Why I Only Eat Organic

Why I Eat Organic

I eat organic food because my body responds differently to it. That is the simplest explanation. Over time I noticed less bloating, fewer digestive issues, steadier energy, and a general sense that my system felt calmer. That experience pushed me to look deeper into why that might be happening.

This is not about perfection or food purity. It is about exposure. What we eat is one of the most consistent ways chemicals enter the body. When something shows up multiple times a day, every day, even small amounts matter.

Organic food is not magic. It is regulated differently. Organic standards in the US prohibit the use of synthetic pesticides like glyphosate. That single difference is enough for me.

Glyphosate and why it matters to me

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world. It is the active ingredient in Roundup and is commonly sprayed on crops like wheat, corn, soy, and legumes. It is also often used as a drying agent before harvest. This is called pre harvest desiccation. That practice increases the likelihood of residue remaining on the food.

Multiple independent tests and studies have found detectable glyphosate residues in conventionally grown foods. This includes grains, cereals, and legume based products.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen in 2015. Other regulatory agencies disagree with that classification, which is important to note. What is not debated is that glyphosate residue is present in the food supply and that humans are exposed to it regularly.

For me, that alone is enough to care.

Digestion, bloating, and the gut

One of the most common symptoms people report when they remove conventionally grown grains and legumes is reduced bloating. This is not proof of causation, but there are plausible mechanisms worth paying attention to.

Research suggests glyphosate may disrupt the gut microbiome. It works by inhibiting a pathway that plants use to grow. Humans do not have this pathway, but many gut bacteria do. The concern is not that glyphosate directly harms human cells, but that it may affect the balance of bacteria in the gut.

An altered microbiome has been associated with bloating, gas, inflammation, and changes in digestion. Again, association is not causation. But when I remove foods most likely to carry residue and my digestion improves consistently, that pattern matters to me.

Why I stopped eating certain packaged foods

This is where brands like Banza come into the conversation.

Banza has been independently tested by third party groups and has shown detectable glyphosate residue in some products. This does not mean the product is illegal or unsafe by regulatory standards. It does mean it contains measurable amounts of a chemical I choose to avoid.

I stopped eating it because I personally experienced significant bloating and digestive discomfort from legume based pastas and processed chickpea products. When I switched to organic whole food sources of legumes or organic alternatives, those symptoms improved.

That is not a scientific conclusion. It is a personal decision informed by both experience and available testing data.

Organic does not mean perfect

Organic food can still contain trace residues due to environmental contamination. Soil, water, and air are shared. Organic farming does not exist in a vacuum.

What organic standards do is reduce exposure. They remove synthetic pesticides from the equation. For someone dealing with gut issues, inflammation, or unexplained bloating, that reduction can be meaningful.

Studies comparing organic and conventional diets have found that people who switch to organic diets show significantly lower pesticide metabolites in their urine within days. That tells me exposure is real and changeable.

Why this matters beyond digestion

The gut is not just about digestion. It is connected to immune function, hormone regulation, mood, and inflammation. When something repeatedly irritates the gut, the effects often show up elsewhere.

I am not interested in blaming one ingredient for everything. Health is multifactorial. Stress, sleep, movement, and overall diet quality matter more than any single food.

But reducing unnecessary chemical exposure is one variable I can control. Organic food makes that simpler.

How I approach food now

I prioritize organic produce, organic grains, and organic legumes. I eat mostly whole foods. When I buy packaged foods, I look for organic certification or very clear sourcing.

This is not about fear. It is about data plus lived experience.

When I eat organic consistently, my body feels better. When I do not, symptoms return. That feedback loop has been clear enough for me to trust.

Everyone has a different tolerance level. Some people feel no difference. Others notice immediate changes. Neither experience is wrong.

This is simply mine.

Eating organic is not about being restrictive. It is about being selective.

For me, it is one of the simplest ways to support digestion, reduce chemical exposure, and feel more at ease in my body. I do not need it to be trendy or extreme. I just need it to work.

And for me, it does.