Our first newsteller

The first newsteller of the project has been released by Lithuanian partner..

You can click this link in order to see it.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B60A-k_lzVIYYkQtMnZaTnBzVlU

Chemicals in fast food wrappers show up in human blood

Friday, January 06, 2012 by: David Gutierrez, staff writer

Toxic chemicals used to line fast food wrappers migrate easily into human blood, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto and published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Oily foods such as fast food and microwave popcorn are regularly packaged in paper or cardboard coated with polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters (PAPs), which prevent water or grease from leaking through the packaging. A prior study by the same research team confirmed that PAPs can migrate from packaging into food, and thereby be ingested. This is an issue of particular concern, because the body can metabolize PAPs into a highly toxic class of chemicals called perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs).

The most infamous PFCA is perflurooctanoic acid (PFOA, also known as C8) the active ingredient in Teflon. PFOA and other PFCAs have been linked to a wide variety of health problems including changes in cholesterol and sex hormones. They have produced tumors and even infant death in animal studies.

"PFOA used in non-stick pans (fast-food containers, carpets, furniture and a host of other everyday household products) accumulates in the umbilical cords of babies and is retarding their growth and brain development, according to two new studies published in the prestigious journal Environmental Health Perspectives (August 2007)," notes Andreas Moritz in the book Timeless Secrets of Health & Rejuvenation.

"Babies whose umbilical cords had the highest concentrations of PFOA were born lighter, thinner and with smaller head circumferences than others."

In the new study, researchers exposed rats to PAPs and confirmed that they were indeed metabolized into PFOA.

"This discovery is important because we would like to control human chemical exposure, but this is only possible if we understand the source of this exposure," researcher Scott Mabury said.

He noted that the findings refute attempts "to locate the blame for human exposure on environmental contamination that resulted from past chemical use rather than the chemicals that are currently in production."

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/034578_fast_food_wrappers_chemicals.html#ixzz1invj0QL9

Are Organic Foods Healthier Than Conventional Foods?

I will share with you why I feel eating natural food will provide better long term health benefits. When I say natural food, I mean food that is not man made. Natural food does not have chemicals, additives or growth hormones. Natural food is simply food grown organically the way nature intended. Why are we experiencing so much sickness today, particularly in the western world? I strongly believe it is because of the lack of knowledge when it comes to proper nutrition and not incorporating natural and organic foods into our diet.

It seems as if the system is treating us like cattle, fattening us, then leading us to the slaughter. We are a society bred for disease solely to sustain the food and pharmaceutical conglomerates. If drug companies invented a cure for disease, they would be out of business. Realize that your body is a remarkable piece of machinery. It has the capability to heal itself. But upon the first sign of pain, we reach for a prescription or non-prescription drug. This may provide temporary relief, but does not change the cause of the problem. This is why I choose to eat natural food and live an organic lifestyle. Let me give you another example.

Food manufacturers are pressed against time and have a fiduciary responsibility to its shareholders. They need to mass-produce large quantities of their fruits and vegetables. How do they do this? They grow their fruits and vegetables faster and in huge quantities with the aid of chemicals. So the fruits and vegetables you buy at your local supermarket are laced with toxic chemicals. Over time these toxins can make you sick. For this reason, it is better to eat natural food that is organically grown. Are organic foods healthier than conventional ones? I think you may say yes.

In the meat industry they also need to mass produce, so they feed their livestock chemicals and growth hormones, this way the animals grow bigger and faster. Could this be the reason our children are becoming obese at an earlier age? It is quite possible. The meat industry also uses sneaky tactics to trick consumers into thinking the meat is still fresh. You may have read recently about carbon monoxide being put into meat to keep that fresh rosy look.
You can experiment by placing meat on your kitchen counter, leave it exposed for a few days and notice it will still have that "fresh" meat look. They add the carbon monoxide in small quantities through a procedure called "modified atmosphere packaging" and it's approved by the FDA. This is not natural food and the practice is deceptive. Again are organic foods healthier than conventional ones? It would seem so.

It is important to get educated when it comes to health. Today with the internet and the information age, there is no excuse.
When it comes to our health, ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance can be hazardous to one's health. Have more control of your health and your diet.

Samantha Fisher

http://www.organicfoodinfo.net/Are_organic_foods_healthier_than_conventional_foods.php

Notes About GRAZ  - AUSTRIA

 (07-11 MAYIS 2012)

Within our Austrian partner “BİT”, we did the third meeting of the Project in Graz on the date of 07-11 May 2012 . As usual, we shared the experiences of eight countries in this Project meeting and took decisions on some issue related to the outputs.

These are the most significant shares that;

Partner in Romania carried out weekly sports and they have trained a large number of people willing to stay healthy and this is organized for both the adults and students.

Zumba fitness course that BIT (where our meeting took place in) organizes is really worth seeing. . Employees who can not find time to do sports can easily do Zumba dance to be considered by the experts as helping losing weights highly under the trainer’s observation in order to keep their bodies fit thanks to the Zumba course. This acitivity has created the impression of an institution combatting and paying attention to the obesity in our mind, and however we have contributed this course with this good excitiment.  

4-day meeting in Graz, as well as the shares, which are beneficial to health in Graz production (bio-production), we added some beneficial information into our memory by listening to one of the agricultural fruit and vegetable producers. One of them was undoubtedly Obsthof Fattingerhof,who produces delicious apple and apple juice in Graz, all participants could give the 10 total  scores out of 10 scores for its taste and appearance if there was a competion of taste in the area . . In terms of production methods, the yield to be fully effective without the use of fertilizers and pesticides had attracted attention. . The participants, have discovered in terms of the benefits of apples to human health; to lose weight, constipation, immune, cholesterol, and consumption of at least 2 units is prominent for heart-to-day requirements.

