Google Trends for Organic and Health Food

CLICK IMAGE above for LARGER VIEW.

Today, using the SEO tool Google Trends, I tested the popularity of "organic food" vs. "health food" and some other search terms in a search engine optimization study.

Here we see a chart displaying the popularity of the two phrases from 2004 - 2010.

"Health food" is the red line. "Organic food" is the blue line.

"Health food" is the more popular search term, but is slightly declining, as organic food remains a tad more even.

This is showing the popularity, not of health food vs. organic food per se, in their own right, but rather: what words people are typing into Google in internet searches.

One way to determine the best content for a website, social network, or blog is to do keyword research. Discover what people are searching for on the internet, in your particular field of expertise or interest, and consider adding content based on the popular searches.

For example: If tons of people are searching for information on "vegan", but hardly anybody's searching for information on "gluten free",  you know what people want.

Now, you may still want to write white papers, Facebook updates, blog posts, or Twitter tweets about gluten free, but to please more people and drive more traffic to your site, you should write about vegan topics. 

To refine your research, you could test "dangers of MSG" vs. "cell phone radiation hazards" or "MSG toxic" vs. "cell phone radiation cancer", and so on, until you found the most popular wording for both expressions.

This doesn't mean that you slavishly determine your content based solely on internet search trends.

Instead, you simply consider Google Trends just another (free) tool in your SEO and Content Strategy arsenal. You pay ongoing attention to what words and topics are currently most popular. Search term ranking is constantly evolving, since language behavior is perpetual flux. Verbal expressions are born, gain favor, lose favor, and eventually become outmoded and archaic.

Google Trends data is scaled based on the average search traffic of the terms "organic food, health food" entered. You separate the keyphrases with a comma, which pits them against each other.

Now let's look at another keyword comparison.

CLICK IMAGE above for LARGER VIEW.

Here we test "vegan" vs. "gluten free".

"Vegan" is the blue line. "Gluten free" is the red line.

As you can see, both terms are trending upward, as more people seek healthier food for themselves and their families.

Click here Google Trends for vegan vs. gluten free and scroll down a bit. Under the trend chart, you'll see a breakdown by country. Notice that in Australia, "gluten free" is far more popular a search term than "vegan". In Sweden, Germany, and Italy, hardly anybody's searching "gluten free".


Now's let's test "vegan" vs. "flu shot", knowing that people search flu shot mostly only during the cold and flu season, as evidence by the red spikes.

"Vegan" is the blue line. "Flu shot" is the red line.

 CLICK IMAGE above for LARGER VIEW.

Vegetarian Substitutes for Christmas Foods

Just because you're a vegetarian, that doesn't mean you have to skip all the festivities of the winter holiday season. Nor does it mean you must compromise your dietary regimen. There are all kinds of delicious vegan dishes that can stand in for, and even blow away, the traditional omnivore entries.

The Veggie Table offers this list of alternatives in "Vegetarian Christmas Dinner". For recipes, click the links.

Appetizers

Bell Pepper Soup
A delicious, colorful soup made with sweet peppers that can be served hot or cold.
Christmas Salad
This red, white, and green salad will help spread Christmas cheer.
Crudités
A platter of crudités typically consists one or more types of raw vegetables served with one or more dips. These can be served as an appetizer, at a buffet, in place of a salad - the sky is the limit. Here are some ideas for interesting crudité platters.
French Onion Soup
Traditional French onion soup is made with beef broth, but this vegetarian version is so flavorful that meat-eaters will never know the difference!
Garlic Soup
This garlic soup is as good as anything you've ever had in a restaurant - it is wonderfully rich and velvety.

Minestrone Soup
This classic Italian soup is always vegan, as long as you leave off the parmesan cheese.
Roasted Chestnuts
Roasted chestnuts are such a traditional winter treat that there's a song about them - sing along as you roast your own chestnuts.
 

