Which is Best Organic or “Conventional” Foods

In the previous post the question was asked why people bought organic food and in an earlier one you were told that there were 2 people asked to give their views on organically grown food. The person who favoured what he and others call conventionally grown food (which only means what is happening now) what he said was that it yielded 4 times as much as organically as though this was the only thing that mattered.

He made no reference to the harmful effects this was and is having on the planet, i.e. our water is being poisoned, our land robbed of the nutrients it needs, so that the food grown on it does not nourish us. Another reason to use conventional methods we are told is that it is cheaper. Against this is the fact that the fertilizer used by is based on oil which is a limited commodity and is increasing in price, which means that organically grown food is, in proportion, decreasing in price.

What Are The Facts About Organic and Conventional Food?

It can be seen that all the facts are taken into consideration those who want to use conventional methods do not stand up to scrutiny. What about taking up 4 times as much land. This statement assumes that land on which to grow food is limited. But is this true, and if it is why are we in this situation and is there anything that can be done?

Before we do that lets us define terms. The debate was between those who farmed organically and those who farmed conventionally. But what is conventionally? All it means in this context is what the majority are doing now. So what is conventional to us here, in the UK and the US, may not be conventional in other countries. There other methods may apply.

This established let us look at the statement that “It takes 4 times as much ground to grow organically as conventionally”. Here in the UK we have a lot of programs looking at our effect on the planet. Many of them feature the rain forests and the fact that they are being cut down, mostly by logging companies and how this is having an effect on our climate.

It is truly said that those who refuse to learn from history are likely to repeat the mistakes of earlier generations. But it works the other way. At the end of the last century the Jews started to return to what is now Israel and to plant trees, etc and what was malaria infested swamps became prime fertile grown. This, is still going on. Trees are planted and what was desert is now used to grow food which is sold all around the world.

Land Required To Grow Organic Food

If we learn from them it becomes irrelevant that it takes 4 times as much ground to grow organic. But is there a reverse side to this? Yes there is, the land becomes improverished. We, in the West may be able to overcome this, but what about other parts of the world that do not have our favourable climate?

Conventionally grown food, more often than not, puts those growing them in the hands of big companies who patent the seeds and refuse to allow those who buy them to save them from one years crop to use the next year as they had previous done.  But those grown in an organic manner do not have this problem.

If these companies have their way then genetically modified food will become “conventional” and then they will be able to prosecute those who grow them without a licence from them, as the seeds do not stay where they are planted but can be blown to adjacent fields.   This is what organic farmers complain about.

“Why People Buy Organic Food”

In the last post I said that some people jumped on the organic bandwagon only to give it up when they considered it to be too expensive.   This was looked at in a recent edition of the BBC’s Countryfile.   The presenter concentrated on those who purchased them from supermarkets and said that the sell of them had gone down.

But then he looked at those who bought them from Farmers Markets, independent growers, etc and said that here they had not declined, thus providing what I said.    He said that he had been reporting on Countryfile for 20 years and when he had started he said that the organic percentage could be 20%, but admitted that it wasn’t and was only 4%.

He added that the organic movement encompasses many parts and that people had taken one part, i.e. how animals are treated, concentrated on that and dropped other parts.

He also spoke to a person from the Soil Association who it would be better if all the aspects of the organic movement where taken onboard.

The Soil Association and the Organic Food

Another program, this time on ITV looked climate change, but no mention was made of the fact that organic soil can hold all the gases that cause global warming and this does not have the adverse effects that the methods of producing natural energy such as wind turbines, nuclear fuel do.  It has a plus in that it grows food that trully nourishes us.

What is Non Organic Agriculture Doing?

Another series of programs the BBC is airing is: Bees, Butterflies and Blooms.  The presenter Sarah Raven, who was previously part of the Gardners World Team takes up a theme first aired by Rachel Carson in her Silent Spring.  At the time, 50 years ago, she was rubbished, but now those who said she was wrong have to admit she was right.

In the making of the program Sarah Raven travelled all over the country speaking to those in authority and the residents of the cities, towns, villages she visited and tried to persuade them to leave part of their gardens, public spaces, etc uncultivated to encourage the growth of wild flowers, etc that pollinating insects could visit.

She asked why should we be concerened and visited a supermarket to show us why.   She filled her trolly with her usual foods and then invited the manager to remove everything we would not have if we didn’t have the pollinating insects.   She had very little left.

In this post it was asked why people buy organic food in the next one the question is what is best organic or conventionally grown food

Right Not To Eat GM Food

I attended the Organic Festival, which was put on by the Soil Association, in Bristol, England.  While I was there I was given an leaflet which said we had “a right to eat and plant GM-free food”.   It give the:

10 BIG MYTHS About GM Food and crops

1   We need GM Food to feed a growing world population.
The vast majority of the world’s crops are not GM – GM is only planted on about 2.75% of global agricultural land. Most of this goes to animal feed, fibre and industrial scale agrofuels. What’s left is in processed food (primarily unlabelled in North America). The current push for GM is about a failing industry trying to save itself. The world’s underlying approach to food should not be about market control, patents and profit. Feeding the world means tackling poverty, improving access to the food we already produce, ending the waste of 30-40% of the world’s food, reducing losses in storage, making trade fairer, curbing overconsumption and investing in effective research. We don’t need GM to do any of this.

2  GM food helps farmers grow more in droughts and fight climate change.
All crops need the right mix of sun, water and healthy soil to produce a good yield – GM cannot change this. Despite many promises and billions of pounds spent over decades on research, not a single GM drought tolerant crop has been developed that farmers can grow. Traditional plant breeding, using modern techniques, has produced successful drought tolerant crops in fields where farmers need them now.

3  GM Food delivers more food on less land.

No current GM crops have been shown to boost yields. Independent US studies show up to 10% less yield in GM soya – manipulating a few genes gives unpredictable results. Increased yields in the past decade are due to developments in traditional plant breeding, not GM.

4  GM food helps farmers use less chemicals.
Herbicide tolerant crops:  Initially GM did reduce the use of weedkillers, but weeds quickly developed resistance to the chemicals used on GM crops. The resulting “superweeds” are forcing farmers to use more chemicals, including older, more dangerous ones, at considerable expense.  Some US GM cotton farmers have to hand weed whole fields when chemicals stop working. Insecticide crops: GM maize and cotton are engineered to produce toxins in every part of the plant – including the parts we eat. This is a change in the way pesticides are used, not a reduction. The toxins kill some insect pests, but not all, and Monsanto now admits that pink bollworm in parts of India is resistant to GM cotton. Yet emerging evidence shows Bt toxins may harm non-target insects (like butterflies), and there are serious concerns about the safety of the Bt toxins for human health.

5  EU opposition to GM Food is holding back developing countries (or, it’s only well-fed activists who oppose GM).
The Indian Government put an indefinite moratorium on GM brinjal (aubergine) -a flagship project for the GM industry-until safety questions are answered. There are GM bans, active protests and legal opposition in Thailand, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Mexico, South Africa, Kenya, Argentina and elsewhere. EU opposition to GM leads the way, showing that GM agriculture is not inevitable because citizens have the right to make our own decisions about what we grow and eat.

6  The EU is going to be left behind in science if we don’t do GM Food (or, we need GM Food for our economy).

GM hasn’t delivered. Farmer training needs to be improved right around the world, including in the UK. Rather than throw good money after bad, the UK should establish centres of excellence in areas like soil husbandry and advanced traditional plant breeding to lead the world in a more sustainable and equitable approach to managing farmland and forests.

7  GM Food is safe – they’ve been eating GM in the US for years and no one has ever been hurt.
GM is unlabelled and untraced in the US food supply, so there is no way to determine where GM is going or what health impacts it might be having, or even how much GM Food is actually being eaten. It is impossible to study, so this claim has no scientific basis.

8  People are changing their minds about GM Foods.
When US dairies started labelling their milk as free from GM hormones, they were so popular Monsanto went to court to get them banned. They failed. A 2010 NOP poll showed 89% support for labels on animal products in the UK showing where GM feed is used, like they have in Austria and Germany. If the GM industry believes people are changing their minds, they have nothing to fear from using such labels and letting the market decide.

9  We need GM to keep food prices down and meat industry going.
It was not a lack of GM that caused prices to go up – GM was produced throughout the 2007/8 price rises. Regional droughts, diverting food crops into industrial scale biofuels, financial speculation in food markets and the rising costs of fertilisers and fuel were key contributors, but GM Foods can’t fix these. The EU has become far too dependent on imported animal feed, much of it GM.  Policies favour a highly concentrated industrial farm model that has resulted in poor animal welfare and forces smaller farmers out of business. We need a more accountable and responsible food production system. Research across the EU is helping us find the kind of crops and breeds we need to be less dependent on importing GM animal feed and exporting the damage it does to communities and the environment in far away countries.

10  Opposition to GM Food is based on emotion (or politics), not sound science.   The US and Indian courts are showing that the science behind GM Food is far from sound, particularly when approvals have been based on safety dossiers provided by the industry itself. In any case, citizens are not obliged to accept whatever is scientifically possible. Non-GM Food alternatives do the scientific job better, with less risk and no public rejection, keeping farmers and consumers on the same side so everyone benefits.

GM FOOD FOR ANIMAL FEED
The hidden GM in your trolley

When GM Food hit supermarket shelves people rejected it. Today it is hard to find food with GM ingredients shops can’t sell what people won’t  buy. There is a hidden exception: milk, cheese, meat and eggs from animals raised on GM feed do not legally need a GM label. So there is no way to tell if your pint of milk or ready meal supported the GM industry.
Since people reject GM as food, the vast majority of GM crops  (around 80%) have no place  to go except into animal feed,   Yet we simply don’t know the extent of the many problems  with GM crops, including:
*    GM Food not proved safe
Industry safety claims are based on their own, not independent, data. National authorities are not testing food either to find GM or to confirm independent studies showing GM damage to animals’ guts, lower nutritional value and allergic reactions or reactions in immune systems. GM DMA from feed can pass into animals’ blood. Pesticides in GM animal feed are not routinely monitored, so we don’t know what our livestock are eating. We do know the maximum legal residue limit for weedkiller glyphosate in food was raised 200% when GM soya came on the market.
•    Environment damage
GM herbicide tolerant crops have accelerated the development of weedkiller resistance. There are now 140 types of herbicide tolerant “superweeds” in 40 US states, with 13 species resistant to glyphosate, and even the industry admits it takes older, more dangerous chemicals to control them.
« Corporate control
Patented GM crops give companies like Monsanto and Bayer unprecedented control over the supply of seeds and food.  They say we need GM animal feed to  keep costs down, but GM prices    I   spiked just as steeply as non-
J*A GM in 2007/08 – and we pay them even more to avoid it.
Our right to choose another way
Without clear labels, you don’t know where the GM feed is used.
While we look for better ways to feed our animals (like feeding cows grass and clover), Brazil alone grows enough non-GM soya for at least 80% of the EU’s needs without further damaging the Amazon – we don’t need GM.
Austrian and German shoppers have labels on non-GM fed foods, and France and Ireland are introducing them soon.
Supermarkets say it is too confusing to give consumers the information what they want. Your supermarket can and should insist that the dairy, meat, fish and eggs they sell are produced without GM crops and back this up with clear GM-Free labels.

