So has Organic become the IT thing? What does Organic mean? Does living an Organic lifestyle really make a difference? Organic diets, organic fabrics, organic meats, and organic cotton....what does it really all mean? Is it just a trend? I don’t think so and I will tell you why you should start living an Organic lifestyle.
So, why organic and will it make a difference?
Organic means no preservatives, no added chemicals, fertilizers, coloring or additives and is not genetically modified. With regards to meat, the animals are breed without any antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic Cotton- Besides helping the environment by not using toxic pesticides or fertilizers, working environments are better for those on farms and small-scale farmers save money by not having to buy large amount of pesticides. Not to mention that organic cotton products are softer and easier on your skin.
What are the benefits to an organic diet?
1. Organic food contains lower levels of pesticides - Up to 70% of pesticides which appear in conventional food are banned in the production of organic food.
2. Organic food does not have any synthetic additives- They do not have artificial food colors and flavors, preservatives, nitrates and sulphites, artificial sweeteners or monosodium glutamate (MSG). Food is preserved and sweetened naturally using substances such a honey and grape juice.
3. Organic food has significantly higher levels of nutrients - Depending on the choice of produce, organic food is shown to have higher amounts of salicylic acid and more Vitamin C, iron, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous.
4. Organic farming excludes the use of chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, growth hormones and antibiotics in animal feed. In a lot of cases, antibiotics or growth hormones are injected into cattle to make them larger, fatter and hence deliver more meat. In organically reared cattle, they are allowed to grow and develop at their own pace, and without any synthetics injected into their system.
5. Organic food is free of Genetically Engineered (GE) ingredients - Organic farmers do not use GE seeds or irradiation methods. Instead crop rotation and use of natural compost produces a richer soil in which to grown and harvest their produce.
6. Organic is also connected to concepts of sustainability and environmentally conscious practices. Organic meat such as chickens, turkeys or cows for example, should always be "free range." Free range refers to animals which are raised in humane and natural conditions. There is a high occurrence of disease that arises in confined quarters like chicken coops, which in turn lead to use of antibiotics. Free range allows for the use of only organic feed to nurture the animals.
So is organic better? In my opinion, yes. Decreasing one's toxin burden and increasing one's intake of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can have a significant impact on health, especially when trying to improve or restore health. Not to mention the impact is has on the environment, reducing our need and use of pesticides will help our water, air, and so
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Here is a very informative email I received. We will discuss this in detail in a future blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Tania
Organic is great if you have the full spectrum of minerals in your organic food.The soil has to have the minerals in it in order for the plant to absorb it. How do you know if your organic tomato has minerals? if it has it usually taste better. One way to test it would be to send your tomato to a lab for analysis. The tomato might look great but what's in it? Take the Ancient Egyptians, If it weren't for the Nile River, Egyptian civilization could not have developed, as it is the only significant source of water in this desert region. The Nile would flood each year, bringing in silt-laden waters. When the waters receded the silt would stay behind, fertilizing the land with its abundance of minerals. If there was a small flood or no flood at all it would mean famine. The Egyptians called this season, akhet - the inundation. The flood was seen as the yearly coming of the god Hapi, bringing fertility to the land. In 1970, with the completion of the High Dam at Aswan, the annual flooding cycle in Egypt came to an end. Today, farmers must use fertilizers to keep their land productive, as the deposits of silt no longer occur each year.
Happy thoughts
Michel