I was just reading my Friday edition of the SF Gate newsletter and reflecting on the comments Mark Morford makes at least once a week about our country's confusion as to why the population is so obese and dealing with so many health issues. Can you say, "Duh?" It amazes me just how many people don't realize the crap that gets pumped into our beef and our chickens that winds up accumulating in our bodies to horrendous levels because we're so indoctrinated by those "Beef -- it's what's for dinner" commercials. If you want a real eye-opener about that steak you're getting ready to put on the grill, just read Ruth Ozeki's My Year of Meats. It ain't fiction, kids -- that shit's for real.

Now let's get one thing straight before you decide to stop reading -- I am not a vegetarian. I love steak, I love hamburgers. Further, I am female and sometimes need an extra dose of iron once a month. "Is she a hypocrite?" you may ask. If I were, do you think I'd be writing this entry? The majority of red meat I consume comes from my parents' cattle. I know EXACTLY what has gone into these cattle, i.e., no antibiotics, no growth hormones, no ground up cow brains and spinal cords in the feed. It is organic, and let me tell you, it tastes so much better than what you get in the grocery store (unless you shop at an organic grocery store). Plus I have the peace of mind of knowing my body can process the meat easily. I was tickled a couple of weeks ago when I heard my dad is thinking about buying some chickens. Oh what a glorious day that will be!

Then there's the fast food. Any fast food. I've been cutting it out of my diet for the last month, and the energy I have in exchange is well worth it. Even my crazy class and work schedule isn't dragging me down. "But the convenience!" I hear some of you yelling. "Sometimes I'm just so tired when I get home from sitting at a computer and tippy-tapping away that I don't want to cook." Leftovers, baby. Cook a big batch of your favorite something on the weekend when you're rested and there will be plenty to savor later when you're worn out from work and the kids. Here's another bonus -- you actually save money when you're not spending four or five bucks a pop at Mickey D's or KFC a day. Not only that, you're saving money on trips to the doctor, or should I say LACK of trips to the doctor?

Yes, for cryin' out loud, I'm a hippie. I've never been in denial about it; I've always embraced it. I'm not perfect, though. Those refined sugars are turning out to be a bear to eliminate. I'm not much in the candy department, never have been (except for the occasional bit of dark chocolate, but it's better for you than milk chocolate), but I hooked myself on pop in high school. As with any other bad habit, it's a slow journey. Prescription medication forced me to go completely caffeine-free, but that was no biggie since I was already mostly caffeine-free anyway. I started my weaning process by allowing myself one can (preferrably) or one 20 oz. bottle (usually) every other day. After a while, the cravings just seemed to go away, mostly. The other key was finding a substitute, kind of like some smokers take up chewing gum. I now have a variety of herbal teas in my cabinet that is seconded only by the grocery store itself.

I guess what all this rambling is leading to is that I realized that if I want to live a long life despite the MD and in hopes of getting into that PhD program in ecology (remember, I'm a hippie), I need to make some changes and stop putting so much crap in my mouth. The changes aren't even that difficult. It isn't that hard to find a source of organic produce, milk, and even meat (and you don't have to have parents who grow their own cows). Cost, you ask? Yes, it can be more expensive to go organic, but if this broke college hippie can do it (on a fairly regular basis -- I'm no saint, after all), anyone can. Stop bitching about how your ankles are breaking down as you drive your overweight fanny to Burger King, get your slovenly ass out of the complimentary wheelchair at Wal-Mart, put that Hungry Man dinner back in the frozen food section, and try those yummy veggies in the produce section. Buy your hamburger organic, or at the VERY LEAST buy the 96% lean stuff instead of the 85%. Tiny changes, kids. You'll be amazed how easy it is.