Archive

Posts Tagged ‘organic’

The What and When of Buying Organic Foods

February 7th, 2010 Stan Dyer No comments

There was a point many years ago when most of the world either didn’t pay attention to or understand what natural organic food was, let alone the meaning of hormone free and free range. Food was food. But today, people are becoming more conscious of what they put in their bodies. Many of us are beginning to understand the importance of these more natural foods and are not only shopping differently but also choosing more carefully what we order when eating out. However, not all organic foods are the same and that difference shows up in the cost and availability of organic products.

According to the U.S.D.A, in order for any food to be labeled as “USDA organic” certain standards must be met. These standards are usually related to the growing, production or manufacturing process involved. A true organic food may have no ingredients that are synthetic such as pesticides or residue of fertilizers. At least 95% of what goes into an organic food must also be organic. Animals from which products are derived must never have been given growth hormones or antibiotics. If a food is labeled “Made with Organic Ingredients”, only 70% of the ingredients must be organic.

The ideal choice for organic foods is to buy locally grown products that are handled less during the trip from field to table. Organic foods that travel long distances before you buy them can lose some of their organic benefits. Scientists recommend buying organic when purchasing foods generally found to contain higher levels of pesticides when commercially produced.

Fruits grown commercially that have been shown to contain the higher amounts of pesticides are cherries, imported grapes, pears, strawberries and raspberries, apples, and peaches. Celery, potatoes, spinach, bell peppers, and hot peppers are vegetables that, when not grown organically, contain high pesticide levels. With this in mind, the smart decision would be to buy the organically grown versions of these products, despite the higher price.

The fruits found to contain the lowest levels of pesticides are pineapples, plantains, mangoes, bananas, watermelon, plums and kiwis. The vegetables found to contain the lowest levels of pesticides are cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, radishes, broccoli and onions. If on a tight budget, these foods provide a safer alternative when purchasing commercially produced products. Consumers should note that this is not the final word on the above products, but more a matter of the degrees of risk with these products versus those with higher pesticide levels.

When shopping for gadgets or kitchenware, consumer websites can help with picking best products; organic food requires a little more work. As with any dietary choice, choosing organic comes down to personal needs and tastes. Many consumers are not aware that some foods carry a much higher organic benefit than others, and that even factors such as shipping distance affect the value of organic products. Whether or not you choose to eat organic is up to you, but knowing the facts always makes the decision easier.

Stan Dyer is a seasoned writer and photographer residing in Colorado. To have organic food and products delivered to your doorstep, visit http://www.OrganicFoodeStore.com.

Shedding Those Pounds With Ayurvedic Weight Loss Herbs

January 3rd, 2010 Nicole Kerala No comments

Dieting and losing weight is a constant cycle that many people have to go through for self-image, sport, and longevity. It’s important to feel good about yourself, and yet it is not always easy to shed unnecessary pounds and keep them off.

Losing weight is a challenge for most people and to make sure that your path to being thin stays safe and effective all the way, you will need to consume efficient natural food supplements. These supplements will ensure that every exercise or every diet will actually work when it comes to losing weight.

Ayurveda is a 5,000 year old system for health and healing; using the natural therapies and herbal formulas appropriately will help one to achieve vibrance and fitness. Of the many health complications, Ayurveda works especially well for those who are obese and overweight.

There are herbs often used by people practicing Ayurveda to treat certain diseases. Lately though, it has been discovered that Ayurvedic weight loss herbs exist. There are actually many people that are using these herbs in order to make their diet and exercise plan work effectively.

Gymnema is a popular Ayurvedic herb for weight loss, and is known as a sugar-destroyer. Excess sugars in the body play a large roll in gaining weight, so it is important to minimize sugar intake and try to use alternatives.

Gymnema is fortunately quite sweet and serves as an alternative for people who crave sugar and need a substitute to ease their transition to a healthier lifestyle. This wonderful Ayurvedic herb will both replace the need for sugar in the diet and simultaneously promote weight loss.

Another herb that is commonly used to aid in losing weight is the Guggul or what is also commonly known as the fat killer. This herb has been used in Ayurveda for many years and is known for its great ability in helping you lose weight faster. Guggul is an excellent herb which increases metabolism and therefore helps in getting rid of unwanted fat concentrations.

