Is Organic Better?

Go Easy On The Pork This Holiday!

2011-12-19T16:47:00.000-08:00

Go Easy on the Pork This Holiday

Posted by FloridaHerbHouse on December 14, 2011

Pork chops and applesauce; while it sounds tasty there is something we must all know about “the other white meat” and there is a good reason to maybe choose another meat for your holiday dinner this year.
While many health conscious families do indeed limit their intake of red meat and pork, usually this is because of the consistent decline in the quality of meat produced in today’s world. Many of the meats found on supermarket shelves today, minus organic and grass fed kinds, have a plethora of harmful toxins present. Much of this is due to the excessive use of antibiotics, hormones and fertilizers in today’s farming industry. But there is another problem with pork that many of us don’t know about.

Pork is one of the hardest foods in the world for our body to digest. In fact, studies have been done on pork digestion and it has been noted that pork can remain in ones digestive tract for as much as 5-6 hours after being eaten! Every morsel of food that we put in our body causes a stress on our body. This stress resulting from the metabolism of any food causes free radicals to be released throughout our body. Pork is the king of the free radicals when it comes to digestion. In fact, eating a pork sandwich (e.g., pork and bread) would result in the longest digestion times compared to any other food combination.
But wait, there is also another problem with pork that many of us do not know about. Because pork is so hard to digest it can interfere with other foods that have been eaten within the same reasonable time frame. For example, if you ate a bowl of grapes and then some pork, your body is in for a rough ride. As your body tries so hard to digest the pork you ate, the grapes now sit idle in your stomach, sometimes for many many hours. We all know what happens when you bite into an apple and then let it sit for a few minutes. Of course, it starts to “brown” and ferment. Well, the grapes in your stomach, or any fruit for that matter have now begun the fermenting process. This can cause some very uncomfortable conditions such as an upset stomach and acid indigestion. Choosing your meat wisely in the world we live in today and making wise choices when it comes to meats can help your body in many ways. Have a great holiday all!!!

Steven Sharp
Florida Herb House
www.FloridaHerbHouse.com

Organic Freeze Dried Acai Berry Drink Mix - A Healthy Favorite!

2011-11-10T00:56:00.000-08:00

Acai SuperFruit Delight by Florida Herb House is the superfruit powder of all superfoods! This one fourth pound supply contains about 45 single teaspoon servings of mega vitamins, minerals, phyto nutrients, antioxidants and more! You will not find a more nutrient dense superfruit blend around. Whether you are on a health kick and want to reap the myriad of health benefits from this amazing superfood berry mix or if you simply are not getting your 5-7 servings of fruits and veggies each day, well Acai SuperFruit Delight is made to please. Combining equal parts our finest organic grown acai berries, organic grown bilberries and all natural blueberries, this powder blend can be used in a daily health drink or in your favorite recipes that call for berries. Turn your next pie into a flavor bursting culinary masterpiece with just a teaspoon of this pure berry mix. Sprinkle some on your cereal or try some in your next homemade jam or jelly! There are hundreds of ways to reap the amazing nutritional benefits from Acai SuperFruit Delight!

Directions: Mix 1-2 teaspoons of Acai SuperFruit Delight powder with 4-6 oz of juice or water or smoothie. Take up to two times daily.

- It's hard to believe that our small acai berries can be a #1 superfood in America as explained by Dr. Perricone on Oprah.

- The Acai berry is full of healthy Omega fats. Nearly 40% of the Acai berry consists of healthy unsaturated fats such as Omega 3, Omega 6 and Omega 9. Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C and E are all present in Acai. There are about 14 grams of fiber in every 100 grams of our freeze dried Acai powder.

- Acai SuperFruit Delight contains organic grown bilberries gently dried into a fine powder. Bilberries are considered one of the most antioxidant rich berries on our planet! Boost your immune system with Acai SuperFruit Delight!

- Acai SuperFruit Delight contains all natural blueberries gently dried into a fine powder. Blueberries may reduce the build-up of so called "bad" cholesterol!

- Our blueberry powder is packed with vitamin C & E, fiber, antioxidants and work as a natural anti-inflammatory! The anthocyanin present in blueberries is good for eyesight!

- Acai SuperFruit Delight packs all three of these amazing superfruits together for an amazing superfood drink!

- Acai SuperFruit Delight is 100% pure and unrefined! No sugars, fillers, artificial flavors or colors added ever! Pure natural goodness that you will never find in any supermarket!

- Acai SuperFruit Delight is cold stored in our dehumidified, climate controlled warehouse for nothing but the best in purity, power and quality! Hand blended in small 25 lb batches by our expert herbalists and never by machines!

- Packed to order in our resealable foil pouches! The most nutrient dense superfruit powder blend around!

The benefits of using Acai SuperFruit Delight daily include but are not limited to; boosting immune function, faster recovery time from injury, natural anti inflammatory support, promote regular bowel function, great fiber source, supporting an alkaline body pH, heavy metal and toxin removal, protection from free radical damage, increased energy levels, increased mental clarity and balance, enhanced digestive function, better sleep quality, support for smoother skin, better elasticity and other anti-aging benefits, support for healthy organ function.

Killer Lawns

2011-04-30T16:21:00.000-07:00

April 28, 2011 (Daytona Beach, FL) -

Maybe we should have renamed this article "Your Lawn - Your Problem" but from a greener standpoint, we know that thinking and acting as a community always gets a better response than the alternative finger pointing method.

Many may be reading this thinking that a "killer lawn" deserves that beautification award just as a "killer pie" would warrant a “regards to the chef,” but the "killer" we are talking about is just the one you probably don't want to hear about. All of us here at the Florida Herb House were so shocked when we read the statistics that we felt obligated to write about it. To be frank, this whole thing is scary when you think about what is really happening to our once green planet. And, if we don't do something to protect it, our children and their children will be the ones who will suffer dearly.

According to a group of the world's top scientists from the United Nations Climate Change Convention, if our planet's current Greenhouse Gas emissions are not reduced by at least 50% within the next 30-40 years, our planet will crash just like a virus infected desktop. Thankfully, many a folk have stepped up to the plate and made some significant steps towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle, such as trading in that gas guzzling SUV for a greener type hybrid or added solar hot water heaters to their house, or even started buying more organic products to reduce the amount of pesticides and fertilizers that are poisoning our oceans, lakes and rivers. But the one topic that dwarfs them all is our lawn. Yes, our lawn. That beautifully manicured, fresh cut, shiny green, insect free, weed free, killer lawn!

The numbers are in and it is simply staggering to hear that an excess of seven billion gallons of water per day is depleted from our water sheds for landscape irrigation purposes. But wait, the purchase of fuel for those delightful green machines that do all the cutting and whacking equates to over eight-hundred million gallons of fuel annually. Now for the shocker. This one will make you go….hmmm. This trumps all the rest. In the United States alone over forty, not ten, twenty, or thirty mind you, but over forty billion dollars are spent every year on pesticides and fertilizers and other deadly lawn chemicals! We are silently killing ourselves, our neighbors, and everyone around us with this type of insanity. It is also a fact here in 2011 that the average American has over three times the build up of pesticide toxins in their body compared to levels from only thirty years ago. Folks, it's time to think and be responsible for the well being of our children, if nothing else.

What can we do? For starters, we have to start saying no to any types of pesticides and fertilizers that are not organic or naturally manufactured. Not only will organic lawn products keep your lawn just as pretty as before, but they will help solve the ever growing problem of chemically polluted water sheds. Additionally, your children will have a safer environment to frolic and play in. While organic lawn products are slightly higher in cost, the risks versus the rewards surely make the decision a no brainer. All of the folks here at Florida Herb House have made the promise to switch to organic lawn products this year and never go back.

Next is the mower and other gas powered equipment. When it is time to upgrade or replace your equipment, opt for a more eco-friendly electric mower, or even a man powered push mower like the one grandma used to use. Electric lawn mowers and weed whackers have come a long way in reliability and have cordless options that can meet the needs of the most demanding lawns. An electric mower costs only $5-$10 per year to operate and will help cut into the millions of gallons of fuel that is exhausted annually from grass cutting. All of us here at Florida Herb House have made the promise and are trading in our gas for electric lawn equipment this year.

For those looking for the most extreme options for their lawns, the kind of choices that make tree huggers around the world smile, and the true symbol of eco-awareness, would be an imitation, or biodegradable painted lawn. Yes they are available and gaining popularity in the United States. Artificial replacement lawns, while somewhat costly at several thousand dollars for an average sized lawn, could save the average household hundreds of dollars per year in water and fuel costs. But the real savings will be in the reduction of greenhouse emissions and other pollutants. Other eco-lawn companies offer a lawn painting service where they come by every so often and spray a natural, biodegradable lawn paint to make each blade of grass look like it just sprouted. The need for mowing is greatly reduced and fertilizers and pesticides become obsolete. Choosing one of these two options will reduce your carbon footprint more than if you traded in your SUV for that hybrid alternative…think about that. For questions about this article, or for more information about eco-lawns, you can contact Steven Sharp at Info@FloridaHerbHouse.com or visit them online at http://www.sharpweblabs.com/.
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Lee Sharp
Florida Herb House
2289 S. Ridgewood Ave.
S. Daytona Beach, FL 32118

Florida Herb House Bits - Working On The Farm

2010-11-09T10:41:00.000-08:00

Without farming and farmers, our Florida Herb House organic and all natural store would not exist. Let's all take our hats off and salute all the hard working men and women who work to maintain the backbone of our agricultural world. After moving to Florida in 2004 the owner of Florida Herb House, Stephen Sharp had the pleasure of becoming friends with a local farmer and got to know first hand what is involved in a hard day's work on the farm. Let's join Stephen now and live a day on a Florida farm.

"Early to Bed and Early to Rise Makes a Man Healthy, Wealthy and Wise." These famous words farmer, Bill, cites could not be closer to the truth for any dedicated farmer. Waking before sunrise is a daily routine for Bill and he simply loves it. He goes on to say "Just like any business the early bird gets the worm. Seeing the sun rise every day brings a new adventure on my farm and the beginning of another great day." See farmer Bill owns a large ninety-acre farm in Florida and makes use of every little bit of it whether it is for hay, crops or animals. Bill stays busy seven days a week during the sowing and harvesting seasons on the farm.

So we started out at about 5 am for a quick feed to some of the smaller animals and horses. After that we visited the portion of the farm where Bill gathers hay. Have you ever drove by a farm and seen all those neat looking rolls of hay that resemble large wagon wheels? This is not an illusion. This is how hay is bundled in modern times and the result of modern day technologies and inventions of amazing machines. These inventions have cut down work loads and increased production for farmers all over the world. It all started in 1837 when a man named John Deere debuted his shiny new steel plow invention for all to marvel at. This one of a kind plow was the only one of its kind that could conquer the dense, mineral rich soil of the western United States. It was the beginning of a new era in farming, and before long came the hay machine that we were about to ride on. This wonderful invention would cut, roll and tie hay into nice neat bundles, without any other equipment needed. It cut the farmers workload down by about 80% over the old conventional horse driven days.