Tell supermarkets to ditch GM Food once and for all
A sample letter, updated campaign information and email and postal addresses are all available at www.gmfreeze.org or directly from us on 0845 217 8992.

They say to concentrate on the supermarkets, but this is only because most people buy their foods from them.   I would say search out Farmers Markets or go to small privately owned local shops where you can ask about what they sell.   They are unlikely to sell GM Food as they know most people do not want them.

But not wanting GM Foods does not mean that they are whole heatedly for organic food.   Many people see the popularity of a trends such as organic foods, but do not espouse the organic movement as such and only buy it when they think they can afford it and it is usually from supermarkets that they buy it.

A lot of programs on the BBC recently have looked at both GM Food and Organic ones and this topic will be looked at in the next post.

Organic Festival in Bristol

Do you live in Bristol or the surrounding area?  If you do you did you attend the Soil Associations Organic Festival on the weekend of 6/7 September 2008? I did and it was really good.

Commenting on it before the event they said that it was “Set in Bristol’s famous harbourside, the Festival incorporates bustling food markets, the very best organic food, drink, fashion, skincare and homeware products, a green planet pavilion, demonstration kitchen, talks programme, food cruises around the harbour, and an arts and entertainment fringe!”

Organic Festival: List of the contributors, Stall Number and Website:

