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Organic Food - Five Reasons Why it is a Healthier Choice
for your Family
By
Vikki Scovell Findings, made by Doctor Lu of Emory University in the US, show
that children who consume an organic diet have less exposure to
certain man-made chemicals. The children were tested for two common
agricultural pesticides whilst eating a conventional diet, and then
again 5 days after they started eating a mostly organic diet. The
levels of the harmful chemicals (which have been linked to
neurological disorders), fell dramatically within a number of days
to a concentration six times lower than when the children were
eating a conventional diet. The study concluded that children’s
exposure to agricultural chemicals can be reduced through an organic
diet, and also suggests that exposure to environmental agricultural
chemicals would also be reduced with a switch to organic farming
methods.
Buying organic is a valid addition to healthier living, reducing the
amount of chemicals in our food, clothes and cosmetics.
Understandably many people are put off by the cost. I encourage
people to look at the problem more laterally; is organic food
expensive, or is the food that you buy cheap? Why is it cheap to
produce? Because the ingredients are poor quality, it is crammed
with fillers and bulking agents, because the farming practice was on
a massive scale, using vast quantities of chemicals etc? After all,
the food industry is not in it to make you healthy, but to make
money for itself, and that means cutting corners. Each time I see a
whole chicken on a supermarket shelf for £2.50 I shudder; what must
its existence have been like, what do you have to do to produce an
animal so cheaply? Another way to look at it is to take a look
around your home at all of the things that you have bought recently;
go on, how much were those new shoes? We are persuaded into spending
more and more money on increasingly unnecessary things, and yet we
are often unprepared to invest as much money in our health, as in
our wardrobe.
An article published in Coronary and Diabetic Care in the UK 2004 by
the Association of Primary Care Groups and Trusts, concluded that a
predominantly organic diet:
• Reduces the amount of toxic chemicals ingested; children may be
particularly susceptible to chemical residues.
• Totally avoids GMOs [genetically modified organisms]; the Soil
Association believe that the amount of allergies to soya has risen
in the Uk by 50% since genetically modified soya was introduced.
Many people are concerned that the tests performed on GMO’s have not
been satisfactory, and that we do not know for certain that they are
safe for human consumption.
• Reduces the amount of food additives and colourings; Food
colourings and additives are widely linked to hyperactivity and
behavioral problems in children. Many additives that are used in the
UK and US are banned in many other countries due to concerns about
their safety; often linked to cancer risk.
• Increases the amount of beneficial vitamins, minerals, EFAs
[essential fatty acids] and antioxidants consumed. It has been shown
that Organic milk contains up to 5 times more essential fatty acids
than regular milk.
• Appears to have the potential to lower the incidence of common
conditions such as cancer, coronary heart disease, allergies and
hyperactivity in children. Women with breast cancer are five to nine
times more likely to have pesticide residues in their blood than
those who do not.
Recent research has shown that organic foods have higher percentages
of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, they are less likely to
be contaminated with pesticides, toxins, hormones, and do not
contain artificial additives or hydrogenated fats. Organic meat
often has a healthier fat profile, because organic animals are fed
on more natural traditional feeds such as grass, rather than the
highly subsidized grains, which increase fat production. In addition
to this organic farming protects the environment, is sustainable and
has strict animal welfare guidelines. Often it is the supermarkets
who bag the profits brought by organic farming, so explore smaller
supermarkets, farmers markets, ask in your local butcher and fruit
and vegetable shop, and take family excursions out to farms that
sell their own produce. It will be a good chance for the children to
see where real food comes from. If the cost of Organics is still
prohibitive for you, then try prioritizing certain products such as
baby food, children’s food, dairy, meat, fish, strawberries, grapes
and salads which are likely to have larger amounts of
chemical/hormonal residues. If you change one thing for your
children, make it organic milk, as the high amounts of essential
fats will boost their health and development. I do hope that this
has given you some food for thought. Stay healthy, Vikki
Vikki Scovell BA(hons) PG DIP is a fully qualified Personal Trainer
and Fitness Coach. She is a qualified Nutrition Adviser and runs
successful Community Exercise classes. Vikki is a consultant in
Healthy Eating and Exercise initiatives to schools in the
independent sector and publishes School and General Healthy Living
newsletters. To subscribe to her free weekly newsletter email
getfitter@yahoo.co.uk
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vikki_Scovell
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