Striving4Zen

Virtually all nationally marketed, non-organic deli meats contain sodium nitrite (or sometimes potassium nitrite) as a preservative. Occasionally, a non-organic manufacturer will introduce an "all-natural" version of its deli meat that does not contain any nitrites, but the only way to be sure about this is to check the ingredient list on the back of the package. Since preservation with sodium nitrite is not allowed in certified organic deli meats, these organic versions are a great way to steer clear of this preservative. Cooked whole turkey products and cured turkey products often do contain sodium nitrite, but there are nitrite-free products in the marketplace. Once again, your best bet is to look through the ingredient list and check for sodium nitrite or potassium nitrite among the ingredients. Nitrite-free products will sometimes advertise their nitrite-free status on the label.

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Labels: cold cuts, deli meats, meat, organic food, preservatives, sodium nitrite, turkey

In the spirit of Earth Month, Emma Pazzack, founder of Futurenatural--an online beauty store hailed as an organic and natural Sephora--shares the top 5 reasons for using organic beauty products.

• Your skin absorbs up to 60% of what you apply to the surface. Using natural and organic beauty products is not a luxury - it's critical to your health.

• Organic ingredients create a less toxic environment for us, and the planet. In cosmetic formulations, chemical preservatives, petrochemicals, synthetic colors and fragrances are eliminated in favor of healthy, natural, effective alternatives.

• Organic cosmetics contain optimal amounts of bioactive ingredients that are a very important aid to the health of skin. Anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, oils (from seeds & nuts), fruit and vegetables, are powerful and effective tools in the fight against all skin problems!

• Organic has been proven to use less energy (on average, about 30% less), and is beneficial to soil, water and local habitat, not to mention safer for the people who harvest the crops.

• The natural scents & essential oils used in organic and natural beauty products have aromatherapeutic value - they don't just make you smell good, they make you feel good. Avoid using brands that list the smell of their product as 'fragrance' and do not disclose what that 'fragrance' is. Often this masks some very nasty chemicals!

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Labels: beauty, Futurenatural, natural products, organic skin care, preservatives, skin care

Olestra: a.k.a. Olean is a synthetic fat found in some potato chips and prevents fat from getting absorbed in your digestive system. It can also inhibit vitamins found in fruits and vegetables from being absorbed.

Sodium nitrate: used to preserve color and flavor in meat products like bacon, ham, smoked fish and luncheon meats. This preservative prevents the growth of healthy bacteria and has also been linked to various types of cancer.

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydrozyttoluene (BHT): used to preserve foods like cereals, chewing gum and potato chips. Both are antioxidants that may cause cancer.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG): an amino acid used to flavor soups, salad dressings and restaurant food. It can cause headaches and nausea and other health problems.

Most of these additives are used to preserve and enhance the flavor of packaged foods. You don’t need to eat bland food, but rather by eating fewer packaged foods and opting for ingredients you can pronounce like vegetables, whole grains and fruit you will maintain or improve your health.

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Labels: BHA, BHT, MSG, Olean, preservatives, sodium nitrate, toxic, toxins, unhealthy