USA: Abilene experts set the facts straight on organic food - Organic food has many benefits

Source: reporternews.com
By Jeremy Goldmeier

OrganicPortal NewsRoom

One of the most bustling lunch hours in Abilene doesn't take place at a traditional restaurant.

The Natural Food Center on South Seventh Street packs with customers every weekday for the store's lunch offerings, filling a broad seating area book-ended by shelves filled with organic groceries, vitamins and supplements.

Looking at the lunch menu, with its burgers, burritos and wraps, it's not immediately apparent that all of the ingredients are natural and organic. Back when the Natural Food Center started up in Abilene 25 years ago, this might have been a revelation: Wow, you can eat organic food that actually has flavor!

But with the advances and increased visibility of the natural food movement (and all of its many offshoots), it's not exactly breaking news to declare that organic foods are a viable diet alternative. The fact that even a modest Texas city like Abilene has a bevy of options for organic enthusiasts speaks volumes to the movement's accomplishments.

That said, misconceptions and myths still persist. The Reporter-News spoke with a couple of local experts on what people know and don't know about their natural foods.

Myth No. 1: All or nothing. Natural Food Center co-owner Cindi Love has seen the temptation in customers for years. In their mind, eating organic — or going gluten-free, or reducing their salt intake — requires the dedication of a practicing monk.

Every offending item in the pantry needs to go. They have to reinvent their diets from the ground up.

In some medical cases, as with celiac disease and gluten, a wholesale change really is necessary. But for most people, a simple switch makes a big difference.

Love recommends swapping out 1 ounce of carb-rich eats for an ounce of leafy greens like kale, chards and parsley every week. Throughout a year, that diet shift can improve heart health and cut back on calories. It certainly beats the imagined alternative.

"People come in here and they're sad," Love said. "They think they'll never eat anything again except for lettuce."

Myth No. 2: It costs more. In literal terms, yes, buying organic produce and other products results in a higher price at the register. In more subtle ways, however, this myth can prove false.

Certified natural health professional Marshall Thompson, who works with Natural Grocers on Clack Street, says organic food can bring hidden savings. When it comes to nutritional value, organics — and really, higher quality food in general — can provide solid bang for the buck.

"For people who fill up on carbs, sugars and cheaper food, it may be less expensive, but then in a moment they're hungry again," Thompson said. "They end up spending more money on food. With nutrient-dense food, you hold on to that supply longer."

That's not to mention the potential health care savings that result from eating healthier.

Myth No. 3: Don't get caught up in labels. The most obvious (and potentially confusing) food label issue: "organic" vs. "natural."

To be a certified "organic" product with U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers and manufacturers have to follow a well-defined set of guidelines. But except for meat and poultry, the rules are much more fast and loose with the "natural" label.

So just because a store product has a package extolling its "natural" state, a closer look at the ingredients list should be in order. Similarly, "organic" on the label doesn't necessarily equate to "healthy." A cookie is a cookie, regardless of its origins.

The main rule of thumb, which Love and Thompson stressed repeatedly, is to find products that are "as close to their original state as possible."

That's the main case for integrating organic foods into one's diet: fewer middlemen, less interference from chemicals and preservatives, and a fresher product overall.

Tip: OrganicPortal USA - Organic Food

OrganicPortal NewsRoom

09.02.2012

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