Those that eat mostly Organic

[notwell]

Do you think it's okay to eat conventional pineapple, mango and avocados since they are at very bottom of pesticide list? Or do you think it's still not healthy?

[Raspberry4]

I know this will not answer your question and I apologize for it; however, I am a person who cannot afford organic food and choose to eat conventional for now and just wash it really well. However, I drove 45 minutes to the only organic market close to me yesterday and the produce looked so bad. Most of it was brown and sunken in. I could not believe that these things were for sale and I was very disheartened about the whole experience. Trying to eat healthy can be expensive at times with organic food and I feel it should at least LOOK appetizing! Anyway...good luck with your journey...:)

[Ocean]

When I went raw in 2005 (the second time), I ate mostly conventional produce, as I could not afford organic.

My body responded beautifully. I've never purchased an organic pineapple in my life, and I love them!

If possible I try to get organic strawberries, because they are higher on the pesticide list, also juicing carrots, but I don't drive myself crazy trying to buy everything organic. Maybe when I get well and can start working again, I will start buying organic because we will be able to afford it. But for now? Just doing what I can :D

Take care,
Ocean

[notwell]

Health is my main concern over money. but at the same time if its really not an issue for those foods than why pay more. not to mention they're easier to find everywhere.

i agree that sometimes the quality looks horrible, which i dont get. its not always the case, but sometimes it is and then they charge a lot for it.

[sport]

I think that it would be a mistake to decide that you will only eat organic as it will limit the variety that you have in your diet. My decision is to eat organic where possible but to continue to eat conventional if organic is not available.

[pixie_333]

even with those on the bottom of the pesticide line.. the organic ones always look much more vibrant and taste much better. i also feel much better from the life force it gives me. i'll gladly pay a little bit more, but some things like califlower is just ridulous when i've gone to buy it... 1-2 dollars vs 7 dollars for organic. get out of town man! i'm not rich yet! and not worth the treat as of yet. so i buy pesticide or avoid it all together.

i feel it's a personal choice. and everyone can understand the cost issue, but fortunately the demand for organic has been high and costs are lower now because of this! so the more we as a whole keep buying organic... eventualy it will be much cheaper.
look for sales. i'm finding often organic cheaper than pesticides or maybe only 10 cents more or 30 cents.

then there are some people who'd rather starve than eat pesticides. remember this is life force.

[notwell]

theres plenty of variety for me sticking with all organic. its more of a mistake to eat unhealthy food than to eat unhealthy just because there's more choices.

[Dimond]

I think that it would be a mistake to decide that you will only eat organic as it will limit the variety that you have in your diet. I don't see it as a mistake as I've been eating all organic for years. I usually get plenty of variety. Just sometimes things I want, I can't get. No big deal.

[sport]

I would have no melons or mango or papaya and I would miss them. Right now I would have no berries either.

[Sygma]

Irradiation....thats why I eat only organic. I also recently found out that most mangoes that are grown out of the US are hot water treated D:

[lil fairy z girl]

i personally think its better to have a variety of foods, if there is a choice for organic and you can afford it, great, have organic, but if there isn't a choice, for exotic fruits etc... then i personally don't limit my choice.

raw is to be enjoyed, i personally don't want to feel restricted by rules and regulations. it is way better than what i was eating before.

[Cerellia]

I have made bad experiences with non-organic pineapples, I can actually feel the pesticides burning in my mouth.
I have three organic supermarkets in my town and so I get everything except the very exotic fruits there (rarely, I order exotic fruits from tropical foods). They often sell fruits and vegetables that are overripe or don`t look perfectly at low prices, so it is not really more expensive than buying in a normal supermarket.
The reason why the standart fruits look spotless unlike the organic fruits is that they had been frozen or treated with hot water steam. I prefere foods that are natural and 100% raw even if that means that I have to cut off some parts that have gone off.

[Mary Kay]

My dh is a fifth generation apple/fruit farmer and he swears he would not be in business if he had to go organic because everyone wants perfect apples. And it is interesting to note that organic apples are actually sprayed MORE than conventional apples - it's just that the organic sprays are certified organic. Take pyrethrum, which is often sprayed on organic apples. I researched this for a lice issue with my chickens and will not use it. It is all-natural - made from chrysanthemums, but is a neurotoxin (that's why it kills bugs) and I would only use it if absolutely necessary. I try to keep my flock healthy so I won't have to.

Nevertheless, it does break down in about two weeks, and therefore is labelled as organic, but the possibility exists that it is linked to autism etc.....Unless you grow your own apples, I think it's a close call, and I'd buy local non-organic if I had the choice.

I'd also talk to your farmer. My dh uses organic stuff on his apples and even invented a machine so that he didn't have to hardly use Round up (glyphosate), which again breaks down in about two weeks. So, of course I eat our nonorganic "free" ones. .

As far as bananas, which are low on the pesticide lists. They're low because they have thick skins, yet are one of the most heavily sprayed fruits on the planet, so for these, I buy organic.

Avocados - not organic because a local store sells beautiful ones.

