Locavores Drive the American Food Revolution #locavores #healthy #sustainable - http://clapway.com/2015/08/27/locavores-food123/

Locavores are slowly turning the U.S. into a “sustainable food country.” Americans are increasingly supporting their local food markets, but contrary to what many may think, it’s not just because they believe the food is just safer to consume.

Addicted to farmers markets and food co-ops

According to a new University of Iowa (UI) study, people who eat meats and produce grown locally — locavores — are driven to buy local because they enjoy being part of a community that shares their same values.

Joining the ‘food revolution’ is what converts an increasing number of Americans, encouraging foodies to spread their passion for a healthy lifestyle and a sustainable environment. It’s more than just having a tasty dinner: locavores are making a statement with every food bite. They support the local food movement as part of a sort of “civic duty,” researchers found.

Local economy vs. big-box stores

Ion Vasi, the lead author of the study, states that the local food market has been labeled by sociologist as a “moralized market.” Aficionados mix economic activities with their social values to transform the current food system. Researchers found that local food markets were more likely to blossom in areas where residents had a strong commitment to civic participation, health, and the environment.

Back to the Future with Locavores

From a historical perspective, the recent growth of local food markets is a paradox. In 1971, Jane Pyle wrote for The Geographical Review that farmers markets were “doomed by a changing society”. At the time, there were about 340 farmers markets “on the verge of collapse” left in the United States.

However, over the past decade, the number of farmers markets listed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) more than doubled, increasing from 3,706 to 8,268 in 2014.

Plus, Vasi and his co-authors found the number of Internet searches for farmers markets almost tripled, while newspaper articles mentioning the growing movement have almost quadrupled. Meanwhile the National Restaurant Associations’ Chef Survey of 2014 finds four of the top 10 trends involve local foods movement, Medical Daily reported.

Consumption decisions based on values not price

Researchers found that locavores are the main force behind the “buy local” battle against globalization forces.

“A growing number of communities have attempted to gain control of their own economies” by investing in locally owned businesses..,” states the study.

Local or global: what side are you on? Share your views about locavores and the current food system in the comments section below.

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Locavores Drive the American Food Revolution

Too many are afflicted with #Alzheimer"sDisease - does it have to be? - http://clapway.com/2015/08/23/study-alzheimers-disease-caused-by-unhealthy-lifestyle-422/

The cause of one of the widespread health issues all over the world, Alzheimer’s disease still remains unsure to this day. It is calculated that at present, 44 million people have Alzheimer’s worldwide, making the need of a cure more and more urgent.

The idea of living a life without being able to remember anything from the past and the present seems hopeless, but, actually, that’s what Alzheimer’s patients deal with everyday, often not even recognising their own children. On a brighter note, A new study, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, may be the key to uncover the disease.

LIFESTYLE INFLUENCING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

The team of scientists studied, identified and analyzed the factors from 323 surveys that had been conducted in the past, from 1968 to 2014. What the study showed was that Alzheimer’s may be prevented by a healthy lifestyle.

Low education, obesity, depression, high blood pressure, frailty, high levels of certain amino acids, low education and a narrowing of the carotid artery in the neck, are some of the most common factors reported among two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients. In addition, Alzheimer’s disease was found to be associated with diabetes and smoking among Asians but the findings are insufficient, although there is a clear correlation with one another.

Related Post: Does Alzheimer’s Disease Affect Races Differently?

On the contrary, protective effects against Alzheimer’s seem to have four medical exposures — statin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antihypertensives and estrogen — along with folate, vitamins E and C, and coffee. Also, patients that suffer from heart disease, metabolic syndrome, cancer, and arthritis were associated with a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Jin-Tai Yu, associate specialist in neurology at the University of California and senior editor of the study, notes that this research can prove important to people “if they correctly address the potentially modifiable risk factors that might help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.”

THE NUMBERS ARE POSITIVE

Another study published in The Lancet Neurology Journals unveils that dementia rates have been stabilizing in Europe with healthy lifestyle and regular exercise playing important parts. However, scientists are pointing out that mental diseases still remain an issue, especially since the costs involved in taking care of sufferers are extremely high and those afflicted have little chance of recovery.

Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of Britain’s Alzheimer’s Society says that the study shows that the percentage of people in particular age groups developing dementia is getting smaller but the overall number of patients will increase as more people live into their 80s and 90s.

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Study: Alzheimer"s Disease Caused by Unhealthy Lifestyle

And how you can, too! - http://clapway.com/2015/06/25/how-the-dutch-are-nailing-the-perfect-lifestyle/

Biking Like The Dutch Just Might Be The Answer!

The first thing people associate The Netherlands with is biking. It is not an exaggeration to say that bikes are the primary mean of transportation for almost every single Dutch, regardless of age or gender. In fact, in a country where bikes are more common than people and is geographically the flattest in Europe, it comes as no surprise. But biking just might be the answer!

Having lived in Utrecht, one of the country’s most charming cities and a suggested destination for anyone visiting The Netherlands, I have used my bike more than I used my feet or any other kind of transport mode. Night buses do not exist there, despite being one of the country’s biggest student cities, so biking back home after a night out is as normal for a Dutchie as a cup of coffee is for us every morning.

Recent findings from the country’s biggest university

The University of Utrecht is the largest higher education institution in The Netherlands, and a study from there recently discovered that Dutch bikers (or just the Dutch) live on average six months longer just because of their daily activity. Also, the study found out that in the Netherlands, as many as 11,000 premature deaths yearly are preventable thanks to biking.

The incredible infrastructure across the country makes biking extremely easy and it has become, throughout the years, a huge aspect of Dutch culture.

I often read articles on Denmark being a “bikers heaven”, but after moving to Jutland (one of the country’s regions) straight after living in Holland, I realised how those who think Denmark is the best country for biking have definitely not travelled to The Netherlands yet.

Biking also reduces polution

Biking has also other great benefits, such has reducing emissions in the atmosphere, contributing to greener and healthier environments. This has greater implications for bigger cities, where traffic is the biggest cause of air pollution. For this reason, mayors of large capitals such as London are pushing the use of bicycles and the development of proper infrastructure as much as possible. 

Cycling for a happier and healthier lifestyle

Also, very interestingly, one of the reasons why the countries in the north are considered among the happiest in the world (The Netherlands was ranked fourth last year), is because biking, as all sport activities do, triggers endorphins which are known for generating feelings of happiness in your body. Therefore, since this sport is a very big part of almost everyone’s daily life here, this could somehow explain why they are considered so happy on a world basis.

So as many of us are squashed on the subway every morning or running to catch the bus because we slept in, adopting a few tips for a healthier lifestyle from the Dutch might be a solution. And, why even compare a packed, stinky train carriage to the freedom of a morning bike ride?

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How The Dutch are Nailing the Perfect Lifestyle