hi all. I work at a natural foods co-op here in Atlanta, called SEVANANDA (it's sanskrit for 'service is bliss' or the 'joy of service')
We have product policy for certain items, ingredients that we choose not to carry, in deference to serving the people who shop there in the healthiest way possible. some of these are no processes sugars in anything, as they are artifically bleached, and that process reduces the benefits from the sugar, as well as adding chemicals to your body. we also don't carry anything w/ high fructose corn syrup, for same reason. nothing is artifically colored either. no food-grade dyes. there's been much evidence that food-dyes have been linked to cancer casuing agents.
(see M&M red dye #5 for example)
our produce is all organic, and for our grocery and healthcare products we do research to see how it's made and under what conditions.
now for the science. a woman wrote to our monthly newspaper praising us for carrying such good organic produce, as she's recovering from cancer, and would not trade her health for cheaper bananas that conventional stores carry.
she said she'd done a demograpghic survey at a store in town, before she went organic, and wanted to share what they'd slipped up and told her.
it seems this store, which had a flower/plant shoppe inside it was having trouble getting the roses and plants to bloom once brought into the store. it seems they were on the opposite end from the produce, all conventional. they finally tested, and it seemed that the chemicals which are gassed on the produce on trains, before shipping here had bee nwafting over across the store, and stunting the growth and bloom of the flowers there.
they agreed it was a big problem, as they kept losing money, but didn't do anything to stop it, just bought more plants.
think about that one for a second. it's across the store, just wafting around in the air, getting into your body. you don't know, and who knows how much effect it's having on you.
for the record, I am not vegetarian, tho for lent (tho not catholic) i've given up red meat and pork stuff again (was not eating it for 6 years, then my mom died, and people brought stuff to my aunt's house, and i didn't care what i ate)
I have stopped buying produce that's not organic, as you usually eat the skin or entire thing, I feel it's a better choice to get something better.
Also, from what I've seen, the companies that produce organic products seem to treat their workers better, especially since they're not exposed to toxic chemicals.
There's an organic milk-dairy Co-Operative called Organic Valley, and the farmers there grass-graze the cows, so they are treated better then forcefed ones.they also don't eat any GMO products (genetically modified organisims) in their grain. I only buy that milk, and it lasts in the fridge for at least three weeks (sometimes longer) and it still tastes good.
My General Manager went on a 9 day trip to nicarugua recently, to see how the Organic Equal Exchange coffee growers are treated, and what goes into picking this coffee. The farmers are treated w/ respect, and they get fair prices for their product, it helps support the local economy, and keeps them from having to grow crops such as cocoa for cocaine, and risk the US's drug martials buring them down to the ground. (but that's another story)
so, while it's not really scientific, it's what I know personally.
I try to buy wisely with my dollar, and think about who/what I am supporting with it.
For those who eat pizza in the US:
Domino's owner gives $100,000 per year to Operation Rescue, which three of the abortion doctor murderers had connections
For those who drink soda: PEPSI Co. gives over $1 Million EACH YEAR to various anti-abortion causes in the USA.
Choice wisely, how you spend does have an effect on what you get, or get taken away, from you.
*getting off soapbox now*
feel free to email me at Grendix@another.com if you've got any questions or rants. |
