New book on organics
Find a Conversation
| Tue, 10-25-2005 - 1:59pm |
from our local democrat and chronicle newspaper, an article...
All about organic
Can't decide if it's worth the extra money? Check out this new book
Karen Miltner
Staff writer
(October 25, 2005) — You don't have to bag your own tofu or swat the grain moths out of the bulk bins at the local food co-op to know that organic foods are now part of the mainstream food supply.
Supermarket produce aisles have sizable organic sections; organic milk, yogurt and butter stand adjacent to their conventional counterparts in grocery dairy cases; and supermarket shelves are full of pantry staples and processed food products from canned soups, coffee and broths to cooking oils, cereals and snack foods.
The dilemma for many consumers who would like to support organic agriculture comes down to this: $5.79 for pound of organic butter vs. $3.49 for the same quantity of conventional butter. Ethics then butts heads with economics as we argue for ourselves and our families, is it worth it?
That's why the arrival of A Field Guide to Buying Organic (Bantam, $14) is so timely. Without romanticizing or demonizing either side, authors Luddene Perry, a 30-year-plus veteran in the organic industry, and Dan Schultz, a former pest control operator, present im-pressive research and information to help the health- and budget-conscious shopper decide when organic or conventional products make the best sense, depending on their personal organic ethics.
Buying Organic starts with a dispassionate overview of organic farming in the United States, a multibillion dollar industry that increases 15 to 20 percent a year, and the consequences that both organic and conventional foods have on human health, the environment and society. This overview is followed by a quick, personal quiz to determine what kind of organic shopper you are (healthy shopper, green shopper, socially conscious shopper or foodie/gourmet shopper).
Then comes the actual guide, which takes readers aisle by aisle through the supermarket, explaining how pesticide residue, genetic engineering, drugs and growth hormone use, animal and worker welfare issues, and environmental degradation play out for each major food category.
Some interesting tidbits:
Conventional dry and canned beans test very low on pesticide residue. However, if you are concerned about genetically engineered foods, then organic may be your best option, as more than 85 percent of conventional soybeans come from genetically engineered plants.
Some organic cereals have more salt, sugar and fat than their conventional counterparts, so read the labels carefully.
The good news for New York milk drinkers is that most of our dairy farms, organic or conventional, are small, which means healthier cows that require fewer drugs and hormones, and farmers who are able to manage manure in more environmentally responsible ways.
Each chapter concludes with a best bets chart with price comparisons, pesticide residues and availability to help choose between conventional vs. organic foods. Best bets for conventional foods include bananas, skim milk, kidney beans, whole-wheat bread and boxed macaroni and cheese.
As for that butter, you may want to pony up for the organic, as the FDA's 2003 Total Diet Study uncovered 30 different chemical contaminants in conventional butter.
However, the authors also note that grass-fed cows, conventional or organic, may be the healthiest option, as pastured animals show higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid, which research has linked to reducing risks of certain cancers and improving the human immune system.
KMILTNER@DemocratandChronicle.com
SPONSORED LINKS Article health wellness Center for health and wellness Health and wellness
Health and wellness program Health wellness product Health and wellness job
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
Visit your group "UNYFEAT" on the web.
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
UNYFEAT-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey -- you're from Rochester!? So am I -- Webster, actually!
If you don't mind my asking -- have you found many resources in the area for PDD? Sylvia has an appointment with the Dev Ped group at Strong in November, and she's already started services (ST, OT, and an upcoming eval for PT) in preschool. But I've been having a hard time finding parent groups, etc...
Jennifer :)
holy toledo!! i live in e. irond on the edge of webster--empire and winton!! you should email me off board and i can hook you up with all sorts of stuff!
valeriejacobs@frontiernet.net