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ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK OFOrganic Foods

ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK OFOrganic Foods

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    This illustrative handbook covers everything from vegetables and fruits to meat, poultry, and dairy products, a comprehensive consumer?s guide to organic foods furnishes more than one hundred recipes, examining factors such as the role of certain nutrients in prevention and promotion of chronic disease, and health benefits of bioactive compounds in plants. Organic foods have exploded in popularity over the last two decades. Organic foods have been grown or farmed without the use of artificial chemicals, hormones, antibiotics or genetically modified organisms. In order to be labelled organic, a food product must be free of artificial food additives. This includes artificial sweeteners, preservatives, coloring, flavoring and monosodium glutamate (MSG). Organically grown crops tend to use natural fertilizers like manure to improve plant growth. Animals raised organically are also not given antibiotics or hormones. Organic farming tends to improve soil quality and the conservation of groundwater. It also reduces pollution and may be better for the environment. The most commonly organic foods are fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Nowadays there are also many processed organic products available, such as sodas, cookies and breakfast cereals. Once found only in health food stores, organic food is now a regular feature at most supermarkets.

Organic foods have exploded in popularity over the last two decades. Organic food is food produced by methods that comply with the standards of organic farming. Standards vary worldwide, but organic farming in general features practices that strive to cycle resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. 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.

Illustrated Handbook of Organic Foods brings a comprehensive introduction to organic and natural foods, describing what they are, how they are grown, where they are sold, and the prospect of organic food production. Organically grown crops tend to use natural fertilizers like manure to improve plant growth. Animals raised organically are also not given antibiotics or hormones. Organic farming tends to improve soil quality and the conservation of groundwater. It also reduces pollution and may be better for the environment. The most commonly purchased organic foods are fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Nowadays there are also many processed organic products available, such as sodas, cookies and breakfast cereals. Studies show that organically grown food has higher amounts of Vitamin C, magnesium, phosphorous, and iron ? all nutrients vital for healthy functioning of our bodies. Organic fruits and vegetables are high in nutrients and antioxidants, which provide energy and keep looking young. Research shows that organic milk contains far more omega-3 fatty acids than conventional milk. In terms of health advantages, organic diets have been convincingly demonstrated to expose consumers to fewer pesticides associated with human disease. Organic farming has been demonstrated to have less environmental impact than conventional approaches. However, current evidence does not support any meaningful nutritional benefits or deficits from eating organic compared with conventionally grown foods, and there are no well-powered human studies that directly demonstrate health benefits or disease protection as a result of consuming an organic diet. Studies also have not demonstrated any detrimental or disease-promoting effects from an organic diet. Although organic foods regularly command a significant price premium, well-designed farming studies demonstrate that costs can be competitive and yields comparable to those of conventional farming techniques.

The Illustrated Handbook of Organic Foods examines the health and environmental issues related to organic food production and consumption. This Handbook is predominantly useful for students and researchers in the field of Organic Farming.