FRUIT
(ARA) - When you pick up a head of lettuce, a tray of tomatoes or a bag of apples in the produce aisle of your local grocery store that claims to be "natural" or "organic," do you know what you're buying?
What exactly does it mean when a product claims to be organically grown? If it says natural on the label, doesn't that mean the same thing?
"Not necessarily," says Jessica Walden, a technical specialist at Quality Assurance International (QAI), an organization that has been certifying organic farms, processors, distributors and retailers since 1989. "Just because the label says the product is natural doesn't mean it's organic."
* Natural vs. Organic
The term "natural" as defined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refers to products that have been minimally processed or are free from synthetic ingredients. Organic products are actually regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In the U.S., the term "organic" means that the ingredients and production methods surrounding the product have been verified by an accredited certification agency as meeting USDA standards for organic production and handling.
The USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) requires products labeled "organic" to be produced without using conventional pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or bioengineering. For example, organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from animals that are not given antibiotics or growth hormones and are fed organic feed. NOP regulations also require farmland used to raise organic crops to have been free from prohibited chemicals for at least three years.
Organic growers must keep detailed written production and sales records (audit trail) to verify their organic production claims and undergo yearly onsite inspections by a USDA-approved certifier. Processed organic products must be produced in a certified facility, and all organic ingredients and approved non-organic ingredients must maintain their integrity through all stages of handling and distribution.
If a retail product is labeled 100 percent organic, it will show an ingredients list if not a single-ingredient item; the name and address of the handler (bottler, distributor, importer, manufacturer, packer, processor, etc.) of the finished product; and the name and/or seal of the organic certifier, such as: "Certified organic by Quality Assurance International (QAI)." The USDA Organic seal may also be displayed.
To be labeled "organic," the product must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients. The label will contain an ingredients list, which will identify the organic ingredients as well as the non-organic ingredients in the product, and the name of the organic certifier. The USDA Organic seal may also be displayed.
Products labeled, "Made with Organic (specified ingredients or food groups)," must contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients. The label will contain an ingredients list, which will identify the organic ingredients as well as the non-organic ingredients in the product, and the name of the organic certifier. The USDA Organic seal may not be displayed.
If a product contains less than 70 percent organic materials, the product can make an ingredient panel only claim, i.e. where the organic ingredients are specified on the ingredient panel. These products cannot use the word "organic" on the principle display panel or display any certifier seals or the USDA Organic seal.
"We know people are paying attention to the designation," says Walden. "Consumers today choose to purchase organic products for a variety of reasons. Some individuals buy organic products because of health or nutrition concerns, while others choose organic foods because they feel they are safer, taste better, or offer environmental benefits."
To learn more about organic certification, log on to http://www.nsf.org/consumer/organic/index.asp?program=OrganicCertification.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Peace, Love & Brown Rice
Mind Of Peace
After Reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at a banana in the same way again!!
Bananas. Containing three natural sugars -- sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained, and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.
No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.
It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses, and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure : This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure.
So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power : 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power.
Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach, and with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn : Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites : Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves : Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work : Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high pressure jobs.
The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers : The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness.
It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control : Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD ): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain, and regulates your body's water balance.
When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes : According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, "eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of having a stroke much as 40%!
Warts : Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills.
When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around, so maybe its time to change that.
Peace, Love & Brown Rice
Mind Of Peace
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Shocking study shows as little as one soft drink a day can seriously compromise your health.
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Corrupt Study argues fruits & veggies don't combat breast cancer
Study erroneously claims women were eating "high fruit & veg" diet. Nope.
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STUDY: Meat is murder on the environment
"Don't tell me about it. I don't want to hear it. I want my steak. Okay,
I'll buy a compact flourescent light. Are you satisfied? Now let me eat my hot dog."
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Have a beautiful day everyone
peace, love & brown rice
Mind Of Peace
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