 Why Soy with my brew? The Benefits of Soy Many people can benefit from adding soy to their diets. The KosmoLiving.com website has a detailed discussion, and you can visit many reputable health websites and discuss with your healthcare provider the benefits of adding soy to your diet. According to the Peer Review of Human Medical Studies and Longevity Statistics, soy has been shown to, among other things: ~Prevent and treat chronic diseases such as heart, kidney, and liver diseases; osteoporosis, diabetes and arthritis ~Greatly reduce symptoms of menopause and PMS ~Lower rates of lung, breast, prostate and colon cancers ~Boost the immune system ~Assist with anti-aging and the prevention of Alzheimers disease If you normally enjoy coffee as part of your day, here is one completely effortless way to include it. One 6-ounce cup of brewed Kosmo Well-Bean® Coffee provides 28 milligrams of isoflavones and 2 grams of natural soy protein. (Comparatively, 1/2 cup of tofu has 38 milligrams and 1/4 cup of roasted soybeans, 83 milligrams). Why non-GMO Organic Soybeans? We only use the highest-quality, non-GMO organic soybeans for our Well-Bean series of functional coffee beverages. Our farms are certified organic by the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA). OCIA-certified farms must have a minimum of three years of organic soil practices to become certified. Our beans are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides or other harmful chemicals. From nursery seedlings to the ripened beans ready for harvesting, the farmers take great care in practicing well-established and sustainable organic farming methods such as terracing, composting, shading, and the use of biological pest and fungus controls instead of chemicals. What is EGCG? ~the highest concentration of EGCG is found in green tea. Technically speaking, it is kind of flavonoid. Flavonoids are found in a variety of plants, and are often referred to as natures modifier because of their ability to modify the bodys response to viruses, potential allergens, and cancer-causing agents. They act as powerful antioxidants, protecting the body from free radical damage. This helps to help the body feel stronger, keep the skin looking younger, and generally delay the effects of aging. ~more specifically, EGCG is also a catechin, a kind of flavonoid that is thought to boost the immune system and even fight the growth of tumors. It also has anti-inflammatory characteristics, making it valuable for preventing arthritis and other ailments. ~EGCG is a powerful antioxidant in cancer prevention ~EGCG is as much as 100 times more powerful an antioxidant than Vitamin C, and 25 times more powerful than Vitamin E Why 100% Organic and Fair Trade Beans? *When you talk about organic milk, it means that the cows enjoy better living conditions. When you talk about organic coffee, it means that entire villages of people are able to rise from acute poverty to a living wage...that they have health care and education for their children. For most coffee drinkers, having a morning cup of java every day is so routine that its easy to forget the beans you choose affect the lives of coffee growers and workers all across the developing world. According to industry statistics, for every pound of coffee sold in the United States, which is typically priced for retail between five and nine dollars, the average coffee farmer receives less than thirty-five cents and pickers receive less than fourteen cents. The price disparity for coffee sold ready-to-drink at restaurants and coffee shops is even greater. A crop of beans sold in the United States that will be sold by the brewed cup is estimated to be worth about $750,000. From that small fortune, the small farmers and the field pickers who work for large concerns dont earn enough to scrape by; the majority live in a cycle of poverty that most people enjoying a $4 latte will never know about. Some consumers who are aware of this make a socially-conscious choice when buying coffee, but to others, its all about the taste. At the end of the day, taste will always be the most important factor in what coffee people drink. Consumers who care about health and the environment choose organic coffee, which is grown pesticide-free and with concern for the land and the environment. People who are concerned for the benefit of the workers and the environment choose Fair Trade coffee. Most aware people seek products that are both organic- and Fair Trade-certified. Lets start with an overview of these classifications. Fair Trade The Fair Trade movement aims to mitigate this situation. A fairly young movement, begun in 1997, twenty nations17 European countries plus the United States, Canada and Japanformed Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International (FLO). Each nation has its own Fair Trade associations; in the United States, the association is called TransFair USA, and it issues the seal at the right for products it certifies (the European Union has its own seal, as do Japan and Canada). Coffee (and other commodities, including cacao) certified as Fair Trade must comply with a number of conditions economic, social, and environmental. The middleman who under the traditional model paid little for the beans and sold them at high profit is eliminated. Under Fair Trade: ~Coffee growers, generally small farmers, own and work their farms (as opposed to working under low wages for large corporate entities). ~They must belong to cooperatives that are run on a democratic basis. ~The importers must pay a price that covers production costs, plus a social premium that can help improve the farmers working and living conditions. The price is set by FLO (currently $1.41 per pound, and if the coffee is organic there is a $.015 premium per pound). ~Producers must pursue ecological goals, conserving natural resources and limiting chemical use. According to a recent estimate, Fair Trade coffee farmers are earning an annual income of $2,000, as opposed to the $500 they would otherwise have earned. More than 80% of Fair Trade coffee sold in the United States is also Certified Organic. The increased income Fair Trade creates allows cooperatives to re-invest in their farms, making them more ecologically sound and increasing coffee quality. Read more about Fair Trade in Stephanie Zoniss article, Grounds For Confusion, Grounds For Change: The Complex World Of Organic Coffee. Certified Organic Most people buy organic products because they want to avoid pesticides; but organic farming is also better for the land and the environment. To be Certified Organic: ~The coffee must be grown on land that has not been treated with synthetic pesticides or other prohibited substances for three years. ~There must be a sufficient buffer space between the organic coffee and the nearest conventional crop. ~The farmer must have a sustainable crop rotation plan to prevent erosion, depletion of soil nutrients and pests. All of these factors contribute to making a better cup of coffee. Less chemicals and better soil means a healthier and tastier crop. Because it helps to reduce the need for pesticides and fertilizers, a majority of organic coffee is shade grown, which is another factor that often improves taste. The shade has a similar effect on coffee as growing coffee at high altitudes, and it ensures that the birds and animals who live in the trees dont lose their habitat. These factors slow down the growth of a coffee, which results in the production of more sugars and natural chemicals in the bean responsible for the desired acidity in the coffee. Buying Certified Organic coffee isnt just good for the consumer and the environment; its good for the farmers who grow it as well. It fetches a higher export price, an agrochemical-free farm is a safer environment for farm families and workers, it lowers expenditures for synthetic inputs and it helps protect the local water. There are a variety of organic certifying organizations: the USDA and numerous state authorities certify products grown here, and Quality Assurance International and other organizations certify products grown in other countries. *Article taken from www.thenibble.com/reviews | 
