What the Heck is Organic Food, Anyway?

"Organic" has of late become such a catchphrase thatnutrients will be lost, an unfortunate by-product of
it has entered the vernacular of the everydaycooking food in general. Most organic baby food is
American to almost everyday use. It's a word ofsalt- and sugar-free, and what baby needs more of
which many people believe they know the meaning,either?
but few do. A few seconds of hard contemplationThere have been recently claims that organic baby
produces a myriad of questions: What is unique aboutfood is lacking in iron at a 20 percent clip. This can be
organic food as opposed to the garden-varietyreduced, however, by making your own or feeding
supermarket wares? And what about organic babybaby more iron-rich food.
food? Is it significantly different or superior? What areWhat are the benefits?
the benefits? Can I trust the labels? Below run someWell, this is the selling point of organic product. Less
frequently asked questions and brief answers; justsalt means smaller chance of kidney, liver or blood
doing my part to assist in your education...pressure problems. Fewer toxins in your diet mean
What is unique about organic food as opposed to theavoidance of certain industrial maladies. Preservatives
garden-variety supermarket wares?have been shown to be dangerous (even potentially
Essentially the differences on your plate take place inlethal) to your health, but only after occupying space in
two spheres: additives and preservatives. The formerproducts for decades. Organic ingredients make it
can mean anything that changes the quality of thepossible for the average consumer to understand
food in color, consistency, taste and characteristics.exactly what they are eating. And, once you've
The latter is anything that keeps food fresh for longerexperienced this phenomenon, you are unlikely to look
amounts of time and is typically some sort of sodiumat non-organic food labels the same way again.
product.Can I trust the labels?
Many additives, particularly food dyes, have beenThis one is tricky. Just as there are zillions of lobbyists
attacked as toxins. A handful of dyes have beenand concerned citizen action groups, there are zillions
made illegal on the American market due to reasonsof corporate employees and attorneys finding ways
of human health. As the American diet is alreadyaround existing law. Simple research helps a lot to cut
dangerously high in sodium, there is no need for thethrough the claims and counterclaims. Some
consumption of further salts as preservatives.information may surprise you.
On the farm level, the differences become even moreFor example, if a baby food label is marked "chicken,"
dramatic. Organic food contains no genetically modifiedthis means that chicken must comprise as little as forty
organisms, has no trace of poisonous pesticides and inpercent of the ingredients' total mass. If two ingredients
grown in environmentally safe soil free of chemicals.are listed, the first need only make up ten percent and
And what about organic baby food? Is it significantlyin the second less is allowable. It can get depressing.
different or superior?The way I figure it, check the website. If it's loaded with
Organic baby food boasts all the same advantages asflash, slippery promotional promises and a dearth of
regular organic food listed above. Since baby's body issolid information, become suspicious. In general, small is
much more sensitive to toxins than is an adult's, thebetter. With babies of six to nine months, a few
benefits of avoiding additives increase substantially.vegetables and simple grain products a week suffices
The elimination of additives and preservatives inin tandem with breast milk or formula - a very small
organic baby food also quite simply means that thereamount of organic product to find. Plus, a large supply
are fewer ingredients to which baby may developis made up in little time at home.
allergies and that digestion of organic baby food isDoes organic food taste better?
easier.Yes.
Organic baby food is quick-cooked so that fewer