More Info about quality of Organic Foods

The organic farming and produce of organic foods has been prevalent from the time agriculture was first conceived. The natural way of growing crops started becoming unpopular and economically less feasible over time as more crop yields meant higher profits to the farmer and better utilization of the land. The farmers who used fertilizers started growing a couple of  crops during the same time-period, which fast tracked the industry of conventional foods.


Researchers investigated the amounts of  mineral levels of heavy metals such aluminum, cadmium, lead and mercury which was present in non-organic foods. Aluminum has been implicated for years in the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Its content in organic food averaged 40% less that in commercial foods. Lead toxicity, which has been in the news lately, can adversely affect our children's' IQ. It averaged 29% lower in organic foods. Mercury, which can cause neurological  damage, averaged 25% lower in organic foods" (Crinnion, Walter). The organic meat is healthier compared to the conventionally gown which is full of  antibiotics and many other chemicals for fast growing, which we consume by eating these foods. 

People consume more conventional food which cause more farmers to use pesticides and to double their crops. As we know, pesticides are dangerous for our environment and wild life. People should buy more organic foods and that in turn will lower the production of the conventional because of the demand.

That`s one of the ways to protect and save the environment and wildlife. Chemicals used,  kill different insects which are part of our ecosystem. Chemicals go from soil to the water reservoir and again back to us.

Organic labels and what they mean

"100% Organic"

Foods that are labeled as 100% Organic must contain all organically grown ingredients except for added water and salt.

"Organic"
Foods that are labeled as Organic need to contain at least 95% organic ingredients, except for added water and salt, plus they must not contain sulfites added as a preservative. Sulfites have been known to provoke allergies and asthma in some people. Up to 5% of the ingredients may non-organically produced.

"Made with Organic Ingredients"
Product labels that claim Made with Organic Ingredients need to contain at least 70% organic ingredients, except for added water and salt. They must not contain added sulfites, and up to 30% of the ingredients may be non-organically produced.

Food products made with less than 70% organic ingredients may state which ingredients are organic, but they can not claim to be organic food products.

Foods that are organically grown can state that fact on the label. This makes shopping easier for those of us who want to buy organic foods. It is important to understand exactly what organic labels mean.

Organic Food Basics

Organic food advocates maintain that organically grown foods are safer and more nutritious than foods raised with non-organic methods such as pesticides, non-organic fertilizers, antibiotics and hormones. Many people just don't trust these chemicals and don't want to put them into their bodies. Since virtually all non-organically produced foods contain residues of pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals, the only way to avoid them is to buy organic foods.


Organic foods are becoming more available in supermarkets and there are numerous organic foods to choose from in stores that specialize in health foods.

Organically grown foods are becoming more popular as people worry more about the health and the safety of the food they eat. What is organic food? Where can you buy organic products.

There are many reasons to buy organic.

* It's better for the environment.
* No pesticides means healthier soil, water, and wildlife.
* Buying organic supports small farmers.
* Organic farmers can earn a fairer price for organic produce
   compared to factory farming.
* Organic farming is good for biodiversity.
* No pesticides means healthier soil, water, and wildlife.

* Buying organic supports small farmers.
* Organic farmers are growing a wide variety of non-genetically
   modified (non-GMO) fruits and vegetables.

With growing demand for Organic Food, the variety has increased substantially

Organic farmers can earn a fairer price for organic produce compared to factory farming. Organic farming is good for biodiversity.

With growing demand for Organic Food, the variety has increased substantially

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF ORGANIC PRODUCTS?

Over and above the environmental benefits, the health benefits are notable! The hazards for human health of consuming products contaminated by harmful pesticides include increased risks of cancer, reproductive problems and neurological damage. Organically grown produce on the other hand is free of chemical residues, has a much higher vitamin content and is usually more flavoursome (which is why many top restaurants prefer to use organic ingredients).


In addition to the mental and emotional benefits of growing and eating organic food, there are also the physical benefits. These physical benefits can be boiled down to nutrients present in organic foods that are not in commercial foods and toxins not in organic foods that are present in commercial foods.

A recent article in the Journal of Applied Nutrition gave credence to the notion that organic foods have higher nutrient levels that non-organic food. In this study the mineral content of organic apples, pear, potatoes, wheat, and sweet corn were compared to commercial varieties. Overall the organic foods showed much higher levels of nutrient minerals and much lower levels of heavy metals.

