I was at a bar in a restaurant waiting to be seated for dinner when I noticed one of the bottles of alcohol had the word "Organic" in big letters across the top.
I was shocked to see "organic" on a bottle of alcohol. It made me wonder if people would see the word "organic" and think they were drinking more healthy because they were asked for the organic alcohol.
Simply put, when something is organic it means it has not been grown using pesticides or other chemicals that are or create toxins in the body.
Food products are allowed to call themselves organic if they follow the standards set by the USDA.
Under the National Organic Program (NOP) there are standards for handling and processing of organically grown agricultural products. So organic foods are better for you in the sense that they do not contain harmful or toxic chemicals.
However when I talk to people about eating healthy it is more important to eat a whole food instead of an organic food.
Whole foods are foods that are found in their natural state that are not highly processed and don’t contain synthetic additives and preservatives. Examples of whole foods are fruit, vegetables, beans and legumes, nuts, seeds, lean meats, fish, dairy, and water.
This is my recommendation for all my patients and audiences.
Eat whole foods all the time. Make whole foods the staple in your diet. Eat organic when you can.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m a big fan of organic foods. I eat them whenever I am able or can afford them. I recommend organic for very specific foods, such as fruits, vegetables and dairy.
You can check the most important foods to eat organic by going to the environmental working group www.EWG.org. Alcohol is not going to show up on their lists.
It is important to learn how to create a healthy lifestyles, and whole foods the best place to start. I would spend my money on whole foods first, then concentrate on the buying the right organic foods.
Live Vibrantly,
Dr. Dae
Dr. Dae's website: www.healthydaes.com/
Dr. Dae's book: Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living can be purchased @ www.healthydaes.com/
Dr. Dae's Bio:
Dr. Daemon Jones is a Naturopathic Physician who maintains a holistic practice treating patients all over the country using Skype and phone visits. She helps her patients harvest health and feel great, using a combination of safe and effective naturopathic and conventional methods.
Sources:
"EWG Home | Environmental Working Group." EWG Home | Environmental Working Group. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Aug. 2012.
http://www.ewg.org
Florida, James J. Ferguson. University of, Institute of Food, and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). "Organic Production and Organic Food: Information Access Tools." Home | National Agricultural Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Aug. 2012.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/ofp/ofp.shtml
"Healthy Whole Foods: Making Nutrient-Rich Choices for Your Diet." WebMD - Better information. Better health.. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Aug. 2012.
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-benefits-of-healthy-whole-foods
Reviewed August 14, 2012
by MIchele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith