Organic vs. Non Organic... That Is The Question!

I have been meaning to discuss this topic for sometime.  My sister (props to Lindsay B!) got me curious as to what's the big deal?  Why is this such a debate?  I buy whatever is on sale... whatever is the cheapest because I'm a student on a BUDGET.  That's why I buy what I buy.  Never did the thought of "is organic produce more nutritious for you than non organic?" enter my mind.  Budget overrules everything... And, the amount of produce I consume is ridiculous sometimes...  But, that was a question I have been asked: Is organic produce better for you than non?  What should I buy?

So, I am here to brief you on the nitty gritty of organic produce vs. non organic produce.  First... let's set the record straight... In order for produce to be organic it must meet very strict USDA rules.  Most these rules apply to how the crops are farmed and what they use to prevent pests, insects, and the environment from destroying or contaminating crops. 

Organic produce is protected by other environmental assistance such as insects and birds, mating disruption or traps to reduce pests and disease. To manage weeds, organic farmers rotate crops, till, hand weed or mulch.  To promote crop growth organic farmers will apply natural fertilizers, such as manure or compost, to feed soil and plants. Manure, you may ask... YES!  MANURE.  You read it correctly both times.  Haha... But, in all seriousness the use of manure as a fertilizer in organic farming inevitably has lead to fears of contamination of produce with bacteria such as E. coli which could lead to food poisoning. However, if the organic farmers compost the manure for a precise time at an exact temperature, the amount of bacteria present is greatly reduced.  Thus, keeping food poisoning down in numbers. 

Non organic produce farmers, commonly referred to as "conventional," apply chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth.  In addition, conventional farming techniques call for conventional farmers to spray insecticides to reduce pests and disease.  Also, to manage weeds synthetic herbicides are used.

Studies have shown using pesticides such as those used in conventional farming have been linked  to cancers, neurological damage, as well as birth defects and even possible early onset of Parkinson's. By choosing organic produce, you'll not only lower the amounts of toxic pesticides in your body, but also your levels of bisphenol A and phthalates; both can alter your hormones... Like we need anymore altering of our hormones... LADIES?!?!  Haha...

After extensively reading lots of articles, websites, and blogs I came to the conclusion that some produce is worth buying organic, others not so much.  If not reasonably priced, then I buy what is reasonably priced.  I'm not going broke... Plus, an apple is still an apple is still a fruit and I am getting my one serving in... REGARDLESS.  Like I said, if the price is right and organic is just a few cents higher in cost than it's step-siblings, conventional produce, then I will splurge!!!  Why not... Haha. 

So... Here's the low down on what you can get away with NOT buying labeled as organic and what you should buy if organic is available...

What you should ALWAYS purchase ORGANIC:

• apple
• bell peppers
• carrots
• celery
• strawberries
• lettuce (any leafy green vegetable at that...)
• potatoes

What is OK NOT to purchase ORGANIC:

• asparagus
• avocado
• sweet peas
• grapefruit
• onions
• cabbage
• onions
• sweet corn
• pineapple
• mango

Also, making sure you clean your produce carefully will prevent those pesticides from entering your mouth... Wash everything GOOD and wipe your produce dry! 

Oh, I almost forgot!  Some of the above organic produce I suggested to buy REGULARLY actually are a little more nutritious in some aspects and some not... For instance, ORGANIC strawberries  have higher concentrations of antioxidant activity, more vitamin C, and more phenolics.  Phenolics are some of the main sources of antioxidants that we get in our diet. The organic berries (any berry) did have lower concentrations of phosphorus and potassium.  But, organic berries (any berry) actually last longer than those that are not. 

So, I say buy if you can afford organic produce and only buy the organic produce that is listed as a SHOULD ALWAYS PURCHASE as ORGANIC.  Otherwise, it's a personal preference and to each their own.  Cheers to clean eating!