theORGANICgeek

FRESH ORGANIC Herbs You Grow ~vs~ Dried Herbs You Buy from the Grocer

2008-06-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

When I first started eating healthy, non-processed, non-packaged food I felt like my choices for variety and flavor were limited. Once I began eating fresh ORGANIC produce and meats the improvement in the the taste of food increased immensely; however, I quickly became bored with sea salt and pepper for seasoning.

I began to scour the Internet for organic recipes and then substitute the "fresh herb" ingredients with the spices I had in my pantry.

Then I learned more about why eating ORGANIC was so much better for us - the way it was grown, prepared, processed, and packaged without the toxic pesticides and herbicides. At the same time I began to notice that a few companies were putting dried organic and certified organic herbs and spices out on the shelf! HURRAY! Finally, I would be really cooking with all organic ingredients. I had heard that many herbs and spices lost some over their flavor and nutrients when the were dried or frozen, but this had to be better than the chemical laced stuff I had been using before. And they certainly were! Taste improved greatly using the ORGANIC herbs and spices I bought off the shelves at the grocer.

But, I kept noticing that my recipes would ask for "FRESH" herbs. I had never cooked with fresh herbs and I hadn't seen fresh ORGANIC herbs in the grocery stores yet. Even the produce stands and Organic Co-op where I purchased my produce and organic dairy products didn't sell "fresh" herbs.

I thank God for the plethora of info on the Internet! I know there is a lot of evil on here as well, but I love having so much information available at the push of a few keys.

I started reading about growing my own fresh herbs. I had already learned to container garden vegetables and flowers - but making a kitchen window garden of herbs that really produced healthy ORGANIC herbs would be a new endeavor. But I was willing to entertain the idea especially after I learned how easy it could be.

Having a herb garden in my kitchen is not only convenient; but it adds a natural organic beauty about it. And the difference in how my food is tasting is truly incredible. I never knew that "fresh" could make such a difference. And the smell coming from my kitchen while cooking is mmm-mmm good! Delicious!

Tune in tomorrow for hints on planting your own ORGANIC HERB GARDEN!

What are your OPTIONS when you can't buy ORGANIC?

2008-06-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

Times are tough.

Everyone is feeling the financial crunch.

And unfortunately eating healthy costs more than the "bad for you", processed, easier to cook, foods.

As you know, I am a strong supporter of organic gardening, eating, and living, and I encourage you to purchase organically-grown foods whenever possible. But, I also understand sometimes it is not possible to buy organic.

Here are some of the recommendations I found while scouring the Internet for when you can't buy organic:

First, make sure you've exhausted all of your local options. Check farmer's markets, community-supported farms, even roadside food stands. Locally-grown foods may or may not be lower in pesticides and other contaminants, but it's easy enough to ask and you may be surprised how many local growers you'll find within driving distance and how close to organic some of their foods may turn out to be. Sometimes local growers simply don't have the money to fund an organic certification process, even though they practice organic techniques in the way they grow their crops.

Talk to your local grocers. You may be surprised at their willingness to experiment with new foods, particularly if you are a patron of the store. In addition, ask questions about their non-organic produce and meats. These foods may turn out to be very different in terms of their quality. What information does the buyer have from the supplier? Can the buyer get more information? Could you contact the supplier yourself?
Shop online. Three sites that offer a variety of organic foods are: http://www.shopnatural.com , http://www.shopbyorganic.com , and http://www.oraganic.com/default.asp.

Read the ingredient lists on all non-organic food packaging. Although you cannot trust the terms "natural" or "all natural" on the front of the package, you can trust the ingredient lists to include most of the substances added to the food. Look for the terms "artificial flavor" and "artificial color." Also look for the FD&C colorings (for example, Yellow 5). Of course, you won't find pesticides, heavy metals, or other potentially toxic residues listed on ingredient lists. But watching out for other potential toxins is still very worthwhile.
Rinse your produce thoroughly and use a vegetable brush to help remove potential toxins found on the surface of the food. If you don't have a water filter installed on your kitchen sink, consider installing one so that your rinse will involve drinking water of high quality. For green leafy vegetables, consider soaking for several minutes in water or water and a small amount of lemon juice before rinsing.

Peel all waxed fruits. Also peel any fruits you know or suspect to be heavily sprayed.
Continue to use all of the other World's Healthiest Foods principles in your food selection. For example, continue to choose 100% whole grain products, even when they are not organic. Similarly, continue to choose cold pressed olive oil, lean meats, cold water fish, and a wide variety of natural spices and seasonings.

