What to Buy Organic: Navigating the Produce Aisle

Jan 28, 2015
2 min read

Eat organic! You've probably heard it a million times by now, especially if you are pregnant. Add it to your list of things to do during pregnancy and you may feel overwhelmed or possibly just sick of all the advice. While some "advice" may be worth simply shrugging off, eating organic is actually a pretty important topic to pay attention to. Let's take a look why...

What does organic mean?

According to the USDA National Organic Program, a certified organic food has been produced without the use of irradiation, sewage sludge, synthetic fertilizers, prohibited pesticides, or genetic engineering. [http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOPOrganicStandards]

Is it really that important for me to choose organic food during my pregnancy?

During pregnancy, your baby is being exposed to the same environmental toxins that you are. The pesticides that are on your produce are not only making their way into your body, but are also freely passing through the placenta into your baby's body. The developing child's chemical exposure is greater pound-for-pound than those of adults, meaning that your baby is receiving a higher concentration of environmental toxins. A baby's organs and systems are still developing in utero and are therefore prone to greater damage by chemical exposure, often allowing increased chemical exposure to the developing brain. This early exposure can lead to birth defects, diabetes, cancer, cognitive delay and a host of other problems.

There is SO much more to say about this topic. I recommend checking out http://www.ewg.org/research/body-burden-pollution-newborns for a much more in depth look at the effects of environmental toxin exposure during pregnancy.
For an interesting read on pesticide exposure and children's IQ, check out: http://healthland.time.com/2011/04/21/exposure-to-pesticides-in-pregnancy-can-lower-childrens-iq/

I can't afford to eat 100% organic. What should I do?

This is a very common concern for families desiring to make a change in their diet. Organic produce is often less accessible and less affordable, making it difficult to eat 100% organic, 100% of the time. Fortunately, there are many resources out there that can help you to make the wisest choices possible no matter your budget. A tried and true guide for buying organic produce is the annual Environmental Working Group shopping guide. This guide is backed by research and updated every year, making it a very reliable and helpful resource. The Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists below come from the EWG's 2015 Shopper's Guide Report. In addition to using these guides, make sure to check out your store's frozen selections, as well. While fresh is still best, frozen comes in second and is a great option for those who are unable to find a large selection of fresh organic produce in their area.