Bark-a-licious

My last blog entry exposed the pet food industry’s secrets. After knowing what is being put into my pet’s food there is no way I could ever feed that horrible stuff to my precious animals. I am a HUGE advocate for eating organic foods and there should be no exception for feeding our pets organic foods too.

Let me introduce you to my friend, companion, and vegetable loving doggie “Teddy.” I have never seen a dog get so excited to get fresh carrots or cucumbers. He will practically do backflips for some fresh organic okra. For a special “Teddy Tonic” I juice him fresh vegetables and he licks his bowl bone dry! For a special treat he gets apple chunks.

Teddy is a 5 pound Chihuahua that is extremely spunky and as healthy as can be. In fact, he has never been sick. I would like to share with you a basic dog food recipe that I cook for him. You can rotate the protein with different meats each week and can add different vegetable combinations (excluding corn).

Teddy’s Bark-a-licious Recipe:
• 6 cups water
• 1 pound natural/organic ground turkey
• 2 cups organic brown rice
• 1 teaspoon dried organic rosemary

• 1/2 (16 ounce) package frozen organic vegetables
(broccoli, carrots and cauliflower combination)

Directions:
Place the water, ground turkey, rice, and rosemary into a large Dutch oven. Stir until the ground turkey is broken up and evenly distributed throughout the mixture; bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the frozen vegetables, and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Refrigerate until using.

If you are pressed for time and need to use a commercial dog food, I recommend Natural Planet Organic Dog food. They are certified organic and their bags are fully compostable!

Cadavers and Bits: The Pet Food Industry's Revolting Mix!

In the last couple of weeks I have exposed two gross and nauseating food industry secrets: human hair in bread and beaver anal glands in ice cream.
What I am about to share with you will be just as disturbing. Most of us love and care for our four legged companions like another family member. We provide them with fresh water and healthy dog food.

Or do we?

What I am about to expose to you about the dog food industry is purely disgusting and should be considered criminal.

Most consumers are deceived into thinking that what they are feeding their beloved pet is good, wholesome, nutritious food. The images on your pets bagged pet food or the images that flash across your television screen show big succulent pieces of chicken with an array of colorful vegetables.

This is what you think you are feeding your pet, but there is no truth in advertising laws for dogs. That law was designed to protect us not our four legged friends. With that said, your pet’s dog food may only contain a meniscal trace of chicken or vegetables.

Here is the real shocker—your pet’s food is made up of ingredients that make me want to lose my lunch! The ingredients found in commercial pet foods are the ones that are not fit for human consumption.
Here is a list of ingredients you will find in commercial pet food:

• Dead, dying, diseased, and cancerous cattle from feed lots
• dead horses
• Dead zoo animals
• Road kill
• skin, hide, feathers
• Anything else they can't turn into human food
• Spoiled rotten meat from the supermarket, Styrofoam wrap and all.
• Rancid restaurant grease

Are you ready for this last ingredient?

• Euthanized pets from the pound (with poisons still in them)!!!

Euthanized pets in our pet’s food?

When we are faced with having to make the heartbreaking decision to euthanize our beloved companion we usually leave our deceased pet in the trusted care of our Veterinarian. What he/she does not tell you is that it is going to be sent off to disposal company for rendering. In fact, dead animals picked up from veterinarian offices, zoos, animal shelters, and road kill are brought to these rendering plants in astonishing numbers!

Some of you may be wondering what a rendering plant is. Imagine this: dead and diseased animals and all other waste ingredients that are not fit for human consumption that also includes worm infested organs, cancerous tumors, animal carcasses that contain extremely high levels of drugs and pesticides, etc. are all dumped into huge containers. A powerful machine then slowly grinds up everything. It is boiled until it becomes a dry meal and is then sprayed with old disgusting rancid restaurant grease to add some “flavor” so that your pet will actually eat it. To top it off they then spray the “food” with a chemical that tricks your dog’s tongue into making them feel hungry! These flavor enhancers are hard to digest and can ultimately lead to a wide range of health issues in your pets.

At this point, it is then shipped off to the pet food manufactures.

The pet food industry is an 11 billion dollar industry with no regulations that is using their profits at Fido’s expense. I urge you to stop supporting these huge money hungry corporations that do not have our pet’s best interest in mind. Purchasing alternative natural/holistic pet food that does not contain all of those nasty ingredients will not only give you peace of mind, but will also help preserve your pet’s health.

Sources:
http://www.hugsandstitches.com/petfood.htm
http://truthindogfood.com/
http://www.acreaturecomfort.com/truthaboutpetfood.htm

Ala-Barf Ala-Yum!

After writing my last blog post “Ala-Mode Ala-Barf,” I decided to search for a recipe that was free of those nauseating Beaver Anal Glands. It wasn’t an easy endeavor—I had to find one that did not require an ice cream maker and used only simple organic ingredients. To be honest, I had never made ice cream and was a bit skeptical about making it without an ice cream maker.

The end result, I am happy to report, was cold, creamy, pure ice cream heaven that melted in my mouth! The best part of eating it was the fact that it was all organic and did not contain those horrifying and disgusting three words--Beaver Anal Glands! The strawberry topping that I added—can we just say it is to die for! It does not get better than this on a hot summer afternoon. Enjoy from the Queen of Green.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup cold organic milk
1 tablespoon organic vanilla extract
1 (14 ounce) can organic sweetened condensed milk
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1 pint organic heavy cream

Directions:
1.In a medium bowl, stir together cold milk, vanilla, condensed milk and salt. Set aside.
2.In a large bowl, beat heavy cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold milk mixture into whipped cream. (Do not over beat…the heavy cream will turn into butter).
3.Pour into shallow 2 quart dish, cover and freeze for 4 hours, stirring once after 2 hours or when edges start to harden. Serve or store in an airtight container up to 10 days.

Strawberry Topping:
1 pint organic strawberries, cleaned and stemmed
1/3 cup organic sugar
1 teaspoon organic vanilla
Directions
1.Cut about 1/3 of the strawberries in half. In a saucepan over medium high heat, combine strawberries, sugar and vanilla. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. In a blender, puree about 1/3 of sauce, then mix back into remainder. Store in refrigerator.

Ala-Mode Ala-Barf

It’s time for the Queen of Green to burst another flavor bubble. Think about the creamy vanilla ice cream that you love to indulge in because it melts in your mouth and is bursting with pure vanilla flavor. Think again. Did you know there are many ice cream brands that are not bursting with pure vanilla flavor? Some brands contain a hidden ingredient that is made of Beaver Anal Glands!

No, that was not a typo.

Yes, I just said ‘Beaver Anal Glands!’

I don’t know about you, but the thought of shoveling Beaver Anal Glands into my mouth is making my stomach churn.

Beaver Anal Glands are often hidden in ingredient lists as castoreum or natural flavors. They are used to enhance the flavor of vanilla and raspberry drinks, ice cream, candies, puddings, and other desserts. But rest assure, the FDA approves this ingredient as a food additive and has classified it as “generally recognized as safe.” “Generally” recognized as safe—those words do not sound very promising. After all, we are consuming an animal’s private body part that was certainly not intended to excite our taste buds!

According to Gentleworld.org,”castoreum is a bitter, orange-brown, odoriferous, oily secretion, found in two sacs between the anus and the external genitals of beavers. The discharge of the castor sac is combined with the beaver’s urine, and used during scent marking of territory. Both male and female beavers possess a pair of castor sacs and a pair of anal glands located in two cavities under the skin between the pelvis and the base of the tail.”

You will also be shocked to know that Beaver Anal Glands are also a common ingredient in perfume and cologne. Think about that the next time you reach for that cute little bottle of fragrance. After all, don’t you want to spray the refreshing scent of Beaver Anal Gland all over yourself?

My biggest question is who is the inventor or shall I say mad scientist that came up with the idea of thinking that Beaver Anal Glands would be a good flavor enhancer? Sounds like a pretty twisted individual if you ask me!

The next time you are at the grocery store, read those ingredient labels. If you see the words castoreum or natural flavors put it back on the shelf or call the company directly to see what the “natural flavors” are made of! Look for ice cream that is flavored with real vanilla beans. Also, avoid purchasing cosmetics made with animal ingredients.

The words “natural and artificial flavors added” caught my attention while glancing at the container of Blue Bell’s Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream. It is making me wonder the source of these so called natural and artificial flavors! Maybe their new jingle should sound something like this:

Blue Bell the best Beaver Anal Glands in the country!!

