Luke asked:


I mean it’s still fat, and alot of saturated fat in all of those as well. But is it safe and okay to eat regularly, or should all types of fat be eaten as little as possible including good fats from whole foods, organic foods, fish, etc?

Aren’t we supposed to include fat in our diets?

The ONLY fat that’s technically bad for us is trans fat right?

Saturated fat is OK?

Trans and saturated are different type of fats.

Rebecca R asked:


Im writing a research paper and just wanted to take a quick poll! If organic food was cheaper than it is now, lets say the same cost as conventional food, would you buy it more often than you do now?

Darin Steen asked:


In the last 25 years I have been asked thousands and thousands of fitness related questions. Invariably the most prominent question is, with their hand patting their tummy, how do I lose this? My answer is the same every-time. Eat less (portion size in each setting), eat more often with protein and carbs combined together, and eat higher quality less processed foods.

Eating higher quality food on the surface seems easy. No junk food, right. That’s not enough anymore we must have more information because the quality of the food we are eating is at an all time low. The big food companies have laced everything with chemicals and preservatives so it will last longer so they can make more money. God did not intend for all those altered substances to be in our body. Thus, we are seeing many new diseases that seem to have no cause. I will tell you what the cause is; it’s the artificial sweeteners, artificial fats, chemicals and preservatives that we are putting in our mouth. We are what we eat.

When you understand that your body is in a constant state of regeneration, then the term “you are what you eat” takes on a whole different meaning.

Bear with me if this is old info, but it is very important. Every cell in your body will be dead and gone in approximately one year. Your skin, your bones, your muscles, your organs, and even the atoms and cells that make up your DNA are in a constant state of degeneration and regeneration. Common sense will tell you that when we put in a higher quality nutrients, the by product will be higher quality regenerating cells.

It has even been proven that the cells that make up a diseased part of the body like a tumor or a cancer are totally dead and gone within 14 months. So, if we can take in a very high quality nutrition, lower our stress levels, and visualize healing, there is a chance to regenerate healthy cells to replace diseased cells. This is a very touchy subject as I believe there is a time and a place for western medicine which tends to use pharmaceuticals as a band aid to cover up the symptoms of a sickness or disease. But I think that they should be used as a last resort only after more holistic approaches have been exhausted. If you are at these crossroads, I highly suggest that you consult with a specialist like Deepak Chopra in Toronto (1.800.333.4453)

Is expensive organic food worth it? On the surface, it does not seem that the extra cost and the inconvenience of purchasing more often (because quality organic food spoils faster) is worth it. But I ask you, how much does it costs to get cancer, or to have a heart attack.

It totally amazes me that we are so driven that we lose our health to make money and then we turn around and spend all our money trying to get our health back. It does not have to be this way.

Some of the latest groundbreaking medical information out from some of the leading holistic practitioners in the world are realizing that the traditional western medical professionals have totally missed the boat. And I firmly agree with this new info that has all kinds of proof showing us that 95% of all disease and illness is environmental. We bring it on ourselves by lowering our immune system with an unhealthy lifestyle.

Even the American Cancer Society (ACS) is finally conceding that cancer is 60% environmentally inflicted. Which means it is our lifestyle. This is important stuff because cancer has recently passed heart disease as the #1 killer in Americans under the age of 85.

This is amazing information considering that the ACS’s ties to the pharmaceutical industry runs very deep. Obviously there is more money in treating cancer than preventing it. But even the ACS can not ignore the obvious.

Modern medicine is a platform for profit, not health. I know I could get myself into trouble on this topic (and I have in our local newspapers), but this is a topic close to my heart. I know that there are a lot of well intentioned MD’s out there, but for the most part, their hands are tied. The corruption happens much higher up.

Example- Diabetes is such a profitable business that physicians will put pre-diabetic patients, with only marginally high blood sugar, onto diabetes drugs before even trying weight loss and exercise. As discussed in chapter 1, Type II Adult onset diabetes is one of the easiest cured diseases when the individual is given the correct information.

The American Institute of Cancer’s most recent press release (Nov. of 2007) reports clear evidence that excess body-weight drastically increases the risk of most cancers.

The report also found that there are certain lifestyle changes that will reduce your risk of getting cancer. Some of the health benefits of organic foods is below:

Be as lean as possible within the normal range of body weight

Be physically active as part of everyday life

Limit consumption of “energy-dense foods,” foods that are high in calories, fat and sugar. Avoid sugary drinks

Eat mostly foods of plant origin, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans

Limit intake of red meat and avoid ALL processed meat

Aim to meet nutritional needs through diet alone, without dietary supplement

Please read the last line again.

