Stay Away From Throwback Sodas Too

Good Day Revolutionaries.  We were in the store recently and noticed some "throwback" soda products.  Our friends at treehugger did as well.  Check it out.

Rule #4 of Michael Pollan's new bestseller Food Rules is Avoid food products that contain high-fructose corn syrup. But he notes-

Don't fall for the food industry's latest scam: products reformulated to contain "no HFCS" or "real cane sugar." These claims imply that these foods are somehow healthier, but they're not. Sugar is sugar.

Others think HFCS is worse than sugar, and have linked it to diabetes andhypertension, but let's assume Michael is right and that sugar is sugar. The new Pepsi and Mountain Dew have about 41 grams of the stuff in each can. I got out my trusty old scale and measured that out.

The paper is to increase the contrast; I put one on each side for balance. I converted the grams to ounces (it is an old scale) and spooned it out. Eight teaspoons worth. You would throw up if you put that much into your coffee, but happily down eight teaspoons of it in a can?
Pepsi is touting the stuff with ads that say "Pepsi Throwback gives shoppers another opportunity to chose natural sweeteners instead of manufactured ones."
Really, as Rosie Mestel points out in the LA Times health blog, so many products are touting the fact that they are made with cane or beet sugar that you might think it was a health food.
And why are companies doing it? There used to be a big difference in price, but according to AG weekly, that gap has narrowed in recent years, he said. And at one point in the past year, the price advantage all but disappeared. So they might as well all look suddenly "natural."
Twenty-five percent of American children are overweight and 11% are obese. Children who drink pop eat more than those who don't, and are fatter; some think it screws up insulin levels and makes them hungrier. It soften and rots teeth. The caffeine is a diuretic and increases bone loss. As one writer put it, "The consumption of soda is leading our children to an early grave."
So don't think that the Throwback is any healthier just because it's "natural"- It isn't.
-treehugger.com

Revolution Greens Popping Up All Over The Planet

The Revolution Greens Army is growing.  Revolutionaries all over the globe are putting up our stickers and spreading the word.  A note, we don't condone the stickering of public property around the world, but we do think its pretty cool.  Put then on your computers, guitars windows! If you want some stickers of your own click the link below!

REVOLUTION GREENS STICKERS HERE

Miami

 Rome

Madrid

Barcelona

Iron Chef Goes Organic At The White House

Happy New Year Revolutionaries.  We have made it to the new decade.  Hopefully we have all made our New Year's resolutions to be healthier this year.  If you did we will be happy to help in anyway.  We thought it would be nice to start off with a fun post.  This info comes from our firends at GOOD.is-


Last night on Iron Chef America, the greatest reality food show in history (after Top Chef, of course), they took us to the White House to meet Michelle Obama. There, chefs Mario Batali, Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay and private chef to the president Cristeta Comerford were presented with the secret ingredient, around which they'd have to plan five courses—only instead of one ingredient, they had a whole garden to work with. An organic garden, no less.

I've rarely seen a media blitz like the one the Food Network did for this special episode. There were bus ads, and billboards, and countless TV spots, all for a "White House" episode that had all of five minutes with the First Lady. No matter—it's actually really great that this episode was hyped up: For once, the ingredients were all sustainably harvested, the produce was organic, and the meat was local and humanely raised. And best of all, the dishes were fun, inventive, and looked utterly delicious.


As a Food Network devotee, and someone who takes the purveyance of my food rather seriously, it always bothers me how reticent they've been to acknowledge the changes that have gone on in the food world over the past half-decade. At a time when obesity is through the roof and unsustainable farming is ruining land and water, it's always struck me as a little irresponsible—and out of synch with the times—that they never touch on this stuff. It's not like the chefs the network hosts don't value local and organic—I'd be shocked if most of them didn't use such ingredients almost exclusively, if for no other reason than the fact that they taste better than conventionally grown food. Batali does; he even told us as much.

