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Going Organic: Is It Better
For You?
Are organic
foods safer, healthier or tastier? For
people trying to eat healthy,
trying to choose between what fruits, vegetables, whole grains or lean protein to
buy is hard enough. Now you have to decide if you should buy organic. This has been
an issue that has been under debate with advocates from both sides coming up with
reasons to be pro or con.
Now that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has implemented standard rules for certifying
and labeling organic products, consumers know more of what they are actually getting
(or not getting) when they purchase food items labeled as organic. Organic crops
must be grown without most conventional pesticides/herbicides, synthetic fertilizers,
sewage sludge, bioengineering or ionizing radiation. Organically raised animals
must not be given any growth hormones or antibiotics and must be given organic feed.
In order for an item to tout a “USDA Organic” label, a government-approved expert
must inspect the farm to make sure all USDA guidelines are met and it must also
contain at least 95% organic ingredients.
So is organic better? Conclusive evidence shows organically grown crops to contain
about one-third
less pesticide residue compared to non-organically grown crops.
But the real question is: Does it make a difference? Pesticide residue found in
non-organically grown food is still well below the level the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) believes to be unsafe. Food items labeled with “USDA Organic” is not
meant to mean it is better for you; it simply means the process by which it was
grown adheres to a standard set of rules.
Another issue to consider is the natural toxins produced by the plants themselves.
When crops are left helpless without the aid of synthetic pesticides and herbicides,
these organically grown crops follow the Darwinian path; they produce natural toxins
in the absence of man-made pesticides.
The best way to avoid contaminants is to thoroughly rinse all fruits and vegetables
under running water. Until more scientific studies are done on this subject matter,
there does not exist any conclusive determination on whether or not organic is safer
or healthier.
Foods that usually contain high levels of pesticide residue are spinach, green peas,
green beans, scallions, squash, apples, pears, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries.
If you are worried about antibiotics and hormones in food, buy products made from
organically raised livestock and poultry like milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs and meat.
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