The Truth About Organic Food

Buy organic and you can get meat, dairy, and eggs free of antibiotics and growth hormones, produce without GMOs and most lab-made pesticides. But is it worth paying extra for? Here's a hearty helping of the truth.

Is organic food more nutritious for you? Probably not. For now, there isn't direct proof that it boosts your health or lowers your chances of getting diseases. Also, the Environmental Protection Agency is supposed to make sure that pesticides used on all crops are safe, not just organic.

Still, the International Agency for Research on Cancer does link some pesticides to cancer, mainly in mice and rats. And some are hazardous to animals, such as birds and fish. Also, eating meat from animals that are fed antibiotics might make these drugs less helpful at treating bacterial infections in people.

If your food is labeled "USDA Organic," does that mean it's completely organic? No, actually. That means it's about 95% organic. Food growers can add lab-made chemicals to the other 5%.

Only this logo meets government's definition of organic, but that's no guarantee it's pesticide free. Whether you buy organic or not, aim to eat a balanced diet full of lean protein, whole grains, and fruits and veggies. Bon appetit!