Natural Standard Launches New Database: Environmental Resources

As the green movement continues to gain momentum, a growing number of businesses, schools and communities are supporting sustainable practices and promoting ecological awareness. As a contribution to this global cause, Natural Standard recently launched a new database: Environmental Resources.

The database offers hundreds of educational resources about many environmental issues such as climate change, solar power, sustainable living and much more.

These peer-reviewed, evidence-based monographs highlight how environmental issues impact human, animal and/or plant health. For example, individuals can learn the answers to the following questions:

• What types of air pollutants may increase the risk of lung cancer?
  
• Does organic food have health benefits?
  
• Is vegetarianism safe during pregnancy?

The monographs also discuss environmental applications of ongoing research. For instance, those interested in genetically modified foods can learn how scientists are engineering bananas to produce human vaccines against infectious diseases.

To access the Environmental Resources database, please click here.

Comments

[Gillian]

Awesome! I just took a brief look at the Environmental Resources database and some of the monographs. This is a fantastic addition to the informational databases Natural Standard provides. Environmental issues affect us all, and knowledge is the first step to mitigating the problems the world faces. I’m going to read about organic food now!

[Metu]

There are many fascinating topics in the new Environmental Resources database. For instance, you can read about genetically modified foods (GMFs), or genetically modified organisms (GMOs), as well as sustainable farming, and a host of dietary topics. Anyone who is concerned about the environment will find a topic of interest.

[Herb]

What I really like about Natural Standard is the inclusion of evidence tables in the monograph; it is a great resource to separate the wheat from the chaff. For example, if you look up "detoxification therapy" and scroll down to the evidence table, you see the following: "No available studies qualify for inclusion in the evidence table."

[Dolphinlover]

Yay, finally someone is stepping up to the plate and compiling peer-reviewed ecological info. From ads to fads, all we hear nowadays is green this and green that…suggestions of benefit, but definitely not peer-reviewed articles or monographs on these subjects. I will check out what’s available and post back if I get a chance. What does everyone think so far? Does the new database deliver?

[Greenjean]

GMOs, GMFs reverse transcriptase cloning, where will it end? I learned that USDA organic also infers that no genetically modified plants/animals were used in the production or the actual product, which is startling to me, as I was under the impression that fruits and veggies do not have to have any special labeling in the United States at all from news reports in the past. So a better reason to buy organic is to avoid not knowing if your favorite tomato was created splicing leprechaun and corn genes. Why can’t we just label all products?

[K.K]

This is an exciting database for those involved with a healthy environment, as well as those concerned about their own health in general. The indexed topics in the database are those that would interest most consumers, making it easy to find answers to their questions. Well done!

[Marie]

What a great addition to Natural Standard’s database! There is so much buzz about going green these days. Now we have a reputable source to obtain information about environment safety and how to make the world a better place!

[Eric]

I have always wondered about the health benefits of organic foods, and to have this new database approach this issue is super exciting! I am looking forward to what this new database, Environment Resources, has to bring to Natural Standard.

[Pat K.]

I'm glad that there is now a source we can all turn to for information about being green. There are so many TV shows and ads out there about it now that it's easy to get confused and then just give up all together. It's great that Natural Standard puts together all this useful information from a variety of sources in one place in an unbiased manner!

[SUMA]

What a nice addition to the Natural Standard database! This section offers something for everyone regarding a wide array of topics, all available in one section of the database. Some examples: definitions of organic foods, food additives, liver therapy (detoxification therapy), ergonomics, pet therapy, soy-free diets, Feingold diets, herbs (such as water hemlock), definitions of food allergy, flexitarianism, fruitarianism and lacto vegetarianism.

I found topics I had never heard of before! Does anyone know what fruitarianism is? It is a nutrition system and a lifestyle. The diet consists of only raw fruit and seeds and other plant matter that can be gathered without harming the plant. This is a “one-stop shopping” site where the investigator/researcher can obtain many different types of information all in one place. I look forward to utilizing this section in the future.

[Becca]

This is such a great idea. It is scary what is happening to our environment, and we need to keep up with the education. I just took a brief look at the natural standard database, and I think it is a fabulous addition

[wayne]

Herb,

I think that it sure does! How could it be a bad thing to centralize information on such an important topic as our environmental resources? It seems that every week G.W. and friends are trying to tap the Alaskan offerings like a cheap midnight snack, willy-nillying away ecosystems for the pursuit of money. Maybe this database will serve as a sort of clearinghouse for info on how not to die in the emerging years.

[Stacy]

I'm thankful to see this addition to the Natural Standard Web site. The "Scientific Evidence" feature makes it so simple and clear to see exactly how the current data stack up and what the implications are. It is particularly useful in light of all green fever out there, which is surely all well-intended, but it does tend to leave consumers scratching their heads over what foods they should buy (organics vs. conventional), the benefits of a soy diet and what the current c.v. is on free-range raised animals. Thank you!

[liz]

What an excellent addition to the database. The indexed topics makes it easy to locate subject of interest.

[donald k]

That’s great there is this database. I don’t have access to this site from my home, so I will check when I’m at the office. I hope this serves a deeper purpose. If it’s anything like their monographs, we're all set, I think. I can’t wait to check it out.

[john]

I am very excited to see what this new database will bring to Natural Standard. There is an increasing trend in going "green," and it is great to now be able to access such information from a reliable and reputable source.

[RZD]

Scientist are engineering bananas to produce human vaccines against infectious diseases? That's incredible!!!!! I think this is great information. Every individual needs to take responsibility and contribute to saving our planet. From my experience a lot of people are interested, they just don't know how, and so a Web site like this is very helpful.

[E.F.]

I think that making people more aware of everything that is going on is great. I feel that people do want to know because it is affecting them, and small changes in our everyday life can prevent complications in the future.

[Luce]

This is great, especially for the world today. We constantly hear corporations preaching, "protect the environment," but very few know how they can contribute. With this informational database, knowledge and education are at our desk, and anyone with special concern for the environment or who wonders about the environment will find a topic of their interest.

[Kyle]

This database was a fabulous idea; a mandatory addition to the database! With the population going green, this is a great and reputable source of information. I like how it’s well indexed and organized with an extensive list of topics. Very informative!!

[Rebeca]

It is great to see that Natural Standards is expanding. This new database is what everyone is talking about. With the issues of global warming, people want to know what they can do and what is being done to preserve our environment for us and future generations.

[Trav]

I like the National Organic Program part in the new database. With the rising popularity of organic products, many consumers don't really know how to choose between the differently labeled packages. The National Organic Program entry helps discern how to choose a product that is truly organic..very helpful!