In conclusion, I am just horrified at what is being added to our food. We should not have to scout every ingredient label or worry about what toxic chemicals are being put on our food, or worry what type of ramification it may have on our children’s delicate system. Our food system needs change and hopefully this is the first step to spreading awareness.


Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17365147
http://gentleworld.org/the-gross-truth-about-natural-flavors/
http://toyourgoodhealthradio.com/blog/think-twice-before-eating-that-candy/

Queen of Green's Peach Pound Cake

I have been dying to make this recipe, and after my last blog entry the baking industry’s “hairy” little secret. I thought this would be a great time to whip up a tasty, southern, and not to mention “hair-less” peach pound cake. I love baking from scratch because I do not have to worry about any weird chemical additives. I also only use organic ingredients because I do not want to worry about the dangerous chemical pesticides or herbicides that were sprayed on fruits, vegetables, etc. Also, there is a huge difference in the taste when using all organic ingredients.

While baking the peach pound cake last night, the aroma of the fresh peaches mixed with the spiciness of the cinnamon filled my home. It was a scent that made my mouth water. I was hoping that this pound cake would taste as good as it smelled. Once finished, I realized why it is called a “pound cake” the thickness and heaviness of the cake was just beautiful—something you will not find in processed pastries. I drizzled on the warm peach glaze and proceeded to take my first bite. Can I just say—it was the best darn pound cake I have EVER eaten. The crunchy sugar topping with the hot peachy glaze mixed with the moist cake was an irresistible delight! This is one indulgence you should experience. It contains no chemical nasties, is all organic, and the Queen of Green promises it will be a hairless experience!

Topping:
• 1/2 cup organic sugar
• 1 teaspoon organic cinnamon
Main Ingredients:
• 1 cup organic salted butter , softened
• 2 cups organic sugar
• 4 organic eggs
• 1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose organic flour
• 1 teaspoon (aluminum free ) baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon organic cinnamon + a little bit extra
• ¼ teaspoon organic nutmeg
• 3 cups fresh organic peaches, pitted and chopped
Glaze:
• 1/2 a jar of organic peach fruit spread

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line a loaf pan with wax paper and coat it with some of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Reserving the rest for later use.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Reserve 1/4 cup of flour for later, and sift together the remaining flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Gradually stir into the creamed mixture. Use the reserved flour to coat the chopped peaches and sprinkle with cinnamon, and then fold the cinnamon/floured peaches into the batter. Spread evenly into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the cinnamon/sugar mixture on the top of the cake.

3. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Allow cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Pour half the jar of the peach fruit spread into a small sauce pan. Heat it up on low and cook until it is thin and spreadable. Drizzle over pound cake. Enjoy!

The baking industry's ”hairy” little secret...

Who would have imagined that the slice of garlic bread that you just served to your family for dinner contained human hair? Yes, you are reading that right…human hair!! It can be found in many baked goods such as, bread, pizza crusts, cake doughnuts, bagels, and cookies. Human hair is listed on the ingredient panel as L-Cysteine. It is a non -essential amino acid that is added to these foods to enhance the stretchiness of the dough. L-cysteine is isolated through a chemical process by dissolving the human hair in acid. The source of L-Cysteine is not limited to only human hair, but to chicken and duck feathers, cow horns, and petroleum by-products.

L-Cysteine is only manufactured in China, Japan, and Germany. The majority of all USA L-Cysteine comes from human hair because it is the cheapest source. Now, for those of you wondering whose hair you’re eating, the majority of it comes from Chinese women who sell their hair to chemical processing plants.

I don’t know about you, but the thought of consuming someone’s dissolved hair is very unsettling, or might I just say down right disgusting! Oh, and did I mention that it can be found in baby formula!! I guess they figure what better way to give your baby some added nutrients (another reason to breast feed)! With China’s less than perfect reputation when it comes to their manufacturing practices and with the recent nuclear explosion that took place in Japan, the thought of not only consuming human hair, but the very real possibility of consuming radioactive human hair, scares me enough to put any product containing that hairy little ingredient back on the shelf!





Sources: http://www.albalagh.net/halal/col2.shtml

Queen of Green's Most "Not" Wanted Ingredient List

While reading this list keep in mind Europe has banned over 1000 chemicals while the US has only banned 9!! This is in no way an exhaustive list of chemicals that you and your family should avoid. However, this list contains ingredient chemicals that are found frequently in everyday, over the counter products. I hope that this blog post gets you inspired to start doing some of your own research.

