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Oct
21
Organic: Why You Should Switch Part 1
Filed Under detox your body
Organic food is such a big deal I have to split this up into two parts. We’ll talk about produce here and part two will talk about meats and dairy. You’ve seen the word at the grocery store but do you really understand what organic is all about? What’s the big deal, it all looks the same and organic is even more expensive so why make the change? Toxins, that’s why. Pesticides, herbicides, hormones, massive amount of chemicals and genetically modified foods that’s why! Organic crops are grown without the use of pesticides, genetically modified seeds, preservatives, colorings, flavorings or any other chemical enhancement. That’s why buying organic as much as possible is at the core of any solid detox diet. By diet I’m not talking about a silly fad diet, I’m simply speaking of what you consume on a daily basis and what you’re consuming today is a lot different than it used to be.
A hundred or a hundred and fifty years ago is not very long in the scheme of world history. Back then our ancestors were limited to what they could eat but not only were the prices better but the food was fresh. Their food had to come from their immediate surrounding area. The time it took for a potato or a head of lettuce to go from the ground to your stomach was minimal. It was mostly organic produce grown in rich soil kept rich by manure, mulching and crop rotation. Before long, cities grew and with urbanization new farming, transportation and storage techniques came too. The use of pesticides and other manmade chemicals became standard practice and today 1.2 billion pounds of pesticides are used in the U.S. alone! Would you like some nutrients with your chemicals? Sorry, can’t help you. Those very same pesticides have stripped the soil of vitamins and minerals. Take a cup of spinach from 1950, to get the same amount of vitamins and minerals from that one cup today is impossible- you’ll need to eat up to 20 cups. The EPA says it best, “By their very nature, most pesticides create some risk of harm- Pesticides can cause harm to humans, animals, or the environment because they were designed to kill or otherwise adversely affect living organisms.” Do you know what your body does with these chemicals? Nothing, because many of them can’t be broken down, so your body stores them in your fat deposits, other body tissues and organs. Over time these chemicals continue to build up. If you were to run a test on your body fat right now it is 100% guaranteed that you would find an array of these harmful chemicals. Chronic exposure of pesticides may cause deterioration of organs and nervous system, cancer, or alterations in the reproductive system. The silver lining is that those factors are largely influenced by your exposure to the chemicals.
So let’s start to limit your exposure, sound good? Not only does it sound good but it tastes good! When you begin buying organic the first thing you’ll notice is the wonderful tastes! This is how fruits and veggies are meant to be. It’s almost as if you can taste how wholesome they are. No, your taste buds are not tricking you, many organic foods are proven to contain higher levels of nutrients including antioxidants and other vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately you can’t just buy the non-organic varieties and scrub them down to get rid of the toxins. Some of these pesticides are designed to bond with the surface of the product while others are absorbed by the product. There’s been a surge of organic product demand which is good for many reasons, namely more variety and cheaper prices. But yes, buying organic will cost you a little extra still but while that may be hard to swallow think of what else you’re swallowing if you don’t.
Organic is good, but if you can, buy organic + local. See if there is community supported agriculture in your area: http://www.localharvest.org/
It really does taste better.
Thanks for the comment Gabe. You’re exactly right, supporting local agriculture is a great way to buy organic. For one going to your local farmer’s market or other resource can be cheaper not to mention a great way to become an active member of your community. Also, when you buy local the produce has a better chance of being fresh (less travel time) which can equate to healthier (more nutrients) produce.