1. Organic Lifestyles The growing popularity of organic lifestyles in the United States

2. What is an organic lifestyle? Avoiding the purchase of products grown with synthetic chemicals and/or hormones Includes the purchase of food, clothing, household items, and cosmetics

3. Why do people buy organic? Belief that the use of pesticides is harmful to the earth and contributes to global warming Belief that eating or using products grown with pesticides or hormones is “unnatural” and has negative effects on the body such as disease

4. Arguments promoting organics The average non-organic fruit contains more than 20 pesticides Organic food is much more rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber and retains the levels of nutrients for much longer If you are eating dairy or farm produce, then you are also eating the chemicals, drugs and growth hormones given to the animals See full article

5. “Organic Health Food” by Eric Medina Organic health food stores have been around for a long time, but the number of organic products has greatly increased in recent years. Organic food products have been around for well over a decade. Slowly but surely, people have been finding out that artificial fertilizers, pesticides, and other additives can have seriously compromising health effects. Nonetheless, other kinds of consumer awareness have been a little bit slow to come. Nowadays, there are organic beauty products, organic health care products, and even organic clothing. It is unfortunate that our world is run in such a way that we have to specify when we don't want to have harmful additives in the things that we use every day. Nonetheless, it is fortunate that people are finally starting to wise up to it. Through organic products, we can all have healthier lives. No matter what you are using, you can probably find an organic product version of it. There is even organic soda nowadays! Nevertheless, just because something is an organic product does not mean it is healthy. Different states have different rules on what constitute organic products. In some of them, such as California, there are very strict standards on organic food and other types of organic products. To be considered organic, something has to be free of artificial additives, growth hormones, antibiotics, and other impurities. In other states, however, you can say anything is organic if you want to. A lot of the time, organic standards are industry controlled on a voluntary basis. In practice, that means that the consumer has very little protection. Finding non-GMO food products can be very difficult if you don't live in California. In reality, the best way to make sure that you are using organic products is to buy locally grown produce. If you can buy food, clothing, crafts, skin care products, and other consumer items that are made in your area, it is quite easy to verify whether or not they are organically prepared. Although these organic products can cost a little bit more, you can feel good about yourself for using them. Not only do you know that you are living a healthier life, but you also will be supporting local industry. It is always nice to be a will to give something back to your community, and by making wise decisions about the food we eat and the clothing we wear, we can do just that.

6. Organic Athlete is a global network of athletes with the common goal of promoting healthy, organic lifestyles and sustainability Portland Chapter

7. The power of consumerism Purchasing organic products, or withholding their purchase of “unsafe” products, allows the consumer a voice in a capitalist society However, the organic marketplace is criticized as merely a marketing ploy and trend

8. The effects of marketing Compare the packaging of commercially produced foods and organic or natural products Photos

9. Counter Arguments