I read once that in the grand scheme of things it is much more important to eat a large amount of produce than to eat a lesser amount of organic produce. This, of course, is referring to the higher costs of buying organic versus non-organic foods. However, if you can afford it, it is definitely a better choice to buy organically grown food and food without GMOs.
Numerous books and articles have information regarding the most important foods to buy organic. Not all foods are created equal in this regard. A quick Google search will return list upon list of foods that it would behoove you to buy organic if cost is an issue- which for most of us it is, especially if you are feeding a family and are not just flying solo.
One such list is from EatingWell.com - http://www.eatingwell.com/food_news_origins/organic_natural/dirty_dozen_plus_14_foods_you_should_buy_organic
This list rates the most important fruits and veggies to buy organic by how badly they are affected by pesticides.
They also have a list of the least important foods to buy organic -
http://www.eatingwell.com/food_news_origins/organic_natural/15_foods_you_dont_need_to_buy_organic
These are just two very good examples of information that is out there, easy to find and worth having on your path to health.
What about meats, eggs, and dairy?
When you get away from plants and into animal products you have to worry less about pesticides and more about antibiotics and hormones. Common sense should tell us that chemicals are bad for our bodies.
The differences between conventional and organic farming:
Conventional >
*Apply chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth.
*Spray synthetic insecticides to reduce pests and disease.
*Use synthetic herbicides to manage weeds.
*Give animals antibiotics, growth hormones and medications to prevent disease and spur growth.
Organic >
*Apply natural fertilizers, such as manure or compost, to feed soil and plants.
*Spray pesticides from natural sources; use beneficial insects and birds, mating disruption or traps to reduce pests and disease.
*Use environmentally-generated plant-killing compounds; rotate crops, till, hand weed or mulch to manage weeds.
*Give animals organic feed and allow them access to the outdoors. Use preventive measures — such as rotational grazing, a balanced diet and clean housing — to help minimize disease.
Studies have been done on both sides of the spectrum over whether or not organic is really better for you than non-organic foods.
Here is a NY Times article worth a read - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/science/earth/study-questions-advantages-of-organic-meat-and-produce.html?_r=0
And one from the Huffington Post -
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/03/organic-food-is-healthier_n_704812.html
Whether or not eating organic foods is better for each individual (and I believe that it is), there is no denying that it is better for the environment. Here is some amazing information from the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization -
http://www.fao.org/organicag/oa-faq/oa-faq6/en/
I could go on, but I won't. This is just some food for thought.... about food.
I love the article but I definitely need to chime in. It was a study funded by governmental agencies that deemed that conventionally farmed produce was no more nutritious than organic. This is false. It takes many years for an organic farm to be certified as organic and, though in not all, many farmers take the time and effort to plant and rotate many crops to restore much of the mineral loss that comes from conventional farming. That makes the vegetables and fruits much more beneficial when the farm is small and sustainable enough for this to be the case. Of course this isn't the case in all organic farms and I suspect when they did the study they used a commercial organic farm which doesn't use bio-dynamic techniques. (This is why locally sourced veggies are miles better.)
ReplyDeleteSecond, if you eat animal products it absolutely and unequivocally does matter whether those animal products are sourced conventionally or organically. Conventionally raised animal products, be they beef, poultry or pork, are largely fed on grain and other crappy products their bodies absolutely do not digest. The meat, poultry or even eggs are very low quality, with little to no nutritional value, and are unbalanced in fat ratios. Bad News! Grass-fed, free-range, foraging, or even wild sourced animals, on the other hand, are happy animals eating what they were intended to eat by nature. These are dramatically better choices!
For more information (and sorry for the plug) stop by http://thedetoxdiva.com
You have an awesome site but I really wanted to set the record straight.
Thank you for posting!! I appreciate all of the information that you stated. I think it's important for people to do their own research because it hits them harder if they find the information for themselves. I am still in the process of researching myself, but I know that Organic is better (especially for me and mine). I love your site and have gotten a lot from it in the short amount of time since I found it! Thank you for stopping by! You're the bees knees! ;)
Delete