Eating Organic --- Is it Really Healthier for You?

Don't Panic -- It's Organic!

Is this really a mantra to live by? Are we really any healthier if we eat organic foods rather than those conventionally grown? Is anything truly organic anymore, meaning, if a crop is grown without pesticides, does that necessarily mean that toxic or slightly polluted runoff doesn't seep into the soil of "organic" pastures?

The truth is, I really don't know, nor does science have a definitive answer.

But there are some rules of thumb I follow. Perhaps the following will be news to you. If you already know this, then this will be good review.

A non-profit called the Environmental Working Group released results of a 2003 study of pesticide levels in many American produce items.

Although it's not definitive if eating organic will add years to your life or prevent illness, the study by the EWG showed that Americans can reduce their exposure of pesticides by 90 percent by avoiding a dozen of the most contaminated and conventionally grown fruits and veggies.

The dirty dozen are (in order from most to least contaminated:

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

The study also listed a dozen of the cleanest conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. They are, from least to most contaminated:

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

In general, it is thought that fruits with hard shells can be eaten conventionally with minimal concern for contamination.

The bottom line for most people is budget. Sometimes organic produce can cost several dollars more than conventionally grown produce. And until there is definitive proof that organic makes a profound difference in my health, I don't plan on buying organic 100% of the time. I will, however, keep this "dirty dozen" list handy when I go to the market and try to buy organic.

It's also important to include what "Certified Organic" really means, as some may not really be able to define this term. It means that produce was grown on land free of chemicals for at least three years and on land with no sewage, irradiation, fake fertilizers or genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). Look for a USDA Organic label to know you're getting the real deal.

But if you have the money, buying organic probably is better for the environment, after all, herbicides used in conventional produce seep into our groundwater. 

Considering that organic farming was used for millenia before Frankenscience became the norm, it would be logical to conclude that eating organic is the way to go. Too bad we can't prove just yet how much so.....