Are organic foods healthier than conventional foods

About the Author Samantha
"Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity." - World Health Organization

Natural food in my opinion is a healthier choice.

I will share with you why I feel eating natural food will provide better long term health benefits. When I say natural food, I mean food that is not man made.

Natural food does not have chemicals, additives or growth hormones. Natural food is simply food grown organically the way nature intended.

Why are we experiencing so much sickness today, particularly in the western world? I strongly believe it is because of the lack of knowledge when it comes to proper nutrition and not incorporating natural and organic foods into our diet.

It seems as if the system is treating us like cattle, fattening us, then leading us to the slaughter. We are a society bred for disease solely to sustain the food and pharmaceutical conglomerates.

If drug companies invented a cure for disease, they would be out of business. Realize that your body is a remarkable piece of machinery. It has the capability to heal itself. But upon the first sign of pain, we reach for a prescription or non-prescription drug.

This may provide temporary relief, but does not change the cause of the problem. This is why I choose to eat natural food and live an organic lifestyle. Let me give you another example. Food manufacturers are pressed against time and have a fiduciary responsibility to its shareholders.

They need to mass-produce large quantities of their fruits and vegetables. How do they do this? They grow their fruits and vegetables faster and in huge quantities with the aid of chemicals.

So the fruits and vegetables you buy at your local supermarket are laced with toxic chemicals. Over time these toxins can make you sick.

For this reason, it is better to eat natural food that is organically grown. Are organic foods healthier than conventional ones? I think you may say yes.

In the meat industry they also need to mass produce, so they feed their livestock chemicals and growth hormones, this way the animals grow bigger and faster. Could this be the reason our children are becoming obese at an earlier age? It is quite possible. The meat industry also uses sneaky tactics to trick consumers into thinking the meat is still fresh.

You may have read recently about carbon monoxide being put into meat to keep that fresh rosy look. You can experiment by placing meat on your kitchen counter, leave it exposed for a few days and notice it will still have that "fresh" meat look. They add the carbon monoxide in small quantities through a procedure called "modified atmosphere packaging" and it's approved by the FDA. This is not natural food and the practice is deceptive. Again are organic foods healthier than conventional ones? It would seem so.

It is important to get educated when it comes to health. Today with the internet and the information age, there is no excuse. When it comes to our health, ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance can be hazardous to one's health. Have more control of your health and your diet. Learn about natural food products and how you can include them into your dietary regimen.

Organic Vegetables Safety

Julian Hall
How Safe is the Organic Food You Eat
5 Common myths surrounding organic vegetables safety

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 and in relation to organic vegetables safety: 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 and concerns over organic vegetables safety if taken too literally.

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" this seems to enhance the organic vegetables safety record.

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

What Is Organic Food Exactly?

If you are concerned about the scare stories that always seem to be in the news regarding the quality of our food then you may be wondering about the fuss surrounding what is organic food

What is organic food: How is it produced?

The process in most cases starts with organically grown crops so a quick explanation:

Organic farming produces crops and rears cattle without the use of chemicals and artificial additives.

It is farming the natural way and concentrates on producing a fertile soil.

Animals reared on organic farms are housed properly they have room to move about and behave like animals.

They are fed healthy food sources and not those laden with drugs and other chemicals.

So in summary the answer to what is organic food is.…crops and animals produced and fed with natural food and without the use of chemical additives.

What is organic food: How can it benefit me?

The most common benefit is that of taste. The example I always remember is that of comparing conventionally grown sweetcorn to the organically produced version.

The taste of the organic version was amazing and re-awoke memories of how it used to taste when I was a child. It seems the taste has been leeched out of conventional sweetcorn, along with the quality of its nutrients presumably.

Besides the obvious benefit of taste there are also environmental aspects such as fewer chemicals in the soil leading to less erosion of the countryside and pollution of our rivers with nitrates.

Besides the pleasurable benefits to your senses there are also environmental reasons to finding out what is organic food. There are also benefits to the animals and people who live and work on the farms.

Organic farms grow a mix of crops and therefore encourage a balanced Ecosystem.

Pest reducing insects are encouraged back to farms and help to protect crops.

Worms and other micro-organisms thrive in the naturally fertilized soil that can be otherwise sterile on intensive, chemically enhanced farms.

I hope that we have answered your question as to what is organic food and that you are encouraged to try some for yourself.

FruitaBu™ Launches Organic Fruit Sploooshers™

Organic Smoooshed Fruit[TM] Snack Makes It Easy to Squeeze More Fruit into Kids' Diets

GRAPEVIEW, Wash. -- Stretch Island Fruit Co.[TM], the original all-natural fruit snacks developer since 1976, today announced the launch of FruitaBu[TM] Organic Smoooshed Fruit[TM] Sploooshers[TM], a refreshingly fun, organic fruit snack for kids that provides one whole serving of organic fruit in each colorful, squeezable tube. FruitaBu Organic Smoooshed Fruit Sploooshers are filled with organic fruit puree that kids can squeeze and slurp, while giving parents an all-natural snacking option that children are sure to enjoy.

"FruitaBu's line of organic fruit snacks give on-the-go kids a variety of portable ways to enjoy fruit," explains John Henry Siedlecki, spokesperson for FruitaBu. "According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90 percent of Americans fail to consume the current recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables. Our mission is to increase fruit consumption and the new FruitaBu Organic Smoooshed Fruit Sploooshers are an easy way to help children squeeze in an extra serving of fruit each day."

