The Truth About Organic Foods You Might Not Know

Do organic foods really provide healthier benefits than non-organic foods or is it all a scam designed to separate you from your money?

This is a big debate considering the high prices of organically grown foods. I mean, we all know how expensive these foods are but how do we know if we're really getting all the proclaimed health benefits?

Some studies show that organic foods have more beneficial nutrients, such as antioxidants, than conventionally grown foods.

Often people with allergies to foods, chemicals or preservatives often find that when they eat only organic foods their symptoms decrease or go away.

Is organic food really healthier than non-organic food?

It's all kind of blurry still.

Some studies suggest that, organically grown fruits and vegetables may contain slightly higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant phytonutrients than conventionally grown produce. Other studies have found no nutritional differences between organic and non-organic foods.

Benefits of organic foods

• Fewer pesticides- Pesticides are chemicals such as fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides. These chemicals are widely used in conventional agriculture and residues remain on (and in) the food we eat.

• Freshness- Fresh food tastes better. Organic food is usually fresher because it doesn’t contain preservatives to make it last longer. Organic produce is often (but not always, so watch where it is from!) produced on smaller farms near where it is sold.

• Environment Friendly- Organic farming practices reduce pollution (air, water, soil), conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy. In addition, organic farming is better for birds and small animals, since chemical pesticides can make it hard for birds and small animals to reproduce and can even kill them.

Organically raised animals are NOT given antibiotics, growth hormones or fed animal byproducts. The use of antibiotics in conventional meat production helps create antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. This means that when someone gets sick from these strains they will be less responsive to antibiotic treatment.

What About Locally Grown Food?

Small local farmers often use organic methods but sometimes cannot afford to become certified organic. Visit a farmer’s market and talk with the farmers. Find out how they produce the fruits and vegetables they sell. You may even ask for a farm tour.

What’s Really Lurking In The Meat You & Your Family Eat?

One thing you need to know is what the government allows in animal feed or to be used in the production of meat and dairy products:

• Dairy cows—antibiotics, pig & chicken byproducts, hormones (for growth), pesticides, sewage sludge

• Beef cows—antibiotics, pig & chicken byproducts, steroids, hormones, pesticides, sewage sludge

• Pigs—antibiotics, animal byproducts, pesticides, sewage sludge, arsenic-based drugs (growth hormones are prohibited)

• Broiler chickens—antibiotics, animal byproducts, pesticides, sewage sludge, arsenic-based drugs (growth hormones are prohibited)

• Egg laying hens—antibiotics, animal byproducts, pesticides, sewage sludge, arsenic-based drugs

Source: http://www.greenerchoices.org/products.cfm?product=meat&pcat=food

Understanding Organic Food Labels


Do you know what food labels such as “organic,” "natural," "free-range," and "non-GMO" really mean? Understanding these terms is important when shopping for organic foods.

The most important point to remember is that "natural" is not the same as "organic".

The term "Natural" is unregulated and can be applied by just about anyone. Only the "USDA Organic" label indicates that a food is certified organic.

USDA Certified Organic Food Labels

When you’re shopping for organic foods, look for the “USDA Organic” seal. Only foods that are 95% to 100% organic can use the USDA Organic label.

• 100% Organic – Foods that are completely organic or made with 100% organic ingredients. May display the USDA seal.

• Organic – Foods that contain at least 95% organic ingredients. May display the USDA seal.

• Made with organic ingredients – Foods that contain at least 70% organic ingredients. Will not display the USDA seal.

• Contains organic ingredients – Foods that contain less than 70% organic ingredients. Will not display the USDA seal.

Other Terms You Need To Know


The organic label is the most regulated term, but when it comes to meat, we often see many other terms used.

1. Natural – This label means “minimally processed” and that the meat can’t have any artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, or any other artificial ingredients in it. Animals can still be given antibiotics or growth enhancers. For example, this term can be applied to all raw cuts of beef since they aren’t processed.
2. Grass fed – Means that the animals are fed solely on a diet of grass or hay. These animals have access to the outdoors. Cattle are naturally ruminants that eat grass, so they tend to be healthier and leaner when fed this way. In addition, grass fed beef has been shown to have more of the healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
3. Free-range – This means that the animals weren’t confined to a cage and had access to the outdoors. Unfortunately, the animal population in the same area can still be very high and the animals may only be outside for short periods of time. It is difficult to tell exactly what free-range means when you see it on meat packaging.
4. No Hormones added – This term is allowed when animals are raised without the use of any added growth hormones. For beef and dairy products it can be helpful, but by law, poultry and pigs cannot be given hormones, so don’t pay extra for chicken or pork products that use this label.

What does Certified Organic mean?

Keep in mind that even if a producer is certified organic, the use of the USDA Organic label is voluntary. At the same time, not everyone goes through the rigorous process of becoming certified, especially smaller farming operations. When shopping at a farmers’ market, for example, don’t hesitate to ask the vendors how your food was grown.

Consider this

One thing I find interesting are studies that have been conducted among certain groups of different cultures raised in remote regions of the world where heart disease, cancers, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and other diseases are unknown.

These people maintain levels of health and fitness that are vastly superior to those in modern societies.

Eskimos, for example, have excellent immunity and cardiovascular health while living on large quantities of fat and several pounds, yes pounds, of meat a day.

Whale blubber anyone?

In the Andes Mountains, deep in the Amazon forest and south of the Pacific Islands native people who live on the diets of their ancestors often demonstrate remarkable strength, stamina, resistance to disease and often live well past 100 years of age.

But, when these same people were exposed to the foods and diets prevalent in modern civilizations their health rapidly deteriorated. They end up with the same diseases.

My purpose in writing this is not to tell you what to do but to present the facts as I have found them in the research I've done.

I can say that I prefer 100% organic foods over conventional foods and since making the switch my body has responded by not only looking better but my energy levels are higher, I have more stamina, my digestion is much improved and nothing beats the taste.