Otherwise, I'm generally organic, but don't buy much during the summer because I grow my own - organically.

I went to a Holistic Moms meeting (I'm a member) and they were talking about electromagnetic waves as well as other bad "waves" and that even the checkout thing zaps our produce as it's adding it up. Never thought about that!

So I think everyone should grow something! Even if you live in an apartment ---use pots!!!!!

Mary Kay ....

[klomasius]

Non organic fruit will not kill you! hehe.

I eat mostly organic, but sometimes when the budget does not stretch, or for hard to find organic fruits such as coconuts, or when I'm in a rush and the only produce store is a conventional one, I buy conventional.

I don't worry about what is and what is not sprayed lots (though I almost exclusively buy organic bananas) as the harm caused by my stressing would far outweigh the harm the tiny amount of chemicals on the small amount of conventional food I buy could do.

Just relax, try to buy as much organic as is possible for YOU right now with your current situation and move in the direction of natural and healthy in all aspects of your life and you'll be fine. :)

[snoops]

Mary Kay, thank you for that information on apples. I also would like to buy organic because apples are high in the pesticide list but they always look so pathetic that I always go for the non organic ones:o So now I don't feel so bad about it. I do buy organic strawberries. They are more expensive but only slightly so at this point in the season. I plan to buy loads and freeze them for the winter.

[debilana]

I hate that wax on the non organic apples- is it bad for you?

[Coolexplosion]

Mary Kay, thank you for that information on apples. I also would like to buy organic because apples are high in the pesticide list but they always look so pathetic that I always go for the non organic ones:o So now I don't feel so bad about it. I do buy organic strawberries. They are more expensive but only slightly so at this point in the season. I plan to buy loads and freeze them for the winter.

That would be because they're sprayed to oblivion, killing their color. Virtually all non-organic apples have been waxed, which is why they will look better than organic apples almost every time. I will sacrifice the look to be free of wax.

Sport: I couldn't disagree more. Now that organic is becoming more mainstream, farms are converting everyday, making produce more available for cheaper. A few years ago, I had to pay $6.00 for a pound of organic strawberries and like it. Now, I can get them for $3.50 or $4.00. Shop the sales, find farmer's markets, pick and choose what is worth it and what isn't, and organic isn't much more than conventional.

[pixie_333]

As far as bananas, which are low on the pesticide lists. They're low because they have thick skins, yet are one of the most heavily sprayed fruits on the planet, so for these, I buy organic.

Avocados - not organic because a local store sells beautiful ones.


I went to a Holistic Moms meeting (I'm a member) and they were talking about electromagnetic waves as well as other bad "waves" and that even the checkout thing zaps our produce as it's adding it up. Never thought about that!


interesting.. didn't know that about the apples and bananas. a place i shopped at announces everything on their products if it's in transition or organic etc. lots of weird shapes with foods.

avocados... i like the taste of pesticides ones best. it's strange. i've done the "pepsi challenge" with them many times. however i bought an organic one last week and tasted great.
i heard they put them in fridges before coming to you and even at store the organics were in the cold shelves vs pesticides weren't.

but.. i use to live in california and saw many avocado trees and had one myself and they all basicaly looked the same.. either round or the classic shape. same i see in stores, however pesticide ones have more shapes sold in the places i go.

emf's are bad for foods and us in general. sure those scanners don't help anything.. but there are emfs everywhere and i can't think what it's called.. it's lines that go across and they're in all directions... it's impossiable to escape with wireless technology, radio stations, computers etc.
some people turn off their electricity before going to bed to help escape the harmful effects of emf's. also to note... even after you turn things off and unplug.. they still toss off emfs sometimes up to 24 hours.

[sport]

Sport: I couldn't disagree more. Now that organic is becoming more mainstream, farms are converting everyday, making produce more available for cheaper. A few years ago, I had to pay $6.00 for a pound of organic strawberries and like it. Now, I can get them for $3.50 or $4.00. Shop the sales, find farmer's markets, pick and choose what is worth it and what isn't, and organic isn't much more than conventional.

Cost is not a problem for me and I would never choose conventional because it is cheaper. I choose it because it increases the variety in my diet and I think that this is important. If I was not prepared to do this then all I would be eating right now would be apples, oranges, cucumber, celery, tomatoes and greens.
I would love to be abel to get organic berries right now but they are not there.

[sport]

That would be because they're sprayed to oblivion, killing their color. Virtually all non-organic apples have been waxed, which is why they will look better than organic apples almost every time. I will sacrifice the look to be free of wax.
.

Unfortunately I think that the organic ones are being waxed as well.

[Mary Kay]

Coolexplosion,

You are wrong, IMO about all non-organic apples being waxed. Many apples, organic or not, have a natural waxy coating on them, so perhaps this is what you're seeing.

However, you are MUCH more likely to get the truly waxed apples at the regular grocery store. I cannot imagine, you will ever get them from your local farmer. We have a 100-acre farm, and produce a fair amount, and would never think to wax the apples.

I have sev'l friends who tried to grow their own organic apples - they are misshapen, full of worm holes, get lots of fungus etc. This has nothing to do with whether they're waxed or not.

