There has been a lot of hype recently about this whole organic craze that has been sweeping the nation the past couple of years.  The buying organic extremist will be quick to tell you that everything you eat must be organic, and on the other side they’ll tell you that organic food is nothing more than a waste of money.

I’m here to give the real scoop on the organic food debate.

First let’s see how big buying organic foods has become and arguments from both sides.  In the two decades between 1990 and 2010 our sales in organic foods and drinks has skyrocketed from $1 billion to almost $25 billion, and most organic foods cost anywhere from 10%-100% more than conventional foods.

Is Organic Better For You Or Are You Wasting Your $$

There are numerous studies out there that have found numerous benefits to eating organic foods such as a reduced chance of your child getting autism, some cancers, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and asthma.  Children are much more likely to feel the health effects from pesticides because they’re bodies and organs are still forming, and it’ll be much harder for them to excrete the chemicals.

A study in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal found children who ate only organic foods had no traces of pesticides in their bodies while those who did eat conventionally grown foods had spiked levels of pesticides in their bodies.  Also mind that when children have been exposed to pesticides they’ve been linked to getting diabetes, asthma, ADHD, autism and childhood leukemia.

But on the other side of the coin if organic is better for you…

Just last year a study was released that found organic and conventional foods pretty much had the same amount of nutrients or at least no statistical difference to make any one the clear winner.

I remember after this study came out there were a ton of people who automatically discredited organic foods and claimed it to be nothing more than a ploy by the food industry to raise prices and increase revenues.

Although I’ll be the first to admit that there may not be a significant difference nutritionally, there is without a doubt less pesticides, chemical fertilizers and antibiotics.  Nobody can argue that you want to have less of these in your body.

British scientists have also found that there are around 100 different kinds of pesticides that can lower your sperm count and even very low amounts can still damage reproductive cells.  Low amount of these toxins are not going to activate a detoxification from your body because they’re so small, but they’ll still cause damage.  Is organic better for you and your sperm? Yes.

Not to mention the huge effect conventional foods have on our environment, living in a world creamed over with synthetic pesticides hardly seems ideal.  The less impact on the environment also inevitably means less chemicals and such getting into our bodies.  A USDA study found that organic farming produced much better quality soil than farms that used conventional farming practices.

So you’ll also feel the satisfaction of knowing that you may have just helped save the ocean from dead zones and helped preserve the environment for future generations…don’t have time to plant a tree?  Buy organic instead.

A UC Davis study also found that organic foods have much more natural antioxidants than conventionally farmed foods.  The reasoning behind this is because the organic plants have to fight harder to survive than the pesticide-loaded ones so they have to produce more antioxidants in order to naturally survive.

Also, organic dairy foods have been found to contain more CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), which has been scientifically proven to burn more fat while exercising.  Having more essentially fatty acids in your body while training will help break down fat more than if you didn’t have them in your body.  Extra fat loss?  Yes please.

A John Hopkins University study also found that farmers who feed their animals (especially pigs & poultry) arsenic-laced feed to enhance their growth has led to prostate cancer.  Even though the government regulates how much of this chemical can be in feed, most farmers feed practices are kept secret to prevent other farmers from stealing their formula.

Spanish researchers have also found eating non-organic meats can damage your intestines and cause you to be more prone to pathogens.  It’s not illegal for farmers to add antibiotics to their livestock but these chemicals will undoubtedly pile up in these animals.  And once we eat it, it could mess up our natural bacteria when have in our intestines and kill off our pathogen defenses.

I’d also recommend staying away from all modified corn products, especially ones containing high fructose corn syrup.  A study in the International Journal of Biological Sciences has recently found that mice who ate a diet of corn that was modified genetically had internal organ damage, especially in their liver and kidneys.  Be aware, that there are many foods that contain modified corn ingredients and most of America eats them every single day…be sure to read the label and make sure it’s organic.

But should you feel pressured to now buy everything 100% organic?  Not really, the trick is to buy the organic foods that are more likely to have been smothered with pesticides or pumped with growth hormones.

I would highly recommend buying organic on the foods that have thin skin and you’re planning on eating it.  Think apples, peaches and broccoli.

But if you can peel away the thick skin and you don’t plan on eating it, then you can save your money and buy the conventional foods.  Some examples are avocado, bananas and lemons.

This brings us to the “Dirty Dozen” of conventional foods.  These are the foods you WANT to buy organic because they’re loaded with pesticides and other bad stuff.

• Peaches
• Apples
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Pears
• Grapes (Imported)
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Potatoes

When you ask yourself, “is organic worth it?” it’ll definitely be with the above foods.  They’re usually so thin skinned that they absorb all the bad chemicals and pesticides that farmers use on them.  Stay away at all cost.

But then there are some other foods that you’ll be okay if you prefer to save your money and organic may not won’t be worth it.

• Onions
• Avocado
• Sweet Corn (Frozen)
• Pineapples
• Mango
• Asparagus
• Sweet Peas (Frozen)
• Kiwi Fruit
• Bananas
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Papaya

I hope after reading this you’ll be aware of which foods you should buy organic and which ones you’ll be okay to save a penny on.  I know buying organic can get a little bit pricey but you have to think of your long-term health as well.

So Is Buying Organic Worth It?

Would you rather pay a little bit extra now for some organic foods or would you rather pay with your bad health some years from now?

Same thing when it comes to eating right and training.  You can either put the work in now or you can pay the medical bills and pop pills some odd years from now.

In a perfect world, an unlimited bank account, you should be buying everything organic.  But if you’re still on a budget then find the foods that you MUST buy organic and the save some money on the ones that are less likely to be loaded with pesticides and other junk.

The choice is yours to answer if organic better for you,

Josh

P.S. – For more on eating organic be sure to check out my 7 Tips To Naturally Detox Your Body