Moms and kids can easily tear open the FruitaBu Organic Smoooshed Fruit Sploooshers tube to squish out USDA-certified organic fruit, with all the sugars coming naturally from the fruit. Fruit Sploooshers tubes can be packed into lunchboxes and backpacks or served chilled or frozen for a cool summer treat for instant nourishment that will satisfy kid cravings.

The new line of FruitaBu Organic Smoooshed Fruit Sploooshers come in Smoooshed[TM] Strawberry, Smoooshed[TM] Raspberry and Smoooshed[TM] Grape flavors. Each FruitaBu Fruit Sploooshers tube is made using more than 90 percent real organic fruit and fruit juice.

"We want parents to educate themselves about the benefits of eating the recommended number of servings of fruit," says Siedlecki. "One way to add another serving of fruit to a child's day is with FruitaBu fruit snacks, a good-for-you alternative when fresh fruit is not an available snacking option."

FruitaBu's innovative organic fruit forms were created to get kids excited about eating fruit. FruitaBu Organic Smoooshed Fruit Sploooshers join the company's existing line of Fruit Twirls and Fruit Flats, and are available nationwide in natural health food stores and major grocery chains in the fruit snack aisle or near the checkout stand. Fruit Sploooshers' suggested retail price is $3.79-$3.99 for packages of five.

About FruitaBu Organic Smoooshed Fruit

FruitaBu is dedicated to providing kids with a fun, organic and convenient way to enjoy real fruit. Its ground-breaking line of organic fruit snacks deliver real fruit to kids through a wondrous, Organic Smoooshed Fruit experience that delights the senses and nourishes the body. FruitaBu was created by the fine folks at Stretch Island Fruit Co.[TM], a leading provider of all natural and organic fruit snacks that have been making it easy for people to enjoy the nourishing goodness of real fruit since 1976.

Organic Gardening

Organic Gardening
By Gwen Stewart

“Organic gardening is not just the avoidance of chemicals, in the larger view, it is organic living using nature’s laws.” I read this quote by an unknown person sometime ago and realized that my parents and others like them were organic gardeners long before the current resurrection of these principles. They didn’t use chemicals on the food they would feed to their children and gardening was a part of daily living to ensure there was sufficient food to preserve for the long winters. Everything was re-cycled and kitchen scraps were routinely thrown onto the garden to replenish the earth. Organic fertilizers such as manure were used and the only fertilizer on the roses was bone meal. My mother and father produced the best tasting vegetables and lots of them – enough to feed a family of seven throughout the winter. Birds, worms, and other signs of a living earth were welcomed into the garden.

In recent times synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides have become the practice most common among commercial agricultural practices. These practices have had some undesirable results such as the loss or depletion of topsoil, land becomes less fertile, and the excessive use of pesticides has resulted in pests resistant to the current chemicals resulting in the development of even stronger chemicals. Our environment is being damaged by toxic chemical spills, chemicals leaching into rivers and water supplies are contaminating our drinking water, and the effect of global warming is becoming a major part of the political agenda.

Our personal diet and health is a major topic of importance as more attention is being paid to the relationship between food and health. Research has demonstrated that organically grown vegetables are higher in vitamins and minerals than those grown with inorganic fertilizers. Gardening organically and growing as much of our own food as possible is one of the steps we can take to start healing the earth on which we live and in the process healing ourselves. Several key components are fundamental to the practice of organic gardening.

Practical Steps to Organic Gardening

1. Soil. The soil is kept healthy by working with Nature rather than against it. Practices include using organic fertilizers such as manure to replenish the earth and all refuse produced by the garden should be recycled back into the garden. Organic gardening uses all of the waste produced in the garden such as grass clippings, leaves, and leftovers from the kitchen to make compost that feeds the soil and keeps it full of the nutrients necessary to grow crops.

2. Avoid the use of all synthetic chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. Eliminating the use of chemicals in the garden allows gardeners to not worry about children, pets, and wildlife coming in contact with synthetic weed killers and fertilizers on the lawn and shrubs. The food grown is pesticide-free, additive-free, and nutritious food for the table.

3. Sustainability. In his book, Gardening Organically, John Fedor defines sustainability as “the ability of a society or an ecosystem to function indefinitely without squandering the resources on which it relies.” Organic gardening does this by ensuring there is no loss of nutrients or topsoil in the garden.

4. Environmental Stewardship. Gardening organically means that the environment benefits from the reduction in contamination of the water supply and air pollution. It means that we provide a habitat for wildlife including beneficial insects and animals.

5. Wildlife-friendly Habitats. Informal areas can be created to assist wildlife in their search for habitat where they can survive the destruction of many areas; destructions that have now endangered many species.

6. Intensive planting. Plants are spaced closely together to conserve water and shield the soil from sunlight thus helping to prevent weed seeds from germinating and growing.

7. Biodiversity. Biodiversity ensures that when a change in growing conditions occurs, a single crop from a monoculture does not lead to a crop failure. The food supply does not become jeopardized when a diversity of species are planted.

8. Rotating Crops. Crop rotation assists in the control against soil-borne pests and diseases. This rotation makes a difference in the productivity of the garden as those diseases that affect the plants are kept in check by the rotation of the crops to other areas of the garden.

