Vim & Vigor - Winter 2010 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center - (Page 44)

Dilemma Organic living is coming of age. Just a few decades back it was a concept more closely associated with communal hippies than mainstream culture. But in the past few years organic products of all kinds have soared in popularity, ﬁnding their way from ﬂedgling farmers markets to the shelves of behemoth discount stores such as Walmart and Costco. While there are plenty of environmental arguments for switching to organic products—such as the negative effects that pesticides can have on our water, soil and wildlife—when it comes to choosing organics for better health, recommendations vary widely from one expert to another. If you’ve considered making the switch to a more organic lifestyle, here are a few tips to help clear up the confusion—and maximize the beneﬁts to your health. Is g o righ ing org you t for yo anic r po u cket (and boo k)? A Natural BY ALLISON THOMAS CULTIVATE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HEALTHY EATING Experts may not see eye to eye on organics, but there’s one fact they do agree on: Few people are eating healthfully, organic or otherwise. “We get so caught up in the details, but nine out of 10 people don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables,” says Dawn Jackson Blatner, a dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. “If you can actually say that you eat two cups of fruit and two and a half cups of vegetables every day, then you might want to entertain the idea of organic.” If not, focus on boosting your produce consumption—organic or not. Gordon LaBedz, M.D., a spokesman for the American Academy of Family Physicians, agrees. Although he has lectured on the connection between food and the environment for 30 years, LaBedz puts calorie monitoring at the top of any dietary priority list. “People ﬁ xate on certain aspects of things and lose the big picture. If you’re 50 pounds overweight, it doesn’t matter if you’re a vegetarian who eats only organic. You’re unhealthy,” LaBedz says. GROW INTO ORGANIC FOODS While “organic” doesn’t equal “healthy,” Blatner cites a few studies that link pesticides in nonorganic food with birth defects and other reproductive health issues, nervous system disorders and even cancer. “There are also surveys that suggest some organic foods may offer superior ﬂavor,” she says. So, if you’re meeting your daily fruit and vegetable needs—and you have the budget for organic options—it may be time to slip a few into your 44 Vim & Vigor · W IN TER 2 010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2010 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2010 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center
Table of Contents
Foundation
Better Cancer Answers
Auxiliary
Your Best Foot Forward
Smart Moves
Miss Information
Stroke Sense
Gut Feelings
The Story on Stress
The Faces of Skin Cancer
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
A Natural Dilemma
17 Reasons to Work in Healthcare
Healthy Resolutions
Sole Supporters

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2010 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center