Here is a list of some great websites related to Food, Water, Environment, Climate, Organic Gardening, Hunger etc.

Please let us know if you need any other weblink added to this list to benefit other people.

FOOD-RELATED WEBSITES OF INTEREST

Organic Foods

Organic Consumers Association
www.purefood.org
Organic Farming Research Foundation
www.ofrf.org
Organic Trade Association
www.ota.org

Organic Gardening and Organic Seeds

Organic Gardening
www.organicgardening.com
Seeds of Change
www.seedsofchange.com
Victory Seeds
www.victoryseeds.com
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
www.southernexposure

Educating Children
Let’s Get Growing! Company Catalogue
www.letsgetgrowing.com
The Edible Schoolyard
www.edibleschoolyard.org

Community Supported Agriculture
(CSA) and Gardening

American Community Gardening
Association
www.communitygarden.org
Greenpeople
www.greenpeople.org
Local Harvest
www.localharvest.org
Organic Consumers
www.organicconsumers.org

Food Co-ops
Co-op Directory
www.coopdirectory.org
Greenpeople
www.greenpeople.org
Local Harvest
www.localharvest.org
Organic Consumers
www.organicconsumers.org

Composting and Herb Gardening
Avant-Gardening
www.avant-gardening.com
Organic Gardening
www.organicgardening.com

Vegetarianism
Vegetarian Resource Group
www.vrg.org
International Vegetarian Union (IVU)
www.ivu.org
North American Vegetarian Society
www.navs-online.org
Vegan Fusion
www.veganfusion.com

Modern Food Concerns

Food and Water
www.foodandwater.org
Safe Tables Our Priority (STOP)
www.safetables.org
Humane Farming Association
www.hfa.org
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
www.peta.org
Pesticide Action Network, North America (PANNA)
www.panna.org
Citizens for Health
www.citizens.org
EarthSave
www.earthsave.org

Water Testing

Watercheck National Testing
Laboratories
www.ntllabs.com

Environmental Groups and Initiatives

Greenpeace
www.greenpeace.org
The Sierra Club
www.sierraclub.org
Natural Resource Defense Council
www.savebiogems.org
Friends of the Earth
www.foe.org
Rainforest Action Network
www.ran.org
Worldwatch Institute
www.worldwatch.org
Green Restaurant Association
www.dinegreen.com

World Hunger Organizations

Food First (Institute for Food
and Development Policy)
www.foodfirst.org
Food Not Bombs
www.foodnotbombs.net
The Hunger Project
www.thp.org
The Hunger Site
www.thehungersite.com

This is an effort to make some of these resources easily available for you in one place.

Please feel free to reach out and let us know if there is another resource that you love, and we would add it to the list.

Enjoy!

Here are some of the Whole food Plant Based resources:

https://nutritionstudies.org/whole-food-plant-based-diet-guide/

https://nutritionfacts.org/healthkit/

https://www.pcrm.org/

https://resources.plantricianproject.org/default/batches/plantricianresources

https://nutritionstudies.org/topics/

Plant-based Recipes:

https://ucdintegrativemedicine.com/recipes/

https://kickstart.pcrm.org/

How to cook without oil:

https://ucdintegrativemedicine.com/2015/03/how-to-cook-without-oil-and-never-ever-miss-it/#gs.phzwke

Track your diet:

Track your nutrition, fitness & health data, Log your diet, exercise, biometrics, and notes.

https://cronometer.com

Food Label reading cheat sheet:

https://ucdintegrativemedicine.com/wp-content/uploads/ucdim-foodlabel.pdf

This short survey estimates the percentage of your daily calories that are derived from the healthiest of foods: whole plants.

http://4leafsurvey.com/

https://4leafprogramdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/4leaf-pdf-daily-103015.pdf

For an extensive listing of Whole Food Plant-Based Experts and Resources:

http://www.wholefoodplantbasedrd.com/whole-food-plant-based-expertsresources/

Plantrician project research on:

  1. Cardiovascular health
  2. Inflammatory bowel disease
  3. Multiple sclerosis
  4. Mediterranean Diet
  5. List of Ted talks on Plant-Based nutrition
  6. Tools for Parents
  7. Plant-Based on a Budget
  8. Documentaries
  9. Real Food Channel Episodes
  10. Infographics
  11. Plant-Based Programs
  12. Certifications
  13. Cookbooks
  14. Further Recommended Reading

This is an effort to make some of these resources easily available for you in one place.

