By Donna Ryan

Commercial Products and Foods are Designed for Making Money – Not for Healthy Living

Unhealthy ingredients are regularly added to the foods, cosmetics, household products, and in the clothes we wear. Even dogs and cats regularly consume unhealthy ingredients in their foods, often which contain chemical preservatives and fillers that have been proven to be questionable for use.

Unhealthy Ingredients and Human Nutrition – Hidden Additives that Save on Manufacturing Costs

However, when you think of unhealthy ingredients, you most often think about human nutrition. After all, eating, for most of us, is a regular, daily activity. Therefore, the majority of us are regularly consuming food that is considered by nutritionists and holistic practitioners to be, for the most part, nutritionally unsound. 

Junk Food Containing Unhealthy Ingredients is Everywhere

A lot of what we eat is considered junk food – typically sustenance that contains little nutritional value but a significant amount of calories or fat. What’s more, junk food is everywhere – in our cabinets or refrigerator, as the main fare in restaurants, and abundantly displayed in the grocery store. It’s no wonder then that the major illnesses in the U.S. are heart disease and cancer and that a large percentage of the populace is overweight. 

However, you can’t blame people entirely for making unhealthy choices. After all, unhealthy food is about all that is offered in fast food restaurants and is regularly advertised in the media. Processed food, too, which seems innocuous to many, is laced with hidden unhealthy ingredients such as salt, sugar, and fat.

Eating Unhealthily Starts at a Very Young Age

What’s more, people are weaned early on junk food. Advertisers target children as young as two years old. For instance, offering free toys to kids at fast food restaurants or in boxes of sugar-laden cereal is one sure-fire method to gain brand loyalty for a product which is, basically, nutritionally worthless. 

Therefore, as time progresses, children become accustomed to the artificial flavors and excess sugars found in processed foods and cereals. Not only that, these foods can contain unhealthy saturated and trans fats, both which lead adults to later seek medical attention for heart and circulatory problems.

Even Baby Foods Contain Unhealthy Ingredients

In addition, baby foods are often made with modified food starches and artificial flavors and colors that replicate the taste or texture of vegetables or fruits. Naturally, these ingredients are used so manufacturers can cut costs but the practice also eventually affects people’s health as well.

Hyperactivity in Kids – The Result of Unhealthy Ingredients

Unfortunately, manmade foods containing artificial colors and flavors are responsible for illnesses in children, such as rashes, hyperactivity, and asthma. Plus, once kids become accustomed to eating junk, it can be quite difficult to steer them towards nutritious substitutes such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and low-fat dairy.

More Unhealthy Ingredients

People regularly drink soft drinks too, which contain unhealthy ingredients as well. For example, a can of soda is usually made up of water combined with sweetener, sugar, or caffeine. You see this product sold every day in fast food restaurants, the supermarket, in vending machines at work – just about wherever you go. Not only that, almost a quarter of the children under the age of two are given a soda on a regular basis.

Chicken Nuggets – Not as Good as they Appear

Unhealthy ingredients can also be found in canned foods, such as canned spaghetti – often eaten, again, by children. This type of fare is loaded with sugar and salt and is devoid of any kind of fiber. People, too, enjoy chicken nuggets regularly – a product that contains leftover chicken scraps and large quantities of artificial additives, sugar, and salt

Bakery Products – Loaded with Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil

In addition, bad ingredients are found in processed and fresh bakery products, such as cupcakes or packaged cookies. Usually made with hydrogenated vegetable oil and full of sugar, they are a prelude to health issues down the road, such as stroke or heart disease.

A Strawberry Milkshake only Mimics the Taste of Strawberry

Also, stay away from strawberry milkshakes, whose artificial strawberry flavor is made up of about 50 chemicals. Not even the slightest amount of strawberry is included in the mix.

Choose Organic Foods and Products to Play it Safe

So, if you want to improve your health, you have to get rid of the junk in your life and make the switch to organic fruits, vegetables, dairy, and grains. In fact, choosing organic cleaners and materials is also important if you want to live without fewer health concerns or complaints.

By Larry Marragay

Dairy products are high-energy-yielding food products that the vast majority of people consume at least once during the day.  Milk, cheese, ice cream, and butter are some of the dairy products most commonly found in people’s refrigerators, so it goes without saying that they have become important for people’s diets.  Throughout the years, however, several health issues have arisen around the consumption of dairy products; people have begun taking their health more seriously, and because of this, they have turned to organic products (which of course, includes dairy products).  Organic dairy products are believed to be healthier than non-organic dairy products, and so the demand for this kind of products has increased dramatically in recent years.  Having said this, why is it that organic products are healthier than non-organic products, or better yet, what is it about organic dairy products that make them organic?

Organic foods are foods produced using methods that involve absolutely no synthetic inputs, such as pesticides, chemical fertilizers, chemical food additives, etc.  In other words, organic foods are foods producing through completely natural means, without resorting to any man-made technologies or techniques.  Having said this, it follows that organic dairy products are those which are produced following only natural means of production, which involves allowing animals to behave in a natural, healthy manner.  Now, this is not to say that no technology goes into the production of organic dairy products, because standard hygiene and safety procedures (which, of course, include pasteurization) are always followed. However, it does mean that animals are not forced to behave in an unnatural way, nor is any chemical or synthetic element used in the production process. 

So, organic dairy products are organic because they are produced in an entirely natural environment, using only 100% natural processes and inputs.  So far so good, but if you are shopping around and you decide that you want to get organic dairy products, how can you tell for sure that you are getting the right kind of products?  Well, it does help to know that organic dairy products must be certified (they are issued an organic certification).  Organic certification guarantees that dairy farmers feed their cows 100% organic feed (which must also be certified), the cows must graze on land that has not been treated with fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides for at least three seasons.  In other words, if you want to get organic dairy products you must make sure that the dairy farm where the products were made is also certified.  

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to be healthy, with wanting to procure only organic products.  Throughout the years, the demand for organic products has increased dramatically, and this has naturally affected the demand for organic dairy products.  Organic products are extremely beneficial for people, but notwithstanding this, it is important that you know what makes organic products organic; what is the point of eating something you know nothing about?  Organic dairy products are 100% natural, and that is exactly what the body needs to remain healthy and always be able to function correctly, so next time you go out grocery shopping, you will know why it is that you are going with organic products instead of non-organic.

By Daniel Harri

Organically produced coffee is believed to taste much better than other kinds of coffee. This is because it is not subjected to any kind of chemicals. Actually, artificial fertilizers and also harmful bug sprays are not used during the production of organic coffee. When natural methods of planting coffee are used by the growers, no hazardous chemicals will be used during the whole production. To fully benefit from organic coffee use, you should make certain that you only use high quality beans.  For individuals who are interested in environmental conservation, then you should start using organic coffee. 

During the production of organic coffee, the farm land and the land surrounding the farm also benefits. Natural methods of plant production are normally less intensive. This means harmful materials like chemical fertilizers that destroy the land will not be used. Other surrounding farms may even be influenced to start organic farming to ensure the land is not adversely affected in the long run. The quality of water is also enhanced for the whole area where organic coffee farms work.

Benefits of organic coffee

1.      Health benefits

There are very many health benefits linked to consuming organic coffee. First of all, due to caffeine’s stimulating effect, it enhances thinking abilities and concentration. That is why most people start off their day by drinking coffee. Furthermore, this treasured beverage also offers high amounts of antioxidants, which are quite helpful. Antioxidants found in organic coffee are also more effective than those in the regular coffee. They assist in fighting off hazardous substances like carcinogens. Through drinking this kind of coffee moderately, users can also fight off other ailments like liver damage, gallstones and Parkinson’s disease among others.

2.      Environmental benefits

The main problem linked to using chemicals during any crop production, is the tendency that it has of entering the groundwater used for human intake. As such, when artificial methods are used for producing coffee, then the chemicals can seep into the water supply and thus cause poisoning to the people who depend on that water for their upkeep. Furthermore, chemical filled water that drains into water sources like lakes and rivers can also poison many aquatic animals and other wildlife. The other way organic coffee benefits the environment is through making people environmentally conscious. It prompts people to think about their daily actions and also what steps they can take to prevent environmental degradation.

