Why Is Buying Organic Important?
In this post, I explain why I spend the extra money on going organic and why I think buying organic is important.
Again, with a post like this, the only reason I’m sharing why I think buying organic is important is because it is a huge part of my family’s lifestyle. You may even notice I partner with a few brands every so often and I think it’s important for you to know as well, (as a follower) that I search for that in the companies I work with!
Being organic is a huge priority for me and because of it, you’ll see many gardening posts as well. I hate depending on others for my food, especially when I’m not 100% sure where it came from, I’m unsure of the farm it was grown at, or what practices they used to take care of the crop.
Not only that, but even if it was grown organically, you can’t be too sure on what they’ve sprayed after it’s harvested to keep it looking fresh for as long as possible.
The best bet for my and my family is to grow ourselves, and then outside of that we support our local farmers, and then taking it a step further we only purchase from companies that hold the same values as us, like providing organic products.
Why Should You Worry About Organic?
The biggest reason I think it’s important to discuss? It’s EVERYWHERE. What do I mean by “it?” The opposite of organic, and that’s glyphosate (aka weed killer).
- food
- water
- vaccines
- yards
- parks
- schools
- and more!
The History of Glyphosate
The product you have probably heard of most when it comes to weed killers is glyphosate.
Glyphosate (Roundup) was originally patented as an industrial pipe cleaner.
Monsanto discovered that this pipe cleaner could be used as a great weed killer. It was brought under the name “Roundup” in 1974.
Later, in the 1980’s glyphosate started being used as a drying agent, 7-10 days before harvest on wheat and barley.
Show Me The Safety Studies
As a mom, I ask myself “What safety studies have been done with glyphosate?”
There have been studies, but Monsanto ended it after just 3 short months. A former executive of Monsanto states “You cannot say that Roundup is a carcinogen, we do not have the necessary testing on the formulation to make that statement.”
Let’s look more in depth in the testing that was done. There are many examples of tests being “botched” but one that stands out to me is they fudged the skin absorption test by baking cadaver skin so it wouldn’t absorb the Roundup.
Why Is Buying Organic Important Video
Let’s Look At The Science
Unfortunately, in this day-and-age, you’re going to get scientists promoting a variety of things. I always look at their ulterior motives. Yes, that takes digging deeper into the person sometimes. Researching is much harder nowadays.
But from what I’ve read, many scientists and researchers believe that glyphosate is disrupting our ability to thrive and even survive as a species.
There is scientific evidence to show that it is harmful at ultra-low levels at .1 parts per billion – while many other popular foods tested measure 289.47 parts per billion as high as 1,125 parts per billion.
But The Regulatory Agencies Say It’s Ok?
Yes, they do. You can’t just take their word for it. Always question! A lot of the people who work for Monsanto, also hold a federal position. To me, that is worrisome. Do they get kick-back for promoting Monsanto or approving it? You decide.
There Are Many Court Cases Against Monsanto
If none of the above gets your attention, consider the 13,000 cases that are currently in court for Monsanto. The first case was with Dewayne Johnson who was awarded $289 million after using it as a former school groundskeeper.
What’s So Bad About Glyphosate?
As already mentioned, I talked about it removing minerals from your body.
Furthermore, it acts like an antibiotic and disrupts the microbiome. It’s also an endocrine disruptor. I talk a little about endocrine disruptors in this post. If you have any sort of hormonal imbalance, organic is definitely worth transitioning to.
It also causes cancer. I unfortunately follow a few moms on Instagram who have had a child who suffered with cancer (@kaitlynschrock, @haven.huis, @momcologist_on_a_mission).
The thing I hate most is that it bioaccumulates. It stays in your body and with each new exposure, it increases your toxic load.
Since safety studies have not been done sufficiently, we don’t know the negative effects of our future generations.
Washington State University researchers did however, expose pregnant rats to glyphosate. More than 90% of the rats’ great grandchildren developed one or more diseases ranging from tumors to prostate disease to ovary disease and major birth defects.
I’d hate to see how this affects our children.
You Can Test For Glyphosate
I understand I touch on some tough topics, but again, I’m always here with the solutions so you can feel more empowered and act on your faith.
Great Plains Labratory has a test that you can do called the Glyphosate Test (not affiliated). All you need is a physician to sign off and they’ll send you the test and you mail it back to the company.
Look For Organic On The Food Labels
Nobody is going to advocate for you and your family except yourself! I’m not trying to convince you of anything, just presenting the information I’ve found.
Take it or leave it, but if you see this is a real problem like I do then let’s do something about it!
Always look at your food labels and read the ingredients. A really tricky thing that companies try to fool the consumer with is by labeling it non-GMO. That does not mean it is organic. It just means it’s not genetically modified. Non-GMO can still have:
- artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- sythentic fertilizers or sewage slude
- toxic pesticides
- antibiotics or hormones from animals
Non-GMO also is not regulated by law. Always look for the organic or non-glyphosate certified label.
Consider Buying Organic For More Than Just Produce
When I used to think of organic, produce was the only thing that came to mind. In actuality, we need to consider everything! I mentioned that glyphosate was also used as a drying agent. Many products that use glyphosate for that purpose are:
- wheat
- barley
- beans
- flax
- lentils
- oats
- peas
- sugar cane
- canola oil
- soybeans
These ingredients you can easily find in many processed foods. To be safe, I always make sure what I’m eating is organic.
How To Save Money Going Organic
Now I know that the biggest complain about going organic is that it’s more expensive. I look at it as investing in myself and my family. I’d rather pay a little extra now then huge health bills later in life when I have health complications.
I also completely understand the argument and that’s why I’ve started growing my own produce. I’m definitely not where I want to be, but you have to start somewhere. Organic, heirloom seeds cost only a couple dollars and you can continue to grow those plants forever as long as you keep saving the seeds.
Another thing to consider when trying to save money on organic, is to purchase only the produce that is well known to be heavily sprayed.
The Environmental Working Group comes out with a list every year called the dirty dozen. This is simply a list that they’ve dubbed to be the worst sprayed and should be given priority when buying organic.
Dirty Dozen Food List
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale, collard, and mustard greens
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Grapes
- Cherries
- Peaches
- Pears
- Bell & hot peppers
- Celery
- Tomatoes
On the contrary, you can save a little more money knowing that their clean 15 list is known to have far less sprayed on them. Go ahead and buy the convention for a little more money saved.
Clean Fifteen Food List
- Avocados
- Sweet corn
- Pineapple
- Onions
- Papaya
- Sweet peas (frozen)
- Eggplant
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Kiwi
- Cauliflower
- Mushrooms
- Honeydew melon
- Cantaloupe
The Solutions
First things first, start eating organic. That simple transition will be so beneficial. You can also try your best at trying to detox the glyphosate in your system. I really love learning from Dr. Stephanie Seneff. I had recently heard a podcast episode where she was on the Myer Detox Podcast and it was super fascinating.
Things that were mentioned:
- Go on an organic diet
- Try bentonite clay
- Get on a probiotic or eat foods rich in probiotics.
- Take fulvic acid and humic acid
- Incorporate dandelions and barberries
- Concentrate on minerals: bone broth
- Focus on nutrient dense foods: mussels, clams, oysters
- Get regular sun exposure
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Let’s Chat
Have you gone organic? Was it worth it to you? I’d love to know, so share in the comments!
