Why Organic?
Okay, we've all heard organic foods are better for you, but is that the only reason to eat them?

The choices we make every day have a huge impact on other people, the earth, the air we breath, the water we drink and so much more.

Did you know that farm workers suffer the highest rates
of occupational illness in California?

Better for your health: A review of 41 studies indicates organic crops provide substantially higher levels of nutrients such as protein, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and phosphorous. These minerals boost your immune system, give you energy, and taste better.

Protect Future Generations: The average child receives 4 times more exposure than an adult to at least 8 widely used cancer-causing pesticides in food. The food choices you make now will impact your child's health in the future.

Prevent Soil Erosion: Soil is the foundation of the food chain in organic farming. In conventional farming the soil is used more as a medium for holding plants in a vertical position so they can be chemically fertilized. As a result, American farms are suffering from the worst soil erosion in history.

Protect Water Quality: The Environmental Protection Agency estimates pesticides (some cancer causing) contaminate the groundwater in 38 states, polluting the primary source of drinking water for more than half the country's population.

Save Energy: Modern farming uses more petroleum than any other single industry, consuming 12% of the country's total energy supply. More energy is now used to produce synthetic fertilizers to till, cultivate, and harvest all the crops in the U.S. Organic farming is still mainly based on labor-intensive practices such as weeding by hand and using green manures and crop covers rather than synthetic fertilizers to build up soil.

Keep Chemicals Off Your Plate: EPA considers that 60% of all herbicides, 90% of all fungicides and 30% of all insecticides are carcinogenic. Pesticides are poisons designed to kill living organisms, and can also be harmful to humans in addition to cancer, pesticides are implicated in birth defects, nerve damage, and genetic mutation.

Protect Farm Worker Health: A National Cancer Institute study found that farmers exposed to herbicides had a 6 times greater risk than non-farmers of contracting cancer. Field workers suffer the highest rates of occupational illness in California.

Help Small Farmers: It's estimated that the United States has lost more than 650,000 family farms in the past decade; organic farming could be one of the few survival tactics left for family farms.

Support A True Economy: Although organic foods might seem more expensive than conventional foods, conventional food prices do not reflect hidden costs borne by the taxpayers, including nearly $74 billion in federal subsidies in 1988. Other hidden costs include pesticide regulation and testing, hazardous waste disposal and clean-up, and environmental damage.

Promote Biodiversity: Mono-cropping is the practice of planting large plots of land with the same crop year after year. The lack of natural planting diversity has left the soil lacking in natural minerals and nutrients. Single crops are more reliant on pesticides while some insects have become genetically resistant to certain pesticides.

Flavor: There is a good reason why many chefs use organic foods in their recipes- they taste better. Organic farming starts with the nourishment of the soil, which eventually leads to the nourishment of the plant and ultimately, our bodies.

The Dirty Dozen  &

Tips for going  Organic

Choosing to eat organic food is one of the simplest, most pleasurable ways to protect and promote your health.

Based on an analysis of more than 100,000 U.S. government pesticide test results, researchers at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., have developed the "dirty dozen" fruits and vegetables, that they say you should always buy organic, if possible, because their conventionally grown counterparts tend to be laden with pesticides.

If you have been thinking about switching to organic foods, here are several things you should take into consideration.

Reading the label
Learning to read foods labels is the most important thing. Keep in mind that not all "100% natural" means organic.

1. 100 percent organic: means containing only organically produced ingredients.
2. Cage-free: means animals are not kept in cages, and the USDA has no regulation on what the animals are fed or time spend outside.
3. Farm fish: means fish raised in pen, and the USDA has no organic standards for seafood.
4. Free range: means the animals spend at least half of their lives outside and is regulated by the USDA.
5. Grass-fed: means farmers' food sources is grass, and not regulated by USDA.
6. Made with organic ingredients: means having at least 70 percent of organic ingredients.
7. Natural: means no artificial ingredients, or added colors.
8. Organic: has at least 95% organic ingredient.

Making the switch
It is best to make the switch to organic foods moderately.

* Week 1: start with dairy products such as milk, cheese, and egg.
* Week 2: fruits, and vegetables.
* Week 3: meat, chicken, and nuts.
* Week 4: pasta, rice, and bread.
* Week 5: beverages.


Have trouble finding the time to go shopping?
Join a CSA (community supported agriculture-what's that?)
Check out Farm Fresh to You
You can get fresh, organic produced delivered to your home or office!
They have some great recipes too.

The Dirty Dozen
Which foods have the most pesticides? This list is known as "The Dirty Dozen." You can reduce your pesticide intake by 90 percent by eating organic varieties of the following fruits and veggies:

1. Apples
2. Cherries
3. Milk
4. Peaches
5. Red raspberries
6. Strawberries-read here to find out how nasty this industry is!
7. Grapes
8. Cucumber
9. Corn-Get the story on corn: The Omnivore's Dilemma.
10. Bell peppers
11. Potatoes
12. Spinach

Recipe: Fast & Easy Spinach!

INGREDIENTS
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 shallot, diced
* 1 lb washed baby spinach leaves
* kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Stir in shallots and cook until transparent, about 5 minutes. Add spinach, sprinkle with salt and pepper; cook and stir 3 to 5 minutes until leaves are wilted and reduced.

Still having a hard time making the switch to organic food?
I would love to support you! Even if you've never thought organic was important, or if you think you can't afford it, I can help you become a more conscious eater.

Call me 415-994-5484 or email stacey@fivepointwellness.com
and find out how!

Please inspire someone you know to become healthier by sharing this article. Healthy eating is easy and fun, you might be surprised at how much you like it, if you grew up thinking that healthy eating was all about bulgar wheat and overcooked broccoli, I encourage you to call me immediately! You might be missing out on bundles of energy, extraordinary flavor, and vibrant health.

Sincerely,
Stacey