To Eat Organic or not Organic?

One of the questions I am most frequently asked is ” Does it matter if I buy Organic foods”?

My answer is quite simple. I try to  buy or eat Organic whenever I possibly can.

So the question is, what does Organic really mean? Organic means that it is grown organically and is generally hormone, pesticide and antibiotic free. There are strict guidelines in place to ensure that foods are in fact Organic and you can tell by looking for the Organic label. You can also look at the label on any produce and if the product number starts with “9”, it is organic.

You have to ask yourself why would you ingest foods(mainly fruits and vegetables) that are filled with pesticides and other chemicals?

There are certain foods that are more important to eat Organically than others.   The rule I try to follow is that if you need to peel it, then it is likely ok to not buy organic(example oranges, grapefruits, watermelon).  There is a list published every year called the “Dirty Dozen” which outlines the produce that if at all possible, you should buy organically. Here is list of the dirty dozen:

The fruits and veggies with the most pesticides (the “Dirty Dozen Plus“) are:

1. Apples
2. Peaches
3. Nectarines
4. Strawberries
5. Grapes
6. Celery
7. Spinach
8. Sweet bell peppers
9. Cucumbers
10. Cherry tomatoes
11. Snap peas (imported)
12. Potatoes

The “Dirty Dozen Plus” includes:

1. Hot peppers
2. Kale / Collard greens

Once again, my rule is that whenever you can, purchase Organically for the best health options.

Yours in good health, Kev