Organic, un-adulterated foods have formed the basis of our human diet through the ages. It is only in recent times that we have been subjected to countless man-made chemicals found in our food and in the environment. Chemical farming inputs and "factory farming" became popular in the middle of the last century as a way to maximize crop yields. Today, our world pays a large price for these practices, which have resulted in environmental and economic imbalances. What happens to the health of the animals, plants, micro-organisms, soil, oceans, and atmosphere, also affects human beings. There is no one who is immune to the effects of an unhealthy environment, no matter how much technology or wealth they may possess.
“A growing body of research shows that pesticides and other contaminants are more prevalent in the foods we eat, in our bodies, and in the environment than we thought. And studies show that by eating organic foods, you can reduce your exposure to the potential health risks associated with those chemicals." Consumer Reports (Feb. 2006)
In an increasingly polluted urban environment, where our water, air and food are contaminated, keeping healthy has become something of a challenge. Our exploding urban population is starting to show signs of the damage being done by rapidly changing lifestyles, poor diet and lack of exercise. When the food we eat is polluted, we carry that pollution in our bodies, some of it remains there, accumulates and eventually causes diseases. Obesity, diabetes and heart disease are on the rise.
Our children are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of agricultural toxins as they consume a higher percentage in relation to their size. The average child receives four times more exposure to at least eight widely used cancer causing pesticides found in food than the average adult does.
The foundation for healthy plants and animals is healthy soil. Organic farming practices help protect water quality, prevent soil erosion, maintain and enhance seed, crop and ecological biodiversity. Organic food is free from the highly toxic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and growth hormones used in intensive farming and they are also free of artificial colourings, flavourings, additives, sweeteners and the thousands of other unwanted and unnecessary chemicals used in food.
A study published by the Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry found that organic produce contains higher levels of disease-fighting antioxidants than conventional produce. They are safer and more nutritious because of the higher vitamin and mineral concentrations. Organic food is free from artificial additives that can cause osteoporosis, heart disease and hyperactivity. There is in fact, only food in organic food.
Why use Natural Cosmetics
For most of us the use of cosmetic and personal care products is an every day affair. We use creams, shampoos, lotions, happily unaware that they may contain a cocktail of chemicals and preservatives. Your skin is the largest eliminatory organ in the body and has the remarkable ability to absorb applied products, partially or completely, into the bloodstream. Up to 60% of what we put onto our skin may be absorbed into the bloodstream. This is good news if all the skin care products you are using are beneficial and free from chemicals and preservatives. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
According to "The Environmental Working Group":
· More than one-third of all personal care products contain
at least one ingredient linked to cancer.
· 57 percent contain "penetration enhancer" chemicals that
can drive other ingredients faster and deeper into the skin
to the blood vessels below.
· 70 percent of all products contain ingredients that may
contain harmful impurities such as known carcinogens,
according to FDA or industry reviews.
So, the more cosmetics you use on your skin, the more chemicals you are likely to absorb.
As more information becomes available on the impact of long term effects of chemicals and pesticides in the quality of our lives, more and more people are becoming concerned about the quality of the food they eat, the teas they drink and the cosmetics they use, and they are waking up to the fact that there are healthier alternatives available.
Our range of food, herbal infusions and cosmetics are grown and processed without the use of any pesticides, chemicals and preservatives.
For many farmers and consumers, organic represents the values that are most important to them. When you choose organic, you’re not only protecting your family’s health and standard of living, but supporting sustainable agriculture, clean air and water for future generations as well.
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