Organic Foods - Costly or Cost Effective?
 by Kathryn Burke

WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTHY EATING, organics are a worthwhile investment, with payoffs that might surprise you. Recent studies show that eating organic produce increases your average levels of nearly a dozen nutrients as much as 25 percent. There may be weight benefits, too, as most anyone who eats an organic diet can tell you. No-fat and low-fat foods make up for missing fats with fattening carbohydrates, and many substitute "bad" fats for good.  "Pure" foods contain less toxins and virtually no chemicals. A recent study supported by the EPA found children switched to an organic diet shows virtually undetectable levels of pesticides after just five days.

Produce - how to avoid the "Dirty Dozen." According to Prevention Magazine, Government lab tests show that even after washing, certain fruits and vegetables carry much higher levels of pesticides than do others. Between 2000 and 2005, the not-for-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG) analyzed the results of nearly 51,000 tests for residues on produce. Based on the data, they created a "dirty dozen" list of the most contaminated fruits and veggies. Top offenders include: peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, grapes (imported), spinach, lettuce, and potatoes. Always buying these foods organic is ideal, but if you can't, focus on those you eat all the time. Since it's hard to grown your own, at least for most of us, the next best thing is buying from a source you trust, like Season's Harvest whose suppliers are organically sound.

Meat & Poultry - why buy organic. Recent studies have found a potentially deadly new strain of microbes in retail cuts of pork, chicken, beef and other meats prompting growing  concerns over "superbugs" in our food, especially beef, chicken, and pork, according to an article in MSNBC. Many of these products are infused with large quantities of antibiotics (available at feed stores without a prescription) to prevent spread of disease. The opposite occurs, however, since infusing them with antibiotics prompts growth of  bacteria which resisits antibiotics (including methicillin), making diseases like MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) hard to treat, even lethal. According to the USDA and CDC, certain types of MRSA infections kill 18,000 Americans a year — more than die from AIDS.  It's not just about bacteria though. Organic meat and poultry is healthier for you in the short- AND long-term. A study in the journal Meat Science compared the nutritional content of organic and nonorganic chicken meat, for example, and found organic samples contained 28% more omega-3s, essential fatty acids that are linked to reduced rates of heart disease, depression, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammation, and Alzheimer's disease. Animals raised organically can't be given antibiotics, growth hormones, or feed made from animal by-products (which can transmit mad cow disease).  One way to be sure you're getting "real' organic products, is to buy them from someone you know and trust, like Season's Harvest.

Portion size.  Every one today is concerned with both budget and body. Tightening the budget in lean times can also mean leaner, healthier bodies. Organic foods taste better and are better for you. But they may cost a little more. So... eat a little less. You'll be thinner, trimmer, healthier and happier if you keep portions to an acceptable size. One reason for over eating when eating conventional food is that it doesn't satisfy. Lack f at leaves you hungry. Sugary, starchy foods with a high glycemic content give you a quick boost of energy, but quickly leave you hungry again. So you overeat. When you eat organic foods, you can control portion size and meal frequency more easily and avoid being uncomfortably hungry.

Natural boosts to immune system. Organic foods also promote wellness and help prevent disease. Six cloves of garlic (which a member of the onion family)  a week may lower colorectal cancer by 30 percent and stomach cancer by as much as 50 percent, according to a study by British researchers.  Oats and barley contain beta-glucan, a type of fiber with antimicrobial and antioxidant capabilities more potent than echinacea, accoring to a Norwegian study. But did you also know that a poultice made from oats soaked in hot water, helps arthritis? Selenium, plentiful in shellfish such as oysters, lobsters, crabs, and clams, helps white blood cells produce cytokines-proteins that help clear flu viruses out of the body. Salmon, mackerel, and herring are rich in omega-3 fats, which reduce inflammation, increasing airflow and protecting lungs from colds and respiratory infections. If you can't eat the fish, then buy a fish oil supplimnt, like those available at Season's Harvest, to provide the omega-3 boost you need. According to a study from the University of Vienna in Austria found that a daily 7-ounce dose of yogurt keeps the intestinal tract free of disease-causing germs and boosts immunity.  Finally, we all know that drinking tea s good for us. Why?  According to a Harvard study, people who drank 5 cups a day of black tea for 2 weeks had 10 times more virus-fighting interferon in their blood than others who drank a placebo hot drink. The amino acid that's responsible for this immune boost, L-theanine, is abundant in both black and green tea--decaf versions have it, too. You'll find all of these natural suppliments and more at Season's Harvest.