not eating organic

[sareli]

I totally understand the importance of eating organic, but we are on an extremely limited budget and in order to have enough food for the family, organic is not an option (on most stuff, ocassionally there's a sale on organic veggies/fruit.)

Please tell me my efforts are still going to transform my body and mind regardless of the organic factor. I feel like because of all the pesticides (etc.) in the veggies/fruits I'm eating, I might as well be eating mac n cheese.

thoughts?
sarah

[Apasaraw]

imho...the good outweighs the bad...the nutrition is there. You can choose to eat items that have a history of low pesticide use and omit the ones with high pesticide use. I would always go for the greens in organic if you can. The price is not much more for that product and it carries such good nutrition.

Here is a short listhttp://www.foodnews.org/pdf/EWG_pesticide.pdf[/url]

[RawFoodieMom]

Rest assured that even living on non-organic, you will still be a raw foodist. You're still giving your body the ability to rid itself of many toxins, you will still transform your body, detox, and heal illnesses. Organic produce is easier on your system and causes less work in the way of your body having to get rid of less toxins (no pesticides). But you are still raw and doing your body a great service.

Just be sure to wash all your produce. Even the things you peel before you eat. Because if you peel an orange, for instance, that hasn't been washed the pesticides will transfer from your hands to the fruit you're about to eat.

Don't stress too much just do your best and buy the organic as you have been when it's on sale, and try to buy organic in the "10 worst" list when you can afford it.

You're doing great just being raw! :)

[BrianC]

Organic produce is easier on your system and causes less work in the way of your body having to get rid of less toxins (no pesticides).

That is false. Organic produce has plenty of pesticides. They are very resilient chemicals that remain in soil for years, and can blow over from neighboring crops. Organic farming offers significantly less (roughly 66%) pesticides, but is by no means pure food. Additionally, it ensures the food has not been irradiated to kill bacteria - many non organic items have been. Still looking for a statistic on that though.

[RawFoodieMom]

That is false. Organic produce has plenty of pesticides. They are very resilient chemicals that remain in soil for years, and can blow over from neighboring crops. Organic farming offers significantly less (roughly 66%) pesticides, but is by no means pure food. Additionally, it ensures the food has not been irradiated to kill bacteria - many non organic items have been. Still looking for a statistic on that though.You are right that organic produce is not necessarily pesticide-free, and may have residues from neighbouring crops or from the soil it's in if the area was previously conventionally farmed. I don't believe though that these statistics are all so accurate or should be used as a generalization. Each farm is going to be affected on a different level and I believe many organic farms and farmers I know from the farmer's market is more pure than just 66%. It all depends on the location, surrounding conditions, etc. Good thing to keep in mind though. Even if you eat organic you're still getting some pesticides in your system. :(

[BrianC]

If you're buying from a farmer you can meet, then you have a better idea. Unfortunately in my area I rely on Whole Foods, which, great as it is, doesn't give you the same information the farmer can. By the way, organic food has much higher mineral content as well.

[juliebove]

There is a thread here somewhere that lists which foods are best to buy organic because the non organic are the most polluted. Can't remember where it is though. I do remember some of the most polluted things are celery and peppers. Alas, for me, getting good organic peppers is hard to do. I do grow my own during the summer. Not certified organic but I don't personally use any chemicals on them so that's good enough for me. I buy organic when I can and when I can't I don't worry about it.

[luckitri]

I will buy organic when I can afford it. I wish to believe that I can heal with non-organic as well. I think that some people get sensitive to the pesticides due to a toxic problem they had for years or due to cleansing themselves with raw they get to where they can notice the pesticides and their effects on them. Of course my goal is all organic - just some of us don't have that option right away. Of course with raw I am going to be healed and then I will make more money and then I will be able to get organic!

I always had Brians view on it but I have seen some kirrillian (?) photography that showed how much better organic is. (Will post when find it again.)

[BrianC]

My view is always go for organic - its so much better - just don't think it's pure. I am not sure about Kirlian photography, if you have any good sites explaining/demonstrating it I would love to see.

[Alba]

I don't know if it is just a psychological thing - but lately I've been eating 80% organic compared to before (ca. 20%) and I totally feel a difference - I don's have any headaches anymore and I only need 5-6 hours of sleep, yet I am the most awake person in my entire class and often work late hours (with homework that is). What's more - organic tastes better - different and better.
For example my mum bought an organic pineapple - it was very light - and didn't look ripe (compared to the humungus non-organic pineapples I was used to) but the smell - the smell!! It was subtle but sweet and took me away to tropical beaches and raw piñacoladas - it was so so good. very intense and radically different from the "I am a pineapple" pineapplish - taste I was used to from conv. fruits:D
That being said - there is ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT in my mind when it comes to whether or not you should just skip raw out of fear of pesticides - the answer is NO!!! Even on 20% organic (and 100%) I felt a thousand times better than on cooked food - your body is HEALING - with conv. it might take a little longer, but is far better than eating mac'n'cheese - Though I am neither guru nor doctor I am able to tell you that.

BTW. come join the prosperity game or abundance-threads in the Personal growth forums - there are some pretty amazing stories about people who have connected themselves to the positive and abundant energy stream of the universe (I knoooooow it sounds WACK - at the very least *lol*- but that is how I imagine it...*s*) and received the things they wished for - who knows and organic farmer might pop in to your livingroom one day - or You will get some more money - to spend ón organic produce!
Good luck with it - and CONGRATS on going RAW!!!
-consider it the best thing you have ever done for yourself!

Love alba

[Ariannah]

Do your best with your resources and that's still good. I eat about 60% organic food, and the only reason I can afford that is because my family is still cooked (veg. mostly organic) and the food they like is inexpensive.

But we all have different financial circumstances, and we just do our best.

[Naiad]

I try to save money doing the following:

1)Buying raw nuts from places like Trader Joe's, which is usually cheaper than the ones from Whole Foods (just as the nuts aren't always organic at Whole Foods, sometimes they *are* at TJ.) Or, find a local shop with cheap, bulk, raw nuts... maybe an ethnic food store?

2)I buy non-organic fruits and vegetables with hard "shells," aka, my avocados, limes, bananas. I wash them off with a natural soap like Dr Bronner's before use, or soak in water. I usually go to big box shops like Costco and get huge bags of avocados or flats of non-pesticide tomato for usually very cheap.

3)I always, ALWAYS buy organic foods on the "Top 12 Pesticide" list, such as my lettuce and greens, berries, "watery" foods such as cucumber, celery and scallions.

4)I save money on my smoothies by buying organic frozen fruit instead of fresh, especially raspberries. Also, if I see a sale on organic fruit, I buy a bit and freeze alot for future smoothies.

5)I DO splurge on the things which really make a difference for me in being happy on raw... I buy Penta water, delicious $20 bottles of macadamia nut oil and stuff like mineral rich celtic sea salt. I figure the money I've saved not getting $5 lattes every day... I deserve some good stuff too :p

[StudentforLife]

Money is tight with us too. Just do the best you can. If you can only afford produce form ALDI then so be it. The most important thing to remember is to wash your produce, especially for things like cucumbers and apples because they have a coating of wax. Greens, such as spinach, chard, kale and dandelion are not much more expensive organic so those should be bought organic. It's a little easier in the summer time because you can go to local farmers markets.

Just remember, no one is free of chemicals these days. Hate to sound like a buzz kill but it's true. At least eating living foods, organic or not, will be kinder on your body than "food" containing high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oil, carmel color, sulfates,(you get the picture).