Has anyone seen success switching to Organic?
Options
soldiergrl_101
Posts: 2,206 Member
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
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
0
Replies
-
soldiergrl_101 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.20 -
^ that! Also, if you are struggling with high blood sugar, you may want to look into lowering carbs and/or eating them with fats and protein to slow the absorption of them. But most importantly, get calories under control, lose some weight and exercise (especially resistance training) as it improves nutrient utilization.7
-
Understand how a toxin actually works. DOSAGE is the most important. If I put a drop of oil in a swimming pool, it would have little to any effect at all. However if I put that same drop in a glass of water, then you'd have an issue. Unless the "toxin" you have in a food is dosaged high enough, there's hardly an effect.
Look up formaldehyde and see how it works in our body.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
10 -
Taste mostly. We have quite the plethora of farm stands selling organic and non organic but from people that practice mostly responsible farming techniques starting now and is without a doubt depressing having to go back to supermarket offerings later. Yesterday at 6 am met with Ed Taylor who mostly deals in potatoes, about 30 varieties and brought my clam containers and picked 2 dozen zucchini blossoms for stuffing at the restaurant. It's best to harvest blossoms before the sun comes up and gets hot. He's not organic simply because he's not the kind of person that joins clubs and pays dues, and his produce is sought after because of the taste. Personally when food is grown in ground that has the full circle of life happening below and above ground from responsible farming you produce a product that tastes different from a ground that is void of life and is fed only a few nutrients that promote plant growth.6
-
soldiergrl_101 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.)11 -
soldiergrl_101 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.)
Exactly. It's possible to buy "transitional" foods prepared from produce, grains, etc. grown in fields that are going through the multi-year process from non-organic to organic, with the idea that it supports the often higher-cost of organic-style farming until the field can be certified organic and bring the premium price.
But organic food isn't going to help the OP lose weight.11 -
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.2 -
Understand how a toxin actually works. DOSAGE is the most important. If I put a drop of oil in a swimming pool, it would have little to any effect at all. However if I put that same drop in a glass of water, then you'd have an issue. Unless the "toxin" you have in a food is dosaged high enough, there's hardly an effect.
Look up formaldehyde and see how it works in our body.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
All this.
Plus? We have a liver for a reason.
Removing toxins is the liver’s entire job.
(Which is why liver cleanses are baloney)
7 -
Agree with others that for nutritional purposes, at least, there's no significant difference.
I eat mostly organic food but not all of it is certified (I'm in the US) - because not all the local farms we buy from can afford the certification process without charging much, much higher prices. I eat that way to support those farmers and their chosen farming practices/the local economy and for overall freshness and taste. But I'm still consuming the same amount of calories I would if I bought those same items, just conventionally farmed from the store.7 -
penguinmama87 wrote: »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)1 -
Washing fruit and veges is good to remove dirt and sand. Does nothing for bacteria.0
-
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.3
-
I don't eat inorganic foods myself 🙃14
-
soldiergrl_101 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
I'm interested in your sources for the bolded. While I am a firm believer in buying some foods that were grown organically, and use organic methods for the foods I grow myself, I have never seen anything credible about pesticides causing weight gain.
(Actually, I've never seen anything not credible that claimed this either, but then, I haven't been looking for it. I'm sure if I googled I would find this
)
If the exercise is new you may be retaining WATER from that, which is masking FAT loss on the scale.
Lots of additional reasons to not see the scale moving immediately:
5 -
wilson10102018 wrote: »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.1 -
wilson10102018 wrote: »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.)2 -
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.dancingonstarz wrote: »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.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
2 -
dancingonstarz wrote: »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.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
It's a little more complicated than that:
https://botaniesoap.com/blog/2019/02/05/the-truth-about-lye-and-organic-soap/
"...soap is the result of a chemical reaction called saponification that occurs between lye and a type of molecule called a triglyceride (a fat or oil), where both substances are chemically transformed, creating soap and natural glycerin. Neither of the original ingredients exists anymore. All the lye – either sodium hydroxide for bar soap or potassium hydroxide for liquid soap – is consumed in the reaction.
So, while soap is made with lye, it doesn’t contain lye. Modern methods and measuring scales – as opposed to what was available to frontier women – allow soap-makers to use the proper mixture of oils and lye, ensuring that all lye is consumed."6 -
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.dancingonstarz wrote: »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.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
I take issue with the premise. Even assuming makeup and soap is bad for you, the argument that you shouldn't decrease contaminants in your food because you are subject to contaminants elsewhere seems flawed.5 -
rosebarnalice wrote: »wilson10102018 wrote: »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. 🙄2
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.5K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 389 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 22 News and Announcements
- 918 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.3K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions