Natural is not the Same as Organic

Organic foods have become very popular in recent times. I haven’t been in a MacDonalds lately, but I bet there’s even an organic selection on their menu! Personally, I get a warm and fuzzy feeling knowing that the entree I order is organic or do I? Wait a minute! What does “organic” really mean and why does organic food cost so much more?

In an endeavor to answer this question, I looked up the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines on raising food that receives the “USDA certified organic” seal of approval.

The rules go something like this:

The land has to be free for 3 years before growing from certain prohibited substances which include sewage sludge (oh man! Does this mean non-organic farmers use sewage sludge?).
The farmers can’t use genetic engineering or ionizing radiation.
The organic foods and the non-organic foods cannot be processed together or come in contact with chemicals.
Livestock must be fed 100% organic feed.
Livestock cannot be given hormones or antibiotics.
Livestock must have outdoor access.

This is informative, but doesn’t give the whole picture as to what organic is. The term “organic” refers to the way that farmers grow, handle and process our food. Organic is a philosophy of farming where “conventional methods” of fertilization, weed control and livestock disease prevention are used. Farmers use natural fertilizers like manure, try where possible to use beneficial insects and birds instead of pesticides, rotate crops and weed by hand and feed livestock organic feed.

Natural does not necessarily mean organic. However, there are some other terms types of growing and husbandry methods that might be important to you such as “free-range” or “hormone free”.

Whether you buy organic or not, the USDA also recommends eating many different kinds of fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy. This is not only to ensure that you get the most nutrients possible from your food, but also to keep from saturating your system with the same chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, hormones, antibiotics and fertilizers).

Even if you don't choose organic, it's always a good idea to wash and scrub your vegetables/fruit with a brush. This will remove more chemical residues than washing alone. Better yet, peel them when you can!

Take care of your body!

Resources:
Organically grown foods: Evaluate your options. www. MayoClinic.com

Article Source: http://www.bodyformind.com/db

Ainsley Laing, MSc. has been a Fitness Trainer for 25 years and writes exclusively Body for Mind eZine. She holds certifications in Group Exercise, Sports Nutrition and Person Fitness Training.

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