Health and Life Magazine October 2016

FOOD & DIET
Buy Organic
Apples, Celery, Cherry tomatoes,
Cucumbers, Grapes, Nectarines and
peaches, Potatoes, Sugar Snap Pees,
Spinach, Strawberries, Sweet peppers
and hot peppers, Kale and collard greens
When to Buy Organic
Some fruits and vegetables require more chemicals than others, and it is wise to
choose organic versions of these. Others, however, are hardy plants that grow
without the need for heavy-duty pesticides, so non-organic versions may be safe to
buy. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) put together two list: Clean 15, fruits
and vegetables that you can buy non-organic; and Dirty Dozen, which tend to be
sprayed a lot—you should buy these organic.
DIRTY DOZEN
CLEAN FIFTEEN
OK to Buy Non-Organic
Avocados, Sweetcorn, Pineapples,
Cabbage, Sweet peas, Onions,
Asparagus, Mangos, Papayas, Kiwis,
Aubergine (eggplant), Grapefruit,
Cantaloupe melon, Cauliflower,
Sweet potatoes
Not Always Healthier
Who hasn’t been tempted to reach for
that packet of organic biscuits, or looked
longingly at a mouth-watering display of
organic breads? But while organic may
mean fewer chemicals, not all organic foods
are healthy foods. An organic apple juice or
bar of chocolate, for example, contains just
as much sugar as non-organic versions. Just
because the label states it’s organic doesn’t
mean it’s necessarily good for you.
Why the Higher Price?
One thing that won’t escape your notice as you browse through the supermarket aisles
is the price difference between organic and conventional foods. Organic foods tend to
be more expensive. You may be wondering what’s behind these higher costs?
Here are the five top factors contributing to the price:
Fewer chemicals,
more labor:
Conventional farming
uses chemicals and
pesticides, whereas
organic farms hire
workers to tackle things
like hand-weeding and
pest-control.
Supply and demand:
More and more
people want to buy
organic food, but there
isn’t enough organic
farmland to meet this
growing demand.
Costlier fertilizer:
You may not like it, but
conventional farms use
sewage sludge and
chemical fertilizers to
grow your food. These
are cheap and don’t cost
much to transport. On
the other hand, organic
farms use compost and
animal manure, which
are more expensive.
Better conditions
for animals:
Organic farms have
higher standards for
animal welfare, and
organic livestock
feed can cost up to
twice as much as
conventional feed.
Organic certification:
For a food to have an
organic label, it has to
be certified, and this is a
costly enterprise. Farms
may have to modify their
facilities and hire more
staff to comply with the
strict regulations. They
also need to pay a yearly
certification fee.
While we can’t control all the chemicals we come into contact with, through the air we breathe
and the water we drink, we have a say over the type of food we eat. By choosing organic produce,
you can reduce the toxic load on your body, and increase the amount of nutrients on your plate. So
why not take a stroll down the organic aisle in your supermarket today and see what you can find?
JOIN US IN THE FIGHT... I HAVE HOPE
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HEALTH AND LIFE