Could this be the next step in your health journey?

Switching to Organic is the next step in my health journey.

Note: Very long but informative post.

If you have been following along for some time now you know I have been having intestinal issues for years. I am allergic to fragrances and several other things. I also have depression and anxiety and hormonal cystic acne. Wow, am I out of whack! This journey started over 10 years ago trying to get back into balance aka homeostasis.

I started by removing all fragranced items from my home which include laundry detergent, candles, soaps, air fresheners, and kitty litter. Yes, Kitty litter – we use pine pellets now since they are all-natural, turn to powder when wet, and do not have fragrance in them. We use essential oils to make room sprays, and add essential oils to our cleaning products, and my perfume!

Over the last 10 years, we have switched up our grocery shopping by eliminating seed oils, and processed foods, purchasing pasture-raised meat from local farmers, and rarely eating out. With all these changes that we have made within our household, I am still having issues with my gut, hormones, and mental health. The next step for us is switching to Organic.

Why are we taking this step to bettering our health?

Conventional farming uses Glyphosate aka “Round-up” So what is the problem with glyphosate? It has been linked to cancer, depression, and anxiety, and is in the process of being linked to killing bees, killing earthworms, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, endocrine disruption (messing with hormones), celiac disease, leaky gut, and other chronic conditions. If you are questioning this look up lawsuits against “Monsanto, Bayer” they have several lawsuits against them for chronic diseases in individuals from being exposed to glyphosate. Don’t get me started on the FDA as this will be even longer and I will lose you in my rambling of disgust. Did you know that “round-up” has been banned in 20 countries and workers that spray crops with it must wear Hazmat suits?

All I can say here is HOLY CRAP! The way our food was grown 20+ years ago is not the same as now. Everything is so toxic and causing severe chronic conditions that we do not even know we have until it is too late. That is scary, yet makes sense, when I was younger I could eat anything and had no issues and now I cannot have processed foods, or gluten, and do not digest food properly.

Look at how you feel after you eat something. Do you feel great or like crap? Do you have brain fog, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, joint pain, heartburn, or horrible PMS? Look at your food, even the healthy ones. If fruits and vegetables are giving you issues it is most likely the pesticides and chemicals they use when growing them. This goes for your meat as well.

What foods have the highest amounts of glyphosate?

If you have heard of the dirty dozen you may know some of them. The list is longer now so let me tell you which ones. Corn, wheat, soy, almonds, strawberries, spinach, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, nectarines, apples, grapes, peppers, cherries, peaches, pears, celery, tomatoes, apricots, asparagus, canola, cotton, and dates. That is 23 real food items. This does not even include the meat.

Let’s get into why it is affecting our meats. What are conventional farms feeding the animals we eat? Corn, wheat, and soy. The first 3 items are on the dirty list. So, what happens when these animals are eating toxic food? They become toxic and are pumped full of antibiotics and hormones to keep them growing until fat enough to be butchered. So, if you thought that going vegetarian or vegan is or was the answer it is not.

Most vegetarian and vegan foods are filled with wheat, corn, soy, and canola. So, you are still getting all those toxins several times a day. Not to mention cotton is on that list. This means even our clothes, towels, and bedding are covered in this crap. Wash all cotton products in as hot of water as possible before wearing or putting them against your skin to minimize that exposure.

Tina, what should we do to get away from all these toxins?

I am not telling you all of this to put you in a downward spiral of panic. As I stated in the beginning we have been making changes to our shopping for over 10 years and I am still not getting away from all those toxins. I have minimized our exposure a ton but will never live a life of absolutely no exposure. So do not panic and freak out.

Do what you can where you can. Switch to fragrance-free items as you need to replace them. For example, when you need to replace your laundry detergent buy a fragrance-free one. Huge note here: Check the ingredient list on the back of the label as “Greenwashing” is rampant these days. Greenwashing is where marketing makes a product look and sound “all-natural” “good” or “green” but when you turn it around and read the ingredients if it says “fragrance” or “parfum” It is chocked full of chemicals that are disrupting your system. Read more on that in my post “There is fragrance in what?”

Avoid buying processed foods as much as you can. Processed foods are filled with so many chemicals and pesticides. When you go to the grocery store shop the outer edges of the store. Buy “Real” food. If you can afford “Organic” do so. Even if you can not buy everything organic, prioritize what you get organic. For example, we eat a lot of cheese and produce so those items have been switched to organic for us. Shop your local farmer’s markets, this is a great way to get organic produce and pasture-raised meats that are free from toxins or have very low levels of toxins.