When they studied organic food for mineral levels, the researchers also looked for the amount of the heavy metals aluminum, cadmium, lead and mercury. Aluminum has been implicated for years in the development of Alzheimer's disease.
 
It's content in organic food averaged 40% less that in commercial foods. Lead toxicity, which has been in the new a lot lately, can adversely affect our children's' IQ. It averaged 29% lower in organic foods. Mercury, which can cause neurologic damage, averaged 25% lower in organic foods.

Differences between Organic and Natural Foods

Organic food refers to food items that are produced, manufactured and handled using organic means defined by various certifying bodies in each country.


Natural food, generally refers to food items that are not altered chemically or processed in any form. These are derived from plants and animals. Thus a natural food item is not necessarily organic and vice versa.

The important question is - "Why do some people prefer organic food and some people prefer natural food?" This is because some people have the belief that synthesizing/ processing  a food item results in loss of its nutrients and properties. Hence they demand natural foods. Organic food fans, on the other hand, want their food to be free of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and preservatives.

My information has it that the demand for organic food is more than natural food because organic food seals are granted and monitored by the government. An act similar to the Organic Food Products Act is necessary for the natural food products as well.

Definition:

Organic Food refers to foods that are produced using organic means

Natural Food refers to products that are processed very little and the shelf life is thereby increased because of this. Demand for natural food is increasing and gaining popularity as well.

Arm yourself with Organic Food Info

Eat anti-oxidant rich foods. Organic foods are naturally high in anti-oxidents as they retain much more of the natural constituents and plant compounds, which are so good for our health.

Eat your five fruits and veggies a day.Common organic food information and advice but are you following it?

If you can eat raw vegetables such as peppers and tomatoes then so much the better. The lack of cooking means more nutrients are retained.

Eat a high fibre intake. Fibre rich foods aid digestion by carrying waste and toxic products through your body, so it can pass them quickly without absorbing too much.

Sound organic food information suggests you eat rich sources of fibre such as beans, peas, broccoli, prunes, figs, whole grains and other commonly available plant materials, organically grown to ensure the highest nutrient levels.

Eggs are also highly contaminated with pesticides and are next in line after dairy products as far as total adult intake of organo-chlorine pesticides. Chickens eat pesticide-contaminated feed and in turn contaminate their eggs. Choosing organic eggs is a strong recommendation and relatively simple, since free-range eggs and chickens can be found in your local supermarket.

Consider choosing organic when it comes to nuts and seeds. Almonds and pecans are sprayed frequently with herbicides and pesticides. Soybeans are also sprayed with some of the most toxic pesticides — and so you should select organic soy products, especially for children. Dried beans, cashews, macadamia nuts, and sesame seeds have lower amounts of pesticide residues due to either less pesticide use during growth, or because of processing, which removes most of the residues.

Natural Healing

Yes, by all means is Natural Healing with food a possibility. Numerous people around the world and in America have healed from terrible illnesses and ailments by simply changing their diet. Seems hard to believe but man’s concoctions can’t outdo Mother Nature and her powers. For fear of sounding like someone who lives in a tree, I will go as far as to say that our bodies are a product of nature and operate by the laws of nature, so therefore the only match for nature is nature itself.

Good quality food can do wonders for the human body. Good nutrition is the only solution for someone trying to recover from a serious illness, and it is certainly necessary for healthy individuals as well. People forget that when you place toxins in the body and neglect to place good things in the body, horrible conditions develop and the internal state of the body becomes toxic soup of additives, preservatives and dyes.


Do I think organic food should be used in healing?
Yes because these foods don’t have all these unneeded added substances.  Pre-packaged non organic food is already quite expensive and pre packaged organic food is a nightmare. Anything pre packaged had lost its nutritional value and doesn’t need to be in your body period. Anything that comes in box can be made just as easy on the stove, and it most likely wont be too hard to make.

Organic food has all the nutrients you need, nutrients that are vital to having a healthy body and a healthy recovery.
Good, pure food is the way you can achieve natural healing with food. In a society where everything comes out of a plastic or cardboard box, its no wonder more than half the people in America have, or will eventually have cancer or diabetes. Fake, synthetic, chemical laden food will not only cause problems, but will also worsen them as time goes on.

Natural Foods

Natural foods are foods that are minimally processed. Natural foods do not include ingredients such as refined sugars, refined flours, milled grains, hydrogenated oils, sweeteners, food colors, or flavorings.