Enjoy the delicious flavors and textures of your food. Even when you haven't been able to buy organic, take satisfaction in the selections you've made and recognize the benefits of nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods, one-of-a-kind foods!

I truly believe that the time is coming when we will be able to buy ORGANIC at a reasonable cost. As holistic living and healthy eating is coming to the forefront of preventative medicine, and as more and more people realise that protecting themselves from the toxic chemicals in pesticides, as more people BUY ORGANIC, the cost will go down.

Whether you are able to buy all organic, or simply do some of the things I mentioned before to eat healthy, I hope you will take care of your WHOLE self ~ spirit, soul, and body!

Organically Yours-
KIMBERLY

So ORGANICgeek, "Why ORGANIC?"

2008-05-30T14:07:00.000-07:00

Organic! Organic! Organic!

It seems like everywhere you look today you see the word organic? Whether it’s in a health food store, a restaurant, or even your local grocery store- organic foods and products are all the rage. They are being sold practically everywhere, and you can find everything from organic fruits and vegetables to organic flour, and even organic meats.

So, what's the difference between what most of us have eaten all of our life and these CERTIFIED ORGANIC foods and products we are seeing in our stores in abundance today?

Simply put, certified organic products are grown and processed without the use of synthetic chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or GMO's (genetically modified organisms). It is an innovative method of farming and production that is increasingly being recognized as being the way of the future for food and fibre technology. Organics are not labeled such simply by way of a test, though.There are stringent guideline that govern such labeling. It's much more than that. It's about the way the product ingredients have been grown, prepared, processed and packaged. The whole system is linked. And each step is as important and vital as the next.

Standards to achieve certification are internationally recognized and are assured through annual audits of all certified operators by an independent third party auditor. In the United States the USDA seal is requires on products that advertise being certified.

What's the difference between a product that says "100% Organic", "Certified Organic", or "Made with Organic Ingredients"?

100% Organic

Contains 100% organic ingredients. The USDA seal and certifying agent may appear on the package.

Certified Organic

Product must consist of at least 95% organically produced ingredients. Any remaining product ingredients must be on the approved USDA/NOP National List. The USDA seal and certifying agent may appear on the product package.

Made with Organic Ingredients

Made with a minimum of 70% organic ingredients with strict restrictions on the remaining 30%. The product cannot carry the USDA seal but the certifying agent may appear on the package.

So is this increase in organic products just a fad? Or is it a trend towards health that baby boomers are forging.

The truth is that holistic health is no longer just for the "tree huggers" and "earth people" :) The whole world is becoming environmentally and chemically AWARE. Intelligent people from many different backgrounds, professions and generations are beginning to ask questions about WHY we are so sick. Questions are being asked about the chemicals and pesticides that are used on the foods we eat and the skincare products we use . INTELLIGENT people are acknowledging the acute and chronic effects that these chemicals appear to be having on our health. Being environmentally savvy is no longer just for those "health nuts". It has become the concern of all those who have ears to hear and/or eyes to see. To ignore the truth concerning these chemicals, and how they are effecting the earth and all it's inhabitants, is to choose to remain ignorant.

Washing fruit and vegetables thoroughly before consuming them has always been advocated by authorities on the subject, but the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org) reminds consumers that even a thorough cleaning does not effectively remove all of the chemicals left behind.

"While washing fresh produce may help reduce pesticide residues, it clearly does
not eliminate them," says EWG. "Nonetheless, produce should be washed before
it is eaten because washing does reduce levels of some pesticides. However, it is important to remember that some pesticides are taken up internally in the plant, or in the fruit, and cannot be
washed off…”

Does eating and using certified organic fruits, vegetable, food, and products really mean you are making a better health decisions? Does it really matter?

It seems that more and more evidence is being uncovered that suggests the answer to that question is a resounding "Yes"!!

In essence, synthetic pesticides and herbicides are toxic. And consuming foods that have been subject to pesticide spraying means that you’re consuming those toxins. Nowadays, pesticides are suspected to have negative effects on development and on neurological systems. In fact, the EPA recently agreed to begin a study on the effects of 73 of the most common pesticides on the endocrine system and thus our health.

Granted, eating one apple grown in pesticides may not cause your health to go suddenly downhill; however, prolonged exposure and consumption over an extended period of time is of great concern to scientists.

In contrast, the potential for positive impact that eating organic foods can and most probably will have on your health is quite significant.

ORGANICS! ORGANICS! ORGANICS!

They're here to stay. It's food as it was originally intended. IT'S HEALTH AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED.

May God Himself make you whole~spirit, soul, and body!

Peace!~
Kimberly