Why should I buy organic?!?

JskC1893

I've been reading a bit about choosing organic over the alternative when it comes to produce. I was just wondering how many of you out there choose organic. Do you buy everything organic? Are there certain things that you choose to save money on (I've heard some people don't buy things like organic bananas, pineapples etc, due to the rind).

Recently my grocery budget is allowing me to spend a bit more, and I felt like this might be a good place to adjust (now that we can possible afford to make this choice)

Anyways, if you have any articles about the topic or any suggestions for someone looking to get into buying mostly organic I'd definitely appreciate them.

JuantonBliss

http://www.helpguide.org/life/organic_foods_pesticides_gmo.htm

I try to buy organic as often as I can, but I'm also on a very tight budget so I do with what I can, but I think this article will help you right out Happy hunting!

JskC1893

http://www.helpguide.org/life/organic_foods_pesticides_gmo.htm

I try to buy organic as often as I can, but I'm also on a very tight budget so I do with what I can, but I think this article will help you right out Happy hunting!

Thanks so much, I appreciate the response!!

cwolfman13

I don't worry about it.

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/myths-organic-food

ninerbuff

If you're buying organic to support local farmers, then do it. If you're doing it because you think nutritional value is higher and it's "safer", then you're just spending more money for nothing.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

LAW_714

There's little need (nutritionally) to buy everything organic. However, it's not a terrible idea for things where you actually eat the skin (such as apples) reducing the exposure to pesticides.

JskC1893

I don't worry about it.

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/myths-organic-food

Thank you!!

mrslcoop

I buy organic those items that are highly susceptible to pesticides and chemicals. Apples, potatoes, berries, greens (lettuce, etc.), peppers.

And then those that are very low in pesticides I don’t waste my money. Onions, corn, asparagus, bananas, most things with rinds (melons, etc).

JskC1893

If you're buying organic to support local farmers, then do it. If you're doing it because you think nutritional value is higher and it's "safer", then you're just spending more money for nothing.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I appreciate the response!

henriettevanittersum

Buying fair trade and local is more important to me than organic.

JskC1893

Thank you for the responses/suggestions/input

I've been having extreme digestive issues for many many months (working with many doctors and specialists to figure out what is going on).

I'm curious if there are sensitivities to certain pesticides? I wouldn't even begin to know how to learn specifics being sprayed on which plants, but this is something I am interested in looking into.

All of the articles posted are very appreciated, I am going to start compiling some of that with my own research to decide what my opinion on organic/regular is.

Thanks again

Additional responses also appreciated.

ninerbuff

Thank you for the responses/suggestions/input

I've been having extreme digestive issues for many many months (working with many doctors and specialists to figure out what is going on).

I'm curious if there are sensitivities to certain pesticides? I wouldn't even begin to know how to learn specifics being sprayed on which plants, but this is something I am interested in looking into.

All of the articles posted are very appreciated, I am going to start compiling some of that with my own research to decide what my opinion on organic/regular is.

Thanks again

Additional responses also appreciated.

Maybe check gluten and GERD.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

bound4beauty

Buying fair trade and local is more important to me than organic.

I belong to an organic buyers club. I get a box of locally grown fruits and veggies every other week. It's like Christmas every time I open the box. I love it because I like supporting the local growers and because it's a great way to try things that I might other wise pass up on in the grocery store. This week for instance I got purple bell peppers which I've never seen before, rainbow carrots and heirloom tomatoes. I also get a dozen eggs and occasioaly a case of grass fed beef. It's nice to know where your food is coming from.

JskC1893

Thank you for the responses/suggestions/input

I've been having extreme digestive issues for many many months (working with many doctors and specialists to figure out what is going on).

I'm curious if there are sensitivities to certain pesticides? I wouldn't even begin to know how to learn specifics being sprayed on which plants, but this is something I am interested in looking into.

All of the articles posted are very appreciated, I am going to start compiling some of that with my own research to decide what my opinion on organic/regular is.

Thanks again

Additional responses also appreciated.

Maybe check gluten and GERD.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I currently have been ongoing gluten free coming up on 3 months, plus a bunch of other dietary restrictions. They are pretty confident at this point (after a serious amount of testing, like honestly. I have appointments weekly and blood is always taken, or something is being prodded) that it is an allergy. It just seems to be a lifetime of trying to figure out what that allergy is!!

They have basically said the allergy can be literally anything, and I have dermographia so it can even be something I'm exposed to rather than eating. I feel like I'm making it sound more dramatic than it is. It sucks, but frankly I'm much healthier about my diet NOW than I ever was before so I almost appreciate the influx of symptoms.

Thanks for your suggestions, if you have any others about various illnesses/or about anything really I'll listen. I'm all up for discovering whats better for me/what is going on with my digestive tract!!

JskC1893

Buying fair trade and local is more important to me than organic.

I belong to an organic buyers club. I get a box of locally grown fruits and veggies every other week. It's like Christmas every time I open the box. I love it because I like supporting the local growers and because it's a great way to try things that I might other wise pass up on in the grocery store. This week for instance I got purple bell peppers which I've never seen before, rainbow carrots and heirloom tomatoes. I also get a dozen eggs and occasioaly a case of grass fed beef. It's nice to know where your food is coming from.

What a smart idea. I have many, many farms in my area (very fortunate) and should see if any offer similar programs.

onwarddownward

I thought this thread was about org@sms.

Carry on.

