CategoriesLifestyle Tips & Tricks

10 Facts You Should Know About Natural and Additive-Free Food Products

If you’re interested in natural and additive-free food products, there are several important facts you should know:

  1. Firstly, it’s essential to understand that natural and organic products are different. While organic products undergo controlled cultivation at every stage, natural products are grown or produced in their natural environment without artificial intervention.
  2. Natural and additive-free food products are beneficial for human health as they do not contain any chemicals.
  3. Unlike artificial foods containing carcinogenic substances, natural food products do not pose a risk of cancer.
  4. In contrast to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which may lack essential nutrients, natural and additive-free food products provide the necessary vitamins and proteins required by the human body.
  5. Natural and additive-free food products are compatible with the human DNA, unlike GMOs, which may lead to various health risks.
  6. Particularly in times like the current pandemic, maintaining a strong immune system is crucial. Choosing natural and additive-free food products can help support immune health.
  7. Opting for natural and additive-free products, especially for children’s development, such as fruits, vegetables, honey, tahini, or molasses, is vital. Artificial food products containing hormones can negatively impact a child’s development.
  8. Natural and additive-free food products contribute positively to the environment by avoiding the use of harmful chemicals.
  9. These products are gentle on the digestive system and can even aid digestion, unlike foods containing artificial additives.
  10. Natural and additive-free products generally have a longer shelf life compared to those containing GMOs or chemicals, allowing them to maintain freshness for a more extended period.

These facts underscore the importance and benefits of incorporating natural and additive-free food products into your diet.

What Are Natural and Additive-Free Food Products?

Natural and additive-free food products, as the name suggests, are products that do not contain any additives or chemicals in their production processes and are obtained naturally. Natural and additive-free products can be vegetables or fruits grown using organic or animal fertilizers in accordance with their natural conditions. Products derived from these can also be considered as natural and additive-free food products. Additionally, many products such as cheese, olive oil, molasses, honey, pomegranate molasses, which are produced using additives, can also be produced as natural and additive-free food products.

How Many Categories are Food Products Examined in?

Food products are mainly categorized into the following categories:
– Dairy and Dairy Products
– Meat and Meat Products
– Oils
– Fruits and Vegetables Products
– Bread and Grains
– Pulses
– Chocolate and Confectionery
– Eggs
– Honey
– Canned Foods

What are the products with widespread natural production in Türkiye?

Turkey’s location in the temperate zone and its favorable climate for agriculture enable the widespread cultivation of many products using natural methods. In Turkey, grains are among the most widely produced products through natural methods. Following grains, industrial crops, vegetables, and pulses come next in line in terms of widespread natural production.

What are the differences between Natural Products and Organic Products?

While natural products and organic products are often thought of as the same, they are actually different. Natural products are those grown or produced using natural methods in their natural environment. On the other hand, organic products undergo controlled production processes that require certification and approval from authorities, hence they are labeled as organic. When cultivating organic products, attention is paid to details such as the absence of nearby factories that could adversely affect the products. There are regulations set by authorities regarding organic production.

How should Natural Products be evaluated in terms of price performance?

Natural products, which are easier to produce compared to organic products, generally contain more affordable prices than organic products. However, there may be price differences compared to products containing chemical or hormonal additives. Natural products are produced using natural methods, unlike products containing chemicals or GMOs, which may entail a longer and more detailed production process, thus affecting their price.

What are some natural examples of gourmet flavors?

There are many examples of gourmet flavors made with natural products. One of the most special flavors made with natural products, highly regarded by gourmets, is undoubtedly olive oil, which holds an important place in the preparation of many dishes and salads. Especially, cold-pressed olive oils are the favorite choice for those aiming to create gourmet flavors.

Another product that can give your palate a gourmet taste with its natural ingredients is a variety of jams and preserves. Jams made with fruits grown using natural methods, with their full aroma, taste, and flavor, hold a special place among gourmet delights.

How are Natural and Additive-Free Honey Varieties Produced?

In today’s world, with increasing incidents of honey fraud, everyone’s quest to find natural and additive-free honey has intensified. So, how are natural and additive-free honey varieties produced?

Firstly, natural honey varieties are produced without the use of any chemicals or drugs, typically in locations far from residential areas. When producing natural and additive-free honey varieties, everything from the flowers where bees collect pollen to the hives and even the equipment used, including beeswax, is free from chemicals or additives. Natural and additive-free honey varieties are produced using methods passed down from our ancestors for centuries.

How are Natural Tahini and Natural Molasses Produced?

In today’s conditions, accessing natural and additive-free products is becoming increasingly difficult. Unfortunately, the same applies to traditional flavors like tahini and molasses. When buying tahini and molasses, you must pay attention to ensure they are natural and additive-free for your health.

Natural tahini is made by grinding sesame seeds and subjecting them to certain processes to achieve a thick consistency. There are specific stages such as peeling and roasting the sesame seeds involved in the production of natural tahini. The key factor in making natural tahini is using sesame seeds that are natural and additive-free. Tahini made from sesame seeds without any additives or chemicals will be healthier and will contain the necessary vitamins and beneficial fats for your health in the right proportions.

Natural molasses, on the other hand, is made by boiling a fruit after it’s harvested and then straining it through a cloth-like fabric to achieve a thick, fluid consistency. Molasses, a food that is brought to a thick consistency by boiling, can be made from any fruit that contains sugar or has a sweet taste. The most common fruits used to make molasses are grapes, figs, and carob. Especially during the weaning period of babies, doctors often recommend consuming molasses, so consuming natural and additive-free molasses is crucial for health. During the molasses production process, it is essential that the fruit used is grown using natural methods and has not been exposed to any chemicals or drugs. This ensures that molasses contains the right amounts of calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, and carbohydrates, which are essential for human health, especially for the development of babies and children, in a healthy and balanced way.

Where do olives grow for Natural Olive Oil?

The natural olives necessary for the highest quality and healthiest olive oil are grown in the Aegean Region, the southern coasts of the Marmara Region, and the Mediterranean Region of Turkey. While some of the olives grown in these regions are used for table consumption, another significant portion is used for olive oil production. There are several key details that determine the quality of natural olive oil production. These include the region where the olive tree is grown, the climate characteristics of that region, the soil conditions in which the olive tree grows, the period and method of harvesting the olives. Certain regions in our country stand out, especially for their high-quality olive oils. Ayvalık, Gemlik, and Milas are some of our regions famous for their olive oils.

How should the selection of natural food products be made?

We live in an age where we can easily access any information we want, and many people are now aware of the negative effects of food products grown using unnatural methods and containing chemicals and drugs, which can lead to adverse effects on human health, especially diseases such as cancer, and pose risks for other illnesses. Those who avoid consuming non-natural and additive-containing food products prefer natural, additive-free, and organic products. With awareness-raising efforts targeting consumers, the number of people choosing natural and organic products is increasing day by day. However, with the increasing demand for natural and organic products, unfortunately, there are also those who resort to fraud in this regard.

If you decide to buy organic food products, the most important thing to pay attention to is that the company selling them must have a ministry-approved organic food certificate. Those who engage in organic farming and produce organic products in compliance with the conditions set by the ministry can obtain this certificate after certain tests and inspections.

When choosing natural food products, it is also essential for the company producing or selling natural food to have certificates proving that they produce or sell natural and additive-free food products. When shopping for natural food products, you must pay attention to whether the company you are buying from has these certificates.

At Lissiya Farm, in this article, we have tried to provide as much information as possible about natural and additive-free food products, such as what they are, how food products are categorized, which products have widespread natural production in Turkey, the differences between natural and organic products, how to evaluate natural products in terms of price performance, examples of gourmet flavors, how natural honey and natural molasses are produced, where olives grow for natural olive oil, and how to choose natural food products. We hope this information has been helpful. If you would like to learn more about natural and additive-free food products or explore different options, you can visit our page.