Organic Food?

EleanorJ

I'm seriously thinking about going organic. I'm only 33 and I really want to beat my odd at recurrence once I beat this thing. How many of you have gone organic since dx? I know it's more expensive, we already eat pretty healthy but part of me wonders if it's not all the junk added in food that gave me this BC. I'm thinking switching to organic dairy/meat/produce and paying more attention to ingredient labels on the rest. Hubby is in!

Iza

My suggestion is, don't focus so much on "organic" as on "good quality" and "healthy". What you want is nonprocessed, traditional foods; ideally those that come from a farm or a farmer's market as opposed to from a box or a can. "Organic" is just a label. Things can be organic and very unhealthy, and the reverse is also true. Many small farmers are not organic just because it is too much trouble to obtain the certification, particularly if they operate on a really small scale; but their produce is probably better than most of the industrial organic stuff that can be bought in a store.

AccidentalTourist

I have gone organic (as much as possible) and as fresh as possible.  I have also gone dairy free but still struggling about giving up all white food (sugar, salt, rice).

mocame

I'm trying a combination of less sugar, no hydronated anything, no soy, fresh produce and yes, some organic foods. I have found that some of the foods that don't have all the stuff that I shouldn't have, is organic.



I spend A LOT of time going through the grocery store looking at all the labels. Even the so-called healthy foods has corn syrup and other stuff in it. I've found some organic and other foods that I can eat cheap at a local food outlet (like a scratch and dent) store. I got a box of my 7 grain crackers (normally $2.89/box) for 50 cents. Cans of organic chicken broth 3 for $1.00.

Anonymous

I've researched which fruits and veggies need to be organic and which don't matter as much (because the pesticides, etc. don't get internalized in the food) and, so, I eat a combination. I do make sure that my dairy is organic as much as possible, though I know I should give up dairy altogether (cheese is an absolute passion of mine though!). I also try to avoid "white food," especially sugar. Once I made what I determined to be necessary adjustments, I found that I could relax and truly enjoy my food. Plus, organic and fresh food tastes so much better!

~Marin

pip57

As a bee keeper I can answer the honey question. If you buy honey from the grocery store you are probably getting a mixture of small amount of Canadian honey with a huge amount from China, Brazil, Argentina, etc.  These are countries that have very few regulations on their systemic sprays and their honey contains things that ours do not.  It is a lot cheaper, that is why large companies do this.  I know in Canada it is suppose to be on the label if it comes from other countries but I don't know what the policy is in the States.

Edited to add that I have don't know what makes a honey 'organic'. Maybe it is assumed that if they are near organic crops that they will not contain any chemicals.  But bees will travel up to 5 miles so that would be hard to control.  Maybe it is just a label that is used as a marketing ploy. 

EleanorJ

Thanks everyone. Went to the grocery on Thursday and I was going to buy some organic chicken since I had coupon. Well... 3 chicken breast for $15 @ $8.99/lb!!! WOW! I like the combination idea. We live near Amish country so I know I can get cheap and healthy veggies in the summer as Amish use very little pesticide. And we typically don't eat much boxed & prepared food. Nor sugar as hubby is addicted to sugar, if it's here it's gone, so I try not to keep it in the house. I think this is definately making me want to do some changes in our eating habits. Going 100% organic is a little extreme for us, but I'll start doing more from scratch.

Caroline

AccidentalTourist

Cebula, we now eat so much less meat that I honestly do not think that we spend more even though we buy organic.  I do try to make it go a long way so one whole chicken gets stripped of meat and the carcas is boiled for stock which is then used as a basis for a risotto or soup.  Chicken breast is used for a stir fry (one is enough if you add all kind of vegetables and tofu) and the rest makes a nice casserole.

bmdaley

My family went organic and its totally worth it. More expensive at the store, but what is more important than our health?