Category Healthy Lifestyle

Last year I was pregnant with my first baby, a girl, and I was very excited thinking about all the adorable dresses I could put her in. The thought of organic baby clothing never entered my mind until a friend of mine brought it up. The thought stuck, so I did some research because I was clueless on this particular topic. It turns out that organic baby clothing is a very smart choice, both for me and for the environment.

What I learned during my research is that organic clothing is farmed according to strict organic farming guidelines. This means no pesticides or herbicides are used on the cotton, silk, or wool, nor are any genetically modified seeds. Benefits of using organic clothing for my daughter include:

• No pesticide residue that might remain on the material which can irritate skin or add chemicals to our landfills as the clothes and fabrics are discarded.
• Neither farm workers nor animals are exposed to the harm caused by pesticides and herbicides.
• Surface and ground waters used during the farming process are left clean and free of chemicals as they run off or soak into the ground.

At first I was worried that the fashion choices would be minimal at best when I started looking for clothing for my new daughter. It did not take long for my worry to be put to rest. It turns out there tons of adorable dresses and outfits made from organic cotton and other materials.

It has also been easy for me to find retailers who sell clothing made from organic fabrics. There are a few shops locally, but many more online that I regularly shop at.

I only want the best for my baby, and dressing her in organic clothing is the safest clothing option for her. Thanks to the variety, I have been able to find organic outfits for every occasion.

When learning about healthy eating, the topic of antioxidants inevitably shows up. What exactly are antioxidants, and why are they good for you?

Antioxidants are basically nutrients and enzymes that may protect your body’s cells from diseases. They do this by blocking the effects of free radicals, which are unstable molecules looking to bond with healthy molecules in the body. When the free radicals are allowed to make these connections, the healthy molecules are damaged and health is compromised. Antioxidants can prevent those bonds from happening, keeping your body’s healthy tissues free from harm.

Research has found antioxidants may be helpful in defending against:

• Colds, flues and infections
• Cognitive decline
• Age-related macular degeneration
• Heart disease
• Effects of aging
• Development of cancer
• Effects of radiation

Antioxidants are found in fresh whole foods, especially those high in beta carotene, lutein, lycopene, selenium, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and E. Fruits and vegetables are especially excellent sources of antioxidants. Some examples of these foods include:

• Orange, red and yellow fruits and vegetables such as apricots, pumpkin, tomatoes, sweet potato and carrots
• Purple foods such as prunes, raisins, red grapes, eggplant and plums
• All berries
• Greens such as kale, collard greens, mustard greens, chard, broccoli and Brussels sprouts

In addition, superfruits such as acai, goji, and mangosteen have exceptional antioxidant qualities. Think of them as little bundles of extremely concentrated antioxidants. These superfruits are native to South and Central America, China, and the Pacifics, and because of their delicacy it is difficult to transport them safely across long distances. Luckily, products made from these superfruits, such as monavie, are available. The juice supplement monavie is a blend of 19 healthy fruits and AcaVie, the highest concentration of acai available.

Antioxidants are believed to be one of the best defenders against the damage caused by free radicals. There are a variety of sources of antioxidants, including fresh fruits, vegetables and superfruits. A diet rich in these foods can keep you healthy and energetic for many years to come.

It is a great idea to grow your own organic fruit and vegetables. You can be sure of here the food has come from and be assured that it us free from any pesticides or other chemicals which may cause you harm.
The first thing you should do when planning on growing you own organic food is think about where you will be growing it. Will you be growing your organic food in a warmer climate or will the plants be exposed to a colder or even freezing temperature? You should choose the plants that are most suitable for the temperature that you will be able to offer them. If you wish to grow plants that require a higher temperature, then you should invest in a green house if your garden will be too cold.

If you live in a drier area, then you should ensure that you have a good irrigation system in place. You can find low cost irrigation systems to keep your plants well watered, or if you have the time you can water the plants regularly yourself. If you will be using a larger area of land to plant your organic food, then you will probably need an irrigation system to ensure that no plants are left dry when you are watering them manually.

You should be sure to stick to the times of year when your plants should be sown and when they should be harvested. If you don’t harvest your plants in time, then they will over ripen which will result in them tasting horrible when you harvest them, or the fruit or vegetables could fall off the plant and rot, resulting in wastage. If you harvest them too early, then they will be under ripened. Eating fruit or vegetables that are under ripe can give the eater a bad stomach or even make them very ill.

If you choose organic meats to eat, you will be getting a far healthier product than if you were to buy more industrialized meat. The animals which give the meat are treated far better when they are alive, which means that they have plenty of room to roam around and the meat tends to be more tender. Many animals that are raised in a more harmful environment are often fed substandard feed to save money. Pigs for example that eat swill can end up eating the leftovers of other animals, sometimes causing the spread of illnesses or infections. You will be happy to know too, that the animals are treated and killed in a far more humane way when they have been organically raised. Many people believe that organic meat is far more tasty than the non-organic variety.

Organic food products are well known for being better for your health. Fruit and vegetables that have been grown organically have been exposed to far fewer chemicals and unfavorable conditions. Sometimes, farmers will use special sprays to help their food to grow more quickly. Pesticides are also used to kill any bugs that may otherwise eat parts of the fruits and vegetable, making them unsolvable, and lose them money. The organic farmer will take better care of their crops, give them more room to grow and use other ways of keeping pests away.

One well-known way of keeping aphids away from plants is to have plenty of ladybirds, which eat the aphids, but do not harm the plants. The farmers buy ladybirds and then release them on their plants. The ladybirds will not fly away because they have plenty of aphids to eat. It is important that you don’t buy food that has been treated with pesticides as they are not washed away properly and can cause illnesses and diseases such as cancer.

Organic foods taste better than the non-organic foods. This is because they are treated in a more hands-off way. By not treating animals and plants with toxic chemical products and putting a little more work in, organic farmers can produce great tasting products.

You will notice that organic food will start to go bad far more quickly than non-organic food. This is because the food producers use preservative sprays on the fruits and vegetables before they are transported and meat is injected with preservatives and other chemicals to ensure that it is the ‘right’ color for the customer. Because people have become so used to buying bright red meat, they have actually become prejudice against meat that is fresher, which usually has a grey tinge to it. Vegetables and fruit that have been treated with preservatives can be dangerous if they are not washed properly. If you have ever bought a non-organic apple, you will notice that they are covered with a waxy layer. This layer is easily removed by washing it, and if you rub the apple you will notice it becomes shiny. This layer is actually a preservative that can be harmful if consumed in large quantities.

Organic meat that is raised in a free range way can offer great benefits. The animals are able to roam around wherever they like and so they have the ability to develop muscles and graze on healthy grass. Non-organic animals do not have the same luxury. The non-organic animals are kept in small confined spaces so that they put on weight quickly. They are fed on substandard feed and are given chemical medication to help them to put on weight and muscle. The chemicals present in the non-organic animals can make you very ill. If you choose the organic meats, you have less chance of getting diseases that can be passed on through animals, and you will not be consuming the chemicals which can cause cancer and heart problems.