Why it is Good to Eat Organic

Eating organic food benefits not only the individual but also the larger society and the environment. Eating organic food creates a chain of positive consequences, from consumers to farmers to monarch butterflies. This choice is about health as much as it is about sustainable development. Here are the top ten reasons why it is good to eat organic foods.

1. Organic foods taste better.

Organically grown fruits and vegetables are allowed to grow slowly. They are not forced to ripen using chemical fertilizers. As such, they have lower carbohydrate and water content, giving them a fuller taste than non-organic ones.

2. Organic foods are healthier.

A study by the Environmental Protection Agency shows that more than 60% of all herbicides and fungicides and 30% of insecticides cause cancer. Because organic foods are grown without use of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, organic foods are free of chemicals that are potentially harmful to the human body. Studies show that nitrates in fertilizers also significantly reduce or eliminate the amount of Vitamin C and minerals in plants. Organic foods, as such, contain higher levels of minerals such as iron, magnesium, antioxidants, and chromium.

3. Reduce exposure to pesticides

Pesticides are not entirely washed away by rainwater. A study by the Government Pesticide Residue has show that more than 40% of all harvested fruits and vegetables in non-organic farms contain pesticide residues. Pesticide residues are highest in pears (95%) and grapes (72%). Pesticide residues can create harmful effects on fertility and development of fetuses.

Organic foods are 100% pesticide-free.

4. Environment-friendly

Organic farming creates less carbon dioxide and emissions that pollute the air since it doesn't use fertilizer and other chemical sprays.

5. Preserve wildlife and biodiversity.

Conventional farming especially those used by large-scale agri-businesses involves mono-cropping. This method results in depletion of soil nutrient and reduction of species variety. Use of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals are non-specific, and so may also kill other insects and animals. Organic farming, on the other hand, uses methods such as crop rotation and composting--- methods which are basically about working with nature than against it.

6. Preserve water quality.

Pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and other harmful chemicals may runoff into streams or seep into our groundwater. Testing of groundwater in many municipalities in the US have shown that drinking water sources are positive with traces of farm chemicals. Organic farming keeps our water resources free from pollutants and nitrogen leaching.

7. Improve soil quality.

Conventional farming techniques, particularly tillage, cause soil erosion and loss of topsoil. Organic farming adopts a "no-till" method. New crops are planted directly on crop residues. This method maintains both the structure and fertility of the soil.

8. Protect farm worker health.

Conventional farming, which involves use of fertilizers and pesticides, exposes farmers to the highest amount of harmful agricultural chemicals than any other segment of the population .

9. Organic foods are GM-free.

The effects of genetically-modified organisms are not yet fully understood, but certain studies show that GMOs are potentially harmful to humans and animals that consume them. GMOs also pose significant risks to wildlife biodiversity and to the ecosystem.

10. Organic farming expends less energy.

Processing of chemical fertilizers involves substantial amount of energy input (electricity and water). Transport of commercial chemicals from factory to store to farm requires fuel energy. Since organic farmers use natural farmers such as manure and compost, they often turn to renewable and alternative energy sources in the making of these fertilizers. These natural-fertilizers are also made or sourced within or from near the farm, giving farmers savings on transportation fuel.

Organic Foods- Pros and Cons

What is organic food: How is it produced?

The process in most cases starts with organically grown crops so a quick explanation: Organic farming produces crops and rears cattle without the use of chemicals and artificial additives. It is farming the natural way and concentrates on producing a fertile soil.

Animals reared on organic farms are housed properly they have room to move about and behave like animals.They are fed healthy food sources and not those laden with drugs and other chemicals.

So in summary the answer to what is organic food is.…crops and animals produced and fed with natural food and without the use of chemical additives.

What is organic food: How can it benefit me?

To answer this question, I'll highlight two items:

1. Milk: “When you choose a glass of conventional milk, you are buying into a whole chemical system of agriculture,” says Dr. Greene. People who switch to organic milk typically do so because they are concerned about the antibiotics, artificial hormones and pesticides used in the commercial dairy industry.

One recent United States Department of Agriculture survey found certain pesticides in about 30 percent of conventional milk samples and low levels in only one organic sample.

The level is relatively low compared to some other foods, but many kids consume milk in large quantities.

