The Important Organic

While it is way too pricey for me to eat all organic there are certain items, especially produce, that are very important to buy organic because of the ridiculous levels of pesticides used.
Here are 12 produce items that should be in top priority when buying organic (high-pesticide items):

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Cherries
4. Grapes
5. Lettuce
6. Nectarines
7. Pears
8. Potatoes
9. Spinach
10. Strawberries
11. Sweet Bell Peppers
12. Peaches

I know what you're thinking, because I was thinking it too when I first read this list, "I just bought every single item on that list...." Don't fret, pesticides are only strong chemicals used to kill insects and small animals....umm
To help you feel better about yourself here are 12 items that do not necessarily have to be bought organic (low-pesticide items):

1. Asparagus
2. Avocados
3. Bananas
4. Broccoli
5. Cabbage
6. Eggplant
7. Kiwis
8. Mangoes
9. Onions
10. Pineapples
11. Sweet Corn
12. Sweet Peas

And after I read this list I found myself thinking I need to eat more asparagus just because I don't have to buy it organic....

National Organic Program's Standards (Reading the Labels)

USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) regulates standards for any farm, wild crop harvesting, or handling operation that wantes to sell an agriculteral product as organically produced. Previous posts have listed some requirements for food to be considered organic, but here is what the NOP's labeling standards are:

• Products labeled "100% organic" must contain at least 95% organic ingredients
• The label "made with organic ingredients" can contain anywhere between 70 to 95% organic ingredients
• Organic products cannot be irradiated and are not allowed to contain preservatives or flavor-enhancing chemicals
• Organic products cannot conatin traces of heavy metals or other contaminants in excess tolerences set by the FDA
• The pesticide residue levels in organic food cannot be higher than 5%

Reference: Joseph Mercola D.O.

The Organic Label

Sometimes I am just running on information overload when it comes to how necessary it is to buy organic foods with all the different views on it as well as many different types of organic foods. If you would've asked me a couple years ago what my thoughts were I would have told you that the necessity of organic food is a marketing ploy the big boys of grocery stores put into play to make us spend more money, but the more I learn the more I would have to disagree with my former self.
 "Many "health" experts continue to argue that there is little difference between organic and conventionally raised produce, but the scientific evidence---and common sense----says otherwise" (Joseph Mercola, D.O.) This was the quote in big bold print on an article in one of my favorite magazines, "Pathways" ,and it caught my attention. I buy many things organic, due to lack of convincing argument (and money) I don't buy all organic, but after reading this article I was given a clear list of things that should absolutely be bought organic and what to look for when buying organic. I wanted to break down this information for you because if your as overloaded with information as I am it is nice to see a nice organized list with bite-size bullets of knowledge(or maybe it's my OCD tendencies showing...) I will be using information written by Joseph Mercola, D.O. from his article Which Organic Labels Should You Trust?.

• A $25 million study by the European Union called the Quality Low Input Food Project found that organic produce is far more nutritious than ordinary produce
• Organic fruits and veggies contain up to 40% more antioxidants
• Organic produce has higher levels of minerals like iron and zinc
• Milk from organic herds contains up to 90% more antioxidants
• Eating organic foods can help increase the nutrient intake of people who don't eat the recommended number of fruit and veggie servings per day
• Many organic labels have been tainted. For example, Wal-Mart is selling milk that comes from factory farm dairies, importing cheap organic foods from China and Brazil and posting signs that mislead people to believe that nonorganic foods are actually organic
• Many organic foods are rip offs. One of the biggest rip offs if organic milk since it is not raw milk it is still pasteurized and is associated with all the same health problems as non-organic milk
• Another big rip off is "organic" junk food such as crackers, ice cream, pizza and potato chips.
• There are many organic labels, but only one relates directly to food, the USDA organic seal. This is the seal you should trust since in order for growers and manufacturers to have this seal they must meet very strict guidelines, more so than any other organic regulated group.
• In order to qualify as organic a product must be grown  and processed using organic farming methods that recycle resources and promote biodiversity. Crops must be grown without synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes, petroleum-based fertilizers and sewage fertilizers. Livestock must have access to the outdoors and cannot be given antibiotics or growth hormones.