Fw: Organic Bytes: 2010 - The Year of Eating Organically

[Guest guest]

Muhammad Ahmad Al-Masry

64, Muhammad Korayem Street,

Gomrok, Alexandria, Egypt

Tel: 0020-03-4800555

Fax: 0020-03-3082667

Web: massrii

massrii

 

December 30, 2009

Organic Bytes #206: 2010 - The Year of Eating Organically

Health, Justice and Sustainability News

from the Organic Consumers Association

Edited by: Alexis Baden-Mayer and Ronnie Cummins

 

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2010 New Year's Resolution: Boycott Chemical & GMO Foods, Eat Organically

 

In This Issue:

 

Why We Should All Eat More Organic Food

How to Identify Real Organic Food

 

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Why We Should All Eat More Organic Food

Organic Food is More Nutritious

Organic foods, especially raw or non-processed, contain higher levels of beta

carotene, vitamins C, D and E, health-promoting polyphenols, cancer-fighting

antioxidants, flavonoids that help ward off heart disease, essential fatty

acids, and essential minerals.

On the average, organic food is 25% more nutritious in terms of vitamins and

minerals than products derived from industrial agriculture. Since on the

average, organic food's shelf price is only 20% higher than chemical food, this

makes it actually cheaper, gram for gram, than chemical food, even ignoring the

astronomical hidden costs (damage to health, climate, environment, and

government subsidies) of industrial food production. Levels of antioxidants in

milk from organic cattle are between 50% and 80% higher than normal milk.

Organic wheat, tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, onions and lettuce have between 20%

and 40% more nutrients than non-organic foods.

Organic food contains qualitatively higher levels of essential minerals (such as

calcium, magnesium, iron and  chromium), that are severely depleted in chemical

foods grown on pesticide and nitrate fertilizer-abused soil. UK and US

government statistics indicate that levels of trace minerals in (non-organic)

fruit and vegetables fell by up to 76% between 1940 and 1991.

 

Organic Food is Pure Food, Free of Chemical Additives

Organic food doesn't contain food additives, flavor enhancers (like MSG),

artificial sweeteners (like aspartame and high-fructose corn syrup),

contaminants (like mercury) or preservatives (like sodium nitrate), that can

cause health problems.

Eating organic has the potential to lower the incidence of autism, learning

disorders, diabetes, cancer, coronary heart disease, allergies, osteoporosis,

migraines, dementia, and hyperactivity.

 

Organic Food Is Safer

Organic food doesn't contain pesticides. More than 400 chemical pesticides are

routinely used in conventional farming and residues remain on non-organic food

even after washing. Children are especially vulnerable to pesticide exposure.

One class of pesticides, endocrine disruptors, are likely responsible for early

puberty and breast cancer. Pesticides are linked to asthma and cancer.

Organic food isn't genetically modified. Under organic standards, genetically

modified (GM) crops and ingredients are prohibited.

Organic animals aren't given drugs. Organic farming standards prohibit the use

of antibiotics, growth hormones and genetically modified vaccines in farm

animals. Hormone-laced beef and dairy consumption is correlated with increased

rates of breast, testis and prostate cancers.

Organic animals aren't fed animal remains or slaughterhouse waste, blood, or

manure. Eating organic reduces the risks of CJD, the human version of mad cow

disease, as well as Alzheimer's.

Organic animals aren't fed arsenic.

Organic animals aren't fed byproducts of corn ethanol production (which

increases the rate of E. coli contamination).

Organic crops aren't fertilized with toxic sewage sludge or coal waste, or

irrigated with E. coli contaminated sewage water.

Organic food isn't irradiated. Cats fed a diet of irradiated food got multiple

sclerosis within 3-4 months.

Organic food contains less illness-inducing bacteria. Organic chicken is free of

salmonella and has a reduced incidence of campylobacter.

LEARN MORE

 

How to Identify Real Organic Food

 

Look for the USDA Organic Seal or the Words " Made With Organic Ingredients "

When you see the " USDA Organic " seal, you know that the food is at least 95%

organic, does not contain genetically modified organisms, was not irradiated,

and comes from a farm that:

* Employs positive soil building, conservation, manure management and crop

rotation practices.

* Provides outdoor access and pasture for livestock.

* Refrains from antibiotic and hormone use in animals.

* Sustains animals on 100% organic feed.

* Keeps records of all operations.

* Is inspected annually by an accredited Third-Party Organic Certifier.

If it is a multi-ingredient product, it was made at a certified organic

processing plant that takes strict measures to avoid contamination of organic

products.

Products that are " Made With Organic Ingredients " are at least 70% organic and

are also free from genetically modified organisms and food irradiation.

 

Organic Food On a Budget

When comparing prices in the grocery aisles, the organic version of particular

items is often 20% on the average more expensive, but if you make a pledge to

eat more organic, you'll likely save money overall by eating out at restaurants

less often, packing your lunch, and cooking from scratch.

 

LEARN MORE

 

Let Us Know You're Going Organic in the New Year!

 

Organic Consumers Association's Facebook Fan Page

Organic Consumers Association's Facebook Group

Organic Consumers on Twitter

 

PLEASE DONATE!

OCA Needs Your Help to Spread the Organic Revolution

OCA and our national, now international, network of organic consumers and

farmers understand that we have a positive life-affirming solution for the

global food, health, and climate crisis: organic food, farming, and ranching.

But to get out our all-important message we need your support and your

donations. So please send us a tax-deductible donation today.

The OCA's yearly fundraiding drive kicked off at the beginning of December, so

please help us reach our goal of raising $75,000 by January 1st, 2010!

PLEASE DONATE

 

LOCAL Your State NEWS OF THE WEEK

Your State - Get Involved Locally

 

Learn more about OCA related action alerts and other news in Your State here.

Join Your State discussion groups in our forum.

Post events in Your State on our community calendar.

 

Message from our Sponsors

Living Tree Community Foods

Dear brothers and sisters,

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We invite you to visit us online at www.livingtreecommunity.com or call toll

free at 1 800-260-5534

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please forward this publication to family and friends, place it on web sites,

print it, duplicate it and post it freely. Knowledge is power!

Organic Bytes is a publication of Organic Consumers Association

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218-353-7652

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Muhammad Masry

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