CHEMICAL OR ORGANIC PEST CONTROL – YOUR LIFE YOUR CHOICE

It is sad that the connection between chemical pesticides and some serious illnesses is an issue mostly ignored. A lot of research has been done to cure diseases and we have been successful on some but the funny thing about this is that only a handful of us stop to ask what is really causing these illnesses in the first place. There has been mounting evidences telling us the truth and it is just a matter of accepting the fact about its potentially harmful effects on our health, our home and the environment.

If you are not convinced, let me tell you some of the reasons why you should avoid using chemical pesticides.

1. Chemical pesticides as based on previous studies, linger in the atmosphere, in our waterways and the ground even long after we have stopped using them. Just imagine the lingering pollution on the world’s field that has accumulated for almost a hundred years of using chemical pesticides! 
2. We have precariously disturbed the balance of nature as a good number of necessary bugs have been reduced as pesticides are not discriminatory. Thus, even beneficial insects which are crucial to the eco-system are also eliminated in the process. 
3. And here’s one more… Chemical pesticides have caused a myriad of diseases and serious illnesses like some types of cancer. They have been liked to hormone imbalance, brain damage, infertility, birth defects and miscarriage. 

That’s just for starters, the list goes on.

How about controlling pests the organic way? It is just as effective but far safer and less expensive. By going organic, it allows us to start from scratch on the proper care for the soil. You will reduce soil chemical contamination which will bring back nutrients and useful organisms. How do you like harvesting clean, chemical free and unaltered produce in your organic garden? It may seem overwhelming but it’s really not that difficult.

Here are some very effective organic pesticides available around:

• Garlic Oil – sprayed in and around your home and can repel most insects. 
• Neem Oil – an effective insect repellant used in organic farming for centuries now. It can also disrupt insects’ ability to breed and grow. 
• Lime Sulfur – used by both non-organic and organic gardeners which eliminates most species of mites & other insects. Its fungicidal property is ideal for ornamental plants and fruit bearing trees. 
• Tobacco Water – This solution of tobacco and water is deadly to worms found in soil including symphylids, fungus gnats, and some underground pests. It resembles like tea after mixing, so be careful with it.

You can make your own concoction using ingredients found in your kitchen. But always take caution, not just because it's organic, it means it is always safe. Keep them away at all times from your kids and pets.

Now, don’t you think it’s about time shifting to organic pesticides?

GROWING WITH ORGANIC FERTILIZERS

One of the most important aspects of organic farming is building up the fertility of the soil. This can be done either by using synthetic or organic types of fertilizers. For years, many farmers used only synthetic fertilizers on their farm. The Synthetic types are manufactured products, while organic fertilizers are obtained from animal manure, plants or naturally occurring minerals.

Like our bodies, plants also need nutrients to function and grow properly. The soil contains many of the essential nutrients needed by plants. There are 16 nutrient elements needed by plants to grow and most soils contain large reserves of 13 nutrients.  The constant use of the soil and constant erosion by wind and rain will eventually deplete the nutrients.

The advantage of this form of fertilization is not only that they contain unprocessed nutrients mentioned above but also organic matter and humus which serves as soil conditioning.  As compared to the processed synthetic fertilizers, organic fertilizers  gives out the nutrients slowly so that plant roots are less likely to be burnt due to high dose of chemicals.  Organic matter improves soil structure, drainage, and retains the moisture and microbial life of the soil. Sufficient amount of this can help ensure that nutrients are available to plants on a steady basis and that the soil structure enhances the root to grow.

There are several types of organic fertilizers. The Plant Based which are high in nitrogen and potassium, like Soybean Meals which has 7%  nitrogen, Corn Gluten with 10% nitrogen that is quick to breakdown, Alfalfa Meal  with a moderate 2% -3% Nitrogen and some traces of minerals.  Another type is the Animal Based which is actually by-products of meat and dairy processing like Blood Meals from the slaughtering industry which contain 14% nitrogen, Bone Meal with 11% phosphorous and 22% calcium, Fish Meal with 10% nitrogen and Animal Manure whose nutrient composition varies based on the animal and the method of storage.  Lastly, there is Composting Method which is considered as the best organic fertilizer. They are made from plant, animal, and mineral based materials.  It has a low but good balance of nutrients and high on organic matters that help feed the soil’s microorganisms. The nicest thing about composting is that no matter what material you start with, the end products will be fairly similar.

