Should we buy organic food?

Question

Even though it costs more?

Answer 1

If you can afford it then you should purchase it. It is suppose to be free from insect repellents and pesticides which can cause cancer. But if you can't afford it then stick with the other stuff just be sure to wash it thoroughly. And choose fruits that don't look shiny because they have been waxed which I think is really gross. Fruit that has been waxed does taste bad. I strongly recommend that you choose organic products. If you find an organic grocery store next to you they will most likely have a sale every now and then.

Answer 2

What food you buy is entirely your own choice.

We had this dilemma ourselves - I had a weight problem and needed to eat better produce (and cut out the junk and processed food and ready meals plus red meat) - but I found out that 'conventional' veg from most supermarkets was not ideal - too much pesticide, little flavour, little choice or variation (honestly!) and actually sold at the wrong time of year (from bulk buying and freezing then bringing back into stores - meaning we can have strawberries at Xmas!).

So my dietician suggested organic food - or failing that - fresh fruit and veg purchased at markets - real produce that you can touch and put into paper bags - not pre-packed, pre-chosen produce that "you have what they offer and not what you choose".

We now buy a mix of organic produce from one of the better Supermarkets that seem to have committed themselves to stocking organic food properly (Sainsburys!) and the remainder as 'seasonal' vegetables from the market. We do have two box schemes near us which we use from time-to-time to add some variation - again - all with seasonal produce from British organic growers.

We find this works for us - other organic produce we have includes bread, milk, chocolate, etc - and we have also switched to Fair Trade too.

Total cost - we estimate we spend no more than £10 a week extra on each shopping bill - and get at least 50% more produce from the market than supermarket and food that has taste - basically the kind of produce my grandmother served as a child when she shopped this way - buying seasonal etc....

So - try our way - it's not 100% organic but works for us and has removed a lot of 'pap' from our diets.

Answer 3

I just saw a segment on the news about this recently. Basically, if you eat the skin of the fruit or vegetables (apples, grapes, lettuce, etc.) then organic is supposedly better because you're not getting the pesticides. If you peel the skin off and don't eat it (oranges, bananas, peas, etc.) then it doesn't matter too much because the pesticides won't be on the part you eat.
Personally, I don't care. I buy whatever's the cheapest. I think people are overly paranoid about germs and such lately. A few pesticides or germs here and there strengthens your natural immune system. I think people go overboard with the anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and ionized air cleaner stuff that when they get out in the real world, they can't fight off germs and are sicker than other people. I know people who always seem to have a cold or the flu or allergies or sinus or asthma problems and they're the ones who swear by the non-germ stuff! Then they have to turn around and take drugs to feel better. I'm sure that's really healthy! They're on anti-biotics so much that they become immune to those too and they don't work anymore. So in the end, it's up to you if you think it makes any difference or not, but I have more important things to worry about!

Answer 4

It depends on your preference. To be rated 'organic produce', the soil medium must be free of all pesticides and fertilizers for a period of 3 years. 'Organic livestock' must be free of growth hormones, and the feed they are given must also be 'organic.'

For example: an organic apple tree, without the benefit (?) of fertilizers, will not produce as large or as many apples. In theory, this allows the tree to 'concentrate' more goodness in each apple, but modern day fertilizers and hormones create very, very tasty apples. After working at a natural foods grocery store, I can say that properly grown organic produce tastes WONDERFUL! Organic produce grown by less than skilled farmers is usually not so good.

So, in the end, what's important to you? Finding out in 20 years that the pesticides we use today cause cancer? Or spending an extra 30 cents a pound?

As for organic livestock - always spend the extra money! Healthy mind, healthy body go for the animal kingdom, too, and a free-range chicken is much tastier than an insane chicken that's been cooped up in a 1 foot by 1 foot box it's entire life!!

Answer 5

Well, that is something that is entirely up to you to decide based on your own opinion. It is a fact that organic foods are more expensive than conventional foods but there is a very good explanation as to why this is. Consider these facts:

-Organic farmers don’t receive federal subsidies like conventional farmers do. Therefore, the price of organic food reflects the true cost of growing.

-The price of conventional food does not reflect the cost of environmental cleanups that we pay for through our tax dollars.

-Organic farming is more labor and management intensive.

-Organic farms are usually smaller than conventional farms and so do not benefit from the economies of scale that larger growers get.

In the end, it is up to you what you choose to buy and what you put into your body but knowing the facts can help inform you on the matter.

I, personally, prefer to eat and feed my child organic foods because of health reasons (no hormones, no pesticides, no artificial anything, no genetically engineered ingredients, etc.) and I am happy to support farms and companies who care about our earth and care about animals. I don't mind paying the extra price for organic because of these reasons. But that's just my own preferance.

Answer 6

well my mom swears by organic,well its better because there supposed to be all natural no hormones or pesticide are used in the growing and or raising process-by the way there not processed either.and the reason why they cost more is because the process used in producing the products cost more and is more time consuming but i guess worth it to a lot of people,hope this helps,are you thinking of making the switch.one thing i do know about the organic process is that they move the products around ie;veggies-fruit,periodicity that's a clever trick that keeps the bugs off its true check it out!

Answer 7

do you meaqn organic or 'organic' - lots of food, with the label, is still covered in crap..... the governments just authorise use of some chemicals. to kill bugs, if you mean really organic, the crops will die due to bugs, we will have food shortages, unless we go GM

should we go GM - i have no idea, how could i, its too vast a question.. they are allready doing it, is it a problem, how many years will it take to find out.. well some of their grain, which definately wont produce seeds, has allready started to..

I say let them keep the chemicals, but as few as they can, and no GM, until we can be a bit more sure about what we r doing..

Free seed for everyone..

Answer 8

Just to take one example: meat.
Omega 3 fatty acids are essential to good mental and physical health. Meat used to be a good source. Now, mass produced chickens are grain fed (not able to scratch around eating grass and bugs) so they are now very low in O3fa's. Same with beef. Fish are mostly farm raised and fed grains instead of living in the open water. But then there is the mercury posioning problem....

So yes, I'd say if we all ate less junk/processed food we all could afford to eat organic and be healthier for it.

Answer 9

As a full time organic food worker, I can say, that, despite what others think, you CAN taste a difference.
You have to keep in mind, however, that not only is it more expensive, but it's usually smaller, and goes bad quicker.
If you're going to cook with it, then you may want to use conventional, but serving it fresh, splurging on organic is very nice.

Answer 10

the only safe way is to grow your own. if you dont have space to do that then i would say buy organic if you can. if not.. wash everything in SOAP and water and rinse very well. that will take care of the "wax" problem and any bug problems..most of the nutrition is considered in the skin so peeling it would take away alot of what you need. the other thing is to cook as less time as possible because cooking takes the nutrition factor away the more time you cook it. if you can .. find a farmers market in your area its usually a good thing. good luck..

Answer 11

Do you live near a Trader Joe's? I love that store because they sell organic food that's really cheap. If not, I do prefer eating organic food, especially veggies and fruit. I also buy wild salmon vs. farm raised. It's really better for you. Spend the extra bucks, you'll live longer.