Author Archives: Paige

My Transformative Journey with SoulCollage

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Guest blog written by Mission Valley Hera Hub member Sherry Eberwein, owner of rokARTy studio.

The first time I attended a workshop at Hera Hub, I noticed the beauty and uniqueness of this community.  After attending a second workshop, I felt the women in the room had wonderful connection with each other and sensed that each of those women had aspirations and creativity with a desire to thrive. As a member, I find it is so amazing that each woman has her own special vision and yet has demonstrated great support of me with my goals and passion.

I would like to share with you my passion of SoulCollage®. The process of SoulCollage® was developed by Seena Frost and offers a transformative journey of self- discovery while having fun with art, visual images, and intuition. I loved the many aspects of SoulCollage® from my first encounter.  Who would think that sitting with a few magazine images and intuitively arranging them on a small mat board would be so rewarding and relaxing? At my first workshop I used an image of someone sitting quietly in a cave overlooking a beautiful southwest view.  I was immediately reminded of being outdoors in Canyonlands, Utah. That day I also felt comfortable because I didn’t have be concerned about having any artistic experience and found that doing SoulCollage® was similar to making a vision board.  The simplicity of SoulCollage® is to create one small collage at a time with a theme and no words. SoulCollage® also has depth because of its specific elements and a technique that is used to speak from the images to voice ones aspirations, feelings, and experiences. To make more connections with the art, it is suggested to revisit the collages on a regular basis.  For me, this can be as simple as just putting one collage out where I can see it often, such as near my computer screen while I am typing. One of my friends placed her collages on each step inside her two-story home and looked at them each time she walked upstairs, while another friend likes to view her art on her desk at work. Creating with SoulCollage® and using it is a very personal endeavor.

There are a variety of benefits to making SoulCollage®:

  • Experience fun and creativity
  • Take personal time apart from one’s professional life to have a more balanced life
  • Find clarity while experiencing a life transition
  • Visualize thoughts and feelings
  • Connect with other artists in the SoulCollage® Community

I love SoulCollage®.  There is joy in making personal projects with images that are readily available.  I find depth and transformation in the details of SoulCollage® and in using it with open ended questions for readings, and I have made connections to so many amazing people in the world-wide SoulCollage® Community. I am grateful for this opportunity to share my passion-project with the many beautiful members of Hera Hub.

Sherry Eberwein, owner of rokARTy studio, facilitates art workshops as a SoulCollage® Facilitator, is the Southern California Regional Coordinator

12 Tips for a Healthy, Abundant Holiday Season

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Guest blog written by Mission Valley Hera Hub member Clea Shannon, founder of Live Inspired Today.

The holiday season is upon us and from here on out our weeks will be filled with fabulous events, company parties, celebrations and gatherings. While “the most wonderful time of the year” may present us with loads of reasons to celebrate, it also provides us with plenty of reasons to get side-tracked from our goals. I am often asked by my clients how I celebrate and still maintain my focus on my health and business goals.

In years past we might call December a wash – we might simply give up and promise to start again fresh in the New Year. I’d like to support you in making this year different. Let’s commit to finish strong and make this our Healthiest, Most Abundant Holiday Season yet!

These Live Inspired Today Tips help me and my clients to ENJOY the holidays and to keep our health and business goals on track. Using these 12 simple tips we improve our energy, our mood and our performance, insuring that we make the most of one of our greatest assets – our health! Are you ready to feel satisfied, happy and healthy this season?

Finish Strong – 12 Tips for Our Healthiest, Most Abundant Holiday Season

1. Get Clear- Keep our goals front-and-center. Set a reminder on our phone, hang a photo on our mirror or create a vision board for our desk as daily reminders of what we’re working towards. Whether we’re aiming for healthy changes in our body, improved quality of life or significant business milestones – it’s much easier to stay on track when we’re crystal clear on our desired results!

2. Fill Our Well – Schedule in our self-care as we would any other appointment. When we prioritize and schedule our self-care it’s more likely to happen. I book an appointment for myself, whether it’s yoga, a walk, or alone time,  on a regular basis because when I take care of myself I have more resources to share with my business, my family and everything important to me.