Guggul also supports one’s health by keeping normal levels of cholesterol, increasing cellular energy, increasing the number of white blood cells, and aiding in tissue regeneration.

There is no denying that these herbs really do work but sometimes, these herbs are not enough. You simply cannot rely solely on these herbs and expect to lose weight in no time. You also have to do your part and maintain self-control when it comes to diet and to stay focused in your daily exercise regimen. Along with these two important factors and the effective Ayurveda weight loss herbs, you will certainly lose weight before you even know it.

Often Ayurvedic herbs are used in a blend; one particularly beneficial product on the market is called DietCare. This proprietary blend includes Bavchi, Sallaki, Su. Guggul, Chitrak, Nagarmoth, Vavding Punarnava, and Sunth. By balancing the metabolism, promoting normal appetite and digestion, increasing hemoglobin and red blood cells, boosting purification with its powerful antioxidants, suppressing appetite and cravings, detoxifying the tissues, reducing excess water content in the body, oxidizing fat for elimination, serving as a gentle laxative, and stimulating enzymatic secretion, it is obvious how useful this blend of Ayurvedic herbs can be for achieving perfect health and fitness.

Nicole Kerala has been studying Ayurveda and alternative medicine for over 10 years. Nicole has found that using ayurvedic herbal remedies has helped countless people to enhance their quality of life. More information about Ayurvedic herbal treatments can be seen here: Natural Ayurvedic Care

categories: yoga,wellness,organic,herbal remedies,herbology,holistic,natural medicine,alternative medicine,natural remedies,supplements,weight loss,self improvement,fitness,diet

What Exactly Are Organic Coffee Beans/

October 23rd, 2009 Bart Forcey No comments

More and more consumers are realizing the need to evolve with the times to get green smart. Growing organic produce is the ultimate starting point for such environmentally friendly projects, thus the increase in the popularity of organic beverages.

Organic coffee beans derive from coffee trees grown under an awning of taller growing trees and plants, usually banana trees. These natural tree awnings are the perfect shield allowing just enough sunlight and rain to seep through. 50% shade is ideal for the slow growing conditions sought. The falling plant leaves serve as a natural compost and mulch layer at the bottom of the coffee plants to retain moisture and top quality soil profile. No synthetic pesticides may be used on organically certified products.

The popularity of the coffee bean is astonishing as it is ranked second in terms of world trade with oil at the number one spot. These small green seeds have a retail market of an estimated Seventy Billion US Dollars. In the past, pricing of beans where haunted by significant drops and rises caused by super sensitivity to volatile conditions in the market. The impact of world recessions on bean prices have been eliminated by the fixing of minimum prices.

When harvest time arrives, ripe berries are plucked from the tree with care as the tree only yields an estimated 2.20 lbs beans per year. The berries are soaked in water to soften the outer pulp. Residual pulp is removed until the coffee beans are clearly visible. The beans are then left to dry in the sun. Dried beans are sacked and weighed. Specially designed areas are allocated for organic products in each country of origin. Beans are auctioned and shipped to various destinations across the world.

A downside to organic produce is the scarcity of the products. Organic foods have a tendency to be associated with higher prices to consumers due to the products’ steeper pricing in relation to conventional products. Prices are higher due to various direct and indirect influences such as low yields, higher labor requirements, business start-up financing and additional land needs.

Farmers of organic coffee beans have strict guidelines to following. The guidelines are prescribed by relevant Independent organic certifying organizations, Fair Trade and KNCU. These rules and regulations are drafted according to international supply standards. Compliance with these organizational requirements is a feather in the hat of the farmer as he or she knows the organic produce planted and cared for on his farm meets high international standard.

Farmers of organic coffee beans and their nations make a commitment to changing their lives for the better by taking positive actions in countries often labeled as third world. By participating in farming of organic coffee beans, these farmers are helping to build up their communities, establish better health care and education opportunities as well as creating brighter economic futures.

If you are considering buying gaggia platinum vision you should start to consider if you will use them at home. With every shiny new toy it may seem With a great idea but if you aren’t going to use them then dont buy. Home coffee machines