1. Parabens

Parabens are highly toxic preservatives that are used to extend the shelf life of products. They are commonly found in facial cleansers, moisturizers, sunscreens, cosmetics, topical pharmaceuticals, shampoos, shaving gels, personal lubricants, and toothpaste. In fact, one common paraben, Methylparaben is currently used in over 19,800 cosmetic products.
Parabens mimic the hormone estrogen and is an endocrine disruptor. There is great concern for the developing fetus, impaired fertility, and the development of estrogen sensitive diseases, such as breast cancer. Burning, blistering, and itching of the skin have been associated with parabens.

Often listed as: Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isopropylparaben and a plethora of other common names.



2. Propylene Glycol:

An extremely toxic industrial solvent made from petroleum derivatives. This chemical can penetrate the skin so easily that industrial workers are warned of severe health related injuries if contact occurs. Such risk include, kidney, liver, and brain abnormalities. They must wear protective clothing and take all precautionary measures while handling this toxic chemical.

Propylene Glycol can be found in most transdermal patches. Its job is to carry the “active” ingredients into your bloodstream. It can also be found in baby products, shampoos, toothpastes, lotions, creams, deodorants, pet foods, floor waxes, hydraulic fluids, and is the main ingredient in anti-freeze!

Often listed as: PG, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), Ethylene Glycol, and Propanediol.



3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) was used as engine degreasers and floor cleaners before it was introduced into nearly all baby washes, bubble baths, and shampoos! Many “natural” products are including this former engine degreaser in their products. One of the biggest issues with SLS is its ability to mimic the hormone Oestrogen. It may be responsible for several health related issues such as effecting male fertility, Menopausal symptoms, PMS problems, and the increased risk of female cancers where Oestrogen levels are involved (ovarian and breast cancer). It also damages the protein formations in the eyes that are caused by using shampoos that contain this nasty ingredient. It can lead to cataract formation and eventually blindness. The risk not only comes from direct eye contact, but from your skin absorbing it over a long period of time.

From Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS):
Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. Repeated exposure to a highly toxic material may produce general deterioration of health by an accumulation in one or many human organs.

Often listed as: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Myreth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate


4. Triclosan

Triclosan is a common anti-bacterial ingredient. It can be found in antibacterial soaps, cleansers, detergents, deodorants, toothpastes, and mouthwashes. Its toxic compound can put your health at risk. A major concern is the chemical reaction that occurs when Triclosan and the chlorine inside of your tap water is mixed while brushing your teeth or washing your hands. The result is chloroform which is a carcinogen (cancer causing agent). Another major concern with using Tirclosan is that It is unhealthy to the environment and poses an increased risk of bacterial resistance.


5. Quarternium 15

Quarternium 15 is an ammonium salt that acts as a preservative in baby shampoos, lotions, eye makeup, and tons of other products. It works by releasing formaldehyde in order to kill bacteria. It is a strong allergen that frequently causes contact dermatitis and is highly sensitizing. It is also a known carcinogen.


6. FRAGRANCE (Fragrance Oils)
Fragrance can be found in products that have scents. These fragrances are synthetic and are made primarily of petrochemicals. Unlike essential oils that are derived from an actual plant, fragrance oils, are produced by chemist who add a little of this and a little of that in order to create these “fake” scents. All of these chemical concoctions have the ability to contribute to allergic reactions, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and cancer. By listing a group of chemicals as a “proprietary blend,” companies do not have to disclose the ingredients. They are able to legally do this because the “proprietary blend” is considered a trade secret formulation and therefore, is covered under patent law. In fact, 3,163 different chemicals can be used under the word fragrance. If you see the word fragrance on the label, put it back on the shelf.


7. 1,4 Dioxane

1,4-Dioxane is not listed on the ingredient list very often because it is a contaminate that is produced during the manufacturing process of petroleum-derived ethylene oxide. sodium laureth sulfate and polyethylene glycol are two common ethylene oxides. There are many health implications associated with 1,4 Dioxane--It easily penetrates the skin, is suspected to cause cancer and birth defects, and is suspected as being a respiratory toxicant, neurotoxicant, and kidney toxicant.

To avoid coming in contact with this do not use any product with the following ingredients: myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth (or any other -eth), PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol.