Conventionally Organic

Joseph Carrera R.H.N.

www.triple3holisticnutrition.com

Is Organic the most over used word to promote healthy food? Is it the most widely recognized “healthy” word? Why does the very mention of it, or labeling of it instantly make us feel better about our decision to buy that product?

Do we even know what it means, and how far that word can be stretched to sell a product?

The word Organic is used just as often as gluten free. It’s meant to appeal to a part of your brain that makes you feel safe and secure you are making the right choice. Isn’t it odd that we find organic on everything, including snacks that are laced with enormous amounts of sugar?

Does buying a high sugar snack labelled organic really make us feel that much better about our choices? It’s much like seeing the term gluten free on ice cream. We instantly recognize it as something safe for our family members who may have allergies or intolerance's.

Did you know, when buying pre-packaged items labelled organic, not all of the ingredients have to be organic for it to be labelled as such?

Truthfully, Organic has a much deeper, and higher importance than we put on it. There is a wide misconception regarding its meaning. Many people seem to believe foods grown organically are pesticide free.

Although that is partially correct, more importantly they are free of synthetic pesticides. It is a well-known fact that pesticides drastically reduce the nutritional content of food. They are also known to lower immunity and trigger allergic reactions, especially if those foods are consumed in large amounts.

Ever wonder why so many of us have food allergies or intolerances? Could it be the quality of the food being consumed?

The quality of food you put in your body is like the grade of fuel you put in your car. Sure, it’ll get you where you need to go for a long time, but what impurities are you running through your fuel lines, and what is getting left behind, and what will that residue cause?

Organically grown foods do have a level of “pesticides”, but they are in the form of minerals, such as sulfur, something your body will recognize.

Organic farming also entails so much more work than conventional farming. For starters, it takes years to convert a farm to organic. The seeds themselves are more expensive, and the expertise and dedication is so much higher. Every level of organic farming is harder.

Organic farmers use a method called crop rotation. The same crop is never grown in the same soil as the previous, similar crop. This allows for a more bio-diverse soil, which produces more nutrient dense food. A food you will benefit from. If our food is “stronger”, naturally your body will be stronger as a result.

Think about this. When grocery shopping, what do we look for when selecting apples, for instance? We look for perfect fruits with no blemishes. We overlook an apple with a dent, or black spot.

Did you know, those are the fruits that are stronger and better for you? They have fought off a possible insect, or invader and have become stronger because of it, for you! Their immunity has been enhanced, only to be passed on to you. Unfortunately, those are the foods usually left behind.

This article is not meant to be preachy or push you into buying organic foods. I get it, it’s very expensive, and for good reason. For most people, buying everything organic is simply out of reach. Why not start buying a few items such as fruits and vegetables organically? Start small, work your way up.

How about a helpful tip? Buying organic, in-season fruits and vegetables is not much more expensive than their conventional counterparts. Don’t look for organic strawberries in February and expect a deal.

Have you ever heard of The Dirty Dozen or The Clean fifteen? These are lists that are released annually by different organizations that categorize the most pesticide laden, conventionally grown foods, and the least pesticide laden, conventionally grown foods.

Sure, the list varies from publisher to publisher, but the core foods are there. Why not start by simply looking into those, and educating yourself?

Truthfully, any movement in the right direction opens the door for positive change. The willingness to try something new is a great first step with any new journey, and it’s a step worth taking.

What you put into your body is what you’ll get out of it. After all, it is your fuel.

Why choose a low-grade fuel?

Save a little now, and pay a lot more later? That’s up to you.