After this nice gains, we found ourselves in a foundation where it is produced. That’s the pumpkin seeds which we know to be beneficial to health, but many do not know about the usage of a product previously introduced. I believe that we have learnt a lot of things important from the products (Pumpkin seeds) obtained by Berghofer Mühle. It has added a new information into our foods line being beneficial to health. 

After these information bombs, for pumpkin seeds the first thing a participant can think undoubtedly would be what else it would be  except cookie . But as we've seen and listened to Berghöfer Mühle’presentations about pumpkin seed and besides we’ve tasted the beautiful salad sauces, oils and confections, we found out the answers of our own questions spontaneously. In particular, we have learnt pumpkin seed oil to be used for meals and salads is very beneficial for our health and to discover the most important detail of this benefit for us is  that it has about "0" calorie and its protein rate is so high, therefore It plays a role alternatively in the consumption of oil prohibited for fat and patients who are diabetic and have cholesterol, as a matter of fact this information has drawn off an unusual line in our mind .

One of our travel stops in Graz was a foundation where the vinegar having been recently declared as a healthy sauce by the experts in books and magazines is produced. That’s Fischerauer’s vinegar. In this plant the production of mustard were also made. Whereas the lemon is frequently preferred much more in Turkish cuisine for salads, to find out  the frequent use of vinegar in Austria was culturally an interesting acquisition for us.

As we’ve seen and heard, we have registered ourselves once again about “vinegar” that is the best friend to the vascular system of body. Fischerauer describing the benefits which makes it a panacea explained especially it is good for  anemia, asthma, respiratory for diseases.

And how would we forget the famous “Austrian dessert” ? We tasted this beautiful dessert with delicious sauce made of various apples.

Thanks to the contribution of the host institution, the participants of Project joined "Business Run Graz 2012" in terms of the overall perspective of the Project.

                                                                                                        posted by Mustafa Can HİÇYILMAZ

ECOMOND ASSOCIATION ROMANIA - Sport and Health

In our project the activities were carried out weekly sports and they have trained a large number of people willing to stay healthy.
Movement is the key to longevity. Those who practice sport regularly have a better tone, radiant health and they are more effective at work. The daily schedule includes at least 30 minutes of light exercise. Exercise and certainly you will feel much better.
Even if it's hard to mobilize yourself,  we will say to you that it's worth the effort. Whether you go to the gym, running through the park or you do home exercises, in time you will enjoy a beautiful body and good health.
 
At the gym we had a qualified coach who knew how to explain how each muscle group performed specific exercises. Were also advised for certain diseases. Especially spine disease must be known in advance, because an inadequate program will increase suffering.
For ease and indolence, millennium man invents dozens of reasons to not start to move their body.
Therefore our work has led to a gradually increasing number of people.
And this led us to continue and encourage the participation of all.

Sustainable agriculture

With the study of our health and food habits that the project is stimulating, I've realized that I live in a very favourable geographical position.
Living in an agricultural environment allows the people of the province of Oristano to have access to a number of bio food at acceptable costs.
In fact, what the elders say is distinguishing between "modern" productions and traditional production, "that are called bio nowadays", says Michela, 67 years old. "We've always done agriculture in the best of ways, with a high attention to the use and exploitation of the soil, of the seasons and of a wise use of water, which is not so abundant in these lands. It has always been good to have fresh food on our doorstep, thanks to a small piece of land that my husband works during his free time: first of all because it's like having a supermarket open 24/7, which is super when you have unexpected guests over for dinner, but also because we enjoy the seasonal food without forcing the seasons. Now TV and the press are constantly talking about bio food as the real innovation. Having always had it makes us feel really privileged".

This same picture can be extended to other parts of the island of Sardinia. Recently, our local newspaper published an interview to a young farmer living in Nuoro with his small family. He graduated at the University of Cagliari in Political Sciences, his wife in Environmental Science, but then decided to devote themselves to sustainable agriculture. First of all they acknowledged the situation in Sardinia, where 80% of agricultural products are imported from the rest of Italy or the Meditarranean ."This means that there is a market, we only have to conquer it". They produce only bio fruit and vegetables, and every week deliver some 5 kilos to a network of families that are their trusted customers. They succeed in their project by applying some studies: first of all only endemic coltures, more accustomed to our climate, and therefore less needy of interventions of any kind (extra watering, chemicals, etc.). Then they plant onion and garlic at the basis of the land, so that their strong smells keeps damaging insects away. All around the land bushes of lavender and rosemary, which attract the "good" insects, like ladybirds. Also, they use straw to cover the soil, because it keeps the soil moist and there is less need of water.

3rd Project Meeting in Graz, Austria

The meeting was held according to the agenda, starting with arrival on Monday, May 07th and ending with departure on Friday, May 11th 2012.
The main elements of the meeting days (other than the typical project organization topics) have been:

• Welcome, greetings words of the owner of bit group, Stephan Sticher and a presentation of bit group 
• Working session: Austrian dessert “Apfelstrudel”
• Presentation Bio Obsthof Fattingerhof„Local biological agriculture-product presentation” www.obstfattingerhof.at
• Visit to Berghofer Mühle, pumpkin seeds/oil, www.berghofer-muehle.at
• Presentation Fischerauer – vinegar and mustard manufacture, Fischerauer, www.essig.at
• Sightseeing Graz + Dinner 
• Activation session “fit@work”, Mag.Georg Jillich
• Participation at Graz Business Run (4, 2 km) www.raiffeisenbusinesslauf.at

Here some impressions:

working session

 inside the barrels: vinegar!

 before the business run