The Organic Dilemma
You may have noticed in the past few years that the produce area of your local grocery is making room for more organic fruits and vegetables. Organic simply means that the produce has been grown and harvested without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or other artificial agents.
The first big stumbling block when it comes to buying organic is the price. Organic is clearly more expensive. The second stumbling block is the variety and availability. Conventionally grown fruit and vegetables clearly still dominate the aisles. And, it often looks better than what’s sitting in the organic section.
But if you can find it, and opt to pay a bit more, there is compelling documented evidence now that demonstrates that organic produce is more nutritious, with a higher content of antioxidants. Much of this fact is linked to the important nutrients in our soil that plants absorb. But with the use of chemicals on our crops, the soil becomes depleted, and there are no healthy minerals and vitamins to be extracted.
So we're left with the organic dilemma. To buy … or not to buy.
The bold realization that propels me to seek out organic whenever possible is the raw fact that nearly 70% of our crops are sprayed with synthetic pesticides, most predominately glyphosate, more commonly known as Roundup.
While scientists are still discovering the impact that glysophate has on our bodies, it has been linked to serious health risks including cancer, infertility, immune dysfunction, autism, and leaky gut.
So this bit of knowledge kind of makes you sit up and think, doesn’t it?
I honestly still cringe, when I think back to my reliance on Cheerios as a pack and go snack for my toddlers, after coming to realize that they contain more glysophate than Vitamin D and B12. I cut up strawberries or peaches to give to my children. Little did I realize that I was practically giving them Roundup on a platter.
So what can we do with this information? What action can we take?
Well for one, just be mindful when you're shopping. One way to guide you in the produce section is to be aware of the Environmental Working Group’s research, that determines which crops are the “dirtiest” and “cleanest.”
The Environmental Working Group, or EWG, specializes in research and advocacy in the areas of agricultural subsidies, toxic chemicals, drinking water pollutants, and corporate accountability. As a side note, they offer excellent guidelines across many different categories of products, helping consumers navigate the aisles to make the best decisions.
Their “Dirty Dozen” is a list of produce that contain the highest levels of pesticides, and even washing doesn’t significantly reduce the pesticide residue levels. Therefore, seeking out organic is advised when buying fruits and veggies on the the “Dirty Dozen” list.
However, there is also a list called “The Clean 15.” This is a list of conventionally grown produce that has lower levels of pesticide use, and furthermore, the pesticides can be more easily washed off when prepping your food.
So just leaving you with some food for thought. It’s not always easy or practical to buy organic, but there are some compelling reasons to do so when you are able. At the very least, try to buy organic produce that is on The Dirty Dozen list:
The Dirty Dozen
Strawberries
Spinach
Kale, Collards & Mustard Greens
Nectarines
Apples
Grapes
Cherries
Peaches
Pears
Bell and Hot Peppers
Celery
Tomatoes
And rest assured, when you can’t find the following items in the organic section, at least the pesticide load is greatly reduced among these fruit and vegetables:
The Clean 15
Avocados
Sweet Corn
Pineapple
Onions
Papayas
Sweet Peas (frozen)
Eggplant
Asparagus
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kiwi
Cauliflower
Mushrooms
Honeydew
Cantaloupe
With that in mind, try to seek out some stores that provide a wide selection of organic produce. Whole Foods is probably one of the best retail stores in terms of its variety of offerings; Trader Joes also offers a decent selection, and at very good prices.
Bottomline, it is just important to just be aware, so you can make the best decisions for yourself and your family.
One Key Takeaway
When you realize that approximately 70% of our crops are sprayed with glysophate (Roundup), it serves us to seek out fresh produce that is organic. Organic produce contains more antioxidants, and when we can eat cleaner, our health greatly benefits.