Enough With Organic Hype

Hi my favorite readers! There has been so much hype lately about the pros and cons of eating organic food that I thought it would be wise to provide a first-hand account.

Some claim that the foods "cost too much". It is true that organically grown foods can cost a few dollars more to buy than the nonorganic versions. However, what is the standard of measurement? What are you basing the cost on? What are you comparing it to? What does "too much" mean, anyways? "Too much" compared to what? 

You can buy organically grown produce at your local farmer's markets. The cost is extremely comparable to the nonorganic versions of the same foods found at your local supermarket. Understand that your supermarket - to matter what type of food is sells - has to pay for its shipping, storage, worker salaries, and building overhead and a plethora of other retail-oriented costs. All these expenses are reflected in higher food prices. Take that into consideration. This means that even the cheapest or organic foods can cost higher when purchased at a commercial supermarket.

NOTE: There is something "fishy" about a large supermarket chain getting into organic foods. How do we really know these foods are grown this way? Do we really know the types of fertilizers used? That entire field just does not settle correctly with me. I do not trust big supermarket chains, I don't care how "consumer friendly" they claim to be. Profit is their bottom line, no matter how they try to get around it.

Is a better tasting food worth the so-called extra price? You bet it is. Organically grown food, most notably from farmer's markets, simply tastes better than nonorganic varieties. There is no way someone is going to convince me otherwise. I know this for a fact. Pick a carrot from you or your friend's garden, clean it up and taste it.  Now....peel that store bought, nonorganic carrot and taste it. The non-organic variety will be tasteless. There simply is no comparison.

Getting back to eating true organic foods is really tasting food as originally intended. There are no artificial pesticides, sweeteners, additives or other signs of processing found.

Get your organic items from farmer's markets, food co-ops, local organic gardens or grow your own   for the best deals around. It's easier than you think.

It is sad to hear and read about "experts" claiming that these foods cost too much as a way to justify whatever point they are trying to make. Who are these "experts" anyways? Check your sources.

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Healthy Junk Food...WHAT??!!

With the increased importance of eating a healthier diet, it is interesting to me how many more foods are making it into our marketplace marketed as “healthy foods”. For years we have heard how important it is to decrease our consumption of junk foods. We've been told that junk foods are culprits for containing high fat, high calories and low nutrition. As our society shifts more towards “healthier” foods, suddenly there are more and more traditional-type junk foods being made with healthier ingredients. I have seen organic corn chips fried in canola (a heart-healthy oil). There are pita chips, cheese sticks, vegetable chips, potato chips, etc. I've even seen organic candy, cookies and snack cakes. I'm sure you get the drift here.

And because the products are so popular with the public, there is a new segment that the food manufacturers can make money from....organic, healthy junk food. Spare me.

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Red Raspberries & Health Benefits

When I was a kid, my family grew red raspberries in our backyard. Getting a bowlful and enjoying throughout the season was a special treat. Then, when I got out on my own and saw the exorbitant prices....YIKES!! Down went my consumption...

My local organic market is having a sale on red raspberries...so I treated myself. Mmm...

In addition to their wonderful taste...red raspberries carry with them a variety of nutritional benefits. For instance....

Red raspberries are very high in Vitamin C, fiber, vitamins B2 and B3, magnesium, plus folate. They also are high in antioxidants. There is talk about them containing strong anti-cancer agents, but I haven't read enough information to convince me of this yet. I'll keep looking.

It's great knowing that not only am I giving my taste buds a treat, but my body is enjoying these nutritional delights also. :)

Red raspberries are great eaten as is, or with some lowfat milk, or added to plain yogurt.

Why Organic Food?

If one is not familiar with all the benefits of organic food, they are missing out. It is not just a fad or trend. Choosing organic food over non-organic food has many advantages, including:

* Taste. This is the deciding factor for choosing organic food. Once you taste unadultered food, you won't want to go back.
* No pesticides. Many times, a non-organically grown food will have a very strong aftertaste of chemicals. It is just repulsive.
* Environmentally friendly. By not using chemically-produced pesticides, the soil is healthier for all involved.
* Less food allergies. The pesticides used on traditional agriculture crops is known to cause food allergies in a variety of people.

These are but a few of the reasons to eat organic. Yes, the products will cost more than the traditionally grown, but the alternative is well worth it.