Organic for Health

Sandy Powers
iUniverse, Inc. (2008)
ISBN 9780595473083
Reviewed by Vicki Landes for Reader Views (1/08)

What’s on your plate these days?  Caught up in the New Year’s weight-loss-resolution craze?  Substituting baked chicken for fried or opting for a healthy salad instead?  Author Sandy Powers says it’s just not enough!  Amid that lower-cholesterol poultry and pile of innocent-looking veggies lurks a terror so offensive, you won’t believe it’s FDA-approved.  Hormones, antibiotics, synthetic pesticides, irradiated components, genetically modified organisms, reprocessed sewage – and you kiss your mother with that mouth?

“Organic for Health” is a jarring look at what we eat everyday, even those fresh foods considered ‘healthy.’  For those already knowledgeable in all things organic, it’s a gentle reminder to stay on track.  But for people like me, it’s a horrifying glimpse into what my body’s had to process over the years.  Chronic health problems, low immunity, and even that invading cancer battling our systems make much more sense when Powers describes what all we eat in addition to our intended meals.  Put down that fork and slowly step away… 

Unlike health how-to books that rival the size of medical textbooks, “Organic for Health” is easily ingested in one sitting for quick application.  Not only does Powers give you a well-organized down and dirty (literally) of non-organic foods, she starts you off on the right path with a mouth-watering variety of recipes as well as advice on transitioning your grocery shopping habits without breaking the bank.  Further, she provides a thorough glossary for quick reference and additional sources for supplementary research. 

Sandy Powers notes she is living proof that the switch to organic foods is life-altering.  Faced with breast cancer and a required surgery, her situation was further compounded with risky liver problems.  Now, she lives cancer-free and her liver is better than ever thanks to an organic lifestyle.  With the number of health problems, costs of medical care and prescriptions growing at a staggering rate, most people can no longer avoid taking a serious look at what they eat and would benefit from Powers’ example.  Even healthy parents will find this book eye-opening.  As a mother, I found that the most shocking information in “Organic for Health” is that children have a higher sensitivity to these food additives - measured and packaged with an adult’s body in mind. 

Genetically-altered additives, pesticides, antibiotics, and reprocessed sewage – and that’s just breakfast!  “Organic for Health” will convince even the most indifferent eater that organic foods are the way to optimal wellbeing.