29 Apr The Label Organic

Was there a time in your life that you had never heard of the word Organic? What does this mean, why do we pay more for organic and why is it slapped on the front of so many products today?

The word Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods by the National Organic Program aka the (NOP).  It is basically food, or farming methods produced or involving production without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial agents.

 So, if there was a time where you had never heard of the word organic, why is it so heavily used today and how do we know in fact that if a manufacturer is labeling something Organic that it truly is.

Truth is that the word Organic has been around since the 1800’s but it wasn’t until the 1940’s that the organic farming movement took place in response to the industrialization of agriculture.

According to USDA (U.S Dept of Agriculture), if 95% of a product is made up of organic ingredients, it can be called “Organic”. If its 70% organic the label can read “Made with Organic Ingredients”. How deceiving and how confusing this is to the public. CRAZY!!!!

According to USDA.gov, the NOP accredits private companies and helps train their inspectors to certify that farms and businesses meet the national organic standards. However, it is extremely difficult for the USDA and the FDA to monitor companies that use Organic labels on such a large scale. Aside from this the remaining 5% and 30% balance of the USDA requirements

it’s impossible to ever truly know what we are consuming and possible for many things to be added.

When I have the choice i definitely try to buy organic to try and avoid harmful pesticides and other harmful chemicals. Some organic is better than non organic at all.

And yes some foods and products contain more harmful pesticides than others. When the choice isn’t available to you and you have to go non organic you should know about the dirty dozen!

Every year The Environmental working group releases what’s called “The dirty dozen food list” which highlights the fruits and vegetables most contaminated with pesticides. In reverse to this there is also a clean fifteen list! The obvious is that we buy fruits and veggies because they are healthy and are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants. You shouldn’t have to trade off all of the amazing benefits of eating from the earth because of these pesticides!

Let’s take a look at 2019 Dirty Dozen list…

1.Strawberries (insane!)

2.Spinach

3.Kale

4.Nectarines

5.Apples

6.Grapes

7.Peaches

8.Cherries

9.Pears

10.Tomatoes

11.Celery

12.Potatoes

According to the American Academy of pediatrics, it is recommended to limit pesticides in children as much as possible due to links between pesticide ingestion and brain development risks during pregnancy and early childhood.

What’s more alarming is that consuming a diet rich in organic food or less pesticides has been linked to a decreased amount of cancer risks.

Eating a batch of non organic strawberries isn’t going to send you to the E.R, but realistically we aren’t just eating one of the foods off of the Dirty Dozen list, we are eating several! And that my friends can add up to pesticide exposure.

Let’s take a look at the Clean Fifteen list for 2019!…

1. Avocados (My Fav!)

2. Sweet Corn

3. Pineapples

4. Sweet Peas Frozen

5. Onions

6. Papayas

7. Eggplants

8. Asparagus

9. Kiwis

10. Cabbages

11. Cauliflower

12. Cantaloupes

13. Broccoli

14. Mushrooms

15. Honeydew Melons

Another good place to get clean foods is to support your local farmers markets. Here you have the opportunity to talk with the farmers directly and gain awareness of where your food comes from!

We’ve seen real life stories of people who have been directly impacted by pesticides! Edwin Hardeman saw a TV report that a popular weed killer was causing the same disease that he had, a cancer called non Hodgkin Lymphoma. 4 years later he was the first person to ever prove in US federal court that RoundUp caused his cancer. In this lawsuit the company is to pay him 80M in damages. The sad part is that no amount of monetary compensation will restore his health. Edwin is one example of many people who have been directly affected by the chemicals sprayed on our plants!

Be wise, know your labels and buy organic!

With love,

MissRehabRamdass

Disclaimer: Miss Rehab Ramdass website, blog, social media and videos should not be construed as medical advice. Content from this site and blog are not intended to be used as a medical diagnosis or treatment. The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice.