Organic vs. Non-organic

Frostbitten007

Which is better organic or non-organic? Where do you like to shop for produce and other groceries? Do you eat organic or non-organic foods and drinks? I just got back from whole foods. I bought a lot of organic stuff. I just read an article about preservatives in our food. How they use stuff like tar and beetle skin to dye our foods. Plus it is harmful for our health. Certain food dyes and preservatives cause health issues such as ADHD and certain cancers and diabetes and other health issues. So, I am starting to go the organic route.

Deipneus

Which is better organic or non-organic? Where do you like to shop for produce and other groceries? Do you eat organic or non-organic foods and drinks? I just got back from whole foods. I bought a lot of organic stuff. I just read an article about preservatives in our food. How they use stuff like tar and beetle skin to dye our foods. Plus it is harmful for our health. Certain food dyes and preservatives cause health issues such as ADHD and certain cancers and diabetes and other health issues. So, I am starting to go the organic route.

I read a lot of stuff. Where did you read that?

Frostbitten007

I can't remember where I read it. I think it was on a news page like MSN.

DCruz83

Meh, the only place where I go organic, or at least try to, is with cereals as I love oatmeal but can't seem to do well with non-organic. And no, it's not in my head, I started getting some sort of allergic reaction and I even tried having non-organic to try it out and sure enough I get the reaction again, like I do with eggs. But as far as fruits and veggies go, I'm picky enough as it is, if on top I had to choose organic, I'd have to shop in different places to find it all. While I'm sure organic can be better for some people, the alternative suits me just fine.

amyann2

I buy organic produce. It's less about preservatives and more about pesticides. In my opinion, in addition to being better for me (due to lack of pesticides), I think organic farming is better for the environment in general. Also, while I'm not a vegetarian, I eat more veggies than anything else -- so I don't like the idea of ingesting all those pesticides if I don't need to.

I also think organic milk is a good idea to avoid hormones and antibiotics in my milk.

I shop at Whole Foods for produce and most of my other groceries, and at Randalls (a Safeway chain) for a few other things.

MizzEngelChen

I try to buy organic as much as I can afford on my student budget. At least I always buy eggs and dairy organic when I do buy them but that's more for ethical reasons than health.

sirenical

Don't forget to look at labels. Many products out there will use organic ingredients but don't go to the expense of becoming certified.

IronSmasher

Non-organic.

That's like, rocks and metal and stuff, right?

_HeartsOnFire_

http://www.roanoke.com/living/food/frontburner/1923078-12/how-the-dirty-dozen-and-clean-fifteen-can.html

That talks about the fruits and veggies and which ones you should try to go organic on and which ones you shouldn't need to. I try to go to a local produce store that gets everything locally or I go to local farmers markets.

zillah73

I buy organic whenever there is an organic available – like someone else said, it isn't so much about food additives as it is pesticides and chemical fertilizers and sustainable farming practices. There is a lot of information on the web about the suspected/supposed health ramifications of organic versus non-organic. Some sources are much more reliable than others. Likewise, you will find opinions on MFP varying on the topic. My best advise is to educate yourself. Read as much as you can and be highly suspect of any sources of information (who stands to benefit most from the information? – i.e. a study talking about the merits of beef coming from the beef industry is likely not entirely objective). Personally, I have a garbage in/garbage out view of my food. I don't eat healthfully simply to lose weight – I do it for a long and healthy life and I feel my best chance of achieving that is by remaining vigilant about the purity and sustainability of my food.

jamiecrick3582

I also think organic milk is a good idea to avoid hormones and antibiotics in my milk.

Publix doesn't use hormones in their milk if you're looking for a cheaper alternative - I know I can't afford $7 for a gallon of milk every week as much as I would like to buy it.

evileen99

But beetle shells are 100% natural!! ; )

artsycella

I try hard to buy sustainable first (and that's a tough one to track down, so I'm sure my track record is moderate at best), local second and organic third.

For veggies, during the season I have a local, sustainable and organic CSA. That makes it really easy! I also visit local farmers markets for additional produce and local meats. There's a farm about 45 minutes away from my house that has an amazing sustainable infrastructure, so if we're low on meat we'll head out there once every month or two and stock up on meat to freeze.

