Dain Hamilton

Gardening, the soil and your health.

Let's Talk About....

   Health and the Soil 

    

Real gardening - getting your hands dirty, kneeling in your beds, weeding, staking, planting and feeling the soil - is good for your health. Hiring a gardneer is not the same thing, though we're pretty sure those hired-hands are healthy. Why? Because that dirty soil turns out to be good for you both emotionally and physically.

Christopher Lowry, Ph.D., an assistant professor of integrative physiology at the University of Colorado at Boulder found that a harmless bacteria commonly found in soil increases the release and metabolism of serotonin in parts of the brain that control cognitive function and mood-much like serotonin-boosting antidepressant drugs do.

  

Lowry claims humans evolved along with M. vaccae and a host of other friendly microbes, and without these "old friends" in our current over sterilized environment "we throw our immune systems out of whack. This can lead to inflammation, which is implicated in a host of modern ills." 

Indeed, many scientists have a better understanding now of what microbes do for us. We've known for a long time that we depend on good gut flora to digest food. But there's a "growing realization that they're really like an 11th organ system. Program director for the Human Microbiome Project at the National Institutes of Health., Lita Proctor said, "You have your lungs, you have your heart and, you know, you have your microbiome."

In "The Unsettling of America, Culture and Agriculture," Wendell Berry wrote, "The soil is the great connector of lives, the source and destination of all. It is the healer and restorer and resurrector, by which disease passes into health, age into youth, death into life. Without proper care for it we can have no community, because without proper care for it we can have no life."     

The health benefits associated with gardening include stress relief, improved brain health, relief from depression, better nutrition, better access to creativity and of course, exercise.

 

If you don't have the ability to garden in a big way due to lack of outdoor space, you can plant in a variety of containers.

And to make sure you further get your hands in the soil you might volunteer at a concern such as the Sawtooth Botanical Garden or the Hunger Coalition's Hope Garden, in the Wood River Valley.

The Hope Garden, Hailey, Idaho

The Hope Garden, Hailey, Idaho

Eat local foods that weren't trucked in from afar, such as the Sage School Greens, and all the fantastic organic produce at the Wood River Farmer's Markets. 

 

Mind, body, spirit: its all in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink and the soil in which we play.  

 

  **

 



EVENTS

The Sawtooth Botanical Garden, in Ketchum, Idaho, will host Mindfulness in the Garden, 

a 3-part class with Stella Stockton, B.Div, CPT.


The series will be held Saturdays, June 1320 and 27 from 10-11 a.m.

 

 

Participants will savor the beauty and tranquility of the Garden while learning mindful movement, including Tai Chi and Qi Gong exercises, and meditation techniques for stress relief and rejuvenation. This experiential class is open to all adults; no experience is necessary. 
 

Register by June 10 at Sawtooth Botanical Garden or call 726-9358. 

 

   

 


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Suggested Reading

If you haven't read the classic, creative gardening book, "Digging Deep", then now's the time to do it. More than a step-by-step, Sorin inspires with her prose.

"For an artist, it's an empty canvas; for a writer, a blank page; but for a homeowner, a barren landscape can be an equally daunting proposition. As with any creative endeavor, filling a space with beauty is a task few approach with any degree of self-confidence. But Sorin maintains such intimidation is unnecessary once we learn how to open ourselves up to sensory and imaginative experiences. 

Espousing principles than can and, she hopes, will be applied to other aspects of life, Sorin views gardening as the perfect place to begin one's creative reawakening and offers a thought-provoking series of exercises and practices that will help readers produce their perfect garden setting while developing philosophies and habits that will allow them to enjoy the fruits of their labors."
 

Booklist Reviews

 

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Songs about GMOs, Monsanto and coffee

Legendary singer-songwriter, farmer and all around earth-dude Neil Young takes on the food monopolies, with help from Lukas and Micah Nelson, and the Promise of the Real. 

Must watch: The Monsanto News

 

 


"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food

-Hippocrates

January news on transforming your life, classes and more.

Let's Talk About....

   

Julie's life and health coaching

 

  

    

 

  We start every year by making resolutions.  




