Quantum


HEALTH


Issue 8 December 2010


Go organic this


Christmas and you’ll have lots more to celebrate


The choices we make over the festive season– about what goes on our plates, the presents we buy, what we wear and what we put on our skin –have far reaching consequences for our health, the health of our countryside and environment and the sustainable development of countries across the world.


Greening your Christmas does not have to be difficult or expensive. Simply giving a bit more thought to how you source your food and your presents can help you save money, and have fun along the way.


So here are our ten top tips for enjoying a Christmas that is better for animal welfare, better for the environment and better for you….


1. CHRISTMAS CHEER THAT DOESN’T COST THE EARTH Organic farms have 50% more wildlife, support more and better farming jobs, and cause less pollution. Organic farming is generally a more energy efficient system of food production, mainly because it does not use inorganic nitrogen fertiliser, which is produced from petro- chemicals. If all UK farmland was converted to organic farming, at least 3.2 million tonnes of carbon would be taken up by the soil each year –the equivalent of taking nearly one million cars off the road.


54 Quantum Health


With 30% of an individual’s carbon foot-print made up of their food choices, food is the single most important, everyday way for people to reduce their own environmental impact. Choosing the most climate-friendly foods means supporting sustainable agriculture and buying organic, local and seasonal food.


Organic farmers are also kind to the environment because they use natural processes such as energy from the sun to fix nitrogen in the soil and crop and livestock rotations to keep soil fertile; they rely on natural predators for pest control; and they place a strong focus on animal welfare, which reduces the need for pharmaceuticals and other synthetic treatments to keep their stock healthy.


Eating an organic diet on a budget is easy if you get creative in the kitchen and rethink your shopping list. A few of our top tips; Eat less meat, buy dried goods in bulk; make a shopping list to avoid waste and sign up to an organic box scheme or food cooperative.


2. CHRISTMAS DINNER – FILL UP ON THE GOOD STUFF From your roast potatoes and sprouts to the chocolate and mince pies, make sure your Christmas dinner is loaded with all the right nutrients.


www.quantumhealthmagazine.com


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