Why Organic food will save your life
There is a lot of skepticism today when it comes to Organic foods. Lets face it, the quality of our foods is not the same today as it was when I was a kid. We have pumped food full of hormones, preservatives and additives to make it bigger, last longer and taste better. Over the past 4 decades we have drastically changed the genetic makeup of foods and we do not tend to consider the impact on our health. So let's look at some simple facts about Organic certification standards in hopes to clear some confusion.
Farms must be certified by an independent third party. In order to obtain this certification farmers must meet the following criteria:
- Animals grown without growth hormones or antibiotics, feed must be organic
- Can not use sewage sludge on fields (used to reintroduce nutrients into soil)
- Can not use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers
- Can not use ionizing radiation or any genetic modification
- Land must be free of prohibited substances for 3 years prior to use
When I first learned of these standards I was shocked, as I am sure many of you are now, that we even allow some of this into our farming system. We are told that some of these are harmless like pesticides and sewage sludge. I think back to when we said the same about DDT and DDE back in the farming days of past. Research proved the pesticides were harmful created a host of internal issues in humans and animals alike, ranging from nervous to reproductive disorders. Or better yet cigarettes, they were allowed to market as a healthy way to lose weight, look at them now...
The quality and source of our food is one of the easiest things to change about your health, and this means shifting towards Organics. Whether you are trying to lose weight, control a GI disorder, have more energy or just provide yourself and family with better nutrients and less toxins. Start of by understanding the Organic label:
- Products labeled "100% Organic" must contain 100% organic ingredients
- Products labeled "Organic" must contain at least 95% organic ingredients
- Products labeled "Made with Organic Ingredients" must contain at least 70% organic
- Products containing less than 70% organic ingredients can not use an Organic label
Food provides our bodies not only energy to function but also essential vitamins and minerals that it needs to run certain cellular processes. When our body, and its trillions of cells, are inundated by toxins from our nutrition, environment, clothes, and lifestyle they have a hard time doing their original job. This leads to disease, inflammation, and everything we don't want in house!
Now Organic food is more expensive in most cases, but there are so many options out now that have driven the price down. I talk about your health as an investment with my clients, and that's how you need to look at it. You are going to invest in quality foods now or you will be forced to invest down the road in pharmaceuticals, doctor/ hospital visits, diets, and weight loss surgery.
There is no choice, choose your health and choose Organic.
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