After a quick lunch it was tend to the cows. We spent about two hours herding the cows, feeding them and giving them fresh water to drink. Bill's cows were used to make milk and produce thousands of gallons of milk per year. After this it was time to hit the vegetables and pick the days greens for Bill's produce stand. His roadside stand was a popular place for all locals and a favorite for some of the freshest and tastiest veggies around. We spent about three more hours picking everything from cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, squash, and zucchinis. By now it was about 6pm and we were exhausted. We thanked Bill and he sent us off with a fresh basket of world class veggies to take with us. What a day!

Please stop by and visit us online at www.SharpWebLabs.com or www.FloridaHerbHouse.com to shop some of our world class gourmet culinary cooking spices and herbs for your next recipe. Use the online coupon FLORIDAHERB for 10-20% off your online order. From organic grown artichoke leaf to wild lettuce we have it all in stock and ready for all your culinary or health needs. Now in stock is over fifty of our exclusive natural flavored black and green teas from Sri Lanka. Try our superfood green powders for the ultimate health boost today! Stop by and say hi today. Have a happy and healthy day!

Lawrence K.
Ormond Beach, FL
Florida Herb House

Why Choose Organic Meat?

2010-09-29T08:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday From All Of Us Here At Florida Herb House!

So you are thinking about shelling out the extra cash for organic meat huh? Well we for one say "Way To Go!" Being the leading all natural herb and spice company here in Florida for five years we can confidently say eating organic meat compared to regular meat has many benefits!

Food certified under U.S. Dept. of Agriculture regulations as organic must be produced without most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Antibiotics, growth hormones, and feed made from animal parts are also banned.

Widespread use of antibiotics and growth hormones is a larger issue for those considering organic meat, poultry, eggs, and milk. Here, the major health benefit to consumers is indirect. Antibiotic use in animals helps promote antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, explains Urvashi Rangan, director of eco-labels.org, a site developed by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports. And while the U.S. Food & Drug Administration says the growth hormone used in cattle is virtually identical to what cows naturally produce, consumer groups such as Consumers Union argue that milk from treated cows has higher levels of a growth factor linked to increased cancer risk.spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease. The disease spreads when cows ingest animal feed made with parts from dead animals. The human form of the illness, Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease, is believed to be caused by eating contaminated beef. It is always fatal. The risk of contracting the disease, however, is low. The U.S. has had only one confirmed case of mad cow disease, and the only American case of CJD involved a woman who contracted it in Great Britain.

Whether to shell out more for organic beef will depend on your budget -- and how seriously you take the threat of mad cow disease. Other ways to lower the odds include avoiding processed meats such as hot dogs and preground hamburger that might contain bits of brain or spinal cord and eschewing cuts sold with the bone, says Michael Hansen, a senior research associate at Consumers Union.

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Simple Tea Buying Guide!

2010-07-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

Today we are excited to join CEO and founder of "Florida Herb House" Stephen Sharp for some helpful tips and advice on choosing the right tea for your budget and health needs. Now lets hand it over to Stephen!

It's a pleasure to be here and thanks for having me! At Florida Herb House loose leaf tea is our best seller and it pays to do your research before shelling out $20 for some tea. Any tea in loose leaf form is in it's earliest stage of its life cycle. This means you are getting the best tea your dollar can buy. Supermarket and shelf stock tea just has too much age to compare to loose leaf teas. It can take several months for a pre-packaged tea to make it into your tea cup compared to a few weeks in many cases for tea to be harvested and then delivered in bulk form to our store. White, Green, Oolong, and Black tea taste from a tea bag will always be inferior compared to the taste from whole loose leaves. So when you steep your tea, please make sure it is from whole freshly dried leaves. We guarantee satisfaction at Florida Herb House as quality high grade tea is our trademark.

White, Green, Oolong and Black tea all are produced from the "Camellia sinensis" plant. "Camellia sinensis" is native to China and Asia and grown in many tropical regions throughout the world today. WikiPedia states, "It is an evergreen shrub or small tree that is usually trimmed to below two meters (six feet) when cultivated for its leaves. It has a strong taproot. The flowers are yellow-white, 2.5–4 cm in diameter, with 7 to 8 petals."
The main difference in each one of these teas is when and how they are processed. "Processed" means picked, fermented (or oxidized), dried, etc. etc. Optimal time to pick the tea leaves is April-May with some variations expected. It can take several years for these plants to produce a plentiful harvest. Green and White tea is considered the least processed with the most antioxidants and the least amounts of caffeine. Green tea will have a pleasant grassy taste while White tea will boast a more floral flavor. White tea is actually produced using the plant's flower buds. The buds are picked before they bloom and then baked or steamed to halt any oxidation process. This preserves the high anti-oxidant properties of the tea. Green tea is made in a similar fashion but with the leaves of the plant. The highest quality green tea will contain only leaves while some lesser quality varieties will be leaves and twigs combined.
Next in line is oolong tea. Oolong teas are said to be the hardest of the four to create. Oolong tea is somewhere in between green and black tea. This is because they are only partially fermented "oxidized" during the processing cycle. Oolong tea has less antioxidants than green and white tea but more than black tea. Caffeine levels are in the middle.

Finally the most processed of the teas are black tea as shown on the left side of the screen. Black tea leaves are picked the same way green and oolong tea leaves are picked but these leaves are fermented "oxidized" the longest. The term oxidized refers to how long the leaves are exposed to a set air temperature and humidity. You can compare this to an oak tree leaf falling on the ground and beginning to turn brown. The longer the tea leaf is oxidized the more it is considered "processed". The tea leaves that are most processed have a unique taste that is loved by many but lack the high levels of antioxidants that the green and white teas contain. Black tea contains the highest levels of caffeine also and have a full bodied taste.
Basically there are 3 main things to consider when choosing your tea. You have flavor, nutritional benefits, and price.
White tea is has a light, delicate, flavor with a touch of sweetness. Green tea can have a range of flavors depending on many factors but most all will have a fresh green grassy taste. You will either love or hate green tea but it is a must try. Oolong tea will produce a woody, earthy taste with slight flowery taste and last of all black tea can be compared to your morning cup of coffee. It gives a bold, deep, earthy flavor.

The nutritional benefits of tea are vast and deep. Several studies have revealed the anti-cancer properties of antioxidant poly-phenols found in tea. From cancer fighting properties to health skin support it has been proven that 2-6 cups of tea per day is healthy addition to any diet. Some teas have higher antioxidant levels than others. To reap the amazing anti-oxidant properties choose either white or green tea. These are the least processed and have the highest levels of poly phenols (antioxidants) per ounce as well as the lowest levels of caffeine.
As far as cost goes, well we would have to give white tea the highest prices. A high quality Darjeeling White Tea can cost upwards of $150/lb.! Green and black tea have the most appealing prices as these are the teas which are produced the most. Supply and demand tend to dictate the cost of tea just as with anything else. Oolong teas are second in price after white tea. So in conclusion the cost from high to low is white, oolong, green, and black tea. Sampling different teas is not only fun and relaxing but healthy for you too! May the tea be with you always!

Shop The Finest Tea Here!Stephen Sharp

Florida Herb House
http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/
http:///www.SharpWebLabs.com
http://www.esuperfoods.com/

Where To Buy The Best Saffron?

2010-07-04T14:59:00.000-07:00

Born, raised, 20 Min's South of Boston, MA and now living in Florida the herb and spice expert and CEO of "Florida Herb House" Stephen Sharp shares his knowledge of Saffron and how to select the best Saffron for your culinary creations.

Foods Bitz: Where does Saffron come from?

Stephen Sharp: Saffron comes from the crocus sativus plant. We purchase all our Saffron for sale at Florida Herb House direct from 3 different countries, Iran, Spain, and Greece. We choose our location depending on who is yielding the highest quality Saffron threads. Iran and Spain produce about 80% of the world's Saffron supply.

Food Bitz: Why is Saffron so expensive?

Stephen Sharp: That is a great question! Saffron requires huge amounts of work to produce. The best Saffron you can buy is the Saffron Threads. Each Saffron flower only has 3 threads or "Stigmas". On the top of each thread or stigma is an anther. The anther is the head of the thread and can weigh more than the thread itself. Often lesser quality Saffron has the anthers mixed in with the threads as they add weight. It takes over 13,000 individual threads to make just an ounce of Saffron so you can see why it is so expensive. Anywhere from 400,000 stigmas or upwards of 85,000 flowers are required to yield a pound of saffron! Also the intense labor involved in the picking and processing plays a large part in the high costs. We pride ourselves at Florida Herb House by offering the finest Saffron threads without the "Anthers".

Food Bitz: What are the Saffron stamens?

Stephen Sharp: Another great question! The male part of the flower is the stamen. Stamens are half the size of the stigmas. When dried the stamens are yellowish in color. Their appearance in the spice is a giveaway that the saffron being purchased is not top grade and has added dead weight. The lighter the color, the more stamens there are. True saffron powder has a rich vermilion color. The highest quality Saffron should not have any stamens mixed in with the threads as the yellow stamens offer little if any culinary value.

Foods Bitz: What are the Saffron stigmas?

Stephen Sharp: In a good crop, each plant typically produces several flowers. The stigma or female part of the flower is the actual source of saffron. The stigmas are painstakingly picked by hand. Then they are dried or cured and transformed into pure saffron.

Foods Bitz: What about fake and imitation Saffron?

Stephen Sharp: Yes some companies sell another flower called Safflower or "American Saffron". They advertise this as "Saffron" to unsuspecting customers. The color of your Saffron is the first clue to its quality. The general rule of thumb is high quality Saffron should be a uniform red color and the threads should be brittle.

It should have a distinct aroma also not a musty smell. Florida Herb House sells both Safflower and Saffron and advertise our Safflower as "Safflower" so not to confuse any novice spice buyers. We also sell both the mixed Saffron (Saffron Threads Mixed With The Stamens) and also the pure Saffron threads (Saffron Threads With No Stamens Or Anthers) for a great variety of choices for all types of chefs and cuisines. Every ounce of our Saffron ranks highest on the color and aroma scale!

Foods Bitz: What does Saffron taste like?

Stephen Sharp: Saffron has a very light natural favor. Its earthy aroma when used properly helps many chefs look good or even great in many cases. It does take some practice to learn how much Saffron to use in a particular recipe. The flavor from Saffron can not be boiled away which makes it an easy addition to any recipe calling for it.

Foods Bitz: How do you cook with Saffron?

