Is organic better?

marie_2454

I always try and buy organic berries and bananas (mainly because I swear they taste better), and sometimes other organic produce if it's available and it's not something you have to peel. Supposedly these fruits and vegetables have more pesticides and it's better to buy organic. I understand that and everything, but is it better to buy organic non-produce? It just happens that my favorite brands of Greek yogurt (Oikos...yum ) and my favorite brand of granola (Cascadian Farm) are organic. Is there any benefit to eating organic yogurt and granola versus regular yogurt and granola? I know the yogurt only has like 4-5 ingredients, but is it actually healthier? What about other foods? I've also heard that meat, especially chicken, is better for you if it's certified organic because it doesn't have extra hormones in it or something. I'm just wondering what ya'll think of buying organic? When, if ever, is it worth spending the extra money? Thanks!

TourThePast

I'm not at all convinced that organic food is more nutritious, but I do absolutely know that organic agriculture is better for the environment so that's good enough to convince me to buy organic everything - IF the price premium doesn't prevent me from doing so.

poustotah

From what I understand, organic foods aren't any more nutritionally different than regular foods BUT the pesticides that are used on organic foods can hinder weight loss because our bodies simply don't need them. I buy organic berries, apples and anything that you wash and eat becuase even if you wash your apple, the skin still retains the pesticide even after you wash it. I've also started buying organic meat because I have young kids and I've see little 8 year old girls that are walking around with breasts from the hormones in meat and milk. We also don't drink milk here. All in all, it really varies depending on your perspective.

nikki_zav

If you body does not recognize something you eat, it wraps it in fat when that can be stored in all those 'trouble' places around your body. This is true of the pesticides and some of the other bad things found in non-organic foods. (Not to mention what un-natural hormones do to the body like what some of the other posters talked about!!) Organic or not, fresh fruits, veggies & meats and TONS better for you than processed foods. Organic is the next step to improving overall long term health.

sh0ck

Organic ice cream is still ice cream.


I think a lot of people have a misunderstanding that organic foods are overall "healthier" for them and this is only partially true. As said above, the whole organic ideal stems from the lack of pesticides and chemicals used in the growing and making of the products so that in itself is probably healthier for you than the non-organic versions of the same food. However, "healthier" does not always mean GOOD FOR YOU. As my very first sentence states, you can make ice cream as organic as you want but when it comes down to it, organic ice cream is still sugar, fat, and calories. Sure, it may be healthier than non-organic ice cream in the sense that it is lacking the chemicals, etc... but that doesn't mean it has any less fat grams, calories, or sugars.


So be wary when people tout that organic food is "healthier" than non-organic food. It CAN be but it isn't a blanket statement.