Is Your Fork
Organic?
Defining "Organic"
If a food is labeled "organic," what does that mean? To meet the
organic standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), an
organic food is one that is grown without:
- pesticides
- fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge
- herbicides
- antibiotics
- bioengineering
- hormones
- ionizing radiation
Why Eat Organic?
The Healthy Fork's food and menu items will not have the use of synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizes or genetically engineered ingredients. Nor, will they contain artificial flavors or preservatives. Organic farming methods help protect and nurture the environment, which is why also, "The Healthy Fork" restaurant is dedicated to being a eco-friendly based structure building in terms of "Going Green".
Organic animal products — meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy foods —
come from animals that are fed 100% organic feed products, receive no
antibiotics or growth hormones, and have access to the outdoors.
If a product is labeled "organic," it means that a
government-approved certifier has inspected the farm where it was
produced to ensure that the farmer followed all the rules necessary to
meet the USDA's organic standards. Farmers who produce organic foods
use renewable resources that conserve the soil and water for future
generations. And any company that handled or processed that food on its
way to the grocery store must be certified organic, too.
Foods labeled "organic" can be either:
- 100% organic: They're completely organic or made of all organic ingredients.
- Organic: They're at least 95% organic.
Is there really any harm in eating non-organic food?
The number one reason most people don't eat organic
foods is because of the high costs, but I challenge you to compare the pro's and cons of eating organically. Are
you aware of the number of chemicals you are putting into your body not
considering all the chemicals that the food factories add once the
product arrives at their company? You may be amazed at how non organic
foods affect your body!
Farmers who produce non organic food have
one thing on their mind when farming. They want to produce a large
amount by using an easy way. They use a lot of
pesticides and hormones
which are definitely not good for your body. If you think about what
pesticides are for, which is KILLING
insects,
think about this...If this chemical which you are eating will kill bugs
with a small amount, over a period of say 10 years you have ingested a
large amount and it does have affects on your body! If the chemical is
made to kill then obviously that's what it does! It may not kill you
right away as it does insects however it has very huge negative affects
on your body and everything inside your body! And this is why
"The Healthy Fork" restaurant will entirely be organically based in reference to consuming fast meals good for the body.
T
op Organic Vegetables and Fruit
Organic fruits and vegetables are good for the environment and good for your
health.
Organic foods contain no pesticide or chemical fertilizers. If you
cannot afford to buy all organic food, consider buying the foods listed
below.
Must-buy organic fruits and vegetables
Apples.
Conventional apples are cultivated with pesticides and chemical
fertilizers. Scrubbing and peeling apples will eliminate the chemicals.
Peeling an apple takes away many of the beneficial nutrients found in
the skin.
Raspberries. Organic raspberries do not contain harmful chemicals such as captan, carbaryl and iprodine.
Carbaryl
is toxic to humans. It is classified as a likely human carcinogen by
the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.) Carbaryl kills
various beneficial insect and crustacean species along with intended
pest victims, so care must be taken when spraying where beneficial
non-target species are present. Carbaryl is acutely toxic to honeybees,
destroying colonies of bees foraging in an area where the chemical has
been applied.
Peaches. Non-organically
grown peaches contains high levels of iprodine residue. Iprodine is a
compound used to kill or inhibit fungi or fungal spores. Non-organic
peaches also contain methyl parathion. Methyl parathion is a
non-systemic pesticide that kills pests by acting as a stomach poison.
Strawberries.
Strawberries that are grown conventionally contain high levels of
fungicide captan. Captan is a compound used to kill or inhibit fungi or
fungal spores. Captan is known to irritate your eyes and skin.
Grapes.
Conventional grown grapes have been known to contain such chemicals
like dimethoate, methyl parathion, and methomyl. Dimethoate is
moderately toxic by ingestion, inhalation and dermal absorption. As
with all organophosphates, dimethoate is easily absorbed through the
skin.
Green beans. Non-organic green beans often contain acephate, methamidophos, and endosulfan.
Exposure
effects of acephate in humans can include: cardiac responses
(bradycardia/tachycardia, heart block), central nervous system
impairment, eye problems (miosis/mydriasis, loss of accommodation,
ocular pain, sensation of retrobulbar pressure, tearing, dark or
blurred vision, conjunctiva hyperemia, cataracts), gastrointestinal
problems (abdominal cramps,
heart ,
hyperperistalsis), respiratory effects (apnea, dyspnea, hypopnea,
atelectasis, bronchoconstriction, bronchopharyngeal secretion, chest
tightness, productive cough, rales/ronchi, wheezing, pulmonary edema,
laryngeal spasms, rhinorrhea, oronasal frothing) and death due to
respiratory failure.
Potatoes. Potatoes however, contains dieldrin, methamidophos and aldicarb, which can be very harmful to your children.
Dieldrin
is hazardous to birds, fish, beneficial insects and honey bees.
Exposure to dieldrin can cause apprehension, excitability, dizziness,
headache, disorientation, weakness, paresthesia, muscle twitching,
tremor, tonic and clonic CONVULSIONS, and unconsciousness.
Winter squash. Non-organic winter squash often contains dieldrin (see above).
Pears.
Non-organic pears contain high levels of methyl parathion, which is
harmful to not only humans, but is also harmful to freshwater fish and
bees.