Sucanat, stevia, raw honey, agave syrup and maple syrup are sweeteners often used in place of white sugar in a natural foods diet. Sea salt is also preferred over table salt.

Proponents of natural foods diets argue that refined ingredients promote obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

During the natural food movement, natural foods were made popular in America and Western Europe during the 1970s. Its principles include avoiding artificial ingredients and 'processed' foods such as refined sugar and white flour.

Food produced or sold according to the ideals of the natural food movement is sometimes known colloquially as 'health food,' although many people also use that term in a broader sense to mean any type of healthy eating.

Although in modern times the natural food diet has largely been practiced only by a minority, it has frequently influenced the way the wider population eats.

Recent research conducted on organic milk has shown that it has more anti-oxidants, omega 3, CLA, and vitamins than non organic milk. According to the researchers at the Danish Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Aberdeen, and the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, organic milk is healthier than non organic milk as organic cows are pasture grazed which results in better quality milk.


Research on the health benefits of organic milk has increased the hopes of numerous people who strongly believe that mankind should stop using chemical fertilizers and pesticides and shift to the more sustainable organic farming practices.

Bio Farming

Farmers face a multitude of plant pests and diseases. Pressures from insects, viruses, weeds and weather can impose considerable damage on crops, lowering yields and raising costs.


Traditionally, farmers have relied on combinations of herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers and irrigated water to protect their crops and boost production. Each of these inputs adds to the cost of the product, but they are necessary investments. In addition to the economic costs, these inputs also may exact environmental costs.

Biotechnology Increases Options for Farmers

Plants developed to defend themselves against insect pests or diseases or to tolerate certain herbicides represent the first generation of biotechnology crops. Crops developed using biotechnology give farmers greater flexibility and safer, more innovative choices in pest management. The economic and environmental benefits of biotech crops have been documented in comprehensive reports from the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy (NCFAP), the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency, among others.

Insect-Protected Crops - Biotechnology is used to strengthen a crop's own ability to defend itself against destructive insects, reducing, and sometimes eliminating, the need for chemical pesticides. The plants are given the genetic ability to produce a protein-toxic to certain insects but harmless to humans and animals-that is found in a common soil bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt. The current generation of Bt cotton, corn and potatoes protects against the European corn borer, the cotton and pink bollworms, and the Colorado potato beetle, respectively. Other insect-protected plants in development include soybean, peanut, broccoli and eggplant. A nematode-resistant pineapple also is in development.

Organic Food protects environment and animal rights

Organically grown food is also better for the environment because it promotes sustainability. Methods of growing organic food are done in a way to greatly reduce or eliminate environmental pollution. The use of synthetic chemicals is prohibited so that there is no compromising the quality of the soil, water and air. Furthermore, a main focus of organic farmers is the cultivation of healthy soil and the symbiotic relationship between the land, water, air, crops and animals.

Support Local Economy

Many people tout that organic food just tastes better; however, this might be a testament to where the food originates versus how it is grown. Most conventionally grown food has to travel long distances before it reaches your local supermarket, and to preserve its appearance and taste it's often injected with artificial dyes and preservatives. But food grown organically by local farmers and sold directly through markets and roadside stands tastes better because it is fresh. More importantly, however, is that locally grown organic food supports area farms and vendors.

Animal Rights

Animals such as cattle, and poultry that are raised for organic food products are done so humanely. Unlike animals on factory farms that must endure cramped, often filthy living conditions, it is mandated that animals on organic farms be given certain rights. These rights include access to natural light and open pastures, as well as a diet of grass and organic grain. In addition, these farms are often graded on how handlers treat their animals and the conditions under which they are slaughtered. In short, organic farmers ensure that their animals receive the best possible treatment and living conditions during their lifetime.

Spreading the Organic word

People are exploring the world of organic food and discovering the many benefits of eating organic health foods. Many people try every diet possible to lose weight and many different food combinations in feeble attempts at eating better without changing much in terms of the actual food. The newest trend in food is eating organic food and for good reason. Eating organic means, in English, that you are being better to yourself and the earth because you’re putting cleaner food in your mouth. Let’s discuss organic health food as a better food choice.

