More and more people today are insisting that the food that they eat be produced using organic methods. They don’t want their fruits and vegetables to be grown with the aid of toxic pesticides and toxic fertilizers. They don’t want the meat that they consume to come from animals that have been loaded down with antibiotics and growth hormones. They don’t want the foods that they purchase to have had food preservatives and flavor enhancers added during processing. In other words, they want food to be in its natural state as nearly as possible.

Usually the reason why people “go organic” regarding their food is because they are concerned about the toxic chemicals that they are ingesting. But the health of the planet is an even better reason to go organic than just simply to avoid toxins and going green means going beyond just organic food.

“Green” cleaning products are available today. Most of these products are just as effective as, and some are more effective than, the highly toxic alternatives. Sadly, most “green” products are still more expensive than the toxic versions, but those of us who believe that keeping our planet from dying in its own filth is important don’t mind paying a little extra at the checkout counter.

There are even “green” choices in clothing. The most important thing here is to look for a label that says “certified organic.” That label means that the cotton used in making the product was grown without the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers or that the wool was sheared from sheep that weren’t fed antibiotics or growth hormones.

Going beyond organic food in an effort to protect our planet also means actively recycling and encouraging recycling of paper, plastic, metal, and other reusable materials.