9. Watering and Weeding. Rainwater can be saved to water the garden. Soaker hoses, drip irrigation, and watering by hand conserve water. Mulches are invaluable in both water conservation and slowing down weed germination.

10. Saving Seeds. Save some seeds from your best plants when harvesting crops. Many old varieties are being lost at an alarming rate and preserving this biodiversity is important. Some of these saved seeds have been used to develop new strains after disaster has affected commonly cultivated varieties.

Grow Organic Vegetables

Grow Organic Vegetables
By Vince Apps

There are more reasons than ever why anybody with access to a few square feet of the outdoors should grow their own organic vegetables.

You may be shocked at how much of the produce at your local supermarket has been genetically modified. Some estimates now put this at over 50%. While there is no strong evidence that genetically modified foods are immediately harmful to your health, there are no long term studies either. Do you want to take that risk?

Let’s take a look at pesticides and fertilizers. Farmers no longer use crop rotation or natural manures to improve soil fertility, so they are forced to use ever increasing amounts of chemicals to improve yields and multiple pesticides to protect the weakened plants. Pesticides penetrate deeply into the leaves of plants and pestiside residues remain even after you have scrubbed them.

To quote from The Environmental Protection Agency – “Pesticides are designed to kill pests. Many pesticides can also pose risks to people. The health effects of pesticides depend on the type of pesticide. Some, such as the organophosphates and carbamates, affect the nervous system. Others may irritate the skin or eyes. Some pesticides may be carcinogens. Others may affect the hormone or endocrine system in the body.”

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You will surprised at what ORGANIC VEGETABLES products are available out there. Just check these out.

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Sure you can, and should, buy organic fruit and vegetables but have you seen the prices? Anybody with even a modest vegetable garden can grow healthy organic vegetables at much lower cost than those at the local supermarket. Not only can you grow them at much lower cost, but you can grow them one hundred percent better.

Even the long-keeping vegetables such as potatoes, onions and squash are noticeably tastier picked straight from the home vegetable garden; but when it comes to peas and corn and salad vegetables- well , there is absolutely nothing to compare with the home garden ones, gathered fresh, in the early slanting sunlight, still gemmed with dew, still crisp and tender and juicy, ready to carry every atom of savory quality and taste, without loss, to the dining table.

It is not in price or health alone that home gardening pays. There is another point. Agribusiness has to grow the things that give the biggest yield. They have to sacrifice quality and taste for quantity and long shelf life. You do not. The strawberries on the supermarket shelves may look bright and red and uniform but you will soon find they taste more like the cardboard of their containers when compared to a home grown variety picked straight from the vine.

And this brings us to what may be the most important reason you should garden. It is the cheapest, healthiest pleasure there is. Give me a sunny garden patch in the springtime, give me seeds to watch as they find the light, plants to tend as they take hold in the fine, loose, rich soil, give me succulent and tasty springtime salads. And when you have grown tired of the springtime, come back in summer to even the smallest garden, and you will find in it, every day, a new vista, new pleasures and, yes, new challenges.

Better food, better health, better living -- all these the home vegetable garden offers you in abundance. So, turn off that computer, pull out some old clothes and find a spot to dig.

Organic Skin Care: A Modern Spin On An Old Idea

Organic skin care is not as wildly popular as it was a few years ago, but many people are still very interested in the natural benefits organic skin care has to offer.

For years people who were interested enough in natural ways to help their skin or make other adjustments to their bodies made their own skin care items. Oatmeal as a facial, cucumber for refreshing skin and helping circles beneath the eyes, or lemon to lighten hair.

The moment cosmetics companies picked up on the value of natural elements, more and more natural ingredients went into skin care and cosmetic products. The sudden increase became in vogue and everyone began to realize the benefits natural skin care could bring. But did you know that using ingredients naturally derived ingredients is not a new idea?

What we really have done is to put a new spin on an old idea. Cultures from the past, such as the Egyptians, have constantly turned to nature for methods of creating cures and treatments for health and skin conditions.

The benefit we have over ancient cultures is that of science. Scientists have been able to help prove or disprove the use of certain elements and point out specific properties that some natural components do have.

These properties can include natural emulsifiers, emollients, antioxidants, humectants, astringents, and anti irritants.

Even better, scientists are able to realize the full potential of many natural ingredients by combining them with synthesized ingredients. Even the most organic of products is going to have some synthetic ingredients, but these are there to help the skin and produce the best results from the organic ingredients, so they are nothing to be afraid of.

This is a good fact to know, as many people who subscribe to organic skin care are not just concerned about looking beautiful. Organic skin care is about keeping skin healthy and leading a healthier life in the world.

Keeping yourself naturally beautiful can feel much more fulfilling than relying solely on synthetics and methods such as chemical peels.

There are various methods used to obtain natural ingredients and add them into products. Botanical extracts are probably the most popular. Many ingredients are used for different reasons and many can be tailored to fit specific skin types.

Honey: Honey is known for its antioxidant powers and also has anti microbial features. Honey is also used to help skin suffering from sun damage and helping to rejuvenate tired skin by helping it to absorb and preserve moisture. For these reasons honey has been added to skin care treatments and utilized in the skin care world.

Shea Butter. What was once a casual ingredient has now been recognized as a powerful benefit to skin in a multitude of ways. Shea butter can be found in hundreds of different products from lotion to scrubs.

