Which causes more greenhouse gas emissions, raising cattle or driving cars?

Surprise - it's the cows. Yes, it's true that our cow-centric American diet contributes significantly to global warming. And cutting even some meat from our daily diets could have a greater effect than buying that eco-friendly car you've been oogling.

According to a recent report published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the livestock sector generates more greenhouse gas emissions as measured in CO2 equivalent – 18 percent – than transport. It is also a major source of land and water degradation.

Meat production not only consumes a huge swath of agricultural land, but the by-product of animal raising - nitrous oxide and methane gases -- are no laughing matter as they contribute much more to the greenhouse effect than CO2.

This conclusion was supported by impressive data in a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report issued last year: Livestock’s Long Shadow.

Healthnotes Newswire (June 28, 2007)—When it comes to colon cancer risk, the type of fat that you eat might be more important than the amount. A new study shows that people who consume more omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in oily fish, are less likely to develop colon cancer.

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1. What is the truth about carbs?

We love carbs, and we’re so sad they’ve gotten such a bad rap! Here’s the deal: There are good carbs and bad carbs. Good carbs are fruits, whole grains, brown rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and yams. They are gifts from the heavens and should be eaten daily. They give us energy and help us feel full and satisfied. Bad carbs are refined sugar, white flour, white rice, and other stripped grains (like white pasta) and should be avoided. They release quickly into our bodies making us feel tired, cranky, low-energy, and hungry.

“I’ve been a nutritionist and an exercise physiologist for years, but I’ve been a mom for 11 years now, and I’m shuddering now at some of the advice I used to give to moms, because it’s a whole different ball game when you have the kids.

“Exposure equals preference. We have a responsibility to teach our kids how to eat correctly. What I’ve taught my kids to do is eat the good stuff first.

“And kids want to do the right thing. You need to teach them. So it’s not that they can’t have things like pizza. It’s that these are seen as treats.

“They understand the difference between things they need to eat on a regular basis, always getting their vegetables, always getting some protein, and the things that are treats.

“We also don’t do breakfast cereal and milk in my house, so we’ll have different things. We could have a grass-fed hamburger for breakfast.

Our Body's Acid vs. Alkaline Balance: Why Do We Care?

What is pH anyway? Most of us know what an acid is, but many of us are confused by what a base is, and what the acids and bases have to do with each other, or what they mean to our health is even more of a mystery. It turns out that many diseases rampant in today's society may have a common cause.

“No man can be wise on an empty stomach.” - George Eliot