Is Eating Organic Necessary?

Is Eating Organic a Good Idea? Absolutely!

Is Eating Organic Necessary? It Depends!

Eating organic is always a great idea. Obviously ingesting chemicals and pesticides is not a healthy idea.  The less, the better, right? Pesticides have been linked to both childhood and adult health problems, shown to contribute in the development of cancers and throw off your whole hormonal system. It is pretty simple, eating foods where pesticides and chemicals are used to grow and preserve your food is bad news!

That being said there are other things that come into play when deciding about whether to eat organic or not.

#1 Accessibility – Even in the big city there are areas where organic food is not as prevalent or available as in other areas. This is also the case in certain parts of the country. If not available should you not eat? Should you not eat vegan? No. Do the best you can and eat organic when possible!

#2 Economics – It is unfortunate that the choice to eat organic is usually a more expensive choice than eating conventional foods. Again if eating organic does not fit into your budget right now, if eating organic is going to limit your intake so much that you are not eating enough……then eat a conventional vegan diet for now. When you budget allows it transition more and more organics into your meals.

The following is what I see happen a lot:

Many people voice their desire to become vegan and eat a 100% plant-based diet. I think that is quite admirable……but then they say……but eating organic is so expensive. Eating vegan and eating organic are 2 different things that can overlap but do not necessarily have to. One does not absolutely require the other.

My suggestion to you is to make the switch to a plant-based vegan diet first. I can eat vegan from just about any market or restaurant on planet earth……and I do. When organics are accessible and available I will always choose organic. But just because I cannot find an organic option does not mean that I am going to throw my diet right out of the window and start eating meat and dairy. Choose the right diet first and then choose the best quality within that diet.

Fruits and vegetables – GOOD!

Organic Fruits and Vegetables – BETTER!

Do not use not eating organic as an excuse to not change to a plant-based diet!

That being said there are certain fruits and vegetables that are more likely to have high concentrations of pesticides than others.

These 12, The Dirty Dozen, are foods that you definitely should consider buying organic. They include apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, peaches, spinach, sweet bell peppers, imported nectarines, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, imported snap peas and potatoes.  Potatoes had more pesticides by weight than any other food and nearly 100% of all imported nectarines and conventionally grown apples tested for pesticide residue.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, The Clean 15, have the lowest concentrations of pesticides in the conventional marketplace. They include avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, cabbage, frozen sweet peas, onions, asparagus, mangoes, papayas, kiwi, eggplant, grapefruit, cantaloupe, cauliflower and sweet potatoes. Avocados being the food with the least amount of pesticide residue.

This chart below has some great information about eating organic and what or what not to worry about as much. The info is really good and eye opening. 

Read it and Eat Vegan!