Tag Archives: functional foods

Organic Food Products: Top Five For Your Shopping Cart

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Making wise choices is often about more than meets the eye. We must take our own situations into account, and sometimes that means scrimping in some areas and splurging in others. Eating organic food is a great example. While it would be ideal for everyone to have access to healthy foods and drinks regardless of their financial situation, the reality is that not everyone can afford to stock their pantry full of important organic foods from natural foods markets.

Yahoo says that the top five organic foods to buy are organic fruit, organic beef, organic eggs, organic rice/grains, and organic milk. These ingredients are staples for many families and will provide a healthy base to build on.

Top 5 Organic Functional Foods:

  • Milk –The hormones used in the production of non-organic milk have been linked to increased cancer risk and early sexual maturity in children. Organic milk is produced with zero hormones. Also, if anyone in your family has a milk allergy or lactose sensitivity, there are many organic milk substitutes made from soy, rice, and almonds.
  • Eggs – Eggs are another food that are often produced from animals that are given huge amounts of unnatural hormones to stoke production. Plus, non-organic hens may be fed grain that is treated with pesticides. This residue is transferred on to the eggs. Organic, free-range produced eggs are the healthiest choice.
  • Fruit – Fruits that are eaten with the skin still on (like apples, grapes, or berries) are especially susceptible to the harmful pesticides used in non-organic farming. Try to choose organic produce for these fruits, and choose to skimp on fruits like oranges or bananas that are protected by a peel that isn’t consumed.
  • Rice/Grains – The pesticides used in non-organic rice and grains are used to protect against disease. But sometimes these crops are grown in unclean environments. Choose organic for these foods to ensure that your rice and grains aren’t coming from a farm close to industrial sewage.
  • Beef – Just like milk cows, beef is often pumped through with hormones to increase size and strength and to prevent disease. And also just like milk cows, the hormones are transferred to people through eating the meat.

For a good step in the right direction, try incorporating these five organic foods into your family’s daily routine. You will be surprised how a small change can make a big difference.

Source:

  • “Top 5 Must-Eat Organic Foods”, Yahoo Voices

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Super Foods Your Wallet Will Love

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Did you know that the most nutritious foods aren’t necessarily the most expensive? We’ve been trained to assume that more money automatically means a better product. One example where this tired trope just simply doesn’t add up is at the grocery store. Some of the healthiest foods on the shelf are the most affordable.

These functional foods are lauded for their high vitamin counts, tons of antioxidant properties, or their just plain good nutrition data. WebMD suggests cooking these super foods at home and selecting the healthiest, freshest version possible of any food you put in your body. Here are ten super food ideas that combine smart foods with affordable prices:

  • Kale – This green leafy super food king is packed with vitamins and minerals. Plus, kale is an excellent source of calcium and essential omega-3 fatty acids. Serve fresh in salads (remove the bitter center ribs first), lightly sauté in healthy oil, or drizzle in olive oil, vinegar, and nutritional yeast and bake until crispy to make delectable kale chips.
  • Apples – We know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but do you know the true worth of this perfectly portioned super food? Apples support heart health and are loaded with antioxidants and fiber. Eat them whole or slice them up and add to salads, cereals, and sandwiches.
  • Low Fat Milk  – The calcium in low fat milk builds strong bones and can even support weight loss. Pour it over your cereal in the morning, or start the day with a low fat latte instead of drip coffee.
  • Spinach – Another leafy powerhouse, spinach is an excellent source of iron and promotes brain function. Fresh spinach provides the base for amazing salads, or you can even add the frozen variety to fruit smoothies!
  • Mushrooms – Mushrooms might not look like much, but they are loaded with antioxidants. Try them sliced in a salad, sautéed with dinner, or mixed in with your scrambled eggs in the morning.
  • Canned Salmon – Wild salmon is a healthful treat for anyone, but it can often be expensive or hard to find. Luckily, canned salmon has all the benefits of the wild variety. One four-ounce portion contains a whole day’s recommended worth of omega-3 fatty acids and is shown to reduce inflammation.  Serve straight out of the can with wild rice or veggies.
  • Pinto Beans – These beans are versatile, nutrient-packed, and high in fiber. Find them in the can or dry and serve them in salads, soups, chilis, burritos, or as a flavorful side dish.
  • Eggs – Eggs may have gotten a bad rap for their high cholesterol count, but in reality, one egg’s protein-packed 70 calories can fit into most diets. Just stick to no more than seven a week. Plus, eggs are an incredibly bargain and are loaded with vitamins and minerals.
  • Oatmeal – Not only is oatmeal nostalgic, comforting, and delicious, this super oat is chock full of zinc, magnesium, and iron, not to mention jam-packed with fiber. Oatmeal served plain is a classic, affordable way to start your day off right.
  • Frozen Berries – Berries are known for their antioxidant superpowers, but sometimes the fresh variety can be expensive. Luckily, frozen berries retain nutrients and are much cheaper. Scoop these berries into low fat yogurt or mix into pancake and waffle mixes.
Price shouldn’t deter you from eating healthy, delicious food. By incorporating these affordable super foods into your daily routine, both your body and your wallet will be happy.

Sources:

  •  ”Cheap and Healthy: 15 Nutritious Foods for About $2″, WebMD
  • “10 Seriously Cheap Superfoods”, The Huffington Post
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Natural Foods Myth: Strict Regulations

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In our food system inundated with artificial flavors and man-made chemicals, many shoppers are reassured when they see a “Natural” label on their favorite products. Unfortunately, this label can be misleading. While organic products must be regulated by the USDA, there are no standards for these so-called natural products.

Think of your own kitchen: when you are cooking from organic recipes, it is essential that each ingredient is organic in order to the integrity of the food. This same principle applies to products on the shelf. If a food is made with some all-natural foods, some organic fruits and vegetables, and then rounded out with processed, chemically enhanced ingredients, then the end result is neither truly natural nor organic. Using and advertising a few natural ingredients in a food is an easy way to mislead consumers.

What is a Natural Product?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not have a go-to definition for a “natural” product. The agency makes the point that when a fresh food is prepared, packaged, then be sold at a grocery store, it is no longer solely a product of the earth. Therefore, it is hard to quantify a food’s degree of naturalness. The FDA says that while there is no working definition for “natural”, they do not object to a label using the term if the food lacks added color, artificial flavor, or other synthetic substances.

The Ad Game

Organic and natural foods are enjoying a recent surge in popularity. Consumers are becoming more and more aware of the unhealthy ingredients in food, and growing concerns over ailments like cancer and juvenile diabetes are causing families to take a closer look at what they are serving their families. This creates a huge opportunity for brands to attract customers. When food marketers identified this attractive concept and found ways to position their product, “natural” became just another misappropriation in a long list of buzzwords.

Paying close attention to labels and labeling practices is an important part of buying food.  It is easy to assume that a product with labeled “All-Natural” is an organic product. If choosing truly natural, non-chemically enhanced food for your daily meal plan is a priority, don’t rely on labeling practices. The easiest way to quickly know what is in your food is by checking the ingredients.

Sources:

  • “What is the meaning of ‘natural’ on the label of food?” FDA.gov
  • “Organic Certification”, USDA.gov

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