This year we want to focus on really supporting the whole body, mind and spirit in a positive way.  


Failure to keep resolutions has more to do with the resolution itself and the process that went into creating it. If you want direction in keeping yours I'd be delighted to support you. 


Here is my story of change that might give some insight.


     It's amazing how one's life can change in a nano-second.  


   Years ago, I'd been carelessly traveling around the world from mountain peaks in the French Alps to ocean floors off the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Skiing down 2,000-foot couloirs to scuba diving in some of the most pristine seas in the world.

  

    But after an water ski accident, I had to be extraction  - excruciatingly - from a high mountain lake, in the back of a Suburban over dusty washboard roads and a mountain pass.  


      The doctor said it was "leg threatening." My left knee had come up to touch my left hip. The posterior cruciate ligament pulled away from the joint and was just floating inside. Both the lateral ligaments shredded from the knee. My patella was pushed upwards, somehow intact, driving bone the width of a quarter through the growth plate of the tibia plateau. Even though I couldn't feel anything below the knee or move my leg, the pain was all consuming. 

    Instead of being on top of Mount Rainier for my 40th birthday, I was on crutches, and then wheeled daily to physical therapy looking to gain one more degree of bend in the leg.   


Alagna and Julie

 

Though Sun Valley orthopedic surgeon     Dr. Stephen Wasilewski successfully reattached my leg, arthritis built up all over my body. My L5 disk herniated after months of limping and interfered with more physical therapy. Having a baby (pictured above!) several years later exasperated my weakening limbs, ligaments and connective tissue.  

 

    Lessons in self-repair would be years in the making. In the hours, days, weeks, months and years that followed I never recovered from the pain and ensuing exhaustion from this one injury. 

My symptoms were:  

  • Reoccurring blood clots in both legs
  • Candida over-growth
  • Debilitating back pain
  • Poor appetite
  • Completely anti-social  

 

     In 1976, I'd learned about nutritionist and author Adele Davis and a decade later I studied homeopathy at Jon Bastyr in Seattle.  

 

    I was regularly juicing carrots and greens from our garden.  By the time of my injury I'd been a raw-food vegetarian for six years. But I suffered from unexpected bouts of bloating alternating with diarrhea, constipation and occasional depression.   

 

These following symptoms are associated with borderline depression, a typical symptom of chronic pain.  

 

    Sound familiar?  

  • Lack of short term memory
  • Constant fatigue, and inability to sleep at night
  • Inconsistent weight (in my case, I was scary thin)
  • A shattered self-image


You get the idea.

    Luckily, I could put my hands in the soil, could commune with "Plant Medicine" and breathe clean, fresh air. In so doing, my path became loud and clear. We all have a lot to offer this world. The true sin is when we are not in full expression of ourselves. 

    I went back to my nutrition books and recalled what I'd learned about eating whole, local foods in Europe. I purchased a stockpot and began cooking again. I made gluten-free, seed crackers in the raw tradition to sell, and involved myself in our local food movement.

    Because of my personal experience I've a lot of information about rebuilding one's life. Among the things I learned is that holistic health transformation is about discovery: What we really want, and then working to make our actions congruent with our desires.   

 

    I offer two programs, the "28-Day Jump Start" and the "90-Day Transformation"
 

The Transformation Process includes a series of questions that will help us identify hidden desires and defenses. It has been an amazing journey for myself personally and those I have helped facilitate with their own journey.

 

To manage your stress, whether it is food or relationship related contact me to book a private consultation:  

  juliefoodstransformation@gmail.com  

 

 

 

**  

 

 

_____________________

 

Julie on the Radio 


Julie Johnson's being joined in January  by a new co-host (Dr. Jody Stanislaw) for Our Health Culture, her radio show on the Valley's community radio station,KDPI 89.3. The show's time has changed as well. It can be heard on 89.3 FM or streamed live at KDPIFM, 11 a.m.-Noon,  Thursdays. 

The show delves into health and nutrition, local farming and sustainability, why people pursue healthier lifestyles, and how we work energetically in those pursuits.    


 

 

Check the KDPI twitter account @kdpiradio orFacebook for updates.  

**   


   






Suggested reading:

The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat, and Cheese Belong in a HEALTHY DIET

 by Nina Teicholz.



With exhaustive reporting and lucid science explication, author Nina Teicholz drives home her central thesis: that dietary fat, even (if not especially) the saturated kind, is actually good for us. But that's not even her most impressive feat. She shows why the food industry's recent rush away from trans fats-whose evils she herself helped establish in a2004 Gourmet article-may actually be a net negative for public heath. (Partial spoiler: Unlike trans fats, which are artificially hardened vegetable oils, LIQUID vegetable oils generate lots of "toxic oxidative breakdown products" when they're held at high heat for an extended time-as they are in fast food industry's fry bins.) All in all, a must read.

--Tom Philpott, Mother Jones

August news on the importance of hydration, and more from NourishMe.

Let's Talk About....



Hydrating your way to health and happiness


Water is the source of all life. It sustains us, it heals us, and it's absolutely essential. Water makes up more than two-thirds of the weight of the human body. Without water, humans would die in just a few days.  


 Watch this video of Julie discussing hydration.  

 

All cells and organs need water to function.  Water allows your cells to take in nutrients, and it also allows them to expel waste products. If you don't drink enough water, toxins will build up, weakening your immune system.

 

Julie recommends taking your weight, cut it in half, and try to drink that half in water a day. For instance a person who weighs 135 should drink 67.20 ounces a day.   But here's a tip: Water depends on electrolytes for proper absorption. These minerals become capable of conducting electricity when dissolved in water, and help maintain enzyme activity.  

 


unnamed-5.jpg

Remember, when the body is functioning at its best, you'll feel more energized and be happier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits of water:

 

  • Improves oxygen delivery to the cells.
  • Improves cellular communication.
  • Transports nutrients.
  • Removes wastes.
  • Flushes toxins.
  • Maintains normal electrical properties of cells.
  • Regulates body temperature.
  • Cushions bones and joints.
  • Empowers the body's natural healing process.
  • Helps you think, focus and concentrate better and be more alert.
  • Relieve and prevent headaches.
  • No matter what you choose, tap or bottled water, it's way cheaper than high-sugary soda or that chemical-laden, fat-filled latte.

   

See this website for more information.

 

So, before you limp to the doctor with all your aches and complaints have a glass or two of water.

 

     

 

**  

 

Store news

 

NourishMe will offer its fall cleansesometime in late September. For more information contact the store at (208) 928-7604

Check out our new look at Nourish's website. 
 

Visit the NourishMe booth at the Ketchum Farmers Market eachTuesday

We sell sauerkraut, raw crackers, fresh salads, hummus, macaroons and other raw deserts. As at the store, all our foods are organic and as locally-based as is feasible.  


Additionally, we are a sponsor of Hunger Coalition's SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program aka food stamps) program at the Farmer's Market. This will allow more people to enjoy and reap the benefits of organic and locally grown foods.


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______________________

 

Julie on the Radio 


Julie Johnson is taking the month of AUgust off from her radio show on the Valley's community radio station, KDPI 89.3 FM. KDPI will replay past shows, while she rests. Our Health Culture, can be heard on 89.3 FM or streamed live atKDPIFM, 10-11 a.m. Thursdays. 

The show delves into health and nutrition, local farming and sustainability, why people pursue healthier lifestyles, and how we work energetically in those pursuits.   

 

 Check the KDPI twitter account @kdpiradio orFacebook for updates.  

**   

   





Suggested reading:

  

Your Body's Many Cries for Water

by Fereydoon Batamanghelidj is the result of the author's research of water and the human body's needs for it. The main idea of the book is that thirst is just one of many of the body's ways of indicating that it needs water; he attributes a wide range of diseases as alternate symptoms of dehydration, including asthma, angina, dyspepsia, obesity 

and numerous others. As the title says, he believes that humans often do not drink enough water.   













"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy foodHippocrates

June 2014

Let's Talk About....


Four years! NourishMe opened its sunny bright shop on June 1, 2010. It has since doubled in size and been a partner as the local food movement has increased in the Wood River Valley. One half of NourishMe is dedicated to top-of-the-line supplements and organic cosmetics while the other is filled with local foods and produce, organic bulk foods, and other edibles including fresh soups daily, raw deserts and fermented foods.  


