eat "

I've known that for years (or at least suspected it). I get as much organic meats, fruits and veggies as I can. Along with milk that doesn't have the hormones in it. My husband thinks I'm out of my mind (well, lately who could blame him?), but I drive 20 miles out of my way to shop at Whole Foods in order to feed my family food without all the added hormones. It's no wonder we're all homonally imbalanced!! What's the FDA up to anyway, aren't they supposed to be protecting our food supply?????

All I can say is Amen Sister....

FDA, just like every other govermental agency, $$$$...

Trust me, we can't escape all of it, we cant... I mean look at what we go thru, and what do they want to, oh it's this it's that, here's a pill... But I do believe by more and more ppl going to organic foods, it will make them stop and think. I know where I live, in Publix I see more and more "organic" options. Hey have checked out Purdue's commericals lately, they advertise that, no antibiotics, no hormones...

I dont know I could be wrong, but then again I could be right, but I do know one thing, we ain't eating what are Grandmothers did...

Becca, I completely agree. We operate under the illusion of trust that our food supply is "good" and that our best interests are first and foremost with the FDA. Not the case!!! At all!!!!! We buy almost 100% organic - yes, it's pricey, but we also support our local farmers who are committed to sustainable agriculture. And the amazing thing - almost NO food ever goes to waste in our frig, etc.

I do agree that stress is a HUGE factor in our health as well.

I want to recommend a wonderful book that I'm reading - it was recommended by my nutrtionist. The title is "Anticancer ....A New Way of Life" by David Servan-Schrieiber, MD, PHd. When he was diagnosed the 2nd time with cancer, he started wondering ... what is going on? What can I do, etc. This book is an incredible resource and a powerful story for everyone - who has/had or wants to never have cancer. He's not "off the wall" with any sense of extremism. He presents a very compelling, balanced approach to living well, including food, stress management, etc. I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone.

Thanks for starting this thread. I truly believe we all need to re-evaluate our food "system" and advocate for what is healthy - really healthy -and not just what the corporate companies tell us is healthy - so they can reap the profits.

Best, Kathleen

I'm on board about the stress thing being a bigger impact on our health. I know currently I am suffering with high anxiety which is raising my cortisol levels. I am more concerned about that than anything at the moment. I need to start exercising and getting my weight down. I need to find a way to calm myself when the storm inside hits me. For now I'm gonna try an AD (Lexepro) wish me luck. I know there will be some with "yes, that worked great for me" "Nope, that did not work for me". We'll see which one I am in. I do not want to be stressed out. Seriously, I think people who take things more in stride live longer and eat whatever the heck they want (within reason). I need to live in the here and now and not in the "what if's". This is going to be hard for me because I am wired every which way but loose. So, yes, food plays a part in things, just from a health stand point but stress, well in my opinion, that is the big killer.

Cutting out wheat and sugar seems to be very important from what I've read. A few months ago I really did it. NO sugar No wheat, NO flour......... the first week I thought I was going to up and die without any sugar. major withdrawal... ugh. But then I started to feel more even keeled, the food cravings really calmed down and I lost 20 pounds. I fell off the wagon during a camping trip, but today am back on. My doctor was very happy to hear about cutting these "killers" out of my diet. Apparently sugar leaches good vitamins and minerals out of our bodies.

We buy organic vegetables much of the time, and meat we try to get organic, or free range, but often don't. We went in with another family several months ago on a side of free range beef. It was a great investment - turned out to be $2.73 US per pound and was healthy excellent meat.

There is a list of the 10 most important foods to buy organic - because they contain the highest levels of pesticides when grown conventionally (according to FDA and USDA data):
Apples
bell peppers
carrots
celery
cherries
grapes
kale
lettuce
nectarines
peaches
pears
strawberries

I'm willing to do whatever I can within my power and the realm of possibility to not feel like CR*P for the next several years!!!!!!!!! If they told me to stick green beans up my nose I'd do it! And my 2 year old would appreciate it very much ; )
Best to all,
Cynthia

Great Post...

BTW don't that free range, especially the grass fed meat taste oh so good... OMGish that is like the best meat I ever ate...

Also you can good deals on it too. I have notice now that we don't eat out as much, heck we save more. It's great that you started this so young w/your child. My 10 year old keeps telling me, "please mama, tell me this is just a phase".... LOL Seriously though it's my fault, cuz I fell into that "easy" prep meals, and fast food, I so wish I would figured this out years ago for my son's sake. But hey I buy the food, so he has to eat it.. LOL


Kathleent, thanks for the title of that book, will surely try that out... Wrote it down.. The book that did it for me was "The Self Health Revolution", by J. Mianael Zenn, it surely opened my eyes, I also recommend this book too for anyone who just might be curious what they put in our food, and how the FDA is in w/the these big Drug Companies...

Michuganna, oh and I agree, STRESS is a killer no doubt about that. I think we need to take steps in so many ways to protect our bodies and our minds....

I am convinced that the fibroids so many women have are almost certainly due to environmental factors. I think diet and stress are key factors that we have some control over. The problem is that worrying about these things adds to the stress.

Amen to this. While we are what we eat is really true, consider what states for Organic produce in this country, all the leeways and loopholes in the regulations, most produce comes labeled certified organic by 3rd party......
100% USDA Organic is also not pesticides free, dairy labeled hormones free is good enough, when it comes to produce, local organic farmers are the best, but try to get it during winter, all comes from Chili, majority of fruits and veggies.
The Organic in this country is a bit of a gimmicks, as there are soo many ways to slap organic label on veggies and fruits and yet, it will contain pesticides residue. I thinm, washing thorough is good enough, some suggesting soaking in light vinegar solution, peeling, etc.
I eat no processed food, no sugars, no sodas, no sweets, no baked good, no hormone containing meat, I buy only organic milk, eggs, peanut butter, cheese only from Europe, where they use no hormones, organic produce when reasonable priced, mainly top 10 fruits and berries, I cook everything from scratch, eat no wheat, lots of veggies, fish, only best quality extra virgin olive oil, organic tea, coffee, well, you got the picture. I exercise, well, now less than before, but before I worked out daily.

Do I feel better than those who eat whatever? Nope. Am I healthy? Nope. Am I slim? Nope. I don't have fibroids, this one thing I don't have, YET. I have T2 diabetes.... eating no sugars and sweets, no soda, etc. for almost 30 years!!!! yes, I got T2, mystery.

Am I stressed to the boot? You bet, every morning I wake up with jitters and vibrating, and shaking, and muscle tension, etc.
Does it make difference in what I eat, apprently, not, based on my diabetes and horrible perimenopause, so I say, those who have least stress in their lives or know how to cope with it, live the longest and are healthest.
Stress will cancel out all out efforts to eat clean and be active.
Do I take fish oil- yes, calcium, magnesium, Yes.

Paradox, but women at work eating burgers and fries, pizza, etc. are slimmer and have tons of energy, and rolli eyes at my daily salad for lunch, wonder if I am not tired of it.
Enough said.

I have three kids and a husband,and a budget-I cannot afford to switch to all organic,but wish I could.it is sad that our food is making us sick.GOD-bless