Stall No Company Name Web Site
113 Abaca Organic www.abacaorganic.co.uk
53 Abel and Cole www.abelandcole.co.uk
201 Aconbury Sprouts www.aconbury.co.uk
140 Adili.com www.adili.com
41 Alastair Sawday Publications www.sawdays.co.uk/bookshop
129 Alex Gooch Organics
33 Alma Win www.almawin.co.uk
204 Alvis Brothers Ltd. www.lyecrosscheese.co.uk
157 Ardalanish Isle of Mull Weavers www.ardalanish.com
76 Ashburton Cookery School www.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk
209 Bacheldre Watermill Organic Flours www.bacheldremill.co.uk
180 Balm Balm Ltd www.balmbalm.com
38 Barrow Boar Ltd. www.barrowboar.co.uk
186 Bart Spices www.bartspices.com
15 Bath Organic Farms -
4 Bath Soft Cheese www.parkfarm.co.uk
172 BBC Countryfile Magazine www.bbccountryfile.com
127 bcts ltd www.culture-gourmande.com
174 Beans and Herbs www.beansandherbs.co.uk
155 Bella Natura www.bellanatura.co.uk
43 Biodynamic Agricultural Association www.biodynamic.org.uk
156 Bishopston Trading Company www.bishopstontrading.co.uk
3 Bodymatter www.bodymatter.com
81 Boerenkaas www.dutchfarmhousecheese.co.uk
188 Bonterra Wines www.bonterra.com
2 Box Bush Farm www.boxbushfarm.co.uk
74 Box Fresh Organics www.boxfreshorganics.co.uk
163 Bristol Allotments www.bristol.gov.uk/allotments
130 Brocklebys www.brocklebys.co.uk
139 Brown Cow Organics www.browncoworganics.co.uk
210 Bumpylane Organics www.bumpylane.co.uk
109 Burgil Coffee www.burgil.com
187 Butts Brewery www.buttsbrewery.com
71 Calon Wen Organic Milk Co-operative www.calon-cymru.com
151 Cappuccino Bars
207 Carley’s of Cornwall Ltd. www.carleys.co.uk
72 Cauldron Foods www.cauldronfoods.co.uk
171 Caves Folly Nurseries www.cavesfolly.com
63 Caws Cenarth Cheese www.cawscenarth.co.uk
37 Cheddar Water Ltd. www.cheddarwater.com
144 City of Bristol College www.cityofbristol.ac.uk
164 Cleeve Nursery www.cleevenursery.co.uk
79 Cocoa Loco www.cocoaloco.co.uk
196 Community Foods www.communityfoods.co.uk
198 Daioni (Trioni Ltd) www.trioni.com
185 Daisy and Co. www.daisyandco.co.uk
97 Doves Farm Foods www.dovesfarm.co.uk
125 Dragonfly Tea www.dragonflyteas.com
110 Duchy Originals www.duchyoriginals.com
64 Eastern Venture Ltd www.eastern-venture.com
49 Ecotricity www.ecotricity.co.uk
150 Ecover www.ecover.com
87 Elan Valley Mutton www.elanvalleymutton.co.uk
181 Essential Care www.essential-care.co.uk
119 Essential Trading Co-op Ltd/Harvest Natural Foods www.essential-trading.coop
84 Farmhouse Freedom Eggs Ltd www.freedomeggs.co.uk
202 Farrington’s Farm Shop www.farringtons.co.uk
115 Fish4Ever www.fish-4-ever.com
74 Flights Orchard Organics www.flightsorchardorganics.co.uk
34 Freshly Squeezed Water www.freshlysqueezedwater.org.uk
159 Garthenor Organic Pure Wool www.organicpurewool.co.uk
13 Godminster Vintage www.godminster.com
21 Graig Farm Organics www.graigfarm.co.uk
59a Great Nineveh www.greatnineveh.co.uk
104 Green and Black’s www.greenandblacks.com
40 Green Bay Harvest Ltd www.greenbayharvest.co.uk
179 Green People www.greenpeople.co.uk
154 Greenfibres www.greenfibres.co.uk
47 Grove Fresh Limited www.grovefresh.co.uk
112 Guarani Creations
191 Hafod Cheese www.hafodcheese.co.uk
200 Hambleden Herbs www.hambledenherbs.com
118 Hampstead Tea www.hampsteadtea.com
51 Healthy & Organic Living Magazine www.healthyandorganicliving.com
195 Healthy Oils www.healthyoils.co.uk
86 Helsett Farm www.helsettfarm.com
175 Herbfarmacy www.herbfarmacy.co.uk
117 Higher Hacknell Organic Meat www.higherhacknell.co.uk
194 Hobbs House Bakery www.hobbshousebakery.co.uk
158 Hug & Little Green Radicals www.hug.co.uk
211 Infinity Foods Wholesale www.infinityfoods.co.uk
5 Jekka’s Herb Farm www.jekkasherbfarm.com
20 Jordans Cereals www.jordanscereals.co.uk
46 Jupiter Asset Management www.jupiteronline.co.uk
85 Kinvara Smoked Salmon
19 Kitchen Garden Foods Ltd. www.kitchengardenpreserves.co.uk
168 La Vache -
190 Langley Chase Organic Farm www.langleychase.co.uk
201 Living Foods for Health – Jill Swyers www.jillswyers.com
159 Llynfi Textiles
77 Long Crichel Bakery www.longcrichelbakery.co.uk
160 Low and Behold www.lowandbehold.co.uk
152 Luma www.lumadirect.com
58 Manna Organic www.mannaorganic.co.uk
39 Marine Stewardship Council www.msc.org
61 Meridian Foods Ltd www.meridianfoods.co.uk
78 Mini Magoo www.minimagoo.com
65 Montezuma’s Chocolates www.montezumas.co.uk
176 Natracare (Bodywise (UK) Ltd) www.natracare.com
36 Natural House Products Ltd. www.natural-house.co.uk
153 Natural Nursery www.naturalnursery.co.uk
7 Natural Vitality www.natural-vitality.co.uk
92 Natural Vitality Cafe www.natural-vitality.co.uk
183 Neal’s Yard Remedies www.nealsyardremedies.com
31 Nintendo www.nintendo.co.uk
48 O People Ltd. www.opeople.co.uk
121 OMSCO, Organic Milk Co-operative. www.omsco.co.uk
76 Organic Soft Cheese www.daisyandco.co.uk
192 Organic Spirits Co. www.junipergreen.org
32 Organic Taste Experience (Soil Association) www.soilassociation.org
116 Organico Realfoods www.organico.co.uk
122 Organics to go www.organicstogo.info
148 Organix www.organix.com
205 Origin Coffee Ltd. www.origincoffee.co.uk
135 Paratha Wali Gali www.parathawaligali.co.uk
29 Percol Coffee www.percol.co.uk
100 Pertwood Organic Cereals Co. Ltd. www.pertwood.co.uk
161 Pesticide Action Network/Wear Organic www.WearOrganic.org
22 Peter Rabbit Organics www.peterrabbitorganics.com
197 Plamil Foods www.plamilfoods.co.uk
80 Pollen Organics www.pollenorganics.com
82 Popina Ltd. www.popina.co.uk
203 Pukka Herbs www.pukkaherbs.com
124 Quality French Ciders www.qualityfrenchciders.co.uk
8 Quoins Organic Vineyard www.quoinsvineyard.co.uk
108 Rachel’s Organic www.rachels
11 Ragmans Lane Farm www.ragmans.co.uk
25 Rare and Organic www.rareandorganic.co.uk
145 Rathbone Greenbank Investments www.rathbonegreenbank.com
99 RDA Organic www.rdaorganic.com
56 Real Organic Foods www.realorganic.co.uk
169 Renewable Zukunft www.renewablezukunft.co.uk
132 Riverford on the move www.riverfordonthemove.co.uk
128 Riverford Organic Vegetables www.riverford.co.uk
167 Rocket Gardens
62 Rock’s Organic www.rocksorganic.co.uk
206 Roskillys Ltd. www.roskillys.co.uk
66 Rude Health www.rudehealth.com
16 Sancler Organic www.sanclerorganic.co.uk
54 Seasoned Pioneers www.seassonedpioneers.co.uk
23 Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard www.englishorganicwine.co.uk
165 Send a Cow www.sendacow.org.uk
68 Sharpham Park www.sharphampark.com
107 Sheepdrove Organic Farm www.sheepdrove.com
6 Simon Weaver Organic www.simonweaver.net
120 Simply Organic www.simplyorganic.co.uk
42 Smarter Travel Choices www.bristol.gov.uk/transport
35 Smith Bros (Quinton) Ltd – Natural Deco www.naturaldeco.co.uk
94 Soil Association Certification www.soilassociation.org/certification
Soil Association Hub www.soilassociation.org
90 Soil Association Information www.soilassociation.org
93 Soil Association Membership www.soilassociation.org
91 Soil Association Policy www.soilassociation.org
95 Soil Association Standards Team www.soilassociation.org/standards
52 Solarsense-UK Ltd www.solarsense-uk.com
96 Somerset Organic Link www.somersetorganiclink.co.uk
178 Spiezia Organics Ltd www.spieziaorganics.com
173 sponsor garden
123 Stichelton Dairy www.stichelton.co.uk
1 Stream Farm www.streamfarm.co.uk
69 Suma Wholefoods www.suma.coop
212 Sun & Seed Ltd www.sunandseed.com
114 Tatty Bumpkin www.tattybumpkin.com
45 The Avon Wildlife Trust www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
18 The Better Food Company www.betterfood.co.uk
44 The Bristol Greenpeace Group www.bristol.gov.uk/organisations
24 The Celtic Bakers www.thecelticbakers.co.uk
57 The Chocolate Alchemist www.thechocolatealchemist.co.uk
55 The Ecologist www.theecologist.org
26 The Groovy Food Company www.groovyfood.co.uk
59b The Organic Chocolate Cake Company www.toccc.co.uk
208 The Organic Smokehouse www.organicsmokehouse.com
102 The Parmesan Cheese Co. Ltd. www.theparmesancheese.co.uk
73 The September Organic Dairy Ltd www.september-organic.co.uk
88 The Village Bakery (Melmerby) Ltd. www.village-bakery.com
17 The Well Hung Meat Company www.wellhungmeat.com
137 The Well Hung Meat Company www.wellhungmeat.com
9 Transition Bristol www.transitionbristol.org
111 Triodos Bank www.triodos.co.uk
126 Tropical Wholefoods www.tropicalwholefoods.com
103 Union Buy cheap online Provigil Hand-Roasted www.unionroasted.com
101 Vin Vert Ltd. www.vinvert.co.uk
199 Vinceremos Organic Wines www.vinceremos.co.uk
50 Viva! www.viva.org.uk
170 Walcot Organic Nursery Ltd. www.walcotnursery.co.uk
147 Water Babies www.waterbabies.co.uk
83 West Country Spice Company www.westcountryspice.com
14 Westons Cider www.westons-cider.co.uk
138 What on Earth Ltd. www.whatonearth.co.uk
189 Whole Earth Foods www.wholeearthfoods.com
106 Whole Foods Market www.wholefoodsmarket.com
193 Wil’s Smoke House www.wilssmokehouse.co.uk
10 Wootton Organic Dairy www.wringtongreens.co.uk
12 Wrington Greens www.ensors.org
98 www.ensors.org www.yeovalleyorganic.co.uk
60 Yeo Valley Organic www.yeovalleyorganic.co.uk
89 Yeo Valley Organic www.yeovalleyorganic.co,uk
143 Yeo Valley Organic
177 Yes Products www.yesyesyes.org
75 Zesame Ltd. www.zesame.co.uk

