Why I Eat Organic Food

Several months ago, I decided to start buying organic as much as possible. The idea of eating high quality, healthy food has always intrigued me somewhat. I of course have not always made the best of food choices and have indulged in seasons of eating out way too much, going for the cheaper, easiest to prepare foods, and of course drinking more than my share of diet soda. During these times, I wish I could say that I was ignorant of what I was putting in my body and was unaware of what effects these types of food could have on my health. But of course I was not unaware, thanks mostly to my mother who at a fairly young age ruined me to the innocence of categorizing all food as actual "food".
So maybe the path I am currently on was a part of my destiny and something that was inevitably going to happen. Nevertheless, here I am eating better than I ever have and loving it.
When I made the decision to eat organic, I can't say that I made it based on extensive research on the food industry. It was mostly information that I had gotten from different sources throughout the years. Some had come from friends, others from my dear mother, many from Dr. Oz, and some from articles, books, or websites. I can't say any particular bit of information changed my behavior but it moved me further along the path to eventually be able to make the decision to change.
In December I watched the Academy Award nominated documentary, Food Inc. and I guess you can say I was a prime candidate for receiving all it had to say and taking it to heart. After finishing that movie, my behavior changed immediately. I knew that I would never see food the same again and I knew that I would chart a path for myself that involved making good food choices without feeling like I was depriving myself.
Last night I watched an interview with a Dr. guy from San Diego who apparently knows a lot about organic food, the food industry, farming, and other stuff that I can't even pronounce. I want to share some of the stuff I learned about eating organic vs. non organic. Hopefully, it will be helpful information. But I figure, if anything, by typing it out, it will help me process and internalize it much better.

Why Eat Organic Food?
1. It's better for your body. For the last 40 or so years, the focus of the food industry has been on producing large quantities of food for the lowest price. This of course has given us the opportunity to have a wide variety of food at an affordable price. We've often heard the wise sayings: 'all things come at a price' and 'if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is'. Well the food industries philosophy on production is not exempt from the truth of these antidotes. The "cost" for producing food in the way that it is has certainly come at a price...our health. The use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, feeding cows grain instead of grass, giving growth hormones and antibiotics to animals, inhumane living conditions for the animals that we eat, and genetically modifying food is not without serious effects on the overall well being of our society.
When a food is certified organic it means that there are certain things that are not allowed to go into the food such as pesticides, growth hormones, and antibiotics. This is huge because the effects of these chemicals on your body are significant. The lack of nutrients present in foods that are grown using chemicals is staggering compared to organically grown food. Organic produce has 300-400% more nutrients than non organic produce! So even though organic is more expensive, if you look at what you're buying nutrient wise, it actually ends up being the better financial decision.

2. Organic food tastes better. Current farming practices have caused much damage to soil. Because of all the chemicals used, farmers are able to farm a section of land over and over again. In time, this soil is depleted of rich nutrients. It has gotten so bad that some produce is completely void of essential trace minerals that our bodies need for optimal health. Although conventionally grown produce looks great on the outside, the inside is not so great. Because this is what we're used to tasting, we don't even notice that tomatoes don't really taste like tomatoes should taste. Organic produce has a better taste overall because the soil that it comes from is healthier and richer in nutrients.

Is All Organic Food Created Equal?
No. Even if a food is labeled as organic, it's important to read the fine print. If you buy organic meat, it does not guarantee that the cows, chickens, or whatever animal were fed a diet that is natural to their system or that they are given the freedom to roam in a open air environment. All it means was that they were not given any hormones, antibiotics, and were fed organic grain (which of course could be corn vs. grass). With all that said, it is still better to buy the organic meat vs. non organic. On a further note, some food that says it is organic may only be a certain percentage organic with the remaining ingredients being quite unhealthy. You've heard it said before: 'Read the label!' This is also true for organic foods. Another thing to remember is that organic does not mean healthy. There are certain foods like candy, cake mixes, ice cream, cookies, etc. that may be organic but still are not the best for you. Are they better than the non organic kind? Probably, but that still doesn't mean you should eat them on a regular basis.


How do I Start Making the Change to Organic?
Start slowly. There are certain foods that you should immediately stop buying if they are not organic: all animal products...meat, eggs, yogurt, cheese, and dairy. This is not only a health decision but also a conservation, animal rights decision. From there, start buying the foods that are naturally higher in fat (extra virgin olive oil, butter, meat, nuts, etc.) The reason for this is because pesticides/chemicals bind to fats and so the foods that are higher in fat tend to be more contaminated than those that are not. This does not mean that low fat diets are better. Good fat is necessary for our bodies and we should consume it in it's most natural form. After you feel more comfortable with buying organic start buying organic produce. Some of the most important produce to buy organic are tomatoes, potatoes, and apples. The reasons for this are explained below. FYI: I took the following info from an article I read online several months ago.

the following material was taken from the article, 'The 7 foods experts won't eat** you can read the entire article by going to http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/the-7-foods-experts-wont-eat-547963/.

The reason to buy organic potatoes: Potatoes grow in the ground which makes them more susceptible to all the contaminants in the soil. Potatoes are treated with "fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they're dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting. "I've talked with potato growers who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals."

The solution: Buy organic potatoes. Washing isn't good enough if you're trying to remove chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh.

The reason for buying organic apples: They are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor. As such, apples don't develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently. The industry maintains that these residues are not harmful. But Kastel counters that it's just common sense to minimize exposure by avoiding the most doused produce, like apples. "Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers," he says. And increasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher body burden of pesticides (from all sources) with Parkinson's disease.

The solution: Buy organic apples. If you can't afford organic, be sure to wash and peel them first.

I hope this was helpful and not too overwhelming! If you are interested in finding out more, here are some resources I would recommend:

1. Food Inc. (DVD)
2. King Corn (DVD)
3. The End of Overeating by David Kessler (book)
4. The Truth about Organic Food (DVD)

If you are interested in eating out and would like to eat at a place that prepares their meals using organic foods, check out this website: www.eatwellguide.org

FYI: Oprah is airing a show today on the food industry that should be pretty interesting. Not sure what all she's going to say but it looked like it would be watch worthy :)