Stephen Sharp: If you use too much Saffron in a recipe, your food will result with a medicine like taste. Use just the right amount and saffron will add a unique pleasant and lightly spicy flavor to a dish. Most recipes will call for a good pinch of the threads. Just a quarter teaspoon will season rice for four or six people. Cookbook authors often recommend soaking the threads in water or milk before adding to a recipe. This also encourages that gorgeous yellow color to shine through.

Foods Bitz: What foods is Saffron used with the most?

Stephen Sharp: Saffron is commonly used in many Asian dishes as well as various fish and rice recipes. It is the backbone to a French Bouillabaisse. Chefs consider it a must for paella, as well as for arr oz con pol lo, chicken with rice. Risotto Milanese is the Italian offering for saffron rice. It also can be used in tomato, potato, and soup recipes.

Special thanks to Florida Herb House and Stephen Sharp for his time and expertise on this

woderful spice. Try some Saffron in your next culinary creation and watch all you friends and family guests Ohhhhhh!! and Ahhhhhh!! you when you mention that one word....SAFFRON!!

Food Bitz - Lee S.

www.SharpWebLabs.com

www.FloridaHerbHouse.com

www.eSuperFoods.com

Going...Going...Gone GREEN!

2010-05-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

Happy Thursday Blogger Friends!

It is a sunny day here in central Florida. We are excited to find the organic herbs and food industry is growing at a constant rate and more than ever! Organic sales in the United States reached $24.6 billion in sales in 2008. Organic food is the largest segment of organic products, totaling $22.9 billion in sales and accounting for 93% of all organic product sales. The growth rate for food and non-food organic products combined was 17.1% between 2007 and 2008. The growth rate for organic food products in 2008 over 2007 was 15.8%. Organic food now accounts for 3.47% of all food products sold in the U.S. The growth rate for non-food organic products was 39.4%. This non-food category includes personal care products, nutritional supplements, fiber, clothing, household cleaners, flowers, and pet food.

Florida Herb House now offers over 1800 organic and green friendly products for your home or business. We specialize in organic herbs and culinary spices as well as all natural sea salts, pure essential oils, herbal healing alcohol tinctures, loose leaf teas, plenty of organic and all natural superfood drink powders and so much more! You can shop us 24/7 online at either www.FloridaHerbHouse.com or www.SharpWebLabs.com!

So back to the increasing demand for organic products.... OTA reports U.S. organic food sales have grown between 17 and 21 percent each year since 1997, to nearly triple in sales, while total U.S. food sales over this time period have grown in the range of only 2 to 4 percent a year. According to the findings, organic food sales now represent approximately 5 percent of U.S. food sales.

Go organic today and lead a healthier lifestyle!

Stephen A. Sharp
www.FloridaHerbHouse.com
www.SharpWebLabs.com

Buy Your Fruits And Meats Organic!

2009-11-02T08:25:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday from your home of everything natural www.SharpWebLabs.com and www.FloridaHerbHouse.com! Yes after so many studies and findings by independent companies what we will say that even if you are not an organic junkie there are some foods that it is imperative to purchase organic!
First on the list is your thin skinned fruits. See fruits are grown conventionally in the fields with fertilizers and pesticides added to help produce more fruit. Fruits come of all different sizes and shapes and also have different skin thickness. This is key to safety for you and your family. Stay away from any non-organic fruits that have think skins. This includes but is not limited to apples, plums, grapes, pears, cucumbers, and tomatoes. The problem is the pesticides. These harmful chemicals easily soak into the fruit and through its thin skin. Thick skinned fruits such as bananas and oranges as well as coconuts and pineapples are much safer to be eaten in conventional (non-organic) form as the thick skin helps to keep out the pesticides and dangerous chemicals.

The Dirty Dozen – Twelve Most Contaminated (Buy These Organic)
1. Peach
2. Apple
3. Bell Pepper
4. Celery
5. Nectarine
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Grapes (Imported)
11. Carrot
12. Pear

The Clean Fifteen – Lowest in Pesticides
1. Onion
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mango
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet Peas
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Papaya
12. Watermelon
13. Broccoli
14. Tomato
15. Sweet Potato

Next on the list which most already know is your red meat. Boy we can not say enough about red meat. Not only do we recommend keeping your red meat servings to only once ot twice per week but buying your red meat organic is important! yes you will pay more $$ but the extra cost easily outweighs the risks. In non organic farming hormones, antibiotics and remains of other animals are used to contribute to quickly fattening up animals for the market. Hormones, while expensive and often illegal, are injected into animals to quickly bring them up to market size. Antibiotics are in fact used to keep the animals alive until they are butchered. However, a great problem with this is when we eat this meat; our bodies are ingesting antibiotics in high volumes and are becoming immune to their bacteria fighting abilities. So when we go to the doctor for an antibiotic shot, it does nothing for us. As to carcass meal (remains of other animals) which are often fed to animals in the meat and dairy industry, many doctors now believe that this has helped to lead to the disaster which we now are beginning to realize. Carcass meal helps contribute to mad cow disease by keeping the diseased animals in the food chain. This is especially dangerous for humans when we ingest it.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has permitted hundreds of meat and poultry plants to operate virtually uninterrupted even while federal inspectors file tens of thousands of citations against them for unsanitary conditions and food contamination, department records show.
Cox Newspapers analyzed an Agriculture Department computerized database of meat and poultry inspection records for 1996 and found 138,593 instances in which inspectors said food being prepared in packing plants was ``certain'' to sicken consumers. The database was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Experts can't estimate how much contaminated meat and poultry makes its way to America's dinner tables from these plants.
The word "organic" refers to the way farmers grow and process agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution. Farmers who grow organic produce and meat don't use conventional methods to fertilize, control weeds or prevent livestock disease. For example, rather than using chemical weedkillers, organic farmers may conduct sophisticated crop rotations and spread mulch or manure to keep weeds at bay.

