Should you go organic?
1st Jan 2015 Wellbeing
It's one of the biggest food debates going—will switching to organic produce really affect your health, or are you better off saving the pennies? Susannah Hickling has the answers.
Organic produce often contains lower levels of pesticides and toxic metals and more health-promoting antioxidants. But you might be surprised to learn that it’s sometimes just as safe to stick with conventional items—and shave a few pennies off your grocery bill.
Opt for organic…
Beef
Organic beef will be free of the antibiotics or growth hormones that non-organic farmers often give to their cows, so there’s less exposure to drug-resistant bacteria. Infections that no longer respond to antibiotics are becoming more and more problematic for humans.
Potatoes
If you’re looking for roasties to go with your organic beef, you’d be better off buying organic spuds. They contain fewer pesticide residues.
Bananas
If it’s only your health you’re concerned about, there’s no need to buy organic bananas, as their thick skin protects against the pesticides used. BUT large quantities of chemicals are used to grow them, which is bad for the environment and plantation workers.
Blueberries
Organic blueberries tend to be smaller, and fortunately smaller blueberries contain more antioxidants—and fewer pesticides.
Apples
An apple a day is more likely to keep the doctor away if it’s organic—like potatoes, conventionally grown apples contain pesticide residues.
Carry on with conventional…
Cantaloupe melon
These vitamin C-packed fruits contain minimal pesticide residues.
Avocados
The flesh of this heart-healthy fruit is protected by a hardy outer skin.
Asparagus
Little or no pesticide is used on the parts we eat because asparagus grows so quickly.
Mushrooms
Fungi have little exposure to pests, insects or diseases as they’re grown indoors.
Honey
It’s not really worth spending more on organic honey, as you never know where the bees have been!