Pure shea butter that has not been altered in any way can provide help to people who suffer from eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. Shea butter also provides a therapeutic effect, helping to calm both you and your skin.

Jojoba. Jojoba is yet another naturally occurring skin care remedy that acts as a natural moisturizer and helps to soften unhappy skin. Jojoba oil is also recommended for people suffering from eczema as a safe and natural way to calm and moisturize skin.

Other ingredients can include: Safflower oil, rose hip oil, aloe vera, beeswax, tea tree oil, witch hazel, sesame oil, avocado oil, and chamomile. You may also find extracts of lemon, cucumber, grape seed, green or black tea, and licorice.

Each of these natural ingredients can be mixed with synthesized ingredients to help unlock their potential and provide their individual advantageous properties.

The next time you are looking for new skin care products, try looking into organic ways of treating your skin. Past cultures did not have our advances, so now is the time to make the most of organic skin care.

Organic Baby Bedding Big Hit With New Moms

Author Brian Banks
Today going organic is a new trend that is affecting various parts of our lives, from our foods, to clothing, and even to baby products. More and more people are beginning to realize how important it is to go organic whenever possible. If you're a new mom, no doubt you want to do everything that you can to make sure you take great care of your baby, and using baby bedding that is organic is a great way for you to do so. Not sure what the importance is of going organic? Well, let's take a closer look at baby bedding, what it is, the benefits of choosing it, some great choices for new moms, and some excellent baby shower gift ideas.

What is Organic Baby Bedding?

So, you may be wondering what exactly organic baby bedding is. Well, it is simply bedding that comes from only organic things. The bedding is made up from products that are from trees or other organic sources and there are no pesticides or chemicals used on the bedding. Even the dyes that are used are organic and chemical free as well. You'll find that usually this type of bedding is made from organic cotton, and if wool is used, it is dust mite resistant and antimicrobial as well.

The Benefits of Organic Baby Bedding

If you take a look at organic baby bedding, you'll find that there are many benefits to using it for your baby. Here are just a few great benefits that you can enjoy when you choose baby bedding that is organic for your new baby.

- Reduce Skin Problems - One great benefit of going with organic baby bedding is that it can help to reduce skin problems. Many babies often deal with skin problems that are caused by allergens, but you'll often find that going with organic bedding for your baby can help to reduce allergens and reduce these common skin problems.

- Chewing Babies - As you know, babies love to chew, and of course you'll want to be careful about what your babies put into their mouths. Since a baby spends quite a bit of time in their crib, they often end up putting their bedding in their mouths. When you go with organic baby bedding, you'll be able to relax, knowing that it's not going to hurt your baby if he or she decides to chew on it.

Excellent Choices for New Moms

There are many excellent choices for new moms when it comes to organic baby bedding. Of course your choices may depend on whether you are going to have a girl or a boy. If you're having a girl, you may want to go with something from the Precious Pink Collection. It is a simple collection done in pinks and flowers that looks adorable in any baby girl room. You'll find throws, crib skirts, crib bumpers, and fitted crib sheets as well in this collection. Of course if you are having a boy, the Little Boy Blue Collection will be a better choice.

Great Organic Gift Ideas for Baby Showers

Attending a baby shower where you know that the mom-to-be enjoys going organic? If so, organic baby bedding may make the perfect gift. If you are not sure whether the baby will be a boy or a girl, something from the Flower World Collection is an excellent idea. Whether you purchase the entire set or just the throw or fitted crib sheets, no doubt you're gift will be greatly appreciated. The White Wonderland collection and the Whispering Meadow Collection are also great options that work for both boys and girls, so you are sure to be safe when you use these collections for a baby shower gift. Or you can choose the Baby Gift Set, or Hooded Towel Set

Natural Skin Care, Organic Product Review

by Lindelwa Maseko

Organic fruits and vegetables are the most popular things on organic skin care routines e.g. cucumber is very common in organic skin care routines. Turmeric, apple, papaya, ginger are others that find a wide use in organic skin care routines. These organic materials have a very refreshing and vitalizing effect on your skin. Almost every skin care book/guide has section on organic skin care (including the actions of various fruits and vegetables on skin). So choose the ones that are more suitable for your skin type and start experimenting with them until you finally select the ones that are most suitable for inclusion in your organic skin care routine. It’s important that you use fresh organic fruits/vegetables. Don’t try to utilize the rotten ones for your skin, their only place is the garbage bin.

Ground oatmeal is especially good for oily skins and is a popular ingredient in organic skin care regimen. It is used in various combinations e.g. with egg, honey, milk and fruits, for preparation of organic facial packs.

‘Organic skin care’ uses combinations of various organic materials that complement each other and enhance each other’s effectiveness. Moreover, these combinations are also helpful in over-riding the harmful effects (if any) of various organic materials that form them.

The importance of caring for your skin

“Packaging is as important as the gift itself” - it’s something that most of the gift manufacturing companies follow very closely. The same holds good for you too. Your outer-self i.e. your skin is as important as your inner-self. A lot of people do realise the importance of skin care. Well, this is one reason why there are so many skin care products in the market and most of the skin care products seem to do pretty well. We generally tend to associate skin care to just good looks. However, there is more to it than just that. There are multiple benefits associated with a healthy and glowing skin.

Thus the importance of skin care cannot be ignored. However, skin care is not that difficult at all. There are a lot of skin care products available and you can choose the ones that suit you the best. There are various ways in which skin care products are classified and the knowledge about these classifications will help you understand them better and make a selection.

