We get it. Buying organic is expensive. If you’re on a budget, (and, who’s not?) it can be tough to always opt for products that carry the certification. Luckily, going organic isn’t an all or nothing proposition. By just starting with the foods your family eats regularly, you can significantly minimize their exposure to harmful pesticides, ingredients and hormones. To help you get started, here are 3 easy organic swaps well worth a few extra pennies and a healthier self.
Apples. The forbidden fruit is best left untouched if not organic. Apples regularly top the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list—the fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residues. Check here to see if any of the produce you regularly purchase made an appearance this year. Of course unless it’s organic, all fruits and vegetables are sprayed with potentially toxic herbicides and pesticides. Beyond the produce aisle, consider your family’s exposure to juices and frozen foods. We think the benefits of eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables should always outweigh any potential costs which is why all Made In Nature products are 100 percent Certified Organic.
Peanut Butter: Before you smear peanut butter on that organic apple, double check to see that it’s also certified. Conventional peanuts are notorious for being high in pesticides and riddled with aflatoxin a carcinogenic fungus. You don’t have to worry about these concerns with organic peanut butters which are also typically lower in added sugar and free from hydrogenated oils.
Beef. How about growth hormones and antibiotics with that steak? If you’re eating conventional beef there’s a good chance your meat contains traces of both. Approximately two-thirds of U.S. cattle are given growth hormones. The EU banned the importation of hormone-treated meat back in 1988 due to potential health risks, so why is it still available here? Milk from hormone-treated dairy cows is associated with an increase in IGF-1, a hormone considered to be a high risk factor for breast, prostate, colon, lung, and other cancers.
Inhumane living conditions for cattle necessitate the use of antibiotics which are given regularly as a preventive measure. Experts suspect our consumption of livestock antibiotics may be one cause for the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria—also known as superbugs.
Avoid these concerns by (you guessed it) simply looking for the organic seal.