Please feel free to reach out and let us know if there is another resource that you love, and we would add it to the list.

Enjoy!

AYURVEDIC HERBS, SPICES, OILS, AND FOOD SUPPLIES

Ayush Herbs, Inc.
10025 N.E. 4th Street
Bellevue, WA 98004
Ph. (800)925-1371
www.ayushherbs.com

Banyan Botanicals
6705 Eagle Rock Ave. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87113
Ph. (505) 821-5083; (888) 829-5722
www.banyanbotanicals.com

Bazaar of India Imports, Inc.
1810 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94703
Ph. (800) 261-7662; (510) 548-4110
www.bazaarofindia.com

Frontier Natural Products Co-op
P.O. Box 229
Norway, IA 52318
Ph. (800) 717-4372
www.frontiercoop.com

Internatural
33719 116th St./ Box AH
Twin Lakes, WI 53181 USA
Ph. (262) 889-858; (800) 643-422
Fax: (262) 889-8591
www.internatural.com

Maharishi Ayurveda Products
1068 Elkton Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Ph. (800) 255-8332
www.mapi.com

Om Organics
3245 Prairie Avenue Suite A
Boulder, CO 80301
Ph. (888) 550-VEDA
Fax: (720) 406-9340
www.omorganics.com

Planetary Formulations
P.O. Box 533
Soquel, CA 95073
Formulas by Dr. Michael Tierra

Tri Health Ayurveda
P.O. Box 340
Anahola, HI 96703
Ph. (808) 822-4288; 800-455-0770
Fax: (808) 822-3856
www.oilbath.com

It can be really confusing to differentiate between all the types and styles of medicine being practiced.

Here is a list of simple, one-line explanations to try to differentiate between various styles.

  • Integrative medicine: an approach to health that takes into account the entirety or wholeness of an individual and uses a combination of conventional and alternative treatments.
  • Alternative medicine: an approach to healing that falls outside of, and is used instead of, conventional medicine.
  • Complementary medicine: an approach to healing that falls outside of, and is used in combination with, conventional medicine.
  • Conventional medicine: the mainstream/western medical approach, which is taught in most medical schools and practiced in most hospitals and employs treatments such as surgery, pharmaceuticals, and pharmaceuticals.
  • Functional medicine: a systems biology-based approach to medicine practiced by licensed physicians that focus on treating the root cause of disease, as opposed to treating symptoms. Most similar to Integrative Medicine.
  • Lifestyle Medicine: the use of evidence-based 6 pillars of lifestyle therapeutic intervention as a primary modality, to prevent, treat, and often reverse chronic disease.
  • Whole person health: refers to helping individuals improve and restore their health in multiple interconnected domains—biological, behavioral, social, environmental—rather than just treating disease.
  • Traditional medicine: healing practices that come out of the traditions of indigenous peoples.
  • Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): a collection of healing practices that originated in China and are based on the belief that free-flowing qi, or life energy, is the key to health.
  • Naturopathy: an approach to health that taps into the innate healing power of our own bodies and the natural world.
  • Ayurveda: “The Science of Life.” An ancient whole System of Medicine that originated thousands of years back in India and is wholistic, proactive, personalized, and preventive in its approach.
  • Osteopathy: a medical approach that focuses on treating a person as a whole and uses physical manipulation of the body to promote healing.

Nutritional Approaches

These approaches include a variety of products, such as herbs (also known as botanicals), vitamins and mineralsand probiotics. They are widely marketed, readily available to consumers, and often sold as dietary supplements.

