Why Organic?
In his best-selling book "Dr. Atkins Vita-Nutrient Solution: Nature’s
Answer to Drugs," Dr. Robert A. Atkins describes the problems in our
food production system which interfere with adequate nutrition. Not
surprisingly, it all begins with the soil:
"Food production plays a key role in depriving our
bodies of important nutrients.
"Our soil is routinely depleted by the agricultural practice of
using inorganic fertilizer instead of biologically active compost. This
practice, introduced over 150 years ago, decreases the nutritional value of
plant life grown in that soil and weakens plants’ immune systems by
depriving them of the nutrients they need to remain strong. This, in turn,
makes them susceptible to destruction by aphids and other pests, creating
crops that may not be able to survive without being sprayed with
cancer-causing and soil-depleting pesticides. These pesticides have been
implicated in causing neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and
Alzheimer’s.
"Further, several essential elements are depleted from many soils by
overfarming, acid rain, or the many geological forces that dictate soil mineral
content. Iodine-deficient soils lead to goiter epidemics, zinc-deficient
soils lead to stunted growth and poor immune function, and most important
selenium deficient soils lead to premature aging, cancer, and heart disease.
But any soil, even that of the seemingly highest quality, could well be
deficient in some vital nutrient.
"Food goes through many processes before we eat it, and these also
contribute to substantially reducing its nutrient content…Nutritional
value is lost day by day simply in transporting the food to the supermarket
and to our kitchens… It has been estimated that 80-95 percent of the
micronutrients originally found in food are lost before we finally eat it.
" (pp28-29)
You can provide for yourself and your family by purchasing organic foods
at farmer’s cooperatives, Fresh Food stores, or increasingly at regular
supermarkets which carry certified organic fresh foods.
Now you can also provide fresh organic food for your animals, with the
same peace of mind of knowing that your food comes direct from the farmer
and that no chemicals or pesticides were used in its production, that it was
harvested fresh, sun-dried and stored properly. Your horse (or llama) will
notice the difference.
See also the following article from the Journal of Pesticide
Reform on the adverse effects of pesticides:
Ten Reasons Not to use
Pesticides
