Halloween Warning

After you eat a whole bunch of these, you'll feel a hard crash and you'll see proof of them around your waist and your hiney!

The shopping cart

I started a Paleo/Zone this week, again. I say again, because I've attempted this a couple times and I've quit each time. I'm making the changes in my diet that I can handle and I'm determined to not beat myself up if I slip.

So,I went grocery shopping and for once I did not buy anything that might tempt me. I even bought some ground bison to try. I'll let you know how that works out! I'm going to make an effort to try new things each week. There's loads of great stuff in there!

-Teach

Methylmercury in Seafood

Fish is our biggest source of Omega-3 essential fatty acids. As consumers, we would like to know how fish acquire methylmercury in their system.

Mercury occurs naturally in the environment, however, fish mainly accumulates methylmercury through exposure to industrial pollution. Mercury from rain, snow, and runoff will accumulate in streams, oceans, rivers and lakes. A chemical transformation aided by bacteria will turn mercury into methylmercury, which can be very toxic. Fish absorb them from water as they feed on the organisms found in the ocean and other bodies of water. The larger and longer living fish feed on other fish throughout their lives, therefore making them the carrier with the highest levels of methylmercury.

As stated within the results of the National Academy of Sciences' study, "Toxicology Effects of Methylmercury (by Committee on the Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury (Author), Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology (Author), National Research Council (Author), National Research Council(Author), 2000:

"Because of the beneficial effects of fish consumption, the long term goal needs to be a reduction in the concentrations of mercury in fish rather than the replacement of fish in the diet by other foods. In the interim, the best method of maintaining fish consumption and minimizing mercury exposure is the consumption of fish known to have lower methylmercury concentrations."

The King Mackerel, Shark, Swordfish and Tilefish may contain high levels of methylmercury.

Fish considered to have low levels of methylmercury:
Catfish, Lobster, Scallops, Cod, Crab, Ocean Perch, Oysters, Shrimp, Flounder/Sole,
Rainbow Trout, Spiny Lobster, Haddock, Farmed Salmon, Tilapia, Herring,
Wild Salmon, Trout (farmed)

An alternative source of Omega-3 essential fatty acids is to supplement with purified (often called molecularly distilled) fish oil supplements. Omega-3 enriched eggs offer another alternative as well as micro algae-based omega-3 supplements.

Source: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/advice

Simple Meal Ideas

Protein = Grilled Grass Fed Boneless Rib Eye
Carbs = Mixed greens and dried cranberries
Fat = Hazelnuts and 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil