One word that seems to be garnering more attention in the world’s languages is organic. In business, the word is used to indicate something occurring naturally, or through natural processes. This seems to be one of the purest definitions of the word that I have found.

Within each and every human is a very complex biome. To really understand the body’s true potential, we have to understand how every part of the body, every process, even within each cell, affects the body as a whole. Science is good at placing different organs, hormones, and cellular processes into a bubble, isolating it from the rest of the body. But the human body does not function that way. We are a living, functioning biome; change one thing, and it creates a ripple effect throughout the body. This can improve the biome and make it stronger, or it can cause disharmony, destruction, and disease.

At the turn of the 20^th century, all food was grown without pesticides. Scientists were already working on producing fertilizers from bones and rocks. Prior to that time, fertilizers mostly consisted of animal manure, and green manure which was simply a cover crop tilled into the soil. The practice of crop rotation was also utilized by some farmers to increase the nutrients available in the soil.

Many people had a small garden to help offset the cost of feeding their often large family. Extra produce that was sold never had to travel far due to the close-knit communities in which most people lived. For most people, money has always been tight. In the early 1900’s and before, the most cost effective way to feed a family was to buy the seeds (or save seeds from last year’s garden), use manure from your cows, sheep, goats, or chickens, and diligently work to keep pests away from the crops. This way of gardening was nothing special; it was normal. Today we call it organic, meaning crops grown without manufactured fertilizers or pesticides.

It’s anyone’s guess if the science of creating fertilizers and pesticides in the lab led to a busier society, or if a busier society ignited the drive to invent them. Nevertheless, today, most people buy their food in a store or market rather than grow their own.

Science tells us that the world has evolved over millions of years due to natural processes occurring. That is a long time for nature to find ways to adapt to change. The way our food has changed in the last 125 years, our body, as well as the environment, has not had sufficient time to adapt. Food provides building blocks for that with consumes it. When plants and animals are fed food that it cannot fully process, and the plants and animals develop into something different than what it would be if fed a diet that supported the organism’s natural process for development.

The bottom line is modern food production has introduced a lot of unnatural changes to our food that humans, animals, and nature in general does not have time to adapt to. Science is experimenting with us and with our children. Modern medicine is allowing people to live longer than they did 100 years ago. Unfortunately, the rate of diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, autism, neurological diseases, etc. has skyrocketed. People are living longer, but their quality of life (health and happiness) is declining. This is why we need to move back to food that supports the natural processes of growing healthy humans, plants, and animals.

You wouldn’t intentionally deprive your growing baby of proper nutrition, or feed it something that has been proven to cause disease in laboratory animals. But those are the chances we take every day when we buy food at the store. You don’t know if your food was grown in the human waste bio solids sold by hospitals (don’t forget the medication excreted in that waste), or if the plants were sprayed with pesticides that are scientifically proven to cause cancer. You may not know if your food has been genetically modified, since labelling is not mandatory. The FDA has gone so far as to state that they do not know what the long term effects of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are, but they acknowledge that an increase in food allergies is possible. Do you want to experiment on your kids? How about your unborn baby? Many babies are being born with food allergies already affecting them.

I don’t really believe that anyone wants to be sick or wants their kids to be sick, but organic food is typically expensive. It is often priced so high that many families decide that they can’t afford it. However, there are ways that most everyone can buy food that will help them grow strong and healthy. It will take some planning on your part, but it will be well worth it.

To start with, your day to day budget may need some tweaking. It should become more clear as we go along ways in which you can make some adjustments that will free up a little money for eating better food. Not everything you buy needs to be organic, but the more the better.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), certain fruits and vegetables contain higher levels of pesticides than others. The “Dirty Dozen”, as EWG labels them, are: apples, grapes, nectarines, peaches, strawberries, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, snap peas, spinach, sweet bell peppers, hot peppers, and kale/collard greens. Also note, that a small amount of sweet corn, papaya, and summer squash sold in the United States is produced from GMO seedstock. It is recommended that you strive to buy organic varieties of these fruits and vegetables, when possible.

Again, the EWG states that certain fruits and vegetables contain the lowest levels of pesticides, and organic varieties are not always necessary. The “Clean Fifteen”, as the EWG calls them, are: avocados, cantaloupe, grapefruit, kiwi, mangoes, papayas, pineapples, asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, onions, sweet corn, sweet peas (frozen), and sweet potatoes.

Fresh produce appears to be the most expensive form of fruits and vegetables, and many stores have a limited stock of organic produce. Look for organic fruits and vegetables in the freezer section of your store. You will find a greater selection at an often better price. One bag of frozen veggies can feed 3-4 people. Plus, frozen foods lasts longer so there is less fear that it will spoil before you can prepare it.

Where you shop has a big impact on the price of food, too. If you are lucky enough to live in an area that has stores like Trader Joes and Whole Foods (which cater to the organic market), those are great places to shop. Walmart and Aldi brand stores have pledged to provide more organic food in all areas of the store, so be sure to check your local store’s selection. Also, if you don’t see something you are looking for, don’t be afraid to ask management to start stocking it.

With the increased awareness of GMOs, and pesticides on produce certain food manufacturers are offering more options for buying organic food. Look for canned food that has an organic label or certification seal.

While you should be limiting the amount of processed foods that you buy, it is often not cost effective to buy the organic forms of many of the products out there. I’m talking about, cakes, crackers, snack bars, candy, frozen treats, etc. Many of these foods contain little protein, and are high in sugar. These kinds of foods ultimately are not satisfying and cause cravings for more. Although you should be avoiding artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup, if you are spending money on these types of products, you will be buying a lot of them. I recommend you limit processed to foods to only being eaten as a treat, and spend the money you save on more nutritious food.

The same goes for the fancy drinks sold as nutritious smoothies. They are frequently high in sugar, low in fiber and protein, have added preservatives, and lead to cravings. You could make your own healthy smoothies at home with some spinach or other greens and some frozen or fresh fruit and vegetables. The ones you make at home are so satisfying that they can be eaten with a meal, or as a meal replacement; meal replacement smoothies are not recommended for kids.

When it comes to organic meats, unless you are growing your own, it is out of consideration for a lot of people. The least expensive way to get organic meat is to buy it directly from the farmer. Buying in bulk can save some money too if several families can afford to split half of a cow. Otherwise, look for meat that specifically states that it was not raised with antibiotics or growth hormones.

Lastly, I would like to suggest that you could grow a few of your favorite veggies in a small garden plot or containers. Strawberries, for instance, are easy to grow and one plant can produce a lot of berries. Strawberry plants also go dormant in the winter and will happily come back to life in the spring if they are cared for with a little water throughout the winter. Tomato plants are also easy to grow. One cherry tomato plant will produce a tremendous amount of tomatoes pretty much throughout the growing season. Even if you live in an apartment, it is possible to have a successful patio garden.

With a little planning and cost comparison shopping, it is possible to get more organic foods into your diet. And let me just say, organically grown food just tastes better. When you consider all the benefits of eating organic, it is well worth the effort.