At LIV Fitness in Livermore, CA, we encourage people to reap the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. A healthy diet is one facet, just as consistent exercise is. Even though whole foods form the basis of healthy eating, there are concerns about pesticides and other chemicals entering our bodies via fresh produce. There are also concerns about the animal products consumed. After all, you eat what they eat. Is eating organic the answer? It could be but with some exceptions.
Are there benefits from eating organic food?
The first healthy decision you need to make is to eat more whole foods, foods closer to their natural state without much processing, and less highly processed food. After that, eating a balanced diet and finding the healthiest whole food comes next. Factory farms use commercial fertilizer that doesn’t contain all the micronutrients as the soil that’s enriched by natural means. Organic material used to fertilize produce contains micronutrients the plant absorbs and passes on to humans.
Fertilizer, pesticides, and hormones are often in and on non-organic food.
The EWG—Environmental Working Group—tests traditionally grown produce from groceries nationwide. They wash the produce several times and check for the residue of these chemicals. They compute the information and create two lists. One list contains the fruits and vegetables that still show signs of chemicals. It contains the top 12 offenders and is called the Dirty Dozen. The second list had little or no pesticides. The top 15 goes on the list of the Clean 15. To be healthiest and save money, choose organically grown produce from the Dirty Dozen list and factory-farmed ones from the Clean 15.
Organic animal products can have more benefits and fewer risks.
When you eat animal products, you’re eating what the animal eats. You’re also taking any medications the animal takes. If a cow receives hormones, it changes their hormones, which pass to you. You also receive the benefits animals get from eating natural foods. Pastured cows produce food products with a better fatty acid profile and are more heart-healthy. Eggs from pastured hens have more nutrients. On the flip side, animal products from non-organically grown may contain hormones and antibiotics that affect your health.
- Some studies show there’s a link between pesticides and health issues. Some are as minor as headaches, but others are as serious as cancer. Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and small children face a higher risk.
- Studies show that fruits and vegetables grown today have fewer trace minerals and are less nutritious than those grown 50 years ago. Studies also found that organically grown produce is higher in antioxidants than non-organic.
- Dairy and beef from pastured cattle contain more CLA—conjugated linoleic acid. CLA is an omega-3 fatty acid that lowers the risk of heart disease and cancer. The same is true of eggs from pastured hens. Those eggs also have more vitamins A and E.
- At LIV Fitness, we help with both fitness and nutrition. Our app provides meal plans that fit your health needs and personal preferences. Besides meal plans and recipes, it even has a grocery list to make it easier to use.
For more information, contact us today at LIV Fitness