3. Shift Our Focus- Let’s lavish ourselves with friends and community instead of with food! When we are not feeling satisfied in our relationships, career and other aspects of our lives, we often turn to food to feel complete. Sound familiar? I definitely used to find myself in this pattern during the holidays. This can be an especially challenging time of year and it’s important to find resources to support us on our path to health and abundance. I often used to go to events thinking “yummy! What food will be there?”  Now, while I do enjoy a bit of food, I let my focus be on “which of my friends and family will be there!”

4. Create Space – Take charge of our time and schedule even 15 minutes between commitments. As our calendar fills up this season, remember to make time to pause between activities and appointments. When we give ourselves this space we create a sense of calm and reduce the feelings of stress and rush that can be associated with the holiday season. Got a minute? Use this simple breath meditation to create an instant calm. Breathe in for a count of 5. Breathe out for a count of 10. Repeat 5 times.

5. Ask for Help – Delegate tasks to share responsibility and let go of the unnecessary. Whether we are planning a holiday event or making a feast for our own family, take some of the responsibility off ourselves by recruiting the help of others. Not only will this asking benefit us, but it also creates an opportunity to spend time with and include others.

6. Stay On Schedule – Make a commitment to stick to your daily routine as much as possible, from meals to workouts to bedtimes. With the busy-ness of this season and holiday travel it’s easy to lose our sense of routine. When we give ourselves the anchor of our daily rituals, we help to keep ourselves on course. A good night’s sleep can do wonders for our attitude, our energy and our appetite.

7. Lighten Up – When we fuel our body with nutrient-rich foods, we improve the way we look, feel and perform. Upgrade a traditional holiday dish with a lighter, healthier choice. Our collection of 33 Hip, Simple, Fabulous™ holiday recipes offers loads of great, simply delicious ideas perfect for any feast.  Start every feast with fresh raw veggies, a salad or add in a sautéed dark leafy green to any dish to increase our nutrients and satisfy our hunger in a lighter, healthier way.

8. Connect More – Schedule time with friends and family for a walk, yoga, holiday movie, game or a craft. Gatherings do not always need to be centered on food! Include these activities during your feast to encourage interaction and to help balance out the festivities.

9. Get Moving – Build exercise into our holiday rituals. Our family enjoys a long walk. Some families enjoy a run for a cause. Others make a trip to dog park, the beach or schedule a pick-up game. It’s important to find what works for us and make time for something physical! Make sure to schedule movement during our day, just as we would any other important activity.

10. Drink Up – This one simple step can improve our digestion, skin and mood! Keep a water bottle handy and hydrate throughout the day and between meals. Cheers? When we decide before the event how much alcohol we’d like to consume we’re much less likely to over indulge. Plan on one or maybe two drinks and savor each one!

11. Recommit to Success– It’s true, even as a nutritionist by trade, I have good days and I have not-so-great days. We all have times when things don’t go as planned, or we make less-than-the-best choices. When setbacks happen, take them as an opportunity to recommit to our goals rather than a sign of failure. Keep believing and don’t let one choice, one party or an off day sabotage our long-term goals.

12. Recruit a Buddy – Find an accountability partner. Whether it’s a friend, family member or a Health Coach like me, staying on course is much easier with someone by our side.

What will be your greatest ACHIEVEMENT this holiday season? What will be your biggest CHALLENGE? What daily ritual helps you to Live Inspired Today and every day?

I’d love to hear how you’re making this the healthiest, most abundant holiday season yet! I invite you to share your feedback, comments and questions in the comments below. Community, support and accountability make this journey so much more enjoyable!

Here’s wishing you and yours a Healthy, Happy & Abundant Holiday Season!

In Health & Gratitude,

 

 

 

Clea Shannon is a Board Certified Wellness Coach (AADP), Founder of Live Inspired Today, a web-based wellness company and the creator of Hip, Simple, Fabulous™ recipes and life-changing wellness advice on her award-winning blog http://www.cleashannon.com/blog/. In 2012 Clea received the prestigious Health Leadership Award. Clea specializes in designing a Personalized Wellness Program tailored to your specifics needs to support positive changes in your body, mind and spirit and to resolve chronic health issues. Instead of quick fixes, Clea offers clients a wellness lifestyle based on her customized blend of adaptive fitness, functional nutrition and inspirational leadership. By establishing daily rituals and providing step-by-step instructions for Hip, Simple, Fabulous™ meals, Clea successfully creates an achievable lifestyle in which ANYONE can Live Inspired Today and every day. Learn more about Clea and her unique approach to supporting you to achieve your goals. Visit www.cleashannon.com.