Indeed! The secret to growing nutritious fruits and vegetables, abundant flowers, trees and shrubs is by creating a living soil using organic fertilizers – Cheap, Effective and Eco-friendly.

The Reasons Why I Need My Daily Dose of Resveratrol

There are a lot of people who enjoy the taste of red wine, and I'm no exception. If possible, I would drink a glass of my favorite brand every day. Why? Because it's delicious and I really like the taste. But that's not all, I know that drinking organic red wine can bring in health benefits to my body. This is all because of resveratrol.

What is Organic Resveratrol?

The substance is from a group of compounds called as polyphenols. It has been said that these compounds possess anti-oxidant properties. These have been linked in protecting the body against certain diseases. Such diseases include cancer and heart illnesses. A major source of resveratrol is the skin of red grapes. Other sources of this substance include peanuts and berries.

                                                                                                                                                                                     Today, resveratrol can be easily consumed in the form of supplements. The capsule form of this substance has been said to include extracts from the Japanese and Chinese knotweed plant. There are also manufacturers of this supplement to have made the capsules from extracts of red wine and red grapes.

Why Consume Resveratrol Regularly?

Once again, it is because of the health benefits that it brings. It is not just me who enjoys the health benefits that this substance brings. There is a hype going on about resveratrol and there are a lot of people who are looking for their daily fix.

There have been reports that it has anti-aging properties. It even has disease-combating agents. Animals that have been tested with a daily dose of organic resveratrol suggest that the substance can help protect the body fight a number of diseases. These include the following:

- It can help reduce inflammation. It also prevents the oxidation of LDL or the "bad cholesterol." Thus, it makes it more difficult for platelets to stick together which may otherwise form blood clots. When platelets stick together, it can lead to cardiovascular disorders, and may even lead to heart attacks. As such, resveratrol can help in preventing this from happening.

- The substance has been said to limit the spread of cancer cells in the body. It can also help in making cancer cells commit suicide.

- It can also help prevent nerve damage and plaque buildup, which may otherwise lead to Alzheimer's disease.

- Resveratrol can also help against insulin resistance. When the body is resistant to insulin, the body becomes less sensitive to blood-sugar lowering hormones. This condition is also a precursor to diabetes.

- It has also been tested in 2012 Canadian study the supplementing the body with resveratrol can provide similar results to the skeletal muscles as with endurance training. The study has been conducted on lab rats and it went on over a 12-week period. The results after the 12-week period found the animals to have more endurance, oxidative metabolism, and even enhanced functions of their cardiovascular systems. Further news of the same study had found that supplementation of resveratrol coupled with endurance training can lead to performance increase of about 21 percent.

- It may also help slow down the development of cancer cells, especially in the color. A study conducted in France stated that resveratrol can be an effective anti-cancer agent.

While a lot of these tests point out the use of lab animals to test out the health benefits of organic resveratrol, there are very little claims of actual positive and guaranteed effects on humans. However, there are already a lot of claims and testimonials around the globe about the good that this substance can bring.

In other words, I'm not about to give up my daily habit of drinking a glass of my favorite organic red wine any time soon.

Fava Bean - Ancient Organic Superfood full of health benefits

Fava bean is one of the ancient cultivated crop and like other legumes is an excellent source of perfect protein. An organic superfood that is rich in nutrients and free of saturated fat.

