V O L U M E 6 • I S S U E 5 • M AY 2 0 1 2
A SLICE OF ORANGE Refreshing Your Health
GOING ORGANIC • Organic for a healthy you • Keeping the Earth healthy • How do you know if it is organic?
Going organic YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT, AS THE SAYING GOES. KNOW WHAT ORGANIC FOODS CAN DO FOR YOU. All you have to do is visit the weekend markets at The Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Legaspi and Salcedo Villages in Makati, or the Lung Center of the Philippines, in Quezon City, and you can already get yourself a good dose of
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organic foods. Organic what? Isn’t everything we eat organic?
A SLICE OF ORANGE
M
V O L U M E 6 • I S S U E 5 • M AY 2 0 1 2
any of the foods we can
Organic for a healthy you
Department of Agriculture noted that
buy in the grocery or
It is a no-brainer. Many chemicals used
organically raised chickens have lower
wet market were, in fact,
in farming can be harmful to your body.
levels of arsenic. Long-term exposure
grown with the help of pesticides so that
By eating organic foods that were
to arsenic can lead to headaches,
insects will not damage them. Chemical
grown without exposure to such chemi-
confusion, diarrhea, drowsiness, heart
fertilizers were used to help them grow
cals, you avoid getting exposed to
disease, cancer, stroke, lung diseases,
bigger. Many were subjected to radia-
these chemicals as well. Studies show
and night blindness. And while there
tion to kill pests and help the food last
that foods grown organically have
are no high-quality studies to prove this,
longer. Chemical food additives and
much lower pesticide residue than non-
many consumers testify that organically
preservatives may be added to canned
organic foods.
grown free-range chickens taste better
or processed foods for better taste and
than non-organic chicken!
appearance, and for longer shelf life.
Keeping the Earth healthy While all of these processes seem to
The arguments for organic farming
do good for the food products, they
go beyond personal health reasons.
may also have deleterious effects on
By supporting organic farming, we
the body.
are also helping to keep our planet healthy—which in the circle of life leads
Organic foods are foods that are pro-
to a healthier you as well.
duced without exposure to synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, radiation,
For example, because organic farms
industrial chemicals, chemical food ad-
do not use synthetic chemicals, they
ditives, and genetically modified organ-
Aside from having less pesticide residue,
also do not release these chemicals
isms. By this definition, all agricultural
organic foods also contain less heavy
into the environment. This means no
products can be considered organic un-
metals such as lead and mercury, and
chemicals can seep into the ground
til the 20th century, when the advances
solvents such as benzene and toluene.
water, thus avoiding contamination of
in modern technology gave way to non-
Heavy metals can cause nerve damage
drinking water.
organic agriculture.
and anemia. Solvents can impair your
Organic farmers (those who grow
immunity, making you more susceptible
Most organic farmers also make extra
to infections.
effort to conserve energy by using so-
organic food) use a wide variety of
lar power-dependent greenhouses and
methods to combat the problems that
On the matter of nutritional value, the
fewer industrial machinery. These moves
chemicals were meant to address. For
jury is still out. However, an extensive
also help reduce the production of air
example, they use natural predators
review on 34 studies suggests that this
pollutants that cause lung diseases.
such as spiders to keep insects from
may be the case. Organic foods seem
destroying crops. Most products are
to contain less protein, but the quality of
Chemicals can also harm the land in the
sold in small volumes and packages to
the protein is higher (in terms of amino
long run by causing imbalances in the
ensure that they are consumed quickly,
acid composition). Organics also seem
nutrients of the soil. After several years
since they do not contain preservatives.
to have higher levels of vitamin C, fla-
of intensive non-organic farming, some
They can be stored in air-tight con-
vinoids, and up to 20% more minerals.
farms can become barren. On the other
tainers to prolong shelf life. These are
hand, organic farming can lead to a
just a few examples of how organic
Among the different livestock grown in
more sustainable form of farming, which
farmers
organic farms, poultry seem to benefit
will ensure more sustainable prosperity
the most from organic farming. The US
for farmers.
replace
food processing.
more
conventional
A SLICE OF ORANGE
V O L U M E 6 • I S S U E 5 • M AY 2 0 1 2
Organic dip
Furthermore, organic farming is also
end markets and chat not just with the
safer for biodiversity. By using organic
vendors, but also with the other buyers.
methods of pest control, pest destruction
Also, ask the vendors if you can visit
subject them to minimal cooking and fla-
can be kept at bay while at the same
their farms. Many farms have an open
voring. However, you can try this organic
time avoiding harm to non-destructive
day where visitors can drop by. One
dip to add flavor to your organic dishes.
insects that keep the ecological bal-
organic farmer also suggests, “If a prod-
ance of the farm.
uct has minor insect damage on it, it is
How do you know if it is organic?
The beauty of organic foods lie in their freshness and flavor, so many aficionados
Use as much organic ingredients as possible. Ingredients:
probably organic.”
• 1 clove of garlic • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
While most organic foods come at a
• 1/4 cup soymilk
American and European laws are strict
higher price, they are still worth a sec-
• 1/4 cup olive oil
regarding the labeling of organic prod-
ond look because of the benefits they
• 1/4 cup shredded cheese
ucts. However, this is not the case here
offer, not just to you, but more impor-
in the Philippines. Hence, it is best to
tantly, to the environment. After all, go-
buy products from reputable organic
ing green can help you stay in the pink
brands. I suggest you visit the week-
of health.
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper Just blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth and creamy. Use as a dip for veggie sticks or chicken fingers.
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A Slice of Orange
is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD