Organic Food Debate, Is Paying Extra Worth It?
Published 2018 . revised 2024
Social media seems to get louder and louder about how and what we should be eating. The noise on the internet becomes overwhelming, and often, we can get lost in the chaos and not even know what might be best to do anymore.
There are many topics that fall under this wellness influencer umbrella, which can be confusing, but for today, I am going to break down some information about eating organic foods.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study investigating the nutrient content of organic versus conventional foods. This study showed no evidence to support that organic food's nutrient content was higher than conventional food, thus stirring a debate as to whether or not eating organic food was really worth the extra cost.
Many people objected to this and stated there are many things to take into account other than just the nutrition of the food.
When you buy organic food, you are limiting your exposure to toxins. Growth factor hormones, pesticides, and antibiotics have been linked to various health issues.
Other studies have concluded that organic foods contain higher levels of antioxidants, such as quercetin and vitamins C and E.
At this point (I am revising this in 2024!), we know that eating organic can limit our exposure to toxins; the issue is that we cannot limit our exposure to EVERYTHING. It is just not possible. We can do things that are better for us and within our budget, but there is no way to eliminate every single toxin source from our environment.
Only you can choose what is right for you and your family. If you need to stick to a budget and can’t afford all organic, you can consider buying foods that are known to be the most contaminated to avoid exposure to unnecessary chemicals.
GMOs
For those of you who have been curious about limiting toxins through food you should always check your food labels to see if your food has Genetically Modified ingredients (GMO = Genetically Modified Organism).
What Are GMOs?
GMOs are genes that are altered by genetic engineering. This allows the organism to either contain an extra gene or have one removed. The most common way genetic engineering has been used is to create crops that are tolerant of exposure to pesticides.
“These crops are developed so entire fields can be sprayed with pesticides killing all the weeds and leaving the crops alive. This makes the crops immune to toxic pesticides, such as glyphosate, dicamba, 2,4-D, and glufosinate, leading to an increase in overall pesticide use.”
— GMO INSIDE
The use of genetically modified foods is relatively new. First discovered in the 1970s, they have only started to be used in our foods since 1994. So, the long-term effects of this are still up for debate. What is becoming more known is that by consuming GMOs, you are increasing exposure to more pesticides in your food, which could potentially lead to other health issues down the road. Some widely known issues are increased allergies and antibiotic resistance.
When you buy organic in the United States, you are buying foods that are also non-GMO. The U.S. forbids genetic modifications in organic food.
MOST COMMON GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS
Corn
Soy
Canola Oil
Milk
Cotton
Sugar Beets
Zucchini & Squash
Papaya
KNOW YOUR FOOD
When you are shopping, check the food labels. Many products now have a non-GMO label on the front of their packages. It is also easy to look at the back of the ingredient labels, and most will say if they contain genetically modified ingredients. Usually, this information is found under the ingredient list.
But…What About Fresh Produce?
Well, do you know those little stickers on your food? The numbers actually mean something important. Incase things are not labeled well with what is organic and what is not at your local store, you can use this as a guide.
When you see a Four - Digit Code starting with a 3 or 4, that means it is Conventionally Grown
If you see a five-digit code, starting with a 9, that means it is Organic
And finally, if you see a 5 digit code, starting with the number 8 that means that it is genetically modified.
HEALTHY GROCERY SHOPPING ON A BUDGET
Like most of us with kids, you are probably on a budget! You might want to shop healthier but just don’t have the ability to buy all organic all of the time. So, the easiest thing is to be picky about what you get. Stick to the clean 15 and dirty dozen lists below to guide you in making better choices for your and your family's health! Be sure to always check your weekly ads to see what is on sale in the produce aisle! This will make it easier for you to save money while still getting fresh fruits and veggies. The other option, is to buy frozen, there is NOTHING wrong with buying frozen fruits and vegetables. It is a time saver, you can often get organic cheaper than fresh if not on sale, and it is still allowing you and your family to have healthier options with meals.
RESOURCES
NOTE: *sweet corn is known to be genetically modified; it is recommended to buy organic
Scholarly Journal Articles and Research on Organic Food vs. Conventional
For more information, check out the Environmental Working Group:
Dirty Dozen --- https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php
Clean 15 --- https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php