Monsanto, Obama and Organics

After having read today's article, "Monsanto's Poison Pills for Haiti", I'm left a little discouraged and sad (it's an important read, if you have the time, not terribly long).  I get a little more sad when I hear Obama vow's for the importance of having organic foods and Michelle Obama's organic White House garden, then remember he's stacked the deck in the Senate and Supreme Court full of ex-Monsanto people.  He's a double-talker.  Oh, surprise, he's a politician.   /sarcasm

I look back at the last few months where some of my eating habits have changed.  Organic has really taken a part of my life.  It's been such a smooth transition, barely noticeable.  I can't remember when I started eating organic...maybe fall last year?  My knowledge has broadened, my choices more informed.  Maybe I've become more careful of what I put in my body because of all my health issues.  Part of it is, "I've had these issues for years and don't want them anymore so must find ways to change" to, "I'm not getting any younger.  The older I get, sometimes, the more problems I notice" and part just really wanting to take care of the only body I have.  I refuse - consciously - to become a health nut.  First, it's not my way (well honestly, I go through phases, but they're rare).  Second, I've just witnessed through my aunt's stroke and my father's cancer that it doesn't matter how well you take care of yourself, illness and chances of death can still happen.  So sure, I'll snack on chocolate, I'll have a couple extra cookies but I'll try to make the majority of the food I consume healthy and life-sustaining.

As a side note, I found this website today - the Organic Consumers Association.  It's U.S-based and seems to have good information, articles.  There are also different newsletters you can sign up for, too.  While I'm on the web page train, I found this site not too long ago.. Organic A to Z.  Great stuff on here (including an entry on why to use cast iron over teflon - which I already knew, but gave me the right motivation at the time to change).  I'm just disappointed it hasn't been written in lately.

Well, I've stopped scouring the interwebs for organic stuff.  I'm coming across too much about BP and it makes me so sad.  Maybe Bishop U. was right.. I'm developing a sensitive conscience.  Ugh.

Organic

I came across another article today on organic food. I didn't even have to read the article, I got mad at the title, "Organic food isn't any more nutritious". Perhaps not by much, but it's a lot better for us!

If I ever choose to eat organic (which to be honest, isn't often due to cost), it's not because I see it as more nutritious, it's because it's been grown without pesticides, fertilizers or better (read: nutrient rich) soil.

There's no surprise, the study was conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, so it's going to be one-sided stating it's not necessarily a nutrient-superior food. A similar study, done by the U.S-based Organic Centre* found certain levels to be higher (antioxidants - very important! like vitamin C and vitamin E). Since it's grown in better soil, the food, in turn, would automatically have better nurtrients (nitrogen, phosphorus).

For my Canadian counterparts, there's also the Canadian Organic Growers, and good news! Organic legislation has been put into effect (finally!) in June! (There was no regulation before and it only took 18 years..heh.) So now anything labelled 'organic' has to adhere to certain standards. Familiarize yourself with the labels here and read more about it here, containing FAQ's.

Geez, I got a bit off topic, didn't I?

*the Organic Centre actually disects the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition's study and does comparative tests and their own studies. You can find the article here. It's their FSA response and very interesting!