YES, ORGANIC FOOD IS WORTH IT! LOOK AT IT AS AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR VITALITY.

When you eat food that is not organic, what you are eating is loaded with poisons and chemicals. Companies that produce food for the masses have one thing in mind, quantity not quality. They will do what ever they have to do to get as much food as they can from point A (the ground that is depleted of ) to point B (your mouth). They are trying to prolong the shelf life of the natural food so that you have a chance to purchase it.

The longer the shelf life of the food that you eat, the shorter your shelf life will be. If it came out of the ground and rots, it is good for you!

These companies are loading there foods with toxins and poisons, it has been sprayed with pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. Most of the foods on the shelves of a traditional grocery store have been injected with chemicals. The fertilizers that their farmers use are all poisons and chemicals. The fertilizers get into the roots of the plants and end up inside the fruit, and the fruit itself can’t even bare fruit. Most of the fruit now days is made from hybrid seeds that produce fruit that can’t even germinate and reproduce its own kind. It can’t even sustain its own, how is it going to sustain you in the long run. Bottom line, when you eat the cheaper food that is produced for the masses, it is like eating an apple that has been sprayed with Raid. And no, washing it off doesn’t help because it is inside the apple and in the skin. The chemicals and preservatives that the national food companies use are 100’s of times more powerful than Raid.

IS ORGANIC FOOD REALLY BETTER?

Yes! I am not going to bore you with the details of the most recent tests that are coming in (but they are coming in) showing that genuinely grown organic food has 50% more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than foods produced for the masses. You should buy organic foods!

I realize that it may not be realistic to eat organic food 100% of the time. But at least now you have some food for thought (J). My experience is that it is something that you must grow into. What has worked for my family is a commitment to organic food 25% of the time. Once you can prove to yourself that you can feel the difference than you can grow into eating organic food more often.

The organic food industry is now a $14 Billion dollar a year business in the United States so big business is getting more involved. The quality and meaning of the organic label is undergoing a fast decline. Companies like Wal-Mart are pushing the limits on what can be called organic and are even trying to deceive people with organic signs and stickers in their stores.

BUY LOCAL! If you want the freshest, most nutrient rich foods available, buy close to home. Farmers markets, community supported agriculture programs, food coops are your best bet. I highly suggest that you google search “high quality organic food/farmers market/your city and state” and go visit these farms or markets. Some of these farmers may not be able to afford or want to get certified to sell organic but just because they are not certified does not mean that their produce is not the highest quality. With a little bit of leg work, you will soon be able to find high quality organic food close to home. Like I have done you may be able to set up delivery points with a couple of farmers to add a little bit of convenience.

Finding high quality organic food close to your home is not as difficult as it sounds. The bottom line is look for farmers who are practicing sound organic farming principles and are producing small amounts of food.

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


If you’re thinking about going organic there are a few things which you might want to look into first. And one of the most important aspects of trying to go organic is finding good organic food suppliers from whom you can get your organic foods. This includes not only organic fruits and vegetables, but also organic meat and poultry, organic dairy produce as well as organic processed foods.

All of these things come under the heading of organic foods, and when you’re looking to find organic food suppliers for your own needs, then you will have to take these into account as well. On the one hand, and depending on where you live, you have the option of going to the source to get your organic foods, but this will only work if you live in close proximity to organic farmers.

If you do live near an organically run farm, then you have will most likely not have a problem obtaining your organic produce and things. However, since an organic farm will only be able to produce a limited number of organically grown items, it does behoove you to find other organic food suppliers who will be able to look after your other organic needs.

If on the other hand you live in a big city which is miles away from the nearest organic farm, you will have to look around for your organic food suppliers. The best place for you to look would be your local food chain or supermarket, but it’s not guaranteed that these places will a) have organic foods to begin with; and b) whether they will have a wide range of organic products for you to choose from.

That said, your next option when looking at organic food suppliers is to locate your nearest health store, make certain that it sells organic foods items and go there for all your organic food needs.

This option however, comes with a few drawbacks, the largest one being the elevated price. Not all health food stores will be expensive, but to a very great extent many health food stores carry food items which are costly, and when you throw in the word “organic” into that mix, it just drives up the prices. Organic foods are costly enough without having to add health food store prices into it as well.

Another option for you to take, and this does seem to be your best option is to go through the many online organic food suppliers to get your organic food needs. Here you will find that you have a larger array of organic foods to choose from as well as a larger number of organic food suppliers to choose from.