One classification is based on the ingredients e.g. herbal skin care products, synthetic skin care products, cosmetic skin care products etc.

Serious skin care

‘Serious skin care’ is about awareness. With the technological advancements and research, more and more facts are being brought to light everyday. Also, the composition and nature of skin care products seems to be changing with time. So trying out the new products is also a part of serious skin care. However, ’serious skin care’ advises using a new product over a small patch of skin (not facial skin) first, just to see how your skin reacts to it.

Some precautions, like avoiding contact with detergents, are also part of serious skin care. ‘Serious skin care’ means being gentle with your skin. Things like over-exfoliation, use of low quality products, and application of strong-chemical based products, are all harmful to your skin. Some people have a wrong notion about serious skin care. For them serious skin care is - using large quantities of products as often as possible. However, this really isn’t serious skin care (and that’s why awareness is so important).

Vermiculture: Indoor Composting and Organic Soil Improvement

by: Kenneth Point

Maybe you’ve never heard the term vermiculture, if so don’t feel bad, many experienced gardeners are unfamiliar with this organic practice. I think vermiculture is fascinating; simply put it’s the process of composting kitchen waste with earthworms. We’re not talking about common night crawlers, but special varieties of worms such as red worms, and red wigglers.

Okay, I’ll admit to owning an ant farm when I was a kid, but this is so much more practical. Vermiculture, or vermicomposting as its also known is more like beekeeping; yes I’ve given that a try too. But just imagine for a second, you feed the worms your leftover garbage and kitchen scraps. The worms then quickly eat all those leftovers, sparing you the hassles of taking out the garbage.

And here’s the best part, while the composting worms are disposing of your garbage, they’re also producing a terrific organic fertilizer and soil conditioner called earthworm castings. Well, okay… the term earthworm casting is just a nice name for earthworm excrement. I don’t know who thought up the name earthworm castings, but I guess it makes sense if you think it through.

You may have seen worm castings for sale at your local garden center and didn’t realize what you were dealing with, but now you know. Don’t worry, earthworm castings are clean, odorless, and sterile… trust me on this one. You don’t need gloves or a shovel to handle them, and they are wonderful for improving your soil quality and for promoting the growth and health of all your plants.

So you can purchase bags of earthworm castings to use around the garden or if you’re a little more adventurous you can set up an “earthworm farm” and produce your own. The farm is actually just a worm bin that can be set up indoors or outdoors depending on the climate.

Vermicomposting isn’t complicated, but the worms are living creatures, and have certain requirements. For example they don’t tolerate extremely hot living conditions, and they also won’t survive freezing. The worms are pretty healthy eaters, so while eggshells are fine, don’t try slipping any meat, fats, or greasy foods into their diet.

If this sounds a little like having a pet, well it is. Not terribly demanding, but they do require a little of your attention to make sure that things run smoothly. In exchange they’ll be hard at work performing their community service to save the environment and to help you grow a better garden.

Kids love vermicomposting and some schools even include vermiculture as part of the curriculum. For those of you wishing that they had grown up with a worm bin instead of that ant farm, it’s not too late to try one out. You can find plans for building homemade bins or you can purchase fancy multi-level bins over the Internet. And unlike those ant farms, you can have these bins delivered complete with the composting worms.

If you’re up for the challenge and interested in recycling your family’s kitchen waste into a valuable fertilizer and soil conditioner, try your hand at vermiculture. During long winters, it may even help to pass the time until you can get back out into the garden.

A Brief Guide To Organic Gardening

The term organic gardening means gardening without using any synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Apart from that, everything else is the same. Not using synthetic materials does make controlling pests, insects, weeds and even some diseases different from the usual methods. Also, special care needs to be taken to keep the soil healthy and meet nutritional requirements.

The first aspect of organic gardening is the soil. Organic matter is added frequently to the soil to maintain its nutritional quality. Compost is largely used, because it keeps the plants quite healthy. Compost is prepared from organic remnants such as dead leaves and flowers, peels of the fruits, shorn grasses, etc. Soil that is healthy will have a deep color and a sweet odor. It will also be teeming with earthworms. Some other organically permitted additives for soil are greensand, rock phosphates and bone meal. These can be added after checking the pH of the soil.

Most gardeners – even hardcore organic gardeners – cannot resist using dangerous pesticides when they spot insects on their plants. For an organic gardener, the best way to deal with insects is to take the right prevention. Keep the plants as healthy as you can (insects love unhealthy plants). If the plants are healthy, they will not be affected by the insects. Maintain the right moisture conditions for the plants. Also, cultivate different species of plants, which keeps particular insects away.

One organic method to keep the insects away is to include organisms that feed on them. Ladybugs, frogs, lizards and even birds are good choices. A water source near the garden helps to keep the insects away. Or you can use mechanical devices such as barriers, plant collars and sticky traps. You can even use simple household ingredients like garlic, hot pepper and insecticidal soaps.

Disease in plants can be avoided organically by planting only disease resistant plants when they are in their prime. Do not allow moisture to retain on the plants much, and take care of the air that circulates in the garden. The way you water your garden can decide how much disease-prone your plants will be.

