WHAT IS ORGANIC?
“Organic food production
methods promote biodiversity, the biological cycling of nutrients, and plant
and animal health. Certified organic farmers may not use toxic synthetic
pesticides, artificial fertilizers, and unnecessary hormones or antibiotics.
Instead, they use practices that restore, maintain, and enhance soil and
ecosystem health. GMOs, artificial ingredients, or trans fats may not be used.”
Eating organic supports
human health through the avoidance of pesticides and maximizing nutrients! Did
you know that eating an organic diet for just ONE week can reduce pesticide
exposure by 96%?
Reasons
Why You Should Eat Organic!
It protects the
environment!
Science is showing that eating
organic is critical for maintaining the ecosystem services needed for long-term
agricultural production.
No pesticides!
Pesticides have been linked
to Alzheimer's disease, asthma, autism, diabetes, depression, non-Hodgkin
lymphoma, poor lung function and more. Not only do pesticides affect the health
of humans, pesticides also have negative effects on the environment and on the
critical pollinators. Synthetic pesticides account for one out of the three
known endocrine disruptors. Studies have suggested that these chemicals may set
the stage for ADHD, autism, obesity, and cancer before a child is even born.
Reduce your exposure to
high fructose corn syrup!
If you are eating something
that contains high fructose corn syrup there is a 90% chance that you are
consuming GMOs.
No agricultural antibiotics
and growth hormone exposure!
Studies continue showing
that the use of antibiotics in agriculture contributes to resistance so much so
that the World Health Organization has declared this a global epidemic.
Better taste with more
intense flavor!
Studies propose that
organic fruits and vegetables frequently have higher levels of flavor-enhancing
nutrients, combined with lower concentrations of water and sugars. This
typically results in a more intense and complex flavor.
Higher level of
antioxidants!
When compared to
conventional crops, organic crops have up to 69% higher levels of antioxidants.
Antioxidants protect your cells against the effects of free radicals, which are
molecules produced when your body breaks down food or is exposed to tobacco
smoke and radiation. This is important because free radicals may play a role in
heart disease, cancer and other diseases.
Reduce your intake of
unnecessary hormones and antibiotics!
Studies show that most
conventional livestock farmers use a mixture of growth hormones, drugs, feed
supplements, and high-grain diets to drive their animals to grow quicker, get larger,
and produce more milk and eggs each day. In reality, animals on conventional
farms are frequently pushed so hard that they experience serious health
problems and reproductive problems, leading to heavy antibiotic use. The
National Organic Program (NOP) rule forbids the use of essentially all
synthetic animal drugs, producing healthier meat, eggs, milk and other dairy
products.
Benefit from your bread!
Studies show that only 27%
of the ingredients found in conventional breads have any nutritional benefit.
When you eat organic bread it contains almost twice as much nutrient-rich,
whole food ingredients as “natural” breads and three times as much as
conventional breads.
Help save the bees!
Many crops depend on the
bee population for survival but with all these pesticides and chemicals being
used, our bee population is declining,
Improve water quality!
Ever think of how much the
use of pesticides runs off into our water systems? The use of pesticides is
decreasing the quality of our water because of this! The Dead Zone in the Gulf
of Mexico is the most graphic example of the massive damage caused when farm
chemicals flowing off of millions of acres collect in the mighty Mississippi.
Climate change!
The carbon sequestration in
soil would decrease energy use and less greenhouse gas would be released as a
result of going organic.
Get more out of your
grains!
Grains make up the majority
of calories consumed worldwide making them one of the most important sources of
nutrients. However, most of the grains we see are refined grains. During the
refining process nearly 75% of the nutrients found in grains are lost. Studies
have shown that eating organic whole grains can help boost your intake of
health-promoting antioxidants, such as carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and
tocopherols.
Humans aren’t the only ones
to benefit from organic!
Organic extends to positive
impacts for: birds, insects, amphibians, mammals and plants – all of which are
critical to the environment.
Improve soil health!
Organic crops are grown in
healthy, biologically active soils which often take longer to grow than crops
on conventional farms. The plants nurtured by soil on organic farms produce
crops that often contain higher levels of important antioxidants, minerals, and
vitamins. Hundreds of studies conducted over the last 50 years have determined
that organic management practices, including crop rotation, considerably increase
soil quality, restore nitrogen and organic components, and seize carbon to help
fight global warming.
