EATING ORGANIC
I've been giving some thought about doing a post about this for a while, and consumer report just kicked me in the ass and gave me the motivation to weigh in on this. So, the question. Since food prices are skyrocketing, why buy organic? What's the difference? What should you buy?
The first part is easy. You should by *some* organic foods, where possible, because they taste better and don't contain hormones and pesticide. Simply put, they're just better for you. I'm of the opinion that RBgH is a huge cause of obesity in americans, and studies have come out linking it to diabetes, breast cancer, prostate cancer, rectal cancer, and skyrocketing fertility rates. The disturbing bit is, that's just one ingredient in your milk. I'm not even going to get into what the pesticides and chemical fertillizers are doing to your body. When compared to the increase in medical bills from the various chemicals and hormones, the little price boost in some organic foods is totally worth it.
What's the difference? According to the usda, foods can not be called even partially organic unless they're made with over 70% organic ingredients. What does that entail? Well, it depends. Natural insecticides and fertillizers, hormone or genetic maniplulation free, and in the case of animals (barring seafood which has no restrictions on being called organic) it means that they have to be fed real, organic food, and they have to be let outside. That's just the "made from organic ingredients" label. "Organic" has to be 95% organic, and obviously 100% organic is just that. Now, health concerns aside, there are a few other glaring reasons why organic might be a good idea in many foods.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosolids#Biosolids_in_the_USA
There's one. Yes, some of your food is fertillized with human waste. Now, considering that Salmonella is spread through contact with feces, The infection from the tomatoes/jalapenos/whatever the hell else is the cause of that salsa outbreak this week begins to make a bit more sense.
Note, however, that organic qualifiers in other countries are WAY more loose than in the us. In some countries they just outright don't exist. So care should be exercised when you buy organic, because in a lot of cases (mexico, I'm staring at you) they can just up the price and call something organic on a whim. In this case, the adage "buy american" is very appropriate.
What should you buy? I know some people swear by "BUY EVERYTHING ORGANIC OMG!!1!ONETY!" but it's just not needed. There are some foods that make no difference whatsoever if it's organic. The general rule of thumb (barring melons, because they're sponges for whatever is in the ground around them) is that if you don't eat the outer skin, it's pretty safe to buy non-organic if you're on a budget.
http://www.organic-center.org/science.pest.php?action=view&report_id=125
Contains a list of the most dangerous foods as far as pesticides. In a nutshell:
Conventional Fruits and Vegetables with the Highest Pesticide Dietary Risk Index Scores: Domestic
Fruits
Cranberries: 178
Nectarines: 97
Strawberries: 56
Peaches: 54
Pears: 48
Vegetables
Green beans: 330
Sweet bell peppers: 132
Celery: 104
Cucumbers: 93
Potatoes: 74
Conventional Fruits and Vegetables with the Highest Pesticide Dietary Risk Index Scores: Imported
Fruits
Grapes: 282
Nectarines: 281
Peaches: 266
Pears: 221
Strawberries: 78
Vegetables:
Sweet bell peppers: 720
Lettuce: 326
Cucumbers: 317
Celery: 170
Tomatoes: 142
As far as meats, you should buy organic whenever you can. Fullstop. Nursing or pregnant mothers, especially, because the hormones they put in normal meat are TERRIBLE for forming infants. Chicken is one of the worst, they're injected with hormones to make them grow faster, and studies have connected them to autism, among countless other disorders. Obviously, milk and eggs are included in this scenario.
As well, there's that gushy feel good aspect. You buy organic meats, you're buying meat from an animal that was allowed out of it's cage, to see an open field. The usda is VERY strict on what kind of conditions organic animals have to be kept it. I can't say it's entirely cruelty free, but it's the closest you'll get, and personally I think you can taste it in the meat and milk.
I know a lot of people think organic food is hogwash and overpriced for no reason and don't see the point in buying it. Taste differences aside (and anyone with a developed palate will tell you, organic tastes better), the health benefits are massive. But, you don't have to go in blind. Do a bit of research and avoid the high-risk foods, and you'll probably be a lot healthier, without the huge wallet hit that going fully organic often entails. I know you'll lose weight, and you'll miss out on things like solid waste fertillizer (and its salmonella risk), and cochineal, which is basically ground up little red beetles that make your food red.
