Week 46: Mission Monday: Flax seed: Tiny Seeds, Big Benefits.

They say that good things come in small packages, and with 3g of Omega-3, 4g of fiber and 2g of protein per serving, flax seed is definitely a good thing to add to your diet. It’s practically tasteless, so mixing it with things like, yogurt, oatmeal, pasta and more of the foods you love, gives them more nutritional value without altering their taste. We like using it in our Wild Oats organic Oatmeal, but could definitely use some more suggestions on what foods to mix it with.

Share with us how you sneak these nutritious seeds into your foods for a chance to win a Wild Oats prize pack. Comment or reply with your suggestions on our Twitter or Facebook page and you’re automatically entered!

To share your suggestions through Facebook, simply comment on our Mission Monday post by 8:59pm PT/11:59pm ET tonight to be entered to win!

To share your suggestions on Twitter, tweet them to us including #WildOatsMission and #sweeps by 8:59pm PT/11:59pm ET tonight to be entered to win!

Full Sweepstakes rules and details can be found here: bit.ly/1DoNN9U

When a small cluster of folks gathered at a Washington, D.C. Natural Food Store to hold the official ceremony launching the new National Organic Standards in October 2002, the U.S. Department of Agriculture dispatched a mid-level appointee to preside over the ceremony. The smattering of reporters who found time to cover the event likely wondered how long the organic “trend” would last.

On Wednesday, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack headlined a string of USDA and Congressional leaders who came by the Organic Trade Association’s annual policy conference in Washington. D.C. to report on how they are working to protect the integrity of those organic standards. Seated behind the crowd of about 200 organic food industry leaders in the room were a couple of tables of journalists capturing the discussion.

We’ve come a long way, Baby.

In October 2002, the main priority among the organic food pioneers was the challenge of convincing American shoppers to buy products containing the new USDA organic seal. This week, the organic leaders in Washington, D.C. spent most of their time wrestling with the need to expand organic production, and to recruit a new generation of organic farmers.

It’s a tough challenge. Organic food is difficult. Growers must farm their land under the requirements of the organic regulations for three years before becoming certified to market their crops and livestock as organic. The transition to organic often requires different farming equipment—more cultivators and fewer sprayers. New skill sets and crop rotation schedules must replace the traditional philosophy of growing the same crop year after year after year.

Yup, it’s not easy. But everyone assembled in the meeting room in Washington, D.C. this week recognized that this challenge is key to bringing more organic food at more affordable prices to American families in the years ahead.

A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids is good for our health for lots of reasons!  A study published this year specifically reviewed the role of fish oil (the major source of omega-3 fatty acids) in all sorts of health promoting areas, including:
●  blocking chronic (unhealthy) inflammation
●  heart health
●  brain function
●  cancer (both prevention and treatment)
●  diabetes
●  high blood pressure

Omega-3 fatty acids are even good for your hearing !

So, you may wonder why I am suggesting that you may want to decrease your omega-3 intake if you are on chemotherapy. My recommendation is based on a study published this month in JAMA Oncology.  Let me give you a little scientific background before I go over the study results.

Many types of cancer will be treated with the “platin” class of chemotherapy drugs.  This class is based on a platinum containing chemical that is designed to cause cancer cells to die.  They can be very effective at first but then some cancers seem to become resistant to the cancer-killing effect of the drugs.  Previous research  found that the use of “platins” caused certain stem cells in our bodies to make special types of fatty-acids that cause a resistance to chemotherapy.  Those fatty-acids are call “platinum-induced fatty acids (PIFAs).  So, if you have a cancer diagnosis, and you are treated with a “platin” medication, your body will likely make PIFAs and those PIFAs may cause a decreased effectiveness of chemotherapy.  This is just a fact of physiology.  This part has nothing to do with eating fish or taking a fish oil supplement but you need the information to understand why omega-3 fatty acids in our diet can affect chemotherapy.

OK, back to the current study .  This study found that one of the important PIFAs (16:4(n-3) is also present in fish and in fish oil supplements.  The researchers studied 4 types of fish that are known to be good sources of omega-3 fatty acids and 6 different brands of fish oil supplements.  The results showed that all 6 brands of the fish oil supplements contained a lot of the 16:4(n-3).  Of the high omega-3 fatty acid fish tested, salmon, mackerel, tuna and herring  …. the salmon and tuna were low in 16:4(n-3) and the mackerel and herring were high in it.  Since it is known that the 16:4(n-3) can decrease the effectiveness of chemotherapy, the researchers suggest:   “Until further data become available, fish oil and fish containing high levels of 16:4(n-3) may best be avoided on the days surrounding chemotherapy.”

Yes, this is National Cancer Control Month .  The various foods we eat can have a direct impact on the possibility of us ever developing cancer.  That is one of the reasons I love adding my voice to the Wild Oats healthy foods world.  If someone you care about is undergoing chemotherapy, share this blog with them.  They will talk with their own doctor about it.  For all the rest of us who are not undergoing chemotherapy …. well, thank goodness …. and, ley’s enjoy our healthy fish !!

