Is Organic Really Worth It?

When you head to the grocery store, shopping for products like eggs, meat, fish, milk, and produce can be very tricky. Signs are posted everywhere labeling food as natural, organic, and a number of other things—but what’s the difference, really? Learning what specific names mean can help you decide if you should shell out extra money on a product of it is simply a marketing ploy.

Natural is a term associated with a number of fruit and vegetable products. Typically, this is simply a marketing ploy to convince you to buy the product. After all, all fruits and vegetables are natural, right? Unless it’s a new kind of food that has been developed and processed, the product is natural. What you probably really want is organic. Organic foods are grown without the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

However, does that mean that there are no toxins at all on or in the product? I would argue this not necessarily the case. Especially in highly populated and industrialized areas there are a lot of toxins in the air, and these end up in the soil and come down on anything that grows out in the open – including organically grown fruits and vegetables. Also, what about the chemicals the farmer next door or even further down the road uses on his/her crop? It isn’t possible to avoid spill-over from neighboring fields.

According to the FDA’s Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program, which collects and tests random samples of domestic and imported foods, fruits and vegetables have the highest levels of trace pesticides – 54.9 percent of fruits and 23.8 percent of vegetables.

Regardless there are two main benefits to organic foods. First, you are helping the environment because those chemicals are not being introduced into nature. Secondly, you are reducing the amount of chemicals and toxins you ingest and are therefore consuming healthier foods.

However, organic products are usually more expensive. So, if you are on a budget, what can you do? Well, according to the Environmental Working Group, best produce to buy organic include apples, bell peppers, carrots, celery, cherries, lettuce, nectarines, potatoes, peaches, spinach, and strawberries. On the other hand, asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cabbage, eggplant, kiwi fruit, mangoes, onions, and pineapples are least likely to contain trace levels of pesticides, so you could buy these conventional.

Finally, the fact that something was grown organically does not mean that it also has a richer nutritional value. While many proponents of organic foods will argue that they are, the fact is that the official, unbiased, jury on that is still out... the verdict on this is not in yet. There are other factors that come into play here, like for example if the fruit ripened on the vine or not and how rich and varied in nutrients the soil is in which the crop grew. Often fruits are harvested before they are ripe, and only a handful of nutrients are put back into the soil.

Don’t get me wrong, I am all for organic when possible but at the same time I realize that variety, price, and convenience are important in these times. Too often though, these are used as excuses to defocus on the importance of quality nutrition.

There are many things we can do that are convenient, nutrient rich, and affordable while at the same time provide variety and have a nutrient-rich diet. My family and I have done it and what we’ve done many, if not all of us, can do it. Because of our attitude, our kids have also become more conscious about what they eat this alone is an enormous benefit that will have at least a lifelong impact.

If you are not sure how to approach it, feel free to contact me about what, and how, we've made the change that helps us enjoy life in good health.

To your health,

Leon
http://www.thelifestyledream.com/