The Difference Organic Food Can Make

Although some people may not want to admit it, our eating habits really do make all the difference in the world. What we eat not only has a direct impact on our personal health and well-being but it affects our children, our families, those we love, the economy, the amount of waste that gets generated every day, the land on which we live and well, the ramifications go on and on. Of course we’ve all heard that it is best to eat organic foods and that “natural” isn’t the same as organic. We also know in our hearts that fresh fruits and vegetables are much better for us than processed foods or foods filled with preservatives, pesticides, hormones and other unnatural products. That doesn’t change the fact that many of us (yes, me included) have continued to eat foods that aren’t necessary the best for us.

In my own life I’ve recently had to make some changes in my diet due to health issues. As part of my treatment for thyroid cancer I had to go on a low-sodium diet for a few weeks. That truly opened my eyes to how much sodium is in everyday items. Trust me when I say you would be amazed (and not in a good way). Then due to liver damage I have had to make some drastic changes and start opting for items that I never would have even considered eating before. I have to say that the taste difference alone is really noticeable. Even my husband and my kids have started to notice the difference and have begun to crave more and more organic meats, fruits, vegetables and other non-processed foods. Now I notice the negative effects right away when I decide to “treat” myself to one of my old favorites.

What are the benefits of eating organic? Can it make that much of a difference to your own health to eat organic? Can eating organic really make a difference in the world in which we live? Why should you try and eat more organic foods? Let’s take a look at just a few of the differences organic can make…

• Pesticide-free organic food protects vital gut bacteria
• Nutritional benefits of eating organic
• Human health benefits of eating organic foods
• Researchers find a link between pesticides and Parkinson’s disease
• 17 Essential reasons to eat organic food
• True organic food benefits environment, sustainability
• GMO Basics: What you need to know
• Herbicides and Pesticides: The truth about toxic chemicals

If you are interested, here are 7 of the best foods to buy organic and the following infographic will give you a little insight into how choosing organic helps the world:

The nice thing about organic foods is that you don’t have to worry about any of the scary chemicals, hormones, pesticides and other unnatural ingredients that are commonly put into processed or GMO foods these days. You get to taste the natural food as it was originally intended to be. I know my body has benefited from organic. As the saying goes, “Try organic food…or as your grandparents used to call it, ‘Food’” To help you eat more organic foods, here are some tips on how to eat organic on a budget. I’d love to know the difference organic has made in your life!

Organic food image by Richard Smith via Flickr Creative Commons