Time To Go Organic

As the terms 'organic' and 'natural,' and the associated behaviors become more and more mainstream, perhaps you've considered taking the plunge. Or maybe just dipping your toes in. But where do you start? What do you buy? And what exactly does 'organic' mean? 

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates and provides guidelines for companies producing 'organic' goods to follow. I put 'organic' in quotes because the term has become so widely used, it's lost its true meaning. However, the USDA helps ensure the products you purchase fall within certain standards.

Look for this seal, when you're
purchasing organic products.

The good news is if you're ready to go organic, it's relatively easy to begin. If you're interested in taking charge of your health, and being conscious of what you're putting in your body, the first step is incorporating more fruit and vegetables into your diet.  However, we keep hearing how our country's produce supply is treated with multiple chemicals, including pesticides (what you spray on insects to kill them), fertilizer and even kerosene (an incendiary agent used to start a fire). Some produce is exposed to more chemicals than others, so if you're looking to go organic, where do you begin?  

My purchases from a recent grocery shopping trip. Organic strawberries,
blueberries, spinach, sweet potatoes and kale. Bananas, lemons, limes and brussel sprouts are not organic.

If you're on a budget (and who's not?) or this is your first time going organic, here's a tip: any fruit or vegetable where you'll be eating the skin or the outside, you should buy ORGANIC. Makes sense, right? Apples are one of the first that come to mind, and one of the most notorious for chemical/pesticide exposure. You pick up an apple at the supermarket, quickly run it under some water, and take a big, juicy bite. This is what you may be exposing yourself to: (top 50 pesticides used on California apples in 2009).  Yikes!

So, apples are an obvious fruit to purchase organic, and they come in just as many varieties organic as they do non. What else? Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries) - super antioxidants, super fruit to buy organic. Peaches, plums, nectarines, and grapes. On the veggie side, celery, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, spinach and lettuce.

Start there. If you love your decision to go organic, if you think the strawberries are that much more juicy and flavor-packed, then move beyond this recommendation.  Here's a fabulous list from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) that lists the "Dirty Dozen" (fruits and vegetables containing the most pesticides) and the "Clean 15" (those that test with fewer pesticide residue).

Dirty Dozen:
1) Apples
2) Celery
3) Strawberries
4) Peaches
5) Spinach
6) Nectarines - imported
7) Grapes - imported
8) Sweet bell peppers
9) Potatoes
10) Blueberries - domestic
11) Lettuce
12) Kale/collard greens

Clean 15:1) Onions
2) Sweet corn
3) Pineapples
4) Avocado
5) Asparagus
6) Sweet peas
7) Mangoes
8) Eggplant
9) Cantaloupe - domestic
10) Kiwi
11) Cabbage
12) Watermelon
13) Sweet potatoes
14) Grapefruit
15) Mushrooms

Drop a comment below if you've recently decided to go organic, and tell me how you've made the change.

*Now you know, now you grow*