February 23, 2012

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Beauty Starts On The Inside

February 21, 2012 By

If you are looking for ways to improve your diet and feel healthier, then switching to free range pork and organic meats is one of the first things you can do to make a positive change.

Free range pork and meat is not only generally thought of as better for you, it is also a much more ethically-sound way of enjoying meat. And organic meat is of course free from harmful pesticides and other chemicals which can damage the environment. Do you really want those pesticides and chemicals in your food and your body?

For anyone who wants to feel and look their best, going organic and free range is a great starting point. This is of course just the first step. It is also important to eat a varied and healthy diet, incorporating all the food groups and the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs. Avoid things like caffeine, alcohol and too much saturated fat, and eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as enough protein and complex carbohydrates. Drinking enough water is also vital for feeling and looking great; aim for about 6-8 glasses over the course of the day (herbal teas and diluted juices count too).

Once you have sorted out the inside of your body, you will find that the outside of your body and your exterior appearance reflects the new, healthier you. You will want to make the most of your new and improved appearance, so refine your beauty regime and invest in trusted, quality beauty products such as Oil of Olay. Moisturising every night will make a big difference to your skin and build on the good work that your healthier diet is already doing. You can also try seeking out make up tips from friends or on the web to make the most of the brand new, healthier you!

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Staying healthy and organic

December 8, 2011 By

Maybe you’ve already considered going organic in the past but have put it off for whatever reason, or maybe this is the first time that going organic has ever occurred to you.

Either way, first and foremost, you need to stop thinking about it and start doing it, because organic food tastes great! Organic certification means that all organic produce meets strict regulations, and this is really good for your health. Previously in the food chain, there were many approved pesticides which we now know are linked to certain diseases and cancers. Organic agriculture prevents any of these pesticides making their way through the air, earth and water.

Organic farms are great for the environment; they are better than conventional farms because they help to sustain a diverse ecosystem, i.e. the population of plants and animals. Knowing that your food is healthier for you and also better for the environment should be a good enough reason for you to turn organic!

Not only does your food taste much better when you turn organic, but it represents an excellent way to stay healthy. There are many other ways to stay healthy with a normal diet, such as having wholemeal bread and granary bread instead of white bread, while also going for low fat products instead of full fat (this could be yogurt, mayonnaise or milk). Eating more fruit and vegetables, getting you your 5 a day, and drinking at least eight glasses of water while reducing your meal portions all help in maintaining a healthier lifestyle.

Finally, a number of research papers have shown that organic food contains more minerals and vitamins than that of synthetically produced food. So, if you are wondering how to lose weight or how to live a healthier lifestyle, do not hesitate to try organic food as a source to help you achieve your ambition!

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How to go organic

November 23, 2011 By

If you are considering ‘going organic’ then the first area you might consider changing is your diet. Understandably, it might seem a little bit daunting at first. Will it mean spending lots of money on strange, new ingredients? Will you have to shop in special shops? Will you be able to enjoy your favourite foods?

Well, the good news is that eating organic has never been easier. There is simply so much choice and variety out there these days that eating an organic diet has never been easier. And of course, you don’t need to overhaul your whole diet all at once; you can start by making small changes to some of the foods you enjoy and seeing what you think.

Many people like the taste of organic food more than non-organic food, as they can enjoy it safe in the knowledge that it has not been produced using certain pesticides and that it has been produced in a way that is kinder to the natural environment.

When I first considered a more organic way of life, I experimented with simple foods like wholemeal bread and cereals, and found that the organic versions were rather wonderful. You will also notice that organic fruit and vegetables look much more natural in their appearance; they are not uniform in their shape or colour, because they have not been genetically modified.

I find this way of eating much more satisfying. And of course, you can always have a go at growing your own fruit and veg, making your own bread, or any other food you feel like trying your hand at. That way you can truly be sure no genetic modification has been involved.

There’s a lot more to organic living than diet, but it’s a great place to start and I bet once you begin making small changes you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner!

 

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It’s easy to go organic!

November 15, 2011 By

Most of us are concerned about the number of pesticides used in food and drink production these days, and strive to live a more organic life, but sometimes it can feel like an uphill struggle.

The good news is that going organic needn’t mean a complete life overhaul, it can simply involve making a few small changes to your life, by occasionally replacing the products you enjoy with organic versions. Going organic doesn’t mean giving up everything you love and living a life of denial!

For me, nothing is more relaxing after a busy day than enjoying a refreshing beer in my favourite comfy chair, preferably with some tasty snacks too. And it’s fantastic that there is so much choice available when it comes to organic beer these days!

It used to be that organic beer could only be found in select (and often expensive) health food shops and was very limited in choice, but nowadays it is possible to find a wide range of refreshing and delicious organic beers in almost any good supermarket.

As well as organic beers, you will find plenty of organic wines and organic spirits in many stores and online. So, whether your tipple of choice is lager, a gin and tonic or a fruity glass of red, you can enjoy it while feeling proud that you’re sticking to your organic principles.

On top of tasting fresh and full of flavour, organic beer comes with the added bonus that it’s kinder to the environment. To be classified as organic, a product must be made without certain pesticides and organic products are produced using methods that are much more environmentally-friendly than non-organic foodstuffs.

As well as all these benefits, it’s often been said that organic alcohol gives less of a hangover than non-organic drinks, so there’s an excuse to buy it in if ever we heard one!

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Why buy organic?

November 8, 2011 By

As well as being passionate about great quality free range pork, regular readers will know that I have a keen interest in organic foods in general.

