The word “organic” has appeared more and more on items in grocery stores throughout the past few years.

From produce to potato chips, consumers are now given organic options on many of the foods they consume regularly. The question most people are asking is, “are organics really any better for you?”

When consumers purchase organic foods they expect to get more of the ingredients they want, such as vitamins and nutrients, and less of the added things they do not necessarily want, such as pesticides, hormones, and artificial ingredients.

You may ask, “Why should I choose organic over regular items?”

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The answer lies in the fact that organic foods and pure and natural and do not contain ingredients that are harmful to your body.

One of the main benefits of eating organic is the lack of pesticides used. This is extremely important in pregnant women as well as babies.

Dr. Phillip Landrigan, a professor and chairman of the department of community and preventative medicine at the Sinai School of Medicine in New York, N.Y., said, “The evidence is strong—and validated by the National Academy of Sciences—that pesticide levels in conventionally grown foods can pose a threat to human health, especially to the health of infants and children.”

Landrigan goes on to further say, “The greatest threat is to fetal brain development.” This statement provides proof that expecting mothers to be as well as babies should all eat organically.

Lacy Updegraff, A worker at a local organic supermarket called Earth Fare, said in reference to anyone that is skeptical about choosing organic foods, “The reasons I would by organics is, well one, that it tastes a lot better, but also because you can know there are no antibiotics or added hormones in your food. There are also no GMO’s in your food. All in all there are no harmful ingredients in your food that are going to make you sick.

Updegraff also mentioned, “There is insurance that covers organic farmers, so you can know it’s not a gimmick. When you buy organic you know what you are getting in your food and you do not have to be surprised by what is actually on it.”

Recently a non-profit organization developed a list of 12 fruits and vegetables that contain the greatest amount of pesticides, even after washing.

Sweet bell peppers, peaches, apples, strawberries, and spinach topped this list with the most amounts of pesticides per serving. When buying these items the difference between organic and regular can be quite meaningful.

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