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Natural and Organic Foods Tips
Tips For Buying Conventionally Grown Produce
Always purchase certified organic produce when you can – along with being produced without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, studies have shown that organic produce may contain more nutrients. If you must buy conventionally grown produce, at least stay away from what the Environmental Working Group (EWG) calls the “dirty dozen.”
According the EWG report, people can lower their pesticide exposure by 90 percent by avoiding the top twelve most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least contaminated instead. The “dirty dozen” are: apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach and strawberries. All tested positive for pesticide residue – even after having been washed! Sweet bell peppers were the vegetable with the most pesticides overall, with 39 pesticides detected on a single sample. Conversely, if you're going to buy conventional, peas, broccoli, onions, pineapples, mangoes, bananas, kiwi and papaya had the lowest occurrence of pesticide residue.
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Making Sense of Food Labels: Organic Food and All Natural Foods
Making sense of food labels can be confusing if you don’t understand exactly what you are reading. One area that many people don’t fully understand is the difference between organic food versus all natural food. Let’s examine exactly what is meant by each of these labels.
Organic Food: In order to use the designation “certified organic food”, a company must apply to and receive a government designation that indicates the farm or company is following a set of directions recognized as environmentally sound and sustainable. For example, a farm that uses renewable resources and soil or water conservation methods would meet the requirements to use the organic food certification related to vegetable crops.
Meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products are only organic if they come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using conventional pesticides or fertilizer created from synthetic ingredients or sewage waste. Each company must apply for the organic food designation and then submit to an inspection before being allowed to use the organic food symbol. Because of the stricter regulatory and other requirements, organic food prices tend to run higher than similar products that use more typical pesticides and unsustainable farming practices.
All Natural Food: The phrase “all natural” is not the same as organic. All natural, free-range, hormone free, sustainably harvested and natural may appear on a food label that is not organic. These claims must be truthful but they are not regulated or certified by an independent government body such as organic.
What to Look For: When shopping for the most environmentally sound products, look for the USDA Organic seal on 100 percent organic products.
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Pears A Great Source of Fiber
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a medium pear, which is about the size of a tennis ball, contains on average six grams of fiber -- about 24 percent of the recommended daily intake for most adults. It also contains on average 190 milligrams of potassium and 26 grams of carbohydrates.
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Natural Health Foods Can Do Wonders for You
Opting to live on natural health food is a decision that you and your body will benefit from. Eating high quality foods will increase energy levels, normalize your weight, and better your overall health. After a while enjoying healthy foods will probably become a passion and you may even find yourself seeking out the best and freshest. And, you'll probably even find your favorites.
If you discover foods that you like that aren't carried by your local grocer, it's a good idea to ask him or her to start carrying some of the them on the shelves. Eating healthy can be addictive and you're likely to find that natural health foods are more readily available. Local farmers, farmers' markets, and most health-food coops are great places to find these items and they are probably a lot more expensive that you might imagine.
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Vegetarian source of hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is found in starchy root vegetables, but not all, only in some exotic kinds growing in Japan. So you better take supplements.
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Basil
Basil is a great herb to add flavor to just about anything you are cooking, but also has many other benefits that may cause you to add it to your diet. It is known to reduce blood pressure and ease the symptoms of emphysema and bronchitis. Basil also makes a good natural insect repellent when rubbed on your skin.
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Best Margarine
It is best to avoid hydrogenated oils, such as margarine, even if it is soy or canola margarine. Adding hydrogen to oils creates trans fats, which are the worst type of fat to eat. You can buy non-hydrogenated versions of margarine in most grocery stores.
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Good for the Body
Here's a news flash: Natural and organic foods are good for your body. Not convinced? Consider the following facts:
They are free from pesticides. It's been proven that more than 400 chemical pesticides are used routinely when farming and there is often a residue left in non-organic food products.
They are not genetically modified. Genetically modified ingredients and crops aren't permitted under organic standards.
Organic and natural foods do not rely on drugs. Organic farming standards prohibit the usage of antibiotic and growth hormones.
Organic food come from sources that can be trusted. In fact, they are inspected to ensure that they are in complete compliance with organic standards.
Organic and natural foods are good for the environment. Organic farming causes less pollution from sprays and produces far less carbon dioxide.
It tastes great!
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What's so Great About Organic Foods?
Why buy organic foods? Sure, organic foods are a little more pricey but what are you getting for that extra cash? The truth of the matter is that organic food will help you pack your body full of extra goodness.
Organic foods tend to contain higher levels of vitamin C, antioxidants, and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and chromium. A really great thing about organic food items is that there are no yucky additives in them. Harmful food additives can contribute to health issues such as migraines, osteoporosis, hyperactivity and heart disease.
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Be Prepared to Prepare
So, you've opted for a natural food diet and you've got your kitchen stocked up. The key to preparing great meals, however, isn't just having the food, it's being prepared. There are some things that a good kitchen just shouldn't be without and the following list is composed of these things:
8" or 10" Chef Knife: A good chef's knife makes chopping all of those vegetables a cinch.
Cutting Boards: Aside from providing a place to cut up all those veggies for those vegetarian dishes, a good chopping board can also help to keep your knives sharp.
Dental Floss: It may sound silly but dental floss is a useful tool to have in the kitchen. You can use floss to cut things that are gooey or that stick to your knives.
Potato Ricer: This handy tool can help you make perfect mashed potatoes and can help to prepare almost any root vegetable.
Zip Lock Bags: These can be used to store leftovers or to make a pastry bag in a pinch.
Scissors: Great for snipping fresh herbs and spices for that special sauce or to open tricky packages.