3.      Encourages healthier farmers

Farmers who grow using artificial methods are normally exposed to hazardous chemicals daily. However, those who use organic methods have the benefit of being protected from infections caused by mishandling the chemicals. Moreover, through simply buying organic coffee products, you assist in increasing this business. This encourages a change towards organic production, which is something that should not be taken lightly.

4.      Conserves essential natural resources

Since organic coffee demands measurable shade for optimal growth, farmers must plant bushes and trees to serve this particular purpose. In doing so, farmers help to prevent soil erosion and also ensure that the moisture content of their farm is retained. Trees also provide the benefit of attracting rain.

With all these benefits, you ought to start drinking the tasty organic coffee today. Generally, organic coffee has a fresher and unique flavor that is not present in other inorganic types.

By David Hewitt

               The organic food, beverages, and green living in general movement is reaching all sectors of the economy. Retailers and advertisers are aware that people are becoming more environmentally conscious, and are willing to invest in the future by purchasing organic products. Even the alcohol, beer, and wine industry are now marketing “green alcoholic drinks”, albeit still in somewhat limited quantities and selections. But, as is usually the case with any new innovation, product line, and supply and demand variables, the progress towards green “sustainable” alcoholic beverages is beginning! Any start towards organic products is better than no start at all.

                For a food product to be considered truly “organic”, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has specific standards that the product must meet. The food must be free of pesticides, herbicides, industrial solvents and chemicals, insecticides, fertilizers, and so on. The organic certification process takes place at all stages of food production. Any food considered “100% organic” then receives a USDA Certified Organic Seal. The production of organic ALCOHOL is somewhat different from food production, as will be outlined.

                The U.S. Government agency responsible for certifying organic alcohol is the TTB.gov, or Alcohol, Tobacco, Trade and Tax Bureau, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The National Organic Program, part of the USDA, created the specific regulations regarding the production, handling, processing, labeling, and marketing of all organically produced products. The TTB works closely with the USDA to make sure all the alcoholic beverage producers’ claims of “organic” meet the specified criteria. The four basic categories for organic alcohol beverages are; “100% Organic”= All organic ingredients; “Organic”= 95% organic ingredients; “Made with Organic Ingredients”=70% organic ingredients, and may contain chemically added sulfites; an “Ingredients Statement” which will list specified organic ingredients. Look on the alcoholic beverage label for “Certified organic by…”, but NOT the USDA Organic seal found on food products.

                There are many different organic alcoholic beverages to choose from, especially among the micro-breweries. Try searching for organic beverages on general green living websites, such as www.greenamerica.org.  When you go into your local tavern or store, ask the manager about organic beers from Butte Creek, in Montana; Natureland by Pacific Western Breweries; and Golden Promise and EcoWarrior from England. You can search BeerTown.org for a local micro-brew producer; Wolaver’s markets three organic beers; Dogfish Head Brewing Co.; Frey Vineyards, in Redwood Valley, CA. are organic wine makers; other wine and fine spirit producers are Chartrand Imports, Organic Vintages, and Silver Thread Vineyard.

                Even the hotels are getting requests for organic spirits. Marriott International has some 300 full service hotels that have a beverage program. Their organic alcoholic beverage program includes (or will include in the future) micro-distilled spirits, vodka (Tru Organic Vodka), gin, tequila, rum, Scotch whiskey, and cordials. Some categories are still waiting for the introduction of organic alcohol, such as bourbon and single malt Scotch. Can’t find what you want? Then try making your own! It is safe, legal, and dramatically reduces costs. Home beer- and wine-making kits are widely available, even in the organic category, and you will be well on you way to doing your part in building a sustainable-living, eco-friendly planet for us ALL to live on!

By Shazad Nabeel

High Fructose Corn syrup is an artificial organic sweetener, used worldwide to enhance the taste of all types of drinks. The moderate sweetness of this syrup is the main reason for its popularity. It makes drinks go down the throat more easily, giving a more pleasant treat to the taste buds. But, like all other famous things, it is a matter of serious debate all over the globe. There is a serious battle going on between the health experts and the drink industry authorities. Experts believe that this artificially made syrup is hazardous to health due to various reasons. They say that continuous, heavy use of this syrup can cause obesity, diabetes and cardio diseases.

