More and more people are choosing to avoid the risk of chemical contamination of their bodies, families and homes. Fortunately, solutions to address change exist and are easily accessible. Choosing green alternatives allows us to live a natural and green lifestyle.
The benefits of organic bedding, eating organic food, and wearing organic clothing are numerous. Organic Food The Organic Food Association tells us, “It’s common sense; organic food is good food. Good to eat, good for the environment, good for the small farmers and farmworkers who produce it.”
Organic farming is all about health and wellness. To ensure optimal health and resistance to disease, the natural balance in our own bodies and in the environment must be maintained. The use of artificial chemical pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, fertilizers, genetic engineering and drugs interfere with this delicate balance; with unknown and often harmful consequences! That is why organic farming has an impact on much more than what can be tasted or seen.
Over the past fifty years, commercial farmers, out of necessity, have continued to increase the number of these dangerous applications. Cereal crops are sprayed up to 8 times during the growing season. Many fruit and vegetable crops have been sprayed 10 – 15 times. After harvest, the spraying process is repeated to inhibit bacterial growth during storage and transportation. Excessive spraying of fruit and vegetable crops destroys natural bacteria, leaving plants increasingly vulnerable to attack by unwanted pests or diseases. More insecticides and fungicides are then required to combat infestation and decay. However, these pests quickly become immune to the applied chemicals and their population increases rapidly. More powerful and increasingly toxic chemicals are then required.
Organic certification is the consumer’s assurance that products have met strict standards and have been grown and handled according to strict procedures without contamination from carcinogenic pesticides, fertilizers, human waste or sewage sludge and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or artificial food additives. Organic or non-organic, which would you rather put in your body? We are what we eat. When our diet is based on natural organic options, we are providing our bodies with optimal food, produced under optimal conditions. Organically grown vegetables and fruits provide more minerals and nutrients than commercially grown produce and are more intensely colored, scented and flavored; they just taste better!
Organic meats are produced from animals that have been humanely treated and raised on certified organic pastures and foods. Organic meat is the only meat product that guarantees that no genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been used at any stage of growth production.
Organics and the Environment
The USDA estimates that within the next ten years half of all agricultural products in the United States will come from just 1% of farms. The EPA also states that commercial agriculture is responsible for 70% of the pollution in our country’s rivers and streams. Small organic farmers fund innovative and far-reaching research designed to minimize the impact of agriculture on the environment. They preserve biodiversity by planting traditional plant varieties and harvesting seeds for future crops. The loss of a wide variety of species is one of the world’s most pressing environmental concerns. The good news is that many organic farmers and gardeners have been collecting, saving seeds, and growing unusual and unique varieties for decades.
Organic farming methods naturally enrich the soil with manure and compost. Well-balanced soils produce strong, healthy plants that are nutritious for both people and animals. Organic farming can be a lifeline for small farms, as it offers an alternative market where sellers can get fair and equitable prices for crops. Organic agriculture may be one of the last ways to ensure the survival of both our ecosystems and our rural farming communities.
Conventional agriculture endangers farmworkers and their families. Scientific research confirms pesticide-related health problems including cancer, birth defects, memory loss, paralysis, and death. Unsafe storage, improper application methods, and unsafe handling and transportation procedures are not uncommon and often lead to tragic accidents. As pests develop resistance, farmers desperate to maintain or increase crop yields often turn to more and more expensive and stronger chemical applications. Faced with rising costs, depleted fields and polluted groundwater, many small farmers have been forced to abandon their livelihoods.
Organic farming, on the other hand, is not only safer and healthier for farmers, but also promotes fair compensation in the supply chain. Organic agriculture provides an economically viable and socially acceptable alternative to large-scale farming and the resulting reliance on government farm subsidies. Supporting the small farmer supports the US economy.
Organic production drastically reduces health risks. Many EPA-approved pesticides were registered and approved prior to extensive research linking these harmful chemicals to cancer and other major health problems. Crop spraying has often resulted in toxic pesticides drifting from fields into residential areas.
Organic farming is one way to prevent more of these chemicals from contaminating the land that sustains us. A growing body of research indicates that pesticides and other contaminants are considerably more prevalent in the food we eat, in our bodies, and in the environment than previously believed.
By choosing organic products, we decrease this toxic load. Organic farmers regularly rotate crops and plant cover crops to control weeds, nutrient leaching, and erosion. Soil is the base of the food chain. The focus of organic farming is to use methods that build and maintain healthy and sustainable soils.
Organic skin care and personal products
Skin care and cosmetics are the least regulated products under the US Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Whether it’s soap, moisturizers, or deodorants, skin care products are an essential part of everyday life. daily life. But do we really understand what these products actually contain and what are we forcing our skin to absorb?
Have you ever suffered from stinging, burning or itchy skin? Chances are your skin has absorbed irritants and toxins from your skin care products. The skin absorbs the ingredients of all personal care products that come into contact with our skin. Consider nicotine patches or HRT. They are based solely on skin absorption.
As mothers we always care about the well-being of our children. We comfort them with tenderness and shower them with a wide range of products. These include soaps, shampoos, creams and lotions, many of which are used on a baby’s delicate skin several times a day. The skin is the body’s largest organ, and a baby’s delicate skin can be up to 100 times more sensitive and receptive to toxic chemicals and irritating ingredients than adult skin.
Without even realizing it, parents put their babies at risk every day. Did you know that applying baby powder to your baby’s skin may pose a cancer risk later in life? The main ingredient in many baby powders is talcum powder, which has been confirmed by several medical studies to be a known carcinogen.
Lanolin is a main ingredient in many personal care products and when processed from organically raised sheep, it makes a wonderful healing balm. The danger lies in non-organic lanolin that has been processed from sheep that were dipped or sprayed for lice with chemical pesticides that are contaminated with carcinogenic ingredients such as DDT, dieldrin, or lindane. The residue of these toxins remains in the processed lanolin and can cause serious reactions and long-term health risks.
Organic, natural, and chemical-free products offer eco-friendly options that eliminate these dangers. You can avoid these and similar concerns by using only certified organic products formulated from natural sources such as plants, fruits, vegetables, and flowers. These products do not contain synthetic chemicals such as lauryl sulfate, phthalates, parabens, artificial fragrances or colors.
Organic Textiles
By the end of 2008, worldwide sales of organic textiles are expected to exceed $3 billion, indicating that global demand for organic textiles is increasing in response to consumer demand. Organic production takes more time, requires more skills and knowledge and, for now at least, costs a bit more. But it’s worth it as organic materials contain no hidden costs to the environment.
Choose organic products! Choose organic!
The consumption and use of green technologies is about the challenges and choices we face if we want to enjoy a high quality of life within the limited resources of our world. If we are passionate about sustainability, together we can make the planet a cleaner and healthier place for all of us to live.
Do you want to adopt a lifestyle that protects the future of our children? Do you want to live in the greenest environment possible with awareness and respect and appreciation for the earth? The quality of life for future generations depends on the decisions we make today!
Surveys show that about a quarter of the US adult population has a deep sense of environmental awareness and social responsibility. Nearly half of us will buy organic products and make green choices in many aspects of our daily lives. Consumer education and awareness is a powerful force for change.
Consumption of organically grown produce has increased 20 percent in the last year alone. Organic alternatives are readily available and the trend is on the rise. Sustainability must be within everyone’s reach. Our choices matter and have long-term global impact. Let’s choose wisely!