As a healthy foods advocate, many people often ask me whether or not it
really makes a difference if they eat organic food? My response has
always been an emphatic yes! There are several reasons why eating
organic is not only recommended but also essential to maintaining
personal vibrant health and the health of our planet.
Primarily, organic foods are grown without the use of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and inorganic fertilizers,
which not only protects the food, but also preserves the soil, keeping
it well-stocked with vital nutrients that end up in what you eat.
Chemical pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and other inorganic
additives show up in the food when it is used in the growing/raising
process which will accumulate in your body when you eat them. These
chemicals also interrupt the microbiotic activity in the soil according
to The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). MOFGA
also documents that: “Natural, undisturbed soil is alive with
microbiotic organisms that exist in harmony with the native plant life
and the inorganic minerals that provide the soil's substrate.”
If avoiding chemicals and preserving soil nutrients are not a
good enough reasons, maybe avoiding GMO (Genetically Modified Organism)
ingredients would be. Over the years, the amount of pesticides,
fungicides, herbicides and inorganic fertilizers use on crops grown in
the United State and Canada has also rapidly accelerated due to the
introduction of GMOs into our food supply. Happily, Organic foods DO NOT contain GMO ingredients.
It’s not just the avoidance of chemicals that is of concern but also
the food and ingredients made from GMO crops that are strongly
questionable for health safety reasons.
Against strong opposition from the scientific community, the FDA
approved GMOs in 1992 for commercial use labeling them as GRAS or
“Generally Recognized as Safe.” However, the GRAS label was given
without meeting the guidelines of undergoing a substantial amount of
peer-reviewed published studies and by achieving an overwhelming
consensus among the scientific community that the product is safe. As
of today, food grown and manufactured from GMO ingredients have not
been adequately tested on the human body and there is no clear
scientific evidence supporting its safety for human consumption. In
fact there is credible evidence showcasing how GMO foods are indeed
harmful. Another disturbing point is that foods containing GMO
ingredients do not have to be labeled and there are no required review
processes or regulation protocols currently in practice.
We have essentially become human guinea pigs and there are more and
more accounts of people getting sick. According to a report published
by the Institute for Responsible Technology, The FDA’s “Non-Regulation” Of GM(O) Foods,
“Their influence on health has been largely ignored, but recent studies
show serious problems. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been
linked to thousands of toxic or allergic-type reactions, thousands of
sick, sterile, and dead livestock, and damage to virtually every organ
and system studied in lab animals. Nearly every independent animal
feeding safety study shows adverse or unexplained effects.” This
information has been well documented in Jeffrey M. Smith’s book, Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods.
When it comes to making a decision between organic and conventional,
the choice is clear – choose organic for your own health and for the
health of the planet and future generations. If money is an issue, the
last place you want to cut back on is on the quality of the food you
buy and consume. After all you are what you eat,
and replacing organic food with mass-produced chemically enhanced
produce and ingredients will cause your body more harm down the road,
which in turn increases the dollar amount you spend on healthcare. By
spending a little more money now will save you a lot of money and
illnesses later. Also anecdotally and from personal experience organic
food just tastes better!
At HealthWalk™,
we strongly support and encourage eating organic food, as keeping your
body and metabolic processes free from foreign and negative chemical
invasion is a wonderful and effective way to maintain vibrant health.
If you have been inundated with chemicals from foods and environment,
we can assist you in your detox process through Vital Hematology (live blood analysis), Galvanic Skin Response biofeedback testing and Nutrition Analysis with a Functional Perspective.
These modalities can help set you free from unwanted, toxic substances
and lead you on a clear, bright and healthy path that organically
unfolds into an open field of joyful endeavors.
Julie Gengo, HealthWalk™ Marketing Coordinator
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