Have A Healthy Happy Day!
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Organic Cleaners - Safety For Your Family!

2009-09-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday bloggers! Just dropping in to let everyone know that www.FloridaHerbHouse.com and www.SharpWebLabs.com now stocks a complete
line of 100% organic household cleaners on sale and ready to ship! Along with over 1500 specialty health and nutrition products these cleaners are a must have for anyone with kids, pets and loved ones. Made with safe yet powerful ingredients and no chemicals these organic cleaners go a long way. We also have gallon container concentrates for an even better buy. Having a little girl nine years old and several pets we use these products at our house and office always for safety and peace of mind. Just read the ingredients list on your non-organic cleaners and then google any one of the chemicals and see how they can cause cancer and you too will make the switch. Even if you decide not to buy from our store we urge you to make the switch to all organic cleaners today for you and your family's safety and well-being. There are several places to buy safe organic all natural cleaners and degreasers. :-)
Below is a little about our top three cleaners.
Organic Stain Remover - Organica's Stain Remover contains organic surfactants, cleaning agents and enzymes. Their function is to breakdown and biodegrade the embedded stains. This product works well on carpeting in steam cleaners, upholstery (always test first), clothing and even in the laundry. Spray the stain and walk away. Give the enzymes time to work. As they break down the stain and metabolize, it will fade and disappear. You can blot the area with a paper towel. Repeat for stubborn stains. No need to rinse. Stain Remover has the light fragrance of Green Tea.
Organic Indoor Cleaner - Organica Indoor Clean-All has a fresh orange sparkle scent and is an environmentally friendly, non-toxic alternative to harsh chemicals. It penetrates and emulsifies dirt on all types of surfaces. Use on showers, tubs, toilets, counter tops, appliances, tile & wood floors, stainless, cloth & leather upholstery, fingerprints & marks on walls, window frames, sills and mouldings. Pretty much any indoor surface can be cleaned with this nontoxic cleaner and it won't dry out your skin like standard cleansers like Lestoil or Pinesol. Try some. 1 Gallon of concentrate makes 4 Gallons of ready to use product.
Organic Odor Eliminator - Organica Odor Eliminator does not mask odors – it eliminates them. The blend of organic plant oils absorb and destroy odor molecules and then replaces the offensive odor with a light refreshing lavender scent. This non-toxic biodegradable formulation may be used as an air freshener or mixed with cleaning solutions to eliminate unwanted odors. Use to remove the smell of smoke, cooking & food odors (even fish & onions), bathrooms, automobiles, RVs, litter boxes & pet beds, sneakers, gym bags & lockers, trash cans, refrigerators and garbage disposal. Freshen carpets, upholstery, and closets.
If you have dogs and lots of carpets you'll love this stuff!
Well we hope to see you at our store on online!

Sincerely,

Stephen C. Sharp
www.SharpWebLabs.com
www.FloridaHerbHouse.com

Goji Berries Organic Vs. Non

2009-05-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday morning bloggers! It is a rainy, rainy, day here in central Florida so what better time to discuss one of our best selling berries, the "Goji Berry". First lets get the misconceptions off the table. For all those sites claiming the "Ultimate Miracle" from their magic goji please beware. As the goji does in fact have some fascinating nutrients which we will discuss here one should not be mislead by false claims from people just looking for the quick sale. Also note for the best health benefits from the goji berry one should purchase the berries whole and organic if at all possible as opposed to the much publized ready to drink and mostly diluted goji juices. Many of these juices are diluted and contain non organic goji berries which may have been subjected to pesticides and other fertilizers.

The scientific name for goji berry also known as "wolfberry" is Lycium barbarum, and the popularly used name "goji" from the common Chinese name for the berry. Some claim there are two forms of the berry namely Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense, whose fruit is called the goji berry; other sites insist there is only one species, Lycium barbarum. Claims for more than one or two species may be just marketing ploys. The exact origin of the goji plant is unknown, and although goji berries are reportedly grown in several different areas of the world, any goji berries you purchase will most likely come from China, where the berry has been used in traditional herbal medicine for about two thousand years.

The goji berry has been used as a medicinal food for thousands of years, and has been studied extensively in modern times for its health benefits. With over 15% protein, 21 essential minerals, 18 amino acids, and one of the highest amounts of beta carotene, the goji berry is a nutrient-dense superfood in a class all its own. Perhaps the most important nutrient in goji berries though is its polysaccharides, most notably the lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP). Studies show that LBP polysaccharides are exceptional sources of the essential cell sugars necessary for proper immune function and inter cellular communication. These polysaccharides can enhance health in a variety of ways, including helping cancer patients rebuild their natural defenses, improving DNA restoration and repair, and maintaining normal cell growth; and they may help slow the aging process.

Try a small handful of goji berries in your health drink, on your salad, in your tea, in your muffins or pies, or included in any drink/food recipe! See for yourself how much better you will feel after 2 weeks of using these amazing berries on a daily basis!
You can get our organic certified goji berries on sale now at our Florida Herb House in Port Orange, FL or online at http://www.sharpweblabs.com/ or http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/. Thanks for visiting our blog and have a great day!

Florida Organic Bits
Florida Herb House

Guide To Essential Organic Foods

2009-04-14T07:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday Bloggers!

