Is Organically Actually Better?
This is a timeless question, that always gets asked. Is organic food actually better for
me?
High end grocery stores would like for you to think so, but your budget and
your wallet may not. Here we will debunk some of the organic rumors and provide
information so that you can come up with your own conclusion.
First, what is organic and what does it mean?
Organic refers to the way a food was grown, raised, or produced, and is certified based on government standards. Organic foods are produced through more traditional, sustainable methods that align with
the natural rhythms of the land. This means that these foods do not contain
antibiotics, GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms), synthetic insecticides and
herbicides. Organic also means that biodiversity through crop rotation and mineral
rich soil are also supported. The other food option we have is called Conventional
food (also known as “industrial agriculture). This category is described as a system of
growing food that uses technology and synthetic chemicals to increase crop or animal
yields. This includes growing the same crop on the same pot of land each year
(monocropping), GMO’s, confined animal feeding operations (CAFO) and synthetic
chemicals that target insects and weeds.
The most common question surrounding organic food is “is it more nutritious?”.
The short answer, is no. Organic food does not offer anymore or any less nutrients
than conventional food. There are a few studies that have found that organic foods
may be higher in antioxidants than conventional food, but there is not any concrete
evidence stating this at the time. Depending on the region and time of year
consumers purchase organic produce can determine where in the world the food is
coming from. Unfortunately, the governing standards that provide U.S. grown foods
with the organic seal are not the same in other countries. There is no way that the
U.S. can gauge whether a food is truly organic to the prescribed standards when food
is grown in other countries. For this reason, when choosing to purchase organic
food, always try to purchase U.S. organic foods - local, being the preferred method.
Organic food is known for being more expensive. But why? Conventional foods rely
on synthetic pesticides and chemicals that keep pests and disease away. Synthetic
pesticides are cheaper or more available than more traditional methods. The
unfortunate truth about synthetic pesticides is that they have been linked to disease,
birth defects, and long term health issues in humans who consume a large quantity
of these. Even when washed, some foods still cling to pesticides. The same rules
apply for antibiotics fed to our meat sources. When our meat sources are in confined
spaces for feeding or living, they are given large amounts of antibiotics to combat the
germs that the animals pass from one to the other (usually from feces being mixed in
with their food source). Some of these antibiotics have a large amount of arsenic in
them, which is not suitable for human consumption. When the animals that we eat
are given these medications, they linger in the tissue (the part that humans
consume). And while the government does regulate how much antibiotics are given
to animals for consumption, people are eating more meat than ever (humans are
currently consuming 2/3 the amount of chicken we consumed 20 years ago).
The good news is that in this day and age there are plenty of food options to make.
We aren’t stuck choosing one or the other. Things like pesticides and insecticides
typically do not permeate the inner layers of produce. This means that if you
regularly consume produce that has a hard or thick outer layer that you peel or
remove (like a banana peel), then you don’t need to worry about buying organic.
This does not relay when dealing with GMO’s though. Foods that have been
genetically modified are typically foods that been merged together to either improve
the shelf life, size, or flavor (think combining an apple and a pear, or merging two
different strands of wheat to produce a larger crop). However, GMO’s are not
currently being tested for carcinogenic potential, which could be a risk.
Foods most likely to include GMO’s in the U.S. are: sugar beets (98.5%), Soy (94%), Canola
(94%), Corn (92%), and Papaya from Hawaii (77%).
Foods that are safe to purchase conventionally are called the clean fifteen. These
foods include:
•Avocados
•Sweet corn
•Pineapples
•Cabbages
•Onions
•Sweet Peas
•Papaya
•Asparagus
•Mangoes
•Eggplants
•Honeydews
•Kiwis
•Cantaloupes
•Cauliflower
•Broccoli
Foods that should be purchased organically are called the dirty dozen. These foods
include:
•Strawberries •Spinach
•Nectarines
•Apples
•Grapes
•Peaches
•Cherries
•Pears
•Tomatoes
•Celery
•Potatoes
•Sweet Bell Peppers
There is also a “dirty dozen” list for preservatives. These are preservatives that you
want to make sure are not on your foods ingredient list:
•Artificial Sweeteners
•Refined Sugar
•MSG
•Artificial Colors
•BHT
•Sodium Nitrate
•Caffeine
•Olestra
•Brominated Vegetable Oil
•Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
•Pesticides
•GMO’s