For the rest of my shopping, I do a lot of it at a local chain health food market that only stocks organic food, so that makes it easier. They also stock a lot of local produce when it's in season, which can sometimes provide either more variety or greater reliability than the farmer's markets or CSA, if I'm looking for something in particular. It's also a lot cheaper than Whole Foods, and the people are incredibly nice. It makes grocery shopping feel like a pleasure instead of torture.

Finally, for those things which don't turn up at the organic places (I have a fondness, for example, for Bay's English Muffins--nothing organic or local about those), I do end up at the local regular grocery chain maybe once a month or so.

This is probably a more expensive way to eat than doing all my shopping at Safeway. And it takes thought, time, research and effort, along with being comfortable in the knowledge that I'm only doing better, not perfect. But I do feel like I'm treating myself, my family, the environment and our local food producers in a respectful, healthier way. And the more time I spend reading food labels at Safeway, the less money I want to spend buying that kind of food.

LearningLessons

I switched my kitchen from non-organic to organic and whole about 9 years ago, when I discovered my son's sensitivities to certain foods. For the most part, I use my best judgment when buying organic, for example: why pay $3 more for Organic Pure Maple Syrup, when (non-organic) Pure Maple Syrup is basically the same thing? I do it to eliminate both the preservatives and the pesticides, but not only that, if you research it, the hormones and antibiotics are no good either. I find that Trader Joe's carries quite a large selection of whole and organic foods and I do the bulk of my shopping there because its much less expensive than Whole Foods. I do the rest of my shopping at Whole Foods and at local farm stores. I love that when you look at the ingredients in the peanut butter, the only ingredient is "Peanuts" or "Organic Peanuts". I've read that grains are of particular importance because you want to stay away from GMOs which require an abundance of Herbicides and Pesticides to grow.

chadraeder3

I buy organic produce. It's less about preservatives and more about pesticides. In my opinion, in addition to being better for me (due to lack of pesticides), I think organic farming is better for the environment in general. Also, while I'm not a vegetarian, I eat more veggies than anything else -- so I don't like the idea of ingesting all those pesticides if I don't need to.

I also think organic milk is a good idea to avoid hormones and antibiotics in my milk.

I shop at Whole Foods for produce and most of my other groceries, and at Randalls (a Safeway chain) for a few other things.

Organic does not mean they do not use pesticides the farmers still use pesticides they just have to use certain pesticides one they can use is well known Nicotine. Source http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/VegFruit/organic.htm

You may think that organic is better for the environment probably not since organic produce is transported as far if not further then conventionally grown produce, organic produce is even transported 1/2 way across the world from places like China to get to you. Organic farming is less efficient due to crop loss and reduced yields which means that more land has to be cultivated to produce the same amount of food, which equals more machinery used and more pollution produced from that machinery. If the entire worlds food supply was produced using organic standards billions of people would need to die because the world could not mathematically produce enough food to feed the population.

Frank_Just_Frank

You would be better served to minimize processed foods altogether than worrying about organic labels.

As I understand it, the organic difference with meat is significant but not with fruits and veggies.

Acg67

Which is better organic or non-organic? Where do you like to shop for produce and other groceries? Do you eat organic or non-organic foods and drinks? I just got back from whole foods. I bought a lot of organic stuff. I just read an article about preservatives in our food. How they use stuff like tar and beetle skin to dye our foods. Plus it is harmful for our health. Certain food dyes and preservatives cause health issues such as ADHD and certain cancers and diabetes and other health issues. So, I am starting to go the organic route.

They actually cause "issues such as ADHD and certain cancers and diabetes and other health issues"?

Frank_Just_Frank

Which is better organic or non-organic? Where do you like to shop for produce and other groceries? Do you eat organic or non-organic foods and drinks? I just got back from whole foods. I bought a lot of organic stuff. I just read an article about preservatives in our food. How they use stuff like tar and beetle skin to dye our foods. Plus it is harmful for our health. Certain food dyes and preservatives cause health issues such as ADHD and certain cancers and diabetes and other health issues. So, I am starting to go the organic route.

They actually cause "issues such as ADHD and certain cancers and diabetes and other health issues"?

No. The issue of carrots coming from an organic farm never caused cancer/ADHD/AIDS etc.

gonnamakeanewaccount

Organic > Non-organic.

_AllieCat_

I choose organic when I can because I don't like the idea of putting unnecessary chemicals into my body.

On the plus side, organic fruits/veggies taste WAY better to me than their cheaper counterparts. The differences in taste is worth the couple extra bucks on my grocery bill.