Bread

Buttermilk Biscuits
There's nothing quite like buttermilk biscuits hot out of the oven.
Corn Bread
Hot corn bread is absolutely delicious topped with butter or cream cheese.
Dinner Rolls
I find that the nicest meals are always nicer with some bread in my hand, preferably warm from the oven. We don't have a nice bakery nearby, so I have to make my own rolls, and this is the simplest recipe I've found.
Popovers
Recipe for popovers, perhaps the simplest and quickest way to enjoy fresh bread hot from the oven.
 

Vegetarian main courses

Cabbage Rolls
Normally filled with a mixture of ground beef and rice, cabbage rolls are a staple in Eastern Europe and a favorite in many other countries. Try these vegetarian cabbage rolls stuffed with vegetables for an equally tasty main course.
Eggplant Gratin
Eggplant layered with tomato sauce and topped with saffron custard makes an elegant and delicious main course.
Lasagna
Lasagna is basically a casserole made with layers of flat noodles, vegetables, cheese, and sometimes meat. There are a million variations on lasagna; here are some vegetarian favorites.
Moussaka
Moussaka is a Greek dish traditionally made with lamb or beef. This vegetarian / vegan moussaka recipe uses portobello mushrooms and seitan instead. A rich and delicious main course.
Pot Pie
This pot pie recipe is better than the TV dinner version for two reasons: it's vegetarian and it's prepared and baked, rather than frozen and microwaved. It's also quick and flexible, so give it a try.

Ratatouille
The perfect recipe to enjoy fresh vegetables and herbs; it can be served half a dozen different ways.
Spanakopita
A classic vegetarian recipe from Greece: rich and delicious spinach-cheese pie.
Vegetable Gratin
This hearty dish is made with pasta and grilled vegetables and topped with melted cheese.
Veggie Loaf
This recipe for veggie burgers spread into a loaf pan and baked for 30-40 minutes makes a great vegetarian "meat" loaf.
Winter Squash Risotto
Risotto isn't difficult to make, but it does require a lot of standing at the stove, stirring away. The end result, however, is delicious and a wonderful comfort food.

Vegan Analog Nog VIDEO

Freshtopia "Vegan Analog Nog"

Christmas Crafts VIDEO

"Christmas Crafts"

Dreaming of a Green Christmas VIDEO

"Dreaming of a Green Christmas"

Free Range Organic Christmas Trees

HotelDanger2 "Free Range Organic Christmas Trees"

World Health Organization vs Health Freedom

What if an international governance agency decided that all vitamins, supplements, homeopathics, amino acids, and herbs had to be classified as "drugs", and could only be dispensed by a physician?

And could only be produced by pharmaceutical companies and sold at pharmacies?

And you had to have a prescription to obtain them?

And it was illegal to grow your own vegetables, fruit, and herbs?

And you could no longer even buy books on natural remedies or view this information online?

Then everybody would be totally dependent on Big Ag and Big Pharma and WHO.

They would be in a position to tell you what to think, what to eat, what to drink, and what to take for your ailments and diseases. You would know nothing on your own, and be completely reliant on their unquestionable pronouncements. No debate. No dissent. No "alternative " anything. Everyone would have to submit.

This totalitarian health information and therapeutic substance control system would be labeled "global harmony" and "worldwide unity". But some experts think the real goal is Global Population Reduction.

Don't think this is just a nutty conspiracy theory or paranoid fantasy. There are abundant indications that this scenario is nearing fulfillment and almost in place. There appear to be mighty forces at work that are seeking to deprive people of their right to partake of the Earth's bounty of therapeutic plants and minerals.

When both right wing and left wing groups are alarmed about something, there's a good chance that it's something to which we should pay attention.

The agency in question is called WHO -- World Health Organization. The partners in this scheme are the WTO (World Trade Organization), USDA, FDA, and FTC. The regulations are called the Codex Alimentarius. The first implementation is known as the European Union's Food Supplements Directive.

Supposedly, a big problem is people "overdosing" on vitamins and supplements.

Have you ever heard of anybody doing that? Chances are, you have not.

While there are some aberrations of "mega dosing" in the alternative health realm, this is actually a marginal, fringe group of consumers. Most people use vitamins and supplements in a conservative manner, after consulting with an expert, practicing inherited tribal traditions, or doing their own research.

