Organic Food and Pregnancy: Should You be Eating Organic?

As a mom-to-be it’s your responsibility to keep your baby (and yourself) healthy and happy. Over the years, there’s been much debate surrounding the proper foods and drinks to consume while pregnant. One of the biggest questions posed by pregnant women is “Should I be eating organic foods?”

The easy answer is yes.

It’s no secret that conventional foods are grown by farmers who spray their crops with potentially harmful pesticides and herbicides. Organic farmers refrain from using these chemicals which, in turn, makes the food healthier, cleaner and safer for you and your baby.

A 1993 study in the Journal of Applied Nutrition reveals that organically grown fruits and vegetables generally contain higher levels of calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc and are considerably lower in mercury.

Follow-up studies also show that organically grown fruits like strawberries and blueberries have much higher levels of antioxidants – molecules known to aid in the prevention of diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease.

So what’s the problem?

If it’s so obvious that organic foods are healthier and safer for you and your baby, why aren’t all pregnant moms hopping on the all-natural bandwagon? That’s simple: the price tag. Organic foods cost considerably more than conventional foods and, if money is already an issue in your home, it’s simply unfeasible to pay upwards of 15% more on your grocery bill.

The Solution

If money is a problem, your best solution is figuring out which items on your grocery list you can afford to buy organically and which ones will have the biggest effect on your health.

Organic Foods that are worth your money:

• Meat
• Eggs
• Poultry
• Fruits without peels (like cherries, berries, pears, peaches, apples)
• Vegetables without peels (celery, peppers, spinach, lettuce)

Organic Foods that aren’t worth your money:

• Fruits with peels (pineapple, watermelon, bananas, kiwi, grapefruit, cantaloupe)
• Onions
• Sweet corn
• Cabbage
• Eggplant
• Sweet peas

Do you buy organic food? Do you think it’s worth the cost?