The Low-Down on Eating Organic

Why is it important to eat organically?

Chemicals and pesticides are applied to crops to help them grow quicker and to ward off pests. Antibiotics are given to livestock to keep them healthy in unhealthy living conditions. The foods we eat have been sprayed and dosed with substances that are foreign to our bodies. Organic farming began when some farmers decided they wanted to protect people and the environment from these compounds.

When you eat organic you are helping to:

• Protect the environment by cutting down on the chemicals released into our ecosystem

• Support farmers who want to return to a natural approach

• Support sustainability in farming-many farmers use crop rotation to keep the soil enriched, aiding in the growth of the food. Crop rotation can also help protect against pests by affecting their cycles.

• Keep chemicals from accumulating up the food chain and into our bodies

How do I know when a product is organic, and can anybody put an organic label on their food?

For a product to be certified organic it must be approved by a government official. Canada has a new organic logo that can be placed on products that are certified organic according to Canadian standards.

Here are some things to help make shopping organic easier. If the product states:

• 100% Organic: entirely organically produced ingredients

• Organic: if the product is at least 95% organic

• Made with Organic Ingredients: if 70% of the ingredients in the product are organic

• Some Organic Ingredients: less than 70%

Also remember that buying something that states the product is free range, naturally grown, or antibiotic free does not mean that it is: these terms are not strictly regulated. The label has to say certified organic or specific standards have not been met.

Where can I start if I want to incorporate some organic foods into my diet?

Eating organic can put a strain on the wallet, and so if you are looking to reduce some of your exposure to chemicals try buying some of the following organic:

Meat is the most important food to eat organic. Animals are often given hormones and other medications that can be present in the meat. The feed the animals consume can also be treated with chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides. Organic farmers use natural breeding methods, try to minimize the amount of stress to the animals, and are generally concerned with animal health and welfare. Certified organic meat contains no synthetic growth regulators or hormones, and there are strict regulations on the environment that the animals live in, for example the animals must have access to the outdoors for a specified amount of time.

Produce:  Environmental Working Group, a non-profit organization that strives to help protect public health and the environment through research and public awareness has published information about the amount of pesticides found on products.

Top Fruits             Top Vegetables
Nectarines              Celery
Apples                    Bell Peppers
Pears                      Spinach
Peaches                  Potatoes
Strawberries
Cherries

*Remember that whether you buy organic produce or not, make sure you wash it thoroughly!

Coffee is another product that you may want to buy organic. Since many countries do not regulate the use of chemicals on crops, coffee can have high amounts of these harmful compounds. Try buying an organic fair trade coffee next time you are in the grocery store. This also helps support the farmers by ensuring they are paid fairly for the coffee.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHEMICALS AND THE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT? CHECK OUT RACHEL CARSON’S BOOK “SILENT SPRING”, WRITTEN IN THE 1960S, WHICH OPENED UP MANY PEOPLE’S EYES ON THE CHEMICALS THAT WERE ALLOWED TO BE USED IN FOOD PRODUCTION.

ALSO CHECK OUT THE CHECK OUT CANADIAN ORGANIC GROWERS FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EATING ORGANIC IN CANADA.

Carrie Dancey
RHN
Bundles of Energy

The Power Behind Food Cravings

Yesterday my mom and I were walking around the farmers market spending some time together and as we walked though one of the sections filled with fresh produce she grabbed a huge bag of beets and explained that she has been craving them for days. I told her it was probably a big indication that it was exactly what her body was needing at that time. Our society has developed such a negative attachment to the concept of food cravings. We assume these are always our bodies craving some form of processed, unhealthy snack that we would ram-sack a 7-11 at 3 am just to get ahold of. But in reality, our cravings for certain foods are typically our body’s means of expressing it’s basic needs for certain nutrients and healing, so listen up!

There are few key tastes that our body tends to crave such as salty and sweet. The junk food industry has capitalized on these tastes, so the key is being able to listen to your body’s needs and fulfill these cravings with healthier options. Did you know Dorito chips contain iron? Very small amounts of course, not the most bio-available but iron none the less. Our bodies are aware of this and it can be directly tied to the cravings. North America has the highest rates of iron deficiency anemia in the world, so it’s no wonder Dorito sales have done so well.

Our bodies are incredibly aware of their needs and we can have some ideas of what healthy options are, but at the end of the day your most valuable tool is to just trust your instincts. Next time you walk through your grocery store forget your list at home, walk through the fruits and vegetables and choose whatever foods are appealing to you in that moment. Don’t worry about meal planning or cooking, all of that will come together. Just shop from your heart and listen to your cravings. That’s the best way to ensure you are giving your body exactly what it is asking for. I guarantee it will thank you.

Food and Family

Last night I realized how important family is when it comes to eating healthy. I went over to my parent’s house for dinner last night for a wonderful home-cooked birthday meal for my brother. My family is very close, and we love getting together and sharing cooking ideas with one another. Great food, great company, and a little bit of wine makes for a very enjoyable evening!

What I realized last night is that my parents have had a crucial role in influencing me towards healthy eating. They have done this in a very subtle but effective way: by stressing the importance of vegetables to us. At every meal we would have at least 2 vegetable dishes as part of our meal. Take last night as an example. Not only did we have a wonderful, bright-coloured salad to enjoy, but we also had steamed asparagus to add to our plates. Vegetables have always been a large focus of our meals, and I realized that I took those values with me when I moved out. I love having a variety of vegetables to choose from, especially when munching throughout the day, or sitting down to dinner in the evening.

My parents make the best salads, although there is always a dispute on whether a salad should contain more lettuce and finely chopped vegetables, or whether it should contain very little lettuce and large chunks of veggies! What do you think?!

By having so many vegetables at each meal we learned early on that they were vital for our health. And the best part is that we didn’t even know that was what they were doing! Vegetables are so important, and I know that I have learned their value by example from my parents. Having these wonderful, nutritious foods at meal times shows kids that vegetables play an important role.

My family has influenced the way I eat in other ways. My parents love to act like chefs, and they get very excited when someone is at home to cook for. They love throwing things together (sometimes things that I am not too sure of!), and coming up with something new. I guess I know where I get my sense of adventure when wanting to try new combinations of things.

I also like to think that I have made an influence on the rest of my family. I always smile when I see brown rice in the cupboard instead of white rice. I feel a sense of pride when I see that they have supported a local farmer by buying free-range chicken from the Calgary Farmer’s Market. It feels good when they enjoy eating one of my “strange” meals! It is nice to know that I can help my family continue to eat healthy and open them up to some new things.

How have the people in your life opened you up to healthy eating, and how have you passed on your knowledge of food to others?