Choose Organic For Your Green Lifestyle
Author: MarleneAffeld Total views: 17 Word Count: 1598
Around the globe many people are electing to avoid the risk of chemical contamination of their bodies, families and homes. Fortunately, solutions for addressing change exist and are within easy access. Choosing earth friendly alternatives allows us to live a natural, green lifestyle.
The benefits of organic bedding, choosing organic foods and wearing organic apparel are numerous.
Organic Foods
The Organic Food Association tells us: It iss common sense; organic food is good food. Good to eat, good for the environment, good for the small scale farmers and farm workers who grow it.
Organic farming is all about health and wellness. To assure optimum health and resistance against illnesss, the natural balance in our own bodies and in the environment must be maintained. The use of artificial chemical pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, fertilizers, genetic engineering and drugs interfere with this delicate balance; with unknown and often harmful consequences! Organic farming methods affect much more than what can be seen or tasted.
Over the previous fifty years, commercial farmers have, of necessity, continued to increase the amount of these hazardous applications. Cereal crops are sprayed as many as 8 times during the growing season. Many fruit and vegetable harvests have been sprayed 10 to 15 times. Following the harvest the spraying process is repeated to prevent grow of bacteria during storage and transport. Excessive spraying of fruit and vegetable crops destroys natural bacteria, leaving the plants increasingly vulnerable to attack from unwelcome pests or disease. More insecticides and fungicides are then required to fight off infestation and decay. However, these pests rather quickly become immune to the chemicals applied and their population rapidly grows. More powerful and increasingly toxic chemicals are then required to contain the infestation.
Organic certification is the consumers assurance that products have met stringent standards and have been grown and processed according to strict procedures without contamination from carcinogenic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, human waste or sewage sludge and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or artificial food additives. Organic or non organic, which would you rather put in your body? We are what we eat. When our diet is built upon natural organic choices we are providing our bodies optimum food, produced in optimum conditions. Organically raised vegetables and fruit provide more minerals and nutrients than commercially grown produce and are more intensely endowed with flavor, color and aroma; they just taste better!
Certified organic meats are produced from animals that have been treated humanely and raised on certified organic pastures and feeds. Buy organic meat, it is the only meat product that guarantees that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have not been used at any stage of growth production.
Organics And The Environment
The USDA estimates that within the next ten years over half of all Americas farm products will come from only 1% of the farms. The EPA also states that commercial agriculture is accountable for 70% of the pollution in our country's rivers and streams. Small scale organic farmers finance innovative and far reaching research designed to reduce agricultures impact on the environment. They maintain bio diversity by planting heirloom varieties of plants and gleaning seeds for future crops. The loss of a substanial variety of species is one of the worlds most pressing environmental concerns. The good news is that many organic farmers and gardeners have been harvesting, preserving seeds and growing unusual and unique varieties for decades.
Organic farming methods naturally enrich the soil with manure and compost. Well balanced soils product healthy, strong plants, nourishing for both people and animals. Organic agriculture can be a lifeline for small farms as it offers an alternative market where sellers can receive fair and equatable prices for their crops. Organic farming may be one of the last ways to assure the survival of both our ecosystems and our rural farming communities .
Conventional farming methods endanger farm workers and their families. Scientific studies confirms chemical related health problems iincluding cancer, birth defects, memory loss, paralysis and death. Unsecured storage, faulty application methods and unsafe handling and transportation procedures are not at all uncommon and often lead to tragic mishaps. As insects and diseases develop resistance, farmers desperate to maintain or increase crop yields often resort to additional applications of expensive and stronger chemical products. Facing rising costs, depleted fields and contaminated ground water, many small farmers have been forced to abandon their livelihood.
Organic farming is safer and healthier for farm workers, but also promotes just compensation in the supply chain. Organic farming provides a viable and socially acceptable alternative to large-scale farming and the accompanying dependence on government crop subsidies. Support of the small organic farmer supports Americas economy.