Sugar and obesity are time old and world famous rivals. The drink industry experts believe that drinks rich in fructose are a good alternative for sucrose for a healthy lifestyle. They move a step ahead very confidently and claim that these drinks help lose weight. But, the scientific research from the authentic sources says the inverse. Carefully conducted scientific research says that when taken in even a little more than the optimum amount, fructose syrups can cause double damage to the body weight and fitness than sucrose. They also say that fructose-syrup driven obesity is very difficult to manage and treat.

Diabetes and sugar are like best ‘friendly-enemies’ to each other. There lies a very delicate inverse relationship between the two, in order to keep the lifestyle promising. Research has revealed that consuming fructose-corn syrup for even a few weeks reduces insulin efficiency. Insulin fails to bind the molecules properly in order to be moved towards the breakdown sites. It means that we have enough insulin in our body but, it cannot perform its function properly. Research also says that some isomers of this organic compound can block insulin molecules permanently. To our great surprise we still found some selfish drink manufacturers promoting fructose-corn syrup for diabetes controlling ability.

Heart and sugar might not be as close to each other as the heart and sweetness. Fructose corn syrup has been reported to increase the chances of heart attack. They have also proved that this syrup can be a potential cause of cardio-vascular diseases. Its high concentration in blood not only increases blood pressure but also, affects the elasticity of coronary and other veins. So, we must better avoid over-use of this syrup for the sake of our heart’s health and go with the chemical-free drinks.

By: Stella Solitana

Empty calories with high sugar levels is one of the main factors that contribute to this problem and with it, comes the intake of soft drinks. Sugary drinks have a hand in type 2 diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. When you drink a soda, the sugar hits your blood stream like 10 teaspoons of sugar, while your liver goes into over drive with a surge of insulin. Of course, there are caffeine- and sugar-free drinks, however, they often taste differently and leave that trademark peculiar aftertaste. Gratefully, a healthier choice is coming on the scene. 

Organic soda is a relative newcomer to the organic beverage segment. The first to introduce this to the market was Jones Organic Soda Company that began in the early 1990’s, which provides cool flavors of healthy organic soda to the public. Today, they produce other natural beverages, but their soda remains popular.

Can organic soda really be good for you? Well, let's take a look at what regular soda has to offer. Most soft drinks contain artificial flavorings, preservatives, caffeine, and phosphoric acid (linked to bone loss), not to mention the sweeteners they contain. In other side of town, sodas with organic compounds have none of the above, no added sodium, and up to 95% organic ingredients. For those of us who enjoy our can or bottle of fizz, it sounds a whole lot better.
Below is a list of the more popular organic soda manufacturers.

Santa Cruz organic soda with 95% organic ingredients and 130 calories, it's not a diet drink. That's because it's packed with great juice taste. Try their Orange Mango soda. 
We also have Whole Earth Foods organic soda and their organic cola is a winner which is made with the African cola nut and 95% organic ingredients. It's also suitable for vegans; however, many may not know that other cola producers use ingredients that are tested on animals or derived from animal by-products like glycerin. 

Why should consumers switch to organic carbonated drinks and stop regular high fructose soft drinks? Do you know the extent to which drinking carbonated, caffeinated, sugared, or artificially sweetened beverages harm your body? Well, these are the reasons why we drink soda and here are 16 powerful reasons to give up soda drinking. Giving up soft drinks can be one of the best things you can do to improve your health. Why? First of all, there are no nutritionally beneficial components in soft drinks. Soft drinks mostly consist of filtered water and refined sugars. Yet, the average American drinks about 57 gallons of soft drinks each year. Many people either forget or don't realize how many extra calories they consume in what they drink. Drinking a single 330 ml can a day of sugary drinks translates to more than 1lb of weight gain every month. 

Several scientific studies have provided experimental evidence that soft drinks are directly related to weight gain. The relationship between soft drink consumption and body weight is so strong that researchers calculate that for each additional soda consumed, the risk of obesity increases 1.6 times.