Julie's dream for NourishMe started with a mission to connect Idaho's south-central organic farmers with the consumer. "In doing that we had to teach the consumer what sustainability meant. We also have to connect one farmer to another teach farmers about awareness, about sourcing clean grains and feed, and about what is growing on the farms next to them," Julie says.  


It's worked: from sourcing raw milk from Knight's Diary, and welcoming Kurtis Williams, once a week, for his mini Farmers' Market to working with Glen Shepard at Springs of Life in Buhl, our connections to the farmers has flourished. One of our newer farms that delivers directly to us is the 640-acre ranch Double Springs in the Pahsimeroi Valley.  


Double Springs was developed three years ago by Craig Delagardelle and Doris Tunney with two Black Angus cows names T-Bone and Rib Eye. By 2013 they had 55 cows, and this year have 170.  

The ranch's alfalfa and orchard-mixed grasses are so good its shipped to Florida to feed wintering race horses.

Craig, Dori and Julie at Double Springs

All the beef used in NourishMe soups come from the gorgeous Double Springs Ranch. 


Follow the love into the kitchen at NourishMe: This summer, along with two soup selections (vegetarian, and meat-based) we'll serve fresh salads with roasted in-season veggies, homemade hummus and pates. Our pre-meal mantra here at Nourish Me is "Bless this food, those who grew it, those who prepared it, and bless those who are eating it. "


We will be at theKetchum Farmers Market each Tuesday starting June 10, 2014. Our booth will feature some of the Julie Foods items you have come to know and crave such as sauerkraut, crackers, kale salad, hummus, seed pate, macaroons and other raw deserts. As at the store, all our foods are organic and as locally-based as is feasible. Stock up for your picnic later that day at Ketch 'Em Alive. 


Additionally, we are a sponsor of Hunger Coalition's SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program aka food stamps) program at the Farmer's Market. This will allow more people to enjoy and reap the benefits of organic and locally grown foods.   



**   

Click HERE for a "Food, Power, and the TPP: A conversation with Eric Holt-Giménez"  


"We have to redefine in this complex supply chains, government-subsidized over production and overwhelming corporate ownership." 

- Eric Holt-Giménez



Eric Holt-Giménez is the executive director ofFood First and author of Food Movements Unite! Strategies to Transform Our Food System.





At lunch in NourishMe,

from left Petra, Julie, Eric, Ruth and Cassidy.

______________________ 

   Store News 


                                           




Julie Johnson,

a certified Nutrition  Therapy Practitioner (NTP), and professional member of

Price Pottenger Foundation,

offers Nutrition consultations atNourishMe.  Inquire at the store, email

jjnourishme@gmail.com or call (208) 928-7604.  

                                         
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SAUERKRAUT CLASS

Learn to make sauerkraut with Sylvie Dore5:30 p.m. Thursday June 19 atNourishMe. The cost is $20 and includes a hands-on demonstration, recipes, and a jar to ferment and enjoy at home (valued at $12.95) so attendees can participate in the whole process from start to finish and experience the health benefits firsthand.

 

Attend this class and find out: 

  • Why digestion is the key to health
  • Why fermented foods are absolutely safe and necessary in your daily diet
  • How to preserve fresh vegetables in their RAW form for months in the refrigerator (it's healthy fast food).
  • How to easily make and serve delicious, palate-tickling side dishes for your friends and family

 

Sylvie is always open to work-trades to attend the class for a reduced fee, inquire by emailing: redwoodfairy@hotmail.com. Learn how to prepare different flavors of sauerkraut and about the health benefits. Reserve a space: 928-7604.


**  

Suggested reading material:

The Power of Giving

 

The core message of this simple book,

I Like Giving, is that giving can be joyous and to give generously can change the world. Through various stories author Brad Formsma shows that giving can be even more satisfying than receiving. In fact it can make us healthier. Generosity usually has positive ripple effects, spreading out from individuals to families to the greater community. Author BRAD FORMSMA is the creator of Ilikegiving.com, which has been viewed in more than 165 countries.

