What is organic food ?

ALL naturally produced food is organic material by definition; from the biology or chemistry point of view, food coming from nature in plant or animal form IS organic material. Years back, when people did not have the ability, or the idea to temper with the natural foods, ALL food was considered organic, so there was no need to “extra label”. No one was eating a piece of inorganic metal, or inorganic rock. Only organic material, from nature, was used as food in form of vegetables, fruits, grains, eggs, milk, meat, seeds, honey, natural syrups, extracted oils etc.

But people got smarter and voracious, and started to “improve” upon the nature by using hormone to make things grow faster and bigger, man-made pesticides and fertilizers to make things grow in places where they were not intended to grow, with less manual labor and more profit. Genetically modified (GMO) foods are the norm these days for the food industry, along with the production of artificial foods. Antibiotics are used most of the time without specific reason except to prevent diseases which might affect the livestock and decrease profitability for the farmers.

The word ORGANIC started to be used in the food industry to basically identify the food group which still keeps its natural structure, its original method of being produced by using natural substances as fertilizer. So, the real meaning of this label is for consumer to recognize the foods which are NOT poisoned or genetically modified by the “enhancing” modern methods of growing and producing food practiced by industry.

For example, one can find in the same grocery store “organic” carrots, as well as just.. carrots at a lower price. The difference is, the “organic” ones were not exposed to pesticides or other chemicals which are usually used to fertilize or make the product grow faster and bigger and they are not genetically modified.

So, to buy a natural product, grown as nature intended to be grown, a consumer must pay a much higher price; and this is the dilemma of modern life in our century.

Being forced to pay more for a product grown in the proper way, in it’s natural condition, without any or too much “enhancement” seems to be very unfair and revolting. Yet, this is the reality.

In fact, producing whole food employing natural methods, should be THE ONLY WAY of producing in order to preserve health and life for all. But this not being the case, while doing grocery, look for “organic” or “certified organic” label, to ensure the quality of your food.

Organic Consumers Association

Non-organic foods with the highest quantity of pesticides:
Apples, Celery, Cherries, Grapes, Lettuce, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Potatoes, Spinach, Strawberries, Sweet Bell Pepper

Non-organic foods with the lowest quantity of pesticides:
Asparagus, Avocado, Banana, Broccoli, Cabbage, Eggplant, Garlic, Kiwi, Mango, Onion, Papaya, Pea, Pineapples
(info from: Environmental Working Group)

Non-organic foods could also be genetically modified (GMO)

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In food stores, the PLU code (Price Look Up code) shown on the sticky labels stuck on fruit or vegetables will help to identify the category:

- 4 digit code - it means the produce was grown conventionally
- 5 digit code starting with 9 – it means the produce was grown organically
- 5 digit code starting with 8 – it means the produce was genetically modified (GMO)
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Why organic foods are better?

First, organic foods don’t contain residue of pesticides or other chemicals used on a regular basis in agriculture.

Second, organic foods such as fruits and vegetables contain a high level of antioxidants (Polyphenols) which are very instrumental in keeping a good health. Flavonoids (a subclass of Polyphenols) are found mostly in organically grown fruits and vegetables, since the pesticides and herbicides – normally used in the standard agriculture – inhibit the productions of these antioxidants.

Polyphenol flavonoids have a role in:

- good functioning of the brain (memory and concentration)

- good functioning of the immune system

- good absorption of vitamins, especially vitamin C

- good functioning of the heart and the organism in general

Get educated about the GMO foods!

Dictionary “organic food” definition
The official FDA site for food labeling regulations

Articles to read:
How food manufacturers trick consumers with deceptive ingredients lists
Common Food Additive Found To Increase Risk And Speed Spread Of Lung Cancer
Pesticides on Fruits and Vegetables
Cracking Down on Organic Food Fraud
Test Results: Complete Data Set
When Should You Buy Organic?
Salts that Heal and Salts that Kill Unrefined Ocean Sea Salt versus Refined Salt

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