Anti-inflammatory diet strategies can help alleviate the pain that most women experience during that time of the month

Ask The Nutritionist

by Melissa Diane Smith

Q: I experience such severe cramps during my period that I usually end up doubled over in pain and out of commission for at least two days. Can changing what I eat help? —Ciara S., Milwaukee, Wis.

A: Painful menstrual cramps are the most common gynecological condition among women of reproductive age. More than half of women report some pain from period cramps for a day or two each month, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Unfortunately, many women don’t seek treatment because they consider pain to be a normal part of the menstrual cycle. But it doesn’t have to be.

(more…)

by Melissa Diane Smith, author of Going Against GMOs

The spring film, education, and action series I’ve been doing in Tucson and Pima County for the last month with GMO Free Arizona and Toxin-Free Pima County Coalition culminates this week! During May 18-20, you can:

• Tune into a half-hour radio program to learn more about GMOs, pesticides, and Monsanto, and local action taking place on these issues;
• Attend a non-GMO dinner with farm-to-table selections; and
• Watch a highly rated movie about the miraculous action of seeds that we use to grow food, the threat that Monsanto and other biotech companies pose to them, and what we can do to protect them.

(more…)

Kick off March Against Monsanto weekend in Tucson by attending a special “Say No to Monsanto” Meal/Mixer hosted by GMO Free Arizona and the Toxin-Free Pima County Coalition at The Tasteful Kitchen, 722 North Stone Avenue.

Not only will you will be able to order from a special menu of non-GMO appetizers, entrees, or seasonal farm-to-table meals, but you can mix and mingle with other people who want to resist GMOs, pesticides, and Monsanto’s presence in Pima County! You also can help us celebrate the launch of our yard sign campaign to make Pima County toxin free! We’ll have two different yard signs available by donation at the event, and we’d love for you to celebrate with us and be one of the first people to get a yard sign and send a powerful message out to others in the community!

(more…)

The Future of Food series of movies will be shown in three different Pima County Public Libraries at 2 p.m. on consecutive Saturdays from May 6 to May 20, 2017. The free film and education series is presented in partnership by the Pima County Public Library, the Pima County Library Seed Library, Food Conspiracy Co-op, Toxin-Free Pima County Coalition, and GMO Free Arizona. Each movie will include a post-film discussion.

The first movie in the series is The Future of Food, which will be shown this Saturday, May 6, at the Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr. Library in Marana. A post-film discussion will take place with Going Against GMOs author Melissa Diane Smith, farmer Anne Loftfield of High Energy Agriculture, and Nurse Janay Young.

(more…)