In the name of an alleged universal set of standards for all natural and synthetic therapeutic substances, profits from natural remedies will be transferred from health food stores and supplement companies to Big Pharma.

That's how greedy and unscrupulous they are.

Just like with the overblown hysteria over H1N1 Swine Flu, you will be tortured mentally with false allegations about the dangers of vitamins, supplements, and herbs. Sure, there are smart and stupid ways to use anything. We must be informed and manufacturers must be truthful in labeling health products.

But consumer safety is not the point, it's the subterfuge.

The real goal is control. They seek to ration remedies to those who submit to their belief systems and corporate/political demands.

They hate seeing individuals being self-sufficient, thumbing their noses at "orthodox" medicine, hybrid seeds, GMO food, flu shots, and all the other junk being pushed by the powers that be. Your independence drives them crazy, to put it mildly.

Notice how you're not hearing diddly squat about H1N1 Swine Flu or even seasonal flu, which they now mysteriously combine? Public acceptance of their agenda has dwindled drastically, in keeping with the growing tide of cynicism about authoritarian institutions and discredited leadership in all realms of life.

As the organic food industry grows by leaps and bounds, and people educate themselves on natural remedies they can cultivate in their own backyards, Big Pharma and Big Ag are resentful. They are maliciously hell bent on getting revenge.

Look at what the Utne Reader said in "The Codex Conspiracy".

[QUOTE]

For the better part of the past decade, alternative approaches to health care have been encroaching on the prevailing medical model. Acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, and other "complementary" therapies are no longer dismissed as quackish pursuits of New Age pioneers.

And it's the rare pharmacy that doesn't stock a healthy inventory of vitamin and herbal supplements. Indeed, according to recent surveys, about half the U.S. adult population now takes some form of dietary supplement, creating a market that tops $4 billion a year.

The savvy consumer can select any number of herb or vitamin alternatives to high-priced pharmaceuticals: St. John's-Wort for Prozac; melatonin for sleep aides; fish oil as a substitute for aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs; Vitamin E and selenium for heart disease and various cancers; milk thistle for liver diseases.

These natural alternatives represent billions of dollars in lost profits each year for the pharmaceutical industry.

And since there appears to be no way for drug companies to corner the market on nonpatentable agents, a new strategy is emerging: Take control away from the consumer.

Spearheading this effort is a little-known international agency called the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a Rome-based organization established in 1961 by the United Nations. Codex Alimentarius is Latin for "food and nutrition code."

But under the guise of protecting public safety through standardization of food, nutrient, and botanical codes, the commission is regarded by many as a means for the pharmaceutical industry to eventually make all supplements available by prescription only.


[END QUOTE]

"It can't happen here," some may say. But the World HOAX Organization may trample that hope under foot.

Taking responsibility for your own health information, remedies, and diet is quickly becoming a dissident orientation and a revolutionary act.

READ MORE

Wikipedia "Codex Alimentarius"

World Health Organization "General Information About the Codex Alimentarius"

Natural Solutions Foundation "WHO Chastises Codex"

Centre for Research on Globalization "History of Health Tyranny"

Natural Health Information Centre "Codex Alimentarius"

Tetrahedron "Codex Red Alert"

Militant Libertarian "The New Surge Towards Codex Alimentarius"

World Institute of Natural Health Sciences

MSU "Codex Alimentarius Course Preview"

Consumer Health Organization of Canada "New Laws Restricting Herbs and Vitamins"

Utne Reader "Codex Conspiracy"

Last Minute Turkey Safety Tips

What is the best way to defrost a turkey?

You can thaw a frozen turkey three ways.

(1) You can move it to the refrigerator (allow 24 hours for every 5 pounds)

(2) set it in a cold water bath (allow approximately 30 minutes per pound)

(3) defrost it in the microwave (check your owner’s manual for the size of the turkey that will fit in your microwave, the suggested power level, and the minutes per pound).

NOTE: It is possible to roast your turkey from the frozen state but the cooking time will take at least 50 percent longer than the estimated times for roasting a thawed or fresh turkey.

How big of a turkey should I buy?