Organic Festival: Comments on Contributors

As you can see there are a lot of companies selling organic produce and that they do not all concentrate on food, but feature other things that can be grown in an organic manner

Due to it being hosted in Bristol our local radio and TV invited 2 people with opposite views to speak on organic farming.   Their views on organic and non organic will be the subject of the next post.

Which have been Truly Tested Drugs or Natural Remedies

The drug companies, both here and other places would like us to believe that their drugs have been tested and the findings made public and that they are safe. They would also like us to believe that natural remedies have not been tested. But the opposite is true.

All this is based on the belief that man made drugs being newer are better than the “old fashioned” natural remedies”. During the debate in the Canadian Parliament one speaker reminded those who attended the debate and us, via YouTube, that 10% of the people in hospital were there because they were suffering from the side effects of the drugs that they had been prescribed and not one person was there because of natural remedies.

They admitted that there had been side effects with some herbal medicines, but pointed out that allergic reaction accounted for some of this. Many of the speakers against the Bill started by saying they agreed with the aim of the whole Bill which was to safeguard those using medicines from harm and it was particularly important that people knew what was in medicines that had been manufactured abroad. The fact that medicines were imported was another concern raised. The concern was that what people thought they were taking was not what was actually in them (more of this in a later post).

The main concern was that the drug companies knew about the side effects of the drugs and kept quiet about them. They admitted that it was cheaper for them to be sued and pay than to reveal what they knew about the side effects.

How Are They Tested?

What about the testing itself? In many cases this is done on people in poor countries. Those on medication for a specific disease are taken off of it and they are given the new, untested drug, and not told that they are acting as guinea pigs. In many cases their disease is made worse by the new drug and they are abandoned, unpaid, with the ill effects of what they had been given.

People in this country are persuaded to sign up to test drugs. One of these went disastrously wrong and has left those who took part wide open to cancer and other diseases.

How Are Natural Remedies Tested?

What about the testing of Natural Remedies. In most cases these have been used with beneficial effects for hundreds, if not thousands of years Cheap Accutane and have been tested like all other foods, by people ingesting it and discovering what it did for them. But a note of caution has to be sounded and that is because it is natural does not mean it is good for you. There are many poisonous plants, which you should not touch as they can make you ill and in some cases kill you.

Here we asked what was really tested: Drugs or Natural Remedies, in the next ones we will be looking at Organic Produce and the Soil Association.

Do You Want Others Dictating to You About Your Food etc

This is one of the key questions those opposed to Bill C-51 which is currently going through the Canadian Parliament are asking. Do you want your Government, or even worse the Drug Companies to do so. Do you want the Drug Companies to dictate and also manipulate you into increasing their profits?

It is not just medicines, but the actual food that you eat that they are doing this to. Our government has recently set up a body to decide of the drugs that are being manufactured are fit for their purpose and also cost effective. Some of them have been turned down and people with the disease they are said to help have protested and in some cases have won.

One of those opposed to C-51 put a completely different slant on this. She asked if the Bill would shut the loophole that they drug companies had found so that they had circumvented the prohibition that said they could not advertise. And being able to do so had informed those with the disease that they had found a cure, but it was being denied them.

Connection Between Drugs And Food

All drugs start out as plants, someone by one means or another finds out what a plant can do i.e. keep one healthy, cure disease, etc. But then the drug companies either get their hands on it or even worse, find out themselves and search for what they think is the active ingredient(s), so they can extract it manufacture it add other things and then charge the earth for it.