  



______________________

 

Julie on the Radio 


Julie Johnson hosts a radio show on the Wood River Valley's only community radio station, KDPI 89.3 FM. Her weekly show, Our Health Culture, can be heard live on 89.3 FM or streamed live at KDPIFM, 10-11 a.m.Thursdays. 

The show delves into health and nutrition, local farming and sustainability, why people pursue healthier lifestyles, and how we work energetically in those pursuits.   

 

 Check the KDPI twitter account @kdpiradio orFacebook for updates.  

**   

  



"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy foodHippocrates

May 2014

Let's Talk About....

 

Allergies

 

  Do you have itchy eyes and skin, sneezing, nasal congestion, wheezing, or a rash? Seasonal allergies result from allergens such as chemicals, glutens (in processed foods), mown grass, blooming plants, pet dander, weeds, pollen, and molds. If you have an under-stimulated or nutrient deficient system you are more likely to fall prey to seasonal allergies.

 

Allergies are an abnormal response of the immune system. We must hydrate, and nourish ourselves with foods that are anti-inflammatory and immune boosting. 

"Dehydration causes ahistamine effect in the body," Julie Johnson, NTP says. "And if we can sleep at night, our 'Repair Hormone' (aka HCG) can come out, which is only released during REM sleep,"

 

Eating well is the key to ridding your body of allergies or avoiding them all together. Organic food that has not been sprayed, and is grown from quality organic seeds will benefit you and not create an allergic reaction. Food allergies cost the U.S. nearly $25 billion annually. Once your body is given to histamine reactions it will be more susceptible during growing and blooming seasons such as spring and fall.

 

"All disease begins in the gut" - Hippocrates

 

As Hippocrates said, it all stems from the health of ones digestive system. Leaky Gut Syndrome is a simple term for holes in our intestines that are abnormal from its natural permeability. We want nutrients to pass from intestines to our blood stream but not in a whole form. The fallout results in larger, undigested food molecules and other unwanted stuff (yeast, toxins, and all other forms of waste) to flow freely into your bloodstream.

 

First, the liver kicks in to try to screen out all the particles that your intestinal lining is supposed to be taking care of. Then the immune system starts to fight off the invaders. When this happens the lesser issues are ignored resulting in autoimmune issues springing up such as chronic fatigue, MS, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, fibromyalgia, Crohn's disease, and histamine reactions.  

  

Suggested treatments:

 

Neti-Pot - Flush out your sinuses with an organic (non-iodized) salt solution to help wash away allergens and irritants. To do it, fill your Neti-Pot partway with warm water (preferably distilled or filtered) and a teaspoon or less (you will discover how much is comfortable for you) of the salt.  When it is diluted, tilt your head forward over the sink while you pour the solution in one nostril and let it drain out the other.

 

Nasal (Nasya) Oil - A cured sesame oil-based oil can be used todecongest, protect, soothe, and lubricate nasal passages. Use especially after a Neti-Pot treatment. Put a little drop on a finger and gently massage the oil into the inside of your nose.

 

Bee Pollen and Honey - Locally produced honey, which contains pollen spores picked up by the bees from local plants, introduces a small amount of allergen into your system. Your immune system will then activate against it and over time can build up your natural immunity against it.

 

Quercetin- This substance, which is found in the skin of onions and apples, is a natural antihistamine. You can take it by itself (300 mg 3 times a day during peak allergy season without food), or in a combination product with nettles and bromelain (from pineapple; also beneficial for allergies).

 

Teas - Stinging Nettle can taken in tea form or in capsules. For tea pour boiling water over the tea bag and cover the cup for 15 minutes to let the oils seep in before drinking.

Roobois tea is also a great immune booster. It's loaded with antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties.     

 

Probiotics - You may associate probiotics-a.k.a. "good" bacteria, with digestion, but they also play a role in keeping your immune system well balanced. You'll want lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, bifidobacterium lactis and acidophilus.

 

Homeopathic Treatments - Euphrasia, which is especially good for burning, itchy eyes; and Allium cepa, which is good for a drippy nose. You can also take these together. Homeopathics require you to use them frequently through the day for optimal benefits.

