"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.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
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
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
Sunday, January 24, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
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.
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.
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