Choosing organic without it breaking the bank.
For most of us, purchasing everything organic is more likely a dream than a current reality, particularly at a time when one can barely afford a conventionally grown lettuce or cauliflower. We see you nod in agreement!
And whilst many of us dream of doing it one day, there are already many people who do shop organically, for their own reasons – be it personal health and wellness, a belief system or environmental concerns.
Research reveals that increasing the amount of organic foods in the diet can help to reduce the incidence of infertility, weight disorders, and some cancers. Nutritionally speaking, the main benefits of eating organic is for higher concentrations of antioxidants in plant foods (in particular polyphenols - the rich colours of purple, red & green), the higher (good) fatty acid composition in organic meats, and an increase in the omega 3 fatty acids from organic dairy. All of which positively impact human health.
All that aside, what is of primary significance and certainly a key reason many people opt for organics relates to what organic crops do NOT contain.Organic foods have been proven to have lower levels of pesticide residue and other components such as heavy metals that are considered toxic to us!
Glyphosate is the most widely used pesticide in the world and is an active ingredient of weed killer - Round Up. You may have heard of it? It has been classified as a “probable human carcinogen” by the World Health Organisation, yet it is still allowed to be used here in Australia (and in many other countries).
In 2018, Monsanto – Bayer (the creators of Round Up) were ordered to pay $396 million to a groundskeeper who contracted non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after using the weed killer for many years. Earlier this month, in a landmark victory the San Francisco federal court overturned the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision that glyphosate is safe for humans and wildlife. We can only hope that this trend continues and that one day soon glyphosate is banned, but in the meantime, we need to be aware of its use and effects. In A Super Solid Start – flourishing through childhood, we go into detail the effect that glyphosate and other toxins has on your baby’s microbiome.
If going totally organic fits within your budget – we say go for it! Better still, upgrade and add in biodynamic or regenerative farming choices too!
But, if buying everything organic isn’t where you are at right now – there are still smart and affordable ways to incorporate as much as you can afford and upgrade your health status.
- Visit a farmers’ market and opt for spray free: Organic certification costs a lot of money and not all farms have the funds or scale to get certified. But there are many great farms out there, aligning themselves with best farming practices and selling spray free produce at a fraction of the price of organic. So go on! Get out there and ask around. Alternatively, try going to a farmers market at the latter part of the day, just before they close. You might not get the pick of the produce - but often you will get if for far cheaper as the stall holders need it gone.
- Direct your attention and your dollars to the foods that matter most: Nutritional differences aside, all fruit and veg contain different levels of contaminants. A great starting point is looking at the top foods most likely to be contaminated by pesticides and opting only to buy these organically/spray free or growing your own. Very generally speaking – these are likely to be foods with a large surface area or a skin that is thin or consumed (think leafy greens, apples, grapes, berries, celery, stone fruit). You can also look at the Clean 15 and save yourself money by choosing to buy these conventionally if money is tight. Hint – a lot of these foods contain a peel. Please note that whilst this is an American report, there are overlaps with Australian produce and it is a good guide to at least get you thinking about what levels of contaminants might just be on your food.
- Use a fruit or veggie wash or make your own: There are some great non-toxic washes on the market if you want to google, but by far our favourite and easiest is a DIY version. In fact, using a combination of water (fill your sink) and aluminium free baking soda (1 tbsp aluminium free ), leaving for 15 minutes and then lightly scrubbing has been demonstrated in this study to be the most effective at removing chemical residues (in this case on apples) when compared to both a commercial bleach solution and just plain tap water.
Everything we do for our health – big or small, matters. Implementing any of these options is a positive step towards Creating a Healthy Future, today.
References
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019963/
2. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-11/monsanto-ordered-to-pay-289-million-to-school-groundskeeper/10109352
3. https://www.gmwatch.org/en/106-news/latest-news/19261-glyphosate-and-roundup-proven-to-disrupt-gut-microbiome-by-inhibiting-shikimate-pathway
4. https://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/press-releases/6659/federal-court-rejects-glyphosate-registration-decision-because-epa-ignored-cancer-risks-endangered-species-risks
