| Recently the idea of "buying organic" has become | | | | Organic Meats and Dairy |
| increasingly popular. When you go to your local | | | | Organic meat and dairy comes from livestock |
| grocery store, you likely see certain fruits, | | | | that have been raised with little to no use of |
| vegetables, grains, meats, and other products | | | | antibiotics. While giving livestock antibiotics may |
| labeled with a sticker that says "Certified Organic" | | | | seem like a good idea, in some cases it may be |
| or some similar distinction. We all know that, in | | | | an indicator that the livestock did not naturally |
| general, organic is supposed to be a good thing. | | | | have strong immune systems and therefore relied |
| But what exactly does it mean? Is it really worth | | | | upon large amounts of antibiotics to keep from |
| it to buy organic | | | | being sickly. |
| Organic Fruits, Vegetables, and Grains | | | | Meat and dairy labeled Organic also are raised |
| Organic labels are seen most commonly on | | | | without the use of growth hormones. Growth |
| produce. If produce or grains are labeled Organic, | | | | hormones increase the weight of livestock and |
| they do not contain any synthetic pesticides or | | | | therefore the amount of meat per head of |
| herbicides. During the 20th century and now into | | | | livestock, but scientific studies have shown that |
| the 21st century, using synthetic chemicals to kill | | | | ingesting hormones can have negative effects in |
| potential pests and weeds has become a | | | | humans. |
| common practice. Many crops are sprayed with | | | | Deciding What to Buy |
| multiple types of toxins to keep away any living | | | | Your local grocers can point you towards the |
| things that could damage the crop. | | | | organic products in every section of the |
| The problem with this mode of thinking, however, | | | | supermarket. Organic products are now widely |
| is that those chemicals are in some cases | | | | available, giving people a broader choice in the |
| detrimental to humans as well. Organic produce | | | | foods they buy. For more information on organic |
| and grains also are not genetically modified, which | | | | food and deciding what to buy, please visit the |
| some people believe is harmful to human health, | | | | informative food website CD Kitchen here. |
| though this has not yet been proven. | | | | |