Organic Food Products Are Better For Our Health

“You are what you eat” is true. The nutrient that we consume at each meal, or the snack we eat determines the kind of health our body is in.

Among the most significant facets of staying healthy is with the type of foods we eat.The definite amounts of nutrients also matter, any excessive or deficiency could lead to complications and sooner or later leads to poor healthl. Majority of the society got used to fast foods, because processed food products are made readily available in the food markets. These processed foods are the typical diet of most people.

Not too long ago organic foods are only available in health food stores, today they are regular feature at most supermarkets. According to the US Department of Agriculture, organic foods are described as: “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.”

Organic foods are known to be more beneficial for our health than their processed counterparts. The fiber content and nutrient are still whole and almost undamaged.

With non organic produce such as vegetables, fruits, and meat product, people consuming them are subject to all the pesticides and artificial drug enhancers that were used. Some of these harmful chemicals engraft in them may not be properly cleansed until cooking.

Common sicknesses occur when chemicals accidentally ingested are related to the gastrointestinal tract.

Organic foods retain the natural amount of nutritive value as opposed to unnaturally processed foods, these organic foods have not yet been subjected to the different processing methods which transform the original food product into many forms, causing a part of the nutrient value to disintegrate and lost in the whole process.

The worst perpetrator is canned food products which have passed through numerous processing, and unnatural flavorings to produce copy of a supposed food product. And what is more, the most harmful ingredient of canned goods is preservatives. Simply put, preservatives are chemical agents used to decrease the natural deterioration of all organic products.

Natural way of growing organic food products help the environment as well. Maintaining an ecologic balance resulting in a better living environment.

Consuming organic food products is a good way to maximize nutritive efficiency in a person’s body system and add to the individual’s well being.

Julie Browne is a blogger, a housewife and mother. She blog about every day life stuffs, if you are in the market for software, she recommends that you visit Amazon digital software storefront

Organic or Not? How to Tell the Difference

Organic foods and household products are better for your health and the environment, but it can be difficult to know which products are authentically organic. Green-washing, where the environmental benefits of a product are exaggerated to make it seem greener, is on the rise as manufacturers and retailers try to cash in on consumers’ environmental concerns. As a result, you need to be especially cautious when shopping for organic goods. Here are a few ways to tell the difference between organic and green-washed products.

Check for a Certification Mark

The only sure-fire way to be certain that a product is organic is to look for an official certification mark on the packaging. There are seven organisations that are allowed to certify products as organic on behalf of the Australian government.

* Australian Certified Organic is Australia’s leading organic certification agency. Its distinctive bud logo marks organic products sold all over Australia. Products sporting this logo must be grown without artificial fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides, and no GMOs (genetically modified organisms) can be grown on the same piece of land.

* The National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA) certifies organic food and health and beauty products. This organisation carries out annual inspections of all producers who use its distinctive ‘NASAA Certified Organic’ mark.

* Organic Food Chain (OFC) offers a range of certification marks that are used for exports and goods sold in Australia.

* The Bio-Dynamic Agricultural Association of Australia reserves its certification for produce that is grown according to strict bio-dynamic farming principles. Bio-dynamic farming uses traditional techniques to support soil structure, which benefits not only the food produced but also local ecosystems.

* AUS-QUAL is owned by AUS-MEAT, which regulates Australia’s meat industry. AUS-QUAL offers a range of quality assurance certifications, all of which have similar certification marks. Look for the word ‘organic’ running along the bottom of the logo to be sure you are buying organic.

* Regional certification bodies Safe Food Queensland (SFQ) and Tasmanian Organic-Dynamic Producers (TOP) certify produce from local growers.

Certification marks awarded by the various bodies can be viewed at http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/about/contact/aco.

Read the Small Print

Read claims made on packaging carefully, paying attention to the information that is omitted as well as what is included. Green-washed products often base their green

image on environmental claims that are less than impressive. For example, the packaging of a product that uses one organic ingredient might be designed to emphasise the organic components of the product, giving the false impression that it is wholly organic.

Ask the Retailer

Produce is often sold loose, which is a positive step in the battle against overpackaging but means that you can’t check the packet to find out about the food’s origin. If you have concerns about how your food is grown, ask the retailer. A store manager should be able to either tell you where the food comes from or let you know where you can go to find out.

Asking questions about the origins of foods before you buy shows retailers that there is a growing demand for organic produce.

Education is Empowerment

By educating yourself about organic growing methods and certifications, you empower yourself to make healthier, more planet-friendly choices. The organic revolution is driven by savvy consumers demanding products that do not damage the planet. Get clued up on what it means to be organic and use your purchasing power to be a part of the campaign for change.

Author Bio:

This guest post was contributed by Sarah Paulsen for FactoryFast.com.au – an Australian owned and operated online shopping mall. Click here for more details