To buy or not to buy ORGANIC!

You must have observed the certain growth of organic food sections in every grocery store. This might have made you wonder whether to buy organic or conventional.  Buying organic has become more of a fashion thing or status symbol now. You are considered hip if you eat organic. The first thing is to understand the differences between organic and conventional foods.

                               

What actually is organic? Organic foods are grown and processed without synthetic fertilizer, synthetic pesticides, prophylactic antibiotics, or hormones. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sets standards for these approved methods and oversees the certification of all organic products.  That leaves us with a question about conventional food. Are there any regulations on them? Are they safe?

There are two main safety issues regarding food: chemical contamination and bacterial contamination.  In animal studies, many of the chemicals used in conventional food have been shown to cause endocrine and reproductive problems, birth defects, behavior changes, asthma, and cancer. To protect the public from exposure to high levels of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals used in conventional food, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits the amount of residue allowed in conventional foods. However, health advocates argue that the permissible levels in the U.S. are too high for human health. A meta-analysis by Smith-Spangler et al, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in September 2012, found that pesticide residue exceeded the allowable limits in only three out of 200 studies. Exposure to pesticide residue was more than five times higher in conventional food than in organic food (38% versus 7%). The long-term health risks of pesticides remain unclear and controversial.

3-4 years ago when I started eating everything Organic, I had a misconception. Everything that has USDA organic label is the healthiest and safest food to consume.  Like every body I bought sugar-laden cookies, and the worst processed food.  Little did I know about the dangers of sugar, processed flours, excess salts and MSG. I used to close my eyes and buy expensive organic foods, vegetables and fruits from Whole foods.  Just because a product says it's organic or contains organic ingredients doesn't necessarily mean it's a healthier alternative. Some organic products may still be high in sugar, salt, fat or calories. "You can't use organic as your sole criteria for judging nutritional quality," says Smith-Spangler.

                            

I never bothered to notice that the Organic sugar or organic corn or organic cocoa in cookies etc.  might not have grown in USA.  They might be made in china or some other part of the world. The USDA rules are not strict enough here in USA, how could one trust the regulations they impose on food factories around the world.

There is one more misconception about organic produce is that they are totally pesticide free, believe me they are not and cannot be. They are sprayed with organic, chemical free pesticide sprays that are safe for human consumption. I started growing my own vegetables and was so frustrated with tons of bugs etc, but I knew that I couldn’t spray anything. I went to a nearby nursery and he provided me with a safe pesticide. He told me that there is a list of safe pesticides that USDA has approved. These are not chemicals but food based substances. For e.g. a spray with pepper, garlic and onion, neem oil etc. He also told me that in this age and time its impossible to grow anything without some pesticides. The atmosphere around us is so unhealthy. For years people have been destroying the lands with filth and chemicals, which cannot be mended in weeks.  The damage made by us in last years have really made the soil and air around us full of chemicals and toxicity. 

People do have other explanations for buying organic food. They believe that it’s good for environment and mother earth. Organic farmers often control pests by growing a greater variety of crops. They increase the fertility of their fields through nitrogen-fixing plants, or by adding compost instead of applying synthetic fertilizer. They avoid chemicals at any and every cost. That can bring environmental benefits, such as more diverse insect life in the field or less fertilizer runoff into neighboring streams. But such methods also cost money. That's part of what you are buying when you buy organic.

After growing my own vegetables I have more respect for farmers who strive hard to provide us with the best and clean organic produce. I do not mind giving them an extra dollar for their hard work.

Here are 6 tips on buying organic foods on a budget:

“1.) Compare prices—some organic foods are no more expensive (or only a little more so) than the conventional food.

2.) Buy organic foods when in season—this is usually less expensive, the food is tastier, and nutrients are at their peak!

3.) Buy conventional produce with skin that is going to be discarded, such as citrus fruits, avocado, papaya, onion, pineapple, cantaloupe, winter squashes, banana, kiwi, melon, and mango.

4.) It is most important for young children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems to eat organic food, so try to make sure those family members don’t eat excessive amounts of conventional foods from the dirty dozen.

5.) When buying animal products (especially those that are not fat free), buy organic as often as possible. Some companies aren’t certified organic, but still pledge not to use hormones or unnecessary antibiotics. This would be a good second choice. It is better to eat organic meat less often, making as an alternative lentil-and-bean dishes, which are both inexpensive and healthy. Red and processed meats, organic or not, are known to increase certain cancers

6.) Purchase a crop share or CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) to get local, in-season produce. Many are organic style, though some of the small farms cannot afford the USDA certification. Visit Local Harvest (http://www.localharvest.org/) to find a crop share near you. I purchased a crop share for the first time this year and am splitting it with a neighbor; it costs less than $30 per week—much less than I spend on produce in the grocery store and much healthier!”(Columbia University Department of Surgery website)

                                    

Everything organic is not the best healthier option. We have to strive hard to provide our families with best and healthy food options so that we cold avoid all possible food based illness and weaknesses. Lets all make a point to visit our farmers market. Teach your child that the food doesn’t come from grocery stores but from the ground. Plant one herb or anything small in a potted plant. Take your child to farms and tell them where the food actually grows. So they have appreciation for the farmers. Teach them to be thankful to the mother earth and care about it for today and for future generations and not  just get and forget.