Organic Vs. Conventional Food
Organic Vs. Conventional Food: Does it Really Make a Difference
This is one of the most common questions I receive from patients: is buying organic really worth it? The truth is, this can be really confusing for consumers. Some products should be organic while others don’t have to be.
Organic products are typically $1-$3 more expensive which is significant and of course, these days most people are on a budget.
So what IS the answer?
When it comes to produce, I always say that protein and dairy products should always be organic. Animals are constantly being given antibiotics and growth hormones and the ingestion of these chemicals can alter our own body chemistry.
When it comes to produce, consider “the dirty dozen and the clean 15.” According to the Environmntal Working Group, the following foods are high in pesticides and should be organic:
Apples
Celery
Cherries
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Grapes
Hot Peppers
Nectarines (imported)
Peaches
Potatoes
Spinach
Strawberries
Sweet Bell Peppers
…Plus:
Collards and Kale
Summer Squash and Zucchini
Any produce that has a protective shell on it such as avocado, grapefruit and pineapple, does not need to be organic.
Studies have found that organic foods do contain more nutrients than their non-organic counterparts. However, when possible, buy seasonally and shop locally. Buying organic strawberries from California will still have chemical residues on it just because of the transport time. Ontario grown organic strawberries will have the least amount of chemical exposure.