Wives of Faith Newsletter June 2007 Issue

I hope that you all had a fantastic May! Do you believe that summer is almost here??

I am very excited about all that God is doing with Faith and Family Ministries. We will be launching the Dads of Faith Newsletter THIS MONTH! If you have a husband who would like to receive a monthly newsletter from a fellow husband and Dad of Faith, tell him to subscribe! We also plan to have the website launched by July or August at the latest. We are VERY excited.

Our next project will be Teens of Faith. My teenage daughter will be helping create and maintain the site. I want it to come from a teenagers point of view. She is very excited. We are hoping to have that complete by the end of the year...God willing SOONER than later!

Ok, so this month's theme is a doozie. We are talking about reverence. The entire site has topics on reverence. I encourage you to join our Community and join our monthly theme accountability discussions. We also have mini weekly challenges led by Wives of Faith assistant, Dianna Auton.

If you have any ideas you would like to share, talents you would like to offer, or questions, PLEASE let me know!

Have a WONDERFUL June!

In His Love and Service,
Lara ;)

The Health Benefits of Eating Organic

Organic foods are defined as that which has been grown without using fertilizers or pesticides. In fact, most organic farms must implement strict guidelines to receive their organic certification. These guidelines are so stringent that, for example; farmers must not use any wood stakes for planting that are chemically treated; must keep all machinery free from dust and foreign substances which could contaminate the crops; and must use animal feed that is purely organic in quality. Moreover, if any one of these contaminates were found in the crops, it would render the entire crop ruined.

Obtaining organic certification involves food production which can be certified. While every country has its own requirements, the standards used are much the same throughout the farming communities. Certification requires growing, storage, processing, packaging, and shipping which include total elimination of such chemicals as pesticides; antibiotics; food additives; and the like.

Also, the farmland has to be free of chemicals for three years; must keep detail records; must maintain physical separation of organic products from non-organic products; must have periodic inspections; and are subject to the same agricultural, and safety regulations which govern non-organic farmers.

As we learn more about toxins in foods, such as Mad Cow Disease, pesticides, antibiotics, and the like, choosing organic products – in addition to food – seems to have become a more widespread option for most people. Some of the foods which are organically grown are fruits and vegetables, such as: strawberries, peaches, raspberries, and blueberries.

Studies have shown that organic foods do have a higher consistency of vitamin C and contain the least amount of toxins than you would find in conventional foods. In addition, because organic produce has lower water content, the minerals and other nutrients seem to be more concentrated.

Furthermore, it has been shown that organic foods have a higher concentrate of antioxidants than regular foods. This is due to the fact that the natural chemicals, which the plant produces helps protect it against insects, and therefore, no pesticides are needed.

However, that studies are still ongoing. Another factor which has engaged studies on organic foods is the taste factor. The Food and Agricultural Organization determined that “organically grown apples were found to be firmer and received higher taste scores that conventionally grown apples. Another study showed that organic tomatoes were sweeter and organic carrots had more carrot taste.”

Tips on How to Afford Organic Foods

Due to the labor and upkeep of organic farming, the cost of organic foods is considerably high. While there are those who are willing to pay the extra cost due to their strong assertion that organic foods are safer, tastier, healthier, and environmentally beneficial – there are several ways in which you can avoid paying high prices for organic foods.

There are several websites you can visit which have detailed information on organic foods and other products. The main website for the Organic Consumers Association is the best place to begin. There are other organic consumer groups available, which offer additional information as well. In the mean time, here are some tips and suggestions for purchasing organic foods.

* Check the organic farms in your state and locate organic farmer’s markets, which have fresh products on a daily basis.

* You can also grow your own organic produce. Check with your local gardening supply store to find out how to begin an organic garden, and the supplies needed.

* You can also buy organic food online. The Organic Consumer Association is the best place to start. They have a wealth of information on where to buy organic foods and other products.

* You can also inquire at your organic restaurant where they obtain their food supply.

* To make organic food buying more affordable, cut down on your regular food budget. You may find you have quite a bit left over for organic shopping.

* Once you find an organic supermarket or farmer’s market, buy in bulk. Just as you would at a conventional BJs or Costco Store, you can certainly load up on grains, nuts, and other organic foods.

