Hello and Welcome to this 'Choose Wellness' Newsletter. Sorry its been so long since the last issue.

If you have been following our journey to trace our suffolk roots, you will know that I have not had much time lately to devote to 'wellness-decisions'. It has not always been easy, as we travel around the UK, to spend time at the computer and, I must admit, it's been rather good to have a break.

Thanks to those of you who have just recently subscribed to 'Wellness News' - it's great to have you on board and thanks especially to those who have emailed me with great comments of encouragement.

We will be travelling for another month so keep looking at www.tracing-suffolk-roots.com to follow our movements - we have uploaded heaps of photos.

It was very interesting to read in the UK Daily Mail recently (Thursday August 14) the headline "GM: Charles warns of an 'environmental disaster'"

It seems he (Prince Charles, that is), and, I quote "is furious at 'cynical' attempts by the biotech industry and ministers to push genetically modified crops as the solution to Third World hunger." Charles says "the industrialisation of farming, which includes GM, is destroying the soil, polluting waterways and pushing out small producers."

He accused agrochemical firms of conducting a 'gigantic experiment with nature and the whole of humanity which has gone seriously wrong'. The Prince said relying on gigantic corporations for the mass production of food would threaten supplies and the future of small farmers.

I agree wholeheartedly with him. If you missed the article in my previous newsletter you can find the back issues at http://www.wellness-decisions.com/Choose_Wellness-backissues.html

If you are interested in achieving optimal health, pay attention to the quality of food you eat.  The closer the food is to its natural state, the better it will be for your body.

Consider the fact that what you eat has a direct affect on your health.  It will serve you to think about eating to live instead of living to eat.

I picked up a brochure the other day from THE VEGAN SOCIETY. I'm not advocating that we should all become vegans as I'm not sure that I agree with all their arguments but I do agree that

• A well-balanced vegan diet is among the healthiest of diets. It is typically high in fruit and veg and low in saturated fats. Protein, calcium, and iron are easily provided.

Check out their website http://www.vegansociety.com and let me know your thoughts on a vegan diet.

• January - A fair day in winter is the mother of a storm
• February - Fill ditch, black or white matters not which
• March - February builds a bridge, but March breaks it
• April - April borrows from March again, Three days of wind & rain
• May - Dry May and leaking June, makes the farmer whistle a happy tune
• June - When June brings the first Dog Rose, Count eleven weeks to harvest
• July - If on St Swithens Day it rain, For forty day it will remain
• August - If the 24th August be fine and clear, Look for a properous autumn that year
• September - Don't sit on the grass in any month that has an R in it
• October - If in October the leaves still hold, The winter will be wet and cold
• November - If the ducks canslide at Hollandtide (1st Nov), They shall swim at Christmastide.
• December - On Christmas Day if sun shines through apple tree tops, There's bound to be good crops

• Both have the same amount of calories.
• Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5 grams.
• Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.
• Eating Butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods.
• Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few only because they are added!
• Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods.
• Butter has been around for centuries - margarine has been around for less than 100 years.
• Margarine is very high in trans fatty acids.
• Eating margarine will increase total cholesterol and LDL (the bad cholesterol) and lower HDL (the good cholesterol).
• Eating margarine increases the risk of cancers up to five fold.
• Lowers quality of breast milk.
• Decreases immune response.
• Decreases insulin response.

Now this is rather disturbing if you are in the habit of eating margarine.

Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC...

(I am just passing this on - I haven't been able to verify the truth of these statements, but I think I'll stick to my butter!)

Dust if you Must

Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better

to paint a picture, write a letter,

Ponder the difference between 'want' and 'need'.

Dust if you must, but there is not much time with rivers to swim and mountains to climb

Friends to cherish - a life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there

The sun in your eyes - the wind in your hair A flurry of snow, a shower of rain

THIS DAY WILL NOT COME ROUND AGAIN

Dust if you must, but bear in mind Old age will come and it's not so kind;

and when you go, as go you must,

YOU YOURSELF WILL MAKE MORE DUST.

I have deliberately left out photos or illustrations this time as some people have said that they don't show up for them, so I will keep them to a minimum.

I welcome your questions, comments or requests so please contact me if you have anything you'd like to contribute or any questions.

Until then keep well and remember

'healthy cells = healthy bodies'

Best wishes

Jane