It is April 14Th and a rainy Tuesday morning here in central Florida. This past weekend Stephen C. Sharp was questioned by some family members on the reason why he always opts for organic versus conventionally grown fruits, meats, and fish if nothing else.
For all the new food and health conscious people out there as well as the veterans Stephen gives his list of the most essential foods to purchase in organic form rather than conventional supermarket style.
Starting with the fruits, well lets just say paying a few extra cents for organic fruits such as oranges, apples, and peaches is well worth it. Organic certified fruits are grown without any dangerous pesticides and fertilizers which makes them many times more nutritious and healthy to consume. Non organic fruits tend to be one of the foods that contain more pesticides than other food crops. These higher levels of pesticides linger on the fruits and seep into the fruit. Even after washing your fruits extensively the pesticides will still be present in the fruit. If you still decide to eat conventional fruits remember to stay away from the last 1/4 of the fruit's inside edible area. Studies have shown this is the part of the fruit that is highest in pesticides and contaminants. So this is why Stephen always chooses organic fruits for his family and friends.
The second food group that Stephen always purchases organic is meats. Very simply stated meats that are organic certified come from animals that eat foods with absolutely no by-products, synthetic growth hormones, antibiotics, and other harmful chemicals. These animals are usually allowed to graze and eat fresh grass as part of their diet. The farms they are raised on contain fresh earth and the end result by far outweighs the potential risks of the cheaper non-organic meat. While organic meat is by far more expensive a simple reduction in the amount of meat we eat per week can easily balance out the extra cost. Buy you meat organic and smile more!
The third item on Stephen's list is fish. While it is very hard to classify any ocean free fish as organic, as they may swim thousands of miles of ocean and eat smaller fish which are obviously not organic, the one important factor here is wild caught. Stephen has done much research on the health concerns with regard to farm raised fish versus wild caught fish. Stephen chooses wild caught fish hands down for his family and friends. The whole concept of raising fish via farm is great but much work needs to be done to make these fish less harmful and chemical free. Farm raised fish ponds are treated with dangerous pesticides to prevent the fish from getting lice. They also are fed food pellets that contain artificial colors. Binders, which hold the food pellet together are also used. These pellets may contain other fish and animal parts as well as other artificial flavors. The other worrisome topic with seafood is the PCB/Mercury contents in fish. Stephen limits his weekly intake of seafood to not more than one pound total per week. He only buys fish that are lowest in mercury levels such as haddock, tilapia, sardines, and anchovies. He does though enjoy an occasional can of white albacore tuna packed in spring water maybe twice per month. He always cooks his fish well to remove any PC B's present and will turn down raw fish such as sushi almost every time.
We hope this guide will help get you and your loved ones on the right track to choosing and eating healthy. The benefits of the above mentioned foods in organic form far outweigh the potential health hazards with prolonged consumption of those foods not classified as organic and wild caught. Have a healthy and happy Tuesday!

Florida's Organic Bits

Eating Organic - Is It Better?

2009-01-20T02:18:00.000-08:00

Hello All Blogger Friends!

Today we talk about all of us who have a growing concern about the processing which goes into much of our supermarket foods and if buying all or some organic items are actually better. Yes one pound of say organic garlic powder will cost slightly more than non-organic but here are some facts about organic herbs, spices,and other foods.

Why Buy Organic? There are a number of reasons why you might choose to buy organic. For the latest in wholesale and bulk gourmet cooking spices and certified organic herbs please visit http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/ or http://www.sharpweblabs.com/ today. You may have heard that organic food is healthier for you and your family as it contains more nutrients and less dangerous chemicals. Perhaps you care about the benefits organic food has on the environment, because organically grown foods don't add pesticides, fertilizers, and other dangerous chemicals into the environment. Or maybe you've found it just tastes better.

Organic produce contains more vitamins and essential nutrients. Tests have shown organic products to have significantly more vitamin, nutrient, and mineral content that promote many aspects of a healthy life from possible cancer prevention to relieving the symptoms of PMS. Eating the recommended daily amounts of organic fruits and vegetables gives you nutrients levels even a multivitamin can't match. This keeps your system functioning at optimum levels and makes you feel great.

Organically grown plants are grown without using unnatural chemicals so your food has less harmful chemicals. This not only helps protects you from chemicals that can cause cancer, heart disease, and even promote Alzheimer's; it also helps protect the environment from these chemicals as well. When harmful pollutants are put into the soil, they offset the natural balance. They can also work their way into streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, and underground water supplies; polluting the environment and possibly contaminating drinking water.

Production of organic products also includes a pledge to help conserve valuable natural resources. These producers conserve water by using less irrigation; they conserve soil by taking measures to prevent runoff; they also conserve valuable energy sources by working the land less and selling their food locally. By not using dangerous chemicals and by keeping natural non-farmed areas, organic producers also help to maintain wildlife biodiversity. The main goal of an organic farmer is to grow their crop without taking from the local environment. That way, the land will be available for future generations to farm.

While it may not seem like a lot, each person helps. By buying organic products, and encouraging others to do so as well, you are taking a small dent out of the problems traditional agriculture is causing. You are also helping to send a message to traditional producers that some of their methods are unethical and unacceptable. This makes it beneficial for not only your family, but for other families now and in the future.

Here at http://www.sharpweblabs.com/ and http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/ we connect you to over 1000 specialty health and earth friendly products such as herbal tinctures, pure undiluted essential oils, organic herbs and spices, mushrooms and powders, natural seaweed, organic loose tea, natural cleaning supplies, pure beeswax candles and lip balms and so much more!

