Winter 2010 - St. Joseph's Health Care London

38
Is going organic
right for you (and
your pocketbook)?
BY ALLISON THOMAS
Dilemma
A Natural
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010
Organic living is coming of age. Just a few decades
back, it was a concept more closely associated with
communal hippies than mainstream culture. But in
the past few years, organic products of all kinds have
soared in popularity, fi nding their way from fl edgling
farmers markets to the shelves of behemoth discount
stores such as Walmart and Costco.
While there are plenty of environmental arguments
for switching to organic products—such as the
negative effects that pesticides can have on our water,
soil and wildlife—when it comes to choosing organics
for better health, recommendations vary widely from
one expert to another.
If you’ve considered making the switch to a more
organic lifestyle, here are a few tips to help clear up the
confusion—and maximize the benefi ts to your health.
CULTIVATE A RELATIONSHIP WITH
HEALTHY EATING
Experts may not see eye to eye on organics, but there’s
one fact they agree on: Few people are eating healthfully,
organic or otherwise.
“We get so caught up in the details, but nine out
of 10 people don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables,”
says Dawn Jackson Blatner, a dietitian and author of
The Flexitarian Diet. “If you can actually say that you
eat two cups of fruit and two and a half cups of vegetables
every day, then you might want to entertain
the idea of organic.” If not, focus on boosting your
produce consumption—organic or not.
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the
Environment (CAPE) takes an even stronger stance
in favour of organic eating, citing health risks for
consumers and farm workers as well as weaker standards
for pesticide residue allowed on Canadian produce
than in Europe, Australia or the United States.
“Our view is that you should be eating organic
wherever possible,” says Gideon Forman, CAPE’s
executive director. “We realize in some cases it’s more
expensive, but there are some fruits and vegetables
that are of particular concern.”
GROW INTO ORGANIC FOODS
While “organic” doesn’t equal “healthy,” Blatner cites
a few studies that link pesticides in non-organic food
with birth defects and other reproductive health
issues and nervous system disorders. “There are also
surveys that suggest some organic foods may offer
superior fl avor,” she says.
So, if you’re meeting your daily fruit and vegetable
needs—and have the budget for organic options—it
may be time to slip some into your diet. Look for