Psychological and Physical Approaches

Complementary physical and/or psychological approaches include tai chiyogaacupuncturemassage therapyspinal manipulation, art therapy, music therapy, dance, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and many others. These approaches are often administered or taught by a trained practitioner or teacher. The 2012 NHIS showed that yoga, chiropractic, and osteopathic manipulation, and meditation are among the most popular complementary health approaches used by adults.

A few more common alternative health myths I come across! (for Part I, click here)

Myth: I do not need to take any supplements, since I am eating good food.

Truth: I come across this very frequently in Pacific Northwest, regarding Vitamin D, and Vit B12 in Vegans.

Recent analysis of nutrient intakes of the U.S. population shows that a large percentage of people fall short of the average requirements of many nutrients. Almost everyone falls short of the average requirements for vitamin D and vitamin E, and more than one-third fall short of the average requirements for calcium, magnesium and vitamin A.

Resource:
Top 15 Foods Rich In Essential Minerals – https://www.healthambition.com/food-rich-minerals/

Myth: Since I am so healthy, I will be fine if I take herbs for my chest pain (…manage my fractures naturally, control a bad infection using natural herbals, not need gall bladder surgery etc….)

Truth: In a single word, NO!

Herbal and complementary medicine and techniques have a major role in preventive and chronic disease management, but in acute or emergency cases like chest pain (probably due to heart attack), severe abdominal pain (gall bladder infection/stone impaction, acute stomach ulcer or pancreatitis) accident, injury or fracture, you should still go to get urgent care from your medical provider rather than try to cure-it-yourself!

On the other hand, we have pushed the limits on prolonging life at all cost, not considering the quality of life as our time on this wonderful planet draws closer to its end.

Myth: I have to choose between either conventional or alternative medicine.

Truth: You can do both!

This is true even for cancer treatment. Integrative approaches research for symptom management in cancer patients and survivors have had promising results.

Cancer treatment centers with integrative health care programs may offer services such as acupuncture and meditation to help manage symptoms and side effects for patients who are receiving conventional cancer treatment. NCCIH-funded research has suggested that:

  1. Cancer patients who receive integrative therapies while in the hospital have less pain and anxiety.
  2. Massage therapy may lead to short-term improvements in pain and mood in patients with advanced cancer.
  3. Yoga may relieve the persistent fatigue that some women experience after breast cancer treatment.

Myth: Natural medicine has nothing in common with conventional medicine

Truth: Nature has been providing medicines to treat our diseases and relieve our suffering for many thousands of years.

Pharmacognosy is the study of medicinal drugs derived from plants or other natural sources. Many of our modern drugs were originally derived from either plant, animals, or fungi.

Examples are morphine from the opium poppy, aspirin from the white willow tree, anticoagulant coumadin from spoiled sweet clover. Periwinkle has yielded vinblastine (successful treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, turning a disease that was once uniformly fatal into one that can now be totally cured in many patients) and vincristine (used for treating acute childhood leukemia).

Ethnobotany, the study of traditional human uses of plants, is recognized as an effective way to discover future medicines. In 2001, researchers identified 122 compounds used in modern medicine which were derived from “ethnomedical” plant sources; 80% of these have had an ethnomedical use identical or related to the current use of the active elements of the plant.

Myth: I can go for my surgery without discussing my herbs/vitamins/supplements with my doctor.

Truth: Certain supplements may increase the risk of bleeding, decrease your blood pressure or heart rate, affect the response to anesthesia, or adversely affect the outcome of your surgery….

It is very important to inform your doctor about the vitamins, herbals, OTC supplements etc you are taking. These might need to be stopped up to 2 weeks ahead of an elective surgery.

Here is a link for you to do a self-check on herbals.

Myth: Yoga can’t help serious diseases/it’s just for fun and flexibility

Truth: A Big YES!

There have been numerous studies proving the benefits of Yoga on several diseases, including cancers.

Myth: Alternative health websites just aren’t trustworthy.

