Dr Joel Fuhrman, MD, (www.drfuhrman.com) a highly regarded family practitioner and acclaimed nutrition expert in the United States, specialising in the prevention and reversal of obesity and other diseases through nutrition and natural therapies, believes that there is a constructive way to reduce serious health conditions caused by unwise food choices.

“The good news is that nutritional science has advanced to the point where we can win the war against cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and we do not have to be demented in our later years.”

In a TV interview, Dr Joel Fuhrman pointed out that the micronutrients found in plant-based diet, contain vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants which are the most powerful “medicine” to optimal health condition. Choose organic version for the food groups in the table on the right. In addition to these three groups of foods, fruits and whole grains (such as organic brown rice, etc) provide additional essential micronutrients and fibres, too.

Start Young

According to Dr. Furhrman, “When the human cells are growing, multiplying and dividing, they are more susceptible to the danger of being hurt by toxic food and by poisonous chemicals. So, you have to feed your kids with fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds and very clean food when their body is multiplying.”

Going Organic Is Earth-Friendly

The vegan diet/organic vegan diet is also the simple solution for a healthy planet, which every one of us can do easily one bite at a time, three times daily. It has the most emission savings, as shown in the chart below:

Organic farming absorbs huge amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) which exists in the air. According to research by Rodale Institute in the United States, if we started using all the world’s tillable land to cultivate organic vegetables and fruits instead, we will eliminate a further 40% of the CO2 in our environment, thus cooling the planet further. By avoiding the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, it raises crop yields, enhances soil fertility, conserves water and ensures biodiversity in agriculture. Not only do you save your health, you save our planet, too.

Organic Farming Saves:

• Millions of climate refugees  each year

• Many island nations from sinking

• Oceans from acidification  and   dead zones

• Glaciers, lakes and rivers from dying

• Nations from desertification

• The lungs of the Earth from deforestation

• Over 1 billion world citizens, including children, from hunger.

This article was lovingly contributed by Loving Hut, www.lovinghut.com.sg.

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There is an increasing popularity and demand for organic food in many parts of the world.  Looking one step beyond eating healthy is the question of food safety, nutrition, and sustainability. How foods are grown or raised can impact both our health and the environment. So why are organic foods said to be better than conventionally grown foods?

What does “organic” mean?

It generally refers to foods that are produced using stringent agricultural methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers,  Genetically modified organisms” genetically modified organisms (GMO), and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.

Why are pesticides a concern?

Herbicides, fungicides, insecticides used can be sometimes carcinogenic, and can impact the nervous system.

•     Children and foetus are most vulnerable to pesticide exposure due to their less developed immune systems

•  Pregnant women are also vulnerable and pesticides can be passed from mother to child in the womb as well as through breast milk

•    Lastly, most of us have accumulated build up of pesticide exposure in our bodies over the years. This “chemical burden” could lead to health issues and add strain to our immune systems.

What should I buy?

Switching to organic is tough for many families who don’t want to pay higher prices or give up their favourite foods. Just by choosing organic versions of a few foods that you eat often, you can increase the percentage of organic food in your diet without having a big impact on your wallet. It’s best to try as far as possible to eat organic meat – to avoid possible antibiotic contamination.

If you need to work within a certain budget, you can use this information to prioritise your organic purchases to help lower your overall pesticide exposure. It is also recommended to go through a detox programme if the toxic exposure is high. Always conduct a detox programme under a practitioner’s supervision.

What are the benefits of going organic?

Better Health 

Organic food is far more nutritious than ordinary produce, and can help improve health and longevity.  On average, organic food contains higher levels of vitamins & essential minerals and cancer-fighting antioxidants.

Plants that are grown without fertilizers or pesticides adapt to the harsh environment by producing more proteins and anti oxidants to help them resist bugs and collect nutrients from the surroundings more effectively- hence the possibility of higher nutritional content

No Chemicals

Organic foods do not contain food additives, chemical pesticides which are routinely used in conventional farming and residues often present in non-organic food.

No GM (Genetically modified) crops and ingredients are used. Genetically modified plants or animals have its DNA altered and these products have gone through only short term testing to determine their effects on human and environment.

No Antibiotics

Organically raised animals are not fed with antibiotics, growth hormones or animal by-products. There is growing concern about the high use of antibiotics on farm animals and the possible effects on human health.

Better Taste 

Many people prefer organic food because they say it tastes better and fresher probably because it doesn’t contain preservatives that make it last longer.

Environment safety

Organic farming practices generally reduce pollution (air, water, soil), conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy.

Animal welfare

Animals are not confined to a miserable caged life which can release stress hormones that get into your body when you consume them.

Blurb:
Just by choosing organic versions of a few foods that you eat often, you can increase the percentage of organic food in your diet without having a big impact on your wallet.

