After years of drive-thru dinners, boxed TV meals and fast casual food, many Americans are now craving a healthier diet. The popularity of healthy, whole and natural food has increased considerably in recent years—especially organic foods in Poplar Bluff, MO.
While most people know that choosing a diet full of organic foods is an easy step to a healthier lifestyle, decoding food labels and packaging descriptions can be quite confusing if you are visiting a health food store for the first time. To help you make sense of it all, here are a few insights and tips into incorporating more organic foods in Poplar Bluff, MO into your diet.
What is organic food?
The term “organic” actually refers to the way in which agricultural products are grown and processed. In order to obtain an organic label, specific requirements must be met and maintained. For fruits and vegetables, this means that they must be grown in safe soil, have no modifications and must not be grown using synthetic pesticides or bioengineered genes. Plus, certified organic foods in Poplar Bluff, MO and throughout the United States must be kept separate from conventional products—even in your local produce aisle.
For meat, organic livestock must have access to the outdoors in addition to being fed only organic feed. The animals must not be treated with any antibiotics or growth hormones, and cannot be given any animal byproducts.
Understanding organic food labels
The grocery store is filled with food labels like “organic,” “natural,” “free-range” and countless others. Truly understanding these labels is vital when selecting organic foods in Poplar Bluff, MO. The most important thing to remember is that a food labeled as “natural” does not automatically mean it meets the standards for being considered organic. In the United States, the term “natural” is unregulated, and can be applied to any product by any manufacturer.
In contrast, organic certification means that certain set standards have been met. Just because a food is labeled as being “all natural” or claims to be a super food does not mean that it is the best choice for your health or diet.
When shopping for organic foods in Poplar Bluff, MO the only way to truly know if a product is organic is to look for the organic seal from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Only foods that are 95 to 100 percent organic and GMO-free can obtain this label.
Tips for buying organic
Organic food is often more expensive, as it is more labor intensive to produce. This is because the farmers do not use pesticides or chemical fertilizers. To keep your costs low, remember to always buy in season. Organic fruits and vegetables are always cheapest during the time of year in which they can be grown easily.
While organic foods in Poplar Bluff, MO are not the sole component of a healthy diet, The Bee Hive Natural Foods can always be trusted to help you start incorporating more organic foods into your meals. For the very best in health foods and other products, stop by The Bee Hive Natural Foods today.