There are documented cases where they have found something but haven’t been able to extract what they want and have sat on it because they cannot make money from it. But the drug companies are not the only ones who behave in this way.

Genetically Modified Food

With the discovery of what genes do arose the possibility of combining them and producing what has been called Genetically Buy cheap Accutane Online Modified (GM) Food. Our Government wanting people to eat this, but not to know that they had done so until it was too late persuaded some farmers to grow it. But they had ignored our Soil Association at their peril. They naturally found out and protested, but to no avail. So they went public and after members of their association destroyed them on the grounds that they were putting their crops at danger and the courts said they had not broken the law in so doing other farmers were much less eager to grow them.

Another player in this field is supermarkets. They campaign to open a store in a certain area no matter how many other supermarkets there are there and in most cases they are allowed to do so, but people are fighting back and protesting against this. Others, myself included, have voted with our feet and refuse to buy perishable foods, such as meat, fruit, vegetables, etc from them. But this is only possible, if like me, you have private shops selling these things near you and or Farmers Markets. I am fortunate in having both.

Everything arises historically, one person, or a group of people see a need, want to solve a problem and does something about it. Others get in on the act and try to persuade the general public that their products are just as good as those who who initially introduced it and when it proves not to be this allows those with a vested interest, such as drug companies to rubbish the whole movement.

Here you were asked if you wanted people dictating to you what food you eat, etc, in the next one we see which one has been truly tested natural remedies or drugs.

Which is Better Old Natural Remedies or New Man Made Drugs?

This is usually the question that those who think New is Better phrase it, but those who in the main support natural remedies say both are needed and the question should be which have the greatest benefits and the smallest side effects. These and allied questions are being asked in connection with a Bill that is currently going through the Canadian Parliament. The whole debate has been put on YouTube so we know what is being said. A web site has been set up to allow all those who are opposed to it to express their concerns.

Goverments and Natural Remedies

From what is said it looks as though they operate in the same way as we do here in England. The English (and I use the word deliberately) has been, correctly, called ‘The Mother of Parliaments’. It started out with people wanting someone to represent them and this is still the prime function of a Member of Parliament. It is definitely not to tell us what we can eat, or not eat, or use natural remedies.

I cannot comment on how things are in other countries, but here in England all of our medical training is drug orientated and anyone who mentions natural remedies to a doctor, nurse, etc is likely to encounter either a closed mind or hostility. And this seems to be the case in Canada.

Testing Drugs and Natural Remedies

The drug companies tell us that the natural remedies have not been tested whereas drugs have been. But the opposite fits the facts better. Given the fact that the drug companies have Members of Parliament backing them these things are not often aired in Parliament. But others have arisen to keep us informed about what actually is happening.

Drugs are manufactured and all we hear about is what they can do for the specific disease they have been manufactured to deal with. We are not told about Buy cheap Cialis Online the side effects, even when the manufacturer know about them and which in many cases can prove lethal.

Drugs have side effects than no one anticipated, the effect thalidomide had on unborn babies is only one of these.   Most drugs are based on ingredients found in plants, which are isolated and manufactured artificially.   But those who manufacture them do not test and see if there are other ingredients that are just as beneficial.   If the whole plant was used these would naturally be included.

Here we have looked at Natural Remedies V Drugs, in the next one you are asked if you want governments dictating to you what you take.

Do you Diet or are you on a Diet?

When you hear that people are on a diet, or dieting you immediately think that they are trying to lose weight. But this is not the primary meaning. The primary meaning of the word diet is what we habitually eat, or in this case, don’t eat. You should remember this if you want to lose weight because this will encourage you to eat for health and not just for weight loss.

What Your Diet Does To You

But people are obsessed with weight loss! Don’t believe me? Just tune-in to any source of advertising… you’re instantly bombarded with the latest diet schemes and “Hollywood” food fads.

In the UK and America, a thriving industry trying to control our weight and treat the consequences of over-indulgence has arisen. The cost of weight loss and obesity related health care treatments is staggering And even with all this interest in losing weight, we continue to pack on the pounds like never before…

- A whopping 64 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese…up about eight percent from earlier estimates and the U K residents are going the same way.

- Among children and teens ages 6-19, 15 percent or almost nine million are overweight…triple the rate in 1980!

- Nearly one-third of all adults are now classified as obese.

For Americans, modern life may be getting TOO easy. Our cushy lifestyle means we expend less energy and consequently need fewer calories to sustain our normal body weight.

Think about it for a moment…

Entertainment no longer requires energy expenditure. In fact, it’s usually quite the opposite. We now entertain ourselves in the comfort of our own home while watching TV and munching on our favorite snack. Whether it’s television, computers, remote controls, or automobiles, we are moving less and burning fewer calories. Common activities that were once a part of our normal routine have disappeared… activities like climbing stairs, pushing a lawn mower or walking to get somewhere.

What Does Our Diet Consist Of?

And please do not misunderstand me…I appreciate comfortable living just as much as the next person. But, here is the problem…

With all of our modern day conveniences and “cushy” style of living we have not adjusted our caloric intake to compensate for our decreased caloric expenditure. We consume more calorie rich and nutrient deficient foods than ever before. Consider a few of the following examples comparing what we eat “today” vs the 1970′s (U.S. Department of Agriculture survey):

- We are currently eating Cheap Cialis more grain products, but almost all of them are refined grains (white bread, etc.). Grain consumption has jumped 45 percent since the 1970′s, from 138 pounds of grains per person per year to 200 pounds! Only 2 percent of the wheat flour is consumed as whole wheat.

