Why Eat Organic?

Good morning!

I hope you are gearing up for the weekend! I know I am! I turn 33 on Sunday so you know i'll be doing something fun. I'll let my husband plan that one, but I am getting the best gift this year!! For those of you that I haven't seen in a while.... I'm expecting a baby!!! Yep, you heard that right, i'm 15 weeks pregnant!! The baby is due in early April and is going to be a baby BOY!!! But don't worry, I'm still able to train throughout my entire pregnancy. Lucky you!!

Now that the cat's out of the bag, lets get started. Why eat organic? Or maybe we shouldn't...what does organic really mean? Lets find out...

1. Organic, what does it really mean?

• It means it is grown without pesticides, fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms.

• Organic animals eat organic grains, free of antibiotics and hormones

• Organic DOES NOT mean humanely treated, grass fed, or free to roam pastures.

• Eating organically does not necessarily mean you're eating more nutritiously

2. What to consider when buying organic?

• Some animals that have been brought up organically might put you more at risk for a biological contamination because they have not been treated with antibiotics.

• Small farms might not be certified organic, but still do NOT use any pesticides. **This is because getting the actual organic certification is expensive!!!

• The organic label can come in levels. 70% organic to 100% organic. 70% organic means that it was produced with organic products.

3. Grass Fed vs. Pasture-Raised vs. Free Range

• Grass Fed - Means that the animals were raised on grass and hay rather than corn. If you do not see the 'organic' label, it means that the grasses in which the animals roamed and ate were sprayed with fertilizer and insecticides.

• Pasture-Raised - Applies to pork, poultry, dairy, eggs, and beef. Means the animals were allowed to live their life unconfined and free to roam.

• Free Range - Applies to all livestock, especially birds. In order to be labeled as free range, it means that the animal must have had SOME access to the outdoors. I say 'some' because it can mean they were free to roam in a wide open space all day long OR it can mean they had 5 minute access to a concrete patio that was outside. If you really want to know how your food was prepared, it is important to research the farm that makes your meat.

4. "Natural"

• The FDA has no definition of "Natural," so if you see this on a label it can mean a lot of different things.

• Ideally natural should mean anything in it's "natural" state so how it was originally grown and raised.

• Because the FDA has no hold on the "Natural" label, producers of food are free to use this on food and household products.

• Often the term "Natural" gets misinterpreted. Many times the term "natural" gets thrown on a label because the company produced the product to TASTE just like the original. Example: Natural Vanilla....why wouldn't they just say Vanilla Extract?? Natural Vanilla was made to taste just like vanilla extract, but it is NOT, in fact, Vanilla in it's original form.

5. The Dirty Dozen & The Clean Fifteen

The dirty dozen refers to the fruits and vegetables that are most likely to become contaminated. These are the foods that you SHOULD buy organically. The clean fifteen are 15 fruits and vegetables that you don't have to worry too much about. They don't become easily contaminated and you DO NOT have to buy these organic. Yay, save your money!!!

• Dirty Dozen - Apples, Bell Peppers, Blueberries, Celery, Cucumbers, Grapes, Lettuce, Nectarines, Peaches, Potatoes, Spinach, Strawberries.

• Clean 15 - Asparagus, Avocados, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Corn, Eggplant, Grapefruit, Kiwi, Mangoes, Mushrooms, Onions, Pineapple, Sweet Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Watermelon.

Notice a trend? Most of the clean 15 fruits and vegetables have a cover, a shell, or some sort of protective casing. So no need to memorize this list, just ask yourself, "Is this fruit or vegetable protected?" Not all, but most of the time it will steer you in the right direction.

That does it for today! I hope you enjoyed today's Nutrition Tips. See you next week for more nutritious information!!

Your Favorite Trainer, Elizabeth Foster Davis