Natural Foods V Processed

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Organic versus Conventionally Grown Foods      Everyone wants to eat nutritious foods and most people can tell you exactly what they are. People are divided into two camps: conventionally grown (cg) versus organic foods. By far, most of the cg foods that are available to us are processed. The seeds for plant products have been genetically engineered and some have been irradiated. The plants are grown using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Once harvested, the plants are refined and vitamins and minerals added to them. During processing, the food is further enhanced with vitamins, minerals, preservatives and colourings. Finally, the product is canned, boxed or frozen before it reaches the consumer. Today, over $2.1 trillion of foods, beverages and consumer package goods are sold annually. Organic foods are grown without the use of irradiation, bioengineering or pesticides. Meat products are raised without antibiotics or hormones. The USDA defines organic three ways. The term 100% organic means only organic ingredients are found in the product. Organic means that it has 95% organic ingredients. Made with organic ingredients means that only 70% of the product is made with organic ingredients. Contains organic ingredients means that the product contains less than 70% organic ingredients. Farmers who grow organic produce and meat must follow strict soil and water conservation methods and guidelines for the humane treatment of animals. Today, over consumers buy more than $15 billion of organic foods and beverages annually. Okay, so which is better? Just because a product says it's organic or contains organic ingredients doesn't necessarily mean it's a healthier alternative than cg foods. Some organic products may actually be higher in sugar, salt, fat or calories. Before you buy, check the labels of all food products to know exactly what you are getting.   Nutrition There is no scientific evidence or support from the USDA that organic food is more nutritious than conventionally grown food.   Quality The same quality and safety standards apply to organic and conventionally grown foods.   Appearance Organic foods may be smaller, have odd shapes or varying colors, but in most cases, they look identical to their cg counterparts. Because they aren't treated with waxes, organic fruits and vegetables are not shiny and without preservatives they spoil faster. Taste Taste is a matter of personal choice. People are divided as to whether organic and non-organic foods taste the same or are different. Common sense dictates that the freshest foods available will have the best taste. Most fruits and vegetables taste best if they are bought the day they are brought to market. Taste is also affected by the way produce is stored and prepared at home.   Pesticides Conventional growers use pesticides to protect their crops from moulds, insects and diseases. This is one reason that many people prefer organically grown foods, which are not treated with pesticides. Studies have shown that the amount of residue found on fruits and vegetables is minimal and poses no real health risk. Nonetheless, you should wash all fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly with running water. Peel both and trim the outer leaves of leafy vegetables after washing them. Because pesticide residue is found in fat, remove fat from meat and the skin from poultry and fish.   Cost Organic food can cost 50-100% more than cg food products. This is due to higher labor costs, tighter government regulations and lower crop yields. You should consider the best value for your money before buying either cg or organic foods.   My belief is that food production will change and eventually more and more information will be required on food labels. Maybe within another 5 years food labels will reveal about the pesticides used during production as well as the nutritional content. Remember to keep checking the food labels for all the information!   References Consumer Reports.Org. (February 2006) When it Pays to buy Organic. URL: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/food/diet-nutrition/organic-products/organic-products-206/overview/index.htm. Doyle, M. Ellin. (November 2006) Natural and Organic Foods: Safety Considerations - A Brief Review of the Literature. Food Research Institute, University of Wisconsin–Madison. URL: http://www.wisc.edu/fri/briefs/FRIBrief_NaturalOrgFoods.pdf. Mayo Clinic.Com. (December 20, 2006) Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious? URL: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/NU00255. North Carolina State University. (no date). What does the Organic Label Really Mean? NCSU Successful Family. URL: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/successfulfamily/Nutrition%20&%20Wellness/organlab.htm. Van Dusen, Allison. (March 2, 2007) Cleaning out the Fridge: Toss these Food Myths. Forbes.Com. URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17390027.       Ways to Increase Thermogenesis Different Thyroid Gland Problems The Medifast eDiet program Can Eating regularly Help Lose Weight effectively? 7 ways to remove body fat from body   What is Wheat Germ? Foods High in Selenium A List of High Magnesium Sources Diet of Rich Sodium Foods Phosphorus Rich Food Sources

Anaerobic exercise burns more carbohydrates but can help increase metabolism to burn fat indirectly Optimise your body to burn fat quickly learn secrets on how to burn fat during any exercise Blood Type Dieting program Losing the fat from the chest area Emotional Eating Habits, how to combat them! Measuring calories in food, techniques on how Learn what the best exercise would be to lose weight permanently. The number of calories burned during a day depends on various factors The obese person V's the athlete for a fat burning workout Anaerobic & aerobic exercise may cause muscle loss A calorie burning exercise is important for weight loss Tips and tricks on increasing energy expenditure Calculate energy expenditure for exercise Diet supplements revealed Site map   All tools and information on this site are intended as an aid to help healthy adults lose weight and not intended as medical advice. The information presented here is not for pregnant or breast-feeding women or for any person under the age of 18. If you suffer or think you may suffer from any medical condition you should consult your doctor before starting any weight loss exercise regime. Any weight loss exercise programs or diet should be started slowly and we advise you to always consult your doctor or physician beforehand. The information on this page may NOT be accurate, therefore you should NOT take any of the content as a source of reference for any reason whatsoever! You are responsible for comparing the information with an accurate source before using any, or part of this content.

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