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.
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