Sincerely,

Stephen C. Sharp
SharpWebLabs.com
FloridaHerbHouse.com
KissMyBees.com

Organic Farming - Till Or No Till?

2009-01-19T22:10:00.000-08:00

Hi Organic Blogger Friends!

From all of us here at your organic herb super store http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/ and http://www.sharpweblabs.com/ we wish you a happy Tuesday. I have decided to get this monkey off my back about this crazy controversy with "Till" and "No Till" agriculture and farming.

He says to till the field and she says "No! Don't Do It!", they say "Till It A Little!", another one says "Till It Every Three Years!", what to do, what to do? Yes who ever thought that the simple task of plowing and tilling a field would become such an issue in our lifetime?

For those of you who are beginning to use more and more organic products in your diet the no till issue is probably somewhat familiar to you. For those of you just tuning in a "No Till" field is one where crops are grown but the soil is never dug up and "Tilled", get it? :-)

From our standpoint there are many advantages you would think with "No Tilling" such as reduced carbon emissions from soil erosion as disturbed soil can and will breakdown and release carbons into our atmosphere which may lend a hand in the so called "Greenhouse Effect" which is destroying our planet. The next big advantage to "No Till" farming would be the reduced requirement for all those big "Vroom Vroom", "Whoosh Whoosh", "Jingle Jangle", farm equipment machines that need to be operated to do the tedious tilling. Right there is an obvious savings in emission as those big machines run on gasoline or diesel fuel and burn lots of it. With some setbacks to "No Till" farming now beginning to surface as I figured it would we must make a bold move and know our earth, soil, and air better than ever! Yes I will not make this a five page blog to spare all my friends but will say that what needs to be done NOW is to start making some in depth long term ecological studies and get some more insight regarding the true benefits and drawbacks of "Till and No Till farming". It seems mother nature is hesitant to offer her secrets with ease and we must take this into account for the sake of our farming future.

If you have a chance stop by our store and support our huge inventory of organic and earth friendly product for you and your family. If you ever place an order at any one of our stores online or in person then please let us know you have read one of our blogs and get one of our all natural and earth friendly hand poured bees wax lip balms FREE. These retail for $3 each in our stores. These are hand made by Lee's Bees and our customers love them! See us at http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/, http://www.sharpweblabs.com/, and http://www.kissmybees.com/ today! Have a great organic day!

Sincerely,

Stephen C. Sharp
Sharp Labs Inc.

Is Organic Better by FloridaHerbHouse.com?

2009-01-18T19:49:00.000-08:00

Why Buy Organic?

There are a number of reasons why you might choose to buy organic. For the latest in wholesale and bulk gourmet cooking spices and certified organic herbs please visit http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/ or http://www.sharpweblabs.com/ today. You may have heard that organic food is healthier for you and your family as it contains more nutrients and less dangerous chemicals. Perhaps you care about the benefits organic food has on the environment, because organically grown foods don't add pesticides, fertilizers, and other dangerous chemicals into the environment. Or maybe you've found it just tastes better.

Organic produce contains more vitamins and essential nutrients. Tests have shown organic products to have significantly more vitamin, nutrient, and mineral content that promote many aspects of a healthy life from cancer prevention to relieving the symptoms of PMS. Eating the recommended daily amounts of organic fruits and vegetables gives you nutrients levels even a multivitamin can't match. This keeps your system functioning at optimum levels and makes you feel great. Organically grown plants are grown without using unnatural chemicals so your food has less harmful chemicals. This not only helps protects you from chemicals that can cause cancer, heart disease, and even promote Alzheimer's; it also helps protect the environment from these chemicals as well. When harmful pollutants are put into the soil, they offset the natural balance. They can also work their way into streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, and underground water supplies; polluting the environment and possibly contaminating drinking water.

Production of organic products also includes a pledge to help conserve valuable natural resources. These producers conserve water by using less irrigation; they conserve soil by taking measures to prevent runoff; they also conserve valuable energy sources by working the land less and selling their food locally. By not using dangerous chemicals and by keeping natural non-farmed areas, organic producers also help to maintain wildlife biodiversity. The main goal of an organic farmer is to grow their crop without taking from the local environment. That way, the land will be available for future generations to farm.

While it may not seem like a lot, each person helps. By buying organic products, and encouraging others to do so as well, you are taking a small dent out of the problems traditional agriculture is causing. You are also helping to send a message to traditional producers that some of their methods are unethical and unacceptable. This makes it beneficial for not only your family, but for other families now and in the future. SharpWebLabs.com and FloridaHerbHouse.com connect you to over 1000 specialty health and earth friendly products such as herbal tinctures, pure undilued essential oils, organic herbs and spices, mushrooms and powders, natural seaweed, organic loose tea, natural cleaning supplies, pure beeswax candles and lip balms and so much more!

We love the Grill Charms from all of us here at the Florida Herb House. From all our friends at http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/ and http://www.sharpweblabs.com/ keep on grillin' and use only organic spices! This comes from your #1 herb and top chef spice connection FloridaHerbHouse.com! Over 1000 Gourmet Wholesale and Bulk Cooking Herbs!

Sincerely,

Kevin Harrington
FloridaHerbHouse.com - Wholesale Connection For Gourmet cooking Spices
SharpWebLabs.com - Over 1000 Specialty Eco-Friendly Herbal Products
KissmYBees.com - Hand Poured BeesWax Candles And Lip Balm