The Healthiest Organic Foods For Your Diet
If you’re striving towards filling up your diet with the most nutritious items in the various food groups, you may want to take it one step further by choosing organic, especially for some food items that are more exposed to pesticides and harmful chemicals than others. Here’s a list of the top organic foods that you should be included in your regular menu.
- Coffee
Many adults associate drinking coffee with breakfast every morning, and with key points during the day when you need to be mentally alert. The good news is, drinking one to three cups per day can supply your body with antioxidants that may decrease inflammation, which is a leading cause of various diseases. Because you may be taking coffee quite regularly, it makes sense to purchase organic coffee.
Non-organic coffee is greatly sprayed with pesticides. It comes in third, after cotton and tobacco, as the most heavily-sprayed agricultural crop. If you want to benefit from the antioxidants sans the harmful effects of pesticides and herbicides, spending a bit extra for organic coffee is definitely worth it. Nowadays, organic coffee is easily available on online sellers of organic produce.
- Apples
Apples top the chart of fruits that you should regularly include in your diet. They’re good for your body as they’re loaded with fiber to help clean your digestive tract. However, high residues of pesticides have been found in most of the apples grown the conventional way. Moreover, apples are thin-skinned. This means that harmful chemicals can easily pass through from the skin of the fruit to the flesh. As you and your kids will eat apples quite often, go organic so that you get the full benefits of apples. Choose organic apple juice and applesauce as well.
- Tomatoes
You need the antioxidant lycopene in your diet, which has been shown to help lessen the risk of cancer and heart diseases. Fortunately, tomatoes are such an easy and cheap source of lycopene. In addition, tomatoes are rich in vitamins C and K, as well as folate and potassium. However, research conducted by the USDA Pesticide Program has discovered tomatoes to be contaminated with over 30 types of pesticides. In order to maximize the nutrients you get from tomatoes which are a common ingredient in many easy recipes, purchase organic tomatoes.
- Spinach
Spinach is rich in its dark green color and in nutrients as well. This popular leafy green vegetable is low in calories but contains a high amount of the vitamins A and K. However, conventionally-grown spinach has been discovered to contain pesticide residues, carcinogens, and neurotoxins such as permethrin. Luckily, organic spinach is readily available in groceries. Use this for your salads, smoothies, soups, and pasta dishes.
- Leafy Greens
Other types of raw green vegetables are also part of a balanced diet. They’re a rich source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Including a serving or two of leafy green vegetables in your daily meals can help lessen the risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and mental degeneration.
Excellent examples are kale and microgreens. One cup of raw kale gives you hefty doses of vitamin K, vitamin A, and vitamin C. It also supplies your body with essential antioxidants such as beta-carotene and lutein, which can fight off the effects of daily stress and pollution on your body.
Microgreens come from the seeds of herbs and vegetables. Because they’re still immature, they usually just measure about 1 to 3 inches. These microgreens can be eaten in bigger servings and not simply used as garnish for food. They’re rich in vitamins C, E, and K, and may contain more nutrients than mature greens.
Because leafy greens are eaten in their entirety and best when raw, choosing organic leafy greens is critical. There’s no protective skin covering these greens, so you run the risk of ingesting pesticide residues if you buy regular greens. Opt for the organic variety to give you the maximum health benefits of these raw vegetables.
- Dairy Products
Milk, cheese, and yogurt are daily staples and are excellent sources of calcium, protein, vitamin A, and phosphorus. These nutrients contribute to making your bones healthy and strong. However, buy certified organic dairy products to ensure that you’re avoiding any harmful antibiotics or hormone injections given to regular cows. Organic dairy milk, cheese, and yogurt are produced by cows that have consumed only 100% organic feed.
Conclusion
In the ideal world, going organic for all your food needs is the way to go. This might cost a lot though. As a compromise, prioritize buying the organic variety of the top foods that should always be part of your daily fare. Doing so will already go a long way in helping you and your family reap the benefits of a highly nutritious diet.