Eating Green For Good Health

by Alden Smith

With all the talk about organic food and eating "green" today, it is hard not to be aware of the consequences of a green diet. Eating green does not mean you have to deny yourself the things you most enjoy. It does mean that it is important to be aware of the consequences to the environment. Nothing has brought this home more to me than reading an article by Jamais Cascio entitled "The Cheeseburger Footprint". Cascio explores the making of a cheeseburger all the way from the growing of feed to produce the beef, to the carbon output of the grill it is finally cooked on. This thought-provoking article is a must-read for anyone interested in the environment. It is readily available on the Internet. In the meantime, let's focus on the elements of organic eating -- from the definition of organic food to how it is packaged.

What is Organic Food?

We hear the term "organic" many times in a day. To define it, we look to several details:

* Is the food raised without artificial inputs, such as pesticides?
* Does it ban the use of animal byproducts and antibiotics?
* Is it labeled "100% organic" or "Made with organic ingredients?"
* Is the food locally grown?
* If a meat product, is it "free range?"
* Is it responsibly packaged in an earth-friendly way?

Labeling on so-called organic food is tricky. "Organic" means that 95% of the ingredients are organic. "Made with organic ingredients" means at least 70% ingredients are organic -- a big difference.

Shop Locally

Shopping for fruits and vegetables locally can make a big difference in your health. Local farmers are more apt to grow their crops without chemicals and pesticides. You conserve energy by buying from a farmer's market because you eliminate the gasoline expense of trucking produce in from far away. Less greenhouse gas is released into the atmosphere. Search for farmer's markets in your area at LocalHarvest.org. It is fully searchable by zip code and locale.

Avoid Genetically Modified Organisms

We now have the technology to create man-made plants and even animals have been cloned. Remember that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) can take over, interbreed with natural organisms, and cause contamination in non-GMO environments. We have no idea of how this might affect the environment. Once they have been established, there is no way to recall them. All organic food is GMO free, so always look for a GMO-free label on packaging.

Choose Ocean-Safe Fish

Choosing ocean safe fish no longer means buying "dolphin safe" tuna. Look for fish that are not endangered of becoming extinct. When any fish nears extinction, it wreaks havoc in the ecosystem. In the food chain, there is always predator and prey. They are all dependent on one another to keep the ocean well balanced. Ocean safe fish include:

*Alaskan salmon
*Catfish
*Mahi Mahi
*Pacific Dungeness Crab
*Pacific Halibut
*striped Bass
*Tilapia

Use Open Range Meat Products

Many farmers allow their livestock to graze on the open range. Others, in the interest of meat production, cage animals to promote faster growth. Almost everyone has seen calves locked into tiny cages to produce veal. Commonly seen labels are "pasture grown," "free range," and "cage free." Don't be fooled by these labels. Unless you are familiar with the farm the livestock is raised on, you have no way of knowing what legal loopholes these livestock producers have found. Also look for labels that state "Raised without added hormones" or "raised without antibiotics." Many of these claims are unregulated. Never use meat that has been raised by feeding animal byproducts.

Use Minimally Packaged Foods

Food packaging in the US totals about 200 million tons a day. This includes tin, cardboard, paper and plastic. Buy in bulk at your local market or natural foods store. Buy at a farmer's market and take your own bags. Cut down on your use of aluminum foil, plastic baggies and plastic wrap. Store food in glass containers whenever possible. Wash and reuse zip bags when feasible, and take plastic grocery bags back to the store on your next trip.

Although eating organically may seem like a chore, it is merely a lifestyle that one can adapt to. Following these simple guidelines will take you a long way in becoming earth friendly.