With the growing polemic of health issues that are caused by the chemicals and pesticides being used on vegetables and fruits, more and more people are turning to organic food. Women across America are looking for ways to protect themselves and their families. Here are some important things you need to know.
The United States Department of Agriculture now uses a seal that is placed on all fruits, vegetables and animal products, identifying them as being truly organic. Although the foods only have to be 95 percent organic, this is definitely an improvement and lends some credibility to foods in the organic sections of the supermarkets and health food stores. Consumers can see this seal on the produce itself, on the packages or on the signs in the store.
The only way consumers can be assured that the food they are purchasing is 100 percent organic is to examine the package. The USDA organic seal will be present along with a sticker saying 100 percent organic. If only the USDA seal is present, you will need to keep in mind that the food is only 95 percent organic and may contain a small amount of pesticides or chemicals.
Any food product of animal origin that is labeled as being organic must come from animals that have been free from chemicals and growth hormones for at least three years. The animals must be allowed to be outside, and they must be fed organic food. These farms are only allowed to use the USDA organic seal after they have been inspected and found to be in compliance with these rules.
Organic food is considerably better for your health. By reducing the toxins and heavy metals in your body, it lowers your risk for diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and anemia. Scientific studies have indicated over the years that organic food has a profound effect on one’s health.
Organic gardening has a definite impact on the environment as well. It does away with chemicals and pesticides being leached into the ground water and the soil quality is improved. Even the health of the farm worker benefits from organic farming.
The greatest benefit of organic food is that it is more nutritious, allowing it to provide your body with the vitamins and minerals that it needs to remain healthy. When you consider medical costs as a result of consuming non-organic food, even the cost of organic foods is less. No matter how you look at it, the benefits of organically grown products far outweighs non-organic foods.