The Origin of Our Food

My introduction to this country’s problematic food supply came through the movie Food, Inc. My interest in the subject stemmed from my desperation to turn our family's health around.

The startling information conveyed in Food, Inc. was enough for me to search for grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish and soy-/corn-free chicken. The more I learned, the more determined I became to feed our family with fresh, organic food, free of additives, hormones, and antibiotics. Farmers markets have now become our primary source of food.

Several years ago, author Barbara Kingsolver (The Poisonwood Bible and The Bean Trees) went a step further. She moved her family to a Virginia farm to learn to grow their own food. She chronicles her experience in the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life.

It is an easy, fun read. She eloquently makes the case for a return to our agricultural roots, citing the ominous transition to commodity subsidies, which focus on the production of cheap corn and soybeans.

. . . this new industry made piles of corn and soybeans into high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and thousands of other starch- or oil-based chemicals. Cattle and chickens were brought in off the pasture into intensely crowded and mechanized CAFO’s (concentrated animal feeding operations) where corn – which is no part of a cow’s natural diet, by the way – could be turned cheaply and quickly into animal flesh. All these different products, in turn, rolled on down the new industrial food pipeline to be processed into the soft drinks, burgers, and other cheap foods on which our nation largely runs – or sits on its bottom, as the case may be.

This is how 70% of our Midwestern agricultural land shifted gradually into single-crop corn or soybean farms, each of them now, on average, the size of Manhattan. Owing to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, genetic modification, and a conversion of farming from a naturally based to a highly mechanized production system, U.S. farmers now produce 3,900 calories per U.S. citizen, per day. That is twice what we need, and 700 more calories a day more than they grew in 1980.

. . .

Most of those calories enter our mouths in forms hardly recognizable as corn and soybeans, or even vegetable in origin: high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) owns up to its parentage, but lecithin, citric acid, maltodextrin, sorbitol, and xanthan gum, for example, are also manufactured from corn. So are beef, eggs, and poultry, in a different but no less artificial process. Soybeans also become animal flesh, or else a category of ingredient known as “added fats.” If every product containing corn or soybeans were removed from your grocery store, it would look more like a hardware store. Alarmingly, the lightbulbs might be naked, since many packaging materials also now contain cornstarch.

Kingsolver goes on to talk about the bigger packages and supersizing, citing our weakness for junk food. Food marketers, she says, exploit the weakness without mercy.

Obesity is generally viewed as a failure of personal resolve, with no acknowledgement of the genuine conspiracy in this historical scheme. People actually did sit in strategy meetings discussing ways to get all those surplus calories into people who neither needed nor wished to consume them. Children have been targeted especially; food companies spend over $10 billion a year selling food brands to kids, and it isn’t broccoli they’re pushing. Overweight children are a demographic in many ways similar to minors addicted to cigarettes, with one notable exception: their parents are usually their suppliers. We all subsidize the cheap calories with our tax dollars, the strategists make fortunes, and the overweight consumers get blamed for the violation. It’s the perfect crime.

The good news in all of this is that the tide is turning. Ever so slowly. As people make the connection between health and food, the demand for organic, nutrionally dense food grows.

As Kingsolver says,

From the rural routes to the inner cities, we are staring at our plates and wondering where that’s been. For the first time since our nation’s food was ubiquitously local, the point of origin now matters again to some consumers.

It sure matters to me and, thankfully, to many others.

Mycotoxins in Food (Part Two)

Mycotoxins are common occurrences in our food supply. If there is any type of health liability, the ingestion of mycotoxins only adds to the toxic load. There can be great benefit, therefore, in mycotoxin avoidance.

The veterinary world is well aware of this truth. The Center for Veterinary Medicine, part of the Food and Drug Administration, gave a startling presentation in 2006 listing specific mycotoxins and some of the health effects for animals and humans.

The following excerpts highlight some of the key findings of Dr. Michael Henry, as presented to the Risk Management Agency:

Aflatoxins

• Produced by Aspergillus sp. (A. flavus and A. parasiticus)

• Common feed substrates such as corn, cottonseed, peanuts, and sorghum.

• Occur most commonly in warm, humid regions of the south and central regions of the U.S.

