November 2020
Hello everyone! How are you all going? Its 6 or so weeks to go before it is Christmas. I can’t believe it! It has been a phenomenal year what with the pandemic and the USA elections. Now I do not intend on getting political, don’t worry. I am just amazed at what we have just come through. Can you believe it?
Anyway, today's blog is really just a ramble by me about organic versus non organic food. Now, the main issue I have is that yes non organic food usually are exposed to pesticides and synthetic fertilisers or in animals hormones and antibiotics as well as grain fed instead of grass fed. Free range animals are also optimum. Nutritionally they both have nutrients. Both organic and non organic. Then you have GMO.
Studies over the years have shown that there is not much difference in nutritional value of fruit and vegetables (Dangour, A. et al. 2009. Nutritional Quality of Organic Foods: a Systematic Review. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. USA. https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/90/3/680/4597089). Animals are also what they eat. You get what you pay for I am afraid. There is nothing wrong with eating your supermarket beef fillet. However, if it is grass fed and organic there is likely to be less contaminant and also, surprisingly, better quality fats.
Now eating saturated fats are not advisable if you have high cholesterol and excess weight. Yet the bad rap that saturated fats have are because of the grain fed animals and the food that they are fed. Would you believe that grass fed cattle have a fat that has more good omega fatty acids in them. Grain fed have less amounts. The less stressed cattle are the better tasting the dairy and the meat. So organic meat and its fat are better for you than the other option. We need fat in our diets for various activities in our body but too much of a good thing is inadvisable if you get my drift. Eat in moderation.
There is talk that the issues with wheat and gluten can possibly also connected to the spraying of glyphosates prior to harvesting of crops. This causes many symptoms that can be confused with gluten intolerance. The crops have also changed from our ancestors times and made to be hardier and so our guts don’t recognise this newish grain.
What it boils down to, I feel, may be budget. I know, having been a single mum, that you can only buy what you can afford and so do the best you can. If you buy non organic fruit and veg then be mindful that some are coated in bees wax and so trap in the pesticides on the skin. So, washing in water with a soft brush and apple cider vinegar or a cleaning solution to remove the coating and pesticides can be done. However, peeling the fruit may be ok. At least you know that what you are eating is still good for you.
There is definitely a rising use of organic foods and even eggs that are free range as opposed to cage eggs. People feel they all taste far better and look healthier. Whatever your decision maybe go with what you can afford or with what tastes best. Eating healthy, whichever way you choose, is still better than eating processed chemical laden foods. Have a great November and I shall see you in December.
Lisa xx
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