Female Doctors and Lawyers, But Not Traders?

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Guest blog post by Sorrento Valley Hera Hub member Laurie Itkin, founder of The Options Lady.

Both the Wall Street Journal and ABC News ran stories today on the latest census figures showing that women now account for a third of the nation’s lawyers and doctors. As recently as only 25 years ago, those professions were occupied almost exclusively by men.

Doctor and lawyers, but no mention of traders? Why is it that every time I go to a gathering of self-directed traders and investors the majority of the room is comprised of men? I recently spoke at the Traders Expo in Las Vegas and out of the 30+ speakers, only three of us were women. I picked up three new coaching clients from the show and all three of them are men.

I was giving an interview at the show and noticed a man watching me. He had looked at the schedule and knew that I would be in that location at that particular time. He had read my bio and learned that I had worked for an options market maker during the summer of 1989. After I was finished, we chatted and he told me he was in charge for recruitment for a Chicago market maker. He asked me for help in recruiting women to his firm as he truly believed that women make better traders than men. He didn’t understand why women were not attracted to the field.

The ABC article referenced above indicated that despite the progress of women, an income gap still exists. In 2007 the median income for a female lawyer was $90,000 compare to $122,000 for men. The median income for a female doctor was $112,000 compared to $187,000 for male doctors.

Women interested in trading as their profession don’t have to worry about income disparity. The computer is blind to one’s gender.

Laurie Itkin is Founder of The Options Lady, a mentoring business launched to inspire, educate and empower women to become successful self-directed traders and investors. Laurie teaches women how to trade covered calls, an options strategy that is less risky than “buying and holding” stock and also generates monthly income. For clients who don’t have the time or inclination to manage their own accounts, they can be professionally managed by Coastwise Capital Group, a boutique investment advisor specializing in options strategies to reduce risk and generate income in clients’ portfolios.

Hiring a Writer or Editor: What You Need To Know

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Guest blog written by Mission Valley Hera Hub member Adrienne Moch.

How much should you pay to hire a writer or editor? I can’t give you a great answer to that question, but I can say unequivocally that you do get what you pay for when it comes to writing and editing services.

Over the eight years that I’ve been a freelance writer/editor, I’ve spoken with many befuddled people who have a hard time understanding the fee structure for writers and editors. For instance, there’s the guy who received five quotes for editing his brochure: $65, $125, $750, $2,500 and $4,500.

This happened many years ago, and I’m as shocked today by those numbers as I was when I first heard them. What were those three “high” companies thinking? I got the job because of my affordability ($125) and experience, and the fact that the low bidder wasn’t perceived as professional…and those are the three components I suggest you use to gauge whether a particular writer/editor is right for you.

Affordability. This first component is hard to quantify, because what’s affordable to one company can be expensive to another. As part of my quote process, I consider the scope of the project as well as the proposed timeline. I also take into account the size of the company, since larger organizations typically have more to spend on creative services than sole proprietors or small businesses.

I’ve found that value is very much in the eye of the beholder. I’ve had $200 clients complain about the size of their invoices and $1,000 clients applaud me for being so cost-effective. If you’ve never paid for writing or editing services, you probably have no clue what you should be charged. My advice is to focus first on quality, before you tackle the numbers, which brings us to the second component.

Experience. If you’ve decided to hire a writer or editor, you obviously care about the quality of your copy. I applaud you! Just as you might not want to go to a doctor who graduated last in his class or use a plumber with a record of sloppiness, you shouldn’t settle for a poor or even average writer/editor. There are plenty of people out there who can provide you with stellar writing or editing services.

Be sure to do your due diligence. Check out websites and LinkedIn pages, even ask for samples and references. No one who’s a professional will mind those requests. Additionally, be extremely wary when a quote seems “too good to be true”; a lot of so-called writers and editors will almost work for peanuts–but you may be quite disappointed with your end product.

