Organic? Should I try it?

I like a lot of the organic cereals and boxed type stuff, it doesn't have preservatives and high fructose corn syrup. I also do buy some organic produce but the cost is sometimes ridiculous. I do believe it's better for you (no preservatives or pesticides) but it costs so much because the yield is smaller for the farmers =/.

I've been looking into the benefits of Organic eating. It seems to have a good effect on the environment but has anyone else tried this and had a bad experience?

I know it's expensive and I know Organic does not mean low calorie.

I'm especially curious on this because my mom has diverticulitis and I've been reading about it. Some scientists believe Diverticulitis it is caused by the preservatives and chemicals used to treat our food.

If you are meaning organic as far as obtaining locally sourced and farm raised meats that are grass fed beef, certified compassionate pork and free range chicken and eggs and obtaining organic fruits and vegetables............then YES, I totally believe in it.

If you are talking about buying organic boxed goods, then I say your wasting your money as it is still junk food packaged under the organic disguise.

If you are meaning organic as far as obtaining locally sourced and farm raised meats that are grass fed beef, certified compassionate pork and free range chicken and eggs and obtaining organic fruits and vegetables............then YES, I totally believe in it.

If you are talking about buying organic boxed goods, then I say your wasting your money as it is still junk food packaged under the organic disguise.

Couldn't agree more

I am a huge fan of organics. I have found that everyone (like pretty much everything else) has their own opinion on organics. Like conventional foods, certain brands have better quality or taste than others. I have seen a lot of people in my circle try one product and apply it to "organics", opposed to the brand.

If you give organics a try, I highly suggest reading over the Dirty Dozen list (highest in pesticides), as well as the Clean 15 list (lowest in pesticides). You can save a lot of money by purchasing the Clean 15 items conventionally. Here is a link to a website that offers those lists.

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

Good luck with whatever choice you make! :flowerforyou:

If you are talking about buying organic boxed goods, then I say your wasting your money as it is still junk food packaged under the organic disguise.

This!

But organic just tastes soo much better. Except bananas. I've never noticed a taste difference there.

As far as organic re environment. Local meat and produce makes a huge difference environmentally. But, I live in Canada, unless I want to spend the whole winter eating...I guess canned organic, it's not going to happen. Do they even make canned organic?

It's definitely much better for your health!
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/dirty-dozen-foods#fbIndex1
Additionally, because of their natural defenses against pests, they tend to have much higher concentrations of nutrients.

No they don't

On the basis of a systematic review of studies of satisfactory quality, there is no evidence of a difference in nutrient quality between organically and conventionally produced foodstuffs. The small differences in nutrient content detected are biologically plausible and mostly relate to differences in production methods.

There is also a recent study concluding that birds prefer seed that is conventionally produced over seed that is organically produced – likely because conventional production methods result in a 10% higher protein content.

And if you think that organic farmers don't use pesticides, you're sadly mistaken:

With regard to pesticides, it must also be noted that organic farming, while using methods to minimize pests and the need for pesticides, still uses organic, rather than synthetic, pesticides. For example a rotenone-pyrethrin mixture is commonly used. Such pesticides are not as well studied as synthetic pesticides, often require more applications, and may persist longer in the soil. In fact the use of “natural” pesticides is nothing more than an appeal to the naturalistic fallacy – there really is no evidence for superior safety, and they have not been adequately studied.

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/is-organic-food-more-healthful/


but they do have higher concentrations of mutagens:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxE9sYatPAs

I notice the biggest differences in the meats.. I get mine from the local Mennonites. Compared to regular stuff, it tastes fuller. And the fat in ground beef runs clear, not cloudy like the store-bought crap. I think the fat is where all the antibiotics and hormones go. The fat in grass-fed beef has CLA so I don't cut it off, and the omega-3 content in grass-fed beef is much higher than store-bought.

Changing the source of meat for me was one of the best dietary choices I've made, I think.

You are absolutely correct.

There is a big difference in the fat that runs off from any kind of meat from the grocery store vs locally farm raised.

Yes, the stuff is better for you (so they say) but really, eating your money would have less calories and about the same cost per ounce (give or take a few).

I've been looking into the benefits of Organic eating. It seems to have a good effect on the environment but has anyone else tried this and had a bad experience?

I know it's expensive and I know Organic does not mean low calorie.

I'm especially curious on this because my mom has diverticulitis and I've been reading about it. Some scientists believe Diverticulitis it is caused by the preservatives and chemicals used to treat our food.

If you are meaning organic as far as obtaining locally sourced and farm raised meats that are grass fed beef, certified compassionate pork and free range chicken and eggs and obtaining organic fruits and vegetables............then YES, I totally believe in it.

If you are talking about buying organic boxed goods, then I say your wasting your money as it is still junk food packaged under the organic disguise.

^ EXACTLY! Stick with whole foods (meaning real food that can be reaped from the earth) - fruits and vegetables should be your main source of calories. Things that are processed *can* be healthy and fit into a well balanced diet but should be approached with caution: anything in packages such as cereals (even brans, whole wheat, whole grain, etc.), pastas. Basically anything manufactured.

Organic chicken and beef are particularly important as many commercially grown animals are fed terrible diets and live horrible lifestyles (and thus have abx and hormones to force growth and "health" -- and the meat is only as healthy as the animal it comes from!

Linkage:

Importance of organic chicken and beef:
http://products.mercola.com/organic-chicken/

http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/dirty-dozen-foods#fbIndex1

I try to buy organic when I can, but I mostly focus on locally grown products and only buy produce that is in season. I find that it actually is less expensive to eat this way and much tastier.

The funny thing is Organic fruits and veggies still contain pesticides.. and they taste the same.

They certainly don't taste the same to me.

I don't pay attention to "organic" labels at the supermarket because, they too, are regulated by the FDA. And, my I remind you, the FDA is also the one that allows a certain amount of rat *kitten* in our food. So if they let that kind of thing "slide" who knows what else. So, instead, I tried to buy only locally grown produce from farmers at a farmers market, 100% grass fed beef from a local cattle rancher/processor, chicken from a local farm, eggs from a local farm and I'm still trying to find a good resource for pork. I only buy absolute necessities from the supermarket like bread, jam, butter, beans, you get the idea. At that point I pay attention to the nutritional info and ingredient list. You have to understand most of the "organic" brands are actually owned by the huge corporations poisoning America today. I look out for sodium and sugar content the most. I mean, I would love to make my own bread and butter but I'm just not invested enough to do it right now. So I try and pick the lesser of evils...regardless of whether it's organic or not.

i dont bother with organic fruit / veg but i always buy organic dairy, free range eggs. If i can afford it i buy organic / free range meat, if not i go for the higher welfare / freedom food meat, more for the animal welfare aspect than the chemicals. there is definetley a taste difference between cheap mass produced meat and organic / farm shop meat!