We need to restore the earth’s ability to retain and store carbon. Going organic is one way to do this. Organically farmed soil stores carbon which, in turn, reduces our climate crisis.
Healthy Planet thinks it's important to restore the earth's
ability to retain and store carbon. Going organic is one way we
could do this. Organically farmed soils store carbon which, in the
long run, would benefit our climate crisis.
A well-balanced diet composed of ample organic fruits and
vegetables will lay the groundwork for a normal endocrine
system. Organic food can also trigger your sense of fullness
and satiety to reduce your overall calorie intake, limit cellular
damage, reduce the risk of disease, and promote rapid cell
growth.
Healthy Planet believes that if you buy local and seasonal food
you are getting maximum nutrition, as the nutrient level steadily
decreases the longer a food goes uneaten. You will also be
supporting local farmers. Gloss and preservatives are added to
non-seasonal foods to make them last longer. However, this
technique can eliminate some of the nutritional value of the food.
Seasonal foods are not just good for you; they are also good for
the environment. By eating local and seasonal foods you're reducing
the demand for growing foods out of season, which uses unnecessary
amounts of energy in both production and transportation costs.
Nature has a cycle of its own for a reason. At Healthy Planet we
believe that the foods that appear in winter have properties that
can help to keep you warm. Likewise, in the summer, foods can have
cooling effects. Healthy Planet believes that if we ignore this
natural order, we are likely to receive less of nature's benefits.
By eating seasonal foods we can reconnect with the natural cycle of
food production.
Info on genetics and adaptations to food
There are several evolutionary changes in our society when it
comes to food and what we eat depending on our culture or
background.
Results from several studies show how either the gain or loss of a
gene can make for a net gain in human fitness.
Our genome adapts to our diets. For example, the amylase
gene breaks down starches and we as humans tend to carry about 6
copies of this gene. Researchers found that people in
societies with high starch diets tended to have more copies of the
gene (70% of people when compared to the 40% on low-starch
diets). This is held true in geographically diverse
populations, including those who got starch primarily from hunting
and gathering. This suggests that selective pressures
continue to influence gene copy numbers.
This also explains why eating locally is beneficial to your health
as your body is genetically wired to handle the food grown in your
local environment.
There are major differences around the world in how effectively
our bodies process particular foods. Different human
populations not only eat different foods, but their digestive
systems often use the food in different ways.
If you would like to know more about the sources of
information or the processes used to put this page together, or
indeed have any feedback regarding any of these articles, please
email us at healthy@healthyplanet.org
(Issue date 7/12/10, Version 1, next review date
7/12/12)