Today’s statistics show that one in eight women in the US will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and the rates are rising. Doctors suggest that women start getting yearly mammograms once they turn 40 years old. But let’s talk about the 11,330 young women under 40 who will lose their breast and or life to breast cancer this year. Let’s talk about the fact that by the time a tumor can be detected by a mammogram it has been growing for about 7 years. Let’s talk about the things that are not part of your routine medical consult.…and should be.

Here at Alternative Primary Care in Crystal River, Florida we feel strongly that a proactive approach to breast health that saves both lives and breasts.  Bibbey believes it is imperative that patients are informed about early detection methods that can give them piece of mind as well as plenty of time to make diet and lifestyle changes necessary to avoid precancerous formations from turning into full blown tumors.  That is why a few times of year we have an amazing team set up shop in our office to offer Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging ‘DITI’ in our own community.

What is Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging? DITI is a 15 minute noninvasive test of physiology. It is a valuable procedure for alerting your doctor to changes that can indicate early stage breast disease. An important benefit of DITI testing is that it offers the opportunity of earlier detection of breast disease than has been possible through self-examination, doctor examination, or mammography alone.

Advanced Thermal Imaging regularly visits Alternative Primary Care to provide Breast Health Screenings.  Call the office today at 352-464-1645 to learn about upcoming dates.

Drop in Cooking Class Three Friday class times available…

This 1.5 hour class is a great opportunity for you to learn more about avoiding preventable diseases by planning and preparing meals that keep you healthy. It sounds simple – eat more salads and less burgers and you’ll live longer; when, in reality there is a lot more to it. Sometimes eating cold-raw salads can actually be the wrong choice for optimal health – depending on your overall health.

My goal, and the purpose with these classes is to help you live better: with less pain, preventable disease and with less dependence on prescription drugs – now and into the future.

This program will teach you how to plan and prepare meals that will improve your energy and overall health. Come for one night, two or all three.

• Only $20 per class – Only 12 openings

• 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

• Friday January 17th; Friday January 24th and Friday February 7th.

Click here to reserve your place now.

Don’t forget to leave me a comment in the message field showing which night you want to attend.

David Bibbey, L.Ac.

Recently I received the below message from a concerned Patient…

Dear Bibbey,

While at the market today I picked up  flyer that explained different labeling for foods.  Namely Organic Foods.  I found out that food labeled “USDA Organic” only needs to be 95% Organic to receive the “Organic” Label.  I was upset.  Here I am trying to eat right and I may be kidding myself.  What good is all the extra time, money and effort to eat organic if for example, I eat 16 oz of food and I may get about an oz of high fructose corn syrup or some other commercialize and harmful “food”.  Is there anything I can do to be sure I am getting 100% organic foods?

Here is my response:

That’s an excellent question especially in light of a recent Harris poll finding; 59% of consumers in the US view organic labeling simply as an excuse for companies to charge more money.  At the same time the percentage of the Americans concerned environmental issues has increased nearly 10% over the last year.  So, while on one hand people are more strongly identifying with environmental and conservation issues, American’s are becoming increasingly wary about the marketing tactics and increased costs associated with supporting the “green revolution.” 

So, your question about product labeling raises an interesting topic.  I think to fairly frame the answer though, it is worth revisiting the definition and use of the term, “organic”.  Source: USDA Gov’t website:

The regulations define four categories of organic products:

“100% organic” — Raw or processed agricultural products that contain 100 percent organic ingredients.

“Organic” — Agricultural products that contain not less than 95 percent organic ingredients.

“Made with [organic ingredients]” — Multi-ingredient products that contain at least 70 percent organicallyproduced ingredients.

Less than 70 percent organic ingredients — Multi-ingredient products that contain less than 70 percent organically produced ingredients.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateC&leftNav=NationalOrganicProgram&page=NOPConsumers&description=Consumers

A traditional use of the term “organic” identified produce and agro products grown or produced observing certain principles, which include proper soil management, no use of toxic pesticides nor genetically modified seed (GMO’s).  This traditional farming method has been largely abandoned, and is now in direct contrast to all of the “modern” advances in agriculture sciences, which have focused on reducing farming costs and increasing crop yield.  To maximize farming output, agricultural scientists have developed chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as, genetic variants of seeds that make crops grow more robustly while resistant to drought and disease.  These advancements and tradeoffs are complex; growers and their commercial partners have developed techniques to control some of the financial volatility historically common to farming – a labor intensive industry with unpredictable yield.  Unfortunately, achieving this level of crop confidence means that the food supply is now tainted.  Ultimately we are ingesting these soil and pesticide chemicals regularly; and the health effects of these and GMO’s are unknown.

The discussion and description about what is Organic, Certified Organic, 100% Organic, Contains Organic Ingredients, etc., has evolved to match consumer demands and purchasing trends.  At its simplest, Organic fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, animal products and animal by-products are those foods produced and brought to market without chemicals or harmful processes – they are cleaner are safer to eat.  The USDA grants Organic certifications to food producers for labeling purposes, based on an investigation and inspection of the methods and materials used.  The USDA has specific guidelines and requirements, which must be met by food and product makers to achieve a differentiated Organic labeling status. Food items, like carrots, kidney beans, tomatoes, celery that are labeled 100% Organic – clearly meet all the USDA inspection requirements needed.  But what has happened over the last decade to complicate product labeling is the growing consumer demand for healthier packaged goods, like Minestrone Soup: nothing against Minestrone.  But when a complex list of ingredients is involved – the lines begin to blur when making distinctions about whether, or not every ingredient has to be certified 100% organic for the product to retain its Organic description.  This is where all of the USDA certification labeling requirements might influence a company’s ingredient list and packaging language.  The USDA has established guidelines for labeling and various enforcement mechanisms to encourage food makers to carefully and accurately label their products.  Consequentially, part of the increased cost for organic foods includes regulatory fees passed on to the consumer.  So, decision making about the sources for ALL ingredients needed for a product are made, in part, based on the cost for using organic vs. commercially growth ingredients.  Then makers strike a bargain, based on relative and perceived harm of using ingredients that are not labeled organic.  For example, parsley used in the Minestrone can be sourced and grown both organically and commercially; the organic parsley cost twice the price of the commercial variety and it’s not reliably available June through September.  So, the maker might choose to use the less expensive, more reliably available parsley – it is not organic, because the grower hasn’t applied for organic certification from the USDA, but the parsley is grown at an indoor hydroponic farm.  The USDA leaves the door open for Organic product labeling with a 95% organic ingredient composition because instances and decisions like, the use and sources of parsley are commonplace, and it allowing an Organic labeling in these instances reflects a fairness standard.  The USDA leaves the door open for Organic product labeling with 95% organic ingredients because instances and decisions like, the use and sources of parsley are commonplace.  Company’s are permitted to label these products as organic, so long as they do not claim that it is 100% organic and the product label accurately reflects its ingredients. This policy also reflects a fairness standard for companies that want to compete in the organic product marketplace, whose products are ‘substantially” organic; and The USDA does not want to arbitrarily or overly restrict commerce.

Ultimately, as a consumer – you, me and everyone concerned with food quality issues has to take time to carefully read labels to get a complete understanding of what is in the product.  If you are concerned with an ingredient or the quality of a product – put it back on the shelf.  Check for a 100% Organic label or consult with a natural food specialist for a recommendation. 

If eating your way to vibrant health interest you, try one of our Food Therapy Programs. For more information contact David via email here Contact Us or call 352-464-1645