With the cost of groceries escalating, buying organic food at the grocery store seems like a luxury that most of us just can't afford. Some organic foods are twice as expensive as conventionally produced food.

Yet, greater numbers of consumers are purchasing organic foods. Clearly there is much to learn about the costs, and benefits of organic food. Here is a primer that explains five important health benefits that justify the cost of going organic.

1. Organic food is certified not to be treated with radiation. Did you know that in Europe, when foods are irradiated to kill bacteria, they must be labelled as such? Not only does radiation kill bacteria, it also destroys necessary enzymes. Hello, that is why we are encouraged to eat raw fruits and vegetables each day - it's what makes food "alive". Remember the "Juiceman" on TV, who encourages us to take care of our health by juicing raw fruits and vegetables? The US government is now planning on irradiating lettuce and spinach due to the recent E. Coli outbreak. Purchasing organic produce will guarantee that your fresh fruits and vegetables will be "alive" with natural enzymes as well as free of suspected radiation by-products.

2. Consuming organic foods, including meats, dairy, and fruits and vegetables, reduces amount of pesticide residue in your diet. Pesticide residue in foods is suspected of building up in our bodies and being stored in our organs and other tissues. This may result in metabolic problems and potentially induce serious diseases. By substituting organic produce for conventional produce (such as berries, apples and lettuce), you can significantly reduce the amount of pesticides that you ingest, decreasing your internal exposure to toxins.

3. Eating organic food eliminates your second-hand exposure to antibiotics and hormones. Did you know that every time you eat conventionally raised chicken, beef, or pork, that you are inadvertently consuming antibiotics and hormones that were administered to livestock? This goes for dairy products as well. It is a concern that young children in our society are routinely exposed to unsuspected levels of hormones and antibiotics through food sources. Then, in the meantime, doctors are cautioned to judiciously prescribe antibiotics to treat human illness. Why isn't the same caution applied to our livestock, to which antibiotics are routinely administered prophylactically? That means that the animals are given antibiotics whether they are sick, or not!

4. Organic certified food prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms. We routinely are consuming GMOs in our diet through soy and corn products grown from genetically modified seed. Foods derived from genetically modified soy and corn once again are not labelled. Many kinds of packaged foods are produced from GMO soy and corn, and livestock are also fed GMO grains. Organic food is certified to not contain GMOs, and it is the only way you can be certain you are not consuming genetically altered ingredients.

5. When you consume organic food, the nutritional value of your food is amplified. For example, organic dairy products contain higher amounts of CLA, a beneficial fatty acid. Organic fruits and vegetables are reported to contain higher levels of antioxidants than conventional fruits and vegetables.

It seems like the more we learn as consumers, the more powerful we can become in advocating for the healthiest possible food sources. We need to identify local sources of healthy food. We can support farmers that are implementing healthier ways of producing food sources. As consumers, we need to demand truthfulness in food packaging and labeling. We need to become full partners in accepting responsibility for our nutritional health, and the health of our children. It begins with learning more about the benefits and costs of organic foods.

Please click here to read my other articles.