Those beautiful organic Galas you buy in t he grocery stores are sprayed to the high hilt! (Is that how you spell it? LOL). Again, it's just that the sprays are certified organic.

Funny, dh had a customer reprimanding him about not being entirely organic. She then went into the store and bought some beef jerky ---not the organic kind...the stuff loaded with nitrates etc.....(Don't even get me started on why dh has them in the store...there are two separate businesses in there, and my BIL sells veggies and other stuff ike jerky, that we don't grow....he even wanted to put a pop machine in there....Again, don't get me started...)

One last thing too. My dh goes into the regular grocery store and says he can't believe that they even sell their apples, and no wonder people like ours---I'[m talking about the conventional ones shipped from God knows where....

So the point is, buy from your local farmer. Look at his orchard/field. If there's a lot of barren area under the rows etc, you know he's using lots of round up. someone like that may also not care so much about how many other sprays they use. But do note that even the greediest aren't spray happy --sprays cost money and labor to apply.

Soak your apples etc in vinegar, etc...or peel them. Unless you're blending them in the Vita-Mix, the peels aren't vey digestible anyway....An apple peeler corer - handcrank machine costs $20 - $25 and is well worth evey penny.

Grow as much of your own stuff as you can!!!

HTH, getting off my soapbox...LOL

Mary Kay

[Eva]

Everything I can reasonably get organic, I do. But there are some things like pineapples that I can get organic but never ripe (so I get these nonorganic). Every once in a while I run out of avocados before I buy more. Then I would have to wait 3 days for the organic avocados to ripen, so I get 1 or 2 nonorganic to hold me over and the rest organic.

The taste on nonorganic apples, spinach and strawberries in particular is really pungent. Perhaps it is just the ones available where I am. But those are non-negotiable. I would just not eat them if I couldn't get them organic.

I can also sometimes taste a big difference in mangos so stick to organic most of the time. Unless I'm desperate for a mango!

I feel really, really lucky that I am usually in Jacksonville, FL... and we happen to have a locally owned organic grocer that has been around for about 50 years and sells a lot of organic for LESS than the "conventional" at other stores.

[mstrish]

I buy mostly organic produce. They only things that I will purchase non-organic are pineapple, canalope, watermelon everything else is organic and at times when conventional foods has a variety I just do without or wait.

[Dimond]

This thread has confirmed my sticking with 100% organic unless eating out or an emergency. I can understand those that don't, especially if you don't have access to much or truly can't afford it.

[Coolexplosion]

Cost is not a problem for me and I would never choose conventional because it is cheaper. I choose it because it increases the variety in my diet and I think that this is important. If I was not prepared to do this then all I would be eating right now would be apples, oranges, cucumber, celery, tomatoes and greens.
I would love to be abel to get organic berries right now but they are not there.

I guess my area is just different. If I want any produce, I can get the organic version fairly easily. Organic berries are here from California. Awkward.


Unfortunately I think that the organic ones are being waxed as well.

If they are, the farmers/manufacturers are doing a terrible job. Walk into a large grocery store, you will see what a waxed apple looks like. The organic ones never look as good because they lack the wax that creates an unnaturally shiny apple.


Coolexplosion,

You are wrong, IMO about all non-organic apples being waxed. Many apples, organic or not, have a natural waxy coating on them, so perhaps this is what you're seeing.

However, you are MUCH more likely to get the truly waxed apples at the regular grocery store. I cannot imagine, you will ever get them from your local farmer. We have a 100-acre farm, and produce a fair amount, and would never think to wax the apples.

I have sev'l friends who tried to grow their own organic apples - they are misshapen, full of worm holes, get lots of fungus etc. This has nothing to do with whether they're waxed or not.

Those beautiful organic Galas you buy in t he grocery stores are sprayed to the high hilt! (Is that how you spell it? LOL). Again, it's just that the sprays are certified organic.

Funny, dh had a customer reprimanding him about not being entirely organic. She then went into the store and bought some beef jerky ---not the organic kind...the stuff loaded with nitrates etc.....(Don't even get me started on why dh has them in the store...there are two separate businesses in there, and my BIL sells veggies and other stuff ike jerky, that we don't grow....he even wanted to put a pop machine in there....Again, don't get me started...)

One last thing too. My dh goes into the regular grocery store and says he can't believe that they even sell their apples, and no wonder people like ours---I'[m talking about the conventional ones shipped from God knows where....

So the point is, buy from your local farmer. Look at his orchard/field. If there's a lot of barren area under the rows etc, you know he's using lots of round up. someone like that may also not care so much about how many other sprays they use. But do note that even the greediest aren't spray happy --sprays cost money and labor to apply.

I was referring to the grocery store apples. I agree with you. I have never seen a waxed apple sold from a farmer's market.

I'm not denying that they are. I will, however, take the organic ones sprayed with (mostly) organic pesticides over the non-organic ones that may be irradiated, genetically modified (!), waxed, and/or sprayed with non-organic carcinogens.

Dimond: Agreed.

[sport]

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