Myths Busted: Misunderstandings about Organic Farming

March 6, 2017 | Author: Bro

“When I saw that Scientific American was carrying a web story by a regular SciAm blogger determined to bust some of the “myths” surrounding organic farming, I was excited. I hoped the article would be something along the lines of Sam Fromartz’s excellent book Organic Inc., a skeptical look at how a well-intentioned effort to protect the environment has turned into a multi-billion-dollar industry. I was quickly disappointed. The article1, by a PhD candidate named Christie Wilcox, was compromised by a slew of elisions and exaggerations. If the intention was to myth-bust, mark this one a fail: The article spread new misconceptions about the methods of organic food production.”

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/myths-busted-clearing-up-the-misunderstandings-about-organic-farming/

BEST BLENDERS COMPARE & REVIEW | Blendtec, Vitamix, Oster

March 2, 2013 | Author: Bro

UPDATED: March, 2013
(Oxidation and Rancidity Discussion)

hat blender should I buy?

We have 3 favorite blenders. We love the Oster because of the amazing price and it’s versatility. However, it doesn’t do all the things that the super powered Blendtec and Vitamix . So, is price the most important factor, or do you have specific needs?

The 3 Top Blenders ♥ Blendtec  Discounted + Free Shipping ♥ Vitamix  Buy Here Now ♥ Oster  Buy Here Now

3 Best Blenders – 3 Reviews and
Comparisons

Here are our three final contenders for Best Blenders of All Time for the general public. Click on the links for more info. We chose these three because of performance, customer loyalty, satisfaction, and reputation.

he Blendtec is an powerful, high quality blender fitted with a 3HP motor. It is extremely solid and very durable. You may have heard the very popular "meme" (a meme is a phrase that has become popular to the extent that it has become very widely known, almost like a brand.): "But – will it blend?" This popular phrase refers to the Blendtec blender, which, according to its inventor, can blend almost anything from iron bolts to the full Apple iPad tablet computer.

Blendtec’s Tom Dickson is invited to the introduction to the new iPad 2. But as great as it is, Tom shows Steve Jobs how the Blendtec Total Blender can handle even the greatest of inventions. (Besides the Blendtec, of course.) Here are 2 videos that compare the Blendtec with the Vitamix.

Here’s the funny video below. You don’t want to miss this. Also, at the end, there’s a very funny adlib call, from, guess who? : )

Will It Blend? (the iPad 2)

: ) The Blendtec has a 3 HP motor while the Vitamix has a 2 HP motor. This gives it a slight edge in the power department. However, the Blendtec has more dull style blades while the Vitamix has almost dangerously sharp blades. The dull style blade gives a "crushing" and "milling" action as well as a "cutting" action. One interesting experiment is to blend an entire avocado including the pit. If you try this experiment, you should end up with a very smooth, creamy concoction without any noticeable bits of shell. We don’t recommend eating the pit of the avocado. The Blendtec blades come with a lifetime warranty. The duller style blades are less damaging to brushes, spoons and utensils and also safer for fingers during cleaning or wiping. Many prefer the attractive and smooth digital controls of the Blendtec blender with automatic settings, including a usage counter.

POSITIVES AND BENEFITS
* Most powerful motor of all home use blenders * Extreme Durability – Built to Last – Tough Built * Smaller and Lighter * High Performance, Professional Grade * Easy to clean digital controls * Attractive and clear digital display * Automatic Settings for ease of use * Super strong BPA Free Container Jar * Single Piece Blade and Rotor Assembly * Dull, strong blade never needs sharpening * Dull, strong blade safer and easier to clean * Dull, strong blade doesn’t damage utensils * Single container can do both wet and dry contents * no need for second jar container * 7 year warranty, 3 year extended available * Lifetime warranty on blades and rotor assembly * The only blender able to blend almost "anything" * Factory sealed jar/blade assembly for cleanliness, safety & convenience

NEGATIVES
* Digital Display for those who prefer the old-fashioned switches and levers * Comes with 3 year original warranty, 4 year extended is extra * Noise level – mederately loud as are all power blenders * Higher Priced Click Here to See the Selection of Blendtec Blenders.

Favorite Models:
Blendtec WildSide Combo Blender: HP3A Total Blender – 3 Qt (96 oz w/4 – Comes with two containers large and larger, precision tuned 4 blade. Expensive.
Blendtec Total Blender: (less expensive) Blendtec Home TB-611-20 1,560-Watt Total Blender

ew professional model – the latest Vitamixes are likely the culmination of a number of customer wishes and desires. They boast an under-counter lower profile along with greater noise reduction. Are they still noisy? Yes, they are, but definitely quieter than previous versions. What’s most noisy of course is blending ice cubes, frozen or harder items. It still comes with a 64 ounce cannister despite being low profile (shorter) and is both wide and spacious. The newer blades work very efficiently despite the greater width. As for pricing and availability, we are pleased to note that Amazon has some good specials right now.