You may be asking yourself why “organic” matters in terms of it being a healthier choice. It means produce has been raised without pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals commonly employed on commercial farms to ward off pests, inject nutrients into the soil and encourage growth. Dairy products are raised without the hormones, such as bovine growth hormone, or BGH, that some commercial farms employ to get more milk out of their dairy cows, which translates into buttermilk, cream and cheese among other products. Cows, goats, chickens and other farm animals are raised in clean environments, fed organic, mineral rich feed and permitted to roam freely. They are not given hormones of any kind or contained in pens, stalls or cages, as some animals are on commercial farms.

When you’re eating organic food, what is not in them is as important, if not more so, than what is in them that benefits you. Artificial colors and flavors, artificial sweeteners, additives and preservatives are all prohibited in organic farming. This is important, especially for children as studies suggest artificial colors and preservatives, among other ingredients, may contribute to hyperactivity in children.

Another important reason why organic health food is better for you is what it lacks. Organic farmers rotate their crops to allow the land to recover and fertilize the land with compost which means everything is natural and chemical free. Birds and other natural pest control methods are used on organic farms in lieu of pesticides and herbicides. When these chemicals don’t touch the food you eat, they don’t touch you making organic health food a healthier choice for you.

Organic Food Facts

Organic food is much more rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre and retains the levels of nutrients for much longer

Your body will be more resistant to disease as it will have higher levels of the essential nutrients it needs to fight off infection

The average non organic fruit contains more than 20 pesticides

You will have more energy through consuming lower levels of toxins and chemicals that slow your body down

If you are eating dairy or farm produce then you are also eating the chemicals, drugs and growth hormones given to the animals

Organic food producers must meet stringent standards

Organic farms respect our water resources and do not leach nitrogen’s and other pollutants from their soil

Organic food just tastes so much better!

Worms and other micro-organisms thrive in the naturally fertilized soil that can be sterile on intensive, and chemically enhanced farms.

Organic Farms grow various crops and therefore encourage a balanced Ecosystem

Besides the obvious benefit of taste, there are also environmental aspects such as fewer chemicals in the soil leading to less erosion of the countryside and pollution of our rivers with nitrates.

 

Global Food Security

In conditions of climate uncertainty and unreliability, and increasing real prices of fossil fuel, major technological advances at least equivalent to the Green revolution of the 1970s are needed.


I think world leaders also need to make a commitment to economic growth in developing countries. For the increasing global population to be able to make a decent living requires growth - in direct contradiction to the ‘green’ notion that self-sufficient organic peasantry is the only sustainable solution.

Efficient and effective feeding of the world’s increasing population is very unlikely to involve more people being engaged in growing food than at present, and is very likely to require very substantially fewer people than now.

Multilateral managed food stocks should be built up for emergencies. These could be real or virtual (in the form of promises).

So the future presents both risks and opportunities for businesses. If we do not find a  solution to food security soon businesses everywhere could face disruption and major uncertainty. But if governments reach accord and agree to fund progress, the growth opportunities resulting from a revolution in agriculture, particularly in terms of new technologies, could be huge.

Whole Grains are Good

That simple statement bombards us daily - on bread and cereal packages, in newspaper and magazine articles, on television ads, in doctors' and nutritionists' advice for healthy eating.

But why are they good, you might wonder. And beyond brown rice or whole-wheat bread, what are they?

Whole or minimally processed grains are good because they contain a wealth of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. They've been shown to help lower the incidence of cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and that fiber - your grandma might have called it "roughage" - can help reduce cholesterol if consumed on a regular basis.

Whole grains range from the familiar wheat - also kamut, spelt, emmer and the wheat-rye hybrid, triticale - to barley, corn and popcorn, millet, oats, rice, rye, sorghum and wild rice (not true rice at all, but the seeds of an aquatic grass). Amaranth, buckwheat and quinoa are used in similar ways but aren't true grains because they aren't members of the grass family.

Incorporating more whole grains and foods made with whole grains into the diet is an easy and often inexpensive way to go "green" and eat organic food, says Cassie Knowlton, registered dietitian for the local Women Infants Children nutrition program.

"It's a matter of changing how we think and stepping out there and trying something new that's good for your health. I think people are changing their attitudes."

Health benefits of Organic Food

There are numerous benefits to both eating organic foods, and to organic gardening. A huge benefit comes from a renewed relationship with nature. Doing your own organic gardening makes this a personal commitment. Gardening is just plain good for the soul. There is nothing quite like getting your hands in the soil for really good "grounding".


