Organic products provide healthy ingredients
by Rubel Zaman
Organic means natural, unadulterated, and chemical free. This terminology refers to foods, clothing, soaps, cosmetics, furniture, and home decorations. The need to “go natural” has come about due to so much contamination by way of chemicals and poisons which are proven causes of cancer, birth defects, and many devastating diseases. A look at some natural organic products includes:
Organic Cosmetics
Cosmetics, including shampoo, body soap, tanning products, and nail care products each are considered personal items. Items we put on our face and body which, if contaminated by chemicals and other impure ingredients, may cause us to become ill or even poison our system. Natural or organic products are proven to be safer.
Organic foods
Eliminating the use of weed killer, pest control chemicals, and growth hormones (in livestock) are a big step toward healthier foods for the dinner table. Water and soil conservation are included in the organic growing process. Much has been written regarding our diet and healthful additives such as vitamins and supplements.
Many of those additives include chemically manufactured ingredients that can get past the regulation of “organically” grown foods, and are found on the grocery store shelves.
Organic furniture and home décor
The terms organic or green today mean natural and conservative. Organic furniture may include items that have been recycled or made from naturally grown wood and even sheep (natural wool). The materials that go into making an organic chair for example, will have been naturally grown, allowing for no chemical additives to the plants or animals that were used in manufacturing the product.
The cost of buying organic
Choosing between items that have been grown naturally and those labeled “organic” can become complicated. Which is the better choice, a naturally grown apple or one which is labeled organic? One big difference is usually in the cost. The organic item may well be twice the cost of the naturally grown variety.
What does the consumer get for that extra cost? Most items labeled organic have been treated somewhat differently and the cost increase comes about from special handling that is required to insure that item is truly organic in nature.
FDA keeps busy regulating the organic industry
The FDA (Federal Drug Administration) does not have an official definition for “organic” but the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) defines the term as items which have been produced under certain conditions can only be labeled one hundred percent organic if:
* there were no synthetic ingredient or substances
* no non-synthetic substances
* no nonagricultural substances used on or in the processed products
* no ionizing radiation
* no sewage sludge
Basically organic products are defined as one hundred percent natural ingredients with no chemical additives or unnatural methods of manufacture. Some companies have found ways around this definition and that is where policing of our food and other products must be maintained.
Much improvement in regulating truly organic items, particularly foods and cosmetics, is necessary for our health. There is nothing wrong with natural products so long as they are just that, natural. Whenever pesticides, herbicides, or other poisonous ingredients are added into natural items, they are no longer natural or good for us.
