Should You Buy Organic?!

When you start to eat healthier, you might think you have to buy everything organic.

However, this can amp up your grocery bill UNNECESSARILY and convince you that “eating healthy is too expensive”

BACK IT UP.

First of all, there are many elements to your health- including your financial health.

During different seasons of your life, there will be different priorities.

If right now your financial health is number one, then opt for the non-organic apple! I promise it’s better for you than fast or processed food!

Life is about what you CAN do, not what you SHOULD do.

 Make the best compromises you can, then move along.

The point of eating organic produce is to reduce your exposure to pesticides. These pesticides are sprayed for a few reasons:

1. Control weeds

2. Control insects

3. Kill off pathogens that could damage the crops

4. Contribute to an increase in crop yields

Sounds great, right?

Well…

Many of the pesticides used on conventional farms are hormone disruptors, neurotoxins, or reproductive toxins which are linked to many diseases and health issues:

Cancer

Alzheimer’s

Parkinson’s

Type 2 Diabetes

Obesity

Food Allergies

Autism

Infertility

The Environmental Working Group releases a list each year of the produce with the HIGHEST concentration of pesticides (called the dirty dozen- buy organic if possible) and the LOWEST (clean fifteen- no need to buy organic!)

Dirty Dozen:

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Kale
4. Nectarines
5. Apples
6. Grapes 
7. Peaches
8. Cherries
9. Pears 
10. Tomatoes
11. Celery
12. Potatoes

Clean Fifteen:

1. Avocados
2. Sweet Corn
3. Pineapples 
4. Onions
5. Papaya
6. Sweet Peas (frozen)
7. Eggplant
8. Asparagus
9. Cauliflower
10. Cantaloupe
11. Broccoli 
12. Mushrooms
13. Cabbage
14. Honeydew Melon
15. Kiwi

So you don't end up wasting your money on produce you really aren't doing yourself any favors with.

When it comes to animal protein, here is where I encourage you to buy organic as much as possible! 80% of our country's antibiotics go into our animals-did you get that? These animals are also pumped with hormones to keep them larger and synthetically plump.

You can imagine why many Americans struggle with antibiotic resistance- because we are consuming antibiotics and hormones through our meat daily.

Also, for an animal to be considered organic, the USDA regulates several standards. Beyond eating organic feed and being free of hormone injections, an organic animal must spend adequate time outdoors and have enough space to roam in what the USDA deems "comfortable."

 The nutrition of the animal you are eating is determined by the health of that animal. 

As a result, grass fed beef also has higher omega-3s, more antioxidants, and can have lower levels of fat and are considered more nutritious than their non organic friends.

All this to say, do the best with what you have. If you can buy organic produce and that contributes to your physical and financial health, then by all means do so!  

But do not let all the thoughts of what you SHOULD be doing keep you from what you COULD be doing.

Grow where you can.