Trevor C asked:


I don’t care about theory, speculation, old wives’ tales, or trends. Is there any empirical data that shows the health benefits of organic food?

Ronnie Wilson asked:


If you are like many other individuals, there is a good chance that you have heard that organic foods are healthier to eat. This may have caught your attention. If you are uncertain about making the switch to organic foods, you may be looking for reasons why you should. One of the most common questions asked is why organic foods are better? For a number of answers to that question, please continue reading on.

When it comes to organic foods, it is important to know that not just anyone can make organic foods. There are strict standards. Foods and organic food companies that are certified by the Quality Assurance International group (QAI) must undergo rigorous tests and meet very high standards. When this is done, all foods should be stamped with a Certified Organic by QAI sticker or label. This certification helps to give many comfort in knowing that the foods that they eat are truly healthy.

Another one of the many reasons why organic food is better for you is because it usually tastes better. This means that you and other eaters are more likely to eat more organic foods, as well as stick with organic foods or start a fully organic diet. These steps can help to improve your health. This is mostly due in part because vegetables and fruits are grown without the assistance of pesticides and other potentially harmful chemicals. Clean soil, which is required when growing organic foods, is likely to produce better results, which should mean better tasting food.

It has also been said that organic foods can help to lower the risk of cancer. Although some pesticides that farmers use are considered safe by many, there are still a number of risks, including a risk of cancer. This is alarming, but it is also something that many individuals are not aware of. Although the EPA does consider many chemicals, including weed killers and insect killers to be dangerous, they are still used on many of the foods, namely fruits and vegetables, that are sold today. This is not something that you have to worry about when buying organic foods. That is why many claim that organic foods can reduce your chances of cancer.

Although there are a number of benefits to eating organic foods, especially where health and wellness is concerned, many individuals are concerned with the cost. Yes, organic food does cost more money, but many still consider it to be well worth the cost. Some ask themselves if it is even possible to put a price tag on health. Even with the high costs of organic food, it is still possible to save money. You can do this by using organic food coupons, searching for organic food sales, and stocking up when you do find those sales. Many stores outline their weekly sales in store sale fliers or online. Organic food coupons can be found online or in weekend newspaper inserts.

Since there are a number of benefits to eating organically, you may be serious about doing so. If you are, you will find that you have a number of different options, in terms of organic food purchase points. Organic food, including fresh food, is sold online and locally. Your local options tend to include the organic food section at your supermarket or a specialty organic food stores.

Julian Hall asked:


Sir John’s comments led to a letter in The Guardian newspaper from the Policy Director of the Soil Association, Peter Melchett who wrote, ‘Sir John’s anti-organic prejudice is matched by his love of GMOs…”. So, in 2006, has the organic information overload left us with facts or fiction? We take a look at the top 5 myths.

1. No nutritional difference between organic and conventional produce.

According to the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics the demand for organic foods are increasing due to consumers believing they are safer and healthier than conventional foods. Even though there are still gaps and limits in scientific knowledge, what we do know is that fewer chemicals are used in small organic farming than conventionally grown alternatives. It is well documented that residues remain on our conventional foods and consumed by us over decades, aids heavily to accumulating fatty tissue. Organic food regulations prohibit hydrogenated fat, phosphoric acid, preservatives, colourings, hormones, antibiotics, GMOs and 7000 other artificial flavourings that are permitted in conventional food.

There is also the environmental issue to which the organic farming method lends its benefits. The use of drugs is restricted in organic farming which not only keeps animals healthy but results in cryptosporidium, listeria and almonella being a rare occurrence in organic foods. There is a direct relationship between intensive cattle-rearing and E.coli which is virtually non-existent in organic beef, but kills over 200 Americans and Britons each year.

2.Consumers are paying too much for organic food?

This debate has grown since the days of comparing the price of an organic apple for a conventional apple. It seems that the ‘value’ of organic produce goes beyond its price tag.

Nutritionally: In terms of dry weight and nutrients, organic food tends to have more in it Why? Produce grown organically through modern methods of small organic farming must be done in enriched soil. The growth of a plant can be sped up by agrochemicals changing its structure to have more water in it. As a result, non-organic produce can sometimes shrink more on cooking as the water content dissipates.

Price: Average price difference is 20 per cent between organic and non-organic. However given that it can contain up to 26 per cent more dry matter (less water) could it actually be cheaper to buy organic?

Conclusion: It may still look like an apple you are actually buying less food if you don’t buy organic.

