BENEFITS OF O RGANIC

Chances are that shiny red apple you’re eating was grown with synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, and fungicides. This can present adverse health risks. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 90 percent of fungicides, 60 percent of herbicides, and 30 percent of insecticides are carcinogenic, meaning they’re a cancercausing substance or agent.

That’s one reason why so many people are going organic.

WHAT EXACTLY IS ORGANIC?

“To be certified organic, food cannot be grown with synthetic chemicals and cannot be exposed to radiation,” said Pam Blue, who serves as director of the health educator program at Hippocrates Health Institute. “In addition, animals must be raised without antibiotics or growth hormones.”

Pam certainly practices what she preaches at Hippocrates Health Institute, a nonprofit organization located in West Palm Beach that focuses on natural and alternative health care. Her diet largely consists of organic sunflower sprouts, mini-peppers, and wheatgrass juice.

“For me, the best thing about eating organic is that my head feels clear and my body feels energized,” she said.

Pam’s job entails educating clients of Hippocrates Health Institute about the benefits of eating organic food. She shared the same lesson with Healthy Living Magazine

• Antioxidants have a stronger impact when they come from organic food because chemicals do not alter them. Antioxidants help prevent cancer, heart disease, and premature aging.

• Because organic food is more nutritious, it also is much more vibrant and strong. Also, organic food— especially produce—is sold locally and tastes better than fruits and vegetables that have been frozen and transported long distances.

• Non-organic food sources, especially in animals, contain antibiotics. The consumption of too many antibiotics could weaken the immune system. Organic food does not contain antibiotics.

• To be called organic, food must meet very high standards set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). You can be assured the food you’re consuming is free of pesticides, radiation, herbicides, and artificial fertilizer.

• Organic food does not contain genetically modified organisms (GMO), which are commonly found in soups, frozen food, sweetened juices, cereals, meat, and milk. GMOs are a broad group of plants and animals in which the genetic material has been altered. Studies show it can have adverse health effects.

Organic By The Numbers

$31.32

Billion—how much money organic food sales generated in the U.S. in 2012.

25% how much more nutritious organic food is in terms of vitamins and minerals than non-organic food. Organic foods contain higher levels of beta-carotene, vitamins, C, D, and E, essential fatty acids, and essential minerals.

6 out of 10 the number of Americans who have visited a natural foods store at least once in the past year. www.organicconsumers.org/old_ articles/organlink.phpbrandongaille. com/17-important-organic-foodconsumption-statistics/

$15 how much more the average household spends on organic food compared to general foods at the grocery store.