This past January, I went through my pantry and threw out anything that was left that was not organic and began anew. I refreshed my household cleaning products, laundry products, and even my skincare and haircare products (still working on makeup! If you haven't found out what is in your skincare and makeup products, and don't want to be grossed out, then DON'T!). I've only been 96% organic for two months (I say 96% because 100% would include clothing, bedding, and other things that I just haven't mustered up the courage, loss of fashion, or money for yet), and I feel amazing. The biggest change to my health is definitely my weight loss. When I got married, I was about 165. For my 5'6" frame, it was all concentrated in my back, arms, face, and stomach. I now weigh 145. I have always worked out, and I've always eaten relatively well. I've also struggled with my weight all my life. I was WAY too skinny (I ate a lot, I just had a metabolism that worked faster than I ate) until 10th grade and blew up overnight like a hot air balloon. I'm still working on it, but living organic means cutting certain foods out of your life and having to make your burgers at home (which is obviously the healthier option) than running to your favorite greasy burger place--though there is always a place in my organic heart for In-N-Out. I cannot put into words the pride I feel when I make something as simple as pasta using organic ingredients and grass-fed beef. My favorite thing to do after a grocery store trip is look at the ingredients to my foods; not only do I know all of them, I can pronounce them too! These chemicals aren't harming my body, therefore making it easier to lose and maintain my weight. By far, the absolute best and biggest improvement has been my general outlook on life. I don't know if I can attribute this mood change to my diet change, but I have found myself much happier. That alone is worth it.
As far as experiences, I think it's safe to say that I have seen many improvements. Now for the nitty-gritty. Many people still don't understand or believe in "organic". Before moving to NC, I only knew the term organic in its most basic definition. So many people are uninformed or don't want to be informed (why they would choose to give their kids Doritos, Gatorade, and pesticide-ridden fruit is beyond me). When you look at the facts, an organic products are not much more expensive than those in an average American diet, but what is it you are paying for? Companies can't just throw the USDA Organic label on and say they are healthy and natural, so why do companies go through so much money and trouble to create these products? I promise you, that reading the history on food labeling on the USDA website will answer many questions and prompt you into further research. I don't want to throw too many facts out there, as I am relatively new at this and am still doing my own research, so I am going to include links that I think are interesting and informative. I could write 20 more paragraphs on this subject, but I will save my wit and sarcasm for a later blog on this same subject. Promise, I have so much more to say on this subject, so please comment below! I will say this: so many foods sold in grocery stores are hurting you! You absolutely won't feel it now, because your body is used to it (doesn't make it good), but instead of waiting 20-40 years to see the effects, try living organic for a month, at least in the foods you eat, then resume your normal food habits. You WILL feel sick. Why is that? All the crap in your foods.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/10962499/New-study-to-split-opinion-on-organic-food.html
(THIS VIDEO CHANGED MY LIFE) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB6fUqmyKC8
(I'm such a nerd; I found this so interesting!!!) http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/informational/aboutfsis/history
