It may seem strange to think about, but there was a time when a carrot was just a carrot. Now we walk through the grocery store and we see organic carrots, natural carrots, peeled carrots, baby carrots, and genetically altered monster carrots as big as our arms. But if they are still called carrots, aren't all carrots basically the same?
Unfortunately, things aren't that simple anymore. Farmers and scientists have genetically and chemically altered many of the foods in our grocery stores. We have to make sure we know which foods to buy and which to avoid so that we don't accidentally introduce toxins to our bodies.
Many of us know that giant, unnatural looking vegetables are bad for the body.
For some of us, however, the real dilemma is choosing between "natural" and "organic" foods. They both sound like good options, but let's look at the definition for these two groups.
Organic foods are food items that are produced, manufactured, and handled using organic means, as defined by the USDA under the Organic Food Products Act. In short, "organic" refers to a system of agricultural practices and certification to production and handling standards.
Natural foods are minimally processed foods. Despite calls from the industry to regulate, no current federal rules legislate what constitutes a natural product. This has led to the sale of products with questionable "natural" credentials.
So, there is no certification backing natural food labels. Organic labels, on the other hand, require certification by the USDA.
All this jargon about certification boils down to this: if a vegetable has an "organic" sticker on it, we know that at no point during its journey from the fields to our grocery stores has it been touched by pesticides, chemicals, or preservatives. The "organic" label certifies this fact, with laws and standards.
A "natural" label indicates minimal food processing. However, this does not guarantee that natural foods have not come into contact with pesticides and preservatives; and we don't really know how most natural foods are processed.
Bottom line: There is a reason why "natural" foods are not labeled "organic"--because they are not the same thing.
We may never be able to go back to the days when a carrot was just a carrot, but thanks to guidelines set up by the USDA, we know that organic carrots are as close to being just carrots as possible.
The more organic we eat, the healthier our bodies will be. Toxins and harsh chemicals don't just pass through the body; they build up over time and cause many of the health problems we face everyday. (Chemicals can also cause weight gain, among other health problems. Learn more.)
Meanwhile, an organic diet can help cleanse the body and promote long-term health!
Deborah is the Health Director for Organic Liaison, has been a Registered Dietitian for over 16 years, counseling clients on nutrition and fitness, and is the author of 200 Superfoods That Will Save Your Life published by McGraw-Hill, Inc. Her mission is to educate Organic Liaison members to achieve optimal wellness through balanced eating and exercise. For more on Deborah - click here.
To contact Deborah, reach her directly at Phitter, a free health, diet, and weight-loss micro-blogging community, focused on getting 'phit.' Register for free, then send a phit to "olhealthdirector"
Deborah is the Health Director for Organic Liaison, has been a Registered Dietitian for over 16 years, counseling clients on nutrition and fitness, and is the author of 200 Superfoods That Will Save Your Life published by McGraw-Hill, Inc. Her mission is to educate Organic Liaison members to achieve optimal wellness through balanced eating and exercise. For more on Deborah -
