What's the scoop on Organic?

Hello all! As promised, here is the first of many posts to come about ways you can take charge of your health!

Today we are going to be talking ORGANIC. One of the most important changes you can make in your diet is switching to organic produce. First I'd like to dispel one of the most common misconceptions about produce. I hear so many people say this... "I don't need to buy organic because I wash my fruits and vegetables really good". OK, while its true that you are getting rid of a good amount of the outer pesticides by washing, there is still a HUGE amount of toxic chemicals you are missing. Where? INSIDE! Yes that's right, inside. Most of us are familiar with the way nature works right? Whatever is in the soil grows right up into the plant. For example if you grow a plant in nutrient rich soil that is well fertilized you will grow a healthier plant. Well the same is true for chemicals in the soil. Today's soil is incredibly saturated with pesticides and herbicides from continual spaying over many years. Those toxic chemicals are now finding their way up into the plant and in turn are highly concentrated in whatever fruit or vegetable the plant produces. So while washing helps some, its not addressing the whole problem. Did you know that todays average peach is sprayed with over 9 different chemicals? Another interesting fact : Apples top the list of the most contaminated produce! So I guess that old saying about "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" may not be so true anymore.

So what am I saying here? Don't eat apples? Absolutely not! Please, please continue to eat apples. Just make sure they are organic! Honestly there are several reasons to buy organic, all the way from the health benefits to the impact on the environment. I cant cover them all so here is a list of the top 3:

TOP 3 REASONS TO BUY ORGANIC

1. Eliminate/Reduce Pesticide Exposure
You might ask...Whats the problem with pesticides? Most people are under the impression that the pesticides we are ingesting are such a small amount they have no effect upon our bodies. Wrong. Pesticides play a huge role in the biochemical activity inside our body. In particular the nervous system. Pesticides are a group of chemicals called neurotoxins.When people are exposed to neurotoxins they may feel dizzy, lightheaded, confused, get headaches, and may have reduced coordination and ability to think. These are the short-term effects, while long term exposure can result in reduced IQ and learning disabilities. That's just the beginning! Pesticides have been linked to a whole host of other illness including asthma, fertility issues, endometriosis, childhood cancers, and ADD. If fact, TIME magazine (well known and mainstream magazine) published an article linking the use of pesticides with ADD and ADHD in kids. Here is the link to the article if your interested in reading more:

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1989564,00.html

2.Avoid GMO
Never heard the term GMO? It's Ok, alot of people haven't. The term GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism. Honestly I could write a book about GMO's but for the sake of your time and mine I'll just give you a quick synopsis.

GMO's are seeds that have been genetically modified (basically their DNA has been messed with) to withstand the pesticides/herbicides that are being sprayed on them constantly. Agricultural companies were finding that not only were the bugs and weeds dying, but the chemicals were also having a negative affect on the crop. Their solution : modify the DNA. Kinda scary right?  Right now there are 2 major GMO crops. Corn and Soy. Today 91% of soy and 85% of corn are genetically modified. The only way to avoid GMO is to buy all of your corn and soy products organic. GMO is relatively new to the scene, so there have not been alot of studies showing the health effects yet, but I can bet its probably not going to be good. Alot of countries including Europe have completely banned GMO. Let's send the message that we Americans don't want it either. Like I said, I don't want to get into a huge thing here on GMO (maybe another post in the future), so the bottom line is : Stay away from GMO. I think nature has a pretty good handle on seeds and the way plants grow.

3. Higher Nutrient Content
What are nutrients? Nutrients are the basic materials your body uses to repair tissue, make cells, and to function the way it's supposed to. Today our food supply is severely deficient in nutrients. Alot of this is due to over processing. But even in the case of fresh fruits and vegetables some studies have shown nutrient content to be 40% less than it was 50 years ago. This is due to poor soil quality. Remember what I was saying earlier about "whats in the soil is in the plant"? Well the same is true for nutrients. There are several studies being done recently that show strong evidence of higher nutrient value in organically grown produce. One such study was performed on strawberries grown in California over a 2 year period. The study concluded that the organic bunch had much higher levels of antioxidants and vitamin C among other benefits. The organic soil also outperformed it's conventional counterpart in several key areas such as increased zinc, iron and enzyme activity. So while yes, you are paying a higher price for organic produce, you are also getting a much higher nutritional value for your dollar.

Ok Ok Lisa...we get it...buy organic! But what if you cant afford organic? Well, I beg to differ. I think we all have a few things that we could give up out of our weekly budget and put the extra money toward healthy foods. Like how about that $4 mocha frap at Starbucks, or that new pair of flip flops that you bought knowing you already have 3 pairs of flip flops in your closet? See, for me it's all about prioritizing. And healthy organic food is a priority for me and my family. Plus, it doesn't always have to cost more. The other day while shopping at Safeway I found organic bananas on sale for .59cents a lb. compared to the conventionally grown bananas at .79cents a lb! 20cents cheaper for the organic! Its all about shopping when organic is on sale!  And don't forget the cheapest way to eat organic: grow your own!

 I also like to remind people when discussing the cost difference of healthy food, that yes, you will spend more on groceries now. But wouldn't you rather spend that money on your food than on those pricey doctor bills? You can either pay for it now or later with your health. The choice is yours.


Here is a link to the Environmental Working Groups recently published list called "The Dirty Dozen". If your going to spend your money on organics, this is the list of the 12 foods that you should defiantly be buying organically. Also included is "The Clean 15", a list of the safest foods to buy non-organic. The one thing that I would advise you on is the corn is listed here on the clean list because this list does not take into account GMO. If I had my way I would move corn over into the "dirty" side because of the GMO factor. Also, the other really really important thing that is not on the list is milk (especially for all you moms out there!). If your family consumes dairy products please make sure you are buying them organic.
I found this list incredibly helpful when deciding which foods to invest my money in. Hope you find it helpful too!

http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/

I hope you all found this post to be informative. Later, I plan on adding a list of my top 10 favorite organic products (one for kids and one for adults). As always I appreciate your comments and/or questions. I'm having alot of fun with this blog so far, and I really hope all of you are enjoying reading it.
Have a great day and remember to buy ORGANIC! :)
Lisa

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