Going Organic

I am currently reading a book called "The Omnivore's Dilemma." The author of the book takes the reader through the life of a meal from growth to dinner table. I was amazed to find out just how much we have altered the natural growth of food so that it can be produced quicker and cheaper. I won't get into too many details because you can read the book (and you should) but I will tell you a few big things I discovered that have really convicted me. Did you know that cows naturally eat grass but the meat industry has forced them to eat corn instead? It is cheaper and fattens up the cows faster so they can more quickly become steaks and hamburgers. This might not seem like a big deal but it really is. Not surprising at all to me, this makes the meat a lot worse for human health. Something happens to the cow when it is forced to eat something so contrary to its natural diet that alters the nutrition of the meat. Eating grass fed meat and dairy is leaps and bounds better for our health. Imagine that, when we do things the way God designed, they turn out well and when we go against God's design, bad things result. It's almost as if God knew what he was doing.

A second shocking thing to me is the pesticides that are used on produce. The make up of produce has actually been altered by these chemicals. There is a vitamin (for lack of a better word) in vegetables that is extremely healthy for humans. That vitamin is created by the vegetable as a defense against the bugs the chemicals kill. They have found that vegetables treated with pesticides have far less of that vitamin than those grown organically without pesticides. It makes sense that over time the vegetables would stop producing that vitamin because it is not necessary. We are actually making our vegetables less nutritious.

So what does this all matter anyways? I have two thoughts to offer you today. First, I believe that we have dominion over the earth because God told us so but I do not believe that dominion is absolute. We do not have the right to treat God's gifts to us however we want. It is evident that when we abuse our dominion we negatively impact God's plan for his gift of food for us to eat. Second, I think this has big implications for women feeding a family. If you are a wife and mother one of your duties and privileges is feeding your family. Women should be aware of exactly what they are putting into the bodies of their loved ones and be sure that it is the best that you can give them. This is especially important if you have daughters. I have a good friend who is struggling with infertility and the doctors are attributing much of it to all the processed and hormone injected food she has consumed in her life. She now eats a strictly organic diet in the hopes of clearing up some of the issues. Girls are reaching puberty much earlier because they are receiving extra hormones through their milk and meat. Do we really want our nine year old to have the ability to become mothers?