• High levels of aflatoxins are associated with above-average temperature and below-average rainfall (micro-climate)

Vomitoxin

• Produced by members of genus Fusarium (especially F. graminearum)

• Commonly found on wheat, barley, rye and oats

• Reported most frequently in cool, temperate regions (northern U.S. and Canada)

• Member of the trichothecene family of mycotoxins

• Inhibitor of protein synthesis, affecting GI tract and immune system

• Swine most susceptible -- causing vomiting and feed refusal

Fumonisins

• Produced by Fusarium sp. (F. verticillioides)

• Found worldwide, mainly in corn and particularly corn screenings

• High levels associated with hot and dry weather, followed by periods of high humidity

• Three major fumonisins in feed are B1, B2 & B3 (B1 + B2 + B3 = total fumonisins)

• Most susceptible species are horses (equine leukoencephalomalacia) and rabbits

• Suspected carcinogens

Ochratoxin A

• Produced by Aspergillus sp. (A. ochraceus) and Penicillium sp. (P. viridicatum)

• Highest levels usually found in cereal grains (corn, barley, wheat and rye)

• At least nine ochratoxins identified, but ochratoxin A is the most common and has the greatest toxicological significance

• Nephrotoxic and a suspected carcinogen

• No FDA action, advisory or guidance levels established for ochratoxin A in U.S. feed

Zearalenone

• Produced by Fusarium sp. (primarily F. graminearum)

• Common substrates are corn, wheat, barley, occasionally oats

• Production favored by high humidity and low temperatures

• Estrogenic mycotoxin, swine most susceptible – vulvar swelling in gilts

• Toxicity related to reproductive system

• No FDA action, advisory or guidance levels established for zearalenone in U.S. feed.

The full report can be viewed here.

The website Know Mycotoxins offers valuable information on mycotoxin management for animal feed. Here, too, we see a striking understanding of the dangers of crop contamination:

Any growing crop, including forage and cereals, is susceptible to mould, with Fusarium types being the main concern. Fusarium moulds can produce mycotoxins on the growing plant. Whilst the moulds themselves may not survive the transition from field to feeding trough, the mycotoxins will remain intact, though invisible to the naked eye. Feeds may therefore appear and analyse as high quality, but may harbour a mycotoxin(s) challenge.

From my perspective, what's healthy for animals is also healthy for me. Animals are at risk when they eat contaminated food. Are we any different?

Mycotoxins in Food (Part One)

One of the biggest reasons our family continues to embrace a grain-free diet is the compelling scientific evidence that mycotoxins frequently find their way into our grain supply. As we attempt to rid our bodies of unwanted pathogens, it's critical to choose healthy, fresh foods which are both easily digested and uncontaminated. The following peer-reviewed study, published in 2003 by Tulane University, looks at the implications of mycotoxins in foods.

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by microfungi that are capable of causing disease and death in humans and other animals. Because of their pharmacological activity, some mycotoxins or mycotoxin derivatives have found use as antibiotics, growth promotants, and other kinds of drugs; still others have been implicated as chemical warfare agents. This review focuses on the most important ones associated with human and veterinary diseases, including aflatoxin, citrinin, ergot alkaloids, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, patulin, trichothecenes, and zearalenone.

The study, which is lengthy and scholarly, looks at each mycotoxin and its threat to human and animal health. It gives the following information about ochratoxin, the mycotoxin which is emitted from some species of aspergillus and penicillium:

With other mycotoxins, the substrate on which the molds grow as well as the moisture level, temperature, and presence of competitive microflora interact to influence the level of toxin produced. Ochratoxin A has been found in barley, oats, rye, wheat, coffee beans, and other plant products, with barley having a particularly high likelihood of contamination. There is also concern that ochratoxin may be present in certain wines, especially those from grapes contaminated with Aspergillus carbonarius.

Of the Aspergillus toxins, only ochratoxin is potentially as important as the aflatoxins. The kidney is the primary target organ. Ochratoxin A is a nephrotoxin to all animal species studied to date and is most likely toxic to humans, who have the longest half-life for its elimination of any of the species examined. In addition to being a nephrotoxin, animal studies indicate that ochratoxin A is a liver toxin, an immune suppressant, a potent teratogen, and a carcinogen. Ochratoxin A disturbs cellular physiology in multiple ways, but it seems that the primary effects are associated with the enzymes involved in phenylalanine metabolism, mostly by inhibiting the enzyme involved in the synthesis of the phenylalanine-tRNA complex. In addition, it inhibits mitochondrial ATP production and stimulates lipid peroxidation.

To read the study in its entirety, click here.

An Untimely Backward 4

I find board games frustrating. Often I get a comfortable lead, gloat to my opponent, and with one unfortunate card I'm back in last place. Candyland is a perfect example. You pick the Queen Frostine card, and you're within striking distance of home. Plumpy shows up and you're back at the beginning.

The newer edition allows a player to ignore a card he doesn't like. In fact, Plumpy doesn't exist! I might be interested in that version, but somehow it feels like cheating.

My kids are into Sorry.

I played last week with my two youngest boys and experienced unprecedented good fortune. I found myself with a myriad of 1's and 11's and a perfectly timed backward 4. Two more cards and I found myself with all four pawns in the safety zone. I could taste victory.

All I needed was a 5 followed by a 3. Instead I drew a backward 4. What?! How could this be? If I moved four squares back I'd be vulnerable. I begged and pleaded. "Please let me go two backward. Please!" They were too savvy to bend the rules.

The next player, Colin, drew a Sorry card. I begged and pleaded again. "Pick Brandon! Please!" There was no denying the truth, however. I was Colin's biggest threat. He mercilessly chose me.

I found myself back at the beginning, and within five minutes the game was over. I finished in last place.

I didn't care, of course. Not really. Those 15 minutes were fun. Exciting. Frustrating. And funny. Most of all, they were shared. One day the three of us will laugh about our shared experience, because Sorry is just like life.

We work hard to get into the safety zone and do our best to protect ourselves from pain and sorrow. We hang on to our possessions and our loved ones.

Until some unfortunate card pulls us out of safety and forces us to see the truth about life.

The truth that all the retirement plans and insurance policies in the world can't keep us from pain and loss. Tornadoes hit, illness strikes, wealth disappears, and dreams are crushed. Sorry cards are part of living.

The good news is that there is an eternal home where safety becomes reality. A place described in the book of Revelation:

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain.

Until that day comes we share, we bond, we laugh, we love, and we play with all our heart. Confident that, ultimately, the card we draw doesn't matter. Only that we keep moving forward. Even with an untimely backward 4.

Toxic Dust and Heavy Metals

The previous post referred to research which suggests that toxic dust found in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait may be contributing to adverse health effects for many U.S. military personnel. The following article appearing in the Army Times lists some of the researchers' specific findings pertaining to heavy metals.

Microbiologists Dale Griffin of the U.S. Geologic Survey and Capt. Mark Lyles of the Naval War College analyzed dust samples taken in Iraq and Kuwait in 2004 and found a wide range of heavy metals at rates in excess of World Health Organization maximum safe exposure guidelines. Some don’t even have maximum exposure guidelines because they are not expected to be present in airborne dust. The elements of “greatest concern” and the proportions found in dust samples:

• Arsenic at 10 parts per million: poisonous and can cause long-term health effects or death.

• Chromium at 52 parts per million: linked to lung cancer and respiratory ailments.

• Lead at 138 parts per million: can lead to headaches, nausea, muscle weakness and fatigue.

• Nickel at 562 parts per million: can lead to lung cancer, respiratory issues, birth defects and heart disorders.

• Cobalt at 10 parts per million: can lead to asthma and pneumonia.

• Strontium at 2,700 parts per million: linked to cancer.

• Tin at 8 parts per million: can cause depression, liver damage, immune system and chromosomal disorders, a shortage of red blood cells, and brain damage that can lead to anger, sleeping disorders, forgetfulness and headaches.

• Vanadium at 49 parts per million: can cause lung and eye irritation, damage to the nervous system, behavioral changes and nervousness.

• Zinc at 206 parts per million: can cause anemia and nervous system disorders.

• Manganese at 352 parts per million: linked to metabolic issues, Parkinson’s disease and bronchitis.

• Barium at 463 parts per million: can cause breathing problems, heart palpitations, muscle weakness and heart and liver damage.

• Aluminum at 7,521 parts per million. Aluminum was of particular concern to Lyles and Griffin because the metal has recently been linked to “multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases.”

Toxic Dust and the Military

Research suggests that U.S. combat troops, typically a healthy group of individuals, are suffering ill health effects from toxic dust. According to this article appearing last week in USA TODAY:

U.S. troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait have inhaled microscopic dust particles laden with toxic metals, bacteria and fungi — a toxic stew that may explain everything from the undiagnosed Gulf War Syndrome symptoms lingering from the 1991 war against Iraq to high rates of respiratory, neurological and heart ailments encountered in the current wars.

"From my research and that of others, I really think this may be the smoking gun," says Navy Capt. Mark Lyles, chair of medical sciences and biotechnology at the Center for Naval Warfare Studies at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. "It fits everything — symptoms, timing, everything."

Lyles and other researchers found that dust particles — up to 1,000 of which can sit on the head of a pin — gathered in Iraq and Kuwait contain 37 metals, including aluminum, lead, manganese, strontium and tin. The metals have been linked to neurological disorders, cancer, respiratory ailments, depression and heart disease, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Researchers believe the metals occur both naturally and as a byproduct of pollution.

