Fall Forward Into Organic

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By Only Organic | September 23rd, 2021 | Organic News |

Although our clocks might be falling back this season, why not fall forward into organic? There are hundreds of reasons to choose organic, and in this blog we will highlight the importance of choosing organic this fall.

Pumpkin spice lattes aren’t the only thing to celebrate this month. September is also Organic Month! Behind every bite of delicious organic fall food you eat, there’s an organic farmer, organic pioneer, or organic brand to thank.

Organic for your health

If you’re new to organic, let’s review the definition.

The USDA Organic seal indicates that food has been grown in tandem with nature. Organic farmers must look out for the health of humans, animals, and the environment by avoiding the use of harmful substances like toxic persistent pesticides. Organic is the only label that guarantees you are avoiding more than 700 toxic chemicals used in conventional food production.

Autumn is also the beginning of flu season, when our bodies are more susceptible to seasonal allergies. Staying healthy and boosting immunity is key, and what better way to achieve this goal than to choose organic.

Significant research shows organic foods, body care products, and textiles are healthier than their conventional counterparts. You can read some of the food studies that highlight that research here.

Highlights from those studies are:

Eating organic fruits and vegetables could increase your antioxidant intake by 20 to 40 percent.
Organic strawberries have more nutrients and antioxidants than their conventional counterparts do.
Organic tomatoes are 50 percent higher in vitamin C than conventional tomatoes.

When you skip the chemicals and eat organic seasonal foods, you’re all but guaranteeing a healthy start to the fall season.

The beginning of autumn is the perfect time to think about extending the bountiful organic harvest into the colder season. Eating with the season and preserving the harvest is the most effective way to save money on organic food and stay healthy. We’ve uncovered 10 unique ways to eat organic food long into the winter months, when organic produce is more expensive and not as readily available. Get our preserving tips in this blog.

Fall foods for your health

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” is not just a well-known quote from Hippocrates. It’s also a guide for selecting organic fall produce. We recommend looking for foods rich in essential nutrients.

Use this list to shop for organic fall produce:

Vitamin A-rich fall foods include carrots, sweet potato, spinach, broccoli, and red bell peppers.
Vitamin C helps stimulate the formation of antibodies. Foods to look for in the fall that are high in vitamin C include citrus fruits, red bell pepper, broccoli, kale, and kiwi.
Vitamin E promotes the neutralization of free radicals by working as an antioxidant. Organic foods full of vitamin E include nuts, seeds, and avocado.
There are many zinc-dependent enzymes in our body, and deficiency has been linked with immune dysfunction. Zinc-rich foods include beans, seeds, nuts, meat, poultry, and seafood.
Studies find that “vitamin D deficiency is a global problem, thought to be related to lack of sunlight exposure, and usually accompanied by reduced dietary intake.” Vitamin D foods are important.
Specific amino acids found in protein are essential for T-cell function, which are cells that protect the body against pathogens. Meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, beans, nuts, and seeds all contain lots of protein. It’s important to choose certified organic meats, poultry, and vegan protein sources.

If you’re new to eating organic proteins and vitamin D-rich foods, we’ve come up with some options from our brand partners. Get organic dairy products from Stonyfield, Organic Valley, Horizon, and Alden’s and organic eggs from Egg Innovations, Handsome Brook Farms, and Pete & Gerry’s. Applegate carries several organic meat options that readily available across the U.S., and Patagonia offers wild smoked salmon.

In addition to focusing on organic foods and drinks, you can also add organic supplements to your daily regimen for staying healthy. Increase your intake of herbs, adaptogens, antioxidants, and vitamins using our recommended organic supplements, from Megafoods and Garden of Eden.

To help you find organic produce, we recommend shopping directly from your local farmer by joining a community-supported agriculture organization (CSA), or visiting a farmers market. Find your local farmers using this directory.

Fall recipes

Fall is an excellent time to try out new recipes with the abundant organic harvest. We’ve pulled together some delicious fall recipes from our brand partners to keep you warm, cozy, healthy and nourished.

Orgain’s Golden Turmeric Latte