Keeping Our Bodies GREEN!

There is so much talk about organic and pesticide free foods these days. Which foods should we be eating organic? Which foods are lowest in pesticides? The truth is everyone has a different answer!

With my grocery bill tripling buying strictly organic, I want to spend wisely but also be health conscious.

In my research, I've found an organic label assures that you are eating "clean" and that foods are made according to specific production standards. This simply means that no harmful pesticides, fertilizers or synthetic chemicals were used to help speed up the growth of your foods. However, some foods are 100% safe to be eaten non-organic. That said, here is a breakdown of our major food groups!

MEAT: ORGANIC ALL THE TIME!
Most animals are raised using conventional modern methods which means they have been pumped with hormones to speed up growth, given antibiotics on farms to help resist disease and fed grass that has been fertilized with harmful chemicals. All of this becomes absorbed into the animal's body and is then consumed by us. So look for meats that are grass fed. It ensures that the animal was fed a local, all-natural diet and that we are not ingesting harmful toxins.

FISH: IT VARIES!
Technically, we don't use the term "organic" for fish - there is farm raised and wild. The difference is that "farm raised" fish, such as salmon are said to endure unfriendly farming practices and are higher in contaminants. They are also known to have lower amounts of OMEGA-3. The other concern is Mercury. Mercury in fish does not only correlate with larger, predatory fish, Mercury content has more to do with where the species swims (deeper-swimming species usually have less Mercury; additionally, fish that live in waters with less Mercury contamination have less Mercury in them). In any given body of water, the predatory fish will have higher Mercury, but the array of fish available at the seafood counter all come from varied bodies of water. Another no-no...never eat frozen or "pre-thawed" fish. The ice crystals are said to break down the nutritional value in the fish. Nutritionally speaking, wild cold water fish (like salmon) are the best sources of fish because they contain high levels of micronutrients and are in better overall health while alive. Here is a helpful Mercury contamination guide for seafood.

DAIRY: ORGANIC ALL THE TIME!
The same that goes for meats goes for dairy. Animals are continuously fed antibiotics and steroids to grow faster. It is important that milk, eggs, cheese and yogurt are all organic. When it comes to milk, another major concern is homogenization--the process in which milk fat is combined with the milk so that it does not separate. This process was initially started to help pro-long shelf life. Homogenized milk is said to be harder for our bodies to digest. It is best to drink organic, non fat milk, goat or rice milk. As far as yogurt, be sure the yogurt you are eating has active cultures.

FRUITS & VEGETABLES: IT VARIES!
The rule of thumb with fruit and veges is the the thicker the skin the LESS important it is to buy organic. Pesticides have a tougher time absorbing through thick skinned fruits and vegetables. However, some would argue that all fruits and produce should be organic regardless. The Environmental Working Group website discusses which foods contain the highest level of pesticides. Buying these organically will decrease the amount of toxins you consume: peaches, apples, carrots, peppers, kale, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce. grapes. pears, lettuce, spinach,potatoes, blueberries and raspberries.  These foods however are said to be safe to purchase non-organic and have the lowest amount of toxins: onions, eggplant, avocado, sweet corn, tomatoes, watermelon, papaya, cauliflower, pineapple, mango, sweet peas, asparagus, kiwi, bananas, cabbage and broccoli.

COFFEE: LOOK FOR THE FAIR TRADE LABEL
The problem with coffee is that most it is mostly made from beans that come from countries that do not regulate use of chemicals. Look for the Fair Trade Certified Label to ensure that you are supporting farmers who have been treated well and paid fairly.

You may want to visit www.foodnews.org to get a mini "Shopper's Guide to Pesticides" and keep it in your wallet or you can download their free IPHONE application which will assist you when you are at the market. Once you know the facts about what you're eating, you will feel better about your diet and your health. Remember, we are what we eat and food is our BEST medicine--so keep it clean!  Your health is worth a few extra dollars.

What do you do to keep your body GREEN?

- Elaine La Personerie - www.winkpr.com
Click here for more of Elaine's posts.

Comments

[Wendy]

Excellent advice all around. Just saw the documentary "Food, Inc." It should be required viewing for all, especially people in the health field, ie Drs, nurses, nutritionists etc.