Professionalism. I’ve already touched on this third component. One of my favorite sayings is, “Everyone knows how to write, but that doesn’t mean everyone’s a writer.” I take great pride in my profession; I’ve been in it for more than 30 years. There are many other lifelong writers and editors who are passionate about their craft and delighted to serve as your valued “words” resource. Steer clear of the pretenders, those who have little or no professional pedigree.

One more tip: Organizations like the Editorial Freelancers Association and SD/PEN are great places to find reputable writers and editors…if you feel the need to look further than my website, that is!

Adrienne Moch is passionate about words–and focused on ensuring copy isn’t merely competent, but compelling. She’s been a professional writer and editor since 1981, beginning her career as a journalist and working as a corporate communicator, newsletter writer, and PR professional before becoming a freelancer. Since 2004, Adrienne has focused on business writing and editing, helping clients communicate effectively in all their written materials, including websites, marketing collateral, newsletters, articles, proposals, blogs, and press releases. Her expertise transcends writing and editing, since she provides valuable branding and marketing insight, and she’s also a talented book editor and ghostwriter. Learn more at www.adriennemoch.com.

5 Things SEO Taught Me About Business

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Guest blog post by Sorrento Valley Hera Hub member Jacqualynn Gordon, founder of Zoku Marketing.

1. Dive in -“Practice makes perfect.” No college has an Internet marketing and search engine optimization major, so when I started learning Internet marketing and SEO, I just had to learn as I went. Personal ingenuity and flexibility are the most valuable assets to have in business. You just need to jump in the deep-end and start treading water until you learn to swim.

2. Be clear and specific - In search engine optimization, we emphasize relevance and clarity. This is needed for any business to succeed. If you don’t know exactly what you do, how will you tell your potential customers what you do? Make it appealing and easy for them to understand. Is your business relevant to their needs? When people are searching for a product or service, it is because they NEED something, give them a relevant solution.

3. Optimize - “The only constant is change itself.” -Heraclitus

When you first start a company, you are going to spend the first few years adjusting and refining your business plan. As you are in business, you will be constantly adding and eliminating products and services and your business plan will change. There will be products or services that are more lucrative than others or shifts in the market that force you to adapt.  Optimize your business to succeed.

4. Links - In search engine optimization, links tell Google if you are a reliable and quality site; in business, the connections you have are the best references for potential clients to judge if you are reliable and trustworthy.  Word of mouth is and ALWAYS will have the best marketing ROI. Get to know the people in your industry, get to know people that compliment your business. Set up partnerships and referral programs.

5. Maintain - You don’t just start a company and walk away from it and expect to make money. Mold your business around the market trends, and more importantly, to your strengths. Maintain each aspect of your business; maintain customer relationships, update marketing material periodically, maintain your skills and stay abreast to what is changing in your industry. NO business will succeed if it’s static.

Bio 

Jacqualynn grew up in an entrepreneurial family and developed a love for business at a young age. After working for several small companies in various marketing, management and sales positions, Jacqualynn launched Zoku Marketing, an SEO and online marketing company.

Zoku’s mission is to help business owners achieve marketing success through amplified online presence.  Zoku specializes in key aspects of Internet Marketing, such as: Search Engine Optimization, Pay Per Click Campaigns, Website Development, and Social Media. Zoku serves clients in various industries; including e-commerce, retail, food, and fitness.  She has helped clients go from “unknown” to page one on Google, thus increasing their market share and sales.

 

The Story of My Life

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Guest blog post written by Mission Valley Hera Hub member Johannah Warren, writer, president and editor of Saint Columba Press.

Until a few years ago, reading a memoir was about as appealing as sitting next to that uncle at dinner who wants to describe his latest trip to the podiatrist.  Of the memoirs that hit the bestseller list, I assumed the protagonist was an extraordinary survivor of life’s injustice whose story was merely stumbled upon by a ghostwriter.  Realistically, who’d have thought girls like “Precious” would live to tell the tale.  The idea of writing a memoir myself was even more alien.  What did I really have to say?

