We often touch on organic food, here at ecoki. We’ve discussed the benefits of enjoying a low-carbon diet, in our articles How low can you go? and Low-Carbon cooking.

And we have also brought to your attention the top foods to eat organic from the Environmental Working Group, educating us on the ones that are most prone to absorbing more pesticides.

But does organic mean you are healthier? Not necessarily. Increasing numbers of people are buying organic food, and the demand is growing. But is it worth it?

Organic food is believed to be better because it’s free of pesticides, additives and hormones. Animals are (often) treated in a more ethical manner. Soil is free of residues if past farmers used any sort of chemicals. The overall eco-impact is reduced.

Sure, these sound great, both for your health and the environment, but that doesn’t mean that everything that is organic is necessarily the healthy route.

Take Nabisco,  for example, the creators of well-known brands like Ritz crackers, Oreos, and Fig Newtons. Many of their brands include organic versions of the original, but (clearly) that doesn’t make them a healthy option, due to the same, or similar, levels of fats, sugars, and calories.

Having a healthy diet doesn’t necessarily mean adopting or omitting organic foods. It starts with the general foods that we eat. Just like organic food is making it’s way into grocers as a healthy eating advocate, obesity rates are steadily increasing. A recent article discussing obesity highlighted the staggering stats of overweightCanadians: In 2005, 63% of working men were obese or overweight, and 50% of working women were. Yes, these statistics aren’t terribly up-to-date, but rather stark nonetheless. And whether they are eating organically or not surely has nothing (or little, perhaps) to do with.

There is plenty of proof that a person’s health is based primarily on what they consume, but whether it is organic or not is not necessarily the case. Eating habits are based on the amount of fast food, processed food, sugar, and foods rich in saturated and trans fat, and cholesterol. By a simple addition of a whole-foods based diet, rich in plant proteins, they will reduce their eco-impact by using less waste, cutting their risk of diseases, and minimizing emissions from the meat industry. (To read more about the impact of meat on the environment, check our our article: Veganism and the planet).

Obviously, the food doesn’t have to be organic, but when it is, you’re also getting it GMO-, pesticide-, and hormone-free. And in the case of meat in Canada, you’re also getting it clone-free. But, from our knowledge of the many packaged products adorning the grocery shelves, it’s not always healthier for you.

You might also want to check out all the other labels – not just organic – to know exactly how it was produced and, if you eat meat, how the animals were treated. We outlined the labels in our recent artcle about label deciphering, which helps understand everything from Fair Trade to grass-fed.

Often, then, organic food can be a justifiable option, with obvious benefits. But bear in mind that organic doesn’t always, for example, reduce packaging or the length of travel it came to your grocery store. Would an organic gourmet chili flake BBQ rub from Australia be a viable option if you live in the US? Probably not, considering that the amount of emissions and packaging it would take to ship, and the packaging that it has in the grocery store. You’re better off supporting a local farmer, buying fresh chilis, and making your own.

So is it healthier? It can be – but just like any diet, it’s what you make of it. You’re best bet is opting for fresh produce from local farmers who produce it organically, and opting for animal products that are free of hormones, but also humanely raised. And simply, just put the processed foods back on the shelf- organic or not.

Image courtesy of veggie-terrain.blogspot.com

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