Mr_Knight

I don't particularly seek out organic. What I seek out are locally produced food items from people/farmers I actually know.

ea101367

I worry more about Genetically modified foods and the fact that in Canada they do not have to let us know that what we are eating has been gm'd. Here's a documentary to watch on organic and GM foods. http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/beautiful-truth/

JskC1893

I thought this thread was about org@sms.

Carry on.

hahahahaha

I had to double check and make sure after I read your post that I didn't actually write orgasms.

JskC1893

I worry more about Genetically modified foods and the fact that in Canada they do not have to let us know that what we are eating has been gm'd. Here's a documentary to watch on organic and GM foods. http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/beautiful-truth/

Thank you!! I will definitely check that out!!

JskC1893

I don't particularly seek out organic. What I seek out are locally produced food items from people/farmers I actually know.

Thats a great way to look at it. In another post I mentioned I have many farms in my area, so I should start looking into that as a better option.

Thanks for the input.

jeremyw1977

Studies have shown that if you have extra weight, mainly in the form of excess money in your wallet, purse, or bank account, the healthy way to get rid of that money is to buy organic.
Burning the money possibly polutes our atmosphere, and flushing money down the toilet isn't safe for your plumbing.

You can try offering your money to a Nigerian prince, they're more than happy to take it off your hands.

CollieFit

Because I want to support local farmers.
Because I want produce that's not covered in pesticides, preservatives, E-numbers, food colouring.
Because I don't want meat containing antibiotics and hormones.
Because I don't support GMOs.
Because the meat I buy comes from RSPCA approved premises.
Because it matters to me that the eggs I eat come from hens that have a decent life.
Because on the whole it's better produce.

lil_pulp

I just listened to the Nutrition Diva's podcast on organic food this morning. (You can read it at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/healthy-eating/are-organic-foods-worth-cost?page=all.)

Basically, she suggests avoiding the "dirty dozen" for pesticide reasons but not worrying about it aside from that. It's great to support local farmers--and food that was picked more recently has more nutrients--but local food is just as likely to have been sprayed with pesticides as food from farther away.

JskC1893

Studies have shown that if you have extra weight, mainly in the form of excess money in your wallet, purse, or bank account, the healthy way to get rid of that money is to buy organic.
Burning the money possibly pollutes our atmosphere, and flushing money down the toilet isn't safe for your plumbing.

You can try offering your money to a Nigerian prince, they're more than happy to take it off your hands.

Good sentence pick out of my post

That particular sentence wasn't a huge part of my post, but rather an explanation so people don't respond "its more expensive".

Mostly I was wondering what other people's reasons were for choosing organic so I could start researching if that is a good option for myself and my family.

JskC1893

Because I want to support local farmers.
Because I want produce that's not covered in pesticides, preservatives, E-numbers, food colouring.
Because I don't want meat containing antibiotics and hormones.
Because I don't support GMOs.
Because the meat I buy comes from RSPCA approved premises.
Because it matters to me that the eggs I eat come from hens that have a decent life.
Because on the whole it's better produce.

Thanks!! All reasons I'll look into. Thanks for taking the time to reply

JskC1893

I just listened to the Nutrition Diva's podcast on organic food this morning. (You can read it at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/healthy-eating/are-organic-foods-worth-cost?page=all.)

Basically, she suggests avoiding the "dirty dozen" for pesticide reasons but not worrying about it aside from that. It's great to support local farmers--and food that was picked more recently has more nutrients--but local food is just as likely to have been sprayed with pesticides as food from farther away.

Thanks for the link!! Much appreciated.

sealevels

I would buy organic if:

It supports local farmers. (I live in the tri-state area, so I'd be supporting a ton of them)
If you care about sustainability.

Organic farmers do use pesticides - you kind of have to if you grow anything, really - but they use more 'natural' substances to rid their crops of pests. I grow non-edibles, and I have heavily considered the usage of pesticides. Luckily, rubbing alcohol works well enough.

sudmom

I have been trying to go all organic, but find it is next to impossible to live a normal life (for me). I have done several "tests" though to see if there is a difference-some things like fruit with rinds it has very little impact on-but try this... Buy a dozen eggs generic brand and a dozen eggs that are grass fed, certified organic. Crack one of each and look at the difference in the yolk. I found it amazing that there was such a huge difference. Generic is a light yellow with a murky white. The organic egg has a clear white and a deep yellow orange yolk.

JskC1893

I would buy organic if:

It supports local farmers. (I live in the tri-state area, so I'd be supporting a ton of them)
If you care about sustainability.

Organic farmers do use pesticides - you kind of have to if you grow anything, really - but they use more 'natural' substances to rid their crops of pests. I grow non-edibles, and I have heavily considered the usage of pesticides. Luckily, rubbing alcohol works well enough.

Great points, I live not to far from that area as well.

JskC1893

I have been trying to go all organic, but find it is next to impossible to live a normal life (for me). I have done several "tests" though to see if there is a difference-some things like fruit with rinds it has very little impact on-but try this... Buy a dozen eggs generic brand and a dozen eggs that are grass fed, certified organic. Crack one of each and look at the difference in the yolk. I found it amazing that there was such a huge difference. Generic is a light yellow with a murky white. The organic egg has a clear white and a deep yellow orange yolk.

Interesting! What do you mean by live a normal life?

I definitely know what you mean about the eggs, I'm fortunate enough to have a close friend who often sends me home with eggs.