Great Organic Food Tips!

When it comes to eating when pregnant, the two most profound changes you can make to your diet are to switch to organic and whole foods. Many expectant mothers aren’t sure what these terms mean, or think that perhaps they can be used interchangeably.

But they are actually two separate things that can have a positive impact on your health and your baby’s as well. Whole foods are foods that are left in their closest to unprocessed state. For example, an apple is a whole food. Applesauces, or apple fruit snacks, are processed foods.

Organic foods are those that have been grown without the use of pesticides, hormones, and other troubling chemicals. Why are whole and organic foods so important to your pregnancy diet? We discuss the benefits of these types of foods in this article.

What are the benefits of whole foods?

Whole foods are either totally unprocessed, or only very minimally so. This is good because the more processed a food becomes, the more likely the food contains sugar, additives, fillers, and chemicals. Processed foods are also generally lower in fiber, lower in nutritional value, and higher in calorie than their unprocessed counterparts.

When it comes to eating when pregnant, the two most profound changes you can make to your diet are to switch to organic and whole foods. Many expectant mothers aren’t sure what these terms mean, or think that perhaps they can be used interchangeably.

But they are actually two separate things that can have a positive impact on your health and your baby’s as well. Whole foods are foods that are left in their closest to unprocessed state. For example, an apple is a whole food. Applesauces, or apple fruit snacks, are processed foods.

Organic foods are those that have been grown without the use of pesticides, hormones, and other troubling chemicals. Why are whole and organic foods so important to your pregnancy diet? We discuss the benefits of these types of foods in this article.

What are the benefits of whole foods?

Whole foods are either totally unprocessed, or only very minimally so. This is good because the more processed a food becomes, the more likely the food contains sugar, additives, fillers, and chemicals. Processed foods are also generally lower in fiber, lower in nutritional value, and higher in calorie than

Incorporate change slowly and look at these transformations as part of an overall lifestyle shift to a healthier way of life. Look at the long term benefits of making these changes, and know that every step you make toward good health is a step in the right direction—for both you and your baby.

Changing your diet for pregnancy slowly

So if you can’t change everything at once, what should you focus on? Start by changing to organic meat and dairy products. In fact, switch to grass-fed meat while you are at it. Meats and dairy products contain the highest amount of hormonal additives, so making this change can have a profound impact on both you and your baby’s health.

For produce, try switching out what’s known as the “dirty dozen”, the fruits and vegetables that contain the highest concentrations of pesticides. Aim for the more unprocessed version of your foods as well.

For example, instead of having a turkey sandwich made with deli meat, try a fillet of organic, free-range chicken for your lunch. These changes may seem subtle, but they will have a positive and long-reaching effect on your life—and on your baby’s too!

Extra Virgin Coconut oil is renowned for its properties for being a wonderful health and beauty oil. Organic Coconut oil is now widely used for cooking, as primary cooking oil.

The health benefits if the extra virgin Coconut oil are many. Coconut oil is very useful in weight reduction. It helps boost the metabolism and helps reducing stress on the pancreas, burns more energy and this helps with weight control. Extra Virgin Coconut oil is highly recommended as daily cooking oil and is considered on of the healthiest oils for internal use. It is also very easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. Coconut oil helps increase immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, high blood pressure and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, which possess properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal and antibacterial. Virgin coconut oil is considered one of the healthiest oil with both benefits for internal and external use.

Virgin Coconut oil is excellent massage oil for the skin as well. Organic Coconut oil works wonders on dry skin. Cold pressed oils, such as cold pressed Coconut oil are very antiaging for the skin. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Organic Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Coconut oil therefore is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It has also been known to be helpful for skin conditions such as eczema and is a wonderful natural emollient for dry skin. It deeply nourishes the skin, is easily absorbed and can also used as massage oil for the body.

Virgin Coconut oil is one of the best conditioners for hair. Massaged into the scalp, Coconut oil replenishes and nourishes the scalp as well as strengthens the hair shaft helping reduce the hair breakage and improving hair growth. Used as hair oil it also encourages healthy hair growth, regenerates thinning hair and promotes a healthy scalp.

Buying organic food is the right choice – it’s healthier, it tastes better, and it’s better for the environment. Although the production costs of growing and transporting organic foods sometimes means that it’s more expensive at the grocery store than conventional food, it is BETTER for your health in the long-term. Think about it: doesn’t it make more sense to spend NOW and save yourself years of doctor’s bills then it is to keep a couple extra bucks to yourself and suffering the consequences LATER?

Nonetheless, who doesn’t like to save some money? To help you pinch a few pennies, here are some ways you can SAVE (in the short-term AND long-term!) when you buy organic food:

• Buy your most important purchases first. If you’re looking to try a new organic recipe this week, make a list of items you’ll need. You can try organic blueberries another time if you absolutely need organic bell peppers for a new dish.
• Remember that thin-skinned fruits and vegetables are the MOST susceptible to pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and so on. If you have to limit your purchases, be sure to buy the following foods ORGANIC: apples, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, pears, lettuce, peppers, and spinach.
• Buy your fruits and vegetables in season when they’re both freshest and in plenty supply. For example, spring is a great time to buy asparagus, zucchini, and strawberries (did you know May is National Strawberry Month?) -Shop at farmer’s markets and independent grocery stores, or join a food co-op. These places often offer a wider variety oforganic foods, including fresher fruits and vegetables. Some food co-ops may require a membership fee or ask you to volunteer at the co-op for a few hours per month, but members usually get a discount when they shop.
• If you’re a meat-eater, eating organic meats is definitely better than eating meat that comes from factory farms, where animals have been fed nutritionally-empty grains and kept in tight spaces until they’re slaughtered. Since meat is often more expensive, try choosing one kind of meat (beef, chicken, lamb) and experimenting in the kitchen. Use your “meat of the week” as the centerpiece around which you create your meals, such as chicken pasta one night, followed by chicken tacos the next. You can always freeze leftover portions you don’t use for next week.
• Search for coupons from organic food companies like Organic Valley, Amy’s, Stonyfield Farm, Health Valley, and more. What are your tips for saving money on buying organic food? Share with us in the comments!

Healthy eating starts with one key activity healthy shopping. When you head to the grocery store, it is easy to pick up lots of foods that are bad for our bodies without even realizing it. Shopping for a healthy organic diet can be difficult if you do not know how to do so, but with these tips, you should find it easier to do so the next time you head to the grocery store.

First, have a plan before you ever leave your house. Use the sales fliers to check out the great organic products that are on sale and take an inventory of your pantry and refrigerator to see what foods you need to purchase. Make a list of all of the organic foods you’ll need and stick to that list. Allow yourself one or two compulsory buys, but otherwise stay to the ingredients you’ll need to cook healthy meals for yourself and your family for the rest of the week. Before you leave, review your list and take out any unnecessary junk food.

 Another great shopping tip to go along with making a list is to shop for a week at a time, or even longer if you have a large freezer. When you have to run to the grocery store every day, you are more likely to pick up junk food items every time you make a trip, and before you know it, your snack supply will be overflowing. You can shop for a week or two in advance by taking a day to plan meals for the week and packaging fresh product to be frozen.

 When you’re shopping, it is also important to read the organic food label. Try to avoid purchasing brand name items simply because they are brand name or store brand items simply because they are less expensive. Actually look at the product’s nutritional value and try to get the most nutrients for your money. When you eat higher quality foods, you’ll feel more full and, in turn, eat less, so this really is the best way to bargain shop.

If you are just shopping for yourself, you should also consider picking up a basket at the door instead of getting a shopping cart. The biggest problem with health and grocery shopping is grabbing  food items that you don’t really need. If you have a small basket, you simply won’t have room for chocolate brownies and ice cream with your load of other foods, so you’ll pass them by.

Lastly, don’t forget to consider organic drinks into your healthy shopping plan. Most people don’t realize it, but sodas, punches, and beers can have many empty calories and are generally bad drink choices. Instead, look at the labels and choose  waters or natural fruit juices, like apple juice. With these tips, healthyorganic  eating—and shopping—should be much easier!