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To Be or Not To Be Organic

Written By Summerside Chiropractic Clinic on December 19, 2016

Have you ever wondered if it was worth the extra money to buy organic? 

There are a lot of factors to consider if it's worth it to you. Organic food locally sourced, such as at the farmers market, decrease the global carbon footprint of food traveling from another country. Foods that can be shipped by boat (e.g. bananas) are not nearly as bad as foods shipped by air (e.g. asparagus) with regards to carbon footprint. Another consideration is the effect on the workers doing the spraying. The effect of using chemicals on water and land from an environmental perspective as well. Development of antibiotic resistant bacteria by using chemicals is also a concern.
I will limit this section to nutrition value and ingestion of chemicals so I can give you a list of what to buy and if you want to vote with your wallet for the above reasons you can do that too.
According to a recent Stanford study there is very little difference between organic and non-organic food when it comes to nutritional value. There is a difference in pesticide residue though and it varies significantly from item to item.
Highest (in order) in Pesticides: Apples, Celery, Bell Peppers, Peaches, Strawberries, Nectarines, Grapes, Collard greens, Spinach, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Blueberries, Potato, Green Beans and Kale
Low in Pesticides: Onions, Corn, Pineapples, Avocado, Cabbage, Sweet Peas, Asparagus, Mangoes, Eggplant, Kiwi, Cantaloupes, Sweet Potatoes, Grapefruit, Watermelon, and Mushrooms
You can see that when the skin is edible and delicate there is usually more pesticides because we tend to avoid fruit and veggies that have blemishes from bugs. The only time I eat potatoes is when they are brand new and organic. I encourage you to write this list out and keep it handy. When you can, save the planet and buy local!!
Warm Regards, Dr. Darrell

(Feb 13,2013)


Posted In: Wellness