Happy Earth Day 2015! Wow, 45 years of celebrating the Earth each year on 4/22, and unlike some past years, I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate. Why? Because this year I feel we are seeing real change on many fronts.

Take, for instance, the golf courses I sometimes walk along in San Diego. They are taking out all grass except the absolute minimum required to play, and replacing it with sand and desert shrubs. Homeowners in Southern California are doing the same. They’re taking out unnecessary vegetation and plants that are not native to California and aren’t drought tolerant.  This is real change — YEAH!  And most important, it makes people think about and respect our resources.

More good news this year, certified organic products are up 11%. That amounts to 39 billion in sales in 2014. That is fantastic! In fact, organic now accounts for 12% of all produce, and 5% of the total amount of food consumed. That stat has doubled over that past 5 years. Such great news! The Wild Oats brand has really helped pioneer the lower cost approach to organics. Industry focus on lower cost will keep the momentum of organics growing.

Check out rapper Virtuoso’s clip on why he loves affordable Wild Oats products at Walmart.

In 2003, our goal at the Organic Center for Education and Promotion was to get to 10% organic by 2010. Well, we missed that by a little, but maybe we can get there by 2020. Wouldn’t that be incredible? Maybe we can relaunch the idea as “10% Organic by 2020.”  YEAH!

Want even more good news? I am part of a team at the Katerva Global Sustainability Awards, and this morning I was on a conference call with that team and found out that this year, 1500 global sustainability companies have already entering the awards. The amazing thing about Katerva, besides Terry, the CEO, is its global reach. Through 2500 sustainability leaders — all volunteers and all committed to sustainability — these companies are found and recommend for the awards. The reason we are all so excited is that the 1500 entrees for 2015 is nearly 3 times the typical amount that have entered in the last 6 years! That is a real sign of progress. YEAH!

And still more Good News… Recently I was invited to a large meeting in NY to address global and U.S. issues that relate to waste, recycling, and energy. It is somewhat counterintuitive, but who knew that $50 per barrel oil would actually be good to disrupt old line industries and land fill based economics? Just think, with technology today, we might not need landfills. This group that I’m a part of and that is being assembled, is going to be on the cutting edge of “resource recovery.”  We will be eliminating plastics from our oceans and environment! YEAH! And one more thing, within a day of receiving this invitation, I had meetings with a University Professor from China and a businessman in the energy business from India, and they both want to be part of this exploration, too! YEAH!

And just one more thing to celebrate on this Earth Day (and this is probably the most important thing) make sure you tell yourself how extraordinary and incredible you are, and then tell someone else how extraordinary and incredible they are! I am telling you how awesome you are… because you are! YEAH!

The reason I want to say this to you is that after all these years of trying to create change, my conclusion is that it all comes down to you — or maybe a small group of people that feel good and realize how incredible they are. They feel awesome, and because they feel awesome they make someone else feel awesome. And this momentum of positive feelings will have a positive impact on the planet. Because, if you are feeling the incredible self that you are, you would never do anything negative — like pollute. You will only focus on the positive, the healthy.

So, yes, you are AWESOME!  And make someone else feel awesome today, too, and you will keep the momentum going,

Cheers! We have a lot to be thankful for! YEAH!

Happy Earth Day, 2015

AZ

Can you believe that it’s already Earth Day 2015? Earth Day is one of those holidays that seems to get lost in the springtime shuffle, but you can celebrate by making some simple switches to save money for Earth Day and beyond!

For instance, did you realize that going organic helps to protect the planet? It’s true! Organic farming practices help preserve our resources and prevent global warming. The best part is that now more people have access to organic products at a better price point. Here are some simple organic switches you can make to save money and honor the Earth!

Opt for Organic Quinoa
Not only is organic quinoa a healthy choice, but a versatile choice, too. Try buying a few bags of Wild Oats Marketplace Organic Traditional Quinoa and utilize it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For instance, you can make some in the morning and add cinnamon and honey for a breakfast your kids will love. Also, it makes an amazing side or main dish for lunch or dinner. Check out my Easy Wild Oats Quinoa Recipe for an idea of how to use this fantastic grain.

Make Snack Time Organic
Strategize how to save money while going organic by planning ahead with organic snacks. Not only are there a ton of great organic snack bars, but if you buy them in bulk you can often get them at a better price. Another easy snack idea that has helped me lose weight is to munch on organic veggies and use organic salad dressing as dipping sauce. Simply cut up whatever organic produce you find on sale like broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, celery and asparagus and use your favorite organic salad dressing to dip. Kids love this, too!

Cook One Big Ol’ Organic Meal a Week
Plan one night a week (I love Sunday) to make a huge organic meal that you can freeze and eat as leftovers. Ideas include Pot Roast with Veggies, Beef Stew, Meatless Lasagna, Chili and Slow-Cook Brisket. My favorite go-to large meal is my Nana’s Secret Spaghetti Sauce recipe that has been passed down for generations.