With the Whole Foods-Amazon merger in the news and all this talk about lower prices, it’s a good time to remember that WHAT you buy can be even more important than WHERE you buy your organics. When it comes to getting the most for your money, it pays to prioritize foods that have the most health benefits. Here are three of the most important foods to buy organic, plus one you can skip:
BUY: Red meat. WHY: Organic, grass-fed beef is actually more nutritious than conventional meat. And you don’t have to worry about antibiotics, growth hormones, and chemical pesticides used in cow feed.
BUY: Strawberries. WHY: According to studies by the Environmental Working Group, conventional versions have more chemical pesticide residues than any other fruit, including possible human carcinogens. Other produce you should buy organic if you can afford it include spinach, apples, nectarines, and peaches. You can skip avocados, pineapples, asparagus, onions, and cabbage, according to the EWG.
BUY: Milk. WHY: Cows that produced the milk didn’t receive any antibiotics or growth hormones. Also, organic milk has more antioxidants and Omega 3 fatty acids.
SKIP: Seafood. WHY: There is no such a thing as “organic” fish. There are no government standards so it’s a waste of your money. “Wild caught” is a better bet because it's never treated with antibiotics and it's naturally high in Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.