Healthy Eating

Organic refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed, such as safe soil, no modifications, free of synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes, petroleum-based or sewage sludge-based fertilizers . Livestock is free to roam the outdoors, given organic feed, given to antibiotics, growth hormones, or animal –by-products. Organic foods provide more beneficial nutrients, such as antioxidants. Those with allergies benefit from eating solely organic, as without pesticides and chemical preservatives their symptoms lesson or go away all together.

Why Organic?

There is plenty of concrete evidence linking chemicals used on our food that link to human health problems. These chemicals, such as carcinogens hormone disruptors, and neurotoxins, even in small doses threaten or bodies. Does washing and peeling eliminate pesticides? Rinsing can reduce the amount and peeling can help, however the most valuable nutrients are often in the skin; so buying organic should be eaten whenever possible.

President's Cancer Panel cited emerging research and recommended Americans take the precautionary approach and start eating food grown without chemical pesticides, fertilizers, hormones, and antibiotics. An important point, however is that 'natural' does not mean organic and is term used by anyone to sell their product. This "natural" term only means that food can't have anything artificial in it, but animals can still be given antibiotic or growth enhancers. Free-range just means that livestock is allowed outside and not confined in cages, but with no clarification as to how long. Foods must be "USDA Organic" to be certified organic.