- Our consumption of fruits and vegetables has increased, but only because French fries and potato chips are included as vegetables. Potato products account for almost a third of our “produce” choices.

- We’re drinking less milk, but we’ve more than doubled our cheese intake. Cheese now outranks meat as the number one source of saturated fat in our diets.

- We’ve cut back on red meat, but have more than made up for the loss by increasing our intake of chicken (battered and fried), so that overall, we’re eating 13 pounds more meat today than we did back in the 1970′s.

- We’re drinking three times more carbonated soft drinks than milk, compared to the 1970′s, when milk consumption was twice that of pop.

- We use 25 percent less butter, but pour twice as much vegetable oil on our food and salads, so our total added fat intake has increased 32 percent.

- Sugar consumption has been another cause of our expanding waistlines. Sugar intake is simply off the charts. People are consuming roughly twice the amount of sugar they need each day, about 20 teaspoons on a 2000 calorie/day diet. The added sugar is found mostly in junk foods, such as pop, cake, and cookies. In 1978, the government found that sugars constituted only 11 percent of the average person’s calories. Now, this number has ballooned to 16 percent for the average American adult and as much as 20 percent for American teenagers!

Unfortunately, it would seem that the days of wholesome and nutritious family dinners are being replaced by fast food and eating on-the-run. We have gradually come to accept that it’s “OK” to sacrifice healthy foods for the sake of convenience and that larger serving portions equate to better value.

It’s time recognize that we are consuming too many calories and time to start doing something about it! Each of us can decide TODAY that healthy eating and exercise habits WILL become a normal part of our life!

We can begin by exploring our values, thoughts and habits… slowly and deliberately weed-out the unhealthy habits and activities and start living a more productive and rewarding life. And remember, it has taken a long time to develop bad habits, so be patient as you work toward your goal!

Here excess calories are blamed as being the cause of obesity combined with lack of exercise.

Mention was made of too much refined carbohydrates. These, say others, are the main cause of obesity and would also include other carbohydrates. Those who blame excess calories point out that these diets could fail to provide necessary nutrients.

In this post we have looked at our Diet, in the next one we look at Natural Remedies v Drugs.

What about Minerals?

In the last post on Vitamins Calcium was mentioned and the fact that it was a mineral. Do you know what they do for you, why you should ensure that you get the correct amount, etc.    Once again you are urged to ensure your mineral come from natural sources.   The soil plants are grown in is vital as this is where they get the minerals our bodies need and if the soil is deficient in these nutrients then the plants will be as well. 

What Do Minerals Do For Us?

Calcium is the mineral that everyone has heard of with the increase of osteoporosis. It maintains the health of bones, teeth, hair and nails, it is also required for maintaining the fluid balance in the body, sending nerve impulses and enabling muscles to contract. And in the coagulation of blood, the functioning of the heart and the secretion of breast milk in Provigil online No prescription nursing mothers. Calcium is taken on a daily basis from the bones and teeth where it is stored, and constantly replenished. The levels of calcium in the blood are very carefully maintained, by two hormones, as small variations from the normal levels can cause cell damage and seizures.

It is found in milk, dairy products, hard tap water, pilchards and sardines, bread and flour, green vegetables and cereals. It is estimated that the body normally only uses about 30% of the calcium present in the diet.

Calcium is found in milk, dairy products, hard tap water, pilchards and sardines, white bread and flour, leafy green vegetables and fortified cereals. It is estimated that the body normally only uses about 30% of the calcium present in the diet.

Calcium is found in milk, dairy products, hard tap water, pilchards and sardines, white bread and flour, leafy green vegetables and fortified cereals. It is estimated that the body normally only uses about 30% of the calcium present in the diet.

Phosphorus is needed by the enzymes that metabolise fat, protein and glucose. It is essential for the processes by which the body produces and stores energy, and it helps in the formation of nucleic acids for cell division. If too much is taken it can inhibit the absorption of calcium and iron.

It is found in practically all foods, but particularly high protein ones, such as meat, dairy, pulses and milk, as well as leafy green vegetables and most fruits.

Potassium is required for the correct working of the nervous system, the muscles and the heart. It maintains the body’s osmotic balance, and is required by several enzyme processes, including the metabolism of protein. The right balance of potassium is required to prevent heart problems.

Potassium is found in most foods, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables (potatoes are a very rich source), meat, milk, wholemeal flour, coffee, tea and cereals. Coffee is one of our primary sources, as it contains about 45mg per cup.

Iron deficiency is generally a consequence of a poor diet, lack of vitamin C, and may be a result of a vegetarian diet. It causes anaemia, which is the most common deficiency condition in the western world. Anaemia is characterised by tiredness, weakness, loss of strength, pale skin, nervousness, fainting and palpitations. Deficiency also undermines the white blood cells’ immubne system, leaving the body more susceptible to infections.

It is found particularly in meat; liver; offal; blood; eggs; vegetables such as peas, parsley, green leafy vegetables; pulses; nuts (almonds, particularly); apricots; figs; cocoa; whole grains; and fortified flour and cereals. These are the most important minerals, but there are others and also micronutrients, which will be reviewed in one of the message you will receive.

The Difference Between Vitamins and Minerals

Our bodies are composed of minerals, whereas vitamins manufacture certain substances in our bodies.   Both are necessary, but are effective only when obtained from natural resources.

In this post we have looked at Minerals and what they do for you, in the next one we look at Diet.

Vitamins

In this post we look at Vitamins and what they can do for you.

