Confused on whether to buy organic or not? - This will help
Have you ever gone grocery shopping, and stood in the fruit and vegetable aisle a little longer than expected because you didn’t know if it would be better to buy organic or non organic? Have you ever gawked at the price of some organic items and thought, that's ridiculous. I most definitely have. I spent a majority of my life striving to find a healthy balance of fruits and vegetables that provides the body with what it needs to survive in the best way possible, without breaking the bank. It wasn’t always easy, the process and research required long nights after I put the kids down, and in the end took months to perfect.
So I perfected the One and Done program first, because who doesn’t love the idea of a workout in 7 minutes. I mean I literally do my workout while cooking dinner for my family. Or right when I wake up, because to be honest, everyone has 7 minutes in their day at some point. Then it dawned on me, while I was cooking dinner one night and had two different bags of vegetables in front of me because my husband brought home an organic brand that day, that I realized the difference. Organic can be worth the extra dollar.
Foods that are organic contain fewer pesticides, fewer multi-drug resistant bacteria and no genetically modified organisms or foods. Organic foods also have less environmental impact than non-organic foods. While also ensuring they have no added antibiotics, hormones or synthetic additives. Now, I know that organic can be a little pricier, but let me ask you this, how important is your health to you? What price can you put on your health, life and longevity? Do you love yourself enough to spend more on certain items you place in your body over materialistic things you could find at any store? On average, women aged 16 and over spend 76% more than men of the same age, which means they’re spending roughly $571 more per year. While women aged 45-54 also spend the most at $793 per year on clothing. Now, if you were to take just a small portion of that and put it towards your groceries, you could not only look good in a stylish outfit but also feel good by giving your body what it needs on the inside too.
There is a growing body of evidence that shows some potential health benefits of organic foods when compared with conventionally grown foods. Studies have shown small to moderate increases in some important nutrients in organic produce. The feeding requirements for organic livestock farming, such as the primary use of grass and alfalfa for cattle, result in generally higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, a kind of fat that is more heart healthy than other fats. Compared with conventionally grown produce, organically grown produce has lower detectable levels of pesticide residue. With this being said, try to buy fruits and vegetables in season when possible. Make sure to ALWAYS wash and scrub fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water. This is because washing helps remove dirt, bacteria and traces of chemicals from the surface of fruits and vegetables.
Now I know this is a lot of information to take in, because I’ve told you how to buy but how do you put it all together? I got you covered with that too! I’ve created a nutrition based program. The MetaBoost connection is an amazing nutrition fitness system designed for women over 40. It focuses on foods and exercises that help balance hormonal issues and inflammation. All of the ingredients can be purchased at the grocery store. Now don’t be fooled, anyone can do this program for the benefit of weight loss and to help battle inflammation!
With that being said, there are some downfalls to buying fruits and vegetables organically. The price being the largest one. Organic foods are 47 percent more expensive than non-organic foods, so what if I told you that there was a way to get the best of both worlds? Harvard Health released an article stating, “You can still buy organic without overspending by being choosier about the types of organic products you buy. Every year, the Environmental Working Group releases its “Dirty Dozen”—a list of 12 fruits and vegetables with the highest contamination levels. These foods might be worth buying organic, while the “Clean 15″—which are lowest in pesticides—might not justify the extra cost.” Also choosing items that are in season are best organic, and items that are not in season attempt to buy fresh or frozen! Frozen fruits and veggies often have the same if not more vitamins and minerals than their fresh counterparts because fresh produce lose vitamins and minerals over periods of time, while the freezing process actually preserves them. And if ever possible aim to buy local! Local produce is sold at peak ripeness because this produce is only available in-season and not shipped from across the country or around the world. This means you’re not only getting the best flavor you’re also providing your body with the maximum amount of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals possible!
I know that finding the right foods is hard, which is why I have a surprise coming to Svelte soon that can guide you on the best ways to shop. The do’s and don’ts when you’re at a grocery store. But in the meantime, check out my MetaBoost program. It's a great way to get creative in a healthy way while also guiding you on the types of foods to eat!