Healthy, Organic (H.O.T.) Tips
for Parents
By Jordan
Rubin, N.M.D, Founder of Garden of Life - Extraordinary Health Article
 Whether
you’re a parent of a newborn, toddler, pre-schooler, elementary age
child, middle-schooler, high schooler, college-age or a full-grown
adult, you never stop being a parent. You want the best for you child
or children and you will see to it that they are the healthiest and
happiest that they can be.
Part of being a parent, generally speaking, means
that the nutritional trajectory of your children rests squarely on
your shoulders. You are pivotal to the success of the family team and
you will assume multiple roles so that your team wins.
Because parents have high standards for caring for
their family, it’s no wonder many parents want to include organic
foods on their family’s menus—which is easier than ever to do now that
organic has become more mainstream.
What is organic and why is it preferred by many
parents?
Let’s start by outlining what it is not first.
Organic is NOT food that has synthetic chemicals in it—including but
not limited to pesticides, antibiotics, food additives, irradiation,
sewage sludge, and genetically modified elements. (Conventionally
raised foods, however, can be produced with these synthetic
chemicals.)
What organic is, however, includes achievement of
organic certification (usually from the USDA) and being held to the
following standards:
- Produce that is raised on farmland that has been
chemical-free for a stated number of years--usually at least three.
- Farmers whose farm site has required periodic
inspections to assure standards are being met.
- Farmers who are required to keep and provide
exact production and sales records.
- Producers who maintain the strict separation
between certified organic products and non-certified products.
Organic Certification
 Organic
Certification makes organic shopping easier, but also serves to
protect consumers from producers who may try to pass off their goods
as organic without going through the required standards. You should
know, too, that there are organic-related differentiations in food
labels. In the meantime, isn’t it good to know that someone is minding
the farm, so to speak, ensuring that we have wholesome, organic foods
for our families?
We looked at what the organic seal means—which was
mostly for those who may be somewhat new to organic. Did you know,
however, that there are even more delineations among “organic”
including the terms “100 percent organic,” “organic,” “made with
organic ingredients,” and other terms including “natural?”
Now that may seem like a lot of organic word play,
but each term is important to know. Here on some tips to make sure
that you know what you are buying. Here’s the lowdown.
The USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) has
identified three categories of labeling organic products:
- 100% Organic: Made with 100% organic ingredients
- Organic: Made with at least 95% organic
ingredients
- Made With Organic Ingredients: Made with a
minimum of 70% organic ingredients with strict restrictions on the
remaining 30% including no GMOs (genetically modified organisms.)
It is important to note, however, that products with
less than 70% organic ingredients may list organically produced
ingredients on the side panel of the package, but may not make any
organic claims on the front of the package. So keep your eyes peeled
for these.
Additionally, do not mistake the term “natural” for
organic. It’s not even close! Natural foods are not organic.
According to an article titled Organic Myths, found
at Organic.org, “Natural foods do not contain additives or
preservatives, but they may contain ingredients that have been grown
with pesticides, are genetically modified or even minimally processed.
In other words, the ingredients in the ingredient panel will look
familiar, but they have not been produced organically. Natural foods
are hardly regulated and do not meet the same criteria that organic
foods do.” In fact the only real requirement is that the label must
explain the use of the term natural (such as - no added colorings or
artificial ingredients; minimally processed.)
 Bottom
line? You are going to be best served by the seal that states 100%
Organic. Only then are you going to be assured of a product being
organic through and through—at least with regard to food.
Not all products, however, are held to the same
standard as organic food is. Hopefully, these tips will help as you
shop wisely for your organic goods.
For information on Jordan’s new raw food,
multivitamin supplements made from raw, organic fruits & vegetables
and contain 100% active ingredients, see
Garden of Life’s Vitamin Code RAW vitamins.
 For
more information on organic foods, Christine recommends reading
THE ORGANIC FOOD GUIDE - How to Shop Smarter and Eat Healthier by
Steve Meyerowitz. |
