Recently, I blogged about attending the launch of the new Wild Harvest line of organic and natural products. It was interesting to hear how people from all types of backgrounds are becoming more interested in organic and natural foods. As such, I thought that it would be good to explore this option in the context of finding ways for us as families to live healthier lifestyles.
When I write “organic”, I mean foods that are grown without any synthetic or artificial methods. Organic products have been shown to have many benefits including the following: helping to relieve food allergies; helping to avoid residues from pesticides; and some organic foods have high levels of cancer-fighting antioxidants.
When I write “natural”, I mean that the food (or ingredients that make up the product) have been minimally processed. They stay as close as possible to the item’s original/natural state. The primary benefit of natural foods is that they don’t make the body and the immune system work extra hard because the body does not have to metabolize petrochemical food additives.
As I mentioned before, the organic food industry is rapidly increasing. As such, there are many ways for people to buy organic foods. Some options include cooperatives, independent natural grocery or health food stores, and now organic and natural foods are found at most grocery stores. Currently, the most popular organically grown foods are produce, dairy, bread and grains, and snack foods (in that order).
Ultimately, as parents we want the healthiest alternatives for our kids (and ourselves!). It’s obvious that the decision to eat better plays a great role in maintaining or improving our health. It’s interesting to note that (according to studies) the reason many people decide to start trying organic and natural foods is when they have children. Dealing with children’s allergies and other health conditions also causes parents to try these products. In any event, purchasing more organic and natural foods for our families is a great option worth strongly considering.
To help, following are a few local stores that are known for offering organic and natural foods and products:
-Vegan’s Delight in the Bronx: (718) 653-4140
-Downtown Natural Market in Brooklyn: (718) 834-1215
–4th Street Food Co-op in Manhattan: (212) 674-3623
–Queens Health Emporium in Queens: (718) 358-6500
And
–Whole Foods Market, the world’s largest retailer of natural and organic foods, has several Manhattan locations.