Thursday, May 23, 2013

Holistic Health, Organic, fair trade, GMO..what does it all mean anyway??



Holistic Health means having total wellness in your mind, body and spirit.”  Your mind, body and spirit work together to bring you “health wealth.” They cannot truly be separated. When one part of your system is healed, the other parts are positively affected as well. (Lumia-Hlistic-health.com)

Simply stated, Organic produce and other ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones.(organic.com) Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved inspector, inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too. (The USDA National Organic Program)


Molecular engineers working in laboratories for Monsanto, the giant American biotech company, are gene-splicing vegetable seedlings with poisonous pesticides and herbicides so the plants are inherently protected from the insects and worms that might damage them. The majority of products Americans eat daily contain some form of GMO soy, corn, canola (rapeseed) oil or cotton seed oil. Research shows that consuming the popular herbicide/pesticide Roundup leads to the mutation of cells in the human body, in turn fueling the development of malignant tumors and other various forms of cancer. (Natural News) 

Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries to make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to exporters as well as higher social and environmental standards. It focuses in particular on exports from developing countries to developed countries, most notably handicrafts, coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, bananas, honey, cotton, wine, fresh fruit, chocolate, flowers, and gold. (Wikipedia) The reality is that a lot of the people who provide you with the food and crafts you take for granted live in squalid conditions, with not enough to eat and unable to send their children to school. And this affects mostly women and children. But, with fair trade, they get a fair deal. They are paid a living wage in the context of their country and are able to do the things that we take for granted here in the Western world, like feed and educate their children. Buy fair trade as much as you can…because it really DOES matter.

                                           10 Green Living Tips:
1.       A laptop uses just a quarter of the power a desktop computer uses.
2.       Using cold water can save up to 80% of the energy required to wash clothes.
3.       Vinegar (use white) is a natural cleaning agent-use it to clean coffee makers, washing    machines and more.
4.       Refrigerators and freezers account for one-sixth of a home’s energy use, so select energy efficient models when purchasing replacements.
5.       Plant an herb garden.
6.       Stop using disposable bags-use reusable bags for shopping.
7.       Support your local economy and farmers market.
8.       Pay your bills online.
9.       Create a homemade compost bin.
10.     Subscribe to eco-friendly blogs: Keeper of the Home, Kitchen Stewardship, Live Renewed, and of course, Simple Homemade.

For more info call or email me at beth@peakesharmony.com
315-264-5554

namaste
Beth