Organic production substantially reduces health risks. Many EPA-approved pesticides were registered and approved prior to extensive research that linked these hazarous chemicals to cancer and other significant medical problems. Crop dusting has often resulted in drifts of toxic pesticides and herbicides from fields to residential areas.
Organic agriculture is the surest way to prevent more of these chemicals from contaminating the earth. An increasing body of research indicates that pesticides, herbicides and other chemical contaminants are considerably more prevalent in the foods we eat, in our bodies and in the environment than we believed.
By choosing organic products we lessen this toxic burden. Organic farmers rotate crops and plant soil enriching cover crops to control weeds, nutrient leaching and erosion. Soil is the foundation of the food chain. The point of organic farming is to use methods that build and maintain healthy and sustainable soils.
Organic Skin Care And Personal Products
Skin care and cosmetics are the least regulated products under the US Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Whether it is soap, moisturizers or deodorants, skin care products are an essential part of daily life. Do we really understand what these products actually contain and what we are forcing our skin to absorb?
Have you ever suffered from burning, stinging or itchy skin? it is likely your skin absorbed irritants and toxins from your skin care products. The skin absorbs ingredients in all the personal care products that come in contact with our skin. Consider nicotine or HRT patches. They rely totally on skin absorption.
As mothers we are always concerned for the well being of our children. We tenderly comfort and bathe them with a wide range of products. These include soaps, shampoos, creams and lotions, many of which are used on babys sensitive skin several times a day. The skin is the largest organ of the body and the delicate skin of an infant can be up to 100 times more receptive to toxic chemicals and irritating ingredients that the skin of an adult.
Without been aware, parents put their babies at risk daily. Did you know that applying baby powder to your babys skin may pose a cancer risk later in life? The principle ingredient in many baby powders is talc, which several studies have confirmed as a known carcinogenic.
Lanolin is a prominent ingredient in many personal care products and when processed from organically raised sheep, it is a wonderful healing balm. The danger lies in non-organic lanolin that has been processed from sheep that were sprayed for lice with chemical pesticides that are contaminated with carcinogenic ingredients such as DDT, dieldrin or lindane. The residue of these toxics remains in the processed lanolin and can cause severe reactions and long term health hazards.
All natural, organic products offer earth friendly options that eliminate these dangers. You can avoid these and similar safely concerns by using certified organic items formulated from natural sources such as plants, fruits, vegetables and flowers. These products to do not contain synthetic chemicals such as lauryl sulphate, phthales, parabens, artificial fragrances or dye additives.
Organic Textiles
By the end of 2008, the sale of organic textiles worldwide is expected to exceed $3 billion. Global demand for organic textiles is increasing in response to consumer demand. Organic production takes additional time, requires more skills and knowledge and costs somewhat more. But it is worth it. Organic materials do not bear hidden costs to the environment.
Choose Eco Wise Products! Choose Organic!
Consumption and use of green technologies is all about meeting the challenges and choices we face if we are to enjoy a sustainable quality of life within the limited resources of our world. If we become passionate about sustainability, we can make the planet a cleaner and healthier place for all of us to habitat.
Do you want to embrace a lifestyle that protects our childrens future? Do you desire to to live in the greenest environment possible with a conscience and respect and appreciation for the earth that sustains us? The quality of life for decades ahead is dependent on the choices we make today!
Studies show that about a fourth of the US adult population has a profound sense of environmental enlightenment and social responsibility. Half of us will buy organic and make earth friendly choices in many aspects of our daily living. Consumer education and awareness is a powerful force for change.
The consumption of organically raised products has grown by 20 per cent in the last year alone. Organic alternatives are readily available and the trend is escalating. Sustainability should be within everyones reach. Our choices matter and have a long term global impact. Let us decide to choose wisely!
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Marlene Affeld writes for the Nandu Green Team of her love for the environment and all things natural. Here you will find fashion, beauty, health and wellness choices for fine living enthusiasts with a vibrant lifestyle in mind.
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