Be a “Lean Green Clean Eating Machine”

By:  Stephanie Benney

We take it for granted.  When we get ready to go to sleep we wind it down.  When we wake up in the morning, we expect it to take off full force.  The reality is, we don’t think twice about it until something goes wrong.  Even then, we push it and don’t always listen to all of the signals it is sending us.  If you haven’t caught on yet, I am talking about the human body.

Like many of you, I am also guilty of this, and up until recently, I thought my body would always operate with a “business as usual”  attitude;  I was wrong.  I am facing the reality of losing my gallbladder and have been forced to massively adjust my diet.  The gallbladder is the organ that processes the fats in our bodies.  When it is not operating properly, the fat is not processed and we become sick.

Not that I ate poorly before, but it wasn’t until I was forced to adjust my lifestyle did I ever really ponder the idea that what we put into our bodies can “make or break us.”  Of course, I know that junk food has no nutritional value and does not benefit our health, resulting in high blood pressure, diabetes, weight gain and heart attacks.  I am talking about the chemicals we let slide in and don’t give a second thought to.  While it is important to increase whole grains, fruits and vegetables into our diets, we also must question food safety and sustainability.

With increasing cases in diseases such as: cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity, is it any wonder why people are now becoming more aware of pesticides, hormones and other chemicals used for crop growing and food preservation?  Is it any wonder why people are jumping on the organic bandwagon?

In simple terms, “organic” refers to the agricultural way foods are grown and processed.  For a food to be labeled “organic”, it must have been grown and nurtured using certain guidelines and standards.  For example, the soil must be safe, or the chicken/cow you are serving for Sunday dinner could not have been genetically altered and must have been raised on organic feed.  There are many more specifications that must be followed for a vegetable or animal to proudly sport an organic label, but hopefully it gets your mind thinking about all of the other food safety threats.

For me, the research I had done on genetic alteration of animals was reason enough to eat organic foods from here on out.  However, I realize that many people think this whole organic thing is just another marketing ploy, set up by “big business” to scare us “little folk” into spending more money than need be.  So…read on.

Organic food tastes better and fresher.  It is grown without preservatives resulting in more flavor.  It is often times grown locally, so you can have piece of mind knowing the soil your food was grown in was safe.  If you have questions, your local farmer would be more than happy to talk to you.

Organic farming is better for the environment.  Not only does organic farming reduce pollution by conserving water, using less energy and reducing soil erosion, it is better for small animals.  Since organic farming doesn’t use harsh pesticides, it doesn’t cause reproduction problems in birds, which affects our eco-system and food chain.

Organically raised animals are not given antibiotics, growth hormones or fed animal byproducts.  Ever wonder why the antibiotic the doctor prescribed for you just won’t do the trick?  It’s because they have been injected into the meat you have been consuming, heightening your resistance towards the good bacteria.

There is still so much research to be done on this subject, and often times, it is kept a secret from us by major food companies.  They don’t want us to know that there are a myriad of chemicals lumped under the “artificial flavors” umbrella.  So, the next time you take a trip to the market to stock up on your favorites, read the label and do a little research.  You should care about what those great tasting non-fat, no sugar, low-sodium cookies are doing to your inside.

Stephanie Benney is a “Sustainable Visionary” and also the new Pittsburgh Representative for Fuzed Marketing, where she helps companies increase their brand presence. stephaniebenney@yahoo.com