Go Organic

Ketki Vinayachandra, ND, (Aust)

Natural Medicine Naturopath, Herbalist, Nutritionist, Iridologist, (Aust)

www.alternative-naturalmedicine.com

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From the food we eat, to the clothes we wear and the products we use on our body, the demand to go organic seems to be on the rise these days. Organic foods and products are produced and manufactured without the use of potentially harmful pesticides, insecticides, fertilisers and other toxic additives; hence, considered to be the healthier choice not only for the body but for the environment as well. And by the looks of organic retail stores and restaurants being seen here and there, it seems Singapore is catching up on the health revolution.

A report in The Straits Times stated that there are now more than 40 organic stores, cafes and warehouses in the country1; and it is estimated that the organic food market in Singapore is worth between $6 million and $10 million. A survey by the Nielsen company in 2007 also showed that over four in 10 Singaporeans buy organic fruits and vegetables some of the time, with 12 percent buying them regularly.2

Just like any other lifestyle change, however, switching to organic living can be hard at first. But with the right motivation, coupled with a good dose of information, switching into the organic lifestyle can be a breeze. To get you started, we rounded up five ways you can go organic.

Food

Organic foods are those produced without the use of fertilisers and pesticides. According to experts, organic food is known to contain 50 percent more nutrients, vitamins and minerals than the conventional ones.3

Once upon a time, agriculture was simple, and people grew their apples and vegetables in their backyard. But over the years, because of the rising demand to produce more crops, farming got complicated and farmers started using pesticides to control pests and diseases, and fertilisers to ensure plant growth. Poultry and cattle farming were not spared. Antibiotics and hormones were used to guarantee fast slaughter weight. At lease two-thirds of

all beef cattle in the US are given growth hormones, and approximately 22 percent of dairy cows are given hormones to increase milk production.4

By opting to buy organic foods, you are not only minimising the toxins that go into your body, you’re reducing the ones that go into the soil as well.

Clothing

Nowadays, the clothing business is among the biggest industries that leave the most carbon footprints. In her news feature in 2007 entitled “Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry“, author Luz Claudio said, “Manufacture of polyester and other synthetic fabrics is an energy-intensive process requiring large amounts of crude oil and releasing emissions including volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, and acid gases such as hydrogen chloride, all of which can cause or aggravate respiratory disease.”5

Supporting the organic clothing industry does not only boost a healthy living, but makes you an advocate for the environment and fair labour as well. In the 2010 version of the “Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)”, safety, humane working conditions, and fair wages and working hours are among the guidelines required to ensure organic status of textiles.6

Baby care

Starting them young is a good way to train kids to be healthy. According to Dr Alan Greene, American pediatrician and author of “From First Kicks to First Steps”, “Choosing organic foods is a great way 21st century fathers can teach, provide for and protect their children.”

One of the things parents can do to ensure that their babies develop a much stronger immune system is by feeding them organic foods. Because organic foods have increased nutritional value, babies don’t need to be fed a large portion in order to get the required daily nutritional needs. Organic foods also have less saturated fats that often cause weight increase.

Since a good percentage of the world’s pesticides and insecticides go to production and processing of cotton, the number one material used for baby clothing, concerns about babies’ health are increasing. Using organic products can help appease parents’ minds on the chemical residue concerns.

Household products

In order to have a clean and bacteria-free household, some of us overuse cleaning products. But experts believe that certain cleaning materials can be more hazardous to our health than any bacteria around. Traditional cleaning products can contain chemicals associated with cancer, reproductive disorders, respiratory ailments, allergies, and other human health issues. They also include materials that can accumulate in the environment with potentially harmful consequences and ozone-depleting substances.7

Skin care

The philosophy behind using organic skin care is the same as eating organic foods. The fresher and more natural the products are, the better they are for your skin and body. Organic skin care contains only natural ingredients and free of additives that are damaging to the skin. The idea is that, our body absorbs a percentage of whatever is applied on our skin, and using organic skin care products eliminates the hazard of having harmful toxins being absorbed into the body through the skin.

Since organic skin care products do not contain artificial preservatives, their shelf life, of course, is shorter. So make sure that you only use the products within the indicated time.

blurb:
In her news feature in 2007 entitled “Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry”, author Luz Claudio said, “Manufacture of polyester and other synthetic fabrics is an energy-intensive process requiring large amounts of crude oil and releasing emissions including volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, and acid gases such as hydrogen chloride, all of which can cause or aggravate respiratory disease.”5

1http://www.asiaone.com/Health/Eat+Right/Story/A1Story20070625-15587.html

2http://www.prochile.cl/documentos/pdf/seminario_organicos_tendencias_asia.pdf

3organicfoodinfo.net

4http://animalrights.about.com/od/animalsusedforfood/f/AntibioticsrGBH.htm

5http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.115-a449

6http://www.global-standard.org/images/stories/gots-version3_01march2011.pdf

7http://www.epa.gov/epp/pubs/eppupdates/update6.pdf

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