Generally the rule of thumb is to allow 1 pound of turkey per person, so it you are expecting around 15 guests, you might want to look for a 15 pound turkey.

At what temperature do you cook a turkey?

Set your oven to no lower than 325 degrees.

How long do you cook your turkey?

This depends on the size of your bird and whether or not it is stuffed. Generally, to be extra cautious food safety-wise… I suggest roasting your turkey without stuffing and cooking and serving your stuffing separately.

Here is the timetable for roasting turkey without stuffing at 325 degrees F:

4 to 8 pounds = 1 1/2 to 3 1/4 hours
8 to 12 pounds = 2 3/4 to 3 hours
12 to 14 pounds = 3 to 3 3/4 hours
14 to 18 pounds = 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours
18 to 20 pounds = 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours
20 to 24 pounds = 4 1/2 to 5 hours

How do you know when your turkey is done?

Only by using a food thermometer can you accurately determine that meat has reached a safe temperature. A whole turkey must reach 180 degrees in the innermost part of the thigh and the thickest part of the breast. If you have stuffing in the turkey, the center of the stuffing must reach 165 degrees.

What’s the difference between a regular turkey you get at the grocery store and a fresh turkey?

If you are using a fresh turkey you should buy your turkey 1 to 2 days before you plan to cook it and keep it stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook it. If you buy a frozen turkey, you can keep it frozen until you are ready to thaw it.

Two final turkey tips…

Always wash absolutely everything that comes in contact with the raw turkey and its juices (hands, utensils, the kitchen counter and sink, etc.) with hot soapy water.

Oh and by the way…make sure you reach inside the raw bird with tongs or a fork to grab that bag of giblets before your put it in the oven!

-- WebMD "Last Minute Turkey Safety Tips"

A Day of Thanksgiving VIDEO

A Day of Thanksgiving

Holiday Stress VIDEO

SciFri (NPR's Science Friday) "Cranberry Sauce with a Side of Stress"

With the holiday season fast approaching, we hit the streets of New York City to see if people were feeling especially stressed.

Paul Rosch, president of The American Institute of Stress and a professor at New York Medical College, and Sheldon Cohen, psychologist at Carnegie Mellon University, weigh in on the effects of stress and offer a few tips for how to mitigate it.

Music from Preliner Archives. Audio engineering by Christopher Intagliata. Filmed and produced by Flora Lichtman. Additional imagery courtesy of American Institute of Stress.

Jib Jab Thanksgiving Cranberry Slaughter VIDEO

Jib Jab "Thanksgiving Cranberry Slaughter"

Addams Family Thanksgiving VIDEO

Addams Family Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving vs Complaining

Instead of being resentful or depressed about what you don't have -- be thankful for what you do have. You may not have it very long. And much of what happens to us can be traced to karma, reaping what we sow, attitudes we maintain, and choices we made in the past.

I've lost extremely close friends who died the past few years. I often dream about my dad, Gary, Greg, Craig, and Gabe. I dream that they're still alive, that the reports about their deaths were a joke or a mistake. It's pretty sad to wake up and realize the dream is just a deeply rooted wish.

Be mindful of those people who are *really* suffering in war zones, prisons, mental hospitals, abusive relationships, and other brutal and dehumanizing situations. Preserve your personal dignity and self-awareness. Be brave and rejoice as much as you can. Even if your life seems to be getting worse every day, this is your opportunity to be heroic. To keep trying, fighting, and struggling.

It's so easy to fantasize about what you'd do if you won millions of dollars in a lottery, or were much more beautiful, or 18 years old again, more educated, more talented, or whatever.

But there are documented reports about how winning the lottery actually made a person's life a total nightmare, and they ended up drug addicted, in prison, divorced, murdered, or more impoverished than they were before they won all that money.

READ MORE

Complex.com "Curse of the Lotto"

Bank Tracker "Curse of the Lottery"

Even pain and deprivation can be a good thing in some cases. I know from my own experience, having broken my back twice, that excruciating pain and physical limitations can humble you, make you more sensitive to the suffering of others, and re-align the depths of your being, so that you gain a special enlightenment that is worth all the suffering.

