There is no sincerer love than the love of food
~ George Bernard Shaw
So rightly said!
However, with the advancement of the human being and the technology, the love for the food has grown but the 'sincerity' has been lost. Why? Because we are feeding our body what is not meant for- the chemicals!
Can we do something now? Yes! We can start all over again by moving towards a healthier choice- Organic Food.
Organic food is indispensable for a healthy living. When you go out to buy organic food, you know that you are making a better choice for your health.
Why Organic food?
Well, the benefits are evident. Opting for organic food means higher quality food that does wonder to your health as well as to the environment in myriad ways.
Organic food is grown in clean, healthy environment and they are not treated with any chemical pesticides, hormones, antibiotics or fertilizers. They are the most natural form of foods so you don’t need to worry about them being genetically modified either.
However, as you go out to the supermarket to buy organic food, you need to make the realistic choices. You must know how to read labels and what to buy in your budget as well. So start reading food labels and keep these 7 tips in mind the next time you go grocery shopping and buy organic foods
- LOOK FOR ORGANIC PERCENTAGE LABELS IN PACKAGED FOODS
While buying packed organic food, you must learn to choose wisely. Usually, the packaged organic foods come in three different categories – 100% organic, 95% organic and 70% organic. So you know how much you are spending for the organic ingredients.
You can be completely assured about the 100% ones. 95% ones contain only 5% of approved food substances. 70% organic products, as it is clear, have 30% of its ingredients from an approved list of foods.
The 100% and 95% ones are generally certified with USDA’s green and white organic symbol. While in 70% category, if it carries the label “made with organic ingredients only” then you can go ahead and buy them as well.
- BUY VEGGIES OR FRUITS WITH ORGANIC LABELS
Buying organic veggies and fruits are sure way to rid your body of toxins. Why? Well, organic fruits and vegetables are not exposed to pesticides and antibiotic residues, so you know your body is exposed to the healthiest produce. Look for “USDA-certified organic” label on veggies or fruits to ensure that.
It is government approved certifier that will inspect the farms as well as markets for compliance. Alternatively, some veggie or fruits may carry “Organic Fresh” label which means the same thing.
- ORGANIC DAIRY IS THE CLEAN DAIRY
Dairy products are exposed to a lot of unnatural substances in inorganic farming. It becomes imperative to buy clean organic dairy products. Around 30% of dairy farms use hormones like rBGH to stimulate milk production in cows, unlike organic dairies that never opt for such practices. Cows are fed with organic feed and given adequate grazing time.
So, look for labels such as “natural”, “no antibiotics”, “hormone free” to be sure that no iffy hormone is used in case of eggs, milk, cheese, butter and other dairy products.
- AVOID THE DIRTY DOZEN
The annual list of 12 vegetables and fruits by Environmental Working Group (EWG) can be your best resource for buying organic produce. Every year, a list is made based on the concentration of pesticides, in particular, organic fruits and veggies.
The list of 12 items is released that contain highest pesticide concentration and should be bought organic instead.
- DOUBLE CHECK FOR CERTIFIED ORGANIC MEAT
When you are going to buy Organic Meat products, you must be sure that they are fed what we eat! Yes. Organic meats come from livestock that is fed organic grass or feed. They are not treated with unnatural antibiotics or growth supplements.
Look for the labels like “natural meat” which is a USDA certification for clean meat. Also, they might be labeled with “cage free”, “no antibiotics”, “vegetarian fed”, “free range” or “free roaming” as well. That means that they are safe for consumption.
- MAKE THE CLEANEST 15 CHOICES
Clean 15 comprises a list of food products with the lowest amount of pesticide residue concentration. This is also released by EWG annually and is available on their website (EWG.org) as a guide for shoppers.
The list is updated annually and gives you insights about which products are safest to buy. So keep that list in mind the next time you go shopping for organic foods in the supermarket.
- PICK YOUR SEAFOOD WISELY
The elevated level of toxins in seafood is posing a great threat to our health. The contaminants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury are found in salmon and other varieties of seafood.
The trouble with buying seafood is that USDA has not started certifying them so you can’t find those usual labels on them. Florida and some other states have their own organic certification for seafood.
The rule of the thumb is to remember the list of seafood varieties having lowest mercury and toxin levels. The list of safe to consume seafood varieties contain wild salmon, U.S. Shrimp, crab, farmed catfish and tilapia.
We hope our buying guide with 7 key things to remember while buying organic food will help you make the choicest picks for your kitchen. Reading labels is important and so are the organic products for your longevity. Organic and wholesome food is the only key to good and healthy living.