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Organic Food For Life
Natural Whole. Unrefined. Untreated.

Organic foods are all of these - and more. They are grown without chemical pesticides and herbicides, without genetic modifications (an issue currently grabbing national headlines) and without countless other harmful influences. Healthy bodies require healthy food for fuel. As a prevention specialist, Dr. Christiana knows the vital role nutrition plays in achieving optimum wellness. The healthful benefits of food, however, can be overruled by chemical contamination. That's why Dr. Christiana urges patients to chose organically-grown foods whenever possible. Pesticide Dangers Pesticides are linked with a number of medical disorders and illnesses, including Parkinson's disease. Research also suggests that pesticides have a negative affect on male reproduction. "Pesticides are widely used throughout the world and there is a growing concern that certain of these chemicals can adversely affect male reproductive function. Nonetheless, regulation of new pesticides is mainly based on animal models, and human data on reproductive toxicity of pesticides currently in use continue to be sparse and limited." (The Lancet 1999;354:484.) The use of pesticides has also been linked to childhood cancers. "Frequent occupational exposure to pesticides or home pesticide use was more strongly associated with both childhood leukemia and brain cancer than either professional exterminations or the use of garden pesticides. Occupational pesticide exposure was also associated with increased risk of Wilm's tumor, Ewing's sarcoma, and germ-cell tumors. Residence on a farm, a proxy for pesticide exposure, was associated with increased risk of a number of childhood cancers." (lAMA 1998;279:414.) Defining "Organic" At one time, all farming was essentially classified as "organic." The evolution of time led to the evolution of pests, however - and a proliferation of chemicals created during WWII were suddenly enlisted to fight the war on bugs. According to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), "Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people." To be certified as "organic," foods must undergo strict inspections and meet tightly-regulated growing standards. Candidates eligible for organic labeling include packaged foods and beverages, alcoholic beverages, meat (not fish), produce, prepared foods, bulk products culinary herbs, herbal dietary supplement formulas, baked goods, dairy and refrigerated products, and frozen foods. Fibers such as cotton and wool may also be certified organic. Worth Waiting For Originally proposed over a decade ago, the 1990 Organic Foods Production Act is now a reality, receiving its final blessing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) earlier this year. The Act regulates the sale and labeling of organic foods in the United States, which is a welcome reward for the organic industry, a major proponent of the measure. "For handlers of organic products, this establishes provisions for organic raw material receipt, processing aids and ingredients, packaging materials, and labeling, as well as for storage and transportation. For brokers, distributors, and retailers, this means adopting practices that prevent contamination of organic products by prohibited substances or commingling of organic with nonorganic products." (Supermarket Business 2001;56:67.) What will this mean for you, the consumer? It will mean no more wondering "is this product really organic?" if a product is labeled "organic." This won't happen overnight, however. "After publication of the final regulation, there will be an implementation period during which certifying bodies will need to apply for, and gain, accreditation from the USDA. The USDA has predicted it will take approximately a year to review and approve all current u.s. certifiers, both state and private entities." (Supermarket Business 2001;56:67.) The Cost Factor The adage "you get what you pay for" is particularly true in the case of organic foods. While you may pay more at the checkout counter, you'll save your health in the long run. How can you offset the cost of organic foods and other products? One way is by purchasing "in season." Other ways to keep prices down, while you strive to keep quality up, include buying locally, in bulk and on sale. Farmer's markets are often brimming with organic bargains. But the greatest cost-cutter of all is to dust off that green thumb and plant your own garden. Despite Best Efforts Purchasing food labeled "organic" doesn't mean your food supply will be 100 percent free of pesticides. Traces of pesticides are in the air that sustains the plants, in the ground water that nourishes them and, quite often, lingering in the soil years after a farmer has switched to organiconly production. Does that mean you shouldn't buy organic produce or plant an organic garden? No! By choosing organic foods, you can substantially reduce your exposure to pesticides and, in turn, improve the quality of your life. Look to Your Chiropractor For Sound Nutritional Advice This chiropractic office encourages patients to make nutrition a priority. But, keeping abreast of nutritional research can be a daunting challenge. Although TV, newspapers and magazines inundate us with nutritional information, it's difficult to make sense of all the "sound bites," especially when the messages are contradictory or change over time. And going to the source - medical journals - can be equally as confusing for lay people, if not more so. To help patients avert "information overload," we publish one Optimal Health UniversityTM handout each month on a nutrition-related topic, like this one on organic foods. By addressing one topic at a time, with clear and concise explanations in "plain English," patients effortlessly grasp complex nutritional concepts - and learn to comfortably make related dietary modifications. If you are confused about conflicting media reports on a specific nutrition topic, please let us know so that we may look into publishing a handout on that subject

Our purpose is to educate and adjust families toward optimal health