Has anyone seen success switching to Organic?

I have been reading alot about nutrition and your body lately and how the effects of toxins in our food can lead to weight gain and other health issues. I am curious if anyone switched to an organic lifestyle and saw good changes in weight or medical condition?

Currently as of a week ago I am doing IF 14/10, cut out processed foods and switched to an organic lifestyle, and use the elliptical from 10 to 20min a day. I have high blood sugar and blood pressure so I am hoping to see a good change there and my weight but im not sure if its wishful thinking since im not noticing much movement on the scale
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Replies

  • wilson10102018
    wilson10102018 Posts: 1,306 Member
    When it comes to fruits, I think much of "organic" differentiation is just BS. My belief is that the producers like Driscolls produce 100% organic and label their better looking produce organic tp charge 50% more and the not so good looking without the "organic claim" at the competitive price point.

    I say this because I have raised plants of all types organic (without chemical fertilizers and pesticides) and there is no way that organic foods look better when harvested. and, yet, that is exactly what the producers would have you believe.
  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    I eat that way to support those farmers and their chosen farming practices/the local economy and for overall freshness and taste.

    This.

    I also DO opt for organic in certain grocery store foods like celery and strawberries because they're crops with lots of ground contact. I go conventional with fruits and veggies with a husk or peel that I'm going to remove (mango, large turnips) or that I will wash before I eat them (lettuce, cabbages, apples)
  • wilson10102018
    wilson10102018 Posts: 1,306 Member
    Washing fruit and veges is good to remove dirt and sand. Does nothing for bacteria.
  • xrj22
    xrj22 Posts: 218 Member
    I have noticed improvements in energy and wellbeing with a switch to healthy eating (less sugar, white flour, processed foods). I dont think a change to organic per se will make much difference in how you feel in the short term. I think the benefits of organic are more about prevention of cancer and disease in the long term, as well as being better for the planet. If you drink a lot of alcohol, then cutting that out should help high blood pressure. Also, exercise will help blood pressure even if you dont loose weight. Other than that, if you are overweight, the weight will probably be a bigger factor in blood pressure than type of food, (for some salt also makes a big difference, for others it makes no difference.) For blood sugar and cholesterol, people differ a lot. For some diet makes a huge difference, for others the weight matters more than what you eat. You just have to see what your numbers do.
  • iam4scuba
    iam4scuba Posts: 39 Member
    When it comes to fruits, I think much of "organic" differentiation is just BS. My belief is that the producers like Driscolls produce 100% organic and label their better looking produce organic tp charge 50% more and the not so good looking without the "organic claim" at the competitive price point.

    I say this because I have raised plants of all types organic (without chemical fertilizers and pesticides) and there is no way that organic foods look better when harvested. and, yet, that is exactly what the producers would have you believe.

    I have heard this before, and it generally makes sense to me from a logic standpoint, for something like bananas or apples which are cheap to grow/lb and don't sell for very much (organic or not).

    Even assuming this is true though, I doubt the same could be said for more expensive produce like avocados, berries, nuts, etc. so I don't think that's the case with those types of items.

    I do agree with you that organic produce rarely "looks as good" as pesticide ridden produce.
  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    Washing fruit and veges is good to remove dirt and sand. Does nothing for bacteria.

    Commercially produced produce has surface bacteria, too. Washing DOES help remove many trace pesticides (but not all.)
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,027 Member
    What keeps me paying the premium for the organics is when I drive past the extensive corn and soy fields where I live and I see all the weeds yellowing and dying amongst the sparkling green crops after they come through with the crop dusters. It just highlights for me the absurdity of literally drenching a plant with poisons throughout its growing cycle and then eating it. That just can’t be very good for you.
    So do you use makeup or cleansers on your body? You realize soap is made of lye (which is caustic)? Dosage matters. And specific pesticides kill specific plants/weeds. If you go to a lawn and garden shop, you'll find fertilizers that kill weeds in your lawn, but don't affect the lawn itself.


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  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,617 Member
    Washing fruit and veges is good to remove dirt and sand. Does nothing for bacteria.

    Commercially produced produce has surface bacteria, too. Washing DOES help remove many trace pesticides (but not all.)

