You probably noticed that organic food is more expensive than traditional factor farmed foods. It’s worth the extra cost and with a little effort, you can reap the benefits of eating organic without spending the extra money. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be expensive. Organic food is food that uses natural techniques, rather than man-made products. If it’s animals based food, it’s raised differently and fed natural food. There’s a difference in milk and meat from grass fed cows than there is from cows using commercial feed.
Studies show that organically grown food may have more nutrients than others.
It takes a while to convert land once used for traditional farming to be certified as organic. It also takes longer to build the soil. Factory farms add potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus to the soil. While they may produce more yield, they reduce the amount of trace elements in the food. Studies show our food contains fewer nutrients than they did years ago. However, limited studies show that organically grown foods are higher in nutrient content, like phytochemicals and vitamins.
One more serving of pesticides please!
Every year the EWG—Environmental Working Group—sample produce all other country for pesticides and toxins. They even clean them in a variety of ways to see which helps reduce the pesticides. After washing various ways, they create the Dirty Dozen—a list of fruits and vegetables highest in pesticides—and the Clean 15—the fruits and vegetables with the least amount of pesticides. You’ll be amazed at just how many pesticides and neurotoxins remain on food, even though you washed them thoroughly. They can create health issues, particularly when consumed by the very young, pregnant women and their fetus or people who have health issues already.
When you eat animal products, you’re also consuming what the animal ate.
You might get a few additional hormones or some antibiotics if you eat commercially factory farm animal products. What they eat, ultimately ends up in your system, too. Let’s look at the positive of eating organic free-range animals. It’s healthier. Even butter from grass fed cows has heart benefits. Dairy products from grass fed beef contains more omega-3 fatty acids and more CLA—conjugated linoleic acid. That lowers the risk of both heart disease and cancer. You also get more beneficial antioxidants and there are more vitamins in the meat and other animal products. If you eat eggs from free-range chickens, they have less overall fat and lower bad cholesterol, plus more vitamin E, more omega-3 and more vitamin A.
- Save money by using the Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen list. You can use non-organic vegetables that are on the Clean 15 list without worry, like asparagus, mangoes, eggplant. Choose organic only from those on the Dirty Dozen list, such as cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery.
- Organic farming is not only healthier for you, it’s good for the planet as it replenishes the soil and has no waste. Animals are raised in a healthier, more humane environment, so it’s good for the animals as well.
- If you’re choosing organic produce, try heirloom varieties. They often have more of a true vegetable or fruit taste. Heirloom tomatoes, like Black Krimm, will spoil you forever and hybrid types will taste like cardboard.
- Buy extra organic produce when it’s in season or on sale to save more money. You can freeze most of the fruits and vegetables and use them when prices are higher. Herbs tested high in toxins, so grow your own. A small window box or outside container can keep you in fresh herbs year around.
For more information, contact us today at Travel Trim!