Eat the fruit, don't just drink the juice

One thing I really can't get enough of is fruit juice. I love the flavors! I will buy flavors like mango or white cranberry, but lately I have been wondering, " What is better for me? Drinking the juice or eating the fruit?" From my research, its been made clear that eating the fruit is healthier than drinking the fruit juice.

Here's the thing: when you drink 'juice', its not exactly fresh squeezed. What we refer to as juice is generally a not so healthy combination of a small percentage of juice, combined with unnatural flavoring, colors, and of course, our all favorite! High fructose corn syrup. The flavoring and additives are in such excess and cannot be assumed to be good for our bodies.

I use to drink all types of fruit juice and I wouldn’t have enough energy to survive the rest of the day. I started eating fruit and I had all the energy I needed till I used it up playing sports. Something I learned about eating the fruit is that the skin of the fruit contains most of the nutrients that are not in the fruit. Just make sure you wash your fruit VERY well and purchase organic when possible, because the skin will be the first part of the fruit to absorb chemical used to grown inorganically.
Eat well! Live well!
I’ll be back soon with the next story.

Published by: Michael Jones

MOMMY HELP, I'M SICK!!

It’s that time of the year when everyone starts catching a cold even though it’s bright and sunny outside but at the same time cold and windy. Hurray global warming! So let’s get to it, here is what you should eat when you are sick.

1. Water
Probably the most important factor in recovering. By the way, headaches are a way of your body telling you that you need to drink more water. Water also help keeps the body well hydrated and helps you go to the bathroom easier, not just when you’re sick. You should be drinking at least 5 cups of water each day already.

2.Chicken soup.
It’s not just an old wives tale, turns out chicken soup has a lot of nutrients that can help fight inflammation in the body. The saltiness from the broth helps thin down mucus and the heat of the broth soothes a sore throat.

3. Tea
Of course it’s soothing but the heat from hot tea opens up airways which helps you breathe easier. A lemon squeeze in the tea also helps give the body a boost of Vitamin C. But citrus’s in general such as orange juice should be avoided when sick because it thickens the mucus and the citric acid would worsen your already weak stomach since it would just sit there.


4. Ginger Ale is has the ingredient of
Ginger helps warm and soothe the stomach much like tea does but it’s a little harder to force down the throat since it’s carbonated. However, the ginger effect helps remove irritants from your digestive tracts as well as helping open up some blood vessels for blood to flow better through the body. Ginger Ale helps in reducing nausea because it’s able to block out some serotonin receptors.

5. Oatmeal and porridge
Both are rich in grains and minerals that help boost the immune system to help better fight the cold.

Don’t forget that plenty of bed rest is important for the body. Wash those hands as well to help fight bacteria and not spread the sickness around and avoid drinks such as milk that thickens mucus. Give us your feedback, what do you do to help fight a cold?

Published by: Susana

Help Us Yelp

Youth Radio was at an event that Yelp hosted especially for non-profit organizations just last night. The event was something different than anything I’ve been to. All the organizations had a table and promoted to the Yelp members their organization and what they were there for.

There were a lot of people at the event but surprisingly enough there wasn’t anyone over the age of 40 there. Most people were in their late 20s early 30s new to the Bay Area who didn’t know about our organization that’s been around since the late 80s. This event was for all ages but the 21 and younger crowd needed to rock a red bracelet allowing the bartenders to know that they are not allowed to be served alcoholic beverages. From what I’ve seen at the event, Youth Radio was the only organization with representatives with people under the age of 21.

I along with 5 other interns and 2 supervisors were not only at our table giving information about our newest program, Youth Radio Eats, we also walked around interviewing and video recording the event, asking people if they knew much about our organization.

There were many people who felt comfortable talking to the microphone as if it wasn’t even there and many that were also stuttering while the microphone was in their face but talked perfectly fine and comfortably to the person without a recording device in their face. Also, there were plenty of people who approached US and asked US what we were all about walking around with all these equipment that most college students who take these courses only get to see, let alone touch and use.

You see, the wonderful thing about our program is that we are a very hands on experience type of organization. We believe that the best way to learn is to do it yourself. You can sit there and read about theories and practices all you want but if you don’t have experience with the equipment, it will mean nothing.

We went up on stage and spit some rhymes just to give people a taste of what Youth Radio is all about which is not limited to video production, journalism writing, music production and much more. Our newest program is of course healthy foods; which not only teaches students about nutrition but also serve students apart of our organization a healthy example every Friday night for dinner. We also teach students about the food deserts and food justice that’s going around the world.

The event itself was so great. I met so many new people, new organizations and we all potentially are trying to reach the same goal which is trying to change the world for a better place and to show people what youth’s are capable of.

Published By Susana

LOVE FOOD

The glamorization
Of this organic nation
Has really got me ill
My body is my temple
and folk look to me as their example
But how am I supposed to feel?
When eating farm fresh tomatoes and organic blueberries
Makes me broke every meal

I though food was supposed to just sustain me
But now its seems they have created a monopoly
of our thoughts, our actions, and beliefs
If we fail to eat whole wheat, unbleached
organic, macrobiotic, and cage free......

They bless their bodies with the food they eat
And with a spare breath curse me to eternal damnation
I don't shop where they shop
I can't eat what they eat
Simply cause the price of their foods
Causes me serious financial frustration

I live my life on the run
from work to home, and home to work
and paying all the bills in between
Its not enough I guess
Just to love and pray and live within my means
Now I must shop at stores where
Price checks are unheard of
and customers have wallets like atm machines

I'm expected to ask for redemption
for a way of life I'm not ashamed to have lived
Now it seems Whole Foods is the new God
Trader Joe's is Moses leading us to the promised land
and we should be thankful cause
organic living is our savior sent to take us by the hand

Away with these rules
I'm not one to follow trends
Forget the ranting of theses hot headed fools
Pushing me to recant and adapt and make amends
Why must we yearn for mountains of "pure" food
When we can't even understand the practice of restraint?
My food creates my mood and
when I cook
its not guilt or shame
its love I create