2013, a Year Full of Achievements to help improve our Health.

  For many that are always caring for their health and where they food really comes from may already know this, but some may not. In this article I'll list a couple of great achievements and discovery on 2013 that are very helpful to know in order to maximize Our Health. Although they are numbered, they are not in a particular order since everything is equally important.

 Discoveries or Rediscoveries. 

1. Fats are actually good for us: After a few year debates about Fats, which many people scientists and nutritionist said that it is bad for the heart. which lead to reduction in fat and more process in many foods. There are however Good and bad fats, and contrary to the popular belief, not all saturated fats are bad, there are some saturated fats which are actually good for our heart. The type of Fat that are really bad for us and should be avoided are artificially trans fats, which are created by using Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils. As always, the key to good nutrition is not to eliminate or limit, but rather to have a healthy balance of fats, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. 
2. Eggs are actually a good superfood: For a few years people start eating only egg whites due to the fear that egg yolks increase cholesterol., however, recent studies show that the kind of cholesterol it raise is the HDL, or so call Good cholesterol, although it does raise some of the LDL as well, still  the benefits are more than negative effects and it also has a lot of vitamins there is more information on this webmd website http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/good-eggs-for-nutrition-theyre-hard-to-beat .
3. Grass - Fed Beef, Milk, and Free-range chicken are better, more nutritious and higher in Omega-3  than so called "conventional" raised animals and CAFO": Many nutritionist had said and many people knew for year that animals fed their native diet rather than corn and other not native diet will have a better nutrition, hence, when we eat the meat, drink the milk or eat the eggs we will have higher nutritional value. For example, by eating grass fed beef and drinking grass fed milk, our omega -3 will intake will be higher. There are several studies about this . However, the one that is the most important because it was officially confirmed is one made by plosone nationwide study which shows the results that many people knew for years. Here is the link to the study. http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0082429#abstract0
4. Organic Food is better than Non-Organic Food: Organic food has increase in consumption due to their safety, and nutrition. Although there are still many debates whether organic and non-organic food are different in nutrition. there is a clear danger on the use of pesticide on conventional food and how many foods are overly sprayed with pesticide and how they absorb them pass their skin. There has been studies in children which shows pesticide over toxic levels and also test on produce that where high in pesticide and it has been on the news. Therefore, even if the nutrition difference is not yet fully known, although in my opinion they are, there is clearly a safety issue. 
5. Sugar and carbohydrates can be worst than saturated fats: Although still in early stages, and there are studies being done.. The excess of sugar and carbohydrates, can be worst for the heart and raising cholesterol than saturated fats themselves. The excess consumption was the effect of lowering fat consumption, hence replacing them with carbohydrates.

New Laws, rules, and changes in known brands.

1.  FDA Finally bans Trans fats from process food: After many years of preliminary studies and debates, FDa Finally decides what many people knew for year and bans artificially trans fats from process foods. Which is a good News. There are however natural trans fats in meats and diary. HOwever, those can't be banned because they are naturally occurring, but those are in small amount and many people say that they are actually good (CLA) which helps the heart.  
2. FDA Recommends farmers to reduce the use of antibiotics voluntarily:  Although this is not 100% the best resolution it is a step forward hoping for a more strict law, after seeing the break of antibiotic resistant bacteria emerging last year more on this on this link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/18/opinion/bittman-the-fdas-not-really-such-good-news.html?_r=1&
3. Cheerios finally stops using GMO Ingredients: a couple month ago there was a sign-in to request cheerios to stop using GMO Ingredients in their cereal, and at the beginning of this year they announced that they stopped using it.

As we see, many good news for an approach to a better, more organic , natural and Healthier Diet for this year. We still have much to go, but definitely we are going in the right direction. Many companies are opting for simpler natural ingredients and less process. Remember we can make a difference by organizing and contacting the companies if many people ask for it, they'll listen and do something about it. In my opinion, it would be good to ask the government to start subsidizing more organic farmers and less conventional food industry, this way organic food will be more affordable and people will be healthier. Healthier people means, less expenses on medical bills, a big problem in the U.S.