There has certainly been an organic movement all over the world. It is now being said that millions of health minded Americans, are finally understanding that organic food and a healthy diet and lifestyle are obviously key factors in preventing chronic disease, restoring public health, and reducing out-of-control health care costs.
The other term we hear to indicate ‘organic’ is ‘natural’. What is the difference and what is the cost differential? Simply, ‘organic’ agriculture produces the real thing; crops higher in vitamin content and trace minerals unpolluted by chemicals. The term ‘natural’ is used by the UNF (United Natural Foods) as a ploy to make one believe non-organic foods are organic. Another term related to ‘natural’ – ‘Organic Alternative’, is chemical and energy-intensive factory farming using chemicals, additives, pesticides, preservatives and hormones, etc. Bluntly ‘natural’ is meaningless, meaning conventions with a green veneer. It is broken down into 3 categories, ‘natural’, ‘all natural’, and ‘sustainable’. You may see these descriptions mentioned on foods in the regular grocery stores as well as the Natural, or Whole Food stores. Many are labeled ‘USDA Organic’. This is another government ploy to pull the wool over our eyes to make us think the producer has followed strict NOP (National Organic Program) regulations and maintained detailed records. They are simply telling us what they want us to believe and what we want to hear. This leads to and/or predicts the price, so we pay organic or premium price for a conventional product. It’s big business/profits at any cost. The unfortunate consequences is that it is very difficult for independently owned grocers or a coop trying to sell mostly real organic products to compete.
Bottom line…what to do. Do your own research. Buy ‘Certified Organic’ products. Healthwise, we are what we eat. We are the masters of our fate. It is up to us to know how we want to live out our lives.
We live in an era that stresses health through exercise, eating healthy and taking supplements on the one hand, and the government trying to control all of these in our lives on the other hand.
CHOICES, CHOICES, CHOICES – what do you want?
STAY SAFE and GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!
FYI-HEALTH TALK 