Easy Health Tips

Organic foods have begun to receive widespread attention in recent years.  They are viewed as being healthier, more ethical, and a more socially responsible choice.  Consumers are often willing to pay the higher price necessary to obtain organic foods.  But are they really worth the added cost?

By definition, organic foods are produced without using man-made chemicals.  This means that they do not have the hormones, antibiotics, synthetic pesticides, and other harmful substances that can be found in non-organic foods.  This is one reason that people buy organic, but not the only one.  Many proponents of organic food are looking to buy foods that are produced locally in an effort to boost the local economy, support the ethical treatment of livestock, or reduce the use of fossil fuels used for the foods’ delivery.  While some organic food producers share these ideals, many of them do not.

Problems with Organic Products

The growing popularity of organic foods has made it more difficult to find foods that are produced entirely locally.  Mass production has necessitated the use of some ingredients that may not be available in large enough quantities locally.  For example, companies that use organic milk in their products often have a hard time getting it from suppliers in the immediate area.  They may use powdered organic milk from distant locations in order to keep their ingredients pure.

There are also some so-called organic products that aren’t really any safer.  Certain fruits and vegetables, including asparagus, bananas, broccoli, pineapples, and sweet peas rarely contain significant amounts of pesticides in their conventionally grown form.  Processed foods that claim to be made with organic ingredients often contain inorganic ones as well.  And organic seafood and cosmetics are notorious for having the same health dangers as conventional ones.

How Much More does Organic Cost?

Prices for organic foods vary substantially.  You might pay anywhere from 10 percent more to twice as much for an organic product.  Mass producers of organic products tend to incur much higher costs in an effort to keep the ingredients pure, and because of that they charge a premium.

You can often save money by buying locally.  Your fruit and vegetable choices will be limited to what is in season, but the lower cost and fresher taste are worth it to many consumers.  You can be sure that you’re buying locally by patronizing farmer’s markets or going directly to the source.

When determining whether an organic product is worth the extra cost, it is important to know as much as you can about it.  Many people make the mistake of assuming that all organic foods are created equal, and they are not.  Checking out providers and reading labels can open our eyes to any shortcomings that an organic food may have.  In many cases, your best bet is to buy locally for better prices and higher standards.

It is much easier to buy organic food today than it was ten years ago.  The popularity of these products has lined the pockets of those in the organic food business, leading them to increase production.  Chains of health food stores are flourishing thanks to the organic trend, and mass merchandisers are starting to stock up on organic foods.

The key selling point of organic foods is that they are healthier than their conventionally produced counterparts.  By definition, organic products are produced without the use of any man-made chemicals, including hormones, antibiotics, or synthetic pesticides.  Organic meat is obtained from livestock that is fed an organic diet, and so is organic milk.  As defined here, it would seem that organic is synonymous with all-natural and healthy.  But that is not always true.

Truly organic animal products are certainly safer than those produced by traditional methods.  They do not contain the toxins that can be found in regular ones, and in beef there is a much lower risk of mad cow disease.  You also do not have to worry about ingesting antibiotics, which may cause antibiotic resistance.

When it comes to baby food, buying organic is definitely the way to go.  Babies are more susceptible to ill effects from the pesticides and heavy metals contained in inorganic foods.  The preparation of baby food also involves condensing the fruits, vegetables, and meats used, resulting in higher concentrations of these things.  For these reasons, organic baby food is generally considered much safer.

Organic fruits and vegetables are often heralded for their lack of pesticides.  While this is certainly a good thing, organic is not necessarily a lot better in this regard.  Some fruits and vegetables do not retain pesticide residues easily, so they are generally safe as long as they are washed thoroughly before eating.  These include avocados, broccoli, cauliflower, sweetcorn, mangos, onions and pineapples.  However, buying organic apples, celery, cherries, grapes, peaches, potatoes, and berries is usually a good idea.  These items tend to carry high levels of pesticides.

Processed organic foods may or may not be healthier than conventional ones.  Many of them use a combination of organic and inorganic ingredients.  They also tend to lose nutrients during manufacturing, decreasing their health value.  For the healthiest possible product, look for labels that say “USDA organic” and read the nutrition facts on the container.

Organic seafood rarely has any added value.  That is because the USDA has not developed standards for it.  Seafood labeled organic may contain all sorts of harmful substances, yet it is legal for them to be labeled as such in most states as long as the USDA name or the word “certified” is not used.

When buying organic for health reasons, it is important to make sure that the food you’re buying is 100% organic.  If it isn’t, you may not be getting all of the health benefits that you expect.

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is good for us.  It gives us energy, and it keeps our immune systems in good shape.  But there are certain foods that are especially good for our immune systems.  When we eat these immunity boosters on a regular basis, we have an easier time avoiding illness.  We can also fight it off more quickly when it does occur.  Here are some of the best immune-boosting foods.

• Citrus fruits - When it comes to boosting our immune systems, one of the most important vitamins is Vitamin C.  Long hailed as our immune system’s best friend, it is crucial that we get an adequate amount of it each day.  Citrus fruits are the most recognizable food source of Vitamin C, and they have lots of it.  Lemons, oranges, and tangerines are some citrus fruits that are great for our immune systems.
• Raw vegetables - Vegetables have a number of nutrients that boost our immune systems.  These include Vitamin E and Beta Carotene.  But did you know that vegetables provide far greater benefits when eaten raw?  Cooking tends to leech the nutrients out of them.  If you can’t bear the thought of eating a particular vegetable raw, lightly steaming it will keep most of the nutrients intact.  The best vegetables for our immune systems are dark green and orange ones such as spinach, greens, sweet potatoes and carrots.
• Nuts and seeds - These make tasty snacks, and they have great nutritional value.  Sunflower seeds and almonds are great sources of Vitamin E.  A daily serving of Brazil nuts gives us more than enough selenium.  And a number of nuts and seeds contain omega-3 fatty acids, which have been proven to increase the activity of white blood cells and speed up healing.
• Water - Water is a drink, not a food, but getting enough of it is very important to our immune systems.  Water cleanses our bodies of impurities, allowing our immune systems to concentrate on fighting off germs.  It is very important, however, to make sure that the water you are drinking is of high quality.  Certain substances that are often found in water can actually be harmful to our immune systems.
• Herbs - There are a number of herbs that are good for our immune systems.  Some of them, such as garlic, are tasty as seasonings.  Some make a nice tea.  Others do not taste as good, but can be consumed in pill form.  Some of the best herbs for the immune system include the aforementioned garlic, astragalus, goldenseal, and olive leaf extract.

The immune system is crucial to our good health, so it is very important to take good care of it.  By including these foods in your diet on a regular basis, you can help keep your immune system running smoothly.