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BONNIE MINSKY'S
NUTRITIONAL CONCEPTS
SPECIAL REPORT - 3/15/2007
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INSIDE
-- Nutritional Concepts Named Best Small Company.
-- Optimal Pregnancy Action Plan.
-- Legislative Update.
-- March Sale - 20% OFF.
-- Chemicals Contribute to Obesity.
-- Daylight Savings Time Change = Health Benefits?
-- Where to Find Locally Grown Produce.
-- Scrumptious Holiday Recipes.
-- Food's Toxic Effect.
Nutritional Concepts Named Best Small Company.
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Working Mother magazine today announced that Nutritional Concepts, Inc. is a 2007 Working Mother Best Small Company.Launched in 2006, the Working Mother Best Small Companies initiative honors businesses with between five and 100 employees that are using innovative combinations of traditional and creative benefits to improve work/life balance.
Founded in 1979, Working Mother magazine reaches nearly 3 million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers.
We are deeply proud and humbled by this award. It is validation that our goal to improve the lives of our clients as well as our staff is
worthwhile.
Sincerely, Bonnie, Steve, and the entire staff at Nutritional Concepts
Optimal Pregnancy Action Plan.
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We have answered your request! Bonnie and the staff are delighted to bring you the Optimal Pregnancy Action Plan, based
upon hundreds of successful pregnancies Bonnie has overseen nutritionally.
This is wonderful material for family or friends who may not come in for an individual consult, but would like to understand some of Bonnie's core
principles and stay up on the latest research.
Includes a complete list of do's, don'ts, common questions, concerns, and the skinny on eating fish.
Legislative Update.
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- Organic-related proposals will receive a paltry $61 million from the Farm Bill over the next five years. The total Farm Bill budget for that same time period...$200 billion.
- US Senators have introduced legislation to prevent milk and meat products from cloned livestock from receiving an organic label under the USDA's National Organic Program
- The Illinois House of Representatives will vote on the Green Clean Schools Act -- House Bill 895, which would require all elementary and secondary schools to only purchase environmentally sensitive cleaning supplies.
- The Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act would require the US Department of Agriculture to update the archaic federal regulations governing the sale of snacks and other food sold on school grounds
- Cattle antibiotic ready for approval despite fears of human risk. Read entire story.
Contact your political constituents. Get the word out!
March Sale - 20% OFF.
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Metagenics Cal Apatite, Cal Apatite with boron, Cal Apatite Plus, and Cal Apatite Forte. For those of you not familiar
with the MCHC form of calcium that we have recommended for over fifteen years, enlighten
yourself!Metagenics Fem Prenatal. One of the only prenatals that Bonnie is comfortable recommending.
Pure Encaps Ester-C & Flavanoids. Immune support complex consisting of GI-friendly Ester-C (calcium ascorbate) and the powerful antioxidants quercetin, rutin, and pomegranate.
Chemicals Contribute to Obesity.
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There was a recent piece in The Washington Post alluding to the fact that chemicals in our environment may contribute to
obesity/weight gain.While this may be a surprise to the public, it is not a surprise to public health professionals. Chemical exposure contributing to obesity is a reality, period. Simply, it is extremely difficult to eliminate the toxic load that we ingest on a daily basis. In turn, our bodies' create as much adipose (fat) tissue as needed to encapsulate the toxins.
It should be noted that the predominate cause of excess fatty tissue is an overabudance of carbohydrates (especially refined) that are not used as energy. This is why we always suggest never eating a carb alone as well as as minmizing or avoiding refined carbs.
The combination of a high toxic load and overconsumption of carbohydrates is a powerful obesity-inducing combination. If we are working on managing our carbohydrate load, the question then becomes, what can we do to reduce our toxic load?
This is a complicated question because unless you live in a bubble and eat clean food and water every meal, there is no escaping chemicals. You really need to prioritize what are the most important ways for you to reduce toxic load. They are different for everybody. However, here are several suggestions to get you started:
- Discover the foods and/or food chemicals that your body views as toxic. Read the "Toxic Food" story in this newsletter for details.
- Drink filtered water. Filter your sink and shower heads.
- Eat organic whenever possible.
- Try to use cosmetic and body care products with the least amount of chemicals.
- Discuss with your physician how you can minimize your medication intake.
- Use "green" household cleaning products, including insecticides.
- Do not use pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers in your yard or on your household plants.
- Make sure your home is mold-free.
- Limit your consumption of food that is processed, charred, irradiated, or contains antibiotics/hormones/nitrates/nitrites.
- Try to use eco-friendly paints, varnishes, and home-building materials.
Infrared light (sauna or healing bed) and detoxification foot pads/foot baths are promising, safe detox aids.
Plastics and additives in vaccines are two "hot button" issues with regard to toxic exposure. As we mentioned, you must prioritize what is most important to you for reducing toxic exposure.
Daylight Savings Time Change = Health Benefits?
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Blessing in Disguise? How will a longer stretch of dark mornings and light evenings affect us? While controversial, this
provision of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 Bill may prove to be visionarily healthful!We will become more active in the evenings. Feeling that the best part of the day’s not over when we leave work can’t help but make us feel more optimistic, and outdoor exercise suddenly will be a nicer prospect! Social activities also are likely to increase when we’re able to savor more daylight.
Mood. Depression rates are set to fall. Researchers from Quebec, Canada found sunrise times were “significantly correlated” with
depression rates - later sunrise was associated with less depression.
Vitamin D. A study in the Journal of Periodontology suggests that a chance to enjoy extra daylight allows more of an oppotunity to get
vitamin D through sun exposure. We suggest fifteen minutes of sun exposure 5-7 dats weekly without sunscreen (not during peak sun hours).
Where to Find Locally Grown Produce.
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Farmer's Markets, of course. Grocery chains such as Sunset and Garden Fresh Market support local produce when available. Community
Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs offer an opportunity for farmers and the community to truly connect. CSA farms usually use organic growing
methods and are committed to fresh, high-quality products. People purchase a share of the farm’s crop at the beginning of the season. The farmer
provides weekly boxes containing the best of what the growing season has to offer.Sandhill Organics is an example of a CSA. It is a certified organic farm only 40 miles from downtown Chicago. It is Nutritional Concepts-approved because the farm resides in Prairie Crossing, a conservation community where Steve (Minsky) lives!
We recently learned about Oakville Organics, a delivery service that makes regional produce a priority.
Scrumptious Holiday Recipes.
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Passover
Recipes Snack tip: Charoset, a tasty concoction served during the Seder, is the perfect balanced snack. It is usually made with
chopped apples, chopped nuts (almonds are ideal), cinnamon, and a dash of sweet wine. It is delicious. Make extra for the week or incorporate
year-round.
Food's Toxic Effect.
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Many of us are aware of food allergies. These are immediate, catastrophic inflammatory responses to foreign proteins in foods or
substances that we ingest (commonly known as anaphylaxis). It is estimated that 12 million Americans suffer from true food allergies. Most of us know
if we have a true food allergy.
However, many of us are unaware of what approximately 72 million Americans suffer from: food intolerance. If our practice is any indication, we think the number of Americans with food intolerances is much higher.
Nutritional Concepts, Inc.