I started my period when I was 11 (I'm 19 now), and I had one friend who started before me at age 10. I have another, more androgynous friend who never started her period naturally and finally her doctor prescribed her birth control pills to jump start her period (otherwise, she was developing fine). My sister, a few years younger, had hers at a similar age. I find it strange that the replies on this thread generally remark that children are getting taller and taller--in my observation, the freshmen entering the high school I graduated from seem to be getting smaller and smaller. Then again, I've always been rather tall because of genetics, so that could just be a perception issue.

Maybe I'm just not "green" enough, but I've never felt a huge urge to go organic. Organic foods are VERY expensive when you compare the difference in spending between a year's supply of organic foods and the same amount of general, run-of-the-mill groceries. They taste a little better, but I'd love to see a "Pepsi challenge" for organic foods. I guess the main draw is that they are supposed to be hormone-free and "safer", etc. However, my mother always bought from the fresh produce section and maybe I'm naive, but I don't feel any negative side affects. In fact, our family is one of the healthiest in the neighborhood. We don't use a lot of salt in our food (but not so little that our food is "bland") and we purchase very few processed foods and pre-made dinners, etc.

Like I said, organic diet isn't one of the things I do a lot of research in. Would anyone like to give me a few key points and advantages?