Why Eat Organic?

Well hopefully you all survived Halloween and now have the will power to not eat all of the left over candy!� On to Turkey Day!!�The leaves are falling (for the lucky northerners!)� and the weather is finally starting to cool of a bit.� Here in Florida we are still holding our breath until the end of November when Hurricane season ends!!� It has been a great year for my family and I cannot believe we are creeping up on 2008!� Wow time flies.� So as we get closer to The holidays and prepare the holiday menu's I thought that a good topic to talk about this month would be the importance of eating organic.� So once again I hope you enjoy and I look foward to hearing from all of you with recipe requests and topics you would like me to write about.   The Importance of Eating Organic

These days our grocery stores offer the most beautiful, bright, yummy, fresh foods.� But there is a catch!� Almost 80% of the 4.5 billion pounds of pesticides we dump yearly in the US are used in agriculture to produce our food.� Pesticide by-products are even used in our water.� Although our government has recently taken steps to reduce pesticide use, it may be too little too late.� So many of these chemicals have already contaminated our soil and water supply and they can remain there for decades.�� On top of that the pesticides we use today are 10-100 times more potent than the chemicals used just 25 years ago.� Americans are exposed to toxic pesticides from foods over 70 times per day. They work there way into our body faster than they can be eliminated reaking havoc on our systems.�� The World Health Organization studies show chemical and environmental factors are responsible for 80-90 percent of all cancers.� New studies also link pesticides and pollution to hormone disfunction, psychological disorders and birth defects and can effect immune response.��� DDT is a chemical that is illegal to use in America Yet the US is still the largest seller of DDT to the rest of the world.� Many of these food producing companies buy and use the DDT and then America imports these products and sells them in our grocery stores!� Organic food standards require that no food labeled organic can be treated with chemical pesticides, radiation, genetic engineering, or have any contact with sewage sludge.�� I know I dont want to eat anything that has come into contact with sewage or has been chemically treated, how about you? A few rules of thumb: Buy local, seasonal organic produce whenever possible. Avoid imported food. Be careful of your water supply. Choose organic dairy whenever possible. An astounding 24.6 million pounds of antibiotics are fed to the animals every year to help fight ilness that breaks out in overcrowded, unsanitary feed lots.� In Addition to the antibiotics the animals are being pumped with hormones.� The antibiotics used are �a major contributor to the growing problem of anitbotic-resistance in humans, and the hormones have contributed to children facing puberty earlier and earlier.� Not only do these pesticides show up in farm animals but are now showing up in the milk of humans.� The environmental Defense Fund found pesticide contamination in human breast milk due to the mothers consuming non organic dairy.� Organic meat and milk is not contaminated with these hormones or antibiotics.� The living conditions are also much more humane on organic farms. Another bit of shocking information:� Cows milk is associated with insulin-dependant diabetes.� The milk protein leads to an auto immune reaction in the pancreas impairing the ability to produce insulin.� Exposure to large amounts of cow's milk in the diet may lead to juvenile diabetes. Good dairy alternatives include: �Rice milk, soy milk, almond milk and Hemp milk.� I do not reccomend using any of the above as infant formula.� The best choice for a growing infant is breast milk and second choice is formula.� There are organic formula's out there so that of course would be the best option when choosing formula. Please do not take this information lightly.� Organics are so very important to improving the �health situation in this country.� Buying and growing organic will not only improve your health but also the health of our planet earth!� So order an organic turkey this year for Thanksgiving! Recipes Visit www.nutrtitiousfamily.com for this months recipe selection and the recipe archives from past newsletters! This months recipes include: Roasted Root Vegetables Home made french onion dip The best turkey rub Organic Pumpkin Pie End Notes   � It is that time of year to take time to reflect and give thanks for all the amazing gifts in your life.� I am so very thankful for my�wonderful�husband and my two beautiful little girls.� I sometimes get caught up in the daily grind and forget that I have so much to be thankful for.� This month I have committed to enjoy every moment, in the moment!� I hope you do the same!� I wish you all a very healthy, happy Thanksgiving! Hugs, Staci Smith Please visit www.NutritiousFamily.com for more recipes, newsletter archives�and a desciption of my services!