I think it's worth it for the grossout factor alone.
The first part is easy. You should by *some* organic foods, where possible, because they taste better and don't contain hormones and pesticide. Simply put, they're just better for you. I'm of the opinion that RBgH is a huge cause of obesity in americans, and studies have come out linking it to diabetes, breast cancer, prostate cancer, rectal cancer, and skyrocketing fertility rates. The disturbing bit is, that's just one ingredient in your milk. I'm not even going to get into what the pesticides and chemical fertillizers are doing to your body. When compared to the increase in medical bills from the various chemicals and hormones, the little price boost in some organic foods is totally worth it.
What's the difference? According to the usda, foods can not be called even partially organic unless they're made with over 70% organic ingredients. What does that entail? Well, it depends. Natural insecticides and fertillizers, hormone or genetic maniplulation free, and in the case of animals (barring seafood which has no restrictions on being called organic) it means that they have to be fed real, organic food, and they have to be let outside. That's just the "made from organic ingredients" label. "Organic" has to be 95% organic, and obviously 100% organic is just that. Now, health concerns aside, there are a few other glaring reasons why organic might be a good idea in many foods.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosolids#Biosolids_in_the_USA
There's one. Yes, some of your food is fertillized with human waste. Now, considering that Salmonella is spread through contact with feces, The infection from the tomatoes/jalapenos/whatever the hell else is the cause of that salsa outbreak this week begins to make a bit more sense.
Note, however, that organic qualifiers in other countries are WAY more loose than in the us. In some countries they just outright don't exist. So care should be exercised when you buy organic, because in a lot of cases (mexico, I'm staring at you) they can just up the price and call something organic on a whim. In this case, the adage "buy american" is very appropriate.
What should you buy? I know some people swear by "BUY EVERYTHING ORGANIC OMG!!1!ONETY!" but it's just not needed. There are some foods that make no difference whatsoever if it's organic. The general rule of thumb (barring melons, because they're sponges for whatever is in the ground around them) is that if you don't eat the outer skin, it's pretty safe to buy non-organic if you're on a budget.
http://www.organic-center.org/science.pest.php?action=view&report_id=125
Contains a list of the most dangerous foods as far as pesticides. In a nutshell:
Conventional Fruits and Vegetables with the Highest Pesticide Dietary Risk Index Scores: Domestic
Fruits
Cranberries: 178
Nectarines: 97
Strawberries: 56
Peaches: 54
Pears: 48
Vegetables
Green beans: 330
Sweet bell peppers: 132
Celery: 104
Cucumbers: 93
Potatoes: 74
Conventional Fruits and Vegetables with the Highest Pesticide Dietary Risk Index Scores: Imported
Fruits
Grapes: 282
Nectarines: 281
Peaches: 266
Pears: 221
Strawberries: 78
Vegetables:
Sweet bell peppers: 720
Lettuce: 326
Cucumbers: 317
Celery: 170
Tomatoes: 142
As far as meats, you should buy organic whenever you can. Fullstop. Nursing or pregnant mothers, especially, because the hormones they put in normal meat are TERRIBLE for forming infants. Chicken is one of the worst, they're injected with hormones to make them grow faster, and studies have connected them to autism, among countless other disorders. Obviously, milk and eggs are included in this scenario.
As well, there's that gushy feel good aspect. You buy organic meats, you're buying meat from an animal that was allowed out of it's cage, to see an open field. The usda is VERY strict on what kind of conditions organic animals have to be kept it. I can't say it's entirely cruelty free, but it's the closest you'll get, and personally I think you can taste it in the meat and milk.
I know a lot of people think organic food is hogwash and overpriced for no reason and don't see the point in buying it. Taste differences aside (and anyone with a developed palate will tell you, organic tastes better), the health benefits are massive. But, you don't have to go in blind. Do a bit of research and avoid the high-risk foods, and you'll probably be a lot healthier, without the huge wallet hit that going fully organic often entails. I know you'll lose weight, and you'll miss out on things like solid waste fertillizer (and its salmonella risk), and cochineal, which is basically ground up little red beetles that make your food red.
I think it's worth it for the grossout factor alone.