Is Organic Really Worth It?
There is much debate around whether buying organic is really worth the extra money, particularly as prices of organic produce and products can often be up to 3x higher than conventionally farmed or non-organic products.
Organic foods get their certification on the premise that they are not allowed to be produced or contaminated with any type of synthetic pesticide or fertilizer which immediately, most importantly, increases their value in terms of health. Many of these contaminants have been associated with several negative health effects including, cancer as well as neurological, gastrointestinal, reproductive, endocrine and respiratory issues Even though there have been ‘safe’ limits placed on these chemicals by Food Standards Australia & NZ it is not quite a case of “the dose makes the poison” as the liver becomes burdened by an accumulation of all the toxins ingested from food, cleaning products, personal care products etc. And honestly do you really want to eat any amount of weed killer?
When it comes to the nutritional value of fruit and vegetables, studies have demonstrated minimal difference in nutrient profiles, however this in itself becomes a topic for debate as factors including exposure to light, heat and time since the produce was harvested affect the nutritional value. Generally speaking, however, organically farmed produce has a shorter shelf life and therefore retains a better nutrient profile as it is usually eaten closer to the time it was harvested compared to produce bought in supermarkets that is often kept in cold storage for months.
The farming practices used by organic farmers also enhances biodiversity, increasing soil quality and helps to reduce pollution from fertilizers and pesticide runoff.
If produce price is a concern, following the dirty dozen & clean fifteen list is a great start to help reduce the chemical burden, as it lists the produce with the highest and lowest amounts of pesticide residue. Produce not organically farmed can be washed well with the Young Living fruit and veggie soak to reduce pesticide residue. (Click on the link in my instagram bio to find out more about Young Living low top products.) Click here for Young Living low tox products.
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