Avoid unknown Genetically
Engineered food risks!
Most our genetically
engineered (GE) foods were approved over 15 years ago during a time when the government
was belligerently promoting biotechnology. At the time they had thought that GE
foods were “substantially equivalent” to conventional foods. However, we have
since discovered that even minor changes in the genetic makeup of food can lead
to unforeseen human health risks. Organic farmers are not allowed to plant GE
seeds nor can they use GE crop inputs.
No insecticides!
Recent studies confirm that
exposures to common insecticides during pregnancy can reduce a child’s IQ 4% to
7% by the age of 9.
No artificial colors!
The three most widely used
dyes, Red 40, Red 3, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, are contaminated with known
carcinogens, aka cancer causing agents, yet, they are still in the food supply!
Artificial food dyes are made from petroleum (yes, the crude oil product) and
approved for use by the FDA to enhance the color of processed foods. They add
absolutely no value to the food we eat and have even been shown to cause an
increase in hyperactivity in children as well as a negative impact on their
ability to learn.
No artificial flavors!
Artificial flavors are what
are making you hate healthy food. Artificial flavors are entirely human made,
not derived from the true source. We have been living in a world where
artificial flavor is the norm, resulting in the vast majority of us sadly not
knowing what the real flavor actually tastes like. Artificial flavors are
directly linked with ADD, asthma and worsening asthma, causing headaches, and
affecting your thyroid. Many companies will add them to make the product taste
better so you get that “pop” or that “dazzle” when you consume it.
No artificial sweeteners!
There are hundreds of
studies that show that artificial sweeteners actually stimulate the appetite
because it raises the insulin levels but yet, there are no calories to go with
it. Therefore, you have all this extra insulin running around your body which
stimulate your appetite and increase your carbohydrate cravings. Artificial
Sweeteners have also been proven to increase fat storage, so if you’re thinking
your cheating the system with the Splenda and NutraSweet, you’re actually
making it harder on yourself.
No preservatives!
A preservative is a
substance that is added to foods to prevent decomposition by microbial growth
or by undesirable chemical changes. Studies show that artificial preservatives
used in many processed foods can increase the risk of inflammatory bowel
diseases and metabolic disorders.
No synthetic fertilizers!
Synthetic fertilizers are
commonly known for being fast-acting and for coming in a variety of forms. They
can be taken up by the plant almost immediately and are water-soluble, meaning
they can leach out into our waterways. Organic fertilizers provide benefits to
plants and soil by stimulating beneficial soil microorganisms and improve the
structure of the soil. It takes a little longer to get results, but the reward
is a green that lasts.
No irradiation!
Irradiation damages food by
breaking up molecules and creating free radicals. It creates an environmental hazard
and science has not proved that a long-term diet of irradiated foods is safe
for human health. The USDA, who controls the use of the “organic” label on
foods, works with FDA to promote food irradiation where it is appropriate. Foods
which have been irradiated, no matter how they are grown or produced, cannot be
labeled as USDA certified organic.
No genetically modified
organisms!
The sad truth is that 60-70%
of the processed foods in US stores contain GMOs. The safety for human
consumption of GMOs has not been assured and studies confirm that GMO crops
have potential for introducing toxins and allergens not only into our food but
also our environment.
Organic meat is grass fed
in free range!
A substantial share of the
livestock raised on conventional farms live in congested, stressful conditions
that eat away at animal health, increasing drug dependency, and taking away any
chance of carrying out normal behaviors. Conversely, the National Organic
Program (NOP) rule states that organically raised animals must have access to
the outdoors, including pasture, and sufficient space to behave naturally.
Get more from your milk!
Organic milk can contain up
to twice the amount of omega 3 fatty acids when compared to conventional milk.
Preserve for future
generations!
Today 50% of all food consumed
worldwide derives from four plant species and three animal species. A handful
of multi-national corporations own and control over half of the world’s seed
market. Small organic farms often preserve valuable and rare seed varieties for
future generations to enjoy.
It contains more minerals!
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