To eat organic or not?

kabel4892

Ok guys and girls, I need opinions here. Ive been looking into eating more organically. I know its a little pricey, and it wont make me lose weight any faster. But it is healthier. I just want to know what everyone thinks about it. Is it worth it? Anybody notice any good changes when they started eating more organically?

DorkothyParker

Personally, I don't feel it is worth it.
However, I do like it for more processed foods (snack crackers, icecream). But, and I know many will disagree with me, I feel a tomato is a tomato is a tomato.

Eating seasonal and local is probably a better way to be than organic. Produce always seems richer and more flavorful when it is actually in season.

viktorijandz

Yes, I agree - tomato is always a tomato. But... A tomato can be genetically modified and pumped with dozens of pesticides, herbicides and other stuff which, oh boy, doesn't do any good for your health. On the other hand, a tomato can be the one which tastes and smells like a tomato. That's how organically grown tomato looks like. So basically seasonal and locally grown goods should be bought to achieve this. Of course, buying all food which is all organic can be extrimely expensive but you can always follow the rule to consume as much organic food as you can afford yourself.

melsinct

Yes, I agree - tomato is always a tomato. But... A tomato can be genetically modified and pumped with dozens of pesticides, herbicides and other stuff which, oh boy, doesn't do any good for your health. On the other hand, a tomato can be the one which tastes and smells like a tomato. That's how organically grown tomato looks like. So basically seasonal and locally grown goods should be bought to achieve this. Of course, buying all food which is all organic can be extrimely expensive but you can always follow the rule to consume as much organic food as you can afford yourself.

I agree. Also, organic does not equal healthy. there is plenty of organic junk food for sale. I buy organic based on the Clean 15/Dirty dozen list. If it is on the Dirty Dozen list (the fruits and veg that soak in the most pesticides) I buy organic. This includes peppers, celery, peaches. If it is on the Clean 15 list, they are the least likely to contain pesticide residue. Onions, avocados, eggplant are all on the "clean" list. You can Google the list, it is posted on a ton of different websites.

girlykate143

Yes, I agree - tomato is always a tomato. But... A tomato can be genetically modified and pumped with dozens of pesticides, herbicides and other stuff which, oh boy, doesn't do any good for your health. On the other hand, a tomato can be the one which tastes and smells like a tomato. That's how organically grown tomato looks like. So basically seasonal and locally grown goods should be bought to achieve this. Of course, buying all food which is all organic can be extrimely expensive but you can always follow the rule to consume as much organic food as you can afford yourself.

I agree. Also, organic does not equal healthy. there is plenty of organic junk food for sale. I buy organic based on the Clean 15/Dirty dozen list. If it is on the Dirty Dozen list (the fruits and veg that soak in the most pesticides) I buy organic. This includes peppers, celery, peaches. If it is on the Clean 15 list, they are the least likely to contain pesticide residue. Onions, avocados, eggplant are all on the "clean" list. You can Google the list, it is posted on a ton of different websites.

and to add onto this, get organic coffee if you can afford it and drink it. apparently, beans are sprayed too.

breeshabebe

I JUST decided to go organic- and I do believe that it makes a big difference. I really started to read up on it and I couldn't believe the things that I was putting in my body. Definately do what works for you.... but I have been eating organic for a week and I am finding that I eat WAY less and feel full longer. It's actually saving me money because I'm not eating a BUNCH of "Frankenfoods" to feel full.
I started watching "LeanSecrets" on youtube... and I loved it so much that I bought her book and read it in one day. Check it out.

I also agree that "organic" doesn't exactly mean healthy..... but it really helped me out with controling my (legit) hunger!

Mokey41

The regulations on organics are so lax that it really isn't worth it. There are all kinds of organizations claiming organic certification and there is no one body overseeing any of it. Each has it's own idea of what is organic and rarely does anyone actually check that those practices are being followed. Unless you buy fresh from a farm that you are familiar with their practices you have no idea what has actually been done with that product.

As far as nutrition, unless you grow the food yourself or pick it up directly from a far you're far better off purchasing frozen vegetables. Fresh can have been picked a week or more before you receive it and have been bouncing around in a truck and passing through warehouses. The standard for frozen is field to freezer within 6 hours or less.

Working in the food industry has really given me an appreciation of how the food chain actually works and you'd be shocked if you knew how most of your food is processed and handled.

WickedGarden

I eat organic because Chicken tastes like I remember what chicken tastes like, beef tastes like beef, pork tastes like pork. The difference is astonishing.

All the organic fruits actually taste 'real'. Non-organic tastes kinda 'flat' to me.

Basically, I don't believe in 'forcing food to grow at astonishing rates just to have an over abundance to feed everybody', we throw away so much produce because we simply grow too much of it. Just read an article where GMO corn (the kind made to be pest resistant) is actually killing the honeybees in that area. What will that do to me eventually?

I don't *exclusively* eat organic, I still go out to eat, but whatever food I eat that I can control, I try to make sure it's organic.

cwolfman13

for certain things I find that it's worth it. I prefer organic meat, poultry, and eggs

starrchiild

I think it's worth it and am slowly starting to move in that direction. Price is a consideration though as I am trying to add muscle and thus trying to eat around 200 grams of protein a day. To go all organic would be cost prohibitive. Best case scenario would be to eat 100% organic in my opinion.

alexbusnello

only certain things for me are worth it. It's a money grabber in my opinion.

carrieous

I dont think it matters health-wise for adults, tho organic may taste better. For my baby (now toddler) i do choose at least hormone-free milk and I also sought out the organic fruits and veggies when I made her baby food.

