Health conscious consumers seek natural products. Their diet consists of nutritious fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins.
Attaining good mental health through practices such as meditation, yoga and mindfulness. Furthermore, they prioritize adequate hydration, adequate rest and regular physical exercise as part of their five habits to live healthier lives!
Natural Foods
Recently, supermarket shelves have become home to products marked as natural or organic. Such foods tend to be free from artificial preservatives and additives and high in nutrients; the trend also extends beyond food products to lifestyle products like eco-friendly cleaning supplies and energy-saving appliances.
These foods tend to be easier on your digestive system and contain more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than their processed counterparts; thus increasing energy levels and mental clarity.
Not all natural products are created equal, however. The term ‘natural’ can be misleading, as it should refer only to ingredients unaltered by human intervention – therefore, consumers must carefully read labels.
Organic Foods
Health-conscious consumers are willing to pay more for products that support their wellness goals, such as organic and GMO-free foods. Organically produced items must not contain synthetic pesticides or additives and be produced in an eco-friendly manner.
Consumers in search of organic food used to be limited to visiting specialty stores or farmers markets; today however, most major grocery stores offer these options.
Organic fruit and vegetables typically do not contain any pesticide residue, making them safer to eat than conventional produce. However, the Environmental Working Group’s Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen lists provide consumers with guidance when making purchasing decisions for organic produce.
Organic meat and dairy are generally healthier than their conventional counterparts due to organic standards prohibiting the use of antibiotics, animal byproducts and sewage sludge in raising animals. Furthermore, food produced from such animals contains lower cadmium concentrations as well as more antioxidants than its conventional counterpart.
Non-GMO Foods
The Non-GMO Project logo signifies food and ingredients grown without genetically modified seeds, providing assurances to health, environmental and biodiversity concerns by encouraging natural farming methods which align more closely with traditional farming practices. Note: A product labeled Non-GMO but not organic may still contain GMO foods; to avoid them it’s best to opt for organic options, or look out for the Non-GMO Project Verified logo when choosing non-organic options and avoid high risk crops like corn, cottonseed, papaya, soy, sugar beets and zucchini
Many people prefer eating non-GMO food due to its perceived advantages for human and environmental health. Furthermore, non-GMO products often boast superior nutrition due to being more nutrient dense; furthermore they are typically produced on smaller local farms with natural pest control methods in place as well as being less likely to contain foreign proteins that may trigger allergies.
Sustainable Foods
Sustainable eating refers to eating a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables and legumes which not only costs less to produce than meat and grains but also provides essential nutrition to your body. A sustainable eating lifestyle may be effective at lowering total cholesterol levels, decreasing risks for certain cancers and strengthening immunity systems.
Sustainable meat production places an emphasis on animal care, soil health and reducing antibiotic usage to combat antibiotic-resistant “superbugs.” Eating sustainably can reduce your environmental footprint while supporting farmers who use ethical and responsible methods when raising livestock.
Selecting food packaging that is recyclable, compostable or made of microbial biodegradable polymersExternal Link:open_in_new can help you select more environmentally sustainable food choices. By bringing reusable bags and shopping in bulk at grocery stores or farmers markets and purchasing grains, nuts and dried fruits in larger quantities you can help reduce plastic waste that harms animals and plant life – not to mention saving on packaging costs while decreasing carbon emissions!
