Living and selling organic

Living and selling organic

The managing director of L'Organic in Dempsey Road, Ms Tuyet Nguyen, tells Elaine Young all about her organic life

Has keeping fit always been important to you and what does your fitness regime entail?
Keeping fit has always been part of my lifestyle. It helps to maintain mind-body balance and keeps my energy levels up for all the things I need to do in the day. My regime includes yoga, off-road running, mountain biking with my husband, swimming and tennis.

So has eating healthily always been important to you too?
We have always eaten healthily and it goes hand in hand with keeping fit. For me, eating healthily is even more important as I am particularly sensitive to many food products, especially processed foods. The benefits of eating healthily are plenty - better sustenance for the body, more energy, better sleep, looking and feeling better.

How did L'Organic come about?
It was created from our personal belief in organic foods and its benefits, both for personal health as well as for the environment and supporting sustainable practices. It was something we wanted to promote and share with as many as possible. We saw a need in Singapore for better quality and availability of organic products.

How important is eating organic to you and your husband?
We have been consumers of organic foods for many years - we always try to eat as much 'organic' as possible, wherever possible. There is a difference when you consume organic foods - your body recognises the difference.

Does this spread into other areas of your life too?
Our belief in 'organic' extends to our support of more natural alternatives in all areas of life and a holistic approach to life.

As for beauty products I will always choose natural products without parabens and other harmful substances and, of course, organic where it is available and of the same quality. We try to use as many natural alternatives as possible in our everyday life: washing and cleaning products with a natural, biodegradable base; recycling and re-using as much as possible; conserving energy as far as possible; choosing to support products from ethical and sustainable sources as much as possible.

What or who inspires you?
The inspiration for me has been the dream of building something which my husband and I both believe in: Giving people quality products good for health and well-being; informing and educating people about the choice they have to make a difference to themselves and to the community; bringing those choices to people.

How do you kick-start your day?
Breakfast consists of fresh juice, a choice of fruit and yoghurt, toast or muesli, depending on what I feel like for the day, and an espresso.

And how do you typically end a day?
It is nice to go for a short swim to 'wash' off the day or do some light exercises to free my mind.

How do you nourish your body - any foods a must and any off limits?
I have always been a big fan of fresh fruit and vegetables. For fruit, I like berries because they pack lots of nutrients and antioxidants for their size, but otherwise, I eat fruit which are seasonal because they taste better. For vegetables, we eat fresh green salads every day and a combination of other vegetables. For protein I enjoy (wild) fish best and eat meat when I feel the need for it. Off-limit foods are highly processed foods because of my sensitivity to them.

How do you nourish your spiritual side?
Yoga is like a meditation, allowing my mind to be free. It is also important to take time out for myself to reconnect and to spend time with my husband to enjoy each other.

So far, what has been the highlight of your career?
The highlight has been to have the L'Organic retail concept become a reality. It is rewarding to see the physical manifestation of an idea, a creation in your mind.

When you aren't working, what do you do to relax?
My relaxation time consists of some exercise - I like to go for a long run when I have time - and reading, thinking or just catching up with friends and family.

If you had three wishes to improve your health, what would they be?
The first would be to have more time in the day to spend on my health and relaxation and get everything else done. The second would be to instill a natural balance in myself. The third would be to develop the capacity to have unlimited energy to tap.

If you had three wishes to improve your customers' health, what would they be?
To give customers the best quality choices; educate them about how to be responsible for their health; and inspire them to act and do something about their health and well-being.

Any vices to speak of?
I can be a workaholic at times and can be somewhat of a perfectionist.

Any health problems?
No.

What's the best piece of advice you have been given that you have actually followed?
To believe that you can make your dreams a reality if you want it, and also to maintain your own sense of balance for yourself in this world.

Organic Milk

Why Are Consumers Demanding More Organic Milk

The demand for organic milk has increased all over the world. No, this is not with reference to the increased demand for the product that occurred in 2000-2001. This is about the present - 2006.

So, why is the demand for organic milk increasing? The answer lies in the benefits of organic milk. Consumers are demanding more organic milk due to its enhanced health benefits.

Research conducted at the University of Aberdeen, and the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research have shown that organic milk has more Omega 3 than non-organic milk. So consumers can now just replace their regular milk with organic milk and do away with those Omega 3 supplements or fish oil capsules.

Similarly, research conducted at the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences and the University of Newcastle has shown that organic milk is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Vitamin A is essential for a good eye-sight, and Vitamin E protects body cells from free radicals and delays ageing.

Organic milk also has more Conjugated Linoleic Acidl (CLA) than non-organic milk, as it has become mandatory to graze the organic cows on pastures unless weather forces the farmer to interfere. Now cows that graze on pastures have higher concentrations of CLAs in their milk than fodder-fed cows.

There was always a lack of evidence that organic food is better than conventional or non-organic food and all the benefits of organic food over non-organic food were strong beliefs of the producers and consumers in the wellness of organic food production methodologies.

However, the research findings on health benefits of organic milk have firmed the beliefs of consumers who are now demanding more organic milk. Health conscious people have also shifted to organic milk resulting in a shortage of the product.

However, the increased health benefits of organic milk are not the only reasons for this surge in demand. People are also questioning the factory mode production of organic dairy products. Many people now believe that livestock have good health when they are left in the open. Confined animals are more prone to diseases and hence the increased chances of BSE cases.

Consumers are also becoming conscious of animal rights and do not wish to be part of the extensive cruelty imparted to confined livestock. Since organic milk production involves certain aspects of animal welfare, these consumers have shifted to organic milk even if it costs more.

Kiran Patil is a chemical engineer and an expert on organic food and organic farming. Visit his website at www.organicfacts.net

Coconut Water

Here is some information about Coconut Water:

"It's a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. It's the fluid of life, so to speak." In fact, during the Pacific War of 1941-45, both sides in the conflict regularly used coconut water - siphoned directly from the nut - to give emergency plasma trasfusions to wounded soldiers.

Most coconut water is still consumed fresh in tropical coastal areas - once exposed to air, the liquid rapidly loses most of its organoleptic and nutritional characteristics, and begins to ferment.

* Coconut Water is More Nutritious than whole milk - Less fat and NO cholesterol!
* Coconut Water is More Healthy than Orange Juice - Much lower calories
* Coconut Water is Better than processed baby milk- It contains lauric acid, which is present in human mother's milk
* Coconut water is naturally sterile -- Water permeates though the filtering husk!
* Coconut water is a universal donor-- Its identical to human blook plasma
* Coconut Water is a Natural Isotonic Beverage - The same level we have in our blood.
* Coconut water has saved lives in 3rd world countries thru Coconut IV.

"Coconut water is the very stuff of Nature, biologically Pure, full of Natural Sugars, Salts, and Vitamins to ward off fatigue... and is the next wave of energy drinks BUT natural!", according to Mortin Satin, Chielf of the United Nation's Food & Agriculture Organization.

Coconut water contains more potassium (at about 294 mg) than most sports drinks (117 mg) and most energy drinks.

Coconut water has less sodium (25mg) where sports drinks have around 41mg and energy drinks have about 200 mg!

Coconut water has 5mg of Natural Sugars where sports and energy drinks range from 10-25mg of Altered Sugars.

Coconut water is very high in Chloride at 118mg, compared to sports drinks at about 39mg.

Data is based on a 100ml drink.

complied by John Kohler