Yes, you can now officially place me in the category of "crunchy mommies". We've all been told to eat our fruits and veggies, cut out sugar, don't eat too much, and exercise on a daily basis to lead healthier lives. I know that I've heard it so much I would just kind of tune it out without thinking twice about it. After having my baby girl and failing to breastfeed her the way I wanted to I started to become more aware of what I was giving to her and started doing some research.
You may have heard a while back where they came out with a new study that said organic food had no greater nutritional value than that of their "standard" counterparts. This is true. They grow the same way. Have the same soil. But there is one big, big difference. Organic foods do not use harmful pesticides. Don't hate on me for using this but Dr. Oz explains it pretty well,
http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/breaking-news-are-pesticides-greatest-threat-your-kids-health?video=14882
Reading on this led me to another controversial topic: Genetically Modified Food. This is where I got really grossed out. Learned more about it in one of my natural health magazines. I had no clue that more likely than not the quick meals that I was getting at the grocery store (ie. frozen family meals done in thirty minutes or less in a box) were full of junk. Well, I knew they probably weren't the best, but not THAT bad. I also never gave a second thought about my baking supplies being genetically engineered. Check this article out:
http://www.naturalhealthmag.com/healthy-eating/gmos-friend-or-foe?page=2
In case you were too lazy to read it you should know that crops which are genetically engineered can have spliced DNA from other plants, animals, and even viruses. They are created so they can withstand the elements better and "naturally" emit a bug repellent I guess you could say, so they are more likely to be harvested in greater quantities for a greater profit. But when we consume them our body can react to them and actually after a while our bodies could possibly turn on THEMSELVES. Have you been curious as to why our population (in America) has seen in increase in food allergies, and immune disorders?
Well, I've been curious. Also, don't know if you have heard about the illegal smuggling of Chinese honey into our country has become a bit of a problem. Think it's silly to be worried about that? Did you know that the Chinese fill their honey with substances that are banned by the UN? One such substance goes by the name Chloramphenicol and it's an antibiotic that could potentially be deadly, causing a rare bone marrow disorder (found this out from my Women's Health Magazine) . And that honey could be used in making your breakfast cereal that you feed to your children every morning . Concerned yet?
Now, I am not about becoming paranoid and jumping at every doomsday story about how we are all going to die, blah blah blah. But as a parent I am responsible for the well being of my child and I cannot in good conscience ignore some major evidence that is in front of me. I'm not here to preach and believe me I know that it is expensive to buy high quality products. But if we can spend hundreds of dollars every year on movies, clothes, vacations, heck even that cup of Starbucks, can't we spend a little more on our health and that of our families? I'm kind of starting to ramble here because it's late but this is really on my mind because it has been a BIG adjustment for us to be healthier. I've given up favorite snack foods and we don't eat out whenever we want because we want to take that money and put it towards our groceries and such. Just in a week and a half of really putting our foot down on what we would allow ourselves to put in our bodies I can feel a change in my mood and my energy during the day. We aren't going crazy but we are building a lifestyle that I am truly happy about and at peace with. (should not be ending a sentence that way. Bad English major ;)
We now make our own cereal (a paleo recipe that my hubby got from his fire buddies) and buy local honey. Along with buying local beef and milk. Soon, we hope to depend on ourselves for making our own bread so we don't have to worry about the extra junk they throw in as fillers. It is really hard not buying processed but in the end I know the extra time I have to put into planning meals is going to be worth it in the end. I also keep thinking of that verse in 1 Corinthians that says, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of God." The Bible says that our bodies are the temples of God. How often do we take that seriously? I want to serve God in the best way that I can, with all of my strength. So I'm paying attention from now on when it comes to what I put in my mouth. And that is my long, drawn out reason of why I like to buy organic :D
PS here are some helpful links if you are interested in buying organic:
http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/
http://www.earthsbest.com/
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/
You may have heard a while back where they came out with a new study that said organic food had no greater nutritional value than that of their "standard" counterparts. This is true. They grow the same way. Have the same soil. But there is one big, big difference. Organic foods do not use harmful pesticides. Don't hate on me for using this but Dr. Oz explains it pretty well,
http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/breaking-news-are-pesticides-greatest-threat-your-kids-health?video=14882
Reading on this led me to another controversial topic: Genetically Modified Food. This is where I got really grossed out. Learned more about it in one of my natural health magazines. I had no clue that more likely than not the quick meals that I was getting at the grocery store (ie. frozen family meals done in thirty minutes or less in a box) were full of junk. Well, I knew they probably weren't the best, but not THAT bad. I also never gave a second thought about my baking supplies being genetically engineered. Check this article out:
http://www.naturalhealthmag.com/healthy-eating/gmos-friend-or-foe?page=2
In case you were too lazy to read it you should know that crops which are genetically engineered can have spliced DNA from other plants, animals, and even viruses. They are created so they can withstand the elements better and "naturally" emit a bug repellent I guess you could say, so they are more likely to be harvested in greater quantities for a greater profit. But when we consume them our body can react to them and actually after a while our bodies could possibly turn on THEMSELVES. Have you been curious as to why our population (in America) has seen in increase in food allergies, and immune disorders?
Well, I've been curious. Also, don't know if you have heard about the illegal smuggling of Chinese honey into our country has become a bit of a problem. Think it's silly to be worried about that? Did you know that the Chinese fill their honey with substances that are banned by the UN? One such substance goes by the name Chloramphenicol and it's an antibiotic that could potentially be deadly, causing a rare bone marrow disorder (found this out from my Women's Health Magazine) . And that honey could be used in making your breakfast cereal that you feed to your children every morning . Concerned yet?
Now, I am not about becoming paranoid and jumping at every doomsday story about how we are all going to die, blah blah blah. But as a parent I am responsible for the well being of my child and I cannot in good conscience ignore some major evidence that is in front of me. I'm not here to preach and believe me I know that it is expensive to buy high quality products. But if we can spend hundreds of dollars every year on movies, clothes, vacations, heck even that cup of Starbucks, can't we spend a little more on our health and that of our families? I'm kind of starting to ramble here because it's late but this is really on my mind because it has been a BIG adjustment for us to be healthier. I've given up favorite snack foods and we don't eat out whenever we want because we want to take that money and put it towards our groceries and such. Just in a week and a half of really putting our foot down on what we would allow ourselves to put in our bodies I can feel a change in my mood and my energy during the day. We aren't going crazy but we are building a lifestyle that I am truly happy about and at peace with. (should not be ending a sentence that way. Bad English major ;)
We now make our own cereal (a paleo recipe that my hubby got from his fire buddies) and buy local honey. Along with buying local beef and milk. Soon, we hope to depend on ourselves for making our own bread so we don't have to worry about the extra junk they throw in as fillers. It is really hard not buying processed but in the end I know the extra time I have to put into planning meals is going to be worth it in the end. I also keep thinking of that verse in 1 Corinthians that says, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of God." The Bible says that our bodies are the temples of God. How often do we take that seriously? I want to serve God in the best way that I can, with all of my strength. So I'm paying attention from now on when it comes to what I put in my mouth. And that is my long, drawn out reason of why I like to buy organic :D
PS here are some helpful links if you are interested in buying organic:
http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/
http://www.earthsbest.com/
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/
1 comment:
Good job on your research. I like to buy organic when I can. The genetically modified food is very disturbing to me as well.
Post a Comment