Dr. Crom’s Weekly Adjustment

What Is Organic Food?

Organic food is any food grown or raised in accordance with the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. For the most part, it includes grains, produce, animal products all grown without the use of growth hormones, pesticides, genetic modifications, or the use of any other product to increase the size of supply of products.

Conventional farming uses chemical pesticides to help protect the crops. These pesticides will reside in the soil and find their way into the produce for years, potentially leading to health or environmental problems.

Organic foods are grown in the soil without pesticides or other chemicals having been used for at least three years prior to harvest. The crop is often smaller and generally rotated to ensure healthy soil and improved nutrient content.

Although organic produce usually doesn’t look as shiny or large as conventional options in the supermarket, it often has a purer nutrient content and tastes better. If locally grown, the food should have an even greater flavor and nutritional content due to a reduced time from harvest to your table. Conventional produce may have a trace taste of pesticides or wax and may lack flavor because of poor soil, longer shelf life, artificial growth inducers, or longer traveling distance. In addition, larger produce does not necessarily mean higher nutrient content; instead, artificial means may have been used to boost production and growth of the plant.

Sensitivity to Pesticides

Many people can also be sensitive to pesticides in their foods and feel they cannot eat raw fruits/vegetables because of this.¹ Other times, allergies to specific foods may be mistaken for sensitivities to the chemicals used on the foods. Chemical sensitivities can manifest with symptoms similar to food allergy, such as headache, nausea, dizziness, and eye or skin irritation or rash.² Organics eliminate these chemicals so most people can eat the foods and receive the nutrients they provide.

But They’re So Expensive!

The cost of organic products has gone down greatly, bringing the price very close to the conventional options. To keep your grocery bill low, purchase organic products that are on sale and eat with the seasons. Think of healthful eating as a long-term investment. By taking preventive measures, you are taking steps to reduce your healthcare spending one of the greatest living expenses for many people.

Environmental Health

No matter how many fruits and vegetables we eat or how many supplements we take, if we are surrounded by smog and chemicals and have limited exposure to sunlight and nature, our health cannot be optimal. For this reason, as we consider eating organic foods, we should take into account the beneficial impact these foods have on the environment. Organic foods allow the earth to produce natural, wholesome food and prevent the use of the harsh chemicals and pollution that contribute to problems in human and environmental health.

Local Vs. Organic

Organic and local foods are both good choices. When choosing between them, select the option that makes more sense for your personal concerns. Organic foods, produced without pesticides and containing purer nutrients, may be especially important for people with pesticide allergies or those concerned with reducing cancers linked to some pesticides. Local foods reach the consumer closer to the date they were picked, ensuring more nutrients and reduced impact to the earth since the foods are not traveling long distances. Local foods also allow you to support your local farmers. There is even a growing idea that eating local honey can help stave off allergies by exposing you to small amounts of your local pollen.³

Does Organic Mean Healthful?

Remember that organic does not always equal healthful. With the popularity of organic foods, many processed food manufacturers have begun including more natural ingredients into chips, cookies, crackers and other foods. While these options are certainly better than the traditional packaged foods, many contain high amounts of salt, sugar and fat and are still highly refined, stripping the food of its nutrient values. When selecting such products, pay attention to your serving size and complement these choices with whole, unprocessed foods.

Tips for Healthful Eating

• Choose local, unprocessed foods whenever possible.
• Use a safe cleaning agent such as Castile soap or a fruit or vegetable wash to remove external pesticides from produce.
• Peel the skin from conventionally grown produce. Eat organic produce whole, if possible — edible fruit and vegetable skins store the majority of fiber and nutrients in most produce.
• Grow your own foods!
• Request and support organic choices at your local grocer or farmer’s market. If local markets see demand for organic foods, they will meet it by stocking the requested products. Your voice can help make organics available in your area.
• Go to www.localharvest.org to find a local coop or CSA, so you can purchase organic produce directly from the grower.

References:

1.http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/about/consumer_faq.htm#chemically_sensitive

2.http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/multiple-chemical-sensitivity

3.www.honey.com/consumers/honeyhealth/healing/diseaseprevention.asp.

Comments Off