Page 8 - HLO E-Book

Step 3: Eating Clean Why Choose Organic?

So what’s the difference between organic and regular? Organic food
Getting the Proper Nutrition doesn’t contain artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. The USDA

mandates that minor non-organic ingredients used in processd organic
Why is Nutrition so Important? food, must come from the “National List”. The “National List” is a list
Have you ever noticed the effect food has on your body? Do you feel of USDA approved substances, that have been evaluated and have
better or worse when eating junk food? For most, crappy food, has a been found safe. Organic products must contain less than 5% of these
crappy effect on our bodies. In order to maintain good health, a ingredients to receive the Organic seal.
balanced diet is key. Our bodies receive a lot of nutrients from what we
eat. Food provides our bodies with energy, protein, essential fats, It’s no easy task to receive the Organic seal. Organic processors are
vitamins and minerals. These help our bodies grow and function required to take several steps and tests to make sure their products are
correctly. in fact organic. Some of the processes include thoroughly cleaning
machinery, storing organic ingredients separate from non-organic ones
to avoid mixing, and lots of record keeping to verify that when you buy
an organic product it contains only what you expect.

USDA Organic is the only label for organic foods. There is a
different label USDA certified and it only means their plant was
inspected, not that the product is organic!

Benefits of Buying Organic Include:
Dirty Dozen: Avoiding chemicals, benefit from more nutrients, better taste, avoiding
Now more than ever, people are starting to be very conscious of what GMO, hormones, antibiotics and drugs in animal products, preserving
they are putting into their bodies. Americans are demanding to have our ecosystems, reducing pollution and protect water & soil, and
good healthy foods, instead of ones filled with synthetic chemicals. supporting farming directly.
Unfortunately, EWG’s analysis of tests by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture found that nearly 70 percent of samples of 48 types of •What is the PLU telling you?
conventionally grown produce were contaminated with pesticide Four Numbers & Starts with 4: Grown Traditionally
residues.
Five Numbers & Starts with 8: Genetically Modified
The USDA found 178 different pesticides and pesticide breakdown Five Numbers & Starts with 9: Grown Organically
products on the thousands of produce samples it analyzed. Once the
produce was washed and sometimes peeled, the chemicals remained in
the product.

• Strawberries • Peaches • Celery 4011 85966 95400
• Spinach • Pears • Tomatoes
• Nectarines • Cherries • Bell Peppers
Potatoes
11 • Apples • Grapes • 12