At the same time, the network is unabashedly, and admirably, populist. This isn't a foodie network, or a station for rich gourmands: It's for people who love food, are on a budget, don't have a ton of time to make dinner, but like play around in the kitchen.

Which brings us back to the Obamas's garden. The whole point of that garden was to say to America that eating healthfully and organically should not be prohibitive and elitist. So while I'm quick to admit that seeing superstar chefs cook organic is not exactly the kind of instructive example we need to push more people to eat organic or local, it was pretty great to see a ratings sucker like Iron Chef take that on—whether they did the show because they wanted Obama-inspired ratings (likely), or because they wanted to make a point about smarter farming (less likely). Either way, it's a move worth applauding.

How Much Does Food Really Cost

Since 1949, the rise of industrial, processed food meant Americans could spend less on their meals. But those savings come with a high cost: obesity, diabetes, and big health care bills. Here's a look at the numbers behind our changing diet, and what we can do to make it better.  Check ut the video below to see what we really mean


http://www.good.is

2009 Year In Review: ORGANIC FOOD

We are back.  We had a nice little break with our friends and family.  We ate some great food and stayed as healthy as we could.  Check out the slide show from our friends over at treehugger.  It really shows you what took place in the world of organic food this year.

CLICK HERE BEST AND WORST OF FOOD 2009

Stay Healthy During The Holidays

We are not going to lie.  It has been getting tough to maintain our healthy eating with the holidays quickly approaching.  We have definitely munched down one too many cookies and ice cream bars at recent holiday parties this month.  We decided to put out the word on how not to gain as much weight this year as years past.   Weight gain during the holiday season seems inevitable with food seemingly always present.  It’s easy to pack on as many as 5 to 10 pounds during the season alone.

“With all the excitement over the holidays, we tend to throw away our nutritional good sense, and eat excessively … with exercise taking a low priority,” says Sandra Nissenberg, a registered dietitian. Then, when the New Year rolls around, we wonder how those extra pounds crept on.
Instead of worrying about calories after the fact, start planning in advance for a healthier holiday season. Many holiday menus can be modified to lower the calories and fat content, often without noticing the difference, according to the American Dietetic Association.
Nissenberg recommends using these strategies to keep your meals and your body lighter:

• Select a plain turkey rather than a self-basting one and remove the skin before serving. (it’s fattening.)
• Refrigerate gravy or pan juices from the turkey. The fat will rise to the top, which allows you to remove it easily and reduce fat content.
• Make stuffing with lots of vegetables and fruits (celery, onions, cranberries, raisins, apples) and less breadcrumbs.
• Bake sweet potatoes instead of serving them candied.
• Mash potatoes with chicken broth or skim milk instead of whole milk and butter.
• Serve fruit platters in place of high-calorie, high-fat desserts.
• Eat lighter during the day, but don’t starve yourself.
• Enjoy the company of others instead of staying close to the food table.
• When you eat, choose foods in moderate portions.
• Be open to healthier recipes, particularly those with less fat and cholesterol.
• Take up outdoor activities to burn off extra calories. 
• Use free time to clean your house and decorate for the holidays; the goal is to keep moving.
• Walk the malls for half an hour before they open. You’ll keep fit and still get your holiday shopping done.

Enjoy the holidays and dont regret your special meals!

Find Out Why Raisin Bran Is Not Great For You

Hey there Revolutionaries.  We want to keep spreading the word on foods that people think are good for them.  Think eating bran with raisins is a healthy alternative to syrupy processed cereals? You're right, but only if you keep the sugar out.

A recent study found that commercially marketed raisin brans made with added sugar contributed to cavities in children. Sugar-coated raisins significantly raised the level of acidity in kid's mouths, but regular non-sugar raisins did not. Acid levels matter because acid bonds bacteria to teeth, and help cause plaque.
Unsugared raisins have no negative impact on dental health, though; raisins easily clear off of teeth.
So if you want your flakes with raisins, stick to a cereal with no added sugar.

