Organic Food isn't Posh

“The paradox is there’s this view that organic is elitist, it’s expensive, it’s a lifestyle choice for people who can afford it.

Purchasing Organic Food  in supermarkets and via the internet is on the increase - The idea is to bring seasonal  produce to your door, cutting out the wholesaler and the time produce spends languishing in lorries and on supermarket shelves. Suddenly we are discovering the joy of scrubbing mud and creepy crawlies off our vegetables, and finding ourselves being inventive with kale and root vegetables. As Jane Grigson said, the best potatoes are always the dirtiest. 

It’s the only way to be sure of what you are eating, as no other term is strictly defined. For example, “free range” hens may be more tightly packed than battery ones. Organic producers have had to adhere to many regulations  from a diverse number of organisations across the world.

People who never used to give a thought to the Common Agriculture Policy, maximum residue levels, organophospahtes or nitrate vulnerable zones are now worried enough to ring the Pesticides Action Network — calls are doubling every year… And there has been a massive increase in visits, especially from people wanting to to find out where to buy organic locally.

It’s become much easier than it used to be, as supermarkets continue to respond to our demand for organic food.

One has to be committed. But if it’s supporting the ecosystem, it’s more likely to be healthy food. Industrial farmers continue to impoverish the landscape, pollute soils and watercourses and market contaminated food, all without penalty.

One can’t go organic overnight. After years of using agrochemicals, it takes at least two years for land to become “clean” enough to farm without them.







Source : Organicfoodee.com

 

Raw and Organic Food

What is Raw Food?


A raw foodist is someone that eats 75-100% live, organic-uncooked and unprocessed food and drinks pure, live water. A raw food diet consists of unprocessed foods that have not been heated above 115 degrees F. Raw foodists believe that foods cooked above this temperature have lost their enzymes and a therefore a significant amount of their nutritional value are harmful to the body whereas uncooked foods provide proper nutrition and living enzymes says organic goji berries nutritionist.

Other benefits to a raw food diet include weight loss, more energy, clear skin, improved digestion and improved overall health. Many people say that they eat a ‘high raw” or a certain percentage of raw foods or organic food in their diet such as “75% raw diet because maintaining a 100% raw diet can be challenging at times. A few people include raw, unprocessed dairy products in their diet but most follow a raw vegan diet.

What is Organic Food?

In agriculture, this means that crops were grown without the use of pesticides, artificial fertilizers or sewage sludge, and that they were processed without food additives (like chemical preservatives). When it comes to animals, they must be reared without the routine use of antibiotics and growth hormones and fed a diet of organic foods. In most countries, organic produce must not be genetically modified.

A growing number of consumers, and especially those dealing with chronic illness, are switching to raw and organic food. A key motivation for consumers doing this is a simple belief that it’s better for them.

Official food agencies around the world are unanimous in claiming there is no evidence of a nutritional difference. Yet a more careful and thorough review of the science comparing organic and non-organic food reveals that, collectively, the available evidence does indeed support the consumer belief and claims by the organic food online industry that their food is safer, more nutritious, and better for you than non-organic food.



Article Source

http://articlesooper.com/

Organic VS Conventional

So which is better? Just because a product says it's organic or contains organic ingredients doesn't necessarily mean it's a healthier alternative than cg foods. Some organic products may actually be higher in sugar, salt, fat or calories. Before you buy, check food labels to know exactly what you are getting.


Everyone wants to eat nutritious foods and most people can tell you exactly what they are.

Organic foods are grown without the use of irradiation, bioengineering or pesticides. Meat products are raised without antibiotics or hormones. Made with organic ingredients means that only 70% of the product is made with organic ingredients. Contains organic ingredients means that the product contains less than 70% organic ingredients. Farmers who grow organic produce and meat must follow strict soil and water conservation methods and guidelines for the humane treatment of animals.

Organic foods may be smaller, have odd shapes or varying colors, but in most cases, they look identical to their cg counterparts. Because they aren't treated with waxes, organic fruits and vegetables are not shiny and without preservatives they spoil faster.

Organic food can cost 50-100% more than cg food products. This is due to higher labor costs, tighter government regulations and lower crop yields. You should consider the best value for your money before buying either cg or organic foods.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wayne_Mcgregor

More on Organic Foods and Standards

Organic Foods and Standards


Accepted as beneficial over conventional foods due to their perceived health benefits, organic food industry is growing rapidly in recent times. Claimed by health experts, as more nutritious, organic foods also protect from the major killers, like heart disease and cancer as they contain Phenolic compounds. Food organically produced, processed and packaged without using chemicals has caught the attention of farmers, manufacturers and consumers alike. Tea, coffee, wine, meat, beef, milk, honey, vegetables, fruits, rice, corn, herbs, essential

Organic foods are made in a way that complies with organic standards set by national governments and international organizations. In the United States, organic production is a system that is managed in accordance with the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) of 1990 and regulations in Title 7, Part 205 of the Code of Federal Regulations to respond to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.

For the vast majority of human history, agriculture can be described as organic; only during the 20th century was a large supply of new synthetic chemicals introduced to the food supply. This more recent style of production is referred to as "conventional." Under organic production, the use of conventional non-organic pesticide (including insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides) is precluded.

However, contrary to popular belief, certain sprays and other materials that meet organic standards are allowed in the production of organic food.





Ref:

[http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop]

http://www.righthealth.com/

[http://www.omri.org/omri ...