Difference Between Natural and Organic Food

Imagine your walking down the chips and snack aisle at the local grocery store searching for your favorite brand of chips and  you see this brand new snack labelled "100 percent all natural". Suddenly the gears in your brain start churning double time , "How can this yummy snack that is normally bad for you instantly become all natural" and , "All natural must mean it's good for you" are probably some of the thoughts that are running through your head, while you contemplate buying this new all natural version of your favorite treat.But, before you go reaching for that box with the pretty "ALL NATURAL" label on it here are some guidelines to remember the next time you are out doing grocery shopping.

 Natural Food Label

• Ingredients are produced by nature
• Meats can be treated with artificial hormones.
• Dairy should be free from flavorings,colors or additives.
• FDA has not created a set of guidelines for determining what qualifies a food product as "natural." According to the FDA, it is hard to define a food product that is natural because it has probably been processed and is no longer the product of the earth.
• Natural does not mean that the food product is organic.

So what does that mean?
Due to the FDA's  lackadaisical approach to setting guidelines for what can be labeled natural..

• Wendy's can use the natural label for their french fries since it is made with potatoes and sea salt.
• High fructose corn syrup  is also considered natural since it is a part of the corn.
• Aspartame  could qualify as natural since it is extracted from rotting plant bacteria that has been underground zillions of years .              

 Organic Food Standards

• Avoids the use of pesticides, fake fertilizers, and genetic engineering.
• Livestock is feed organic food , are not given growth hormones or antibiotics and have access to outdoors.
• Have the USDA organic seal if it is truly organic.
• Products that are 95% organic can receive the USDA organic seal
• Made with organic ingredients means it is made with at least 70 percent organic ingredients.   

  The best thing to do to ensure authenticity of organic food when your shopping is to be sure to look for the USDA organic food label on the package.

We would like to hear your experiences ...Have you ever been mislead by the "all natural" label on food products?

Hidden Dangers in Sunscreen

At the first signs of warm weather millions of Americans including myself, toss off those bulky winter coats and head outside for some fun in the sun. In a sun induced trance, I always hustle to the grocery store and grab the first sunscreen I see with the highest SPF.  The Environmental Working Group recently published a 2012 sunscreen guide which will have you and I both think twice before grabbing any sunscreen off store shelves.



There are several questionable sunscreen ingredients, but the worst offenders are:

1.Retinyle Palmitate
2.Oxybenzone
3.Frangrance
4.Uv Filters

• Uv filters have an estrogenic effect on your body and are known to elevate the levels of estrogen found in women. 
• Retinyle Palmitate - a popular sun screen ingredient, that is a form of vitamin A. However, a 2010 study conducted by the Environmental working group revealed that the use of synthetic vitamin A may speed up the development of skin tumors and legions when applied to the skin.
• Oxybenzone-found in half of the beach and sport sunscreen on the market, has hormone disruptors that can effect regulations of reproductive, thyroid,nervous and immune systems. Experts also warn against using any sunscreen that has oxybenzone in it on children due to their still developing systems.
• Fragrance- according to the Environmental Protection Agency, many sunscreens contain fragrances that can have several hundred unlabeled ingredients, some of which are hormone disruptors and probable carcinogens.

What makes a good sunscreen?

Natural sunscreens that contain minerals such as, zinc or titanium dioxide are the best choices. These sunscreens do not penetrate the skin and offer uva protection. 

What are other ways to be safe in the sun?

• Shade
• Wearing a wide brim hat
• Covering yourself with clothing that offers sun protection
• A nutritious diet that contains foods that are high in antioxidants which neutralize free radicals.

Be sure to consult the 2012 EWG sunscreen guide for more information and list of the best and worst sunscreens.

Homemade, natural toothpaste

Here is something to smile about:

The National Research Council stated: "it is apparent that this chemical has the ability to interfere with the functions of the brain and the body by direct and indirect means." At Harvard University, researchers identified a link between this chemical and bone cancer. Would you inject this toxin willingly? Well, the truth is that you probably do twice each day. This is Fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste. Mucus membranes (such as the inside of your mouth) are very permeable, so even if you do not swallow the toothpaste it is still getting absorbed into the bloodstream.

Luckily there are options other than toxin laced toothpaste. Tom's (a company specializing in natural products) offers fluoride free toothpaste, but a 5 ounce tube will cost you around 5 dollars. You can make your own natural toothpaste for about 75 cents for a 5 ounce supply. Natural toothpaste is simple to make by using very few ingredients. Keep your set of chompers sparkling with these recipes.

  Step 1 Spoon a few tablespoons of baking soda into a bowl.

Step 2 Use a dropper to insert 10 drops of wintergreen and

 3 drops clove essential oil onto the baking soda.

Step 3 Mix and add a few drops of water until the mixture

has a creamy, pasty texture.

Step 4 Put some onto your toothbrush and brush as usual.

You may even follow up with this natural antiseptic mouth wash.

Step 1 Boil 1 cup of water, 4 tablespoons lavender buds,

and a few sprigs of fresh rosemary.

Step 2 Allow to cool. Strain out herbs.

Step 3 Use the mixture to gargle and rinse mouth as usual.

 

These recipes are so simple they will take your (minty) breath away!

  

Resources
http://www.naturalnews.com/030123_fluoride_babies.html

The Health Benefits of Pomegranates | Natural Health & Organic Living Blog

Pomegranates Aren't Just for Sangrias

I remember sitting on the porch at my grandmother's house peeling pomegranates while gazing out at the Arizona desert. Peeling pomegranates was like going on a treasure hunt. Carefully extracting those precious ruby jewels was hard work, but totally worth it. Here is an interesting article about the health benefits of Pomegranates that we thought was interesting. We have always loved pomegranates because of the delicious, sweet taste and now we have even more reason to enjoy that juicy red goodness! Click on the link below if you are interested in finding out the power behind this legendary exotic fruit.

The Health Benefits of Pomegranates | Natural Health & Organic Living Blog

We love natural grown food!

Farmer's Markets are the Way to Grow Go!

Gaze around any grocery store in your neighborhood and you will find a variety of different types of fruits and vegetables, but how much do you know about the produce? Labeling information is usually very scanty.  It commonly gives no description about how the produce was cared for or what types of chemicals were used.  That is why The Feisty Organics love to shop at local vegetable stands and farmers markets for vegetables that are natural grown. 

One farm that we are a fan of is Real Food Farms, which is located in Franklin, TN. Real Food Farms is a farm that truly cares about the type of produce they are growing. They grow fresh fruit, vegetables and eggs from cage free hens. Also, Real Food Farms grows food that is free from pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and genetic modification to ensure that their crops are fresh, healthy, and just a better quality overall.  

We love knowing where the foods we consume come from and we love Real Food Farms!


<><><><><><> </> <><><><><><> </> <><><><><><> </>

Real Food Farms



<><><><><><> </>

Looks Fresh to me ..what do you think?

<><><><><><> </> <><><><><><> </>

What we got!



Check your community paper for a listing of farmer's markets in your area or click here Farmers Market Search