How important is organic?

[julesmoz]

How important to you all feel that organic is? Obviously it's ideal, but what evidence do people have to back up the organic claims?

Have there been studies done to prove the harmful effects of pesticides?
How much of the pesticide gets washed off with veggie soap?

Also, is it okay to always be eating such sweet, genetically-modified fruit? Does anyone know much on this topic?

Thank you so much!

[karenisraw]

julesmoz,

I already know that organic is obviously better for you. My raw vegan doctor says, "if you are not eating organic foods now, you should be".

I went raw about 5 1/2 weeks ago. I felt great, high, euphoric, energetic. I decided 2 weeks ago that I could not afford organic and started buying regular produce. I already can tell the difference. The high, euphoric and energy feels decreased by maybe 5-8%. Just not quite at my optimum. I still feel great, euphoric and energetic, just not quite as best as I could by a little bit. Not that noticable, but noticeable enough for me to find a way to afford it.


k

Good Luck :p :p

[Lady Green Jeans]

Agree with karenisraw's post. Not only can I taste the difference, but it does make a physical difference in me. I recently printed out a list of least/most pesticide laden fruits/veggies to assist in shopping. I have noticed my store has been selling out big time on the organic section. They are expanding the section to twice the area and even asked if I had input.

Healthy eating; Healthy life.

[livingatthetop]

I did a reserch paper in college on organic vs. inorganic. I found out that if you eat an organic apple you will get more than 200 times the nutrients than if you ate an inorganic apple. This also goes for any kind of fruit or vegetable. I also compared colors and sizes of fruits and vegetables. organic vegetables are smaller and more richer in color than inorganic. If you can aford to buy organic do ii do it do it. Or if your on a budget like me pray pray pray pray and then peel off the skin


Hope this was helpful

[heabrook]

Hi Jules.

Eating organic is becoming even more important. Non-organic foods are loaded with pesticides and there is no way to know whether they were genetically engineered with animal genes.

The taste difference is remarkable. Organic foods also have more nutrition.

I live in Westminster Colorado.. and the organic produce prices are either less than conventional, or the same.

There are some veggies and fruits that they say you should absolutely not eat if they are not organic. This is because they use more pesticides for certain crops. A few of these are strawberries, potatoes, oranges, spinach. In my opinion, just eat all organic, your body will thank you! :o

[leeleelocs]

I am reading Green For Life by Victoria Boutenko of the Raw Family. In this book on page 90-91 she has a chart comparing organic vs. conventional produce. It is mind blowing to see how much more nutrients organic has in it. She does a good job in her book of giving the scientific background for her views. Her reference for the chart is Farr, Gary, Dr. Comparing Organic Versus Commercially Grown Foods, Rutgers University Study, New Brunswick, NJ.2002. I sure your local Library will order the study for you if you are interested or they could find other references for you. Good luck in your quest for the truth it will set your mind free.

[Amberly]

I just read Victoria Boutenlo's Green For Life and she showed that there is an EXTREME difference in the nutritional value of organic and conventional.

[mommamia]

I appreciate this thread as I was wondering the same thing.

At the same time I am :( because last week we spend over 150. on organic produce for three people! I can't do that every week, esp. when we run out in less than a week. ERG. Well, I guess SOME organic will be better than none for awhile...just will have to find a way to afford it.

I guess all that money spent on not going to the dr should do it! And there has to be something around here I can sell on Ebay! ;)

[mommamia]

LadyGreenJeans~

Could you share that list?

[Guydiane]

What I was taught was that buy organic in one or two things that you eat the most of if you can not afford to eat all organic. That saves alot.

[Sheryl]

Here's a fabulous website on organic vs conventional produce. They have done testing of pesticide residues AFTER the food has been washed and peeled (it's done as people would prepare the food to eat it).

http://www.foodnews.org/reportcard.php

Some really interesting stuff there.

Cheers,
Sheryl

[rawfigure]

I beleive it is extremely important to eat Organic, if you are SAD or if RAW .
My friends aurgue with me on this point so I now longer preach to others, I just eat Raw Organic. It is rare for me to eat something non organic. In fact I revolve my diet around what is locally available organic. This has limited my diet lately but for me it is important.

I was not always this way. What convinced me was the fact that I made juice from Non Organic Celery and Cucumber, it tasted bad very chemically. My DH noticed it too. In fact we had stopped eating celery yers ago for this reason. I bought organic celery and cucmber, made my drink and wow what a difference ! We love this drink now.

Also I disliked raw brocolli, but I saw it organic at my local store so I thought I would try it one more time. Liked it, so it was not the Brocolli I did not like but the chemicals it is grown with !!!!

Yes now I am a Fanatic !!

[divaitalia]

Julesmoz,

eating organic is so important and I only try to eat things that come locally or from the united states. I have a friend that lived in Mexico and he was an organic farmer and he said that it is a joke that they send produce from other countries that say organic. They don't have the laws that we have to protect the organic food trade.

Eat raw, eat organic and eat locally!!!

Cheers,
Divaitalia ;)

[Amberly]

try to identify which fruits and vegetable of those conventionally grown are most toxic and which resist absorbtion more. I've read a list before, somewhere. They called them the dirty dozen. Strawberries were one of the most toxic, so I try to buy them organic. Conventional bananas still tend not to have alot of toxins because they are not a very delicate crop and don't require as much chemical intervention anyway.

[misslinda]

Julesmoz,

eating organic is so important and I only try to eat things that come locally or from the united states. I have a friend that lived in Mexico and he was an organic farmer and he said that it is a joke that they send produce from other countries that say organic. They don't have the laws that we have to protect the organic food trade.

Eat raw, eat organic and eat locally!!!

Cheers,
Divaitalia ;)


I believe certified organic is very important. from what i understand by my produce guy, certified organic means that the soil was "purified" for ten years at least and organic the soil that it is grwon on, they cannot account for the 3 years prior.

I agree. I attempt to buy locally as much as possible. If you notice, alot of fruits that are out of season suprisingly are furnished by mexico and chile. I absolutely refuse any food from Chile as they use DDT in their agriculture practices that we produce here but it is illegal to use in this country.

[misslinda]

let me correct myself since i am not up to date with Chile........this was an intersting information---

http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/actives/ddt.htm


however, as far as soil, i'd still not buy until another 10 years later if at all.

[Curleedst]

Good point - I always wondered why organic fruit looked smaller. It is more nutrient dense?


I did a reserch paper in college on organic vs. inorganic. I found out that if you eat an organic apple you will get more than 200 times the nutrients than if you ate an inorganic apple. This also goes for any kind of fruit or vegetable. I also compared colors and sizes of fruits and vegetables. organic vegetables are smaller and more richer in color than inorganic. If you can aford to buy organic do ii do it do it. Or if your on a budget like me pray pray pray pray and then peel off the skin


Hope this was helpful