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Organic foods. Better or scam?
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:09 am
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:09 am
What say you? I'm kinda torn on this issue as I haven't done enough research to make an informed decision. You will find conflicting information on both sides of the debate. Are the pesticides used in non organic farming harmful to your health? Is organic produce more nutrient dense as organic proponents claim? Do the hormones in non organic meats affect our health?
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:11 am to mouton
I don't think there will be a definitive answer for many years.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:11 am to mouton
Depends on the item. If it's something that I can't properly wash (i.e. strawberries) I try to do organic, because pesticides simply can't be a good idea to ingest over the long term. Hormones tend not to be terribly species specific, so their doing harm wouldn't surprise me, either.
As for the nutrient density, meh. Probably not.
As for the nutrient density, meh. Probably not.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:12 am to mouton
I think for the most part it is BS.
Getting fresh stuff from farmers markets and such is a better strategy than depending on who labels their stuff organic and what definition is used.
Getting fresh stuff from farmers markets and such is a better strategy than depending on who labels their stuff organic and what definition is used.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:25 am to mouton
I tend to lean toward it not being much better for you than things not labeled organic, if not because the science and studies haven't yielded enough definitive results, then because of all the things that the FDA allows to be labeled "organic" .. which change every year as more and more chemicals and other ingredients are allowed under the naming umbrella.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:32 am to Rohan2Reed
Organics don't have any greater nutrient density. Many of the "organic" means used for pest control can be pretty nasty, too. Not everyone is choosing organic because of health--plenty of ppl are avoiding conventionally grown produce because of the unintended environmental impact on certain species (like bees). It's more of an ecological position than a personal health choice.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:34 am to mouton
quote:
Is organic produce more nutrient dense as organic proponents claim?
I think most reputable oraganic proponents do not claim this.
quote:
Are the pesticides used in non organic farming harmful to your health?
Maybe....maybe not. But if you can afford to buy organic, why not ?
quote:
Do the hormones in non organic meats affect our health?
See above.....I think the main argument is the chemicals and hormones used can be not only bad for your body but also bad for the environment...i.e. Stream and River runoff of pesticides and development of anti-biotic resistant diseases.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:36 am to hungryone
quote:
It's more of an ecological position than a personal health choice.
It's more of a cultural decision to convince oneself and other people that you're benefiting both your health and the environment. Just go to any Whole Foods and listen to people try and rationalize spending more money on "organic" products.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:39 am to Rohan2Reed
quote:
Just go to any Whole Foods and listen to people try and rationalize spending more money on "organic" products.
I agree, but damn the produce, seafood, and meat at Whole Foods always looks way nicer than crap coming out of Walmart, etc.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:41 am to Rohan2Reed
A lot of times the organic stuff will look better/fresher than the regular produce. So I'll buy it. I'm not convinced its better for you though.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:44 am to mouton
There is probably no way of knowing.
I do know that obtaining a "Certified Organic" stamp on a product label is a HUGE moneymaking scheme for the certifying agencies. I'm talking thousands of dollars each year cost, which - Will be added to the cost of the product.
If organic is cow dung fertilizer and non-organic is nitrogen based fertilizer with micro elements, then one needs to understand that the plant takes on nutrients at the molecular level and must break down the cow dung, compost, whatever into the same compounds as in the nitrogen based fertilizer before it can use it. I do know that chemical fertilizers are a very efficient way to deliver nutrients to a plant (think lower overall cost to a hungry world).
Pesticides are different. what I can tell you is that EPA evaluates all pesticides. We may not agree with EPA, but they are competent scientists, maybe more competent - maybe less competent than the "organic only - no pesticide" lobby.
At our house, we grow vegetables and try to not use pesticides in our garden. I can see no measurable difference in them from what I buy at the farmer's market, which may or may not be sprayed. I do see that most of teh time, I can buy them as cheap or cheaper at the grocery store, where Anti-pesticide folks tell me they are most likely loaded down with bug killers.
When all is said and done, you must die of something. It is too much of a strain on the coroner if they can't assign a cause of death on the certificate. As far as I am concerned, they can put, "Cooked Vegetables from Piggley Wiggley" on my cert.
I do know that obtaining a "Certified Organic" stamp on a product label is a HUGE moneymaking scheme for the certifying agencies. I'm talking thousands of dollars each year cost, which - Will be added to the cost of the product.
