Foods worth “going organic” on during pregnancy
I’ve often wondered if there are recommendations for buying specific organic foods; if there are some things which contain more harmful ingredients than others.
I finally stumbled upon an article, just yesterday, which pointed out some foods which are definitely worth going green on, specifically for pregnant women. It’s probably a good idea to keep these in mind, however, for your entire family all of the time.
One of the biggest offenders is beef. A recent study showed a link between mothers who ate conventional beef more than once a day during pregnancy and low sperm counts in their adult sons. The men in this study were three times more likely to have consulted a fertility specialist.
Grass-fed, organically-raised cattle are leaner and healthier overall and their meat can have about five times the amount of brain-building omega-3 fatty acids of regular beef. The cost of organic meat, however, can be twice as much as regular. One way to deal with this cost increase is to serve smaller portions of beef- even treat it as a side-dish- and accommodate for this by serving larger portions of what would normally be side dishes, such as veggies and rice or other grains. You will be serving your family a healthier meal, in more ways than one, this way. Another option is simple: if you are normally big meat-eaters, cutting back to eating organic beef around three times a week will save money on your grocery bill and make for a healthier diet.
Another food I read about surprised me. I always thought of tofu as a healthy, vegetarian alternative to meat; a low-fat, inexpensive source of protein. Dr. Alan Greene, author of Raising Baby Green: The Earth-friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Baby Care, recommends only buying and eating organic tofu. This is because 80% of today’s soybean crops are genetically modified, which means that it’s been altered in a lab to make it more weed- or bug-resistant. While it is unclear just what effects these added pesticides have on humans, it’s better to avoid the potential risks.
Another biggie is milk. Definitely go organic when you are pregnant because you are required to consume so much calcium at this time (the same applies to kids over age 1). By drinking organic milk, you are avoiding harsh agricultural chemicals and many environmental toxins are stored in the fat which is in many dairy products. A less expensive option: buy milk that’s growth-hormone-free (rBVH-free or rBST-free).
One food you don’t have to worry about going organic with is eggs. Egg-laying hens aren’t given growth hormones, nor are they likely to be exposed to antibiotics. Chickens raised for food, however, are treated with these harmful ingredients.
