NEW YORK, March 16, 2010
"Shocking" Reasons to Go Organic
Men's Health Magazine's Matt Bean on Why They're
Worth the Extra Cost
(CBS) Eating organic foods has lots of
benefits, from protecting the environment to helping you stay slim and
healthier.
Now, Rodale Inc. CEO and Chairman Maria Rodale is out with a book called
"Organic Manifesto: How Organic Farming Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the
World, and Keep Us Safe."
Men's Health magazine, which is published by Rodale, Inc., is
spotlighting those benefits, especially the ones for men.
Matt Bean, a senior editor of the magazine, spelled out many of those
benefits on "The Early Show" Tuesday.
Tips for Going Organic
Although organic food is more expensive than conventional food, Bean
says making organics a part of your diet can have a big impact on your
health and that of your family.
From the book, Bean says, "We discovered ... some pretty shocking and
convincing arguments" for going that route.
Health Benefits of Organic Foods:
More Nutrients: Studies show that organic
foods may have increased levels of nutrients like antioxidants than
conventionally grown foods
Fertility Health: Pesticides found in
conventionally grown foods have been shown to reduce fertility
Immune System Protection: The chemicals
in non-organic foods may also harm your immune system, leaving you more
susceptible to illness and some forms of cancer
Hormones and weight gain: New research
has shown that some agricultural chemicals could actually be making you
fat by interfering with your hormone levels.
Unknown effects of GMOs: Many people are
concerned about genetically modified foods, especially since many of
them have never been tested on humans. Organic foods are never
genetically modified.
The Best Organic Basics :
When it comes to eating organic, the easiest and most effective way to
start is with the basics, explained Bean. Men's Health narrowed down
four areas where it really pays to go organic:
Meat/Poultry:
Organic beef comes from livestock that
eats an organic diet, and in June, new FDA regulations will mandate that
they spend at least 30 percent of their lives grazing on pasture
grasses. Thats important, because studies show grass-fed meat has 60%
more omega-3s, 200% more vitamin E, and 2 to 3 times as much of a
cancer-fighting fat called CLA that might even help you lose weight.
Likewise, organic chicken is healthier
than non-organic chicken. One study found that it has 28 percent more
omega-3 fatty acids.
Milk:
Studies show that organic milk has 50%
more vitamin E, 75% more beta-carotene, and 70% more omega-3 fatty acids
than regular. It also has more than double the amount of certain
antioxidants that have been shown to keep your eyes healthy as you age.
Organic milk is also free of commonly
used growth hormones, which increases infertility in cows and has been
linked to prostate and breast cancers in humans.
It costs about a dollar more per
half-gallon, but its worth it. Plus you can generally cut costs by
getting coupons online. Stonyfieldfarm.com, for instance, offers
printable coupons on their site.
Eggs:
Organic chickens, like cows, spend a
portion of their life grazing. That means that, along with their organic
feed, they have access to the chickens food of choice, which is a
cocktail of worms and grubs. And when animals eat their favorite foods,
humans benefit. According to a study from Penn State, eggs from grazing
chickens have twice as much vitamin E, 40 percent more vitamin A, and 3
times as many omega-3s. Plus they taste better!
Compared to mass-produced conventional eggs, organic usually costs a
couple extra bucks per carton. But again, thats a small price for the
health of your body and planet.
Fruits and Vegetables
"Dirty Dozen"
According to estimates by the
Environmental Working Group -- the agency that developed the "Dirty
Dozen" list -- you can reduce your pesticide exposure by 80 percent
simply by choosing organic versions of these 12 fruits and vegetables:
peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries,
cherries, kale, lettuce, imported grapes, carrots and pears.
As a general rule towards fruits and
vegetables, when it comes to edible skins youd be wise to choose
organic.
"Clean 15"
These 15 fruits and vegetables were the
lowest in pesticides, so it's not as important to buy organic versions
of them: onions, avocadoes, sweet corn, pineapples, mangoes, asparagus,
sweet peas, kiwis, cabbage, eggplants, papayas, watermelon, broccoli,
sweet potatoes, tomatoes
Most of these fruits and vegetables are
protected from pesticide contamination by thick skins.
Best Organic Packaged Foods
Choosing organic doesn't mean missing out on your favorite foods.
Companies have made giant strides in recent years to produce organic
versions of some of favorite meals, snacks, and beverages. Here are some
of our favorites - you'll find our other picks in the April issue of
Men's Health:
Best Breakfast
Kashi Whole Wheat Biscuits, Cinnamon Harvest
Eat healthy and save money! This box is
actually about 50 cents cheaper than Post Shredded Wheat
One serving has nearly 20% of your daily
fiber intake. Plus studies show that the cinnamon in here can help keep
your blood sugar stable.
Best Lunch
Amy's Roasted Vegetable Tamale
Amy's is one of our favorite brands --
the meals are delicious and make it possible to fit organic foods into
your diet even when you're too busy to cook.
They're not always 100% organic, but
Amy's makes an effort to keep it as close as possible. This one is 92%
organic. Plus it's under 300 calories and carries 8 grams of
stomach-filling fiber.
The tamales contain organic tomatoes,
which have 97% more of a class of antioxidants called flavanoids than
conventional tomatoes.
Best Condiment
Annie's Naturals Organic Dijon Mustard
You don't need to sacrifice taste when
you're putting together an organic sandwich - this Annie's organic
mustard tastes just as good as Grey Poupon.
Plus unlike a lot of the so-called
"gourmet" mustards on the market, it has zero added sugars, so it's
virtually calorie free.
Best Cheese
Applegate Farms Organic Mild Cheddar Cheese
Choosing organic cheese is probably even
more important than choosing organic milk, because cheese has a higher
concentration of fat, which carries the heaviest dose of the hormones
and antibiotics used in non-organic livestock.
This cheese is available in good
supermarkets across the country, perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches.
Best Treat
Newman's Own Organics Champion Chip Double Chocolate Mint Chip Cookies
These cookies definitely don't taste like
health food and are made entirely from organic ingredients.
Another reason we love Newman's: Most
store-bought cookies are made with partially hydrogenated oils and
contain small doses of trans fat. Newman's uses palm fruit oil instead,
which is lower in saturated fat than butter.
Best Alcoholic Beverage
Samuel Smith Organic Ale
Organic wine has been around for a while
now, but organic beer is gaining ground. This is a full-bodied British
brew made with organic barley, hops, and yeast.
Studies show that a beer or two a day can
actually help reduce your blood pressure. And dark beers like ales
contain higher levels of antioxidants than lagers.
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