Everyday 270,000 Pounds of Food is Tossed in New York

We got turned on to this video from our friends over at treehugger.  Every day, New York City residents waste 270,000 pounds of food. Want to know what that looks like? Here's an unforgettable way to imagine it - fill up a subway train with the equivalent amount of apples, and release it onto the people waiting on the platform.  

New York's City Harvest food bank created this commercial to illustrate the point that as thousands of pounds of food is wasted daily, thousands of residents don't have enough to eat. In other words, our food distribution processes bite - not just in the US, but worldwide. City Harvest works to change that on a local level.

This year alone, the group will "rescue" and deliver more than 25 million pounds of quality food that would otherwise go to waste. Like the Robin Hoods of freeganism. Sort of.

The group collects food from the food industry, including restaurants, grocers, corporate cafeterias, manufacturers, and farms, and delivers it for free to nearly 600 community food programs throughout New York City using a fleet of trucks and - YAY! - bikes as well as volunteers on foot.
With their work, we can avoid subway trains full of apples being unleashed onto commuters.

Change The World One Pen At A Time

Today Lindsay Bloom VP/Founder of Global Learning Outreach(GLO) contacted us looking for the Revolution Greens Army support.  GLO is an eco-organization that is providing sustainable solutions and donating 100% of their proceeds to education.  It Launched this year in NYC, the mission at GLO is to inspire others to take a stand and make a simple and better choice by writing with eco-friendly GLO Pens made out of 100% recycled paper and cornplastic.  They donate all of the proceeds to educational charities and non-profit organizations that can apply for funding directly on their website.  GLO pens are currently for sale on their website and at various cafes, bookstores, and boutiques in Manhattan and Brooklyn. We are going to outfit the entire Revolution Greens Headquarters with these pens.  Are you in?

VISIT WWW.PROJECTGLO.COM

The Buzz On Organic Honey

Good Day to you Revolutionaries.  Everyday this month we have been using our newly received locally grown organic honey in our tea.  It got us thinking, what does this do to our body . We spent some time at the Revolution Greens Headquarters today and did some research.  Here are the amazing benefits of just adding  Honey to your diet.


The health benefits of honey include the following:

• Sweetener: Sugar can be substituted with honey in many food and drinks. Honey contains about 69% glucose and fructose enabling it to be used as a sweetener.
• Energy Source: Honey is also used by many as a source of energy as it provides about 64 calories per tablespoon. One tablespoon of sugar will give you about 50 calories. Further the sugars in honey can be easily converted into glucose by even the most sensitive stomachs. Hence it is very easy to digest honey.
• Weight Loss: Though honey has more calories than sugar, honey when consumed with warm water helps in digesting the fat stored in your body. Similarly honey and lemon juice and honey and cinnamon help in reducing weight.
• Improving Athletic Performance: Recent research has shown that honey is an excellent ergogenic aid and helps in boosting the performance of athletes. Honey facilitates in maintaining blood sugar levels, muscle recuperation and glycogen restoration after a workout.
• Source of Vitamins and Minerals: Honey contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. The vitamin and mineral content of honey depends on the type of flowers used for apiculture.
• Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties: Honey has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and hence it can be used as a natural antiseptic.
• Antioxidants: Honey contains nutraceuticals, which are effective in removing free radicals from our body. As a result, our body immunity is improved.
• Skin Care with Milk and Honey: Milk and honey are often served together as both these ingredients help in getting a smooth soothing skin. Hence consuming milk and honey daily in the morning is a common practice in many countries.

Head to your local store and pick some up today!

Wheat Grass Kit

A couple of months ago we posted information on Wheat Grass and its benefits.  We get asked a bunch of questions about wheat grass so here is some quick info.  Wheat grass is one of the most powerful super foods out there. Yet for some reason it is still not mainstream.  Here is a quick rundown on the benefits:

-Wheatgrass contains over 90 minerals, including high concentrations of the most alkaline minerals: potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium

-It contains the essential enzymes: Protease (assists in protein digestion), Cytochrome Oxidase (a powerful anti oxidant), Amylase (facilitates digestion), Lipase (a fat splitting enzyme), Transhydrogenase (strengthens the heart muscle) & Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) (found in all body cells and is known for its ability to lessen the effect of radiation and slow cellular aging)

-Just one teaspoon of Wheat Grass powder, weighing a mere 3.5 grams, is nutritionally equal to an entire spinach salad weighing a full 50 grams - it packs a punch!

