Why Organic Matters

Many people ask me if it’s really necessary to buy organic or if I personally eat only organic foods. Organic food definitely costs more. Do the benefits justify the higher price tag? My answer is always this: While organic food is more expensive, I feel it’s worth it and will choose organic options more often than not. Here’s why.

What “Organic” Really Means and How It Affects You and Your Family

To be marked organic, foods cannot be grown with toxic pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, or from genetically-modified seeds. Organic farms must treat animals humanely and cannot feed them antibiotics, hormones or genetically-modified feed. An organic label tells you you’re consuming a healthier option of that food.

The problem with eating non-organic meats or vegetables is that when you ingest these foods over long periods of time, the toxic pesticides or antibiotics and hormones used to raise them can accumulate in your body and wreak havoc within your gut from IBS, constipation and bloat/inflammation. They can also make you antibiotic-resistant meaning if you get sick and need an antibiotic it may not work as it is intended.

There are many reasons to choose organic but here are the three that top my list:

1) Toxin

Build Up in Your System

It’s always a good idea to wash your fruits and veggies under water before eating them but conventionally-farmed foods may retain toxic pesticide residue even after you wash them. Over time, these chemicals can build up in your system and are tied to many types of illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Parkinson’s disease, and prostate and lung cancers, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Other studies have linked exposure to certain pesticides to cardiovascular disease and even ADHD. Organic foods are not grown with toxic pesticides.

2) Hidden GMO

GMO means genetically modified organisms. The DNA of GMO seeds has been altered to be pest-resistant which means pesticide has been added to the seed. So when you eat the food, you ingest the pesticides formulated into them. GMO foods in the USA are not labeled so most of the time, non-organic foods contain genetically-modified organisms. NOTE: All soy and corn are GMO foods. If you choose to eat tofu products or love corn, go for organic here every time. Also, read the ingredient list on your favorite foods. If they contain soy or corn, you’re most likely eating

GMO foods. Check your kids’ snacks for these ingredients as well. Look especially for high fructose corn syrup. GMO foods lurk everywhere.

3) Small Farms

Buying from small farms in our area is a great way to give back to our community by keeping local farmers in business while supporting your family’s health (and your own!). Visit local farmers’ markets. Talk to the farmers; ask them how they raise their crops. If you buy meat from them, ask them how they treat their stock. Many farmers’ markets also sell organic maple syrup, breads and cheeses. Many farmers’ markets run all year. Farming co-ops are another way to purchase organic eggs, meats and veggies at a shared price.

My Organic Must Buys

While you may not always be able to buy organic, for some foods it’s more critical. I always buy the organic option of the foods listed below. The main reason is because pesticides can permeate their skin and seep into the fruit. For foods like melon, it’s important to wash the surface of the fruit be- fore cutting into it. This will keep the knife from transferring pesticides or bacteria into the flesh inside.

Strawberries Spinach Kale

Nectarines Peaches Apples

Grapes Bell peppers Cherries

Pears Celery Tomatoes

At the end of the day, eating a diet high in vegetables, fruits and quality proteins (e.g., organic chicken, grass fed beef, wild caught fish, organic omega-3 eggs) is the best way to keep yourself and your family healthy. Minimize sugary and processed foods to manage your weight and keep joint inflammation at bay. Remember, know what you’re eating— always read labels and be a smart consumer!

In good health, Linda

Linda www.lindamstephens.com even making our lives feel more meaningful. Time in forests has been associated with a reduction in feelings of hostility, depression and anxiety.

• BOOST IN MOTIVATION – increases self-discipline, impulse control, enhances motivation to learn and rejuvenates attention.

• EVOKES EMPATHY AND COOPERATION – elicits more pro-social behaviors in children and adults, making us kinder to one another and to the planet.

• INSPIRES AWE – time spent in a more wild, natural place can foster a sense of awe, the positive emotion evoked by the perception of vastness that is associated with feelings of transcendence and connectedness. Awe is linked to increased positive emotions and positive physical effects, such as reducing inflammation.

Additional Benefits for Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Outside in Darien

Darien is fortunate to have many “high-quality” environments. Characterized by a greater biodiversity of plants and wildlife, they feel serene, are free of litter and pollution and produce the greatest mental health benefits. Here are few to consider visiting:

• Selleck’s Woods and Dunlap Woods Nature Preserve

• Woodland Park

• Cherry Lawn Park

• Pear Tree Point

• Weed Beach

• Darien Nature Center

• Olson Woods