Cr01502

I tend to buy organic fruits and veg simply because I find it tastes better.

As for the health benefits . . . you're going to get a lot of mixed opinion on that but I don't believe there's a dramatic difference in the amount of nutrients an organic item has over an inorganic item.

DavPul

Who says it's healthier? Besides the people that sell it and the people that are already paying for it and need to justify the prices?

Chief_Rocka

#firstworldproblems

hatethegame

meh... I disagree that organic tastes better but that's just me. I just think it costs more and there is no scientific evidence to support that it is better for you.

shanmackie

it is healthier at least for fresh produce because toxic chemicals haven't been sprayed on them. there's some fruit/veg you should ALWAYS buy organic.

http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/

tuffytuffy1

I remember reading an article a few months back about which foods are worth the price for organic, and which don't really matter. I couldn't find the exact article, but here is a similar one:

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/ss/slideshow-to-buy-or-not-to-buy-organic

moustache_flavored_lube

See the dirty dozen and the clean 15 for the best foods to eat organic
http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/

I find food at whole food stores to be of better freshness and quality thus it has better taste. Organic foods at kroger meh

hellraisedfire

typically if I'm going to buy organic, I buy organic things that I eat the skins on (like tomatoes, apples). if I peel them (like oranges, bananas), it depends on the price.

Lalouse

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/science/stanford-organic-food-study-and-vagaries-of-meta-analyses.html?_r=0

One study found that organic is better
One study found that organic is the same

Key points:

The Stanford and Newcastle studies agree on many points. For most vitamins and minerals, both studies found no large difference between organic and conventional produce. The Newcastle study found that organic produce had a modest 9 percent increase in vitamin C; the Stanford study did not.

Both studies also found that organic produce contained more of the compounds known as phenols, believed to help prevent cancer and other diseases. But the Stanford study questioned whether the phenol increase was real..

Lalouse

I don't buy organic though. If you drink milk or eat alot of dairy, maybe you should consider getting those organic (or just drinking almond milk!), but otherwise, I think the fruits and veggies are probably fine. If there is a difference, it's probably not big enough -- at least not for me -- to cover the more expensive cost.

linnaeus

It tastes different to me. I buy organic when I can, but when I can't find what I want organic or don't have that much to spend on produce, I don't sweat it. Non-organic produce is always a million times better than a bag of chips!

And the other poster is right, certain veggies like celery and fruits where you eat the skin are more important to buy organic than say avocados or bananas.

Even better than organic is produce from your local farmer's market. Most expensive, but most delicious. Learn to know what's in season, and then you'll also be buying produce at its annually lowest price point.

LuckyLeprechaun

As for the health benefits . . . you're going to get a lot of mixed opinion on that but I don't believe there's a dramatic difference in the amount of nutrients an organic item has over an inorganic item.

This is not a matter of opinion, it's been tested. Organic items are no higher in nutrients than non-organic. They are equivalent.

pohlcm08

I've been thinking about it lately too. Plus I'd way rather give my money to local farmers than corporations that spray our food with chemicals proven to do major harm to our bodies. I just found this article on yahoo yesterday and found it pretty interesting..

http://health.yahoo.net/articles/nutrition/photos/14-foods-you-should-cut-your-diet?fb_action_ids=10200144464875327&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=timeline_og&action_object_map={"10200144464875327":139215042903675}&action_type_map={"10200144464875327":"og.recommends"}&action_ref_map=[]#0

Also I wonder if we all started buying local and/or organic, if the prices might start coming down. The reason the prices are so high is probably because the non-organic produce looks so much more appealing and lasts longer because of the genetic enhancements and chemical preservatives added to them, so most people buy these instead of the organic and local options.

LuckyLeprechaun

Also I wonder if we all started buying local and/or organic, if the prices might start coming down.

That's not how economics works. Higher demand results in higher prices.

Organic stuff is more expensive than regular because it spoils faster. This causes a reduction in supply, which is the other way prices go up. They have to charge more for each item that DID survive to the store.

j75j75

If you have the space just grow your own food. You know exactly what went into it and it's cheap

breeshabebe

Hmm... if the greatest problem was that we were eating non organic FRUITS AND VEGGIES then I wouldn't see the huge difference. It really is what you eat. Basically anything thats in a box or the freezer aisle should be avoided... Just read the labels.. Man... what the HECK is this stuff!?
When I lived in Peru, I dropped 50lbs without even trying because everything I ate was fresh and because I had to walk around the city. I

EatClean_WashUrNuts

If you have the money, eat the non organic and send the left over change to me

Eskimopie

Organic. Whether or not its healthier is up for debate, but its healthier for the planet. I will only buy organic eggs and dairy, and do my best with produce. Sometimes with bananas and stuff I won't if the non-organic are fresher.

Buy local and seasonal too if you can...that's probably even more important than organic.

PetulantOne

I never buy anything from a store just because it's labeled organic. I love farmers markets though. I grew up in the country eating just picked vegetables and fruit, and fresh meat and milk. It's amazing how much better a tomato from a vegetable stand tastes.