Natural and Organic Foods

Posted on August 7, 2008 
Filed Under Chief Blogging Officer, Uncategorized

I am an intuitive type of person and I know what makes sense to me, so I like to see scientific studies about topics that I am interested in, but I don’t depend on them exclusively. Scientific studies are often slanted depending on who is paying for them and what the desired conclusion of the benefactor may be. When a particular industry would be harmed by a widespread shift in the buying habits of the public, you have to realize that the old guard is going to do all that they can to maintain their market share. So “studies” are not always objective.

Common sense, intuitive knowing, and anecdotal evidence are what I rely on to make decisions for the most part, and eating natural and organic foods makes sense to me as a way to prevent illness and optimize your health.

The native Americans had a belief that you shouldn’t implement any drastic changes in the culture unless you knew what the result of those changes would be seven generations down the line. If we had taken this type of wisdom to heart rather than doing all that we could to subjugate the native American population and marginalize their wisdom as primitive myth, our environment wouldn’t be toxic and our food and water wouldn’t be tainted today. So with this in mind, it is logical to me that we have no idea what impact artificial coloring, preservatives, chemicals, animal hormones, antibiotics, and genetically engineered foods are having on our health.

Many if not most people would be rather quick to agree that it makes sense to eat natural foods, but they are of course more expensive, and some folks feel as though they simply can’t afford to buy organic and natural food. I can relate, but the cost of health care far exceeds a little extra coin invested in your long term health when you are doing your shopping.

Staying away from preservatives and artificial coloring can be done pretty reasonably, and I was just reading an article called “Top Tips for Shopping for Organic Foods on a Budget,” by Laura Klein, who is the Publisher of OrganicAuthority.com. In it she mentions things like prioritizing, selecting particular foods that are staples of your diet and committing to buying the organic version of them. One thing I like to do when prioritizing is buy organic versions of produce that is especially high in pesticides: strawberries, green bell peppers, cherries, spinach, celery, apples, peaches, green beans, grapes, cucumbers, and cantaloupe. (Source: San Diego Earth Times)

I used to struggle a great deal with allergies. When I was in school I would get red and itchy eyes and the roof of my mouth would itch. As I got older, the allergies manifested in the form of chronic sinus pressure and congestion. It was a constant annoyance, and I would use over-the-counter products and nasal sprays which would provide temporary relief, but I knew that they weren’t good for me in the long run.

Eventually, I got fed up and decided to change my diet and eat nothing but natural foods and see if that would help. Lo and behold, my symptoms went away almost immediately and I have had no trouble since, and this was over ten years ago.

I think that most health challenges can be met by lifestyle changes, and it has been my experience that eating natural and organic foods can have a dramatic positive impact on your health and well being. Like exercise, eating natural foods becomes a part of your lifestyle and you begin to work with your body’s needs instead of against them, and the long term health benefits of a conscious, intelligent, healthy lifestyle are truly immeasurable.

           

Comments

One Response to “Natural and Organic Foods”

  1. Acai Berry Pills on August 24th, 2008 1:12 pm

    I’m always into discussions on anything organic, so this read made me feel at home.
    I’ll bookmark the site and subscribe to the feed!

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