Although sometimes more expensive, I believe that buying organic is the only way to feel at ease that you are buying the best food for your family. Unless of course you can go that one step further and grow it yourself!

Foods can be classed as organic when they have been produced without the use of pesticides, genetically modified (commonly termed as ‘GM’) organisms, chemical food additives, industrial solvents or irradiation techniques.

Of course, it was once the case that all food was, by its very nature, organic. It was in the last century that a large amount of new and artificial chemicals were introduced into our food supply. This led to the rise of the organic farming movement in the 1940s, which looked to provide food products in their most natural states, as was previously the case.

As well as, in my opinion, tasting fresher and more delicious, organic food benefits the environment, as organic farms produce less waste than non-organic farms and use up less energy. They also benefit from not releasing man-made pesticides that can harm wildlife into our environment and from being able to support varied ecosystems of plants and animals.

Lots of your favourite foods can be sourced organically these days. Rather than suddenly going fully organic however, you can introduce yourself and your family to an organic way of eating bit by bit. You could start by preparing healthy sandwiches using cheese or free range ham and a salad of organic vegetables, with your favourite bread.

Not only will you be doing your bit for your health and general feelings of wellbeing; by choosing some organic and free range products you can feel good that you’re doing your bit for the environment too!

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The Difference Between Organic and Free Range Food Labels

August 12, 2011 By

When out shopping for food, pretty much anybody can be floored by the diversity of options available. Whether your chicken asserts free range or organic, the actuality can be something altogether different. So here is how it all breaks down. At the head of the list are organic foods. Organic food truly does mean organic. They follow harsh standards and are checked to be sure they meet those standards. Food that’s labeled organic is freed from most insecticides, synthesised ingredients, bioengineering, expansion hormones, and antibiotics. Foods labeled organic don’t have more than five percent non-organic ingredients in them. Foods labeled 100% organic are made up absolutely of organic ingredients. Foods containing less than 70% organic ingredients can list the organic ingredients but can’t claim to be organic.

The most unusual label just could be free range foods. This label isn’t an equivalent to organic. There isn’t any oversight on this label and it can imply the animal in query was permitted into an open area just once in its life. This label is meant to mean that the meat is leaner and more nutrient rich as the animals managed to get exercise. But this isn’t frequently practiced in the meat industry. If you’re trying to find actually free range meats find a local farmer or rural organisation. You might be able to view the farm and see in person the living arrangements of the stock animals that finish up on your table. Grain fed or grass fed is another label that’s cheating. Don’t confuse this label with organic, again, there isn’t any oversight on this label. Actually , grain fed and grass-fed stock is, actually better for you. They’re richer in omega-3 trans acids and leaner meats. The label nonetheless, can imply that once in the animal’s life they were grain or grass fed. It doesn’t mean the lifetime diet of the animal was grain or grass. Labels that say no hormones are only acceptable for meat. There’s a ban on using hormones with pork and chicken. But again, there’s no oversight and anybody can make this claim. The same is correct for products sold as ‘raised without antibiotics’.

 

All natural foods simply mean that no synthesised colours, chemicals, or ingredients were used. It doesn’t mean organic.There are a selection of other labels that makers will use that mean nothing or little in any way. Healthy , fat-free, trans-fat free, and cholesterol free are way more examples of fraudulent labeling practices. Good means nothing . Low-fat is a relative piece of info and might be higher in fat than what you may be expecting.Tran-fat free products can have up to 0.5 gram per portion of trans-fats. Cholesterol free products are abundant but some research demonstrates the packaged foods that carry these labels can have a bad impact on your cholesterol without having any cholesterol in them.

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The Organic Food Industry Explained

August 4, 2011 By

The organic food industry is the business of growing, transporting, and selling foods that meet the prerequisites to be legally specified as “organic” foods. This often pertains to fruit and veg, though meat like chickens, meat, and pork can all be certificated organic too. Prerequisites for foods to be certificated as organic can vary greatly from country to country, though generally these foods aren’t treated with numerous chemicals , for example man-made insecticides and expansion hormones, and have not undergone genetic manipulation. The organic food industry has become plentiful in numerous nations, including the US, though green foods are usually costlier to provide and purchase.

 Regularly linked with the natural food industry, the organic food industry is concerned with the production and selling of green food. Organic foods are typically guaranteed by an official agency in a stipulated country ,eg the Food and Drug Administration in America. These agencies and numerous laws sometimes indicate what foods can be certificated as organic in addition to the prerequisites that such foods must meet to gain that authorization. Following these wants sets producers and sellers in the organic food industry aside from other food growers and wholesalers that use “conventional” growing strategies. The organic food industry generally produces fresh fruits, veggies, and meat from stock and fowl. For these foods to be authorized as “organic,” specific conditions must be met that rely on the laws in a selected country.

Organic foods in America, for instance, are generally fruit and vegetables that are grown without the utilisation of artificial insecticides, aren’t genetically manipulated, and are grown in ways which maintain the integrity of the fields in which they’re grown. The organic food industry does permit certain organic insecticides to be employed in growing foods, though these might not be as useful as synthesised ones. Beef may also be produced and sold by the organic food industry. Such beef, irrespective of whether it is birds, meat, or pork, should come from animals that haven’t been treated with expansion hormones, were permitted to graze unreservedly in pastures, and weren’t genetically manipulated. Continuing technical developments , for example nanotechnology, are probably going to be prohibited by the organic food industry too. Making green food is typically costlier than foods produced thru traditional strategies, due to costlier resources and sometimes lower yields.

This makes organic food costlier to sell and purchase, though this market saw some of the biggest expansion in the early 21st century of any food industry.

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