Organic vegetables are a source of much interest in our review of good practices to maintain our health and wellbeing at the very top. We pay extra for products that have the label "organic" prominently displayed on the packaging. All the same, a focused examination of this subject is in order.

According to a number of published organic practices studies about 40% of all products labeled as "organic" have a questionable background and provenance. When you consider that about 80% of our food is imported from countries that lack strict enforcement of organic guidelines, and the profit motive involved, it comes as no surprise that cheating is rampant.

All the above begs the question: How can I protect myself and family from eating products that have been falsely labeled? The answer is that there is no foolproof way of doing so. Knowledge is your greatest weapon in this endeavor. As an example, I once investigated the olive oil industry for blatant cheating regarding the contents of their oil. It was an eye opener!

If in doubt over the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides one of the best practices is to let your vegetables soak for a minute in a sink full of water that's had a couple of tablespoons of baking soda mixed into it. Once you remove the vegetable rinse well, preferably with a sink wand to better control the water and access all the vegetable's nooks and crannies.

Another source of concern is the marketing puffery associated with many organic claims, some coming from sources you'd never expect. As an example, I was reading an anti-cancer regimen originally promoted by a well-known physician. This person has been dead for a long time but the folks still promoting his regimen claimed the good doctor used only organic vegetables.

Upon closer examination I realized the bulk of this doctor's work had been carried out back in the 30's and 40's, what we can call the golden age of chemical agriculture. In spite of this fact, the folks still promoting his regimen were proclaiming he used 100% organic vegetables! Given this information it's not too hard to read between the lines and come to your own conclusion.

The gist of this presentation is to encourage you to remain informed and observant when making your food choices. Your greatest friend in this quest is the Web, use it and easily gather information that will help you and your family eat better!