Organic produce has become a hot topic as people grow more interested in eating healthier foods and avoiding toxins.
It is also a rather divisive topic. Some people claim it's the only way to go, and everything they eat must be organic. Others scoff at the idea that organic food is any healthier than conventional.
The truth is that both sides have some merit. It's not a black and white issue, and you must decide for yourself which shade of gray is most closely aligned with your needs.
Pesticides and GMOs
Usually, when people choose organic foods, they are mostly interested in avoiding pesticides and GMOs.
GMOs are even more hotly debated than organic foods. While there are advocates on either side of the argument, the simple truth is that not much is known about the long-term effects of consuming GMO foods.
Experience suggests that nothing is as healthy after humans change it. God knew what he was doing when he created food for us, and I don't really see how His creation can be improved upon.
Other synthetic substances are often not recognized as nutrition by our bodies. Some just pass on through without adding any nutritional value. Others can have harmful effects. Are GMOs the same? Maybe. Maybe not. I think it depends on the individual food, how it was modified, and the degree to which it was altered.
So while completely avoiding GMO foods may not be necessary, I think it's wise to use caution and limit them whenever possible, at least until we know the true effects. If you want to make the extra effort to avoid them completely, that choice certainly isn't going to hurt you at all, and choosing organic foods is one way to avoid GMOs.
Pesticides are the other issue for most people choosing organic. While it is true that organic foods should be free of synthetic pesticides, there are pesticides approved for use on organic crops. These pesticides are, in general, from natural sources, but they can still be toxic to humans in certain quantities.
Also, pesticides drift, and foods can come in contact with contaminated foods. Mix-ups can happen in which some conventional crop gets mixed into the organic crop. There's no such thing as perfect.
What's the Solution?
So what's the answer – organic or no? There isn't an easy one-size-fits-all answer for everyone. You must decide what you're comfortable with.
No, organic isn't perfect, but it almost certainly has less toxic residue than conventionally grown foods. So I do consider it a step up.
I will tell you what I do:
- I aim to purchase fresh produce locally (or grow it myself) as much as possible. Actually knowing where my food comes from and how it's raised means more to me than some label.
- I keep the Dirty Dozen in mind. This is a list of produce that has shown the highest levels of pesticide residue. I will purchase these items organic whenever I can.
- Beyond those items, I consider whether I'm eating the outer surface. With broccoli and cauliflower, for instance, the surface I eat is exposed to any pesticides. On the other hand, avocados and pineapples have an outer skin, and potatoes and carrots grow underground, so those I consider to have less pesticide exposure.
- I soak all my produce if I consume the outer surface. This goes for whether I grow it in my own garden or buy it from the grocery store. It all gets a soak before I eat it.
Those are my personal guidelines for organic produce. Use what you like and adjust to fit your own ideals and budget because, yes, organic produce is almost always more expensive.
If you're like me and live in an area where access to organic produce is sometimes limited, I recommend Misfits Market. I've found it to be an excellent option. You can read my Misfits Market review for more info.
0 Comments