Organic Food Australia – What to eat, what is good for you

Finding a good brand of honey has often been quite a daunting task when visiting local super markets in Sydney. I look for a dark texture, with traces of honey comb, clear but dark, rich and firm. Most honey’s in supermarkets have been heat treated, chemicals and additives added and by the time they get to our dinner table it is more like sweetened syrup than honey.

Then one day I walked in to Aldi and I came across a brand right at the front door which had the words ‘Organic” on it… I picked it up and low & behold, it was the real deal, unprocessed, unheated and pure organic honey with the honeycomb still visible which is always a good sign of it’s quality and authenticity.

When I got home I served it up with some fresh fruit and muesli and I was so happy to have found a honey in Sydney that was affordable, untreated, delicious and organic. I have taken a picture of the product below, check it out for your self, it tastes wonderful believe me..

Honey has been used for centuries as a wonder food, it is full of goodness and a great natural form of sugar and glucose. Honey contains small amounts of several compounds thought to function as antioxidants, including chrysin, pinobanksin, vitamin C, catalase, and pinocembrin .. It was mentioned in the Bible as a special food for kings, Samson found a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of a lion  and John was a strong man who ate a lot of honey. Honey is a real health wonder food that has special properties to help you with archiving optimal health.

Article by Gary L
The product reviewed has not bee endorsed but this review was the honest opinion of the author.

I’m still shocked, fascinated and horrified all at the same time when I visit my local supermarket on the rare occasion. It literally is a toxic haven and I am angered and frustrated at the inability to find even a miniscule array of true organic products that will not harm me or my environment.

The extreme over consumers that we lovely humans have become accustomed and even a slave to is ridiculous and embarrassing. Let me ask you this… What do you intend to tell your children or your grand children when they cannot swim in the ocean or any water way for that matter because it is completely unsafe? When it is too hot to go outdoors without 60 plus sunscreen or the fear of a third degree burn? When the amount of weird and wonderful diseases that they will face cannot be explained (though could have been prevented and cured) due to overstuffing them with a cocktail of who knows what both internally and externally for a vast number of years?

Are you smirking at these remarks and thinking to yourself that this is an impossible notion. Is it really?

If you have read a newspaper or listened to the radio recently you would realise that this is not so impossible anymore. The chemicals in your skincare and your food are absorbed directly into your system and passed directly into your immediate environment. Have you ever heard the saying ‘Little Hinges Swing Big Doors’. It only takes small mistakes to cause catastrophic damage yet it only takes a small amount of effort and change to cause the opposite. So which side of the fence are you on?

Kevin Farrow in his latest book ‘Skin Deep’ talks about our society being the first to choose commerce over health. He seems to be right as we all knowingly poison ourselves everyday. He also discovers in detail the real truths about chemicals and their testing, the political arena surrounding this industry, the big companies and in detail, every chemical you should be scared of and need to take out of your daily regime. Kevin also mentions that there are now over 200 synthetic chemicals found in our bodies that weren’t even invented in 1900. For a list of toxic ingredients please visit my website.

So what I’m wondering is, do you actually know what the jargon is that is placed on the behind of your ‘beauty’ products? Are your truly aware of what you lovingly lather all over yourself everyday? More importantly, are you taking action and choosing sustainable products?

Whilst on the subject of chemical nasties and the under regulated big industry giants who line their pockets at the expense of your health… how is it that the Organic and Bio Dynamic Farming Industry who produce our goods naturally and how they once originally were have to pay large sums and undergo a lengthy test process to prove themselves to be ‘Organic’ when the companies producing products full of toxic chemicals, additives, fertilizers and antibiotics don’t pay a cent and don’t have to label their goods to any suitable standard? Why are we not all asking for the latter to label their products for exactly what they are…UNNATURAL, INORGANIC, DANGEROUS FOR YOUR HEALTH, NOT SUITABLE FOR EVERBODY. Where is the common sense?

What the real issue is here is changing our lazy ways and taking responsibility. I could moan about this for hours but I don’t. I trot off to my local Organic Farmers Market and buy my goods. I shop for my healthy whole foods, natural beauty products, fantastic eco friendly cleaning products and my medicinal herbs all at my local health food shop or my healthy supermarket. I can do this because I am lucky to have it available to me and I allow time to educate myself and make an effort.

Is it more expensive to shop this way… sometimes but generally not if you shop smart? Is it worth making the effort for my health, the taste, the feel and a clear conscience that I am doing what is best for my body, for future generations and my environment; ABOSLUTELY! In fact I quite enjoy it.

I won’t continue to lecture or enlighten you. All I am asking you to do is use your common sense and awareness and make an effort for the benefit of YOU and for a sustainable future for our planet. Its just little hinges….

For those of you who are not able to jump around the corner to grab your organic goodies, visit my website and find the best online selection of every Health, Wellness and Sustainable Product in Australia. Everything is reasonably priced and all of our suppliers deliver to your door so you will save loads of time and effort, we’ve done all of the hard work for you!

Happy & Smart Shopping!
Warm Regards
Heidi Shannon
www.healthspot.com.au

P.S I would also love to hear from you. Email me your thoughts and feedback at info@healthspot.com.au or simply go to my site for a peek at what can be easily delivered to your door.