The Vitamix tops the charts with a whopping $500 – $650 price range. (See latest discounted prices here at Amazon.) However, it still comes with a sterling 7 year warranty and a Swedish built 2 peak hp motor powerful enough to blend a full container of the hardest vegetables and fruits seemingly within seconds. What we love about this blender is that is comes with a "tamper" or plunger. We’ve often bumped the blades with wooden or plastic spoons or spatulas. The tamper makes it easy to "tamp" down foods while blending. We also like manual controls rather than digital controls. But on the flip side, digital controls are very durable these days, and they are easier to wipe clean. The Blendtec also has an attractive blue digital display. With its newer and more quieter motor, blending can mere seconds, preserving nutrients which can be destroyed by the centrifugal energy field generated by the blades and swift circular motion. Of course the older model Vitamixes are also extremely fast and powerful. We like the fact that the Vitamix comes with a 7 year warranty. We’ve known and heard about several people who have had their Vitamix blender replaced within a week or two. If money were no object, the Vitamix model we would opt for is the we might opt for is the Vitamix Professional or Commercial Grade Blender with the extra containers. This is their premier package and comes with all the bells and whistles.

POSITIVES AND BENEFITS
* Most powerful motor of top two home use blenders * Easy Use Tamper to tamp down ingredients while blending * Extreme Durability – Built to Last – Tough Built, esp. older models * High Performance, Professional Grade * Manual switch and lever controls * Super strong BPA Free Container Jar * 3 year full warranty on container jar * Lifetime warranty on blades and rotor assembly * 7 year full warranty * Extremely popular * Now has low profile models with quieter motor (See here)

NEGATIVES
* Comes with Manual switches (but some may prefer manual over digital) * Noise level – mederately loud as are all power blenders * Separate jar, gasket, blades (Some may prefer this feature) * Requires two separate jars for wet and dry ingredients * Super sharp blade can be more difficult to clean * Newer models have had slightly more repair needs. * Higher priced

Some Favorite Vitamix Models
Vitamix 1710 Professional Series 500 Vitamix 1710 Professional Series 500 Variable-Speed Countertop Blender with 2+ HP Motor and 64-Ounce Jar
VitaMix Commercial Blender – Platinum

reat Pricing and Performance… The Oster. Why do we love this blender so much? In a nutshell: pricing and quality. It takes care of most normal blending chores very well. It’s rugged and durable. So, you get excellent quality AND great performance at a low price. Oster blenders were previously known as Osterizer blenders. There are many Osterizers still working after 35 years. Can you imagine that today? Do they still make blenders that durable? We’re not sure about that. But, Oster has kept up a great tradition with these low priced Osters.

Ancient Age…
We happen to have another Osterizer blender that’s approximately 38 years old. Can you believe it? You could call it a family heirloom. Here’s the amazing part: yes, this blender still works. It has not ever been repaired. Recently, we broke the glass jar. We discovered we could buy a replacement jar for $10 or so on Amazon. We ordered one, and ordered another Oster blender just in case this blender broke down. How could a blender that old last, we figured? Well, it HAS. It’s still working perfectly. How could we not deeply respect and honor a company that makes blenders that lasted almost 40 years? Can you imagine the quality of the rubber belts inside? Unbelievable. The other blender we carefully decided to purchase was the high performance 16 Speed Oster for approximately $45 – $49, including shipping. We couldn’t believe the low price. It had great testimonials and seemed to have all the features we needed. It crushes ice and even grinds sprouted grains to make Essene bread. You don’t have to buy a separate ice crushing blade.

POSITIVES AND BENEFITS
* High performance – makes juices and smoothies quickly and easily * Includes Ice feature and blades * Best Priced Highest Value per dollar * Large mouth convenient jar – easy to rinse clean without removing base * Durable, stable and strong * Even with ice, jar does not shake as with other lower priced blenders * Surprisingly powerful * Easy use buttons * Strong high quality glass container – easy to clean * Incredible value * All purpose, single jar usage, wet and dry * Blends sprouts, seeds, nuts * Versatile

NEGATIVES
* 16 speeds do not seem necessary * Harder to clean between buttons * Moderately loud, but not more so than any other blender Click HERE to see a selection of Oster Blenders.

