Is an Organic Diet Really Better For You?

Lately it has become easier and easier to incorporate an organic diet into your everyday life. Although organic foods were once only found in small health food stores, today big chain supermarkets have organically grown fruits, vegetables, and more readily available. But just because it's available to you, does that mean you should buy it? Some studies claim there is no benefit to eating an organic diet, while other research reports that there is both an increased amount of nutrients in organic food as well as a decreased amount of toxins, making it the optimal choice for health. While the jury may still be out on that topic, many people choose to eat organic for their own peace of mind. By choosing certified organic products, shoppers know the foods they purchase were produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, pesticides, ionizing radiation, or sewage sludge. In the case of meat, poultry, eggs, or dairy products, organic certification means the animals involved weren't given growth hormones or antibiotics.

Of course, eating an organic diet is often more expensive that eating conventionally produced foods. So if you decide you'd like to incorporate some organic food in your diet, but you can't afford to buy all organic, you can follow tips set out by experts to maximize your organic dollars. The following foods are at a high risk for chemical exposure and should be purchased organic whenever possible:

When shopping for your new organic diet, be sure to look for products that feature a USDA organic seal. This seal ensures that the products were grown, handled, and processed along strict organic guidelines. It's also important to remember that foods labeled all-natural, hormone-free, or free-range aren't necessarily organic unless they have the USDA organic seal.