-Wheatgrass has more vitamin C than oranges and twice the vitamin A as carrots!

-Wheat grass juice helps your body to build red blood cells which carry oxygen to every cell. By increasing the oxygenation the body you can help offset smog and carbon monoxide and increase your endurance during physical exercise
It also contains 19 amino acids, the building blocks of protein.

BUY YOUR OWN KIT AT

www.wheatgrasskits.com

Revolution Greens Visits Paradise Farms

Revolution Greens Visits Paradise Farms from Steve Turk on Vimeo.
The Revolution Greens team heads to Paradise Farms for Dinner in Paradise. Top Chefs from Miami put on a great dinner using organic items right from the farm on to your plate. All while sitting in the middle of the field.

Please visit www.paradisefarms.net to make reservations.  

Organic Store Finder and Info

Good Day Revolutionaries!  Here is a great site.  WWW.ORGANIC.ORG It helps you find stores anywhere in the country that carry organic foods.  Also this site gives you great tips on how to work these amazing organic foods into your budget.  One of the cooler tool on the site is user reviews on organic products.  That way you can see what others are saying before you spend your hard earned cash on a new product.  Use the site and eat up!

Eat These Foods To Stay Warm This Winter

We are lucky.  The Revolution Greens Headquarters is located in warm Miami, FL.  However, most of the country is battling some frigidly cold temperatures.  We set out to see what foods actually keep you warmer just by eating them.

Before we start here is a a quick science tid-bit for you:    "During winter the cold weather lowers blood pH therefore making it more acidic, and in order to compensate for this acidic blood pH we need to eat foods that will help to raise, or alkaline, blood pH levels.  By doing this your body’s chemistry will be balanced and as a result you will feel warmer and more comfortable this winter."   

Here are the foods you need to stay warm:

Soup: Not only is homemade soup easy to cook, it is cheap and nutritious too, and if you make a big batch, you’ll always have something hot to eat for those times when cooking feels like a chore!   To get extra protein, try adding beans and meat to any soup. 

Meat:  Try eating more free range or organic meat during winter.  Protein raises the blood pH to make us warmer.  Eating meat can also help keep you warm.  They are high in iron, which the body needs to make the thyroid hormone, which stimulates heat production.  

Soy:  For those non-meat eaters out there, eating plenty of soy products like tofu. Soybeans, soy nuts and tempeh, will also contribute to keeping you warm this winter.  Try some stir-fry meals with tofu and vegetables, or munch on some soy nuts as a snack. 

Spice:  Spicy seasoning keeps cold temperatures away by boosting blood circulation.  So when cooking, try adding some spicy sauce or pepper powder.  

Fruit and Vegetables: Fruit and vegetables are a good course of vitamin C, which as we all know, helps keep people healthy.  However during the winter months, fruit and vegetables can also play a role in keeping the winter chills away.  Leeks and carrots are good vegetables to eat, while fruits like peaches, apricots and papaya can keep you warm.  Green leafy vegetables such as spinach are also good to eat because like red meats, these are abundant in iron, which helps to stimulate heat production.

Good Fat:  When cooking, cook your dishes using olive oil it is a healthy fat that will help to balance your blood pH levels and thus warm you up.

Warm drinks:  This winter, try drinking some herbal tea, it is a great antioxidant and will help relax you, improve immunity, and flush your system out if you have a cold.  Green tea too is great at fighting infection, and warm unsweetened soy milk is also soothing on a warm day.  Stay away from coffee though because it will only lower your blood pH more.

Stay Warm Revolutionaries.