I’ve vacillated back and forth several times in the past year over whether or not to go organic with my food. Part of me questions if it’s really that big of an issue while another part of me thinks there surely must be some connection to our food/water sources and the increase of disease in modern society. As someone who with a chronic illness (CFIDS) and having a sister with Multiple Sclerosis, it’s definitely something worth looking at more closely, IMO.

Over the years, I’ve had varying conversations with friends about the link between additives/dyes, pesticides, irradiation, etc. used on our food and the surge of autoimmune diseases, cancer, childhood obesity, etc. Some think the surge in disease isn’t truly a surge, but only an increase in the actual diagnosis & reporting due to better/more accessible medical care. Others are adamant that it’s absolutely connected to the changes in our food and toxins in our environment.

Lately I’ve been listening to the Jillian Michaels podcasts of her radio show here in Los Angeles. She is one who is adamant about the importance of going organic whenever possible. She has discussed on several different shows about how various chemicals and pesticides affect our hormones and endocrine systems. Now, I realize Jillian is a personal trainer and not a doctor or nutritionist, but the things she says seem to make sense to me.

On a couple of different occasions when people would ask questions about eating organically, Jillian provided a quick list of organic “musts”. Here are her recommendations:

* Thin-skinned fruits & vegetables, such as:

* Apples
* Cherries
* Imported Grapes
* Peaches
* Pears
* Berries
* Bell peppers
* Celery
* Potatoes

* Leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, etc. – ALWAYS wash well even if the bag says it’s pre-washed)
* Dairy products (eliminates hormones & antibiotics found in non-organic dairy products)
* Meats (again, eliminates hormones & antibiotics found in non-organic meats)

She also discussed that there are some foods that it just doesn’t make sense to spend the extra money on for the organic version. Non-organic foods with thicker skins or peels that are removed prior to eating are generally safe for consumption, as are foods that generally low in risk for pesticide residue. Here is a list of some “safe” non-organic foods:

* Bananas
* Kiwi
* Mango
* Papaya
* Pineapple
* Asparagus
* Avocado
* Broccoli
* Cauliflower
* Corn
* Onion
* Peas
* Seafood

After some consideration over the past couple of days, I’ve decided to give going organic another try and move more toward eating organically when it makes sense. It may not keep me from ever having cancer or help my CFIDS, but I can’t imagine it will hurt anything for me to take in fewer chemicals.

If you want even more information about food additives, pesticides, etc., here are a couple of links:

Organic.org
Food News (includes a printable guide of foods with the most & least pesticides)

I hope everyone celebrating has a safe and Merry Christmas tomorrow.