| The inspiration to write this entry came from an article | | | | diseased. |
| that was published in a local newspaper. The article | | | | We are only just beginning to see the effects of our |
| and paper is not important-all that is important is that | | | | damaging farming practices, so conducting research |
| the article tried to present information proving that | | | | on articles written 50 years ago, is not going to |
| organic food was not any different nutritionally than | | | | produce useful research. Scientists should be |
| non-organic. The research from the article came from | | | | conducting research on the long terms effects of |
| other papers that had already been written, through | | | | present day chemicals used in conventional farming |
| which researchers found the benefits of organic food | | | | methods. That is the information that should be |
| to be insignificant for the "general public". Does that | | | | presented to the general public, and then let the |
| mean the benefits of organic food ARE significant for | | | | general public decide for themselves whether or not |
| other populations? | | | | organic food has significant benefits. |
| All in all, the article was trying to prove that organic | | | | If this information about non-organic food is not |
| food has no nutritional benefits over non-organic food. | | | | frightening enough, much of our food supply has |
| However, if you are eating organic food solely for | | | | actually been tampered with on the molecular level so |
| increased nutritional benefit, you are missing the whole | | | | they become more resistant to bacteria. These foods |
| point of eating ORGANIC food! If you grow an apple | | | | are known as GMO or Genetically Modified |
| organically, and you grow an apple "conventionally" - | | | | Organisms, and rarely is this denoted on the label, in |
| they will have roughly the same vitamin and mineral | | | | fact many of these foods do not even come with a |
| content, depending on when they were harvested. An | | | | label. For example, strawberries usually do not list the |
| apple, after all, is an apple. The entire purpose of eating | | | | ingredients, so you would not see "made with GMO |
| organic is to support healthy practices and sustainable | | | | Strawberries" on the label. In these cases, from the |
| farming methods. The difference is that while the | | | | seed, the food is starting off as something that is not |
| conventional apple is grown, the trees are sprayed | | | | natural, but rather man-made. We have invented |
| with herbicides and pesticides to kill off any bug or | | | | amazing things in our history, but when it comes to |
| bacteria that might hurt the tree or the apple, therefore | | | | replicating nature, we have fallen short, because nature |
| jeopardizing the harvest. Once the apple starts | | | | is too complex. |
| growing, it is continually sprayed with pesticides so | | | | The full force of these choices has yet to be fully |
| other animals do not eat the fruit. It is then picked | | | | investigated. With all of these foreign contaminants in |
| before it completely ripens (read: before all of the | | | | our food supply on a daily basis, ones that are meant |
| nutrients and flavor fully develop) and sprayed with | | | | to fight off viruses and bacteria, our own immune |
| more preserving chemicals to deter ripening before the | | | | systems are becoming inadequate. We are creating a |
| fruit gets to its final destination, which is many times | | | | serious situation where the microbial world will continue |
| thousands of miles from where it is grown. A | | | | to evolve and strengthen, but our immune systems will |
| significant amount of our environmental impact could | | | | continue to weaken. Our only defense will be antibiotics |
| be lessened if we all bought locally grown food. Finally, | | | | that man can develop, leaving us with a completely |
| to make sure this chemicalized version of an apple | | | | reactive, rather than preventive, line of defense. |
| looks good enough to eat, it is coated with wax to | | | | Imagine a war against a living organism that can morph |
| make it shine and to make sure the peel does not get | | | | and adapt. It is not a pretty picture. |
| any discoloration or blemishes. The wax holds the | | | | Is it easy to eat all organic food? Absolutely not. In fact |
| pesticides and herbicides even closer to the fruit and | | | | it is probably the most difficult practice that you could |
| allows the full force of those chemicals to go into your | | | | ever try to change, unless you live on your own farm. |
| body. Washing your produce can help with the amount | | | | That, in and of itself, is part of our problem. Even if |
| of chemicals that you ingest, but can never remove | | | | someone wants to improve their eating habits by going |
| them all. | | | | organic, they may not necessarily have the resources, |
| Here is a quick test. Take an apple that you bought at | | | | due to availability and financial restraints. With the |
| a supermarket and smell it, before you bite into it. Does | | | | popularity of Whole Foods, eating organically has |
| it smell like an apple? Now buy an apple at a local | | | | certainly become a lot easier and more accessible. |
| farmers market and smell it before your first bite. You | | | | However, the cost of organic grown produce versus |
| will be blown away at the wonderful fragrance the | | | | McDonald's still hinders many from making the leap to |
| apple produces before the peel is even broken. Just | | | | an organic diet. |
| imagine what your kitchen will smell like when you are | | | | My suggestion is to find a local organic farmers market |
| cooking dinner with local organic produce! | | | | from which you can buy all of your seasonal produce. |
| What was also surprising about this article was the | | | | The price can be slightly higher, but you can rest |
| fact that their research came from articles that were | | | | assured knowing that your money is being put to good |
| written over the last 50 years. Our food industry has | | | | use supporting local farming, not to mention, the short |
| undergone many changes in the past 50 years, most | | | | travel time of the food will make for a much longer |
| of which are just beginning to show their true effects | | | | shelf life in your home. You will notice an incredible |
| with the increases in chronic diseases in our society. | | | | difference in the taste and smell of the local food you |
| The developments for speed and efficiency of food | | | | are eating, making your meals that much more |
| production; pesticides to increase farm output; | | | | delicious. |
| preservatives that are used to increase shelf life; all of | | | | The lesson here is that one does not necessarily have |
| these are taking a toll on the health of our nation. Our | | | | to reject the "norm" and purposely go against the grain, |
| bodies are fantastic machines that can process and | | | | but also does not have to accept everything as "fact". |
| eliminate many toxins that invade our body, only if we | | | | Not everything printed and reported in the news needs |
| are properly nourished and rested. However, when the | | | | to be taken without question. If all you take away from |
| body is put under constant "attack" by foreign | | | | this is permission to think and question what does not |
| contaminants, in addition to being malnourished and | | | | sit right with you, then this article will be considered a |
| overworked, it can only maintain wellness for so long. | | | | success. You have already heard to think before you |
| Eventually, the foreign contaminants will overpower the | | | | speak, but also think before you act, cook and eat. |
| bodies natural defenses and the body will become | | | | |