* Always buy organic fruit and vegetables when they are in season. You can save quite a bit of money buying these in bulk as well. Just ensure you have proper storage facilities in your home.

* Just as you would use coupons to shop in your local supermarket, so too, look for online coupons for organic foods as well.

* Finally, perhaps you could join a co-op, which is a member-owned business that provides groceries and other products to its members at a discount. Many of the products are organic, and much of the produce comes from local family farms. To find a co-op near you, check out the website for co-ops in your area.

Benefits of Organic Foods

While we all know that most foods produced commercially have some form of pesticides or insecticides embedded in them, studies show these harmful chemicals can cause health problems.

According to scientists, their research with rats concluded that those who consumed organic or diets with the least amount of fertilizer displayed an improvement in their immune systems; had better sleeping habits; lost weight; and had a higher concentrate of vitamin E in their systems. Another disturbing fact is that “over three hundred pesticides were approved by the federal government, and of those seventy-three were possible causes of cancer.”

Organic farms, which are not exposed to toxins, grow healthy foods without the use of conventional machinery and chemicals. This is an important factor in that the animals raised on organic farms are also bred under healthy conditions, and therefore, the organic certification status remains intact. These animals are given the highest quality of food, living conditions, and expert health care.

This is one of the benefits of organic farms and the products it produces.
Substituting organic foods can alleviate the high concentration of pesticides found in most regular foods. As mentioned earlier, fruits and vegetables, which are important in any diet regimen, do sustain high levels of pesticide residue. Therefore, the benefit of consuming organic fruits and vegetables is quite obvious.

Whether or not organic farming will ever fully take the place of regular farming is still debatable. It has been estimated that “without the production of artificial nitrogen fertilizer, the carrying capacity of the world's fertile land is enough for only about 60 per cent of the current population of six billion people. As the world's population approaches an estimated nine billion by the year 2050, our dependence on artificial fertilizer will almost certainly become even greater.”

While organic food production has increased, some scientists believe there will be a gradual incorporation of organic and regular farming which will allow “adequate and sustainable food production with minimum disruption to the environment.”

Regardless of whether or not these two methods will reach that point, there is certainly growing concern about the health factors association with foods that are currently available, and for which are being processed by conventional means. Individuals who have chosen organic foods have taken a giant step towards a healthier lifestyle, and while not everyone has joined in – it may soon become more of a necessity than a lifestyle.

Source: http://wivesoffaith.com

Do you have a health related article or tip that you would like to share with Wives of Faith readers?

Refreshing Summer Watermelon Salsa

2 cups of fruit (strawberries, kiwi, berries, peaches, etc.)
1 seedless watermelon
1/4 cup sparkling white grape juice
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
Fresh mint for garnish (optional)


Slice the melon of your choice into 4 pieces 1/2 inch thick and refrigerate. Cut fruit into small bite sized pieces. To make the salsa combine fruit pieces in a bowl with sangria or white grape juice. Toss together, cover and refrigerate for 2 to 5 hours. When ready to serve, sprinkle lemon juice over melon slices and top with salsa.

Love You Dear Spinach Ravioli

1 cup tomatoes peeled, seeded, diced
1 small onion, oven roasted
1 cup portabella mushrooms, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 pound fresh spinach leaves, blanched, chopped
1/4 cup cottage cheese
3/4 cup tofu, mashed
2 Tablespoons fresh basil , minced
Ground black pepper
salt -- to taste
48 ravioli dumplings

Combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, and mushrooms in large pot. Cook over medium heat until mushroom liquid evaporates and mixture becomes a bit dry. Do not over cook. Once complete, set aside to cool. Once cooled combine with spinach, cottage cheese, basil and tofu. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Place a single layer of ravioli dumplings on a cutting board and moisten edges with water using a pastry brush. Add one Tablespoon of spinach mixture to the middle of each skin. Top with a second ravioli dumpling and press edges together to seal. Place ravioli in boiling water for 3 minutes and cook for 3-4 minutes, until raviolis are firm, not soft.

http://wivesoffaith.com

Do you have a recipe that you would like to share with Wives of Faith readers? Email it to: submissions@wivesoffaith.com with "NL Recipe" in the subject line. THANK YOU!