Body Organic

By Melinda Hemmelgarn m . s . | r . d.

body OrganiC Whole You, Whole Earth, Wholesome

The Holter Organic Valley family farm, MD

“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated … whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

Teague Organic Valley family farm, NC

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W HOL E Y OU , W HOL E E A R T H , W HOL E S OME ! healthy soil > healthy plants > healthy animals > healthy people > healthy planet

Ever wonder why organic food sales thrive and drive the market?

Smart farmers and savvy eaters!

O

rganic farmers work with

food production. Choosing organic food

nature. Organic agriculture uniquely

is also our best way to avoid genetically

focuses on improving and protecting the

modified (GMO) ingredients.

core of our food system: soil health, water

No other product label delivers a stronger

quality and biodiversity.

set of growing and production guidelines.

Organic agriculture protects farmers and

When you purchase foods with the USDA

farm workers from exposure to harmful

Organic label, you’re choosing products

chemicals, as well as eaters who benefit

with the highest, most rigorous standards.

from cleaner, more nutritious food.

Plus, you’re voting with your food dollars for farmers who go the extra mile to protect

Cut through the clutter of confusing

our environment for future generations.

food labels. Only the “USDA Organic”

We all live downstream and value safe

label gives us legal assurance—through

water, air and food.

third-party inspection and certification— that no antibiotics, synthetic hormones, sewage sludge, ir-

“ Everything that happens in our environment happens to us, even if we don’t know it yet.”

radiation, synthetic pesticides or petro-

– Celine Cousteau, American Public Health

leum-based fertilizers were used in our

Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia

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The Ranck Organic Valley family farm, PA

O R G A NIC A G R IC U LT U R E F E E D S T HE P E OP L E , P R O T E C T S O U R H E A LT H & E N V IR ONME N T & F IG H T S C L IM A T E C H A NG E

Organic agriculture can feed the world. In fact, the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization recommends organic farming to help fight hunger and tackle climate change.

R

esearch shows increased yields

better able to hold onto water during a

and steadily improved soil quality

drought. Organic soils, especially organic

when organic farming systems are adopted.

pasture, also show improved ability to

Plus, organic farming practices, including “sequester” or store carbon, which helps composting and cover crops, result in

reduce global climate change.

soils that are less likely to erode, and are 3

“The destiny of nations depends on how they nourish themselves.”

– Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin , 1755-1826

The Johnston OV family farm, OR

The Bontrager OV family farm, WI

In addition to enhanced soil quality, organic

pounds of pesticides are applied to crops

farming also boosts biodiversity. How? By

each year in the U.S. alone. Along with

not using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers

synthetic fertilizers, these fossil-fuel-

and by adopting wildlife-friendly farming

based chemicals deplete our soil, pollute

techniques. Increased biodiversity is a

our environment and bodies, and further

win-win for farmers and wildlife—with

contribute to global climate change.

an average of 30% more biodiversity on

Good news: Consumer demand for organic

organic farms compared to conventional 1

food can drive agricultural policies and

—organic farmers benefit from higher

practices, resulting in better health for

yields and wildlife enjoys ideal habitat.

people and planet. Organic Works!

According to the Organic Center and USDA figures, more than one billion 4

T A K I NG C A R E OF Y OU F R OM T HE I N SIDE O U T: Y OU R O R G A NIC P E A C E OF M I ND

You already know the bountiful benefits of exercise, meditation, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Now, take the next step to peace of mind: embrace organic food and farming for a higher level of holistic healing.

A

re v ie w of t he re se a rch

Most

shows that average levels of 11

farming helps protect our most vul-

important,

organic

food

and

nutrients are 25% higher in organic

nerable

foods compared to conventional and

from exposures to harmful chemicals.

that organic fruits and vegetables are

Researchers at the University of Wash-

about 30% higher in health-protecting

ington discovered simply switching chil-

antioxidants, thanks in part to nutrient-

dren from a conventional to an organic

rich organic soils . Because of mandatory

diet resulted in a dramatic drop in high-risk

time spent on pasture, organic animals

organophosphate insecticides, or break-

provide milk and meat with higher levels

down products in the children's urine—to

of beneficial essential fats, such as heart-

non-detectable levels within just a few days6.

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healthy conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and

grown or produced without chemical

the nutritional quality of breast milk—up to

fertilizers, antibiotics, synthetic pesticides

36% higher levels of CLA4. In addition, the av-

and growth-hormones7—that’s organic!

erage American's Omega-6 to Omega-3 intake

optimal health. To reap the benefits

children—

specifically recommends choosing food

dairy, meat and eggs and some fish enhances

in fact, it should be closer to 3:1 for

ones—our

The President’s Cancer Panel Report

Omega-3. In fact, eating a diet of organic

ratio is a range of 10:1 to 15:1 when,

loved

“We need to protect our children at critical times of their development.”

of a healthier balance of Omega fatty acids, eat

– Linda Birnbaum, Director of the National

a diet of organic dairy, meat and eggs and some

Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

fish and stay away from high Omega-6 foods, especially corn and vegetable oils5.

