I’d like to begin by welcoming all new subscribers to this newsletter!

If you are considering a fall cleanse, please call the office to schedule a consultation and go over several cleansing programs and find the most appropriate one for you.

Federal Subsidies of Junk Food

CALPIRG is a California Public Interest group that has just released a report (Apples to Twinkies: Comparing Federal Subsidies of Fresh Produce and Junk Food) that looks at Federal Subsidies given to farmers. In the last 15 years it is estimated that $16.9 billion went to subsidize corn and soybean crops. Corn is used to make high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, corn starch and soy is used to make vegetable oils. Pick up any processed, unhealthy food from a supermarket shelf and you will definitely find these two ingredients.

The subsidizing of these crops leads to junk food being extremely cheap in comparison to fresh produce. This bill specifically limits funds for fresh fruits and vegetable programs in communities. Junk food is the cheapest food in any grocery store, it is cheap because the raw materials are cheap. Why is that we see alarming rates of obesity in communities that are less affluent? When someone who is on a tight budget goes into a grocery store, they find their dollars can go a lot further in the center aisles of the store that are packed with junk food. The perimeter of the store, which contains healthy food options is often out of reach for people on a budget.

The Farm Bill provides subsidies to growers of corn, soybeans, wheat, rice and cotton and due to these subsidies, our farms over produce these five crops. If we compare the price of fresh produce between 1985 and 2000, we see that the price has risen, while this same time period has seen a decline in the price of soft drinks. This same bill supports school lunch programs that buy agricultural surplus to feed to students, think of nutrient void and calorie rich foods such as tater tots. This farm bill has a huge impact on the nation’s diabetes and obesity problem.

In April 2007 Michael Pollan (author of ‘The Omnivore’s Dilmena) wrote a great piece for the New York Times titled – You are what you grow – it describes the farm bill’s impact on the American food system.

What can you do? Tell congress it’s time to end subsidies for Junk Food! Write to our senators, tell them to not support this bill.  Here is the link.

B12/B Complex Injections

B Vitamins are involved in many metabolic reactions within the human body and they play a key role in skin health, immune and nervous system function, muscle tone and the prevention of anemia. Vitamin B – encompasses a group of 8 vitamins that are found in food items, a supplement or injection that contains these sub-types is called a B Complex.

B 12 & B Complex Injections are now being offered at Surat Naturopathic – call today to schedule one for yourself!

• B 12 or B Complex Injection – $25
• B 12 + B Complex Injection – $30

Read on about B12/B Complex Injections.