Why Buy Organic Produce?
--> First off, what does organic mean?
According to the Akin's nutritional update, "organic" refers not to the actual food, but how the food is produced. Organically grown foods are grown without the use of pesticides and fertilizers- i.e. pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, insecticides, etc. Organic includes foods that are not GMO's (genetically modified organisms). In essence, organic foods are minimally processed without the use of preservatives and artificial ingredients.
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As I venture into this topic the number one comment I receive whenever the topic of organic products come up is- "Well, I'd like to buy organic but it is too expensive." My answer is normally that you get what you pay for. But I would like to ask everyone this question-
How much is our health worth? Is there a price tag?
Not all organic produce is extensively more expensive, but if it is- you get what you pay for!
---> One thing you can do is look to farmer's markets instead of supermarkets if you are concerned about your budget. You can normally get some great deals on organic produce at farmer's markets. Also- you can talk directly to the farmers and ask questions! Not all farmers use pesticides but cannot afford the USDA organic title which costs thousands of dollars. You can find organic LOCAL farmers that you couldn't find at your Whole Foods. It is a win-win situation.
I want to outline several of the facts regarding why organic produce is important:
- Why are pesticides and fertilizers inherently bad for humans?
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| The person has to use a MASK to spray these chemicals onto the food we are CONSUMING. Does that make sense? |
Pesticides are toxic substances released into the environment to kill living things.
Herbicides kill weeds, insecticides kill insects, rodenticides kill rodents, fungicides kill fungus, etc. Anytime there are poisons being sprayed onto our food we are eating, it is going into our systems and affecting us more than we know. It is important to understand that what we put into our bodies becomes apart of us. I know many of us eat something and simply forget about it. Once it gets past our taste buds it just magically disappears and people move on with their days. This is a habit that most of us need to stop partaking in.
---> Pesticides have been linked with human health problems. In the short term, people can get nausea and headaches and in the long term they can get cancer, endocrine system issues, and reproductive problems. Children are also particularly susceptible to the affects of pesticides.
But if you really think about it- would you want a couple spoonfuls of chemicals with your meals? If not, eat organic! :)
---> Organic produce is also FRESHER. The organic farmers do not use petroleum based waxes, life extending fungicides and fumigants to help the produce stay longer in the stores. Organic produce is picked more often and is fresher than conventional produce.
---> Organic produce also tastes better! The farmers tend to only pick the produce when it is truly ripe and therefore tastes the best. Remember, only eat fruit and vegetables when they are ripe- this will ensure the proper nutrition as well as yummy flavor!
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- I always recommend getting organic produce because it is also nutritionally superior. Organic food is grown in a way that is biologically sustainable and is conscientious. Organic produce has far more minerals than compared to conventional. For example, a vine ripened tomato that is organically grown has more vitamin C than a tomato that was picked green and unripe, then sprayed with a chemical to make it ripen. If we think about that- a chemical being used to ripen a fruit is completely out of touch with nature's laws.
"The law's of nature are but the mathematical thoughts of God."
-Euclid
The soil that organic produce is grown in simply has more minerals than that of soil used for conventional produce.
---> Why is this?
-Before meeting the criteria of the USDA certified organic title, farmers must tend to their soil to make sure it is restored. Before modern day industrialization our soils were much better with more minerals. If the soil does not have the minerals, the food won't either. This is important to realize.
According to globalhealingcenter.com, "Research shows soil with higher levels of decomposing organic matter deters pest infestations. Not only do organic farmers avoid using pesticides; they actually do not need them the same way conventional farmers do because the richness of the soil actually provides a sort of natural protection for plants. Crops grown in organic soil contain higher levels of nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants. Organic farming often uses 50 percent less of the total amount of energy to operate than the mechanized, chemically oriented methods of agribusiness."
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---> When you are at the grocery store, organic produce (if you are lucky enough to find it) is normally labeled with a sticker that has a 9 as the first digit.
Remember-
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