I started an organic diet about 6 months ago. It was difficult to turn the whole house over to organics, because you have to replace all your staples and condiments as well as your every day foods. I started slow,it took a few months to get everything turned over. I was amazed at how much better organic food tasted and how I'd forotten what rich, yummy, natural ingredients taste like. The food tastes better and is better for you. A lot of people think organic is vegetarian or vegan, or natural, or whole foods, and it gets soooo confusing. But organic is simply how we made and grew food before pesticides, growth hormones, additives, and preservatives flooded the food market.
Why make the change?
For your health, primarily.
We are a population reliant on fast food, drugs, and instant gratification--this is killing us slowly. Food has everything you need to fight what ails you--nature intended it this way. We are getting further away from nature and closer to epidemic levels of obesity, cancer, autism, etc ... all things that were not as prevalent 40-50 years ago.
Other benefits-weight loss, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, better tasting foods, elimination of certain ailments related to additive and preservative rish diets, and on and on ...
How has eating organic helped me?
I recently went for a check up to see if I really was as healthy as I have been feeling since I started this change. Well, I was blown away to hear my triglycerides (unhealthy cholesterol) had dropped over 100 points to normal levels, something that had not changed since early adulthood. My good cholesterol had gone up from borderline to normal. I am no longer anemic, for some reason I am no longer lactose intolerant to milk products, I have lost weight eating the same or more than I used too, my skin is clearer, I no longer have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, have less back pain, more energy, and on and on!! Did I mention my husband has lost over 30 pounds eating normal, full meals.
I am a regular person. I am not a health nut, and not a guru on health and nutrition. If you really care for your health and future, take a step towards this way of life, every little bit helps. Try just dairy at first, then add on little by little.
I know it is more expensive, but overall not as expensive as most think. If you cut down on the latte's and the fast food and other restaurants, it balances out pretty evenly. Many large chain grocers now carry organics and are adding more items every day. Prego even carries organic sauce! I buy organic frozen meals for work! Walmart carries some organics too! I just found organic Ranch Dressing from Hidden Valley !
Some brands that I often purchase and are reasonable price are:
Stonyfield Farm Yogurt
Rudy's Bread
Local Store Brand is always cheaper
Archer Farms- tons of stuff from granols bars to soup
Old Orchard-Juices
Annie's - they have canned Ravioli and spaghettio's
Cascadian Farms-cereal, jelly, granola, etc ..
Eviro Kids- Yummy kiddie cereals-that I also eat :)
Walnut Acres-sauce, beans,soups
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Contributor's Note
To your health!
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