If organic is cow dung fertilizer and non-organic is nitrogen based fertilizer with micro elements, then one needs to understand that the plant takes on nutrients at the molecular level and must break down the cow dung, compost, whatever into the same compounds as in the nitrogen based fertilizer before it can use it. I do know that chemical fertilizers are a very efficient way to deliver nutrients to a plant (think lower overall cost to a hungry world).
Pesticides are different. what I can tell you is that EPA evaluates all pesticides. We may not agree with EPA, but they are competent scientists, maybe more competent - maybe less competent than the "organic only - no pesticide" lobby.
At our house, we grow vegetables and try to not use pesticides in our garden. I can see no measurable difference in them from what I buy at the farmer's market, which may or may not be sprayed. I do see that most of teh time, I can buy them as cheap or cheaper at the grocery store, where Anti-pesticide folks tell me they are most likely loaded down with bug killers.
When all is said and done, you must die of something. It is too much of a strain on the coroner if they can't assign a cause of death on the certificate. As far as I am concerned, they can put, "Cooked Vegetables from Piggley Wiggley" on my cert.
This post was edited on 5/6/13 at 11:48 am
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:47 am to mouton
i don't know about store bought "organic" but i would choose that over "all natural" pds
i prefer to know exactly where the food comes from. the closer to the source, the better imo.
chicken from the farmers market is head and shoulders better than anything you buy at a store.
i prefer to know exactly where the food comes from. the closer to the source, the better imo.
chicken from the farmers market is head and shoulders better than anything you buy at a store.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:50 am to notiger1997
quote:
I agree, but damn the produce, seafood, and meat at Whole Foods always looks way nicer than crap coming out of Walmart, etc.
That's why I go with a happy medium of Rouses or Fresh Market. You're right Walmart's produce is awful.
Also, I don't know if you've eaten organic bananas but they usually taste off to me .. just not a good flavor. Much prefer one labeled not as such.
This post was edited on 5/6/13 at 11:50 am
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:50 am to CreoleGumbo
chicken is one thing that I eat a lot of that I don't mind paying a little more for to get organic or steroid free. I hate getting those huge 1.5 lb chicken breasts from sanderson farms unless I plan on cutting it up to put in something
Posted on 5/6/13 at 11:51 am to aaronb023
quote:
chicken is one thing that I eat a lot of that I don't mind paying a little more for to get organic or steroid free.
ditto. eggs as well .. I always by large brown free range.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 12:06 pm to aaronb023
quote:Me too. I've also found that since I switched to the boneless skinless breasts, a knife cuts through it with much less effort than it did through a similar roid chicken. Not sure why, but it was a noticeable difference.
chicken is one thing that I eat a lot of that I don't mind paying a little more for to get organic or steroid free
Most produce I buy is non-organic simply b/c of $$. But I shop at a higher-end grocery store anyhow, so the stuff is still as fresh as at a Whole Foods.
I don't really even pay attention to organic/non-organic (except for chicken), but I pay close attention to preservatives and the like and avoid those whenever possible.
I can live with the idea of a little non-harmful pesticide for some reason. It's the thought of eating shite that keeps food edible on a store shelf for years that gets me.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 12:10 pm to NaturalBeam
quote:
I can live with the idea of a little non-harmful pesticide for some reason.
Same here. There's actually a lot of non-harmful things they don't allow farmers to use that is hurting America's farmers .. production could run better and cheaper but environmentalists go fricking nuts at the mention of chemicals or pesticides.
quote:
It's the thought of eating shite that keeps food edible on a store shelf for years that gets me.
I'm not huge on reading labels nor do I buy a lot of boxed/bagged/canned/frozen items, but I stay away from stuff with HFCS or anything that has a ridiculous sodium level because of the amount of preservatives.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 12:29 pm to Rohan2Reed
Eating local farm produce > Whole Foods > conventional groceries
Posted on 5/6/13 at 12:32 pm to REG861
agreed in principle, but some local farms' meats are hella expensive. Two Run Farms is big among Nola restaurants and grocers but man it can get high.
Posted on 5/6/13 at 12:52 pm to MeridianDog
I've noticed a difference in seasonal produce, specifically apples, when I buy them at Whole Foods compared to grocery stores. During apple season, the Fall, the Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Fuji, etc are all two to three times larger, juicier and crispier than conventional.
The organics don't last as long, however.
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