Eat Organic Today

Beautiful, tasty and healthy organic vegetables (image from ILoveButter on Flickr)

I will be honest and say that I am a recently converted organic consumer.  I guess with four kids to feed and a busy life, I often wondered if it was worth the extra expense to go organic.

Well, I did my research.  Yes, Virginia, it is both good for you and the environment!

Here’s our top reasons to eat organic.

1.  Organic farming is better for the environment.  Whether we’re talking about the methane emanating from factory farm-fed and raised cattle, or the ground water harms resulting from use of chemical fertilizers, the greenest way to eat is organic.  Keep in mind that many organic farms are “local,” meaning that its both raised and consumed within 100 miles.  By eating local, you can reduce use of fossil fuels for transport, which can even further reduce your carbon footprint.

Overall, sustainably conducted organic farming can also result in improved health of pollinators and cleaner waterways from less (or zero) pesticide use.  Moreover, significant carbon sequestration can be achieved as soil builds up through organic cultivation.

2.  Organic foods do not contain toxins.  A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives showed a significant difference in the urine samples of children who ate “regular” foods treated with pesticides and those that ate an organic diet.  And its very easy to do a quick U-turn.  The researchers found fewer chemicals in the urine the very same day the children were switched to an organic diet.  Once they returned to their prior diet, high levels of chemicals quickly returned.

Just what toxins are we talking about?  How about arsenic?  The chemical doesn’t biodegrage quickly and is used extensively in commercial farming pesticides.  Even though the EPA recommends a safe drinking water level of 10 parts per billion (PPB), in many areas around the U.S., levels are 5-10 times higher!  Exposure to arsenic can increase risks of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and more.

3.  Organic food tastes better.  OK, so only you can make your personal decision.  But try a home taste (preferably blindfolded) and see if we’re not right.  Just go to your local farmer’s market and look at how fresh and flavorful organic produce is.  But please don’t stop at vegetables and fruit.  You can enjoy organic dairy, meats, eggs, peanut butter and even crunchy snacks.

4.  Eating organic food will save you money.  This is a cost-benefit analysis.  Sure, you might be able to pay less for the pesticide-covered strawberries, but what are you risking in the meantime?   Save now and pay later… or buy quality organic foods today and improve your health, minimize risks of significant diseases.  A similar argument can be made with respect to the environment.  Think about your children and their kids.  If you continue to support factory farming, you’re paying into the industry that will continue to pollute groundwater and more.

Fresh, tasty organic berries

5.  You now can be confident you are choosing organic foods.  In order to carry the USDA Organic seal, they must have only organically produced ingredients and processing aids.  To be “organic,” these products must be comprised of at least 95% organic ingredients.

If you want to know which foods carry the most health and environment impacts when they are certified organic, here’s our list.  These items traditionally carry more pesticides than others, and thus are best to be purchased organically:

1 PEACHES
2 APPLES
3 SWEET BELL PEPPERS
4 CELERY
5 NECTARINES
6 STRAWBERRIES
7 CHERRIES
8 KALE
9 LETTUCE
10 IMPORTED GRAPES
11 CARROTS
12 PEARS

Do you eat organic?  If so why – and if not, why not?