    Not to mention that the post you quoted is incorrect, I believe: IMU, proper washing can reduce bacteria on fruits/veg (as well as other residues) . . . . not that that's any more on topic to this thread than saying it doesn't remove bacteria. 🙄
  • wilson10102018
    wilson10102018 Posts: 1,306 Member
    edited July 2021
    Washing produce will remove some amount of water soluble pesticides on the surfaces. Nothing as to systemic pesticides and nothing useful as to bacteria. Probably fans of organic will not want to hear this but the washing actually removes antibacterial agents found on some produce. So it will actually increase bacteria levels. And, of course, no dry produce should be washed and put away. It should be washed, if at all, immediately before consumption.
  • penguinmama87
    penguinmama87 Posts: 1,155 Member
    Washing produce will remove some amount of water soluble pesticides on the surfaces. Nothing as to systemic pesticides and nothing useful as to bacteria. Probably fans of organic will not want to hear this but the washing actually removes antibacterial agents found on some produce. So it will actually increase bacteria levels. And, of course, no dry produce should be washed and put away. It should be washed, if at all, immediately before consumption.

    I found about five little green bugs on my broccolini today! The little stinkers blended in really well and even hung on through washing and chopping. I even had to pick a couple out of the pan after I started cooking it thinking I'd finally found them all!

    Some people say yay for the extra protein, but I say no thank you.

    I tend to store produce in whatever way it will keep the longest. TBH I'm not always sure if it's the absolute "cleanest" way that's longest lasting, but I'd rather get to eat it than have to throw it out for going bad. Then it just becomes expensive compost.
  • MikePfirrman
    MikePfirrman Posts: 3,307 Member
    edited July 2021
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    ccrdragon wrote: »
    I have been reading alot about nutrition and your body lately and how the effects of toxins in our food can lead to weight gain and other health issues. I am curious if anyone switched to an organic lifestyle and saw good changes in weight or medical condition?

    Currently as of a week ago I am doing IF 14/10, cut out processed foods and switched to an organic lifestyle, and use the elliptical from 10 to 20min a day. I have high blood sugar and blood pressure so I am hoping to see a good change there and my weight but im not sure if its wishful thinking since im not noticing much movement on the scale

    And most (if not all) of what you are reading is fear-mongering. In terms of available nutrients, there is very little, if any, difference between organic and non-organic foods. In terms of pesticides and residue, many of the pesticides allowed in organic farming are just as toxic and just as harmful to the environment as those allowed in non-organic farming. In fact, it is a rather common practice to spray a field with non-organic pesticides (to kill the bugs before planting the crop), allow the field to sit for a couple of weeks, plant a crop and then declare that the produce that comes from the field is organic because no more pesticides were used after the crops were planted.

    The only real difference between organic and non-organic is the price at the grocery store.

    That's not how "USDA organic" certification works, in the US.

    That said, organic food will not make any meaningful difference in weight loss. (I say that as someone who eats a fair fraction of her diet as organic foods, though not for weight loss reasons, and only for health speculatively with respect to a single food group. Non organically grown foods, as long as responsibly grown and handled, are healthful, IMO.)

    I have a Meyer Lemon Tree in my backyard. I use no pesticides or non-organic chemicals on it. I came in one day and said something like "nothing like organic lemons". My straight A adult daughter, who was tops of her college class (at a major university) said "that's not organic, it has to have a designation as organic...". Alrighty then...

    It's amazing how little people understand about what organic really means. But the "organic feed" sometimes is also the ground chickies from the egg industry. Another nasty little secret. Didn't know that until my dogs were going absolutely nuts when I put "organic plant food" on my fruit trees. They grind the males up for fertilizer. True fact. Live. Cruel and true. The egg industry said they would end this barbaric practice soon. Not sure when.
  • Speakeasy76
    Speakeasy76 Posts: 961 Member
    Washing produce will remove some amount of water soluble pesticides on the surfaces. Nothing as to systemic pesticides and nothing useful as to bacteria. Probably fans of organic will not want to hear this but the washing actually removes antibacterial agents found on some produce. So it will actually increase bacteria levels. And, of course, no dry produce should be washed and put away. It should be washed, if at all, immediately before consumption.

    I found about five little green bugs on my broccolini today! The little stinkers blended in really well and even hung on through washing and chopping. I even had to pick a couple out of the pan after I started cooking it thinking I'd finally found them all!