Truth: There are fallible websites out there. But there are some good ones. You simply have to follow some rules so you can identify which are right.

If you’re visiting a health website for the first time, these five quick questions can help you decide whether the site is a helpful resource:

  1. Who? Who runs the Web site? Can you trust them?
    Be skeptical about anecdotal information from persons who have no formal training in nutrition or botanicals, or from personal testimonials (e.g. from store employees, friends, or online chat rooms and message boards) about incredible benefits or results obtained from using a product. Question these people on their training and knowledge in nutrition or medicine.
  2. What? What does the site say? Do the claims for the product seem exaggerated or unrealistic? Do its claims seem too good to be true? (Then probably they are not True!)
  3. When? When was the information posted or reviewed? Is it up to date?
  4. Where? Where did the information come from? Is it based on scientific research? Learn to distinguish hype from evidence-based science. Reputable websites will have real links at the bottom of websites, linking to scientific research. Check for university studies.
  5. Why? Why does the site exist? Is it selling something? Beware of such phrases such as: This is not a hoax or Send this to everyone you know.

Myth: Acupuncture, yoga, meditation, massage, all these have no scientific proof of action, so they must be woo-woo!

Truth: Many more insurance companies are approving the use of alternative therapies like yoga, acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic care, physical therapy etc. for acute or chronic pain, injuries, depression/anxiety and a variety of other mind-body conditions.

Meditation, yoga, and relaxation with imagery are recommended for routine use for common conditions, including anxiety and mood disorders. Stress management, yoga, massage, music therapy, energy conservation, and meditation are recommended for stress reduction, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and quality of life.

Preliminary studies of the effects of a single session of Swedish massage on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and immune function in normal individuals.

Want to know how you can find truthful information?

To find reliable sources of scientifically sound information about vitamin/mineral supplements:

Look for scientific research findings on the dietary supplements. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), as well as other Federal agencies, have free publications, clearinghouses, and information on their Web sites.

The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements has a series of Vitamin and Mineral Fact Sheets that provide scientifically-based overviews of a number of vitamins and minerals. They can provide a good basis for a discussion with your doctor about whether or not you should take a vitamin/mineral supplement.

MedlinePlus is another good source of information on vitamins and minerals.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a variety of articles and consumer advisories to help consumers inform themselves about dietary supplements, including warnings and safety information, labeling, evaluation information, and FDA’s role in regulating dietary supplements.

For those interested in looking directly at scientific studies, the PubMed Dietary Supplement Subset is a good database to search: here, here, or here.

The Linus Pauling Institute’s Micronutrient Information Center is a source for scientifically accurate and peer-reviewed information regarding the roles of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals (plant chemicals that may affect health), and other dietary factors, including some food and beverages, in preventing disease and promoting health. You can look here, here, and here. The subset is designed to limit search results to citations from a broad spectrum of dietary supplement literature including vitamin, mineral, phytochemical, ergogenic, botanical, and herbal supplements in human nutrition and animal models.

Some more helpful tips:
6 Things To Know When Selecting a Complementary Health Practitioner – https://nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/selecting
Steps in advising patients who are interested in complementary and alternative therapies – http://www.nature.com/nrclinonc/journal/v10/n11/fig_tab/nrclinonc.2013.125_F2.html
Talking about Complementary and Alternative Medicine with Health Care Providers: A Workbook and Tips – http://cam.cancer.gov/attachments/workbook/talking_about_cam_workbook.pdf

Sources:
http://www.crnusa.org/pdfs/CRNFactSheetNutrientShortfalls.pdf
Quantity is not necessarily better than Quality: What should medicine do when it can’t save your life?
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/08/02/letting-go-2
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/canceralternativetherapies.html
Heart rate variability and treatment outcome in major depression: a pilot study.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24769434
Insular cortex mediates increased pain tolerance in yoga practitioners.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23696275
Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Anxiety, Depression and Stress in Women With Multiple Sclerosis.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26835467