Organic Produce

Organic Fruits, Organic Vegetables and Grains

Organic fruits, organic vegetables and grains ( organic produce ) are by far the healthiest for our bodies. These foods contain all of the protein, carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals our bodies need for good health. Therefore, your diet should consist primarily of organic fruits, vegetables and grain – only supplemented by animal products such as organic meats and organic dairy products.

Why isn't all produce grown organically?
The majority of commercially available produce is not organic produce. It has been treated with pesticides, fungicides and chemical fertilizers. The reason is simple – mass farming techniques consist of creating large fields of a single type of plant. With such a high concentration of plants, the soil becomes depleted of nutrients that the specific plant requires. Additionally, such a high concentration of single types of plants attracts pests from far and wide that like to feed on the specific plant. Organic produce growing techniques have not matured quickly enough to keep pace with this challenge. If all farms were to grow organic produce, the demand for organic pesticides and fertilizers would far outstrip the supply. Moreover, given the bulk and concentration of these organic products, our shipping infrastructure would be inadequate to move the necessary fertilizers and pest control products to their destinations. Therefore, in order to preserve the large fields, growers have relied more and more on chemicals to grow fruits, vegetables and grain. These toxic chemicals accumulate in the produce and we consume these chemicals with our food. As with other toxins, these chemical contaminants build up in our bodies and increase the load on our internal cleansing and detoxification organs.

A long-term solution to this is to vote with your wallet. By this I mean buy organic produce. If you do not have the luxury of living near a year-round organic farmer’s market, then many grocery stores are starting to stock organic produce. Look at the tiny sticker on the fruit or vegetable, and see if there is a 5-digit number starting with a “9”. This indicates that the item is organic. A 4-digit number indicates that it is commercially grown. While it may cost more to do buy organic, remember you are what you eat. This will ensure that you are reducing the toxins that your body is exposed to, while also supporting the improvement in organic farming research necessary to solve some of the problems limiting the consumption of organic produce today. This will further encourage the use growing of organic fruits, organic vegetables and grains.

Organic Fruits and Organic Vegetables
You may have heard of something called a Raw Food Diet. Raw fruits and vegetables contain certain enzymes that are altered by heat. In addition, heat kills nutritional value. Therefore, the longer you cook something, the more nutritional value is lost. Eating a portion of the organic fruits and vegetables you consume in a raw form helps boost your nutritional intake and gives your body the enzymes it seeks from those foods. Of course, plant products such as grains and certain types of vegetables must be cooked in order to allow your digestive system to process them. However, most fresh organic vegetables and organic fruits are good sources of these necessary enzymes. So whenever possible, try and eat a portion of your organic fruit and organic vegetable intake in raw form. Juicing is a great way to increase your intake of organic fruits and organic vegetables in a raw form.

Organic fruits are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Fruits are generally easier to digest than other types of foods. If fruits are eaten with other foods, they tend to become partially digested sooner than the other food and can putrefy in your digestive system. Therefore, organic fruit should generally be eaten separately from other foods, and on an empty stomach. In general, wait at least 2 hours after eating any other food, before eating organic fruit. However, you can eat other foods as little as half an hour after eating organic fruit.

Maximize Availability and Minimize Cost
One of the major issues with organic produce is that it is sometimes hard to find. Moreover, when you do find it, it is substantially more expensive. So, make your money go farther. Here is a chart on the fruits and vegetables that are most and least contaminated. For the types of fruits and vegetables that tend to be most contaminated, make sure to consume organic produce. For those types that are less contaminated, it may be safer to compromise to increase availability and reduce cost.

Organic Beans, Nuts and Seeds
Beans, nuts and seeds are sometimes overlooked, when organic produce is discussed. However, beans, nuts and seeds are excellent sources of fiber, protein and essential fatty acids.

Examples of Beans, Nuts and Seeds to Eat*
Garbanzo beans / Chick peas
Pinto beans
Black beans
Pinto beans
White beans / Cannelini beans
Navy beans
Almond
Sesame
Pumpkin seed
Sunflower seed
Filbert / Hazelnut
Chestnut
Walnut
Black walnut
Brazil nut
Cashews
Pecans
Peanuts
Pistachios
Macadamia nuts
Coconut
Pine nut
*Remember to eat organic vegetables whenever possible

Getting Enough Fiber
A new focus has been placed on fiber intake in our diets. Fiber acts like our internal scrub brush. It binds to various toxins and fats our bodies do not need and helps our bodies eliminate them. Organic grains are an excellent source of fiber. A breakfast consisting of a variety of organic grains will give you the fiber you need to help cleanse your body and keep your colon healthy. Additionally, certain grains, such as oats, have been proven to reduce cholesterol. Information on fiber will help you better understand the types of fiber, its benefits, and the fiber content of certain popular foods.

Examples of Grains with Plenty of Fiber*
Whole wheat
Oats (groats, steel cut oats or rolled oats)
Brown rice
Corn
Barley
Millet
Amaranth (high in protein)
Buckwheat / kasha
Rye
Quinoa
*Remember to eat organic vegetables whenever possible


Produce to Avoid
Non-organic produce
Dried or dehydrated fruit that has been bleached or sulfured.
Canned fruits and vegetables
Packaged fruits and vegetables that contain artificial additives
White flour
Polished white rice

Eating organic fruits, organic vegetables and grains is
The Natural Path to good health.


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