Organic on a Budget
Organic on a Budget
Organic on a Budget
We all see the price difference between purchasing organic products in comparison to commercial items. Not all of us can afford to do all of our shopping at Whole Foods Market and live in the luxury of not having this overwhelming dread when we walk to the check out line. I have often wondered why it costs so much to eat food in its natural state. Wouldnt you think that it would cost more to eat processed foods, since they require more time and effort? Weirdour world is so backwards. Well, here is a guideline to prioritize the foods that you buy organic. It might surprise you when you see that fruits and veggies are not at the top of the list!
Priority Foods to Buy Organic
1. Meat, eggs, and dairy-
Pesticides are not the only things to worry about when buying foods. These foods carry loads of antibiotics, growth hormones, and pesticides. I recommend watching the movie,Food Inc. This movie is very impactful and informative of where our food comes from and the living conventionally grown animals. Farmers have managed to genetically modify chickens so that their breasts grow much larger in proportion to their bodies and in less than half the time in order to maximize profits. They inject them with hormones to grow rapidly, and these hormones are transmitted to the meat, eggs, and dairy (in the case of cows) and ultimately our bodies when we eat them. The living conditions of conventional animals are horrible. They stand in their own feces all day, in a barn or stable, usually with no windows or fresh air, piled on top of each other. This causes any illnesses to be transmitted to other animals. To prevent losing all of the livestock, the animals are injected with various antibiotics to fight off the diseases. These antibiotics are also transmitted to our bodies through meat, eggs, and dairy. This causes many problems, including the growing issue of antibiotic resistant infections, not to mention, killing the natural good bacteria in our gut leading to further diseases especially in the digestive tract.
If organic meat is not available, the next best choice is free range poultry (and eggs) and grass fed beef. This makes a huge difference in the structure of the food molecules and quality of the food. Did you know that the difference between conventionally grown beef and grass fed beef is like night and day? The ratio of good fats (omega 3s) to bad fats is rediculous! Conventionally grown beef is fed corn, which is not natural for cows, they are supposed to graze in the fields right? When cows are put in closed quarters and fed corn feed, their meat contains up to three times more fat and calories. Grass fed meat is much leaner and contains a fountain of vitamins, good fats, and important minerals to keep our bodies healthy and lean.Grassfed beef contains three times more Vitamin E than grain-fed beef.It is also known that free-range eggs have the following qualities as opposed to commercially grown:
1/3 less cholesterol
1/4 less saturated fat
2/3 more vitamin A
2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
3 times more vitamin E
7 times more beta carotene
2. Fruits and Vegetables
Many different studies and websites agree on the most important fresh produce to purchase organic and the ones that are safer to buy non-organic. Here is a list of those you should purchase organic or not at all due to their very high levels of pesticides and herbicides:
Peaches and Nectarines:Peaches require a large amount of pesticides to grow conventionally and have extremely delicate skin, making them the top organic fruit pick with nectarines not far behind. Apples:Apples are the second priority when choosing organic produce, as their pesticide loads consistently test high. Bell Peppers:Bell peppers are the number one vegetable to buy organic. They have thin skins and are heavily sprayed with insecticides. Celery:Celery lacks a protective outer layer and needs many different chemicals for conventional growth, making it number two on the list of vegetables to buy organic. Strawberries: Strawberries rank high on the organic priority list. They are treated with very large amounts of pesticides, including fungicides. When purchased out-of-season, they probably come from a country with inadequate pesticide regulations. Cherries:Cherries continually rank high for pesticide contamination. Lettuce and Spinach:Lettuce andspinachare often found to have high levels of various pesticides sometimes very potent types. Imported Grapes:Imported grapes are likely to have higher pesticide levels than domestic. Vineyards may be sprayed with a number of differentpesticides throughout the growing season. Because grapes have a permeable skin, even peeling will not eliminate the residues. Pears:Pears consistently show high levels of pesticides when tested Potatoes:Potatoes are at high risk for pesticide contamination and may also be affected by chemicals, such as fungicides, in the surrounding soil.
3. Coffee
Conventionalcoffeefarming depends heavily on pesticides and herbicides. Furthermore, coffee is typically grown in countries where these chemicals are not strictly regulated.
SafeNon-OrganicFoods
These foods have the lowest pesticide residue compared to others, so you can save money and buy these commercially grown products.
Broccoli
Eggplant
Cabbage
Banana
Kiwi
Asparagus
Sweet peas (frozen)
Mango
Pineapple
Sweet corn (frozen)
Avocado
Onion
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/organic-on-a-budget-3780557.html
Singing Superstar Review Applied Posture Riding Review Dissertations Consider Editing And Review! Straightforward HostGator Review Can You Make Money From GDI? The Answer May Shock You! Today's Budget Hotels are Better than Ever Fibroids Miracle Review A Review Of Mass Money Makers What Most Firming Cream Reviews Won't Tell You and Why The Driving Fear Program Reviews My Grandfather's Son. A Review Is President Obama Actually Giving Away Grant Money? Free Grant Money - How to Avail It