Organic Food

Leaves, Yusuf Kidwai

Society seems to be stressing the importance of organic food, but who really knows what the importance is? Consumers are unaware of the pesticides and chemicals that go into their food, and they are therefore oblivious to the benefits that organic foods offer. Now I know what you’re thinking: Organic food is more expensive and more difficult to track down in a grocery store, is it really worth the trouble? And the answer is yes. The buzz around organic food and organic food stores exists for a reason. Here are a few quick facts about the foods you are eating according to organicfoodinfo.net:

The average non-organic fruit contains more than 20 pesticides.

The average apple, even after it has been washed, still contains 30 pesticides — a phenomenon not present when consuming organic foods.

And now, here are a few quick facts about the organic food you could be eating:

Organic food is much more rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre (at an average of about 50%) and retains the levels of nutrients for much longer.

Your body will be more resistant to disease as it will have higher levels of the essential nutrients it needs to fight off infections.

You will have more energy through consuming lower levels of toxins and chemicals that slow your body down.

If you are eating dairy or farm produce then you are also eating the chemicals, drugs and growth hormones given to the animals.

Organic food producers must meet stringent standards.

Organic foods have a higher level of antioxidants that can prevent cancer.

Organic farms respect our water resources and do not leach nitrogens and other pollutants from their soil.

Organic food just tastes so much better!

The environment and our health are closely linked, and in the case of organic food, the two are intertwined. Not only is the process of growing organic foods better for the environment, but it is also less harmful to your body, bettering the state of each. This is especially true as far as organic meats go. The benefits simply don’t compare to conventionally farmed meats, as the livestock are living a more natural life (with less additives) which is not only more humane, but more eco-friendly, and of course, tastier for you. Shane Heaton, a nutrition advocate and writer for Organic Food News compares organic and conventionally grown foods: “Decreasing one’s toxin burden and increasing one’s intake of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can have a significant impact on health, especially when trying to improve or restore health.”

As there is no legitimate proof as of now claiming that organic foods are better for your body than conventional foods, the major attraction point for those who eat organic food is the lesser amount of pesticides used in the growth, and higher amount of enriched nutrients. In fact, organic foods are confined by wholesaler’s requirements to be produced without the use of any pesticides. The bottom line is that the pesticides we intake can’t be doing our body any more good than it does harm, hence why the organic food market is expanding and finding itself to be a good solution to the previous problems with conventional foods.

While there seem to be many advantages to eating organic foods, there is but one disadvantage: Cost. It’s no secret that since organic food is not mass-produced it is more costly. The high costs of organic food are justified with the tastier results that they produce. Next time you hit up the produce aisle please rethink the fruits and vegetables that you routinely fill your cart up with. For more information check out thefutureisorganic.net.