Is buying Organic worth the extra $$$?
By: Derek Maxfield
Fitness Together Beverly
950 Cummings Center
Beverly, MA 01915
978-922-3636
www.fitnesstogether.com/beverly
derekmaxfield@fitnesstogether.com
It seems like it’s all the crazy nowadays. The articles, books, and blogs have become quite
popular on the topic of organic vs. non-organic foods. Intriguing reads- certainly; but when you go to
purchase some of the products suggested – YIKES! Who knew cereal and pasta could be priced at $4.99
per box?
The first difference of organic foods versus non-organic foods is the fact that in the production
of organic foods, there are no synthetic hormones involved. In the traditional dairy and meat
production market the animals being sold as meat or its dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, cream) are
injected with synthetic hormones to quicken the growth process so that they can be sold to grocery
companies faster. Those same hormones also enlarge the animals so that they can be sold with as much
meat on them as possible to increase profits. Some hormones can even increase the size of a specific
section of the animal, such as the breast or thigh. The problem with this process is that when the
consumer – me and you – eats these animals OR its products such as milk, our bodies have to digest and
process these synthetic hormones that should not be going through the human digestive system.
Along with hormones, these animals that are not labeled organic are also given antibiotics to
fight disease. Initially, this sounds logical and beneficial, but further thought questions that logic.
Because there are traces of these products in the animals, whether it is in the milk or in the breast meat,
our bodies come across these anti-biotics and hormones when digesting. Should our bodies be ingesting
these antibiotics when we are not in the need of them? Will bacteria adapt to antibiotics because of the
food we eat being injected with them so often? Organic meats and dairy products are not fed with
these antibiotics and hormones – saving our bodies from unneeded toxic chemicals to digest and
endanger our health.
To add to the debate - organic foods, specifically the animals as mentioned above, are fed grass
and vegetables – which differs again from the generic practices. Most animals are fed corn, not freerange grasses and vegetables. The problem with that it corn has almost NO nutritional value. This is the
main reason why animals fed with corn are injected with anti-biotics. Because they are receiving such
little nutrition, it is quite easy for them to develop sicknesses. Cows fed with corn are 70% more likely to
develop E. coli than cows fed with a grass diet: an astonishing statistic given the level of sickness that
can occur from exposure to E. coli bacteria.
So when I see an “organic” label, how can I be sure I am getting what I pay for? To be labeled
“organic” food has to be certified. There are very strict guidelines to be considered organic. They can
be found at this link from the United States Department of Agriculture:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop
So when making your next trip to the supermarket, you may want to rethink your list. It just
may help live a healthier AND longer life. With the ever rising costs of healthcare, spending a little bit
more on groceries can end up leading to less of a cost on your health insurance because a healthier you
means less trips to the doctor’s office.