The seed was planted at twenty-five when I embarked on a personal photo album project.  I phoned relatives for additional pictures and their memory of each occasion.  Most featured my sister as the main character and I, her shadow.  This would become very relevant later.  I had subconsciously avoided inspection of how significantly our paths had diverged.  I wondered what her version of our childhood would be.  I wanted to write it all down – at least how I experienced it – but it was like staring up the side of a steep mountain.  And I didn’t have a happily ever after.  While my jumble of dysfunctional family rants always cracked people up, I longed for a true journey’s end.  The proverbial finish line.  Of course, that would be at my death, but I was still looking for some kind of justification – the culminating event that causes everything before it to make sense.

I was completely missing the point.

Years later, I dusted off my CD’s and vowed to listen to everything that I once loved enough to own, and the time warp began.  “Neil Young Unplugged” was my favorite album when I first moved into that snowy Rocky Mountain cabin with no plumbing at the age of seventeen.  The collection of tunes summoned ghosts of old lovers or the thrill of driving for the first time.  I could even smell my grandparents’ kitchen on Maple Street when I played bluegrass music.  I sought out a pencil and notebook, lest these musical triggers fail me one day.

Each little slice of the story inspired another, as though I was being lured by a romance that I hoped would never end.  However, when I arranged the pieces chronologically, so much about my life didn’t make sense.  I was just a pinball in a machine.  I tried to think of how to explain to a reader, for example, how I went from being a pre-med student to a wanna-be Hollywood actress, but I couldn’t.  Finally I resolved not to apply a sugar-coating.  The truth is, there was nothing logical or noble about many of my choices, and the pattern revealed itself that fear had repeatedly prevented me from reaching success.  This was a painful reflection that, not uncharacteristically, made me want to quit writing.

But somehow I knew if I could find truth, there was cleansing in the murky waters.  This would not be a display of my degrees and trophies and ribbons; rather, a true story of life’s adventure and a search for meaning from a real girl.  I intended to, upon conclusion, find a quiet place by the river and dispose of it page by page downstream.  Unexpectedly, it was in my own story that I found the acceptance I never got from my mother, the closure I needed with my sister, and the self-love I had futilely sought from others.  Miraculous is the only word I can think of to describe the transformation that took place within.  Giving a shape to my life will forever remain the oasis I had been crawling toward.

Johannah Warren is the President and Editor of Saint Columba Press, a multi-faceted company dedicated to literature, storytelling, and narrative therapy.  In addition to group lectures and writing retreats, Johannah coaches individuals in the writing, editing, and publication of their memoirs.  While still in its infancy, SCP is embarking on an extensive project that will encompass a dynamic database of Life Lessons and relevant reflections from all walks of life.

Baking Philanthropy into Your Business DNA

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Hera Hub is teaming up with San Diego Women’s Foundation (SDWF) to host an event on how you can bring philanthropy into your business.

SDWF and Hera Hub will “host a panel of entrepreneurs, just like you, for a fun, social and enlightening discussion” about philanthropy and business. The panelists include Bethel Nathan, owner of Ceremonies by Bethel, Christy White, owner of Christy White Associates, and Felena Hanson, founder of Hera Hub. Panelists will discuss questions such as:

  • Why incorporating philanthropy in your business plan is beneficial
  • How they have integrated their philanthropic passions into their businesses
  • How they effectively tell their philanthropic/business story to clients, vendors and other stakeholders

The event will be held Tuesday, November 27th at the Sorrento Valley Hera Hub location from 5:30-7:30pm.

Space is limited so RSVP as soon as possible. Please RSVP with your name, business name, email and phone number to sdwf@sdfoundation.org by Tuesday, November 20, 2012.  This is a no-cost event and wine and light appetizers will be served.  If you have questions, call Tracy Johnson, SDWF Director, at 619-814-1374.

You may also register on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/events/295031520602045

How (and Why) to “Write Right”

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Guest blog post written Mission Valley Hera Hub member Alisa A. Shorago, J.D., principal at Shorago Training Services.

How (and Why) to “Write Right” for Businesspeople

Before tackling some of the most common writing errors, it’s worth addressing why writing correctly, even on social media, is so important in business.

Undoubtedly, some readers—that is, current or potential clients/customers—won’t notice or care about a grammatical gaffe. But the fact remains that some will. For those, it can affect how they view you and your company, especially if this is their first contact with you. Errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling can detract from credibility, with some of these readers even questioning your or your company’s competence.

The above caveat is particularly true when your business involves providing services in which a client would expect to see attention to detail and professionalism. If your communication to them is mistake-laden, so their reasoning goes, why would your work for them be any different?

So even on Facebook or Twitter, and even in a rush, it’s important to take the time to proofread what you’re about to post. (Though nobody’s perfect, and thank goodness for the “delete post” functions when something sneaks through.) For more lasting documents like collateral—including brochures, flyers, and even video text—always have another pair of eyes come in and proofread; it’s always harder to spot your own errors than someone else’s.

Now, without further ado, here are the three most common errors I see in business writing generally and how to fix them.

Mistake #1: Using the wrong word

The most common instance of this error is when people use “your” instead of “you’re,” or vice versa.  (The same is true of “its” and “it’s.”)  In grammar speak, “your” is a possessive pronoun, whereas “you’re” is a contraction for “you are.” A helpful tip: as you read aloud your sentence, substitute “you are.”  If “you are” makes sense there, then you want “you’re”; if not, use “your.”

For the many other words that are often confused—for instance, affect/effect, peek/peak/pique, and loose/lose—consult online resources for explanation and practice. One of my favorite online resources that addresses easily confused words is http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/notorious.htm.

Mistake #2: Using apostrophes to make a word plural

I don’t know how the trend of using apostrophes incorrectly started, but it’s going full blast.

With very few exceptions, an apostrophe and an “s” should be used only to show possession, not to make a word plural.  In other words, if you want to make “a business owner agrees” plural, it’s not “business owner’s agree.” It’s “business owners agree.”  It’s only correct to use “business owner’s” if you’re talking about something that belongs to the business owner, such as “the business owner’s reputation.”

Mistake #3: Spelling names wrong

People are emotionally attached to their personal and company names. Even people who don’t otherwise care about writing errors may be annoyed if you spell their name wrong. Always double-check name spellings in emails or messaging against the reader’s own spelling.

Bio:  Since 2008, Alisa A. Shorago, J.D. has been providing useful and interesting seminars on business writing, as well as seminars in business professionalism and etiquette; workplace communication skills; and harassment prevention (AB 1825). Her clients have included Stanford Research Compliance Office, TDK-Lambda Americas, and Toastmasters International. She’s also a former professor, editor, and writer, as well as a “recovering” attorney. You can learn more about Alisa and Shorago Training Services at www.shoragotraining.com or reach her at alisa@shoragotraining.com.

Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit 2012

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Every year Fortune complies a list of corporate America’s 50 most powerful women. The women become a kind of community and within the community they have access to “live events and programs that enable the MPW to use their power wisely and globally.” One of these fantastic opportunities is Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit.

This year’s MPW Summit took place on October 1-3 in Laguna Niguel, California. For those of us seriously interested but seriously busy entrepreneurs, Fortune made the summit easily accessible online. The event was a live stream and viewers at home or work were able to participate by virtually sending in questions  to the moderator. There was also a chat room available after the sessions where the speakers and the audience could continue to interact.

If you missed the live stream there is still hope! The sessions are now on-demand on their website, and will be available until their 2013 summit takes place. One discussion in particular really caught our eye and that was their discussion on women entrepreneurs.

The speakers featured in this discussion were Victoria Ransom, founder and head of Wildfire, a social media marketing company. Alexa von Tobel is CEO of LearnVest, a company that allows it’s members easy access to finance experts. Shunee Yee, CEO and founder of CSOFT International which is a company that provides customized globaziation strategy. Pattie Sellers, the moderator, asked them basic questions like why they left their corporate jobs and why they started their company. Their answers were interesting and insightful.

All 3 women had worked with large Fortune 500 companies yet they all decided it wasn’t their correct career path. Alexa von Tobel hit the nail on the head when she expressed why she left her job: “I wanted to get up every morning and fell like I was really making a difference and I didn’t feel like I was doing that.” Isn’t that why most of us strike out on our own? That is the heart and soul of an entrepreneur.  Felena has a similar story that we members are now wonderfully a part of.

This summit is a great example of women in business and how they are stepping up and being noticed. It is also extremely insightful to be able to hear these women’s success stories and advice. This summit was basically a virtual version of Hera Hub! Here at HH we are sitting together, collaborating and urging each other one, gaining advice and making friends along the way. At the rate Hera Hub is growing hopefully Felena will be invited one day to speak at the MPW Summit and show the world how amazing and talented she is.