Favorite Oster Blenders
Core 16-Speed Blender Oster 6812-001 Core 16-Speed Blender with Glass Jar – 42% Discounted
Classic Beehive Blender Oster 4093 Classic Beehive Blender, Chrome

GLASS VS. POLYCARBONATE
It was a hard choice to choose between glass and polycarbonate. Glass is heavier and more easily breakable. Polycarbonate is lighter and almost impervious to breakage. You could throw a polycarbonate jar across the room and it’s likely to stay in one piece. Of course it might crack or chip, but much less so than glass. Glass on the other hand is almost impervious to scratches, acids, deposits and staining. Our glass jar on our original Osterizer looked new with no scratches or imperfections. You can put both glass and polycarbonate in the dishwasher. The Blendtec tritan polycarbonate jar is lightweight, non-reactive, can withstand extreme temperature changes and comes with a 3 year warranty. The jar and blade is one assembly piece. The Vitamix polycarbonate jar is also very high quality. It comes with blade assembly unattached. The Oster comes with a glass jar. It’s very durable and also has a detachable blade assembly.

WARRANTY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE BLENDTEC AND VITAMIX

The Vitamix comes with a 7 year warranty on the container yet has a 3 year warranty on the blade and gaskets. Replacement parts are considered normal wear and tear and will run the same cost as replacing a container and assembly for the Blendtec. The Blendtec comes with a lifetime warranty on the blade assembly, a 7 year warranty on the base and container. You can purchase an additional 3 year warranty.

SUMMARY

(Note: See the updated notes on oxidation added below) If money is no object, we would buy both the Blendtec and the Vitamix, along with a nice hand crank blender and mini sized travel blender. Each comes with their own set of benefits. But for power and speed, the Blendtec has a 33% more powerful motor and the Vitamix has the very handy tamper. We have just been informed that there are also tampers for the Blendtec available. Of course, we would also buy the Oster just to hand out to friends, associates and family. : ) It’s pricing can’t be beat. The newest Vitamix uses actual switches rather than digital controls. We like that. We have found in the past that some digital controls can be slightly slippery (especially with wet hands), a bit ungainly, hard to press and slightly more complicated and less durable than basic hardware controllers such as knob and switch controls. However, the Blendtec display is easy and comfortable to use. It also has convenient auto settings. It is a strong toss up if you had to choose between the Blendtec and Vitamix. You really can’t go wrong with either of them. For the budget minded, the Oster may be the best deal of all. The Oster will make a smoothie including whole apples (including core and seeds), oranges, bananas and tough greens with stems in under 30 seconds. (We use approximately 3/4 to 1 cup of water and cut the apples and oranges into quarters. At a price less than 1/9th the other blenders, it’s a great, economical choice. Again, it also does ice and many grains without a hitch and runs smoothly and easily.

We genuinely love these 3 blenders and specifically chose them to promote with our affiliate links. Thanks for reading! : )

Oster | Blendtec | Vitamix

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Updated Notes

It has been recommended that we add the KitchenAid blender to this comparison article. However, due to the number of comments and complaints regarding the durability of KitchenAid’s single piece jar and base unit, we have decided to add the KitchenAid blender at a later date when this issue seems resolved. We have had experience in the past with a $179 Waring professional blender’s one piece base and jar leakage and eventual breakage after approximately one year of use. 

NOTES ABOUT THE HARM OF OXIDATION AND BLENDING

A number of people are concerned with oxidation levels caused by various blenders. Is this oxidation, "harmful?" The oxidative levels are interesting. A few websites that we found compared the color of the blended ingredients to measure oxidation. Although it is true that coloration can indicate that oxidative processes have occurred, it is not a fully accurate factor as age, amount and type of ingredients used, the length of time blended and the type of metals, plastics and glass can all have a bearing with resultant color changes.

What Is Oxidation?

Oxidation is a chemical process that occurs when a substance is exposed to oxygen. Oxygen is a highly volatile and reactive element due to its unpaired electron configuration. Thus, it causes high susceptibility to free radical formation and interactivity. Such exposure can cause a number of reactions, including "burning," degradation, alteration of molecular structure and greater free radical formation. Released free radicals (electrons) can cause cellular and tissue damage. So, is many ways, oxidation can do some harm to foods that are blended, shredded, masticated, juiced, crushed or agitated and thus, exposed to air. The more oxygen that is introduced into a food being blended, the more oxidation will occur. Speed and surface exposure will contribute to more oxygen exposure. A high speed blender such as the Blendtec or Vitamix will naturally introduce a higher level of oxygen exposure into a blended food than a slower blender. Also, the more spray and dispersement, the more exposure. On the other hand, time is a factor. The longer the blending time, the more likely the exposure to oxidation. The faster blenders may take less time to achieve the smoothness desired. Another consideration is the size of the carafe. A larger carafe may also allow more surface exposure during blending, thus more oxidation. However, larger blades may reduce blending time. Do larger blades rotate at a slower speed? This is unlikely if the same blender base is used. When a liquid is blended in a smaller carafe at slower speeds, the air may not be drawn into the blade area as quickly as with higher speed, larger carafes. All in all, it’s quite a toss-up, dependent upon personal opinion and speculation. What does science say? So far, we have not come across neutral, non-brand associated scientific research that proves one blender superior to another.

Best Blending Practices

So, what is the solution for the "best" blending? We believe that the best way to blend is to use short bursts with the least amount of agitation possible. The less agitation, the less exposure to electro-magnetic forces, and the less oxidation is likely to occur. Both of these forces and interactions can cause the reduction of nutrient levels. It is interesting to note that juicing can cause even greater oxidation due to the fine breakdown of plant cell walls and constant exposure to air and thus, oxygen. Perhaps the most valuable research was provided by a physician who actually cured cancer and other diseases with raw plant juices and special diets. He noted that his greated results were with juices consumed immediately upon pressing with the Norwalk juicer and presser combination. He found that blenders in his day to be less efficacious. Today’s blenders are quick and powerful. A few seconds of blending can yield satisfactory results. Our summary regarding oxidation and blending is that most all blenders are quite similar offering only slight varying degrees of oxidative action. Likely the best trick is to blend as little as possible to preserve the greatest nutrient value.

Orig: 2.7.11 Curr: 03.13

THE BEST JUICERS :: Green Life or Green Star Juicer

December 20, 2012 | Author: Bro

A DETAILED REVIEW WITH PICTURES

efore we begin, an important note. If you have a juicer, any juicer, then that is a Best Raw Organic thing to do, right there. For juicing is invaluable for health, and most all juicers will help provide a fresh, raw, living, concentrated liquid food. Why is this important? (more…)

THE BEST ADVICE Regarding the Consumption of Organic Meat, Raw Or Cooked

December 18, 2012 | Author: Bro

e ourselves do not generally consume meat, but we acknowledge and respect the fact that many people do and will continue to do so. Therefore we wish to present the most beneficial and nutritional information as possible for all concerned.

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Meat is one of the most popular foods around the world simply due to the facts that, currently, it is easy to get, easy to prepare and extremely tasty when prepared properly. But is meat THAT healthy and good for us? As they say, most things in moderation. (more…)

THE GLAD DIET :: Great Living ALIVE Diet! : )

November 1, 2012 | Author: Bro

hat is the GLAD Diet?

The Glad Diet is an alternative method of eating to the S.A.D. Diet (The Standard American Diet). It incorporates fresh and living foods such as salads, fruits, vegetables, greens, cultured, sprouted nuts, seeds, legumes and grains. Either diet can be a mix of the two styles.

Is the GLAD Diet a Healthy Diet?
Most will say that it is indeed, a very healthy diet. Eating raw fruits and vegetables can be the most primal and natural way of eating, as cooking foods is a more recent invention.

Are Cooked Foods Nutritious?
Indeed, cooked foods offer a great deal of nutrition. But there are many (more…)

VIDEO | Permaculture in Desert Paradise

August 19, 2012 | Author: Bro

Garth Bowles has spent almost a lifetime creating an ethereal eco-paradise in the stunningly beautiful desert region east of Yuma Valley, California. He has brought fruit trees to bear, lush ponds and desert floral, tree and boulder displays that infuse the senses with wonder and appreciation. A truly best, organic lifestyle.

PICTURE – Growing Barley Grass

June 21, 2012 | Author: Bro

Young Home Sprouted Barley Grass

ou can grow barley grass in almost the twinkling of an eye… : ) Growing barley grass is simple, lush… We use a little soil even though one can grow without. The naturally composted soil from my organic peelings contributes to thick, long growth. Here, the young barley grass forms dew at the tips. Barley grass has a wider blade than wheat… (more…)

THE BEST RAW DIET :: PART 1

May 1, 2012 | Author: Bro

What Is the Best Raw Diet?

THE MIGHTY MANGO. Here we have a delicious, fresh organic mango, one of the great examples of the treasures of organic raw food delectables. The non-organic varieties are still less likely to contain excess pesticides, chemicals and herbicides and is chock full of nutrients.

Related Articles
» BEST RAW DIET :: PART 2 :: 12 Important Points
» Important Notes About the Raw Food Diet – Concerns and Confusion

This is a very subjective question, for, the best raw food diet is the one that’s personally most suited to you.

Every person’s body metabolizes and reacts to foods differently. Some people may have allergies to certain vegetables, while others can’t seem to digest pithy fruits.

However, there are several best diets that seem to suit most people quite fine. This involves the following nice mix of locally grown fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds simply prepared and served fresh.

We pattern our recommendations after the Gerson Diet as well as other successful organic raw food regimens that have been medically administered and seem to have the least adverse reactions.

The BEST Raw Diet? The one that works for you. Lists Below… (more…)

THE BEST RAW DIET :: PART 2

April 30, 2012 | Author: Bro

12 Important Points Regarding the Raw Food Diet

BEST RAW DIET :: PART 1

here are many who tout the raw food diet as one of the healthiest and most healing diets on Earth. Are they correct? Is eating raw much better than eating cooked? Here are some thoughts to consider, along with a summary. (more…)