Is "Organic" really important?

Organic - to buy or not to buy? "It is expensive."  "How do I know it is really organic?" "Does it really matter if it is Organic?"

Organic gardeners grow their produce without use of pesticides. They enrich the soil with nutrients that are lacking in conventional farming. Is it 100% pure? Probably not. Is the organic food better for my body? Probably. Certified Organic means that there is 5% or less pesticides in the food. That allows for the overspray from conventional farmers. It is tough being "organic" in our toxic world. 

When you go to your local Farmer's Market everyone now is saying they are "Organic". If it is truly organic they will have a certification. The farmer works hard to get that certification so they will proudly display it. If they "can't find it", then they probably don't have one and they most likely don't know where the food was grown. It may cost a little more for the certified organic produce, but considering those pesticides accumulate in your body and cause you harm, I'd say you are worth it. 

To help you decide which produce is the most important to spend those extra organic dollars on, here is a list of foods high in pesticides:

Apples, Celery, Sweet bell peppers, Peaches, Strawberries, Nectarines (imported), Grapes, Spinach, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Blueberries (domestic), Potatoes.

Here is where you can save your money. These foods are lower in pesticides and safer to buy without the organic certification:

Onions, Sweet Corn, Pineapples, Avocado, Cabbage, Sweet peas, Asparagus, Mangoes, Eggplant, Kiwi, Cantaloupe (domestic), Sweet Potatoes, Grapefruit, Watermelon, Mushrooms. 

If you know a local farmer that grows his own produce and doesn't use pesticides (or very little) and you can get it fresh and vine ripened......you have a treasure indeed! Buying local and fresh is always your best option - even without organic certification. "Organic" from China (or any foreign country) may not be organic and it certainly is not fresh. 

So to buy organic or not - you do the best you can with what you have. You get the toxins out where you can, including processed foods and junk food. You do what you can do and don't worry about the rest. Anxiety is also harmful to the body!