In spite of the increasing popularity of Organic food these days, most of the people do not have a clear idea regarding the definition of organic food. In simple words, Organic foods are those foods that are produced, processed and packaged without using chemicals. They have been accepted due to their perceived health benefits over conventional food. The organic industry is growing rapidly and has caught the attention of farmers, manufacturers and, above all, consumers.
Organic foods protect from heart disease and cancer, as they contain Phenolic compounds. Organic food ensures high food quality, which other conventional foods cannot give. Organic food is natural and fresh, and thus, it is tasty! Many people prefer to grow organic food in their home gardens, because it costs about 20% more than the conventional food. Organic gardening uses organic seeds, organic fertilizers, compost, organic root stimulators, and organic pest control. It has been claimed by health experts that organic food is more nutritious. Some of the features that can be associated with organic food are quality, good taste, proper selection of crop varieties etc.
So, why don't we all eat natural, organic foods?
Money, convenience, southern eating habits, the list goes on and on. Yes, organic foods are more expensive, but this expense comes at a good price. The added expense is the time it takes for the farmers to naturally grow & care for the crop. In "chemical farming" there is a process called chemical ripening where the food is ripened faster with chemicals so the farmers can produce a higher volume of crop. Chemical farmers also use genetically modified ingredients.
When purchasing organic food look for the Organic Certification, this will let you know that the farmers meet the organic farming requirements.
Support your local farmers!
Most cities have a local farmers market. In addition to supporting your local farmers you will be eating fresh foods that are in season. Certain foods grow at a certain time of year for a reason! We should suppport our bodies with in-season foods.
In Birmingham the Alabama Farmers Market is a place full of magic. Open air, open year round, locally grown fruits and vegetables & located in West Birmingham.
The Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine is a great way to stay up to date with organic grocery news.
Why not???
Eating better makes you feel good. Think of how you feel after Thanksgiving dinner. Nap time? Yes, please. As Americans we have so many traditions that revolve around food, if we made that food whole grain, natural and organic we would feel a lot lighter after dinner!
Also, Americans are obsessed with looking good. Starvation diets, surgery, pills... you name it. How about working on how your body looks from the inside-out? I promise it will feel a lot better than all the other weight loss tricks!
In addition to the Alabama Farmers Market a few local (Birmingham) grocery stores that carry natural, organic foods are: Whole Foods, Golden Temple, Organic Harvest, Manna Market, Red Rain & Health Foods West. Also remember that your every day grocery store (such as Publix) has an organic section too!
Kashi also has a great selection of organic, whole grain food items that can be purchased at most any grocery store. They offer snack bars, cereal, frozen entree's & more... no excuses!
*Visit the Organic Food Stores Locator to find local Organic Grocery in your town!
Healthy eating!
No comments:
Post a Comment