Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Maintain a healthy diet with organic food









Farming organic foods decreases the amount of pollutants in our groundwater and creates richer plant soil, says the Organic Trade Association. It is also believed that the absence of pesticides allows plants to produce more natural vitamins and antioxidants.



Of course, there are economic reasons why consumers may choose genetically modified foods instead, since buying organic can cost as much as 50% more. Therefore it-s important to consider all aspects of this foods market.



organic foods Many people are often confounded when standing in the produce section, looking at the organic foods, conventional foods and weight loss foods. For instance, both tomatoes may look plump, juicy and red but one is labeled "organic" and the other is not. They both provide vitamins, antioxidants and nutrition, but what are the differences?



Conventional farmers use chemical pesticides to keep pests and plagues away from their vegetables. They use chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth, and manage weeds using chemical herbicides. They may also give their animals antibiotics, growth hormones or medications to prevent illnesses and encourage growth.



By contrast, organic foods meet strict governmental standards for certification. Organic labels can read 95% organically produced, 100% organic or "made with organic ingredients," which implies 70% of organic ingredients or more.



There are other food labels in the raw foods market that say "all-natural," "free-range" or "hormone-free." Organic farmers also use other insects, birds or traps to deter pests, use manure or compost to encourage plant growth, rotate crops or mulch to manage weeds, give animals a healthy diet of organic feed and allow rotational grazing, free range mobility and clean housing to prevent disease and to encourage healthy growth.



In many ways, organic foods are more of a lifestyle choice than an actual safety concern. The huge shift toward environmentally-conscious practices is driving consumer trends toward this pesticide and hormone-free diet.



healthy diet When shopping whole foods, it is important to read the label to see what is being purchased exactly. Many items masquerade as being "organically produced," but may not meet all government standards.



Only "USDA Organic" labeled products have been government-certified. Also, not all organic foods equate to eating healthy because they may still be high in salt, sugar or calories.






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