Health Benefits Of Organic Foods And Why Is It Important To Buy Organic Foods

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 supplementPlease 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.

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What Are Food Allergies

Have you ever eaten a food that made you feel real sick, or worse had to go to the hospital because your body reacted severely to eating some peanuts? These could be caused by food allergies. Food allergies are caused by the body responding immunological to proteins found in food. Sometimes this is a minor reaction, but in the cases of anaphylaxis it can result in death.Everyone can respond differently to food allergies. Even one's bodily systems can respond differently. A person can experience cramps, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea. Since these symptoms are similar to other problems it is very important to be diagnosed correctly so that you receive the proper treatment.In the respiratory system, food allergies could manifest as runny nose, scratchy throat, coughing, sneezing, or wheezing. Severe reactions may be seen as shortness of breath or difficulty swallowing. If you experience the more severe reactions it is recommended you seek medical attention immediately.Food allergies can manifest in the skin as well. Itching in the membranes of the eyes, skin, mouth and throat can occur. In addition, eczema and hives could be the body's response. Severe reactions such as swelling of the tongue, throat, lips or face should be treated immediately as they could lead to airway restriction.Even though the connection between mood swings and depression and food allergies is not always easily recognizable, food allergy symptoms may affect your nervous system.Most food allergies are classified as a Immunoglobulin E (IgE) response. This means that antibodies are produced in the body that attack non-disease causing substances which in the case of food allergies is the proteins found in certain foods. Many folks are predisposed to this type of immune response. When the food passes into the digestive tract the body releases IgE which also causes other chemicals such as histamines to be released. This causes swelling and

in the case of the digestive tract this will appear as an upset stomach.An allergist usually does the diagnosis. He will review your history of reactions and could employ a battery of standard tests such as the skin prick and blood tests.The skin prick test introduces a small amount of the allergy causing substance into the skin. The allergist then looks for a reaction. For the blood test the level of IgE antibodies is measured. Certain levels are generally considered normal and higher levels may indicate that a person is having an allergic reaction.So what can be done? There is no cure for food allergies. Avoidance is what is recommended. There are many labels on foods and in restaurants that state that there are certain kinds of potential food allergens either in the food or around the food. If a person has severe reactions they may be prescribed an Epipen which administers epinephrine which can halt the allergic reaction.

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Weight Loss Diets For Losing Weight

You can easily control and reduce your weight using the diet that you consume and the exercise that you do. Different type of food comprise of different quantity of nutrients. The nutritional value is one of the most important things that are to be considered to judge the goodness of a food, however most of the times we simply consider the taste. There is a lot of difference between dieting ad a weight loss diet. Dieting is a general term that is associated with monitored diet. This simply indicates that you are consuming a specific diet for a specific purpose. Dieting and food for dieting not necessarily means the food that is meant for weight loss.The food that specifically targets weight loss is known as weight loss diet. Most of the doctor's advice a low carbohydrate and a low fat food for controlling weight. Carbohydrate is easily accumulated in the body in the form of calories. The carbohydrates that we consume is easily converted to sugar and hence to energy. The energy that we get by consuming the carbohydrate is referred to as calories. The calorie content of a particular food hence refers to the amount of energy that you can get with a particular food. You can control the calories intake and hence reduce weight gain.The weight loss food is the food that comprise of the nutrients in just the right quantity to allow you to reduce weight more easily. The weigh loss diet may comprise of a low carbohydrate diet or

a low fat diet so as to reduce the fat content in the body. The intake of salts is also a deciding factor that we forget most of the times. The more salt we intake in our diet, the more would be the body's requirement of water in our body. The salt that is contained in our body is kept in a non toxic form in our body with the help of water. When we consume a lot of salt, we have to consume a lot of water as well to keep the salt in a non toxic form. The increased water consumption would ultimately lead to weight gain. Hence the weight loss diet keeps a check on the different nutrients to allow you to lose weight more easily. You can get additional information on the weight loss food online.

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