Organic VS Commercial Foods

You are what you eat… there is simply no way around it. I coach my patients on this every day. I strive to keep my family well-fed, nourished in body and soul, while keeping an eye on the bottom line. Part of that “bottom line” is long-term health… but part of it is also the daily reality of making food dollars stretch. So how much extra must we spend to get wholesome food, without too much pollution? Is it necessary to always buy certified organic foods?

For produce, at least, there’s some trustworthy guidance available from the Environmental Working Group (EWG): The “Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides” is compiled from laboratory testing of pesticide residues in commercially available produce across the country. “EWG research has found that people who eat the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables consume an average of 10 pesticides a day. Those who eat the 15 least contaminated conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables ingest fewer than 2 pesticides daily. The Guide helps consumers make informed choices to lower their dietary pesticide load.” A wallet-size PDF of this guide is downloadable at: http://www.foodnews.org/EWG-shoppers-guide-download-final.pdf

And for seafood, another trustworthy guide is published by the Monterey Bay Aquarium – this one taking into account not only mercury pollution, but also environmental concerns including the state of fisheries world-wide. Printable downloads are available at: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/sfw_recommendations.aspx

A few years ago, I used to be able to find “NutriClean Certified” produce at my local grocery store. I loved it – I could trust that the produce with the colorful sign had been rigorously tested and found to be free of pesticide residues. http://www.scscertified.com/docs/FDG_Cutsheet_PFNC_v5.pdf Alas, I have not seen this trusted colorful sign in years now. Anyone know where it’s gone?

Here’s to your health – and your enjoyment of all the upcoming holiday feasts!

-Deborah McKay, ND