Why should We Grow Our Own Organic Vegetables?:

Some people ask of Organic Vegetables Growing,
Its just another fad?

Not at all, is the answer? Nutrition experts agree that the dietary fibre or roughage (the part of the plant, that are not digested in our intestines) should be increased in the average diet.

Once eaten, organic foods high in fibre act as bulk, giving a feeling of fullness. This helps in weight control, as you feel fuller on less food. In addition, fibre is not absorbed, so cannot be turned into calories through digestion.

Fibre absorbs water and swells to become bulky, and helps the speedy and easy elimination of waste from the body. In this way a high fibre diet can cure or prevent digestive problems such as constipation, diverticulosis and haemorrhoids. Doctors say we should increase our dietary fibre intake by 50 per cent over the next 15 years.

Fibre is found in cereal grain such as wheat, oats, barley and rice. It is also present in nuts and seeds, such as peanuts and sunflower seeds; Organic fruit and vegetables (with the skins and peels left on) and also in pulses such as dried beans and lentils.

Modern processing techniques are responsible for refining original high fibre foods to a low fibre version. Common examples are the refining of whole wheat to white flour and white pasta, whole-rice into polished rice and fresh fruit into juice.

The best advice is to choose whole unrefined organic foods wherever possible. It is estimated that about 75 per cent of our foods have been processed at least once! This not as bad as it sounds as grinding flour or freezing peas can count as processing.

The best guide to quality is the food label. In the example of breakfast cereals, the label will show that some, although promoted as high fibre or having added bran and therefore supposed to be healthy, have had sugar, salt and various additives added during manufacture.

Organic Potato Recipe.

Potato Puff.
Two cupfuls of mashed potatoes; two tablespoonfuls of melted butter. Stir these, with a seasoning of salt, to a light, fine, creamy consistency. Beat two eggs separately, and add six tablespoonfuls of cream. Beat all together well and lightly. Pile in an irregular form in a dish. Bake in a quick oven until nicely colored.

Many more nourishing Organic Recipes at our website at NEW! Guide to Organic Cooking! - The Healthy Way of Living!