Written by: Kat Gal
If you have been reading our articles for a while, you know that we always encourage you to eat organic foods.
Thankfully, buying organic produce has been becoming easier, more mainstream, more accessible and more affordable than ever over the years.
Yet, you may still feel puzzled about whether or not eating organic truly makes a difference and is necessary for your health. The answer is YES. Keep reading to find out why.
Organic vs. Conventional Produce
Conventional produce comes from farms where farmers use hundreds of different pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. These are mostly synthetic substances and chemicals that remain as residues on your food and do not come off. Even when washing your fruits and veggies, it is difficult and often impossible to completely remove them.
This means that when eating conventional produce, you are exposing your body to potentially dangerous chemicals, driving your body to toxic overload.
These chemical residues are harmful to your hormonal system, which is responsible for all of your bodily functions, including your metabolism. Consuming even tiny amounts of these chemicals can lead to weight issues, neurological disturbances, reproductive issues and cancer.
Organic foods are much better for your body because farmers on organic farms DO NOT use synthetic chemicals and petrochemicals.
While it is true that organic produce is much better for your health, it is not always obvious. An apple looks like an apple at the supermarket and sometimes conventional produce looks more perfect, tricking you into thinking that it is better for you.
The harmful effects of conventional produce are also not always obvious. Toxins that enter your body are silent killers that make damage over-time, often taking years – or even decades – for symptoms to arise.
Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen
You are right that buying organic is usually more expensive; however, it can prevent serious health problems. They are usually more nutritious and more delicious as well. It is worth the extra bucks, if you ask me.
However, I understand that you may be on a tight budget and buying all organic could be difficult for you. If this is a concern, I encourage you to take a look at the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists.
The list is updated yearly. Items you see on the dirty dozen list, you should always buy organic, as their pesticide levels are the highest. Foods listed on the Clean 15 are the safest of all. But, even if you buy conventional produce from the Clean 15, make sure you peel them before use.
Eating healthy and organic is investing in yourself and your health. If you go organic, you will not regret it and your body will thank you in the long run for taking care of it.
Here are this year’s Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen rankings:
1. Strawberries
2. Apples
3. Nectarines
4. Peaches
5. Celery
6. Grapes
7. Cherries
8. Spinach
9. Tomatoes
10. Sweet Bell Peppers
11. Cherry Tomatoes
12. Cucumbers
1. Avocados
2. Sweet Corn
3. Pineapples
4. Cabbage
5. Sweet Peas (Frozen)
6. Onions
7. Asparagus
8. Mangoes
9. Papaya
10. Kiwi
11. Eggplant
12. Honeydew Melon
13. Grapefruit
14. Cantaloupe
15. Cauliflower
Do you eat organic food? Why or why not? Share your answers and possible questions in the comments below – as always, we’d love to hear from you.
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