Good people,

September is here and with it the month of the Libras…a lot to do with “a balancing act.”

This month’s article is largely compiled by Organic Consumers Alliance (OCA)’s more youthful board member, Catherine Kinyanjui, who is keen on a smaller waistline, as most younger people would be: Other than exercise, what else is important to maintain a smaller waist line? This month’s article focuses on answering that question and more…read on...

• Firstly; the scientific evidence: Who better to share the scientific evidence than the innovative neurologist, Dr. David Perlmutter on th critical role of diets, gut bacteria and genes in achieving better health outcomes, including a smaller waistline: Here: is a good summary: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-david-perlmutter-md/gut-bacteria-health_b_7428882.html
• Secondly; the narrative as shared by Catherine:  Being an ordinary girl from Nairobi, Kenya, trying to draw that crucial link between my food and my health, it is only natural that I clicked on a story that read “How the bacteria in your gut may be shaping your waistline”.  As usual, the writing did not disappoint. This post is a simple understanding of the relationship between your food, genetic composition and gut bacteria and the elusive waistline. The publication was based on a study that controlled for the effects of genes and diet, to understanding of the specific ways that the gut's living organisms influence a complex phenomenon like weight gain. As a reference point, gut bacteria (gut flora) is the microbe population living in our intestines. It is composed of tens of trillions of microorganisms, including at least 1000 different species of known bacteria with more than 3 million genes (150 times more than human genes!). It can weigh up to 2 kg. One third of our gut microbiota is common to most people, while two thirds are specific to each one of us. Some key functions played by gut bacteria include: promoting proper development and function of your immune system, digesting and absorbing certain carbohydrates, producing vitamins, absorbing minerals and eliminating toxins, keeping bad bacteria under control and preventing allergies among others. The study conducted in Washington University and published in Science began with four sets of identical female twins in which one twin was lean and the other obese. Samples of bacteria, virus and protozoans were extracted from their stool and transplanted into mice whose intestines were a blank slate to ensure that the mice’s gut bacteria resembled that of the human donors. Despite eating about the same amount of the same low-fat diet, mice that got transplants from an obese twin began to gain weight and show fat deposits. The mice that got transplants from a lean twin remained lean. Further, it was observed that the intestinal flora of the lean mice also worked better at breaking down and fermenting dietary sugars than did their counterparts in the obese mice. The straight forward changes in the gut microorganisms cause changes in body shape and metabolic rates, as opposed to metabolism shaping the microbiome.
• For the scientific, medical and pharmaceutical community this is great news as it implies the possibility getting a “pill” that can control obesity.
•  However, to the natural wellness and nutritional based practitioners, who also promote consuming organic foods and who espouse the mantra of  “your health being your first wealth”, the ability to control your gut bacteria by growing “good bacteria” from probiotics, found in fermented milk and easily found pro biotic formulas, can be obtained from healthy foods and supplements shops. To put it simply, a diet of maziwa lala, fermented uji, fermented vegetables and even Muratina or Buzaa, will help control the weight and manage the waistline. As natural probiotics are culture specific, you can view an extensive list here.

Good people,

The month of July is here: July heralds the beginning of the second half of the year and with it comes a period of reflection and introspection; This includes how the year has panned out in achieving defined objectives and goals: For most people a priority objective is to improve their health and wellness by consuming healthy and safe food. This blog article is about the danger from consuming unsafe food: Shocking evidence from a South African foods survey:https://acbio.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/No-Safe-Limits-for-Toxic-Pesticides-in-Our-Food.pdf

• Have you noticed that most deaths, these days are not from infectious diseases, like pneumonia and malaria complications, but are more from chronic diseases, like heart attacks, diabetes complications, like terminal renal failure, and cancers?
• What has changed in our environment and the food we consume to cause such an unprecedented increase in these chronic diseases, also referred to as non-communicable diseases (NCDs)?
• A closer look reveals that most of these foods consumed are “processed” and have “chemical additives” and agrochemical residues, which are known carcinogens and or are triggers of chronic inflammation: these range from highly processed vegetable oils, which include the “Eliantos” which we have been made to believe are healthy oils aka good for the heart health. Evidence? https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF02873539
• How about the agrochemicals, like glyphosate aka Roundup (weed killer) and glufosinate which are commonly used for growing vegetables and cereals?
• Do we know their residue levels and the Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) that are allowed by our various regulatory agencies?
• Here below evidence of levels far above, those allowed in various globally accepted levels and those found in South Africa food products: GMO maize and GMO soya:https://acbio.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/No-Safe-Limits-for-Toxic-Pesticides-in-Our-Food.pdf

Is there scientific evidence of the negative health effects of glyphosate on human beings at concentrations used in conventional farming and GMO biotech farming/crop production? YES. Plenty of robust evidence!

Good people,

August is here and we pray the “Passover” miracle obtains…with the knowledge that good bequeaths good and what goes round comes round…the chicken do come home to roost...

Here is the latest on the dangers of glyphosate and other agrochemicals: http://www.gmwatch.org/en/news/latest-news/17661-organic-foods-backed-by-landmark-report-warning-pesticides-far-more-dangerous-than-was-thought

• For scientists and policy makers: the confessions from an Indian Policy maker who facilitated the introduction of GMO Cotton,  in India...20 years later...he deeply regrets the suicides he inadvertently caused among the GM cotton farmers; his confessions here: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/ex-cabinet-secy-regrets-over-introducing-gm-cotton-in-india/articleshow/59704515.cms
• For farmers, consumers and activists: what Burkina Faso cotton farmers(and consumers) have achieved from lessons learned in India......and now, India may need to LEARN from Burkina in kicking out  the GMOs of Monsanto and other biotechnology firms out of India:http://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/africa-s-big-little-anti-gm-revolution-58118
• During an experiential learning visit to Burkina Faso, last year, together with other agro-ecological organic agriculture practitioners to witness, first hand, the ravages of GM cotton, i met that gentleman, in the white cap(among other local farmers and consumers).http://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/africa-s-big-little-anti-gm-revolution-58118
• In Kenya, field studies have been going on for the so-called water efficient maize for Africa (WEMA), hybrid maize variety, using hybrid non- GMO drought resistant germplasm...but guess what? They have now, sneaked in the GMO Bt. WEMAvariety into so-called National Field Trials (NPT), with the Bt. protein, ostensibly, as a stacked variety to prevent the maize stem borer pest from attacking the maize stalk! And yet, it is a known fact, from field trials, the Fall Army worm and the stem borer have still attacked the WEMA maize!  Farmers in the field trial sites know and have observed the failure to thrive of the WEMA Bt. Maize! Who is fooling who?
• Do we have evidence that the Bt. technology that Monsanto, supposedly "donated" in order to get patent privileges on the Bt. WEMA variety is outdated and obsolete technology?  Findings from South Africa have conclusively demonstrated that the gross failure of Bt. Maize against the maize pest! Here is the evidence: http://www.ensser.org/fileadmin/files/3.4-vandenBerg-paper.pdf
• And how do feed the hungry world, they quip? Agroecological organic agricultural food systems CAN feed the world, sustainably: Here is the evidence: http://www.twn.my/title2/susagri/2016/sa518.htm