To answer the question what is good food, good food consists mostly of organic whole foods that are uncontaminated and free of additives and preservatives.

Good Food Is GMO-Free

Today, 60-70% of processed foods contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Genetically modifying an organism involves cutting genes out from one organism and inserting them into another. Although scientists can pinpoint what they want to extract, placing that gene into the DNA of another organism is completely random. Scientists do not yet fully understand living systems thoroughly enough to perform this DNA surgery without creating mutations which could be harmful to the environment and our health.

Although there is no data on the long term safety of GMOs, we recommend using the precautionary principle for these and other synthetic foods.

Scientists are finding that GMOs can cause mutations in an organism that when ingested, can be toxic to the body. In addition to the danger posed by these toxins, GMOs may be implicated in the provocation of allergic reactions. GMO foods may also cause bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics, creating the potential for new, untreatable diseases.

To a food company, a benefit to producing transgenic foods is that they have the ability to “keep” on store shelves for longer, even though they may be nutritionally anemic.

Avoiding foods containing genetically modified organisms is an important step towards getting healthy. The most common sources of food containing GMOs are:

• Soybeans
• Corn
• Cottonseed
• Canola oil
• Sugar beets

Dairy and beef from cows injected with the genetically engineered hormone rBGH/rBST or fed genetically modified grains are also a significant source of GMO consumption.

Products labeled 100% organic do not contain GMOs under current law. If the label does not say 100% organic, it may contain up to 30% GMO ingredients.

Good Food Is Organic

Organic farming and conventional farming practices may both yield fruits and vegetables. However, the differences in these methods result in end products that are quite different. A fundamental difference is that conventional farmers may implement genetic engineering practices while organic farmers do not. Conventional farmers can apply chemical fertilizers to the soil, spray crops with insecticides and pesticides and use synthetic herbicides to control weed growth.

Chemical fertilizers are often made from recycled industrial waste. In a test of 29 fertilizers from 12 different states, all were shown to contain high levels of toxins such as mercury, lead, arsenic, aluminum and antimony. Other studies show a link between exposure to these fertilizers and preterm births, birth defects and cancer. Non-organic farmings also poses harm to our environment in the form of increased pollution of groundwater by pesticides and fertilizers.

Organic farmers use natural fertilizer (such as manure or compost) to feed the soil, insect predators (such as ladybugs) and barriers to protect crops from pests. In addition, they use crop rotation, mulches and hand-weeding as methods to reduce weed growth.

Not only do these practices remove the danger of harmful chemicals and grow nutrient-dense produce but they also promote biodiversity through all levels of the food chain.

Where to Find Organic Food

The good news is that it is getting easier and easier to find organic produce. Many grocery stores are now carrying a wide variety of organics. You may think that organics are cost-prohibitive, but there are economical alternatives. There are many wonderful fruit and vegetable CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) that one can join, which usually involves picking up fresh produce once a week. Another option is to visit your local farmer’s market for locally grown organic goods. Supermarkets are also now carrying frozen organic fruits and vegetables. Or, you can become a bit of a land steward and grow your own.

For more information about organic food, visit Local Harvest and the Environmental Working Group’s Food News.

Good Food Is Grass-Fed/Pastured, Organic Animal Proteins

Animal proteins such as beef, chicken, turkey and eggs are an important part of a healthy diet, yet there are strong differences between the grain-fed and grass-fed varieties.

Unless they are marked as organic, grass-fed or pastured, virtually all the meat, eggs, and dairy products that you find in the supermarket come from animals raised in confinement in large facilities called CAFOs or “Confined Animal Feeding Operations”. These animals are fed a grain diet predominantly of soy and corn.

This poses two main problems: The soy and corn that they are fed are usually genetically engineered and therefore, passing all of the dangers of GMO’s onto the consumer. The other problem is that these animals are meant to graze on grass, which is high in health-promoting omega-3 fatty acids. When they are not able to do so, they fall sick and routinely need to be treated with antibiotics.

Benefits of Grass-Fed/Pastured, Organic Animal Proteins

When you choose grass-fed, pastured organic proteins, you are reducing your consumption of GMOs, growth hormones and antibiotics. There are also direct health benefits to this choice. Grass-fed proteins are lower in fat and calories than their grain-fed counterparts. They are also two to four times higher in omega-3 fatty acids, which are considered good fats that contribute to cardiovascular and brain health.

Studies have shown that grass-fed beef can have as much as four times more vitamin E than grain-fed beef. Vitamin E plays an important role in skin health as it protects skin cells from UV light, pollution and other elements that produce cell damage and free radicals.

Products from grass-fed animals are the richest known source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid that has been shown to reduce cancer risks in humans.

Where to Find Grass-Fed/Pastured, Organic Animal Proteins

Grass-fed, pastured organic varieties are the gold standard for animal protein and can be more costly. Some ways that you can save are by joining a local farm CSA (community supported agriculture) in which you pay a set fee at set intervals and receive the product, usually frozen, directly from the farm. You can also find a local farm and buy a share of the livestock (e.g., buy a quarter of a cow) at a discounted rate. Your local farm may also have poultry and eggs for sale.  For further information, visit the Eat Wild website.

Good Food Is Smaller, Wild-Caught Fish

Eating fish contaminated with mercury, a poison that interferes with the brain and nervous system, can cause serious health problems, especially for children and pregnant women. Children under six, as well as women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, are the most vulnerable to mercury’s harmful effects. They should restrict or eliminate fish from their diet, including: