Organic Produce and other good stuff…

[Brendan]

I’m relocating to Chengdu this month, and will be living in the downtown area. As a bodybuilder, nutrition is of high importance (obviously!), and I’d like to get a heads up on where in the city I will be able to find untainted sources of food.

I read the ‘Fake Eggs’ post on here, and let me tell you that’s got me apprehensive already! Eggs feature heavily in my diet, along with good cuts of (organic) beef, chicken, lamb, turkey, and pork. Organic fruits and vegetables are vital too, as well as a good clean water source.

I’m guessing there are some great farmers markets, but are any of you aware of organic produce being readily available in the city?

[Charlie]

I wish I could provide some helpful info but I don’t know much about this. Please share what you find out though, this would be valuable information!

[Brendan]

Will do!

[hjorturv]

The Bookworm has food market for organic products regularly, check out http://www.chinabookworm.com

[Ray]

@hzwerks:

You may also have trouble getting reliable whey protein (if you take it). i spent alot of cash on one brand called Giant Muscles, but i was skeptical about it after someone suggested that it may be adulterated or even fake. i had it tested by a friend who works for the dept. that tests these things, and while not fake, the report said that it was highly adulterated and from a “poor source”. I’m still looking for a 100% reliable source…Man, i wish they had GNC stores here, those places are awesome…

BTW: You need to soak fruits and veg to remove the pesticides and other nasties. I use a brand of dishwashiing liquid which aparently is awesome for this, and completely safe. i soak them for about half an hour.

Good luck man!

[Brendan]

Gotta love pesticides!! I tend not to use too much in the way of supplements, opting to take in a good amount of clean food instead. I do take whey isolates, but not in large amounts, and always with a good greens powder, psyllium, and essential oils.

It should have been fairly easy to identify poor whey, it tends to have a denser consistency, and will most definitely contain lactose, which will bloat you at the same time as causing congestion. I’ve heard all the stories of Chinese manufacturers shipping product with fake essay certification, so finding a good source is paramount. It might be worthwhile finding an Australian or NZ (preferable, as the dairy industry uses no hormones) whey source. I’ve lived in both countries for short periods, and finding good producers of product was not difficult.

Are none of the big US brands like BSN, Muscle Tech, Gaspari, or Optimum Nutrition available in China? GNC would be good, but I wonder what they would be charging for tubs of whey!?

I’ll keep you posted on what I find.

[Charlie]

@ Tigerkuma: Soaking fruit and vegetables for 30 minutes before eating them sounds like a good idea. Until now I’ve just been rinsing them, but I’ll start doing what you suggest.

As far as whey protein, I’m really no expert but I’ve bought it from Watson’s before. I know there are different varieties of whey protein so I’m not positive if they have the kind that you’re looking for, but they do sell it there. I’d expect them to carry a higher quality product than most other places in Chengdu – at the very least, I really doubt it’s fake or will hurt you. The Watson’s nearest to where I’m located is in the Soho building, which is near the intersection of Kehua Beilu and the Consulate road. A large coffee tin-shaped container costs 300 yuan there.

[Nicolas Laurent]

Hi

I’m gathering information about organic products in Chengdu and around on http://www.cdlohas.org

If you have any related informations, please let me know.

You can already find on this website the contact for organic farms here.

[Brendan]

Hi Nicholas,

Can you re-post any information you do unearth, along with any links. That would be extremely useful information to a few of us on the forum.

Thanks.

[Nicolas Laurent]

Hi Brendan,

OK, I can do it for the next ones.

You can already find on http://www.cdlohas.org posts about

* a TV Report from CNTV on Community Supported Agriculture in Beijing and Chengdu (2011.11.26)

* Real-time apps, twitters tracking air quality levels in your Chinese city

* Lung cancer is now Beijing’s foremost killer

* Credibility of Chinese organic food crippled by mislabeling practise

* Chengdu extends green sidewalks

* Organic food a growing biz for the health-aware

And internet links to buy organic products or air purifier

Nicolas

[Author]

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