When you start eating organic, it’s easy to go crazy and try to buy everything organic under the sun. While going organic is a step in the right direction, there are some food items and products that are simply not worth the higher price tag. However, there are products that you should buy organic when you get the chance because of the high levels of toxins they might contain. Here are some examples of foods you should buy organic and ones you shouldn’t.
Do Buy: Beef
Beef and meat in general is something you should always buy organic. Beef is particularly risky because of the high level of hormones that is fed to them to increase muscle mass. Cows are routinely given a bunch of oestrogen like agents that could be correlated with higher levels of cancer.
So, if you can get your hands on organic, grass-fed beef then this is an area where you can splurge a little. The same holds true for sausage as well, so if you can’t get organic sausage from your butcher, you can get great organic sausage at Costco for cheap.
Don’t Buy: Onions
You shouldn’t cry over non-organic onions, well not from a pesticide point of view that is. Onions, according to the Environmental Working Group, contain way less pesticides than other types of produce. Not only that, their thick skin and many levels prevent pesticides from penetrating to the core. So, if you’re really concerned about onions, you can simply peel them off and take out the first layer and you’ll take care of a large portion of pesticides right there.
Do Buy: Strawberries
Strawberries are an example of a food that should preferably be bought organic. Why? Well, for one, strawberries can have up to 13 pesticides on them, which is mainly due to the particular texture of their skin.
The skin of strawberries is made up of bumps and holes which not only allow pesticides to penetrate deeper, but also make the pesticides much harder to wash off. As a result, you end up ingesting most of these chemicals.
Don’t Buy: Pineapple
The reason pineapple is on the don’t buy list is for the same reasons non-organic strawberries should be avoided; their skin. However, the skin of pineapples is so thick that practically no pesticides can penetrate further than the peel. As a matter of fact, according to the Environmental Working Group, 89% of all pineapples they tested were totally clean and safe for consumption.
Do Buy: Milk
Milk and other dairy products should be bought organic as well for a variety of reasons. As a matter of fact, it has been estimated that between 60% to 70% of the extraneous oestrogen we consume every day comes from dairy. This is mainly because some of the hormones given to the cows make their way out into the milk we drink. The only solution is to go for organic non-dairy products or go for all organic dairy options. For the purest and healthiest milk try grass-fed raw milk that is fresh from organically raised dairy cows.
Now that you know which items you should and shouldn’t buy organic, you’ll be able to spend more on the organic foods that matter while reducing your overall grocery bill.
