Jeff’s Healthy Living Blog

What is Organic Farming?

May 20th, 2008

From Jeremy Pickles, special to JeffsHealthyLiving.com

Organic farming is the production of food using all natural methods - avoiding all synthetic chemicals and genetically modified organisms. Its’ core philosophy is that of sustainability or ‘zero impact’. The organic farmer seeks to leave the earth in its’ natural state after the harvest.

The focus of organic methods is on soil quality. Crops are grown without artificial fertilizers and pesticides, and livestock is reared free of drugs and hormones. Proponents of organic food believe it produces food with higher quality and nutritional value than conventional chemical-based methods.

Many countries including the US and the EU have certification programs to control the use of the term “Organic”. This benefits the consumer by ensuring best practice has been followed. This varies from region to region but includes things like the minimum length of time a field can be left free of chemicals before it is allowed to be used for organic farming.

There are many different styles of organic food production but they all adhere to the same principles:

* no artificial fertilizers or drugs
* no genetically modified organisms
* prevention of soil depletion
* ‘biodiversity’ - the growing of a range of crops not just a single species.

One recent researcher found that vegetables in the 1950s contained more than eight times as many trace elements as modern crops, which he attributed to the excessive use of nitrate fertilizers. You can read all the latest research at http://www.ge-free.com/

Organic farming has come about as a consumer reaction against the chemical based methods that have been used so widely in 20th century food production. Really though it is simply a formalised definition of traditional agriculture as it has been practiced for thousands of years before 20th century chemicals were invented.

So far, organic farming has been limited to small businesses growing for local markets. Organic farming methods are very expensive compared to their chemical counterparts, and the production yields are low when compared to ‘conventional’ farming.

Consumers of course are willing to pay a premium for the improved flavour and nutrition value of organic produce but it remains a premium market. This will change as more large scale organic producers enter production.

Most countries now have ‘all organic’ type food stores in the larger cities. So long as there are people who enjoy healthy living and an alternative to the chemical ridden norm, these businesses will continue to flourish.

Jeremy is the owner of http://www.ge-free.com/ and publisher of Organic Food News.

The Benefits Of Organic Flaxseed Oil

May 18th, 2008

From Greg Haehl, special to JeffsHealthyLiving.com

Organic Flax Seed Oil Provides the Right Kind of Fatty Acid

For countless years the argument the fat in your diet was bad for your health. The problem with most people’s diets however is that they are getting too much of the wrong types of fat in their diets and not enough of the fats that are good for them. Organic Flax Seed Oil contains linoleic and alpha-linoleic acid, two fats that are extremely good for the body. Organic Flax Seed Oil is beneficial in many ways.

Organic Flax Seed Oil is Good for the Kidneys

Many studies being preformed by health care professionals are showing that the linoleic and alpha-linoleic acids in Organic Flax Seed Oil are proving to be quite beneficial in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Systemic lupus an autoimmune disease likely to strike younger women is often found to have inflammation of the kidneys as one of it’s symptoms. A study preformed on both animals and humans with this condition showed that renal function began to improve when taking between 15 to 40 grams of Organic Flax Seed Oil a day for at least a four week time span.

Organic Flax Seed Oil supplements are also being shown to ease the symptoms of arthritis. Completed studies by medical professionals are showing patients who added Organic Flax Seed Oil to their diets showed a lessening in arthritic symptoms after just a few short weeks.

Organic Flax Seed Oil doesn’t appear to have any bad side effects if taken as directed. It works well as a substitute for several different oils used in cooking and baking. You can also add organic flax seed oil to a nutritional shake or drink it on it’s own.

Organic Flax Seed Oil Just Makes Your Body Work Better

These are just two of the diseases that Organic Flax Seed Oil is being shown to be useful in aiding with treatment. Organic Flax Seed Oil is also very beneficial to pregnant and nursing women and organic flax seed oil is also being used to lower cholesterol. As always you should check with you health care provider before starting any kind of alternative treatment program and contact the hospital right away should you be suffering any side effects you believe are from taking Organic Flax Seed Oil.

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