Eating Organic Foods to Lose Weight? You Need to Know This.

The new thing in the health and wellness circles is the move towards eating organic foods to lose weight. And if you have been paying attention, you may have noticed just how dedicated some people are towards urging others to ditch conventional produce. With sayings such as conventional produce is toxic and organic foods are better for your metabolism, it is not a surprise that many people think that they must switch to organic foods for weight loss.

But this messaging has not just centered on weight loss. Instead, it has also delved into our health. We have been told that conventional produce is full of synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, and tons of other additives that are plain dangerous to our health. What’s more, we have been told that these chemicals cause inflammation in our bodies that could be to blame for the obesity epidemic that we have at present.

So, in a bid to get healthier and lose weight, many people have chosen to go the organic route. After all, these foods are termed as safer and natural. But here is the thing. As much as many people have turned to organic cookies, butter, and tons of other foods because they are supposed to be cleaner, there have been some surprises along the way.

The first is the weight loss impact. Many people eat organic foods to lose weight, only to find that the scale has not changed even a bit. Some even gain weight in the process. The other is the cost factor. Organic foods tend to cost a pretty penny, and when they make up a large part or even the whole diet, then the grocery bill definitely increases.

Thus begs the question: are organic foods really better for our weight loss efforts? Are they better for our health? This guide answers these questions in detail. And if you would like to watch the video I made on this topic, you can do so using the link below:

Why Do People Eat Organic Foods To Lose Weight?

The debate on organic foods is one I come across constantly in my Better in 90 program. Many women come to me feeling like they cannot even start their diet because they cannot afford the organic lifestyle. They feel like they are failing before they have even begun.

But what exactly pushes them to eat organic foods to lose weight?

To start with, organic foods can taste earthier, which is a key reason many people choose to eat organic foods. As someone who grew up in Kenya eating food straight from the farms, I can definitely taste the difference between organic and conventional foods. There is an undeniable earthiness that exists in the former group.

Secondly, there is the health aspect, as eating organic foods reduces your exposure to certain pesticides. It is no secret that many conventional farmers use shortcuts to ensure that they take their produce to the market faster and in large quantities. Unfortunately, these same shortcuts can put people’s health at risk, and that is quite an important factor to consider when buying produce.

And finally, there is the marketing that surrounds these foods. Whether you are online or offline, you are bound to come across someone who does not believe in eating conventional foods and who will have no trouble listing all the weight and health benefits that come from eating organic foods.

But while organic foods tend to taste better and can be beneficial to our health, they are not a weight-loss magic trick. So, let us talk about the nuance of calories, whether nutritional profiles differ in organic and conventional produce, and why some people even gain weight while eating organic foods.

Should You Eat Organic Foods To Lose Weight?

Before we get into whether you should eat organic foods to lose weight, we need to separate food safety from weight loss. Why is that? Well, while choosing organic can be a personal preference for the environment or for safety, the math of weight loss stays the same, and that will be the main focus of this guide.

Comparing Calories in Organic and Conventional Foods.

Many times, people who eat organic foods to lose weight are under the impression that doing so somehow alters their calorie intake. But the truth is that organic foods are not inherently lower in calories. When it comes down to it, their calorie values are similar to those of conventional foods.

For example, an organic honeycrisp apple and a conventional honeycrisp apple have the same amount of sugar, the same amount of fiber, and the same number of calories. This means that if you eat them in the same quantities, your body processes that energy exactly the same way.

The lack of synthetic pesticides does not change how many calories your body absorbs. And so if your goal is to achieve a calorie deficit to lose weight, you can do this regardless of whether you eat organic foods.

How About Nutrients?

We can see that calorie values remain the same even if you eat organic foods. But what of the nutrients? Given the current messaging regarding organic foods, you might think, “Well, maybe the organic one has more vitamins to help my metabolism.”

But actually, research shows that the nutritional profiles are almost identical in organic and conventional foods. When you break them down into fiber, vitamins, and minerals, both organic and conventional foods provide the same essential nutrients your body needs to thrive.

Why Do Some People Gain Weight Eating Organic Foods To Lose Weight?

The present thinking is that eating organic foods to lose weight will automatically result in weight loss. However, that is not always the case. In fact, many people end up gaining weight in the process. Why is that?

This is where it gets tricky as far as weight loss goes. Because we perceive organic food as cleaner and healthier, we subconsciously think it is low in calories. Along this line, studies show that people tend to overeat foods labeled as organic.

But organic sugar is still sugar. Organic fat is still fat. That means that if you are overeating organic snacks because you think they are diet-friendly, you can actually end up in a calorie surplus and see the scale go up, which is the same stumbling block that many people face when eating organic foods to lose weight.

Losing Weight With or Without Organic Foods.

In my Better in 90 program, I tell my clients that they should buy the foods that they can afford and that are good for their health. If you have the budget for organic and it makes you feel better, then you can embrace eating these foods. But if you do not, you should not let that stop you from eating your vegetables.

Weight loss is not about the label on the foods. It is about the consistency of your habits, and that all comes down to the sustainability of your efforts.

That said, here are my three strategies for navigating the organic aisle.

Focus on Quantity and Quality over Labels.

Eating five servings of conventional broccoli is infinitely better for weight loss than eating zero servings of organic broccoli because it was too expensive. Prioritize getting your nutrients in, regardless of how they were grown.

Watch Out for the Organic Junk.

There is a lot of greenwashing when it comes to organic foods. It is therefore imperative that you always check the nutrition label for calories, nutritional profiles, and serving sizes. This way, you can look beyond the organic and non-GMO labels on the foods and understand just what you are getting from the food.

Manage Your Budget for Sustainability

The best diet is the one you can afford to stick to. So, if buying organic makes your grocery bill unsustainable, you are going to have a hard time. Weight loss happens in a calorie deficit, and you can achieve that perfectly with conventional produce.

Get Better in 90.

I will not deny that eating organic food can be a great choice for the planet or for your peace of mind. But it is not a requirement for a smaller waistline. So, do not let the clean-eating gurus make you feel like your regular groceries are holding you back because in truth, they are not. What matters most is how consistent you are with making healthy decisions using the resources available to you.

If you would like to learn more about how you can lose weight with or without eating organic foods, I invite you to check out my Better in 90 program, which was designed to help women lose weight and keep it off using sustainable and affordable approaches. Alternatively, you can use the link below to get in touch with me.