Should You Choose Organic for Your Family? Fridays Edition....

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) makes no claims that organically produced foods are any safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced foods.

Yet, we as consumers are finding out more all the time, about the dangers of chemicals, additives and contaminants found in our foods. We are slowly learning that we need to have more organic foods in our diets.

Although organic food still is a small percentage of overall food consumption in the U.S., the industry has been growing at a rate of 20% a year. By the year 2010, the USDA estimates sales of $23.8 Billion, or 3.5percent of total retail food sales.

Organic fruits, vegetables and grains are grown without conventional pesticides and without fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients. Organic meat and dairy products are free of antibiotics and growth hormones.
Not only is consuming fewer toxins in our body better for our health, but, organic farming is better for the environment.

Studies:

A 4 year long study at UK's Soil Association (SA) has indicated that organic fruits and vegetables contain over 40 percent more antioxidants, believed to cut the risk of heart disease and cancer, in organic produce compared to the non-organic.

The Environmental Health Perspectives published an article 2/1/2008 stating that kids in the study who ate conventional produce were found to have organophosphate residue in their bodily fluids, while the kids who ate organic produce did not.

In March of 2007, three new independent European research projects were published that revealed that organic tomatoes, peaches and processed apples all had higher nutritional quality than non-organic.

www.foodnavigator-usa.com has an article that was published by the British Journal of Nutrition. It states that nursing mothers consuming at least 90 percent organic meat and dairy have higher levels of beneficial fatty acids and overall improved quality in their breast milk.

According to a study done by the Environmental Working Group, the items below are the fruits and vegetables with the most herbicides and pesticides on them.

Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Spinach
Nectarines
Celery
Pears
Cherries
Potatoes
Raspberries
Sweet bell peppers
Imported grapes

Some tips to consider......

Always wash any fruit and vegetables to rid of dirt and bacteria. If not buying organic take extra care in doing this.

Read food labels carefully.

Buy locally when ever possible.

Don't confuse the word natural with organic.

As for my family I choose to go organic as much as possible. I feel the less toxins we consume, the better are health will be. By choosing organic is also better for the environment and for the future of our children.

Resources:

www.ams.usda.gov

www.organicfoodee.com

UK Soil Association

Food Navigator USA