Healthy eating should be a lifestyle, not a diet. As I mentioned in my last blog, http://tinyurl.com/d454b8q, I will discuss some popular diets as well as some styles of eating over the next several weeks. After you read the pros and cons of the featured styles for eating healthy, you can decide which nutrition option best suits your lifestyle.
Non-organic vs. organic food often caused heated debates among health wellness proponents. But the main question is “what is the difference?” An organic diet does not necessarily mean that you are eating healthier in the form of calories and nutrients. Organic pertains to the way food is grown or raised.
The guidelines listed below must be followed when fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and meat are labeled as organic. These are the important differences between non-organic and organic foods. The choice is yours, you decide!
Non-Organic
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Organic
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Chemical fertilizers are used for the promotion of plant growth in fruits, vegetables, and grains.
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Natural fertilizers like compost and manure are used to feed soil and grow fruits, vegetables, and grains.
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Synthetic herbicides are used to kill weeds in crops.
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Crops are rotated and weeds are removed by hand or mulch.
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Synthetic insecticides are used to eliminate pests and disease in crops.
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Beneficial insects and birds, mating disruptions or traps to reduce pests and disease in crops. Spray pesticides, when used, are created from natural resources.
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Animals used for meat or dairy products are given antibiotics, growth hormones and medications to increase growth, production, and prevent disease. Housing for these animals is often overcrowded and unsanitary.
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Animals used for meat or dairy products are given organic feed and allowed access to outdoors. They are also part of a plan that includes rotational grazing and clean housing.
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I love the idea of choosing organic foods but it is so expensive. I agree there are exceptional nutritional benefits that can come with consuming organic foods, but unfortunately it is just hard to do this on a consistent basis. A good video that explains this in greater detail is called "Food Matters". This video does a great job of explaining and showing first hand how our food is being produced in the United States and around the world today. I believe growing some of your own food may be the answer to some of these problems. Years ago, many more people grew their own food and had gardens in their backyard. Now a days, you don't see this as often because food is so readily available but we much understand the negative side effects to consuming food that may have been exposed to harmful chemicals.
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