Fava bean is a member of the fabaceae plant family under genus vicia. Its scientific name is vicia faba. This organic superfood is a small and a glabrous annual plant with erect stems that grows to a height of up to 6 feet and thrives in warm weather.  A bushy plant have tapering leaves and produces clusters of beautiful pink-white flowers after three months from seeding. And from these flowers develops light green beaded pods that resemble pea pods although much larger and covered with pillow-like material that protects the seed.  Each plant yields about 25 to 50 pods.

Let’s have a little bit of history about this “fava-lous” organic superfood. They were believed to have been grown about 6000 years ago during the Neolithic times. Traces of this green legume have been found in the tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs. Fava beans grew abundantly along the Nile River and the great Rameses III was said to have offered 11,998 jars of these beans to the god of the Nile.  Ancient Romans and Greeks love them, well, except for the Greek philosopher Pythagoras, who despise the beans.

Why is this organic superfood good for you? 

Fava bean is one of the best sources of dietary fiber, which provides a wide range of benefits for your digestive system. It lowers the absorption of cholesterol from the food you eat and helps control your hunger.

It has an abundant supply of essential mineral like calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, magnesium and copper, which are generally higher that in most beans.

This amazing super bean is also known as one of the rare sources of L-dopa (Levodopa), a chemical substance that is being used to treat people suffering from Parkinson’s disease.  

Does fava bean have a dark side? 

Well, although significantly full of health benefits, there are some possible health concerns that you should be aware of. It is said to contain a rather high level of complex carbohydrates, which can cause gastric problems and abdominal pain when taken excessively. Individuals taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors should avoid fava beans as it also holds a high amount of tyramine, a compound that occurs naturally in some foods that can dangerously increase blood pressure.

For a crunchy, healthy fava snack, here’s what you do… cook dried fava beans until they’re thoroughly dry and slightly fry them in coconut oil until they’re super crunchy. Drain them in paper towels and sprinkle some salt (kosher please). I put a little cayenne powder to spice it up a bit!

Stay fit. Eat more organic superfood.

Maca - The Peruvian Organic Superfood That Can Boost Your Energy Level

Maca, also called as the Peruvian Ginseng, is an organic superfood that grows high in the Andes Mountain at an altitude between 11,000 to 14,000 feet. It is a very powerful enhancer of strength and stamina used by the ancient Incas for thousands of years.

What makes it such a powerful organic superfood is its ability to raise the physical body’s state of resistance to diseases. The hormones in your body regulate many things, including mood, growth, sexual development, and tissue function. But instead of providing hormones to the body, this surprising organic superfood works as an adaptogen which means that it responds to different bodies' needs individually. If you're producing too much of a particular hormone, maca will regulate the production downward. However, if you're producing too little, it will regulate the production upward. In other words, maca keeps things at a normal level.

Today, organic superfood like maca is also being used by athletes as an effective alternative to anabolic steroids in muscle building and strengthening, which is much safer as it does not contain any chemical to interfere with the normal endocrine function. This is the best way to boost your muscles and energy without the negative side effects.

Maca is truly a powerhouse of nutrition and health benefit that one can expect from an organic superfood. It is packed with an assortment of vitamins like ascorbic acid, niacin, riboflavin and thiamin. The numerous mineral content of this amazing organic superfood includes potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, copper, selenium, manganese, zinc and iron. It’s also loaded with bio-available plant protein that provides your body all the essential amino acids it needs to function properly, including rich amount of quality carbohydrates and sterols that can significantly reduce blood cholesterol level.

The many medicinal uses of this wonder root include treatment of menstrual disorders, tuberculosis, menopausal symptoms, shrinks enlarged prostate glands, reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks, allows wounds to heal quickly and helps clear skin blemishes and acne.

Here are some interesting facts about maca. It’s an antidepressant. It can increase fertility. It can increase sexual desire, a natural aphrodisiac.

Some side effects you may have to watch out. Maca, just like any other organic superfoods is safe to eat, but has to be in moderation. It contains a natural chemical that it uses to defend against diseases and pests called glucosinolate, which can adversely affect the goiter. This root crop also has thick fibers that may cause gastric upset.