ORGANIC FOOD

The contemporary society is characterized by a busy and fast-paced lifestyle. People are busy with a lot of things, especially with their careers and relationships, putting health and wellness behind.However organically grown foods are becoming more popular as people worry more about the health and the safety of the food they eat. As defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic plant foods are produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. By eating organically grown foods, you: 1.Reduce your exposure to health-robbing toxins: The toxins used in conventional agricultural practices, include not only pesticides, but also heavy metals, such as lead and mercury, and solvents, such as benzene and toluene. A number of pesticides have already been recognized as carcinogens, while others have been shown to affect mitochondrial energy production negatively, and still others have been shown to damage cellular membranes, triggering inflammation that has been linked to atherosclerosis. Heavy metals lower IQ and damage nerve function, contributing to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and multiple sclerosis. Solvents damage white cells, the immune system defenders that enable the body to resist infections. Not only are these toxic substances harmful singularly, but when combined, as they are in commercially grown and processed food, their effects in the human body, where they accumulate, have been found to be magnified as much as a thousand fold. 2.Increase consumption of health-promoting micronutrients: Organically grown produce contains significantly higher amounts of many vitamins and minerals. In a 1988 review of thirty-four studies that compared organic with conventionally grown foods, organic food was found to have higher protein quality in all comparisons, higher levels of vitamin C in 58 percent of all studies, and five to 20 percent higher mineral levels for all but two minerals. In some cases, the mineral levels were dramatically higher in organically grown foods and were as much as three times higher in one study involving iron content. Organically grown foods also contain higher amounts of plant-protective compounds, such as flavonoids and carotenoids, which are highly desirable for human consumption. 3.Safeguard the health of the environment: Residues from toxic chemicals used in conventional farming methods remain in the soil and leach into groundwater. The use of chemical-dependent farming methods has not only adversely impacted soil and water, but also reduced the biodiversity, nutrient quality, and taste of our foods since synthetic nitrate fertilizers cause nitrate to bind to water, which makes the produce look good but lessens its flavor. Top Foods To Eat Organic 1) Brown Rice - Rice are usually the host for many pests like rice blast, crayfish and even rice water weevil. Up to 40 pesticides are used to kill these pests. If you are eating non-organic brown rice, the brown rice would contain more pesticides than white rice as for white rice, the husk , bran layer and germ are removed whereas only the husk are removed for brown rice.

2) Leafy Greens There are more than 51 potent pesticides in the non-organic leafy greens. Greens such as celery, spinach and kale are some of the contaiminated veggies. Get the organic veggies to consuming the deadly pesticides. 3) Strawberries Strawberries are one of the most contaiminated fruits that are usually detected with 59 residue pesticides like methyl bromide to eradicate fungus, weeds, and pests.

Standards for organic foods : The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) put in place a set of national standards in 2002 for food labeled "organic," whether it is grown in the U.S. or imported from other countries. Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. The USDA has developed a seal to certify that a food is organic. However, the use of the seal is voluntary, so some organic foods may not be labeled with the USDA seal. People who sell or label a product as "organic" when they know it does not meet USDA standards, however, can be fined up to $10,000 for each violation.