 

Are Organically Grown Foods Really More Nutritious?

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Guest blog post written by Mission Valley Hera Hub member Lisa Marie Rowell, nutritionist at Body Basics.

Organically grown foods are more nutritious than commercially grown foods: Truth or Myth?

This has been an on-going debate for many years. The truth is there are mounds of studies to support either argument. So, instead of dedicating a copious number of hours deciphering through all the information that’s out there on organic vs. commercial food nutrient content, let’s examine what would cause a plant to uptake more or less nutrients. Shall we?

Healthy soil

Firstly, we must have an understanding of where the nutrients in our food come from.  Nutrients come from the earth’s soil courtesy of nature and its amazing ecological system of checks and balances.  Soil is a living substance containing more than 1 million living organisms per tablespoon, 1,000 different species per square meter and is the basis of all life. The soil feeds the plants, the plants feed the animals (and humans) and the animals feed the humans. So what feeds the soil to make it healthy?

Healthy soil is composed of 45% minerals and is full of microbial life, which contains millions of bacteria. The bacteria’s primary job is to decompose anything that falls on its land and to break down mineral deposits into plant food. What feeds or nourishes the soil is what falls on its land: Animal waste, decomposing animal material and decomposing plant material. Organic farming practices support the replenishment of the soil through crop rotation, composting and the use of natural fertilizers (manure). Crop rotation is a method that changes the type of crops that are planted in a given section of the field for each growing season. More bio-diversity supports the soil and plant’s symbiotic relationship, resulting in healthier soil and crops that don’t require chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

America’s loss of topsoil and the repercussions

The unfortunate truth is that America is losing its topsoil at an alarming rate.  According to the U.S. Global Change Research Information Office, “About 90% of the cropland is currently losing soil above the sustainable rate.”  Industrial agriculture is a big contributor to the depletion and demineralization of America’s topsoil. Commercial farming practices interfere with nature’s intricate ecological systems. Fence-to-fence mono-cropping with no vegetation or trees around the edge of the fields allows topsoil to blow away or get washed away because there is no vegetation to protect it.

The lack of bio-diversity limits soil replenishment and stifles the flourishing of microbial life, thus requiring measures for insect and pest control. Overuse of fungicides and pesticides is another contributing factor to the depletion of our topsoil. The over-application of chemical fertilizers can also kill microbes in the soil by buildup of salt content, which creates a dilemma. The only way synthetic nitrogen (fertilizer) is made available to plants is by microbes. As this cycle continues, the soil becomes more and more unproductive. And sadly, the ammonium nitrate (key fertilizer compound) largely replaces nutrients like calcium, potassium and magnesium in making plant tissue. When there is a large presence of nitrogen plants increase protein production and decrease carbohydrate production. The excess protein is basically “junk protein” containing lower amounts of essential amino acids, much like gluten in wheat for example.

Today’s foods are much different than yesterday’s

Foods are not what they were. To get the iron that was available in 1 cup of spinach in 1945, you would have to consume about 65 cups today.  If the soil is unhealthy lacking in micro-organisms and minerals, the plants will be weak and nutritionally deficient. Dead soil does not produce healthful food! In order for a plant to uptake an optimal amount of nutrients it must come from productive soil. So, to conclude is organically grown food more nutritious than commercially grown food? Yes, theoretically since organic farming nurtures the productivity of the soil and industrial agriculture contributes to the depletion of the soil, but ultimately it depends on the soil your food was grown in.

In health & happiness,

Lisa Marie Rowell

Lisa Marie is a Nutritionist and enthusiastic proponent of natural healing. She gently motivates and passionately empowers people to take charge of their health and well-being. Lisa Marie began her health crusade after realizing that many of her friends, peers, and family were afflicted by disease, a rapidly growing incidence in America.  Her desire to leave behind a meaningful legacy drew her to helping others achieve vitality and longevity, so that they could live a happy and fruitful life with their loved ones. Lisa Marie practices clinical whole food nutrition at Body Basics, located in San Diego’s Hillcrest area and specializes in digestive issues, sugar handling and fatigue.