The Truth About Organic Food

Should you really buy organic? We’ve cooked up some answers for you, so dig in.

Before you b-line it to the organic section in your supermarket, know this: Buying organic isn’t always best. Well, that’s definitely true for your bank account. But what we mean is that even though it seems like the obvious choice, it’s not so clear cut. While some organic foods are good for you, not all pull rank over the less expensive, conventional kinds. Here Eat This, Not That! gets to the bottom of this controversial issue by answering four important questions about organic food and whether you should BUY or SAVE your $.

Is organic food worth the extra green?

BUY Yes, but it’s complicated. As anyone who’s shopped at Whole Foods (unofficially aka, “Whole Paycheck”) will tell you, going organic can feel like going broke. It can cost 10 to 40 percent more for these pure products than their original counterparts, according to a study published in the Journal of Food Science. But dropping cash has its perks: Healthy, safe, delicious food without a side of harmful pesticides, fertilizers, hormones, and antibiotics. Yes, please. However, this applies to some organic foods more than others. Here are a few that are worth the extra coin.


Produce Unlike foods with built-in armor (bananas, pineapples), fruits and veggies with thin skins mean you can’t just you pull-n-peel off the pesticide-laden layer. The damage, at that point, is more than skin deep. Avoid self-contamination and BUY the following organic: apples, peaches, strawberries, pears, grapes and oranges, bell peppers, celery and potatoes.


Dairy Happy cows? Not non-organic dairy heifers. Once pregnant, they’re treated with growth hormones that make them unnaturally produce milk in bulk. The process is so sickening to the animal (literally) that they’re injected with unhealthy doses of antibiotics. All of these treatments get transferred to her moo juice, and, ultimately, humans’ mouths. Bottom line: Don’t go there. BUY organic milk, like Organic Valley’s Lowfat Milk.


Meat Same goes for poultry and other meats. If you don’t want to add hormones and antibiotics to your diet, BUY organic.


Fish Seafood doesn’t currently have any official USDA-approved organic standards. So even the ones labeled “organic” can still contain mercury and PCBs. SAVE $ and get the regular kind (for now).

Are organic packaged foods healthy?

SAVE $ Doubtful. As tasty as Paul Newman-O’s are, a cookie is a cookie, no matter how you package it. To the 23 percent of people who bought organic cookies last year, we’re sorry to say you might as well have eaten a regular Oreo. These organic cookies are still heavily processed and filled with fat and sugar, which your body metabolizes the same way it does the original kinds. In other words, eat enough of these, you will gain weight. Cookies aside, some clever companies use the “organic” label as a marketing smoke screen, only to load up yogurt or crackers with a unhealthy amounts of organic high-fructose corn syrup (yes, the FDA actually approved this).

Is organic better for Ma Nature?

BUY Definitely. Supporting your local Farmer’s Market is good for both your plate and the planet. Organic farmers are working hard to minimize pollution and promote biodiversity using sustainable methods approved by the National Organic Standards Board. This goes beyond cutting out pesticides and fertilizers that can be harmful to people and animals. The goal is to actually improve the soil. They’re using manure and crop rotations to fertilize; grazing animals on mixed forage pastures; utilizing renewable resources; and conserving soil and water. Besides, spending your Saturday morning meeting people who are passionate about their products beats arguing with the pimple-faced produce guy who doesn’t know the difference between yams and sweet potatoes (bet the farmer does!).

Is organic tastier?

SAVE $ Jury is still out on this one. While most chefs and organic enthusiasts would undoubtedly argue this is true, there is little research to back this up. Part of the problem is the vast array in quality within the organic subset. Your best bet is to find a store or a local farmer who sells consistently delicious products and stick to ‘em.

Source:

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/eat-this/The_Truth_About_Organic_Food/index.php

Image Source:

http://keetsa.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/organic_production1.jpg