“We Are What We Absorb: Why Organic—and Beyond—Matters”

Organic Foods

You’ve probably heard the phrase “you are what you eat.” But what if we took that a step further, what if we said you are what you absorb?

We are dynamic systems, constantly interacting with the environment around us. What we put into our bodies doesn’t just pass through us, it becomes part of us. That’s why choosing clean, nutrient-rich, and responsibly grown food is not a trend; it’s a fundamental step toward restoring our health and that of our children.

Conventionally Grown and “Non-GMO” — Not Always What They Seem

The labels can be confusing. “Conventionally grown” produce may look the same as organic, but the reality is starkly different. Conventional crops are often grown in depleted soil using chemical fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides. Many of these chemicals have been linked to hormone disruption, immune dysregulation, and gut health issues.

Even “Non-GMO” doesn’t always mean “clean.” While non-GMO foods aren’t genetically modified, they can still be grown using conventional practices, often sprayed with glyphosate and even irrigated with reclaimed or sewage water. That means we’re still ingesting residues of chemicals designed to kill weeds and pests, residues our bodies were never meant to process.

Glyphosate, the active ingredient in many common herbicides, doesn’t just target weeds, it disrupts microbial life. Just as it kills unwanted plants by blocking essential growth pathways, it also damages the beneficial bacteria in your gut. These microbes are vital for digestion, immune balance, neurotransmitter production, and inflammation control. When glyphosate enters your system through food or water, it can deplete these good bacteria, allowing harmful organisms to take over. Over time, this gut imbalance—called dysbiosis—can contribute to everything from food sensitivities and autoimmune conditions to mood disorders and poor immune resilience.

What Organic Really Means

Certified organic foods are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, genetically modified organisms, or sewage sludge. They prioritize soil health, natural pest control, and crop rotation. It’s a step in the right direction, but in some cases, even organic farming practices fall short when it comes to building life-giving soil or prioritizing true ecosystem health.

Regenerative Agriculture: Beyond Organic

Regenerative farming takes it even further. It emphasizes restoring soil microbiome, sequestering carbon, rotating livestock, and creating self-sustaining systems that mimic nature. Farms like Fields of Athenry in Middleburg and Polyface Farm in Swoope, VA are doing this work with deep integrity, producing nutrient-dense meat from animals raised on pasture, not in confinement. This is what food was meant to be.

Dr. Stephanie Seneff’s Work & the Hidden Cost of Glyphosate

MIT researcher Dr. Stephanie Seneff has spent years sounding the alarm on glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup. Her research links this herbicide to a host of chronic conditions, including autism, autoimmune disease, mitochondrial dysfunction, infertility, and gut dysbiosis. Glyphosate doesn’t just kill weeds, it disrupts pathways in the human body that support detoxification, nutrient absorption, and immune regulation.

And it’s not just in the fields. Glyphosate residues have been found in everything from cereals to breastmilk.

The Carnation Experiment: A Living Metaphor

Remember the experiment we all did in school? You place a white carnation in a glass of water dyed with food coloring, and slowly, the flower turns the color of the water it absorbs.

Humans are the same. We become what we consume. Our cells are built from the nutrients we feed them, or the toxins we unknowingly ingest. When our “intake” is clean, alive, and nutrient-dense, we thrive. When it’s synthetic, inflammatory, or foreign to our biology, our systems begin to break down.

Practical Tips for Eating Clean Without Breaking the Bank

I know the price tag of healthy food can feel overwhelming—but there are real, sustainable ways to make this lifestyle accessible:

• Shop Smart: I buy many of my staples from Costco and Azure Standard, both of which offer organic and bulk options that reduce cost per meal.

• Buy Meat in Bulk: Purchasing whole or half animals from regenerative farms like Fields of Athenry and Polyface is more affordable per pound and ensures you’re getting clean, grass-fed, humanely raised protein.

• Join a CSA or Coop: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares offer weekly boxes of local, seasonal, organic produce. Find a trusted farm, and you’ll save money and support small agriculture.

• Know the Dirty Dozen: If you can’t go fully organic, prioritize the “Dirty Dozen” fruits and vegetables (those most heavily sprayed) and buy those organic when possible.

In Closing: A Call Back to the Land

The truth is, going beyond organic is about coming back to the way food was always meant to be: clean, natural, and grown in harmony with the earth. Our bodies, and especially the bodies of our children, depend on us to make those choices. Healing doesn’t just come from a doctor’s office or a pill bottle. It starts with the food on our plates.

We are living systems. What we absorb changes us. Choose well. Choose wisely. Choose life-giving food.