organic food

And if you stay away from packaged foods you eliminate synthetic additives from your diet.

Harvey Wiley, M.D., U.S. Government Chemist, found a reason for depression back in 1902 other than "life stresses" or a "brain chemical imbalance". Building a case for creation of the FDA, he conducted an official five-year study on synthetic food additives proposed for use in our food. He found in a team of healthy male subjects that, "they developed persistent headaches in most cases, followed by general depression and debility. It was extremely well marked in every instance."

The FDA was created but failed to enact important restrictions on synthetic additives which Dr. Wiley and his subjects worked so diligently to bring about. Wiley was maligned by industry and left his government post in 1906 to campaign outside government for stricter controls on the use of synthetic chemicals in our food, never to be successful. What he said about continuous small doses of toxic substances is noteworthy today. Wiley pointed out that there may be, "no measurable effect upon a healthy individual for a long time, but that in the end it would produce no harmful effect is contrary to all the rules of physiology and logic."

As reported in Lancet, September 06, 2007, Professor Jim Stevenson and a group of researchers at University of Southampton proved in controlled clinical trials that certain food additives cause hyperactivity in children. Children showed marked behavioral changes when given certain additives while children in the control group remained in a normal state. Children who were given additives had difficulty sitting still and concentrating. They also became loud and impulsive and had problems reading.

Stevenson and his colleagues believe the harm caused to the IQ of children by these additives is comparable to the damaging impact of lead on a developing brain.

One of the additives causing hyperactive behavior in Stevenson's recent study is sodium benzoate, a food preservative legal for use in the U.S. despite the fact that Dr. Wiley proved it had detrimental health effects - notably psychological - as far back as 1906. His fight to get the FDA to restrict sodium benzoate back in 1906 is documented in his book "The History of a Crime Against the Food Law: The Amazing Story of the National Food and Drugs Law Intended to Protect the Health of the People Perverted to Protect Adulteration of Foods and Drugs". The title in itself is a synopsis of all you need to know, but if you want to get a closer look at the dissembling by "experts" that goes on ad nauseum (yet more perfected today) to manipulate the system in favor of money over living human beings this is an excellent reference.

Introduction to Whole Food Concepts

Radio Show: Real Food Saves Money
Your Own Health and Fitness, 11/04/2008 on KPFA.org Archives
Lana Berman with guest Sally Fallon
[first 5-10 minutes of broadcast is "Free Speech Radio", Fallon show follows and is worth the wait]

Food Sources

Organic Consumers Association

Eat Well Guide A free online guide to finding local sustainable organic food in the U.S. and Canada

Organic Food Newsletter

Organic Bytes
Have interesting and important information about organic food delivered to your email box. From the Organic Consumers Association.