Do CSA boxes if you have that available in your area. These are boxes filled with locally grown seasonal fruits and vegetables. This a great way to get amazing products for a very reasonable price. The average in my area “Northern Wisconsin” is $15- $40 per box depending on the size and frequency. Subscribe to an “ugly” produce box, some examples: misfits market and imperfect foods.

What do I do if I have kids that are resistant to the switch?

Again, do what you can where you can. Getting them off all that sugar that is in cereals, yogurt, cheese, and all those yummy snacks will be difficult. Make small changes over time, as their taste buds change they will not want the “junk”. Also, let them know the difference between “healthy” and “junk” with the explanation that it is ok to want the “junk” occasionally but most of the time eating “healthy” options will keep us healthy. In my opinion, when you over-restrict they crave it more and end up binging when they can get their hands on those “junk” items.

Get those kiddos in the kitchen with you as well. Make it fun for them to help you prep, prepare, and cook those meals. Let them pick a meal and make it with real food to show them how great it does taste. Get them involved in the shopping process and let them pick out “healthy” snacks they want to try. Do not vilify the “junk” food, as we all have times when we want that cookie, chips, dip, or some greasy deep-fried French fries. It is OK to have this occasionally.

Eating out and Organic

Depending on your area you may not have “Farm to table” or “Organic” restaurants. If you are comfortable with eating non-organic occasionally then go out and have fun with your friends, family, or significant other. We all need those times when we connect with others to refill our cups and be happy. As I stated do what you can where you can. If you’re eating good real food most of the time enjoying those chips and salsa with a delicious spicy margarita is not going to kill you.

Fast food and gas station food is not great options, but if those are your only options when that hunger strikes, EAT! Order the salad, skip the coke, get a bag of nuts, cheese, or if your gas stations have hard-boiled eggs. Do not skip a meal for fear of it being filled with toxins. Skipping meals is worse than a small number of toxins.

Cost comparison of Organic vs Non-Organic

The extra expense that organic costs upfront at the store will be offset by the lower medical bills. There are organic options for very reasonable prices at many stores these days. For those that use EBT buying organic is covered. Yes, not every area in America has Organic options which needs to change. Be that change. Vote with your dollars by purchasing as much organic and locally-grown food as you can.

I do much of my grocery shopping at Aldi. My grocery bill has not gone up much to my and my husband’s surprise. There are a few things we feel that were not worth the price that we will not be purchasing again. During the spring to fall, we shop at our farmer’s markets. If you do not have an Aldi in your area some other great retailers have very reasonable prices for organic items. That list is Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Target, Costco, and Pick ‘n’ Save. These are all stores within Wisconsin, but several other states have these retailers.

Do what you can where you can

If eating organic is not something you can afford that is perfectly fine. Shop the outer rim of the grocery store purchasing ONLY real food. Avoid processed foods, make your dressings, thoroughly wash all your produce, and make small changes when and where you can. We are all human and can only do so much.

Living a life with no joy is not healthy. If you want that cookie, cake, chips and salsa, a spicy margarita, or whatever you find enjoyable DO IT! I am not the epitome of health; I am on a journey to better health! There are times I go out for dinner with my husband and have that spicy margarita or get the cheesecake for dessert. Most of the time we eat real food that we prepare at home and take to work for lunch. We have good quality snack options and try our best to avoid toxins when and where we can.

Tips:

Watch for greenwashing – when marketing makes a product seem healthy or green when they are not. Ex: Essential oil infused on front of bottle but in the ingredient list says “fragrance” or “parfum” aka fake scent (chemicals). The front of the package says “All Natural” but you flip it over and it is filled with chemicals that are not all natural.

Check the ingredient list – do not worry about the calories or nutrition label the ingredients are what matters.

Make small changes over time – this helps to cut down on waste in spending and products. When you run out of a product replace it with a better option. You do not have to go through your entire house and toss everything you have.

Have compassion – We are only human, meaning we are not perfect. If you cannot do everything you want to due to availability or finances that is OK! Do what you can where you can.

Wash all produce thoroughly – 1 cup of vinegar to 4 cups of water. Let soak for 15 + minutes. Rinse with water and lay out to dry. Second option: 1 teaspoon of baking soda to 2 cups of cold water. Let soak for 15 minutes then rinse and lay out to dry.

Wash all cotton products prior to putting them against the skin – the hottest water possible and soap will do the trick for most cotton products. If you feel it needs more you can soak it in baking soda overnight or put vinegar in your prewash and fabric softener sections of washing machines during the first wash.