. . .

The dust contains 147 different kinds of bacteria, as well as fungi that could spread disease, Lyles found. Since the wars began in Iraq in 2003 and in Afghanistan in 2001, the military has seen a 251% increase in the rate of neurological disorders per 10,000 active-duty servicemembers, a 47% rise in the rate of respiratory issues and a 34% increase in the rate of cardiovascular disease, according to a USA TODAY analysis of military morbidity records from 2001 to 2010. Those increases have researchers seeking possible causes.

How does the Defense Department respond to this research?

Despite the research by Lyles and others, and the documented spikes in respiratory illnesses, Defense Department officials contend there are no health issues associated with the dust.

. . .

Capt. J.A. "Cappy" Surrette, spokesman for the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, said Navy researchers investigated to see whether the dust in Iraq and Afghanistan is toxic. The Navy has no record of troops complaining of cognitive difficulties unrelated to traumatic brain injuries, he says.

However, he says the Naval Health Research laboratory found that trace metals in the dust showed levels of toxicity.

"There is no definitive basis to say the sand is harmful to people or animals," he says.

However, one Navy study is examining the toxicity of sand from Afghanistan to see how it affects cell death, he says. A second is looking at whether Afghanistan dust contributes to brain trauma pathology in animals.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Rob Erckenbrack, 40, of West Fargo, N.D., deployed at Taqaddum, Iraq, in 2006, and guarded the perimeter at Taji, Iraq, in 2008. He began losing weight, and having respiratory problems and migraines. He also dealt with short-term memory loss but says he was not in an incident that would have caused a traumatic brain injury. In June 2010, he had a stroke.

"My doctors were surprised because I'm a healthy, active, adult," he says. "Then another guy from my unit went through the same thing."

The parallels with exposure to toxic mold are evident. Especially in light of the fact that 20 million 5-micron mold spores fit on a single postage stamp.

Despite the controversy, it's clear that the air we breathe matters. Both at home and at war.

Apartment Inspection

Two of our older children moved to their own apartment recently—yet another sign that we are progressing, albeit ever so slowly.

Transitioning to a new environment brings with it a level of stress and anxiety. How can we be sure it's mold-free? What about the chemical aspect?

The apartment was worth pursuing since it was all electric and only a year old, with no history of water damage. During the walk-through we detected only a faint chemical smell. No plug-ins, no heavy fragrances, and no musty smell. A good, safe home environment should smell like nothing.

The good news about our condition is that our bodies let us know immediately if there is a serious mold issue, something I've encountered three times since leaving our Colorado home. All three times I felt a painful tightening in my chest, which took several days to resolve.

Our next step was to inquire about pesticide sprays. Aside from the initial termite spray used during construction, the apartment had not been sprayed indoors.

Although there was no sign of water damage, we decided to have the apartment inspected using thermal imaging. Infrared thermal imaging will detect hidden areas of moisture. It can also spot structural defects and any potential electrical hazards.

According to this website dedicated to thermal imaging:

Thermal imaging inspections provides us with a picture of a specific condition of a home or building. Infrared cameras allow us the ability to see and locate what the naked eye is unable to detect. Infrared images can capture thermal anomalies from moisture or water damage, roof leaks, stucco, EIFS, chimney staining and window leakage. Infrared Scans are able to locate water and moisture intrusion in buildings by thermal patterns.

Our inspector invited our 11-year-old son to put his hands and feet on the wall to demonstrate the heat-detecting capabilities of the machine.

A thermal imaging inspection can range in cost from $100 to $400, depending on the size of the dwelling and whether or not a full inspection is performed.

Here are some things we did to help remedy the chemical smell:

• Placed activated charcoal in open cups throughout the apartment. Zeolite can also be used.
• Cleaned thoroughly with white vinegar.
• Diffused essential oils like lemon and tea tree oil. (Click here to view one source of diffusers.)
• Ran our air purifier. (We like the Austin.)

The kids are doing well in their new environment. The only question remaining: Who gets the empty room at our house?

Signs of the Times

As we celebrated Kristen's 17th birthday last weekend, I was reminded how much our life has changed in a few years. It came to light as we gave her gifts. Not only did I see how well the kids know each other, I saw the humor in the type of gifts we're giving. Here are some examples:

1. Personal Wellness Journal Health Diary and Symptoms Log. Not only was Kristen excited about this... several of us were jealous! We've learned from Colin's diabetes just how helpful it is to keep track of foods and activity related to symptoms. (Click here to find out more about the journal.)

2. Yoga Mat. Not just any yoga mat. An off-gassed yoga mat! Her older brother purchased the mat, wiped it down with white vinegar and left it outside for several days. No more "new" smell that might impede Kristen's performance.

3. Lulu's Chocolate. With sugar and grains out of our diet, it's hard to find treats that fit our criteria. Lulu's chocolate bars range in carb content from 8-13 carbs total! Kristen enjoyed the coconut version, which contains Cacao, Coconut Palm Sugar, Coconut, Cinnamon, Mesquite, Vanilla Bean, and Sea Salt. (Find out more about Lulu's here.)

4. Birthday Boutique. Clothes shopping is not as much fun as it once was, due to the heavy fragrances. Kristen enjoyed a clothing rack full of specially selected dresses, jeans, and tops. She chose the things that fit well and I returned the rest. Shopping at home was much more fun!

The best gift was a book filled with expressions of appreciation for Kristen. Colin said it best when he wrote his answer to this: “The thing I admire most about you is...”

“You never give up, even when you think it's impossible.”

Maybe the gifts have changed over the years, but not Kristen's fortuitous heart. Happy Birthday, Kristen.

Good Advice from the Government

Federal guidelines for mold prevention have been given to an elementary school in Greensboro, North Carolina. Guidelines which include monitoring the health of its employees. Oak Ridge Elementary School was closed from June 2009 through February 2010 due to mold and dampness issues. According to this news article:

Employees and students had complained of illnesses since the building opened in 2005 after undergoing major renovations and additions. The complaints led the district to bring in groups to inspect the school, including a private firm and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in summer 2009.

Some of the recommendations (offered in the final federal report):

- Follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedules for maintaining the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.

- Routinely monitor the school in a standardized way for possible re-occurrence of dampness.

- Walk through the entire school and check for water incursion during and after heavy rains.

- Correct the cause of any identified dampness problems and clean or remove water-damaged materials.

- Avoid routine use of biocides (which are used to clean mold).

- Monitor for possible reoccurrence of building-related symptoms, if needed, with occupant health questionnaires.

A television news report on this story can be viewed here.

A Mother's Words

It's hard to put words to our experience. Words that come to mind are:

Despair
Confusion
Desperation
Loneliness

Then there are the words and phrases of others. Words of medical professionals, friends, family, and strangers.

"You're enabling him."

"Don't make his illness about you."

"You're reading too much."

"Your kids want attention."

"Mold is everywhere."

"Are you sure?"

"Why don't you...?"

Or this recent email:

When I heard your troubles about the mold and leaving your house and all of that, I thought to myself, "What a bunch of high-maintenance hypochondriacs."

As I reflect on these words and so many others, I think of my own insensitive comments over the years and relate to Pip's gracious response to Miss Havisham's plea for forgiveness in the book Great Expectations.

O Miss Havisham... There have been sore mistakes... and I want forgiveness and direction far too much to be bitter with you.

I also think of my mom. I think about our phone conversations as I was driving to and from doctor appointments... as I was waiting for surgeries to end... as we were fleeing our home... as we were searching desperately for a safe place to live.

The only words I can remember are these:

"You're doing great."

"You couldn't be doing any better."

"I admire you."

"I'm proud of you."

My mother died suddenly two years ago. I talked with her for the last time on Mother's Day, 2009.

I miss her voice. And oh, how I miss her words.

A Mother's Load

Children should grow up carefree and happy. Period. But that's not reality. Children suffer pain. They feel great loss. I hate that.

I struggle daily with my children's pain. Their uncertain future, combined with our difficult present circumstances and traumatic past, weighs so heavily on me that I often collapse in tears.

Recently I started reading books on subjects other than mold or health. These is my Words is the fictional diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, a woman who endured multiple tragedies in the West during the 1800s. Author Nancy Turner paints a compelling picture.

I was struck deeply when I came across this entry:

October 10, 1887

Children are a burden to a mother, but not the way a heavy box is to a mule. Our children weigh so hard on my heart, and thinking about them growing up honest and healthy, or just living to grow up at all, makes a load in my chest that is bigger than the safe at the bank, and more valuable to me than all the gold inside it.

Oh, how true! The load is so unbearably heavy and oh, so precious.

I take heart in the Biblical account of Mary and her isolating journey into motherhood. Amy Grant poignantly conveys Mary's heart in the song Breath of Heaven,

I am waiting
in a silent prayer,
I am frightened
by the load I bear.
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now,
Be with me now.

Do you wonder
As you watch my face
If a wiser one should have had my place?
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan.
Help me be strong...hold me together,

Breath of Heaven.

Sometimes prayer is the best way to carry a load.
Sometimes prayer is the only way to carry a load.