About the Author
As the Author of health and wellness website Healthspot.com.au I am passionate about the health industry and the challenges we face. I can’t do enough to promote products and companies that care for the health of the individual and the future of our planet.

Many people are now becoming aware of the health benefits of emu oil. It’s use originated from the Aborigines in Australia hundreds of years ago. Did you know that emu oil is almost identical to the fatty acid makeup of your skin? This makes it one of the few natural skin products that actually nourishes and heals your skin.Due to the increasing popularity of this healthy oil, more and more people are looking for the best emu oil to buy. So how do you choose the best emu oil? What about quality and purity? How do you know you’re getting the highest quality emu oil for your skin? Since you’re most likely using emu oil as a topical preparation for your skin, using a good quality product is very important.

There are 3 main criteria for choosing the best emu oil:

1) Are you getting 100% pure, Fully-Refined emu oil?

2) Do you want emu oil from an organic farm – raised without antibiotics, steroids, and hormones? How do you know your emu oil is from an organic farm?

3) If you buy emu mixed into cosmetics, such as soaps and shampoos, how much actual emu oil are you getting in your products?

1. Always buy 100% pure, Fully-Refined emu oil!

Research studies have proven the effectiveness of 100% pure, Fully-Refined emu oil. Emu oils of lesser quality cannot guarantee the same effectiveness or quality. 100% pure, Fully-Refined emu oil assures you that the oil is free of bacteria, toxic metals, and other contaminants.

One organization that provides a certification program for 100% pure refined emu oil is the American Emu Association. It’s one of the largest organizations that provides leadership and guidelines for emu farming in North America. Members of this non-profit trade assocation practise humane and enviromentally-friendly farming.

AEA-Certified emu oil is 100% pure, Fully-Refined Emu Oil that:

- Hasn’t been mixed with other refined oils

- Has been tested and certified by the American Oil Chemist Society (AOCS)

The American Oil Chemist Society (AOCS) provides strict guidelines, rules and regulations for an oil to be classified as Fully-refined. A sample of each emu oil batch is held for further testing – should it’s purity be questioned.

Emu oil with the ranking of “Fully-Refined” is deemed appropriate for cosmetic, pharmaceutical and/or dietary supplement use. Fully-Refined emu oil has been processed at high temperatures to remove any contaminants. The AEA has researched the effects of high temperatures and found there was no damaging effects to the emu oil itself. Emu oil certified by the AEA is considered to be the highest quality for personal use.

2. Is your emu oil from a farm that practices humane and enviromentally friendly farming?

How do you know if the emu oil you’re using was from emu raised on steroids, antibiotics or growth hormones? One benefit of using AEA-certified emu oil is that all of its members practise safe and humane emu farming. They don’t use steroids or antibiotics on their emu and they believe in organic farming practises.

3. How much emu oil are you getting in emu soaps, emu shampoos and other cosmetics?

Many companies now offer emu oil in different preparations, such as emu oil shampoos, skin lotions, etc. One important thing to look for is the actual amount of emu oil in your product. A general rule of thumb is the higher up the ingredient is listed on the ingredient list – the higher amount of that ingredient mixed into the total product. If you buy emu oil soap and you see that emu oil is listed at the very end of the ingredient list, this tells you that you’re probably not getting too much emu oil in it.

Even better if the product lists the actual amount of emu oil in your cosmetic product…but this is rare. Again, it’s “Buyer Beware” – always look at the ingredient labels to see exactly what your getting…or not getting.

FAQ to Buying Emu Oils

1. Is there a difference between white emu oil and yellow emu oil?

The color differences in oil is most likely due to the diet of the emu. Research has shown there is no difference between different colors of emu oil for its intended effect.

2. Is Australian emu oil better than American emu oil?

Some people that sell Australian emu oil will try to convince you that Australian emu oil is a better product than American emu oil. Nothing could be further from the truth. The American Emu Assocation compared the fatty acid components of emu oils from 9 different countries, including USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia – They found no significant difference in quality.

3. How much should you pay for Fully Refined emu oil?

The cost of emu oil will vary with the amount you’re buying. You can get small 1 ounce bottles, up to large 1 liter jugs. My research found that the average cost of emu oil works out to about $5 – $10 per ounce. Buying larger quantities will usually get you a cheaper price per ounce since you’re buying in bulk.

4. Can you get a money-back guarantee when buying emu oil?

Some producers of emu oil may offer you a money back guarantee. This tells you that the emu farmer stands behind the purity of his/her product and is willing to offer you a refund if you’re not pleased with it. Most AEA-certified emu oil comes with a money-back guarantee.

5. Should you only buy AEA-certified emu oil?

This is your own decision. There are many emu farms that produce excellent products and are not members of the American Emu Assocation. The benefit of AEA-certified emu oil is that each batch is tested for purity – and a sample is held for analysis if there’s a question about its purity. You may not get this with non-certified emu oils.

Just like any buying any product, it pays to shop around, do some research and make your decision. Using emu oil is a wonderful, all-natural treatment for your skin. There are many documented studies on the healing powers of emu oil. As word gets out about this health-giving oil, more and more people will be eager to try this secret from the Australian outback.

About the Author

Kevin Lee is owner of http://www.healthy-oil-planet.com, a website devoted to benefits of healthy oils such as fish oils, flaxseed oil, emu oil, virgin coconut oil, tea tree oil and more.