Should you go organic?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Organic blueberries tend to be smaller, and fortunately smaller blueberries contain more antioxidants—and fewer pesticides.

An apple a day is more likely to keep the doctor away if it’s organic—like potatoes, conventionally grown apples contain pesticide residues.

These vitamin C-packed fruits contain minimal pesticide residues.

The flesh of this heart-healthy fruit is protected by a hardy outer skin.

Little or no pesticide is used on the parts we eat because asparagus grows so quickly.

Fungi have little exposure to pests, insects or diseases as they’re grown indoors.

It’s not really worth spending more on organic honey, as you never know where the bees have been!