For instance, it's clear that some of the chemicals in meat can affect skin, as I've seen in my family. How much might one be spending on OTC concoctions to clear up one's skin from pimples, or spending on a visit to a dermatologist to get a prescription for the purpose (to little or no avail), when a simple eating choice clears up everything? It has certainly done that for some in my experience.

Because the meats are expensive, one learns to first keep an eye open for sales, but also to eat less meat and fill it out with beans (as in burritos) and other vegetables. This is healthier in many ways. You can also look for local farmers, who are often less costly than the organic food stores like WholeFoods, although not always. Google organic meats in your state, when I did so for Wissh's state I found this site in Illinois.I came across this site for North Carolina.

This article is just my opinion—I do not pretend to be an expert by any means—but I've personally found that by changing some of the foods I eat the most to organic varieties, my health has improved and some of the health complaints I've had have disappeared. In this article, the author goes into what foods to buy as organically grown.

In order for foods to be classed as organic there are rules that the farmer must follow--one of these is that no chemicals or pesticides can have been used on the piece of land where the product is grown for at least 10 years, according to my brother-in-law who is a farmer and has checked it out. Because the certification is very expensive, there are farmers who grow their products "by the book" as far as organics are concerned, but may not have the full certification because of the expense of it.

I grow my own tomatoes and beans every summer then freeze them or can them. Broccoli we purchase regularly, but it's the vegetable least likely to carry a lot of residue according to some sources. It's also the highest in nutrition per calorie from other resources I've read in the past, so we eat a lot of it.

You'll also find that meats grown this way taste better. A lot better. And they are also healthier for you in terms of Omega 3's.

So why eat Organic?

An article here states, among other things, that 'The British Society for Allergy, Environmental and Nutritional Medicine states ... "We have long believed the micronutrient deficiencies common in our patients have their roots in the mineral-depletion of soils by intensive agriculture, and suspect that pesticide exposures are contributing to the alarming rise in allergies and other illnesses" .... The negative effects of pesticides on health include neurotoxicity, disruption of the endocrine system, carcinogenicity and immune system suppression.'

If you have kids, buying organic is really not a luxury any more, it's a necessity. Read this paper and you'll wonder how kids survive on regular foods.

Personally, my opinion and research tend to bear out that organic food tastes better, is better for your health, and will save you money in the long term. Less exposure to carcinogenics, less exposure to chemicals known have negative side effects in other ways... why would anyone NOT want to eat organic if it's available?