Yes, I know it’s old-fashioned, but I still read my newspaper every morning while I drink my cup of bone broth and eat my breakfast.

However, the newspaper is not my only, and not even my primary, news source. I read articles from many other sources, from social media to Google alerts to favorite websites and newsletter feeds.

I also read books, mostly in the tangible, paper form, but I may begin to read more ebooks since some are only being published in that format.  Not all of those books are about nutrition and health so I won’t always mention them here.

Now for the news . . .

• First!  Don’t forget the Houston Real Food Nutrition meeting this coming Saturday, July 12th, at 3 PM!  We will learn about the benefits of cod liver oil, our number one super food and have a give away of Green Pasture products.

• The Farm-to-consumer Legal Defense Fund reports some important successes in 2013 and early 2014, including the acquittal of Wisconsin raw milk dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger, a successful lawsuit protecting heritage pigs in Michigan, a favorable ruling for a Pennsylvania food club distributing raw milk, and passage of an important bill that decreases regulations for family farms in Virginia.

• Texas cotton farmers have requested permission to use an unlicensed highly toxic pesticide on their crops, which are 90% genetically engineered (GMO), and the weeds in the fields are now resistant to the chemicals currently being used due to overuse.  The request would allow the herbicide propazine to be sprayed on over 3 million acres of Texas farmland.  Propazine, highly soluble in water, is in a class of chemicals linked to “developmental and reproductive toxicity.”

• Do we really need a GMO banana?  People in the U.S. will soon be the first to test the new banana, which as been genetically engineered to add “vitamin A.”  I put the vitamin A in quotation marks because the GMO banana doesn’t really have any vitamin A.  What it does have is beta carotene, and, although beta carotene can be converted to vitamin A, the conversion efficiency is poor.   Absorption is “estimated to be between 9–22%.” Humans absorb about 80% of true vitamin A from animal sources, but only about 3% of carotenoids from plant sources. (source)

• You’ve probably heard people say that the anti-vaxers cause epidemics, but even the CDC admits that “they are not the driving force behind the large-scale outbreaks or epidemics” of whooping-cough (pertussis). In one study of 132 patients who had pertussis in 2010 “81 percent were fully up to date on the whooping-cough vaccine.” Dr. Mercola has a great new post about the effectiveness of vaccines. In fact, another recent study suggests that those recently vaccinated are asymptomatic carriers that spread the disease.

• More bad news about the adverse effects of BPA (Bisphenol A), a chemical used in many plastic products and can linings.  A University of Missouri study has shown that male turtle embryos exposed to BPA develop more like females.  Another study from Tufts University School of Medicine found that BPA causes epigenetic changes in the mammary glands of laboratory animals.  Those changes could lead to breast cancer.

• The Séralini study on the toxic effects of GMOs and glyphosate which was retracted because its results were “inclusive” has been republished, although an editor of the journal admitted “there was no fraud, misconduct, or intentional misrepresentation of data detected.”  After undergoing two more review processes the study has been republished by the journal, Environmental Sciences Europe.  A journal has never before retracted a study for inconclusiveness.

• Sometimes it helps to have someone do a step-by-step debunking of common myths.  Authority Nutrition does a superb job of debunking “20 Mainstream Nutrition Myths.”  My favorite is # 4, egg yolks should be avoided.  I so agree with Authority Nutrition: “Telling people to throw the yolks away may just be the most ridiculous advice in the history of nutrition.”

Not all news is bad! Here is a natural remedy (no bad side effects) and sources of toxin-free bedding.

• Natural remedies not only work they have no adverse side effects.  Natural remedies for dandruff include raw honey and tea tree oil.
• Organic and allergy-free bedding can be a life saver.
  • For Houston area organic mattresses, New Living on Kirby Drive in Rice Village, offers organic toxin-free mattresses and bedding.
  • Online sources of organic bedding include Savvy Rest and Sleeping Organic.  Both have mattresses, sheets, pillows, and mattress pads.

Now for some delicious, nutritious recipes to help keep you healthy and happy!

• Decadent Black Cherry Chocolate Tart (Paleo, GAPS) Cherries are Nutritious: Although most of the calories in sweet cherries come from sugars, the glycemic load is low and there is some omega-3 fat. The most important thing about cherries is the huge amount of antioxidants and various anthocyanins. From Real Food Forager

• Zucchini Pasta with Artichoke, Mushrooms and Sun Dried Tomatoes: Gluten and grain-free. Zucchini is a good source of Vitamin A, thiamine, niacin, phosphorus and copper, and a very good source of dietary fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, riboflavin, Vitamin B6, folate, magnesium, potassium and manganese. The omega 3 to 6 ratio is almost 2 to 1, which is excellent.  From Real Food Forager

• Haystack Onion Rings for Your Grassfed Burgers. Haystack onion rings are the crispy-licious BOMB on a grassfed burger or even just for a tasty snack.  From Kelly the Kitchen Kop

• Summer Berry and Oat Cobbler (and a celebration of homemade flour) The mix of berries topped with an oaten biscuit, makes for a lovely dessert or breakfast – especially when topped with homemade yogurt or kefir.