One more point that harasses organic gardeners is weed management. You can use organic mulch to keep the weeds away, and for improving its effect, you can use cardboard, construction paper or even a simple newspaper below the mulch. Before planting, spread corn meal gluten on the garden. Solarizing the garden also works for weed control. Of course, you can hoe the weeds out too. Be persistent, use good mulch and hoe out the obstinate weeds – these are the best organic methods to permanently take care of the weeds.

When you garden organically, your plants will live healthier and will be totally natural. You will have to invest more time and effort, and also persevere when you use totally organic methods, but you will soon understand the routine and that will benefit your plants greatly.

If you enjoy gardening you should invest more time using organic techniques to work with your garden.

Organic Gardening Articles: http://www.organicgardenarticles.com/

By: Ryan Ginster

Organic Gardening Benefits Our Health & The Planet

Did you know that interest in gardening is increasing at a rapid rate? The increase is due to the under 35 set who is said to have a greater interest in the environment and going green. The primary field of gardening interest of Generation Y is organic gardening.

There has been a lot written about organic gardening in the mainstream media and it has become a very popular topic with many people around the world, not just youth. With so many more health and environmentally conscious people around today, organic gardening has become quite popular. With its explosive growth in the past decade, organic gardening has gained acceptance in mainstream society. No longer the realm of hippies and health fanatics, organic produce is now consumed by the general public and readily available in large chain grocery stores.

Organic produce has become a featured item at many large-chain grocery stores so it is no wonder people want to know more about organic gardening. Some would even grow their own organic produce if they only knew how or had the time or had the space for it.

But do we really know what organic gardening is.

My definition might differ from yours, but to me, organic gardening means raising vegetables, flowers and plants without harmful artificial chemical herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers. I don't think it is possible to be one hundred percent organic and I certainly don't think the average hobby gardener should worry about meeting whatever the commercial gardening standards are in their particular area. But I do truly believe that people can enjoy a healthier life by including more organic gardening in their lives and more organic produce on their tables.

So how do we go about creating an organic gardening project that will actually result in healthy harvests of pure healthy foods? How do we nurture a sick planet back to health and assure a brighter future for ourselves and for future generations to come? Well, one way is to stop using so many chemical poisons in general and in our food in particular. It has been said that our food can contain up to 450 different added unnecessary and even dangerous chemicals.

By simply removing artificial chemicals from the gardening equation, we can improve our health. We can be successful at organic gardening without the use of chemicals through building the soil and mimicking nature's ways to do the rest. This doesn't mean that we don't adapt them, but in general, if we follow nature's lead and use the wisdom that the environment has accumulated over the course of Earth's history, we can be very successful in our organic gardening efforts.

Nature is diverse and resilient. It will always fight back to reclaim its rightful place in our ecosystem. Our agriculture will be so much more robust with organic gardening. Poly-culture and lack of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers make organic gardening the only sane choice for our own health and the health of the planet. Try organic gardening today.

Organic Gardening Articles: http://www.organicgardenarticles.com/

By: Deborah Carraro

Organic Garden - A Healthy Alternative

Many people are 'going green' and what better way to do this than to start with your food. There has been an increase recently in organic garden projects and it not only helps the environment, it also helps your body because there are no chemicals used when you make an organic garden.

If you have a space for a garden, this is a good thing, you can compost and garden on the soil that is already there. Composting is where you recycle food scraps and other waste products into the soil so that it helps to feed the plants. Things you would normally throw away such as eggshells, leftovers like meat, potatoes, tomatoes, cheeses, anything that you would normally eat can be composted into the soil to help it become rich in nutrients and help to feed the new plants. Even old coffee grounds will help.

If you do not own a plot of land, you can make a planters box on the roof, your balcony, patio or just about anywhere you have a small area to keep plants in, an old bathtub is perfect for a garden and will yield a nice harvest in the fall. For soil, you use the composting you start in a box of the tub and it will continue to grow. You can purchase soil or go into the woods and find more soil to add to it before the composting is completed.

You can go to the garden center and purchase organic plants and seedlings or seeds to start your organic garden. Make sure the service person knows you are planting an organic garden so they don't give you anything but organically grown plants or seeds.

Some people are concerned about weeds. You should not use a weed killer. The soil is covering itself up with weeds because Mother Nature does not like exposed soils. The weeds grow to keep the soil safe from erosion and other dangers. If you have exposed soil, cover it up with some mulch, this will keep the weeds away and help to keep soil erosion at bay as well.

People wonder about pests and what to do about them. There are several flowers that are natural pesticides for rabbits and other predators, such as marigolds, rabbits especially won't cross these pretty little flowers. Do some research and you could find all kinds of natural pesticides and flowers that critters who like to feast in your garden will not want to tamper with.

In these days of food source scares, it's better to know where your food came from and to know how it was grown, so growing it yourself is the best way to protect you and your family from unknown and unwanted diseases on your food. The food you grow organically is better for you and will taste better.

All around, if you plant an organic garden, you will be helping your body, your family and the environment. And it's less work than fighting the lines at the grocery store or getting sick from the latest contaminated vegetables to cross the boarders.

Organic Gardening Articles: http://www.organicgardenarticles.com/

By: Kevin Treman

Organic foods Local and Global demand

In most developed countries the organic food market is below two per cent of the total food market, but growing rapidly. Global retail sales of organic products, which were valued at US$ 25 billion in 2003 are currently worth US$31 billion and growing at over 20 per cent per annum ( compared to about 3 per cent growth rate of the food market overall)

Popular organic products

Cereals, staples (rice and wheat) coffee, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, species, pickles, jams and bakery products.

Shortage for organic foods

Organic products are facing a major shortage and one of them was red chillies, which experienced a major scarcity all over the world. This is because the area under cultivation of organic crops was not that high. Conversion of land from chemically grown to organic cultivated crops takes one to three years because of factors strigent certification process, assessment of the products by the certifying agencies, soil tests, transaction certificates for traders for every consignment regardless of quantity of product from the farmers which is also carried out by the certifying agency, informed experts.

Hassles for organic food growers

Coming to the issue of Organic foods being expensive, experts pointed out that lower yields during the first few years of organic cultivation, coupled wih the risk against pests and diseases an organic farmer can not risk losing his organic status by using chemicals to fight pests and dieases so even if the losses are heavy the farmer has to bear it. The only consolation for the farmer can not risk losing his organic status by using chemicals to fight pests and diseases, so even if the losses are heavy the farmer has to bear it. The only consolation for the farmer is the lower cost of organic inputs with reference to chemical inputs and organic prices ranges from 15 to 50% of conventional prices. Another issues is the high cost of organic certification, higher operation costs and lower volumes because of high cost processing.

Yet another problem is the transportation and storage. Unlike conventional products that can be procured from the nearest producers, certified organic products may have to be trucked over large distances. Small volumes increase the per unit cost of transport by many times the cost of full truckloads. An inherent problem in organic foods is that the godowns and cargo it can not be fumigated or sprayed with chemicals to control pests. Hence continuous manual cleaning along with carbon dioxide treatment and vacuum is undertaken. Cold storage is also not recommended for loss of natural values , stated the experts.

Organic Gardening Articles: http://www.organicgardenarticles.com/

By: mani

How Organic Products Can Help Your Family

Information on Organic Products

You may be shocked at how much of the produce at your local supermarket has been genetically modified with chemicals and pesticides. While there is strong evidence that chemically modified foods are harmful to your health, there have been no long term studies done either.

Here is a quote from The Environmental Protection Agency “Pesticides are designed to kill pests. Many pesticides can also pose risks to people. The health effects of pesticides depend on the type of pesticide. Some, such as the organophosphates and carbonates, affect the nervous system. Others may irritate the skin or eyes. Some pesticides may be carcinogens. Others may affect the hormone or endocrine system in the body.” Now let’s take a look at the fertilizers and pesticides that are used for farming. Pesticides infiltrate deep into the foliage of plant life and they reside even after you bring them home and wash them or use some product to make sure they are clean and free of bugs.

It is best to buy organic fruits and vegetables but they can be so expensive that sometimes it just does not fit into your budget. The best part is that anybody with some soil and a shovel can grow a vegetable garden which means, healthy organic vegetables at a fraction of the price. Many of the vegetables are noticeably tastier and sweeter, not to mention healthier when they come strait from a home garden.

How to Plant Fruit trees

Another great way to produce your own organic fruits is to grow your own fruit trees. Now this requires a little more experience but it is well worth it. The fruit trees will have to be planted in a place where you can get the roots to go grow deep enough.

Apples are considered on of the most popular fruit today and when grown properly a single tree can produce up to 500 apples in a season. They taste nothing like they use to when I was a kid. It bothers me to know that the kids today have to deal with pesticides that stay in the fruit long after the crop was gathered. Then they are waxed and stored in chemical dependant surroundings. Some other possible trees to consider planting are cherry, lemon, lime, plum, pear and orange trees. Explore what will grow in your neighborhood and plant, plant, plant.

The Best Flowers, Shrubs and Herbs

Every garden should have some variety of attractive flowers. It's essential to gardens! When you have a climate that is considered dry and pretty hot then planting herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage are best. When the climate is humid but still sunny then planting herbs like chives, shallots, Italian parsley, tarragon and coriander and cooler climates suits borage, peppermint and lemon balm. This is just some suggestions but try to plant species that are native to your area. Have you considered that if you plant flowers that attract local insects, frogs or birds that this too helps with the growth of your garden.

Organic Gardening Articles: http://www.organicgardenarticles.com/

By: Alyssa Nair

Organic Lawn Fertilizer: Beautify Your Lawns

Organic care is the best that you can give to your beautiful lawns. It is natural and that is why it cannot harm the lawns. Organic lawn fertilizer has come as a new option for those people who care not only about nurturing their lawns but also about the environment. Organic fertilizers can be used by as an alternative to the chemical products. One should remember that originally there were only these organic products, and we gave place to the chemical ones, thereby spoiling our environment. Now, we should go back to the old times again to save it.

There are several benefits of using lawn fertilizers that are organic in nature, and they are highly effective. You do not have to doubt their capabilities as they are much more beneficial than their chemical counterparts. First of all, these organic fertilizers are biodegradable products. On the other hand, the chemical fertilizers react with our environment in unnatural ways. However these natural fertilizers can break down and return to their original value. Consequently they do not harm anybody as they are easily dissipated. They are toxin free unlike the man made fertilizers.

Another benefit of using organic lawn fertilizer for your lawns is that they are safe for your family. The chemical fertilizers have poisonous chemicals that can harm your family and pets in various ways. The only way out is to go natural. Besides these reasons, organic care leads to less wastage. The negative point of chemical fertilizers is that they have "kill all" tendencies, which also destroys the wanted and helpful organisms. These chemicals also spoil the greenery of the lawn by destroying the grass.