Smooth sailing, perpetual comfort zones, and having it easy in life -- all that can be more of a curse than a blessing.

Stories about survivors, heroic men and women, and noble struggle are far more inspiring and satisfying than stories about pampered celebrities and powerful people who seem to have no problems. Think about how famous Hollywood stars used to stand in front of a mirror and dream of being adored and successful and popular. Then when it happens, they gripe about the paparazzi and lack of privacy and being misunderstood.

Who is better off than you? Who do you envy or admire?

Oh, really? And you know about all their troubles, tragedies, and triumphs, their secret fears and unfulfilled hopes, their undiagnosed diseases that will end their lives, or the horrific reversals in fortune that may await them? If they're such successful stars, why do so many of them become alcoholic, drug addicted, suicidal, victims of every imaginable misfortune, in their prime or at the end?

Let's try to appreciate and emphasize the positive. Many believe that being thankful is the best "sacrifice" or offering that can be presented to a higher power, God, the universe, or whatever you may call it. We can put aside our quarrels, disappointments, and differing views politically and metaphysically. We can be more loving and recall what others have done to help us achieve what we have.

Social media is all about sharing and caring, not exploiting and abusing. This Thanksgiving, let's be defiant toward our obstacles and set-backs, and just radiate as much joy and kindness as we possibly can.

Ayala Herbal Water REVIEW

A new item at Naturally Yours organic grocery is Ayala Herbal Water. I picked up a bottle of the Ginger Lemon Peel flavor, as I'm heavily into ginger these days. The bottle itself is classy, with that frosted glass feel.

If you like Perrier, you'll love this sparkling herb-infused beverage.

It's better for you than those horrid soft drinks and sodas so popular with the undiscerning.

I like how sparkling water quenches thirst and seems to wash away the gunk in your mouth as you eat food. With ginger in it, this water tastes a bit like ginger ale, but not as sickeningly sweet as soda pop.

[QUOTE]

At Herbal Water®, we make our flavored water by infusing organic herbal extracts in pure artesian water.  We use no artificial sweeteners, no preservatives, and no additives of any kind.  Get your dose of natural bliss in six exotic flavor combinations.

Culinary herbs are the natural way to add real flavor and enhance any food or drink.  For centuries, they have been prized for their calming, stimulating, and aphrodisiac qualities.

Ayala's flavored water harnesses the power of these natural wonders in a delightfully refreshing, mellow, yet complex, aromatic drink.  Enjoy a straight-from-the-garden taste of organic herbal extracts and the crisp freshness of artesian water in every sip.

100% Good For You!™

[END QUOTE]

I highly recommend this as a Perrier or soda pop alternative.

I love Ayala Herbal Water and will be trying all the different flavors soon.

Free Range Gluten Free Organic Turkey

Naturally Yours is offering a healthy alternative to the junk food turkeys found at non-organic grocery stores.

Keep this in mind this Thanksgiving and Christmas and other festive occasions when you want to serve traditional dishes, but worry about what's in them. Now your worries are over.

Mary's Free Range Organic Turkeys offer:

* No preservatives

* Gluten free

* No antibiotics

* No added animal by-products

* Raised without added hormones

* USDA certified Organic

[QUOTE]

Mary’s Free Range Turkeys are available in the following varieties:

Mary’s Certified Free-Range Organic Turkey- Our highest quality turkey is a premium Mary’s Organic turkey. Organic Certifiers ensures that our processing facility and ranches maintain the highest standards. Certified organic fed is exclusively used for these fine turkeys.

Mary’s Free-Range Heritage Turkey- The heritage turkey is based on the first breed of turkeys that existed in the United States. They breed naturally, as well as run and fly! These extra activities result in larger thigh meat, and slightly less breast meat than a typical turkey. All of these traits result in a superior taste that takes less time to cook than a regular turkey!

From the first juicy, satisfying bite of a Mary's Free-Range Turkey, you'll know that this bird is something special. Natural, Plump, Tasteful. That's a Mary's Free-Range Turkey.

Since 1954, the Pitman Family has raised turkeys for the Thanksgiving holiday.

-- Mary's Turkeys

[END QUOTE]