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- Автор: Super User
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Understanding the Benefits of Organic Food and the Risks of GMOs and Pesticides
Organic food has become very popular. But navigating the maze of organic food labels, benefits, and claims can be confusing. Is organic food really healthier? Do GMOs and pesticides cause cancer and other diseases? What do all the labels mean? This guide can help you make better choices about which organic foods are healthier for you and better for the environment, and how you can afford to incorporate more organic food into your diet.
What is organic food?
Making a commitment to healthy eating is a great start towards a healthier life. Beyond eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and good fats, however, there is the question of food safety, nutrition, and sustainability. How foods are grown or raised can impact both your health and the environment. This brings up the questions: What is the difference between organic foods and conventionally grown foods? Is “organic” always best? Are GMOs safe? What about locally grown foods?
What does “organic” mean?
The term “organic” refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. Specific requirements must be met and maintained in order for products to be labeled as "organic."
Organic crops must be grown in safe soil, have no modifications, and must remain separate from conventional products. Farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs), petroleum-based fertilizers, and sewage sludge-based fertilizers.
Organic livestock must have access to the outdoors and be given organic feed. They may not be given antibiotics, growth hormones, or any animal-by-products.
The benefits of organic food
Organic foods provide a variety of benefits. Some studies show that organic foods have more beneficial nutrients, such as antioxidants, than their conventionally grown counterparts. In addition, people with allergies to foods, chemicals, or preservatives often find their symptoms lessen or go away when they eat only organic foods. In addition:
- Organic produce contains fewer pesticides. Pesticides are chemicals such as fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides. These chemicals are widely used in conventional agriculture and residues remain on (and in) the food we eat.
- Organic food is often fresher. Fresh food tastes better. Organic food is usually fresher because it doesn’t contain preservatives that make it last longer. Organic produce is often (but not always, so watch where it is from) produced on smaller farms near where it is sold.
- Organic farming is better for the environment. Organic farming practices reduce pollution (air, water, soil), conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy. Farming without pesticides is also better for nearby birds and small animals as well as people who live close to or work on farms.
- Organically raised animals are NOT given antibiotics, growth hormones, or fed animal byproducts. The use of antibiotics in conventional meat production helps create antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. This means that when someone gets sick from these strains they will be less responsive to antibiotic treatment. Not feeding animal byproducts to other animals reduces the risk of mad cow disease (BSE). In addition, the animals are given more space to move around and access to the outdoors, both of which help to keep the animals healthy.
- Organic food is GMO-free. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) or genetically engineered (GE) foods are plants or animals whose DNA has been altered in ways that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding, most commonly in order to be resistant to pesticides or produce an insecticide. In most countries, organic crops contain no GMOs and organic meat comes from animals raised on organic, GMO-free feed.
The controversy surrounding GMOs and pesticides
The ongoing debate about the effects of GMOs on health and the environment and whether GM food in the U.S. should be labeled is a controversial one. In most cases, GMOs are engineered to make food crops resistant to herbicides (weedkillers) and/or to produce an insecticide. For example, much of the sweet corn consumed in the U.S. is genetically engineered to be resistant to the herbicide Roundup and to produce its own insecticide, Bt Toxin.
As well as corn, GMOs are commonly found in U.S. crops such as soybeans, alfalfa, squash, zucchini, papaya, and canola, and are present in many breakfast cereals and much of the processed food that we eat. Take a look at your favorite canned or packaged food. If the ingredients include corn syrup or soy lecithin, chances are it contains GMOs.
Are GMOs safe?
While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the biotech companies that engineer GMOs insist they are safe, many food safety advocates point out that these products have undergone only short-term testing to determine their effects on humans and the environment. Since the technology is relatively new, no long term studies have ever been conducted to confirm the safety of GMO use, while some animal studies have indicated that consuming GMOs may cause internal organ damage, slowed brain growth, and thickening of the digestive tract.