Moreover, the organic fertilizers are usually "slow releasing" which makes them ideal for the food of tiny plants in your lawn. With these fertilizers, you do not have to worry about your lawn anymore. They provide nutrients to the grass and the plants not only for once but for a longer period. This also helps in controlling the weed growth in your beautiful lawn. Also, these fertilizers are made up of earth's soil organisms and that is why they are more essential for a plant's growth.

These organic fertilizers are easily available in the market. Nevertheless, it is crucial to know your soil before you make use of any fertilizer. You should be aware of the composition of the soil of your lawn. In case, you are not good at knowing the soil, you can take help of an expert. Organic fertilizer work best when used properly, and they can work in long run by encouraging better growing conditions in your lawn. These also decrease the need for chemical indulgence such as pest control etc.

Who does not wish to see one's lawns as lush green and glooming with green grass and colorful vibrant flowers? If you too wish to have such a look for your lawns make use of the organic lawn fertilizer. Use these fertilizers in the right proportion and at the right time and you can see the difference within a short time span. Additionally, they do not cause any harm to the environment, which is a greater responsibility for any good citizen. Thus, making use of these natural fertilizers you would be aiding the environment as well.

Organic Gardening Articles: http://www.organicgardenarticles.com/

By: George Kilbride

The Healthful Benefits of Troll-Caught Albacore Tuna

by: Steven Stallard
If you have been curious about the heathful qualities of tuna, canned tune in particular, one tuna stands above the rest: Troll-Caught Albacore Tuna

Why is Troll-Caught Albacore Different?

Unique Population.

Troll-caught albacore are smaller, younger, and richer in flavor than the older albacore harvested in the tropical waters of the Pacific. Troll-caught albacore come exclusively from cold Pacific waters. These differences in environment and age result in differences in composition. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch calls the troll-caught albacore fishery healthy and sustainable.

Rich in Omega-3s

These are the essential fatty acids, unique to seafood, that boost heart health, reduce the chance of sudden cardiac mortality, improve blood fat levels, are essential for infant brain and neural development, and are linked to improvements in several inflammatory and immune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Because troll-caught albacore are rich in fat, they contain more omega-3s than any other canned tuna. Fresh troll-caught albacore offer 2-3 times more heart-healthy omega-3s than most other fatty fish. Two servings of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids is recommended by the American Heart Association (AMA).

Common Albacore vs. Troll-Caught Albacore

Common canned albacore or "white meat" tuna, the kind found on supermarket shelves, comes from tropical Pacific waters. During processing, nearly all the fat is lost. Common canned albacore is almost fat-free, but has very little omega-3 fatty acids. In contrast, Pacific troll-caught albacore are younger fish from colder, northern waters. Troll-caught albacore are handled to retain their fat with all its healthful omega-3s. That's why troll-caught albacore tastes juicy and rich and has all the health benefits of these special omega-3 fatty acids.

The question arises about the standard light/white meat tuna we find on out grocery store shelves?

Light meat tuna comes from different species of tuna, usually skipjack or yellowfin tuna. But no distinction among species appears on the labels of canned light meat tuna. The flesh color is usually slightly darker than albacore. These fish, like tropical albacore, come from warm waters and are rich in protein, but have less fat and omega-3 fatty acids than troll-caught albacore.

Where to Find Troll-Caught Albacore

These delicious fish are available fresh in the Pacific Northwest during the harvest season, July through September. Some frozen troll-caught albacore can be found in food markets. Canned gourmet-style troll-caught albacore is available from specialty markets and at some farmers' markets. Today, troll-caught albacore tune can be purchased online from specialty packers and food stores. It can be identified by the nutrition label with "3 grams fat/serving" in contrast to the usual "1 gram" of fat.

Food from the Organic Crop more Healthy

According to Chairman BOA (Balinese Organic Association) this, many food creations or the drink that could be made use of from the organic crop. Nearby it seems also was glad, his usefulness was good for the health. Along with Kartini's speech about the instruction of various food kinds that had standard material the organic crop

The example, the cake brownies. The material no matter what, flour from the purple yam, berkhasiat as antioksidan, and I karoten. The instruction is, the purple yam was steamed, afterwards was put in the sun to dry (dikeringkan). After that was blent in a blender and refined until becoming flour. The process of his production, granulated sugar and the chicken egg was wanked through to white.Put this flour mixture, stirred added butter that was diluted.Baked through to ripe. Could be decorated in a cream manner, so as more interesting

Apart from the cake brownies still many foodstuffs that could be modified in order to be created a creation that awakened appetite ate. Like the chip of the spinach. The spinach leaves washed clean. Take rice flour added the chicken egg, the garlic, salt, and candlenuts. Put the spinach leaves into this flour batter. At this time BOA marketed whim products from the farmers through Stan in one of the supermarkets in Denpasar. There the visitor will be offered various food and the typical drink organic, like various syrup sorts, namely tall grass syrup, spices syrup, wood syrup cang, and various health juice

For dye to the drink, was used the leaves andong and wood cang. So not with Sumba synthetic.The food kind had various cakes, and the chip from the organic matter, and that most became the favourite was jam rice

It was ancient that normal jam rice was eaten by our parents. That was good for the food variation so that exclusively did not eat steamed rice

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