Why Go Organic? Healthy Body, Healthy Planet

Fitness_Chick

Why Go Organic?
Healthy Body, Healthy Planet
-- By Leanne Beattie


A healthy diet requires more than simply cutting out junk food—it involves getting the most nutritional value out of every bite you take. It takes good food to build a fit body. But did you know that your food choices also have an impact on the environment? If you’d like both a healthy body and a healthy planet, consider going organic.

Definition of Organic
An organic product is raised, grown, and processed without the use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, antibiotics or hormones. Only farmers who produce food according to USDA organic standards and become certified by an independent third-party accredited agent can label their product as "certified organic" (with the exception of very small farms with sales under $5000 annually). The term "conventional" describes non-organic farming practices.

The Benefits of Organic Food
According to a 2001 study, today’s conventionally grown fruits and vegetables have about half the vitamin content of their 1963 counterparts. Organically grown food, however, is more nutritious than food produced using synthetic chemicals, as shown by a study published in the Journal of Applied Nutrition in 1993. On average, organically grown food is 63 percent higher in calcium, 73 percent higher in iron and 118 percent higher in magnesium, while being 29 percent lower in mercury.

Besides potentially providing more nutrition per bite, organic food may also help you fight off disease. You may have heard of flavonoids, which plants produce in response to environmental stresses, such as competing plants or insects. Flavonoids have high levels of antioxidants, which serve as the plant’s natural defense and help us fight disease as well. Research suggests that pesticides and herbicides interfere with the production of these protective compounds.

According to the 2005 State of Science Review (SSR) by the Organic Center, antioxidant levels are about 30 percent higher in organic food than chemically-grown foods produced under the same conditions. Most antioxidants are found in the peels of fruits and vegetables, but many people cut away the peel of conventionally grown produce to reduce their exposure to pesticides. Since it is safer to eat the skin of an organic fruit or vegetable, you get the maximum amount of antioxidants from your produce when you buy organic.

Scientists now have a better understanding of how disease and environmental toxins are linked and have proven that exposure to chemical fertilizers and pesticides does impact our health. Some pesticides have been shown to disrupt the human endocrine system (which regulates our hormones), while others have been linked to breast cancer, uterine cancer and asthma.

Fitness_Chick

Why Go Organic?
Healthy Body, Healthy Planet
-- By Leanne Beattie


A healthy diet requires more than simply cutting out junk food—it involves getting the most nutritional value out of every bite you take. It takes good food to build a fit body. But did you know that your food choices also have an impact on the environment? If you’d like both a healthy body and a healthy planet, consider going organic.

Definition of Organic
An organic product is raised, grown, and processed without the use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, antibiotics or hormones. Only farmers who produce food according to USDA organic standards and become certified by an independent third-party accredited agent can label their product as "certified organic" (with the exception of very small farms with sales under $5000 annually). The term "conventional" describes non-organic farming practices.

The Benefits of Organic Food
According to a 2001 study, today’s conventionally grown fruits and vegetables have about half the vitamin content of their 1963 counterparts. Organically grown food, however, is more nutritious than food produced using synthetic chemicals, as shown by a study published in the Journal of Applied Nutrition in 1993. On average, organically grown food is 63 percent higher in calcium, 73 percent higher in iron and 118 percent higher in magnesium, while being 29 percent lower in mercury.

Besides potentially providing more nutrition per bite, organic food may also help you fight off disease. You may have heard of flavonoids, which plants produce in response to environmental stresses, such as competing plants or insects. Flavonoids have high levels of antioxidants, which serve as the plant’s natural defense and help us fight disease as well. Research suggests that pesticides and herbicides interfere with the production of these protective compounds.

According to the 2005 State of Science Review (SSR) by the Organic Center, antioxidant levels are about 30 percent higher in organic food than chemically-grown foods produced under the same conditions. Most antioxidants are found in the peels of fruits and vegetables, but many people cut away the peel of conventionally grown produce to reduce their exposure to pesticides. Since it is safer to eat the skin of an organic fruit or vegetable, you get the maximum amount of antioxidants from your produce when you buy organic.

Scientists now have a better understanding of how disease and environmental toxins are linked and have proven that exposure to chemical fertilizers and pesticides does impact our health. Some pesticides have been shown to disrupt the human endocrine system (which regulates our hormones), while others have been linked to breast cancer, uterine cancer and asthma.

FitnessGeek

Thanks for the post! I've been eating organic foods whenever I can find them. I just wish it was so hard on the budget. :grumble:

Definition of Organic
An organic product is raised, grown, and processed without the use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, antibiotics or hormones. Only farmers who produce food according to USDA organic standards and become certified by an independent third-party accredited agent can label their product as "certified organic" (with the exception of very small farms with sales under $5000 annually). The term "conventional" describes non-organic farming practices.

This reminds me of a conversation I over-heard amongst my co-workers. I would like to inform you that I work in food service and my restaurant sells 80% organic produce....

Coworker 1: Yeah organic food is a ripoff. They charge you double the price for who knows what...
Coworker 2: It's just like diet soda, who knows what they add to it to make it diet. Who knows what they add to organic food to make it organic....

*sigh*

msujdak

I am a big fan of organic and try to eat it whenever I can because I know it's best for my family. I started with milk when I was expecting my son and try to only buy certain foods organic like strawberries, lettuce, yogurt etc. It seems easier in the summer (I'm in the midwest)and better to buy locally, but we do the best we can.

Violet_Mist

I would like to go organic...my family wouldn't do it, however, so I'm waiting until college.

1Corinthians13

I just plain can't afford it.

Fitness_Chick

I would like to go organic...my family wouldn't do it, however, so I'm waiting until college.

:flowerforyou:

Fitness_Chick

I am a big fan of organic and try to eat it whenever I can because I know it's best for my family. I started with milk when I was expecting my son and try to only buy certain foods organic like strawberries, lettuce, yogurt etc. It seems easier in the summer (I'm in the midwest)and better to buy locally, but we do the best we can.

I go organtic with the eggs, chicken, most any meats and milk. I just can't stand the hormone concept....it being added into our foods is just....well it's WRONG, our bodies don't need it!!:grumble: No other way to put it...none of need added hormones in our foods, most of all women! :noway: Oh and I so worry about all those kids being fed the hormone added milk etc.

I go with organtic berries and a number of other fruits, though I am not totally 100% organtic I have increased my purchases to reflect it. I hope to do more in the future not only for myself but for the good of the planet.:drinker:

FC

barbiecat

:flowerforyou: We started buying organic vegetables when my husband started the Isagenix program. He has become a strong advocate for getting rid of toxins in his body. We drive out to a local organic farm on Sunday afternoons to buy vegetables. There's a good selection of organic produce at our local supermarket. We haven't added organic chicken yet but that will be next. We're making changes one day at a time and taking baby steps. Thanks for all the good sharing.

We are blessed to be financially able to say "health first, money second":bigsmile:

MyaPapaya75

I do organic as well especially for things like milk,chicken and eggs...I hate hormones and the thought of growing a third eye scares me lol...just kidding but you never know what they put into that stuff.

Fitness_Chick

:flowerforyou: We started buying organic vegetables when my husband started the Isagenix program. He has become a strong advocate for getting rid of toxins in his body. We drive out to a local organic farm on Sunday afternoons to buy vegetables. There's a good selection of organic produce at our local supermarket. We haven't added organic chicken yet but that will be next. We're making changes one day at a time and taking baby steps. Thanks for all the good sharing.

We are blessed to be financially able to say "health first, money second":bigsmile:

Local is BEST...good for you!:flowerforyou:

FC