GMOs have been linked to increased food allergens and gastro-intestinal problems in humans. Many people think that altering the DNA of a plant or animal can also increase the chances of developing cancer. However, so far research into the link between GMOs and serious disease has proven inconclusive.
GMOs and the increased use of pesticides
The introduction of GMOs has had a profound effect on the level of pesticides present on and in our food, and potentially on the health of human beings and the environment. Since most GMOs are engineered for herbicide tolerance, the use of toxic herbicides like Roundup has increased 15 times since GMOs were introduced. Again, there is some controversy over the level of health risks posed by the use of pesticides.
What are the possible risks of pesticides?
- Some studies have indicated that the use of pesticides even at low doses can increase the risk of certain cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, brain tumors, breast cancer and prostate cancer.
- Children and fetuses are most vulnerable to pesticide exposure because their immune systems, bodies, and brains are still developing. Exposure at an early age may cause developmental delays, behavioral disorders, autism, and motor dysfunction.
- Pregnant women are more vulnerable due to the added stress pesticides put on their already taxed organs. Plus pesticides can be passed from mother to child in the womb, as well as through breast milk. Some exposures can cause delayed effects on the nervous system, even years after the initial exposure.
- Most of us have an accumulated build-up of pesticide exposure in our bodies due to numerous years of exposure. This chemical "body burden" as it is medically known could lead to health issues such as headaches, birth defects, and added strain on weakened immune systems.
- The widespread use of pesticides has led to the emergence of “super weeds” and “super bugs,” which can only be killed with extremely toxic poisons like 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (a major ingredient in Agent Orange).
- Подробности
- Автор: Super User
- Категория: Uncategorised
SOULCARE - ABOUT US
I, Omar Botha, CEO & Healer of SOULCARE Group have put together a Dynamic, Holistic company that looks after the basic needs of people to create a healthy sustainable world for better Financial, Spiritual, Physical & Emotional Health.
Soulcare is a Group of companies focused on environmental awareness, healthy living, eating and lifestyle. Soulcare offers you the client various sustainable products that will satisfy your basic needs. We encourage the use of natural products and organic produce for a healthier and sustainable environment. The time has come to change the way we look at the future. We have seen so many examples of global climate change, floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters all due to pollution, unhealthy living and not taking into consideration the effects that our everyday lives and the decisions that we make on a daily basis, has on our planet.
Life is full of abundance -let's make a change for the better for us and for our future generations. Soulcare Kids, are offering you the client the best organic products for your kid's needs, food, clothing, bedding, toys and a lot more. Soulcare Food, supports organic farming and Healer Omar supplies daily information on nutrition and diet for better health and natural cures for various illnesses and pain. Did you know Prescription drugs cause side effects that look a lot like “aging”. Most drugs cause major cellular damage. They attack the mitochondria, the tiny energy generators in each cell of your body. Healer Omar offers various natural products online for any illness and pain.
EGP (executive golf promotions) started its roots in 1998. The focus was on corporate golf days and golf tours. Successful corporate golf days were put together where the professional businessman, golfer and rugby player had the chance to interact on a social level and to show off their skills on the golf course. From there it developed into getaway packages for golfers and soon Omar realised that there was another market that could be explored in a different way. In 2005 Omar started practising as a Healer and rebranded the company to name it SOULCARE.SOULCARE – Caring for the soul.
From there the name SOULCARE RETREATS.
Meaning: Retreat what you are doing, to recharge and rejuvenate the soul, to fuel the mind and body with renewed energy. Omar Botha believes it is healthier for a human to take regular short breaks to relax and recharge the mind, body and soul than to work oneself to death. If a person works non-stop for too long a period it may cause emotional, physical and mental fatigue that can lead to various illnesses and depression.
Omar believes in Balance and to achieve that he recommends taking time out every 5-6 weeks. Take a day or 2 off form the daily tasks and explore something that you always wanted to do. Today Soulcare Retreats can offer the client various packages from car rental, flights, accommodation, golf tours, cruises and even organic food and wine getaways.
Soulcare Retreats also focus on the corporate market for conferencing and other travel arrangements.
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