Acg67

Organic > Non-organic.

whoops

http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2013/06/17/the-organic-hepatitis-outbreak-we-need-organic-field-testing/

RunningRichelle

I choose organic. A lot of the pesticides on non-organic produce are hormone disruptors, and I figure why make it harder for myself to lose weight by putting those in my body?

I think this guy makes a lot of sense:

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/is-organic-all-it’s-cracked-up-to-be/#axzz2WVNJk6tX

Also, eating clean has done me quite a bit of good:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1018745-getting-lean-my-last-4-months-in-pictures

RunningRichelle

Organic > Non-organic.

whoops

http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2013/06/17/the-organic-hepatitis-outbreak-we-need-organic-field-testing/

Looks like a good reason to buy local, IMO.

neanderthin

Personally I support the small farmer who use sustainable agriculture where the management of all aspects of the environment are taken into account, who could also practice organic but not necessarily. Generally these farmers believe in diversity of maintain soil integrity, crop rotation, phosphate recovery, water management etc as opposed to the big players that control organic today and who's first obligation is market share and profit and not our health per se.

lovingangel4uau

For sure organic as long as the purse can afford it. For those that like to know more of what's in their food, knowledge is the key.
Here are a few YouTube vids that you will find very informative and interesting. If nothing more will help you to make informed choices.
http://www.infowars.com/food-the-ultimate-secret-exposed/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq1t9WqOD-0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

Unfortunately Monsanto's who has many of their own board members on the FDA are trying to pass laws not to our benefit. Like being able to add more chemicals to crops, not putting GMO labelling etc. There are a list of things and a huge movement against them if you wanted to go there.

tinacrane

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2013/05/hepatitis-a-illnesses-linked-to-organic-berries-sold-at-costco/#.UcCU19jhds0

Even organic food can be harmful.

neandermagnon

watch to the end....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOu9YbMw2qk

ETA: it's only 1.5 mins long and it's funny

Trechechus

Personally I support the small farmer who use sustainable agriculture where the management of all aspects of the environment are taken into account, who could also practice organic but not necessarily. Generally these farmers believe in diversity of maintain soil integrity, crop rotation, phosphate recovery, water management etc as opposed to the big players that control organic today and who's first obligation is market share and profit and not our health per se.

JonathanBB

http://www.roanoke.com/living/food/frontburner/1923078-12/how-the-dirty-dozen-and-clean-fifteen-can.html

That talks about the fruits and veggies and which ones you should try to go organic on and which ones you shouldn't need to. I try to go to a local produce store that gets everything locally or I go to local farmers markets.

Well, first off, I am disappointed. I thought you wrote orgasmic. As long as I am here: this^^^ buy organic where it makes a difference. Skip it where it doesn't unless you don't have to worry about the food budget.

thisismeraw

I personally don't go for organic or natural. If I purchased all organic I would be broke.

Beetle skins are organic and natural. They are used a food colouring. Secretions from beetles are used to make produce look shiny.

Organic or natural doesn't equal healthy. I do realize that organic is free from chemical pesticides however they are not pesticide free as there are many "organic" pesticides. Also, depending on where you are labelling requirements are not as strict.

When I shop I don't look for organic. I buy produce that is as local as possible. I shop farmers markets in the summer and fall and a lot of farmers around here do use non-chemical pesticides however I would still purchase from them if they did.

If you are concerned with preservatives, make things yourself. Organic packaged food doesn't mean it's good for you.

fat2strongbeth

I buy organic whenever there is an organic available – like someone else said, it isn't so much about food additives as it is pesticides and chemical fertilizers and sustainable farming practices. There is a lot of information on the web about the suspected/supposed health ramifications of organic versus non-organic. Some sources are much more reliable than others. Likewise, you will find opinions on MFP varying on the topic. My best advise is to educate yourself. Read as much as you can and be highly suspect of any sources of information (who stands to benefit most from the information? – i.e. a study talking about the merits of beef coming from the beef industry is likely not entirely objective). Personally, I have a garbage in/garbage out view of my food. I don't eat healthfully simply to lose weight – I do it for a long and healthy life and I feel my best chance of achieving that is by remaining vigilant about the purity and sustainability of my food.

This is great advice. I try to only eat organic varieties of anything on the dirty dozen list (http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php) in addition to organic dairy products. I do my best, although it is more difficult, to eat only non-GMO or organic soy and corn products.