We start with Vitamins, which come can be fat or water soluble. It is possible to take too much fat soluble vitamins as they are stored in your body longer but unlikely that you would be able to do so. For the average person the cost would be prohibitive and in addition you would feel bloated before it happened.

Vitamins:  The oil based ones are A D E and K.

Good eye sight depends on vitamin A as does the soft tissues and your skin (which is not just there to keep your internal organs in but is your largest organ. Beta-carotene converts to vitamin A in your body. It keeps your joints lubricated.

It is found in butter, egg yolk, liver, kidney, green vegetables and yellow/red fruits and yellow/orange vegetables.

The most dependable source of D is sunlight, but here the risk is getting burnt or skin cancer. Lack of Vitamin D causes rickets, as it acts on Calcium (a mineral – of which below) to make and maintain your bones. It is needed for healthy bones and teeth.

Vitamin E first came to prominence when tests were done with it in connection with heart attacks. It also prevents degeneration of the kidneys and general wasting symptoms. It an antioxidant, and protects cells from free radicals and peroxides. It can help to prevent cancers , when taken with selenium, and seems to reduce the unwanted side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. It is benefits womens reproductive system, preventing miscarriages, etc.

Ir is found in wheatgerm, soya, corn and peanut oils, margarine (but not hydrogenated, which no one should eat), raw nuts and seeds, eggs, butter, yams, liver and some green leafy vegetables.

Deficiency of Vitamin K, may prevent the blood from clotting properly, and trigger the development of osteoporosis, as it is required for calcium to form new bone. People with conditions that prevent the proper absorption of fat may have a deficiency, as may alcoholics and anyone who doesn’t eat sufficient green vegetables. Prolonged use of antibiotics also reduces the body’s ability to make vitamin K.

It is found in green vegetables, seaweed, potaotes, liver, eggs, wheatgerm, fish, nuts, alfalfa, molasses, yoghurt, dairy products, corn oil and soya oil.

Vitamins:  Water Soluable

Vitamin B is a group of vitamins rather than one each one with a different function. They are also found in different foods.

There are eight of them and they are all water soluble. They work together to boost metabolism, enhance the immune system and nervous system, keep the skin and muscles healthy, encourage cell growth and division, and other benefits to your body. Brewer’s yeast is one of the best sources of the B vitamins.

B1 (thiamine), is a catalyst in carbohydrate metabolism and helps synthesize nerve-regulating substances. It stops: your heart from swelling, leg cramps, and muscular weakness. Rich food sources high in thiamine include liver, heart, and kidney meats, eggs, leafy green vegetables, nuts, legumes, berries, wheat germs, and enriched cereals.

B2 (riboflavin), helps metabolize fats, carbohydrates, and respiratory proteins. Prevents skin lesions and light sensitivity. They are abundant in mushrooms, milk, meat, liver, dark green vegetables, and enriched cereals, pasta, and bread. It is good for the skin, nails, eyes, mouths, lips, and tongue, and it is believed to help protect against cancer.

B3 (niacin, vitamin P, or vitamin PP) helps release energy from nutrients. It can reduce cholesterol and prevent and treat arteriosclerosis, among other benefits. Too little B3 can result in pellagra, a disease with Provigil pharmacy symptoms that include sunburn, diarrhea, irritability, swollen tongue, and mental confusion. Too much B3 can result in liver damage. Food sources rich in niacin are chicken, salmon, tuna, liver, nuts, dried peas, enriched cereals, and dried beans.

B5 (Pantothenic acid), has a role in the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. It is most abundant in eggs, whole grain cereals, legumes, and meat, although it is found in some quantity in nearly every food. Deficiency can result in fatigue, allergies, nausea, and abdominal pain.

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), helps the body to absorb and metabolize amino acids, to use fats, and to form red blood cells. Deficiency in the vitamin may result in smooth tongue, skin disorders, dizziness, nausea, anemia, convulsions, and kidney stones. Whole grains, bread, liver, green beans, spinach, avocadoes, and bananas are rich food sources that are high in this vitamin.

B7 (Biotin or vitamin H), helps form fatty acids and assists in the release of energy from carbohydrates. There have been no cases of deficiency among humans.

B9, (folic acid), sometimes goes by the name of vitamin M or vitamin B-c. Folic acid enables the body to form hemoglobin. It helps treat anemia and sprue. Good food sources include leafy green vegetables, nuts, whole grains, legumes, and organ meets. However, bear in mind that folic acid is lost when foods are stored at room temperature or cooked. Deficiency is rare, although folic

acid is particularly important in pregnancy. Consuming adequate folic acid before and during pregnancy helps prevent neural tube defects in newborns, including spina bifida. The RDA for both men and women is 400 micrograms, but women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should consume 600 micrograms a day. When breastfeeding, the recommendation is 500 micrograms.

Vitamin (B12, also known as Cobalamin or Cyanocobalamin), assists the function of the nervous system and the formation of red blood cells. If the body is unable to absorb sufficient B12, pernicious anemia can result. B12 can only be found in animal sources such as eggs, milk, fish, meat, and liver. Therefore, vegetarians are strongly encouraged to supplement.

Vitamin C is another water soluable vitamin.   Its importance was realised when sailors on long journies went down with scurvey, which is caused by lack of vitamin C.   But once again you have to ensure that it is derived from natural sources, whether you get it from food direct or from a supplement.   We know this because when the drug companies manufactured Vitamin C by extracting what they thought was the active ingredient they found that it did not work and in the end they had to put in over 100 active ingredients.   The lesson we can learn from this is that Vitamins must be natural.

In this post we looked at Vitamins and what they can do for you, in the next one we will look at Minerals.