    Some people say yay for the extra protein, but I say no thank you.

    I tend to store produce in whatever way it will keep the longest. TBH I'm not always sure if it's the absolute "cleanest" way that's longest lasting, but I'd rather get to eat it than have to throw it out for going bad. Then it just becomes expensive compost.

    Off topic, but we (or rather my husband) have a giant garden, and broccoli has been growing like crazy. The first ones we picked had several green larvae in them (which I hate!). He even blanched them in salt/vinegar water, as he read that was supposed to make the come out...nope, still found some ALIVE on them in the fridge the next day.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,617 Member
    Washing produce will remove some amount of water soluble pesticides on the surfaces. Nothing as to systemic pesticides and nothing useful as to bacteria. Probably fans of organic will not want to hear this but the washing actually removes antibacterial agents found on some produce. So it will actually increase bacteria levels. And, of course, no dry produce should be washed and put away. It should be washed, if at all, immediately before consumption.

    I found about five little green bugs on my broccolini today! The little stinkers blended in really well and even hung on through washing and chopping. I even had to pick a couple out of the pan after I started cooking it thinking I'd finally found them all!

    Some people say yay for the extra protein, but I say no thank you.

    I tend to store produce in whatever way it will keep the longest. TBH I'm not always sure if it's the absolute "cleanest" way that's longest lasting, but I'd rather get to eat it than have to throw it out for going bad. Then it just becomes expensive compost.

    Off topic, but we (or rather my husband) have a giant garden, and broccoli has been growing like crazy. The first ones we picked had several green larvae in them (which I hate!). He even blanched them in salt/vinegar water, as he read that was supposed to make the come out...nope, still found some ALIVE on them in the fridge the next day.

    Still off topic: Salt water soak might help.

    If they're cabbage looper larvae or similar, Bt (thuricide) spray is an organic (i.e., US certifiably organic AFAIK) option. It's been controversial, especially in commercial overspray or GMO contexts, but if you have a lot of trouble with larvae, I'd encourage you to look into the pros/cons more deeply, and see if it seems OK to you.
  • penguinmama87
    penguinmama87 Posts: 1,155 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    Washing produce will remove some amount of water soluble pesticides on the surfaces. Nothing as to systemic pesticides and nothing useful as to bacteria. Probably fans of organic will not want to hear this but the washing actually removes antibacterial agents found on some produce. So it will actually increase bacteria levels. And, of course, no dry produce should be washed and put away. It should be washed, if at all, immediately before consumption.

    I found about five little green bugs on my broccolini today! The little stinkers blended in really well and even hung on through washing and chopping. I even had to pick a couple out of the pan after I started cooking it thinking I'd finally found them all!

    Some people say yay for the extra protein, but I say no thank you.

    I tend to store produce in whatever way it will keep the longest. TBH I'm not always sure if it's the absolute "cleanest" way that's longest lasting, but I'd rather get to eat it than have to throw it out for going bad. Then it just becomes expensive compost.

    Off topic, but we (or rather my husband) have a giant garden, and broccoli has been growing like crazy. The first ones we picked had several green larvae in them (which I hate!). He even blanched them in salt/vinegar water, as he read that was supposed to make the come out...nope, still found some ALIVE on them in the fridge the next day.

    Still off topic: Salt water soak might help.

    If they're cabbage looper larvae or similar, Bt (thuricide) spray is an organic (i.e., US certifiably organic AFAIK) option. It's been controversial, especially in commercial overspray or GMO contexts, but if you have a lot of trouble with larvae, I'd encourage you to look into the pros/cons more deeply, and see if it seems OK to you.

    This is helpful! A lot of our produce comes from an organic CSA (including the buggy broccolini) but I have a small garden too, and I'm a definite novice. I'm actually having more trouble this year with things eating my flowers rather than my veggies and herbs. But pest control is definitely not easy, and I'm really only fending them off a few plants that I see constantly and can painstakingly look through, not huge crops designed to feed hundreds or even thousands of people.
  • dshvimmer
    dshvimmer Posts: 4 Member
    the benefits of agricultural products do not depend on the cultivation technology, but varies depending on the type of crops and the amount of nutrients in the soil. However, to the delight of organic fans, eco-products can contain 20–70% more antioxidants, as well as 10–100 times less pesticides in their composition.