3. Organic food and weight loss.

Organic butter can still make you put on weight and clog up your arteries. Organic sweets and sugar will still rot your teeth. However, certain kinds of organic food based nutrients found in vegetable broth can act as appetite suppressants as it does not contain excitotoxins. What are excitotoxin? These ingredients can cause neurological disorders by overexciting nerve cells and so causing hunger. Ingredients such as vegetable proteins, autolyzed yeast extract, MSG, yeast extract and others. This is perhaps more important in babies who can eat five times the amount of food per kg as an adult. Therefore, making sure they eat correctly and to not overeat is nowadays a growing concern. Babies in particular eat far more fruit and vegetables than most adults and are the very foods most likely to be covered in agrichemical residues.

4. The public is happy with regular, non-organic produce.

Some say that the public is happy with what’s on the supermarket shelves, however various consumer surveys in Europe show many people are worried about pesticides, NPK fertilizers in small organic farming and processed food in general. In the United Kingdom a survey found 44% of all consumers were concerned about pesticides and 43% about the use of food additives (Food Standards Agency, 2003). This suggests that organic food based nutrients is something which people are taking more notice of.

5. Organic farming increases the risk of food poisoning.

The Department of Nutrition in Greece said:

“It is difficult…to weigh the risks, but what should be made clear to consumers is that ‘organic’ does not equal ‘safe’.

Much of this was based on the theory that if we don’t use ‘modern’ day chemical pesticides that bacteria such as E Coli could not effectively be treated on crops. However studies made by S.K. Sagoo, C.L. Little & R.T. Mitchell on the microbiological quality of organic vegetables in UK small organic farming & demand showed that: “The majority (3185 of 3200; 99•5%) of samples were found to be of satisfactory/acceptable quality whilst only 15 (0•5%) were of unsatisfactory quality. Unsatisfactory results were due to Escherichia coli and Listeria spp…..The absence of pathogens and the low incidence of E. coli indicate that overall agricultural, hygiene; harvesting and production practices were good”

They suggested that the growth in the organic market has reflected an increase in the associated microbiological safety.

jerry M asked:


I always buy organic food and think twice before eating out because virtually all restaurants, even fancy ones, almost never buy organic.

I believe that lower levels of pesticides, herbicides, etc lowers the risk of cancer because of many of those chemicals are carcinogens.

But were there any studies done supporting or not supporting my point of view?

Zachary Thompson asked:


There are many contaminants that assault us on a daily basis. These toxins are in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the foods we eat, to name just a few. Eating organic food greatly reduces the toxins we consume in our food. Organic food is becoming more popular as people are becoming more health conscious. There are now certain regulations for growing organic foods commercially and many foods, especially eggs, bear an organic certification label.

What is organic food?

Organic food is food that is grown naturally without the aid of commercial fertilizers and chemicals like insecticides, herbicides, and anti-fungal substances. Organic growers use only organic fertilizers and remedies for growing plants. These foods are natural and unrefined. Feeding the animals food that has no chemicals added to it in turn produces organic animal products such as meat, poultry and eggs. For example, chickens and poultry are allowed to roam free as opposed to being kept cooped up in cages, and fruits and vegetables are not chemically ripened.

Advantages of organic food:

There are several advantages for us in eating organic foods:

• There are considerably less toxins in the food as it is grown without the aid of chemicals

• It is often better tasting

• Better for you-there are more nutrients in organic foods and Omega 3 is often found in organic eggs.

How Organic food will improve your health:

A natural diet consisting of unrefined foods, more fiber less chemicals and toxins will improve your overall health in several ways:

• More fiber from fiber rich foods and those that are unrefined will help your digestive system and allow your whole body to function better.

• Some organic eggs are produced from chickens that are fed on vegetarian feed. This will cut down trans fat and animal fat in the eggs. Omega 3 is found in organic eggs, this substance can be good for the heart.

• There is more iron in the yolk of an organic egg. As seen by the pale color of the commercial egg yolk as opposed to the dark yellow/orange of the organic egg.

• Due to the absence of refinement in organic food it is more satisfying and will help you with any weight loss program by encouraging you to eat less.

• Organic fruits and vegetables have more nutrition than commercially grown ones so you will be feeding your body with better food and improve your overall health.

Organic foods are the wave of the future as more people become more educated about their health and the foods that are good for them. At present, prices are a little higher for organic products but it is worth it when you consider the benefits. By switching to organic food you will improve your health and wellbeing and you will also be able to boost your immune system and help your body fight off diseases and toxins.