I don’t remember exactly when I first started buying organics, but my oldest daughter was very young.  Back then, only a few stores stocked organic food and there wasn’t much variety.  I was insistent upon buying organic milk and eggs though, because I had read enough evidence that supported spending the extra money.  I was leery of the growth hormones in conventional milk, but I was still confused about all of the conflicting information out there.  Regardless, our family faithfully made a weekly trip to Trader Joe’s for years.  Eventually, we slowly switched out more conventional products for organic.  And as more stores stocked organic options, shopping became easier.  Nowadays, we still travel to several stores, but I’m thankful for the ability to purchase organic options.  Even though it may not always be my first choice, I’m glad to know I can get organics if I want them.

So what exactly does organic mean?  The USDA says: “Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation.”

In addition to the USDA’s organic label, there are other terms that are often used to label food, so it can get really confusing!  For example, what’s the difference between Free Range and Organic?  What about Fair Trade or Certified Naturally Grown?  Some of these terms are overseen by the government, but many are not. For example, the label “Natural” is not regulated at all.  A full glossary of these terms and what they mean for your food can be found with THIS LIST.

Why choose organic?

I will always advocate that any fruits and vegetables are better than no fruits and vegetables, so it’s better to eat conventional produce than none at all.  However, if organic options are available in your area, there are several convicting reasons to eat organic when possible.

1. More Nutritious.  Studies are suggesting that organic produce is significantly higher in phytochemicals, antioxidants, and several nutrients, while being lower in nitrates and pesticides.  The additional polyphenols help give our bodies the ability to fight disease by combating free radicals.  Especially given the declining levels of nutrients in produce, I’ll take all the extra I can get!  Organic produce also doesn’t have any extra flavor enhancers or dyes injected into its flesh, which, believe it or not, is actually a thing.  Additionally, I personally think organic produce is more flavorful.

2. Less pesticides.  Conventionally-grown crops may have up to four times more pesticide residue than organic produce.  Research suggests that going all or mostly organic can significantly reduce the amount of pesticides in our bodies.  Considering how prolifically glyphosate shows up in our food and how serious the potential health risks are, this is something we should be paying attention to.  Not only are pesticides associated with increased risks of cancer and diseases of the liver, kidney, and blood, the chemicals build up in our bodies and are quite taxing on our immune systems.  This can make it difficult for us to fight off other infections.

3. Safer for the environment.  Organic farming practices are safer for the environment and help to nourish the soil, keeping it viable for future harvests.  Working with the land using crop rotation, animal grazing techniques, and compost fertilization, organic farmers encourage the natural environment to do what it’s supposed to do.  Oppositely, large-scale conventional methods deplete the soil of nutrients and minerals, as well as rely upon chemicals that are also released into the soil, water, and air.

4. No GMOs.  Organic produce does not contain genetically modified organisms, otherwise known as GMOs.  I’ve written about the harmful health effects of GMOs, so I will only give a brief overview here.  Though plants have been genetically modified for many different reasons, the main one in conventional farming is to create plants that are resistant to harsh chemicals.  This allows the fields to be sprayed with chemicals to kill everything except the food crop.  Those chemicals are absorbed by the plants and then ingested into our bodies, which aren’t genetically modified to resist them.  Not only that, Monsanto’s glyphosate, found in their famous RoundUp, was registered as an antibiotic!  That means that in addition to the scary health concerns, GMO crops deliver constant doses of antibiotics without the prescription.  These specific conventionally-grown crops (and their resulting food products) are especially likely to be genetically modified and are more important to pay attention to.  Buying organic or non-GMO project verified food will avoid GMOs.

5. More nutritious meat and dairy.  Grass-fed organic meat contains 50% more omega-3s as well as more beta carotene, CLA, Vitamin K2, and E compared to conventionally-grown meat.  Grass-fed dairy boasts more Vitamin A and more Omega-3s.  Raw dairy has even more nutrients, like Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Vitamin D3, sulfate, antioxidants, and lots of great enzymes to aid in digestion!  Additionally, pastured eggs have more Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Omega-3s, and Vitamin D,  but are lower in saturated fat.  Also important to note is what organic meat and dairy is missing!  It’s void of unhealthy additives like growth hormones (that make our kids mature earlier and alter their innate hormones), a steady dose of antibiotics (given to animals in unhealthy conditions to keep them from getting sick), and other chemicals like glyphosate (found in Roundup).

Is organic really better?

While there are many reasons why I personally feel organic is the better option in most situations, the obvious downsides are that it’s not as readily available and it’s more expensive.  And while I prefer organic, I don’t believe that it is the end-all be-all.  I do think that the term “organic” is a fantastic springboard to good eating though.  It helps us become aware so we can make informed decisions.  In a perfect world, we would know how and where our food is grown so we can decide if certified organic really is the better option.  In some cases, local, non-certified organic is actually the better choice, especially with inconsistent testing of imported organics.

Get to Know Your Farmers.  I am a big advocate of getting to know our local farmers.  In fact, my favorite local meat farm, Grand View Farm, uses exceptional farming methods that aren’t certified organic.  However, because I have a relationship with the farmers and know their practices, I prefer to buy all of my family’s meat from them instead of purchasing organic meat at the grocery store.  Likewise, there are countless other local farms that employ excellent practices even though they aren’t certified organic.  Our local creamery supplies our family with healthier-than-organic milk products even though they aren’t certified organic either.

Know Your Labels & Ask Questions.  There are so many different labels for food (especially eggs) that it can be overwhelming.  And many of those labels aren’t regulated by the government, only adding to the confusion.  For example, “free range” doesn’t guarantee outdoor time for chickens, and the “certified organic” label doesn’t guarantee that the chickens will get outdoor time in a pasture either.  That’s why it’s incredibly important to ask questions about farming practices, because there are times when the organic label simply isn’t the healthiest choice.  Making informed decisions goes such a long way.

Shop the Dirty Dozen/Clean 15.  While shopping for produce in grocery stores, it’s helpful to be aware of the EWG’s Dirty Dozen/Clean 15 list.  This guide helps consumers reduce their exposure to pesticides by making informed choices.  By purchasing organic versions of the Dirty Dozen (the produce with the most pesticide residue) but opting for conventionally-grown versions of the Clean 15, we can make economical buying choices without compromising our health.  Regardless of buying organic or conventional, I always recommend using a high-quality veggie wash, like the Thieves Fruit & Veggie Wash, to thoroughly clean produce.

Bottom Line.  Certified organic isn’t always the better option, but it does afford consumers the ability to avoid GMOs and most pesticides while taking advantage of more nutritional benefits.  The bottom line is that we need to be informed about our choices so we can make the best decisions for our families, based on our personal situations.