To buy organic or not to buy organic, that is the question

I often am asked if it's really that important to buy organic fruits and vegetables. First of all I tell them what we call "organic food" my grandparents called "food".  Times have changed in the way mass vegetables and fruit are produced and so has Americans physical health. There are many reasons why we are now a nation that is 2/3's overweight with a soaring rise in type II diabetes and an upsurge in degenerative diseases. One way an individual can start taking responsibility for their health is by choosing organic foods. There are some non-organic foods that are safer to buy while some really should be organic.

I really enjoy reading Dr. Don Colbert M.D.'s books such as Toxic Relief and Get Healthy Through Detox and Fasting. He gives some reasons on why organic is important and some options you can buy non organic:

He says organic produce is best because it is grown without pesticides and herbicides. Growers are allowed to use up to 400 pesticides on crops. Each year in the United States, two billion pounds of these products are sprayed on the food we eat. A study of government-collected information found residue on almost 75% o conventionally grown produce.

Here are the highest with pesticide residues. Buy these organic when possible:

Apples

Bell Peppers

Celery

Cherries

Grapes (imported)

Nectarines

Peaches

Pears

Potatoes

Red Raspberries

Spinach

Strawberries

When buying commercial go for thicker peels: Bananas, Oranges, Tangerines, Lemons, Grapefruits, and Watermelons.

If you still can't afford organic try to buy domestic fruits and veggies that will bring down the pesticide residue some. 

Food Journal

So here’s the results for my first day of incorporating those 4 healthy habits. I have to say that the last 15 minutes of cardio was a bit painful but afterwards I sure did feel like a million bucks. Gotta love those endorphins. So here’s the stats:

Breakfast: slice of Ezekiel Bread Cinnamon Toast with a teaspoon of peanut butter: (yummy), 1 1/2 eggs scrambled and 1/2 slice of orange

Lunch: 1/2 can of chicken chili on a handful of brown rice with a mixed green salad, 2 dollops of humus, 3 Suzie’s Organic non yeast crackers, fresh berries and 1/4 of a banana. My lunch is the one on the right.

Snack: Half a Banana

Dinner: Thai Basil Tofu on Brown Rice. I had half of the portion and a Mixed Green Salad.

H20: over 8 glasses (boy that makes you go to the bathroom a lot)

Cardio: One full hour on the treadmill mostly running.

I want to know what you had to eat today, send me your comments.