 

Enzymes - The enzyme Amylase, which helps break down carbohydrates, is a natural histamine blocker, which stabilizes mast cells and basophils that release histamine at the start of an inflammatory response.

 

Other - Vitamin C, vitamin E, essential fatty acids, MSM, pancreatic enzymes, alpha lipoic acid, glucosamine, grapeseed extract, and NAC.

 

List of antihistamine foods: Chamomile, wild oregano, rue, basil, echinacea, fennel, fig, ginkgo, grapefruit, passionflower, tarragon, turmeric, skullcap, thyme and yarrow, papaya, amaranth seeds, ginger, grapes, blueberries.

 

Air Purifier - Using a purifier with an HEPA filter-especially in the bedroom-is the best way to remove spores and pollen from the air.

  

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______________________

 

Julie on the Radio 

 

Julie Johnson hosts a radio show on the Wood River Valley's only community radio station,KDPI 89.3 FM. Her weekly show, Our Health Culture, can be heard live on 89.3 FM or streamed live atKDPIFM, 10-11 a.m. Thursdays. 
 

The show delves into health and nutrition, local farming and sustainability, why people pursue healthier lifestyles, and how we work energetically in those pursuits.   

 

 Check the KDPI twitter account @kdpiradio orFacebook for updates.  

**   

  

 

 

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May Recipe
In honor of Cinco de Mayo try these fantastic enchiladas. Click here for the recipe for Chicken Mole Enchiladas. And make it organic. Food matters.


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______________________ 

   Store News 


                                           

 

Julie Johnson,

a certified Nutrition  Therapy Practitioner (NTP), and professional member of

Price Pottenger Foundation,

offers Nutrition consultations at NourishMe.  
Inquire at the store, email

jjnourishme@gmail.com or call (208) 928-7604.  

                                         
**

NUTRITION CLASS
 

Join Achieving Victory over a Toxic Worldwith Veronica Rhinehart, L.Ac,

Weston Price Chapter leader, local acupuncturist, and nutritionist, at 9 a.m. Friday May 9 atNourishMe. Veronica will discuss nutrition and other strategies for staying clean in a toxic world. Bring questions. This class is open to everyone. There is no charge.

 

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Suggested reading material:

The Four-Fold Way
 

A leading expert on native spirituality and shamanism, the late Angeles Arrien, reveals the four archetypal principles of the Native American medicine wheel and how they can lead us to a higher spirituality and a better world. She lectured and conducted workshops worldwide, bridging cultural anthropology, psychology, and comparative religions. Her work is currently used in medical, academic, and corporate environments. She was the president of the Foundation for Cross-Cultural Education and Research. Her books have been translated into 13 languages and she received three honorary doctorate degrees in recognition of her work.

She did a Ted talk on the "Cornerstone of Wisdom," which can be viewed here

In Memoriam: Angeles Arrien

 

______________

 

Explaining Idaho's Ag-Gag Law Senate bill 1337

 

The new Idaho law, known as the Ag-Gag, makes it a crime for anyone, including journalists and employees, to film or record inside an agricultural operation without permission. Those convicted under the new law face up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine (twice the maximum penalty for animal cruelty under Idaho law). Moreover, those found guilty would have to compensate the company, for twice the value of damages their investigation or exposé caused. Even a false statement on a job application to a factory farm could lead to prosecution.

 

Hamdi Ulukaya, CEO of Chobani Yogurt, which has a plant in Southern Idaho, urged Gov. Butch Otter to reconsider his support.

 

This bill limits "transparency and makes some instances of exposing the mistreatment of animals in the state punishable by imprisonment," he said. "This could cause the general public concern and conflicts with our views and values."

 

Undercover exposes on the food industry are nothing new. Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, an exposé of Chicago's meat packing industry, led to the passage of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. The Food Safety Modernization Act in 2010 followed on the heels of other works such as Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemna, and Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation.

 

These types of food safety laws and investigations help protect the public from "mad cow" disease, E. coli, and Salmonella.

 

Iowa, Utah, Missouri, North Dakota, Montana, and Kansas also have Ag-Gag laws.