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“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. ” – Hippocrates

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S IM P L E S T E P S T O G O ( A ND G R O W ) O R G A NIC !

It’s a Movement ... like a dance, take it one step at a time.

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READ LABELS Look for the trustworthy USDA Organic label, but beware of imposters. “Natural” may sound good, but it has no legal definition. For example, the “natural” label on meat and poultry simply applies to post-slaughter processing. Only certified organic meat, poultry, dairy and eggs assures you the animals received no hormones, antibiotics or genetically modified feed produced with synthetic pesticides.

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GET COOKING

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GROW YOUR OWN

Invite your children and friends into your kitchen and share the fun.

When we grow, prepare and preserve some of our own food, we get to enjoy and share the fruits of our labor and rest assured knowing the real story behind our food.

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V O T E A N D I N V E S T !

Think of your food dollars as votes for, and investments in, your bright, healthy future. Go organic!

“What we are calling for is ... a real Delicious Revolution.”

– Alice Waters

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“The eyes of the future are looking back at us and they are praying for us to see beyond our own time.”

– Terry Tempest Williams, Naturalist

The Shepard Organic Valley family farm, WI

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Y OU R R IG H T T O K NO W Learn more, stay informed and tell your friends about the benefits of organic food and farming.

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Beyond Pesticides: www.beyondpesticides.org

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Beyond the Plate: www.organicvalley.coop/community/beyond-the-plate

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Consumer Reports, “Greener Choices”: www.greenerchoices.org

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Environmental Health Perspectives Journal: www.ehponline.org

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Environmental Working Group: www.ewg.org

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Green America: www.greenamericatoday.org

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Healthy Child, Healthy World: www.healthychild.org

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Pesticide Action Network, “What’s On My Food?”: www.panna.org

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The Organic Center: www.organic-center.org

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The Rodale Institute: www.rodaleinstitute.org

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Union of Concerned Scientists: www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture

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Organic Valley: www.organicvalley.coop/why-organic/overview

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Organic Prairie: www.organicprairie.coop/whyorganic/our-7-step-safety-net

REFERENCES Blakemore, R.J. “Ecology of earthworms under the ‘Haughly experiment’ of organic and conventional management regimes.” Biological Agriculture and Horticulture. 2000: 18 (141-59). http://bio-eco.eis.ynu.ac.jp/eng/database/ earthworm/Haughley%5CHaughley.pdf

[1]

[2]

enbrook, C., et. al. “State of Science Review: New evidence supports the nutritional superiority of organic plantB based foods.” March 2008. The Organic Center. www.organic-center.org/science.tocreports.html

[3]

enbrook, C. “State of Science Review: Elevating antioxidant levels in food through organic farming and food B processing.” January 2005. The Organic Center. www.organic-center.org/science.tocreports.html

[4]

ist, L., et. al. “Influence of organic diet on the amount of conjugated linoleic acids in breast milk of lactating R women in the Netherlands.” British Journal of Nutrition. April 2007.

[5]

usso, Gian L. “Dietary n S 6 and n S 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: From biochemistry to clinical implications in R cardiovascular prevention.” Biochemical Pharmacology. 2009. 77 (937-46). Elsevier.

[6]

u, Chensheng, et. al. “Organic diets significantly lower children’s dietary exposure to organophosphorus pesticides.”

L Environmental Health Perspectives. 2006. 114:2. www.ehponline.org/ambra-doi-resolver/10.1289/ehp.8418

[7]

euben, Suzanne H. “Reducing environmental cancer risk: What we can do now.” 2008-2009 President’s Cancer Panel R Annual Report. April 2010. (112). http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/pcp08-09rpt/PCP_Report_08-09_508.pdf

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A B OU T T HE A U T HOR :

Melinda Hemmelgarn, m.s., r.d. is a registered dietitian, investigative nutritionist, and award-winning journalist with more than 30 years’ experience in clinical, academic and public health nutrition. Known nationally as the “Food Sleuth,” she connects the dots between food, health and agriculture, and helps consumers “think beyond their plates.”

She is a tireless advocate and strong voice for organic food and farming, social and environmental justice and food system literacy.

R e a d h e r c ol u m n s A T : www.organicvalley.coop/community/ beyond-the-plate

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