Soybeans contain higher amounts of protein and fat than similar plant based foods. They contain many of the essential amino acids along with B group vitamins and minerals. Soybeans are also a rich source of isoflavones and phyto oestrogens, the natural plant hormones which are now believed to protect the body against certain forms of cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis. They have been cultivated as an important food source in China, Japan, and Korea for thousands of years. In Japan today, soybean products are still used in preference to most animal sourced dairy items. As part of their traditional approach to food, the Japanese have developed very precise and accurate techniques for evaluating the quality of soybeans. Until recently, the...

Today, there are an incredible variety of organic cheese products available from almost every region of the world. Frequently named as one of the most basic and historically ancient foods, cheese continues to distinguish itself with the ongoing popularity of five traditional varieties. The big five include fetta, mozzarella, Parmesan, Swiss and cheddar. Visit your nearest continental delicatessen and ask the proprietor about cheese sales. Whether you live in New York, London, or Sydney, the big five will represent around seventy percent of total cheese sales. Each of the big five varieties is produced in extremely large volumes every year with vast differences in quality between the premium and average grades of cheese. There are of course many...

Anyone who visits a reputable organic dairy farm will begin to appreciate that the quality and taste of milk, cream, and other products is largely determined by the living conditions of the animals, particularly their access to healthy pasture. Cows have a complex digestive system which enables them to process and absorb nutrients from fibrous plant material like grass, dandelion, and clover. Milk obtained from grass fed cows is particularly rich in important vitamins and minerals. Under normal dietary conditions, the fat content of cows milk is determined largely by the breed and the time of year. Jersey cows produce moderate quantities of milk with a high proportion of buttermilk compared to Fresian and Holstein cows, which provide large volumes...

Despite their negative publicity over the years, edible oils play an important role in maintaining physical health and wellbeing. Compared to other nutrients, they are particularly high in energy and are routinely stored as a reserve supply. Every cell is surrounded by a lipid layer which helps to maintain the integrity of the intracellular environment. Oils play a key role in transporting fat-soluble nutrients like vitamin E, D, and they are key constituents of the steroidal compounds which regulate metabolism, development and integration of the body’s vital functions. It wasn’t long ago that health advocates were recommending polyunsaturated vegetable oils like safflower, sunflower, and soybean as the best choices for a healthy diet. The...

According to market researchers, there are six underlying factors which influence consumers deciding between organically certified and conventional dairy produce. By a considerable degree, the most important of these is a concern for product safety. This is demonstrated by our instinctive desire to be reassured that exacting standards have been met to minimise the risk of modern food contaminants, particularly those suspected of creating preventable health problems. Fair enough. We live in a technologically complex age with many benefits and advantages. All the same, there are lots of people who feel uncomfortable with agricultural chemicals and genetically altered proteins in the food chain. Optimal nutrition Closely related to the concern...

According to longstanding tradition, beer is made from four natural ingredients. These are pure water, barley malt, hops, and yeast. In Germany, the standard is upheld through the purity law (Reinheitsgebot), which prevents brewers using additional or alternative ingredients in any product marketed as a beer. Outside Germany, there are plenty of beers containing mixed cereals, added sugar, flavouring compounds, and chemicals to increase storage capacity, creaminess, and clarity. Making organic beer Organic beer is made in the traditional manner, with pure, healthy ingredients. No chemical additives or genetically modified substances are used and the production facilities are routinely inspected to ensure compliance with organic certification...

Sugar, honey, and other natural sweeteners are an important source of pleasure. They are frequently used in drinks, cakes, biscuits, sauces, candy, and many other indulgence foods. Unfortunately, most of the sugar appearing on supermarket shelves is highly refined, which means that it is stripped of the nutrients which were originally present in the plants from which it was derived. Highly refined sugar and our health Highly refined sugars and sweeteners provide what dieticians describe as empty calories. These provide a form of energy which can be used by the body but do not contribute to its longer term maintenance, repair, or vitality. When taken, the body must use the calories as a source of immediate energy or begin a complicated process...

In their unrefined state, many whole grains are covered with a coarse husk which prevents their easy absorption within the digestive tract. Most of them can be milled to create flours which are sufficiently digestible and convenient for blending with other ingredients. In historical times, milling was a simple physical process which involved repeatedly cracking and grinding the grains against suitably flattened surfaces of stone. Today, the technology of milling has advanced to include many additional applications which homogenise, bleach, blend and fortify our basic flours. Consumers demand wholesome food The current shift toward wholesome and unadulterated food ingredients encompasses the organic approach which restricts the unnecessary use...

Grain can be defined as the edible seeds from a wide variety of grass-like plants. Complex whole grains are a natural source of digestible carbohydrates, protein, essential oils, in addition to minerals and the fibrous material of their external husks and bran layer. When raised in healthy, unpolluted soils, they provide the foundation for an optimally balanced diet and active lifestyle. Throughout history, most societies depended upon one or more of these foods to provide their basic nutritional requirements. The unique characteristics of the grains combined with their manner of processing assumed a significant role in the development of many cultural practices and traditions. Increased consumer choice Unlike earlier periods in history, the...