Why is it essential to eat organic and seasonal?

Circa 60 years ago, the term “organic” didn’t exist. However, unfortunately now - there are far too many pollutants, preservatives, pesticides, nitrates that could is causing havoc to every cell in our bodies. Given the life expectancy is the longest it ever has been, but health and thriving is the worst in 80 years.

The term organic still indicates that something has been grown in chemical-free ground, so organic products are still worth pursuing.

The Soil Association in Britain has drawn attention to the fact that a one-year-old could easily receive a maximum lifetime’s dose of eight pesticides from just twenty commonly eaten fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Recent research suggests that organic food is better for your gut – the microbiome. Eating organic reduces exposure to pesticides, which disrupt the gut flora and cause health issues (brain fog, bloating, weight, heart disease, poor wound healing, depression, anxiety etc etc!).

Healthy soils, typically where organic cultivation happens, produce healthier food. Ie. Your medicine!

I love the work the Environmental Working Group does, they produce reports and are an excellent resource of facts, as well as they have a database of chemicals that are dangerous for human conception, whilst pushing for national policy change.

It is hard to purchase EVERYTHING organic. So always think of the “Clean 15” and “Dirty 12”, ensuring that you purchase all of the Dirty 12 ingredients organic.

If you can't afford the extra that organic foods cost, then add garlic to your normal supplies; with its sulfur compounds and antioxidant chemistry, it will detoxify some of the harmful compounds. There are also fruit and vegetable wash concentrates that help remove chemicals, waxes, dust, atmospheric pollutants, and exhaust fumes. For those who are able to do so, growing your own using an allotment or your garden is cheap and fun. The herb milk thistle can also be useful, as it greatly assists the liver in its detoxifying role, which is essential for keeping pace with all the pollutants.

EAT seasonably

better taste

Ask any chef and they’ll tell you that fruit and veg are at their freshest and tastiest when they’ve just been picked, so why settle for sickly looking strawberries in Winter or unappetising asparagus in Autumn?

better value

Lower production costs and more abundant crops helps to keep the price down. A basket of fruit and veg bought in season can be as much as a third cheaper than the same basket bought out of season.

better for the planet

Eating seasonably is a great way of eating sustainably. Growing fruit and veg in season requires lower levels of artificial inputs like heating, lighting, pesticides and fertilisers than at other times of the year.

 Above all, just have fun on your exploration towards thriving and healthy living!