Health News & Opinion

Have you ever heard the rule “don’t eat anything you can’t pronounce?” A hundred years ago, this wasn’t an issue. Today, with all the processed foods in the standard American diet (SAD), there are over 14,000 man-made chemicals added as preservatives, artificial sweeteners and colors to nearly every food item found on the inside aisle of the grocery stores. Even the produce aisle is contaminated with pesticides and herbicides.

Therein lies one of the main organic foods benefits. With organically produced food, be it fresh fruit and vegetables or meat and dairy products, you don’t have to worry about any unnatural chemical additives sneaking onto your dinner plate. You can find more and more organic foods these days, from local farmers markets to health supplement stores and natural health websites.

Unfortunately, many of those added chemicals and preservatives are what make processed foods, including fast foods, taste so darn good. So if you do decide to make the switch and enjoy the benefits of organic foods and the peace of mind, don’t be surprised if it takes your tastes buds a few days to adjust. On the flip side, organically produced is typically so fresh and ripe, it provides a depth of flavor you may have never experienced before.

Check out the natural health food products that are now widely available and compare their ingredient lists with their processed food counterparts. Then apply the “don’t eat anything you can’t pronounce” rule and see what you’re left with. Your shopping cart might end up looking a whole lot different. But don’t worry, you’re dinner plate will look just the same, albeit a bit healthier.