Organic or Not Organic

APRIL 3, 2010 Saturday

"Care more particularly for the individual patient than for the special features of the disease."
--Sir Wiliam Osler

There is a benefit to buying organic foods, but it is not always necessary. These are tough financial times. Organics are grown under strict regulations from the US Department of Agriculture. Since the last Federal Administration put severe restrictions on organics and forced farmers who were growing organic to have a license (not cheap), many of the local farmers who grow organic could not afford licenses. Those local farmers at Union Square 14th street grow organic yet many cannot afford the license. I would support the local farmer instead of bigger chains in NYC who have a sign on their fruits/vegetables that say organic. If possible, get to know the person you buy from. Ask about their practices. Support local agriculture whenever you can.

I would buy grass fed meat and organic chicken. If you read Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma, then you probably would never eat meat again. The same goes for the book, The Untold Story of Milk. After reading this book, you may only want to buy raw milk from farmers in the states that allow raw milk to be sold. If you want raw milk full of the enzymes (not homogenized or pasteurized) go to the web site, http://www.westonaprice.org/

There are organic eggs available too. Aside from the obvious benefit (reduced amounts of pesticides and other chemicals involved in production) of organic meats and dairy products, some debate the exact health benefits. I know more individuals would buy them if the prices were decreased. Remember the movie, "The Dirty Dozen"? I will now tell you the Most Contaminated Dirty Dozen fruits and vegetables:
1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Sweet Bell peppers
4. Celery
5. Strawberries
6. Nectarines
7. Pears
8. Spinach
9. Imported Grapes
10. Potatoes
11. Cherries
12. Lettuce

So, carefully clean these before consuming raw or cooking. Not with just with water alone. Use a vegetable/fruit spray and follow package directions, or even 1 part Clorox to 9 parts warm water and then rinse carefully.

The Clean Dozen (Least Contaminated)
1. Avocado 2. Pineapples 3. Mango 4. Papaya 5. Bananas 6. Kiwi
7. Cabbage 8. Broccoli 9. Onions 10. Sweet Peas 11. Asparagus
12. Sweet Corn

Both sweet corn and peas are frozen. Wow, the least contaminated contain more sugar than #2,#3,#4 and #5.

So, changing lifestyles is not easy.

The needlepoint bookmark, BOOKS, is a favorite of everyone. Where do we get our information and knowledge? Books, of course. Putting the knowledge into action is hard but must be started. I didn't give this bookmark to anyone. It is on www.etsy.com/shop/RickFratCreativeDuo

Photo credit: Rick Byrd

Until tomorrow