2009 is supposed to be the Year of the Ox, but it certainly seems to be the Year of the Pig so far, allow me to explain!
The American News Project in a story entitled The Food Lobby Goes to School, was surprised to find the National Pork Board to be one of the lobbyists pushing for more of their products in school food.
Sustainable food advocates and many vegetarians have known for some time that the way the food industry raises lifestock is toxic to our health and the health of our planet. It was great to read the piece by NY Times columnist Nicholas Kristoff entitled Our Pigs Our Food Our Health which connected the dots between industrial hog farms and diseases such as MRSA.
Great timing for Nicolette Niman, whose well written book about meat production,Righteous Porkchop, hit the stores just as this Swine Flu story hit the newspapers.
David Kirby wrote a piece on swine flu suggesting that this is a great example of “Mother Nature Biting Back”, it seems to me, he’s probably right.
The National Pork Board is hard at work to change the name of Swine Flu into “North American Influenza” in a desperate attempt to spin their image. Those PR folks they hired to lobby for more pork in school food just got a bigger job to do!
So what do we do in light of all this besides just wash our hands?
Here’s five suggestions that could support your health.
1. Cut back on refined sugar- it impairs immune function.
2. Support your gut with the “good bugs” by regular use of probiotic supplements or even a daily bowl of miso soup.
3. Get enough sleep each night.
4. Meditate daily.
5. Eat lower on the food chain: more veggies!
When eating, support your local farmer, buy grass fed, pasture raised animals from small, local/ regional sources. Stay away from giant producers – Tyson, Smithfield Farms, Cargill who have created this toxic environment that is conducive to disease and pollution.