In addition to the mental and emotional benefits of growing and eating organic food, there are also the physical benefits. These physical benefits can be boiled down to nutrients present in organic foods that are not in commercial foods and toxins not in organic foods that are present in commercial foods. A recent article in the Journal of Applied Nutrition gave credence to the notion that organic foods have higher nutrient levels that non-organic food. In this study the mineral content of organic apples, pear, potatoes, wheat, and sweet corn were compared to commercial varieties. Overall the organic foods showed much higher levels of nutrient minerals and much lower levels of heavy metals.

Some Benefits of Organic Food

for Personal Health

1. Reduced exposure to toxins used in conventional agricultural practices

2. Substantially higher levels of nutrients available for consumption

3. Better health, stronger immune systems, less obesity

4. Better blood function – oxygen-carrying ability improved

5. Better sleep

6. In children, less harm to developing brain and nervous systems

Why do Organic Foods last longer

As we are aware, Organic food and conventional foods are not grown the same way. Organic farming is regulated and is more in line with the traditional methods. Here no synthetic chemical pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers are used. Sewage sludge is not permitted, nor are irradiation and genetically modified foods used.


Instead, the organic farmer works in unison with the land and the soil. He recognizes that the soil is alive. The farmer knows that healthy soil is full of nutrients and that plants grown in this soil are healthy and full of nutrients.

Organic produce does not miraculously defy the life cycle and defeat decay.

To accurately determine which growing method would produce plants that lasted longer, you would need to pick straight from each field - the organic and the non-organic.

When purchasing bananas, don't choose the green ones. Chances are that they were picked so yearly in their life cycle that they may never get 'ripe'. Instead select bananas well on the way to being ripe or with very little green left on the peeling.

Buy the healthiest looking vegetables for these would be the most alive and with the most nutrients. And ideally, select organic whenever you can

Take precaution when reading labels before Organic Food purchase

Generally when you see the term ‘organic’ on food labels you can be sure that the product had to meet certain standards laid down by the law. These standards may include prohibitions on the use of harmful synthetic substances, genetic engineering, growth hormones, irradiation, antibiotics and artificial ingredients and the application of environmentally friendly farming methods. In the case of farming for meat, poultry, eggs and dairy, the standards will cover the health and welfare of livestock. In other words, they have to be adequately fed, and they must be housed in adequate, sanitary conditions allowing for exercise, freedom of movement, and minimum stress. The standards will even cover the handling of the product – processing, preservation, packaging and even transportation methods must be environmentally friendly and supportive of health standards.


Note, however, that such descriptions on products as ‘natural’, ‘traditional’ or ‘environmentally friendly’ do not necessarily mean the product was grown or processed organically. Also, the description ‘organic’ doesn’t mean the entire product was produced organically. Always read the labels carefully.

Source- Natureschoice

Organic Care and Cooking

Organic Care


Organic care is a way of life.
Organic care also relates to being aware of what you put onto your body. From the use of pesticides in the farming of cotton to the inclusion of synthetic additives in moisturizers and shampoos, many of the items we rely on from day to day contain elements that are not natural.

Organic care continues within your home by having safe, natural organic products. Many of the cleaning products on sale are packed with hazardous chemicals and allergens. What many people don’t realize is that for every chemical laden cleaner in their kitchen closet, there is an equally effective natural alternative. Organic care involves taking a step back from these substances and replacing them instead with natural products like lemon juice, vinegar and salt.

It is all about utilizing natural ingredients that have not been treated with chemical pesticides; it's about buying produce that has not come about as a result of  animals being inhumanely treated or fed on GM products.

However, it is about much, much more. You'll find that it will encourage you to think more deeply about the wider issues connected to food production. So although this decision will undoubtedly offer you an enhanced sense of health and well being, it will also allow you to play your part in making the world around you a better place.

How do I get started?

If what you've read so far has convinced you to think about making the switch to natural cooking, you're probably wondering where to begin. The best idea is probably to start with making little changes. For example:

* Commit yourself to buying 2 or 3 organic products every time you go shopping.

* Start off with everyday groceries like milk, bread and potatoes.

* Start cooking organic food more often than cooking non organic food.

* Find out about local farmers markets where organic produce is sold.

* Conduct some research online to find out which companies support cooking organic

When you first decide to begin cooking organic, it's good to get into the habit of checking the labels on the products you buy. Not everything that says "natural" on the packaging is organic. However, rest assured that the benefits of cooking organic, both to you and to others, far outweigh any little adjustments you may have to make.