CHOOSING ORGANIC: YAY OR NAY
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR FOOD, should we be opting for organic options, or steering clear from these pricer alternatives? this is a valid question as it can be hard navigating through the sphere of ‘health and wellness’ these days, and figuring out what to prioritize.
personally, i always advocate for choosing organic when possible. let me simplify why that is.
for crops to be labeled as ‘organic’ farmers must follow a set of legal regulations put in place by the USDA. in the U.S these regulations require that farmers grow crops WITHOUT the use of chemical fertilizers, as well as limit the number of pesticides in which they are allowed to use. also under these regulations, crops labeled as organic cannot be grown or handled using GMOs, genetically modified organisms.
as for our meat and dairy products, in order to qualify as organic a set of regulations must also be followed. these regulations require the following: animals to be raised in living conditions that accommodate their natural behaviors, animals are to be fed 100% organic feed, and animals are not to be administered hormones or antibiotics.
while these regulations are of course never foul proof, any opportunity to make better swaps and lower your toxic load are always encouraged in my book.
now, i know that buying ALL organic ALL the time might not be plausible for a lot of us, so let touch on where to begin.
WHEN TO PRIORITIZE BUYING ORGANIC //
for starters, when it comes to meat and dairy products i always encourage that you choose organic, and i say this primarily so that the added hormones and antibiotics can be avoided. being that we are a generation who massively struggles with hormone imbalances and antibiotic resistance i find it’s best to source and invest in good quality meat/diary. quality > quantity for reals. these are some guidelines that i stick to when picking out meat:
◡ seafood // wild-caught, no artificial coloring, no additives, no antibiotics given, and no added hormones
◡ chicken // free-range organic chicken, fed with certified organic feed(what they eat inherently will be what you eat)
◡ beef // 100% grass fed & GRASS FINISHED, pasture raised, no antibiotics given, and no added hormones
as for produce, you may have heard of the ‘clean 15, dirty dozen’. this is a way of categorizing fruits and veg based upon the amount of pesticides used on them. ‘clean 15’ represents 15 of the least pesticide-y foods and therefore you could choose the organic alternative, while the dirty dozen represents 12 foods with the most pesticides and therefore you should prioritize opting for organic. [check out the full breakdown of this down below.]
so there you have it, my beginner tips for choosing organic and why/when you should be. this topic is hefty and could be vastly expounded upon, so there could be a few parts to it in the future, but for now i leave you with this. and as always health is not a destination, it is most definitely a journey. none of this information is meant to shame or overwhelm you, instead it’s meant to inform you so that you too can make informed decisions and be empowered to shape your health how you see fit. as always, reach out if you have questions or need some guidance in taking these steps.xx
C L E A N 1 5
◡ avocados
◡ sweet corn
◡ pineapple
◡ onions
◡ papaya
◡ sweet peas (frozen)
◡ eggplant
◡ asparagus
◡ broccoli
◡ cabbage
◡ kiwi
◡ cauliflower
◡ mushrooms
◡ honeydew melon
◡ cantaloupe
D I R T Y D O Z E N
◡ strawberries
◡ spinach
◡ kale, collard, & mustard greens
◡ nectarines
◡ apples
◡ grapes
◡ cherries
◡ peaches
◡ pears
◡ bell & hot peppers
◡ celery
◡ tomatoes