Support Local Organic Produce

Health in Harmony editor, Rosie Cox, extols the virtues and benefits of buying local organic produce:

We are children of a chemical age. Chemicals are everywhere and so too are allergies, disease and mental suffering. It’s not surprising there is a current movement towards living a more sustainable, organic and healthy lifestyle.

Choose organic products to reduce the intake of residues of chemicals that may be present on food such as fruit and vegetables. Organic foods have less impact on the environment as producers avoid chemicals, which otherwise get into our soils and waterways.

Nature has been growing plants without pesticides since the beginning of time.

The current movement towards organic farming isn’t just about eating healthier, it’s about the idea of re-building a healthy eco future for the planet. This is a great reason to go organic, but unless you are growing your own produce, you could be supporting the ‘big’ mass producing organic farming that is occurring particularly in the US.

Commercial agricultural techniques, even organic farming, wreak havoc on both the topsoil and ecosystem through their huge fields of growing just one strain of plant.

The Japanese farmer Masanobu Fukuoka invented a no-till system for small-scale grain production that he called Natural Farming.

If you want to eat and live organically, not only for your health, but also to protect the environment then it’s important to shop at your local organic store or farmers’ market. Read the labels and help support the small family farmers and local environment and find out where your supermarket sources food.

Author: Health in Harmony founder and editor, Rosie Cox is a Wanaka based yoga teacher.

Sunshine is Officially Good for You But Dose Yourself Carefully

According to Australian and New Zealand scientists, a daily dose of 10-15 minutes of exposure to sunlight will help prevent vitamin D deficiency.

A Fine Balance

We’re often told about the risk of overexposure to the sun. But without sun we risk depriving our bodies of vitamin D. A deficiency that is linked with developing cancer, arthritis and osteoporosis.

While short doses of sun are good, that means not letting yourself go red or burn. Ultraviolet light comes at a cost:

• UVA – Long-wave solar rays that penetrate the skin deeply and cause premature aging.
• UVB – Short-wave solar rays that cause sunburn and have been linked to skin cancer.

Avoid exposure to the sun or cover up when the UVI (The Ultraviolet Index) index is high and be aware that the time it takes to burn depends on your skin type and the strength of the sun too.

Slap On the Sunscreen

Suncream works by using either a chemical filter that penetrates the skin and absorbs the sun’s rays, or a physical filter that layers a thin membrane to reflect the sun’s rays. These rays are particularly harmful and are believed to cause melanoma. What’s important is that suncream itself doesn’t protect you from skin cancer or premature ageing, while lotions prevent burning, they don’t block out UVA rays effectively.

But Be Kind to Your Skin – Use Organic Sunscrean

Organic suncreams are free from alcohol, artificial perfumes, petrochemicals, parabens and synthetic ingredients, known as ‘skin nasties’. The natural ingredients in organic suncream both protect and heal the skin, and as they don’t contain chemical filters, vitamin D can penetrate the skin. Be aware that organic suncream is likely to be low factor so, as with all suncream, apply regularly and after swimming.

Go Easy On the Eye

The eyes and sensitive skin around them can be damaged, if they are exposed to excessive sunlight. Excessive exposure to UV rays can cause corneal sunburn and long-term exposure may contribute to chronic eye disease.

Children, in particular, need eye protection if they are spending the day on the water or at the beach. It’s best to choose sunglasses that fit closely to the face and wearing a wide-brimmed hat also reduces the amount of sunlight reaching the eyes.

Boost Your Resistance to Sunburn With Beta-carotene

Experts believe that we can increase our resistance to sunburn by eating beta-carotene, found in colourful fruits and vegetables and vitamin E, in peppers, avocados, nuts and seeds.