2. Potatoes: Potatoes are a staple of the American diet — one survey found they account for 30 percent of our overall vegetable consumption.

A simple switch to organic potatoes has the potential to have a big impact because commercially-farmed potatoes are some of the most pesticide- contaminated vegetables. A 2006 U.S.D.A. test found 81 percent of potatoes tested still contained pesticides after being washed and peeled, and the potato has one of the the highest pesticide contents of 43 fruits and vegetables tested, according to the Environmental Working Group.

WHY DO ORGANIC PRODUCTS COST MORE?

The first place I go upon entering the grocery store is the produce section. Here is where I do most of my shopping, and inevitably where I tend to spend most of my money. Does that surprise you? It shouldn't if you buy organic produce. Many people are turned off to the choice of purchasing organic products because they tend to be more expensive. Others, meanwhile, are seeing the benefits of buying organic as a necessity for good health.

The reason for the added expense in terms of organic products is that organic dairy, wheat/grains, meat, and produce farmers are not able to produce the mass quantities that other non-organic farmers can. They follow strict guidelines which require the use of no hormones, antibiotics, or pesticides in order to keep the food safe and healthy.

The increasing demand for organic products by the consumer has resulted in more and more corporate conglomerations capitalizing on this rising trend (and letting nutrition and quality fall by the wayside), but still doing just enough to slap the “organic” symbol on their packaging and charge a premium price.

This results in the consumer standing between two food options (maybe it’s the organic cereal vs. the non organic cereal or even the organic milk vs. the non -organic milk), and trying to decipher if the cost difference is worth the health benefits.

TASTE AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE:

The biggest study ever of organic food was completed in 2007 and found that organic fruit and vegetables contain up to 40% more antioxidants than conventional equivalents, and that the figure was 60% for organic milk. The 4-year study was funded by the European Union and was the largest of its kind ever undertaken.

These results were simply announced to the popular press, and have not yet undergone the rigors of scientific peer review, so conclusiveness of this study is debatable.

Some studies have shown higher nutrient levels in organic fruit and vegetables compared with conventionally grown products. However, due to the difficulty with designing such experiments, the evidence was not considered conclusive.

A 2001 study by researchers at Washington State University concluded, under judgement by a panel of tasters, that organic apples were sweeter. Along with taste and sweetness, the texture as well as firmness of the apples were also rated higher than those grown conventionally. These differences are attributed to the greater soil quality resulting from organic farming techniques compared to those of conventional farming.

However, a 2002 meta-analysis (a review of all past studies on the subject) found no proof that organic food offers greater nutritional values, more consumer safety or any distinguishable difference in taste.

Eating Organic Food To Improve Your Health

Organic food is food that has been grown without the use of toxic chemicals, pesticides or fertilizers. The food is as natural as can be, safer for the environment and usually tastes better too. Most importantly though, eating this food is healthier for you and may provide many health benefits, which is what this article is all about.

Even though further research needs to be done to gain a better understanding of the benefits of organic food, there is still much valuable information to share with you.

Before we discuss the actual health benefits of eating whole food, lets take a look at the advantages it has over non-organic food.

It's a fact that this food is highly nutritious and contains higher levels of vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C and minerals like magnesium, calcium and iron are just some of the nutrients organic food contains higher amounts of.

Whole foods also contain higher amounts of antioxidants, which help reduce the risk of developing cancers.

You may be surprised to know, but the vegetables we eat today are nowhere near as nutritious as they were 50 or even 15 years ago. Farmers tend to take shortcuts when growing food, and the fastest way is generally not the best way to do something. This trend is expected to continue, so if eating highly nutritious food is important to you, looking into organic foods is something worth considering.

If you were wondering why organic food hasn't exactly taken the world by storm, it's mainly due to the extra cost associated with organic growing. Demand is greater than supply and as a result, you can expect to pay about 20% extra for this kind of food..

Numerous studies have been conducted to find out the benefits whole foods can provide us humans. Many results are still fairly inconclusive however there have been many reported cases of benefits when animals are fed organic food.

The reason for the vagueness in health benefits is due to many reasons such as: incorrect method of testing and the lengthy time it takes to determine results of this nature. However several studies have shown benefits such as:

Decline in colds and other conditions
Improves dental health
Improves flow of your overall system
Greater chance of sprains and fractures
Reduces chance of injury
Better over health

As mentioned, the subject of organic food vs non organic food is very iffy and many researches believe that this food provides little to no health benefits.

Thinking about it logically, surely food that has been grown as it was intended to and that contains no added toxic chemicals has to be considerably healthier for us.

Whether the extra cost associated with organic food is worth the money is entirely up to the person. There is insufficient evidence to say something like "eating whole foods will reduce the likelihood of getting heart disease".

Even though it's likely that eating organic food will produce significant healthier benefits long term, as of now it comes more down to ones opinion than solid fact.

Why Choose Organic Foods?

Are you concerned that the food you are eating may be harmful to you and your family? With news reports about GM (genetically modified) foods, health scares about eating beef, chemicals on food affecting people's health and the intelligence of children, it's no wonder that many are looking to organic foods as an option.

WHAT IS ORGANIC FARMING?

Organic farming produces plant and animal foods without the excessive use of chemicals. It focuses on using fertile soil along with a variety of crops to maintain healthy growing conditions which produce a food with more nutrients and less chemicals than typical commercial foods. Organic farming prohibits the growing of GM foods, a controversial issue among commercial growers.

Animals reared on organic farms are treated properly with room to behave like animals and are fed healthy food sources not laden with drugs and other chemicals.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ORGANIC FOODS?

One of the common benefits proclaimed about organic foods is that they taste better - but there are many other benefits to incorporating organic foods into your diet. Besides the physical benefits to you there are environmental benefits and benefits to the animals and people who live and work on the farms.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Organic foods prevent people from ingesting regular amounts of pesticides and insecticides commonly found in commercial products. Animals are not routinely given antibiotics and other medication which enters the food supply to humans. Some research suggests that this excessive use of chemicals in food can be linked to increased health problems and interferes with the healthy development of children.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

Organic food also protects the planet. Organic farming ensures that bio-diversity remains available in the foods we eat and the wildlife that live on the farms. Fruits and vegetables are naturally available in 100's of varieties. Commercial growing limits the variety of each food available by mass producing only a handful. Many species of birds, insects and other animals are affected by the chemicals and farming conditions used in growing commercial foods.

Organic farms grow a mix of crops and promote a balanced ecosystem including insects that protect crops from pests and worms and other micro-organisms which fertilize the soil.

HUMAN AND ANIMAL BENEFITS

Organic farming is considered 'sustainable' farming. The workers and the animals are not as exposed to dangerous toxins or working and living conditions. This enables people to continue growing healthy foods for the rest of society without reliance on huge machinery and chemicals.

The animals raised on organic farms are not subject to the terrible living conditions imposed on commercially reared animals who often live in exceedingly small spaces without the freedom to move or interact. These unhealthy conditions lead to a spreading of illness which is combated with regular doses of antibiotics.

On organic farms the animals' needs are given priority. Healthy food, clean living conditions and freedom to behave like animals means healthier animals. When animals are sick they are cared for individually according to their actual needs.

Organic, sustainable farming protects humans, animals and the environment. Increasing the demand for organic products will encourage this form of farming and ensure that the food supply available to our children is a healthy one.

How To Eat Organic Foods

Some people wonder how to eat organic foods well the best way quite simply is, the same as you do conventional food!

With organic food you are eating food that is free from pesticides and other harmful chemicals that only serve to affect your health in a negative way.

All fruit is best eaten raw, and why not it tastes so good!

However, most people prefer to cook their food and of course this is fine.

You just need to preserve as much of the goodness as possible and one of the most effective ways of doing this is to steam your food.

This is a great way to naturally lock-in flavor and nutrients.

Alternatively please be aware that there are chemicals in saucepans and some of these will leach into your food.

You should replace worn saucepans particularly those that are chipped or scratched and especially if these are the non-stick variety.

What Is Organic Food Exactly?

If you are concerned about the scare stories that always seem to be in the news regarding the quality of our food then you may be wondering about the fuss surrounding what is organic food

What is organic food: How is it produced?

The process in most cases starts with organically grown crops so a quick explanation:

Organic farming produces crops and rears cattle without the use of chemicals and artificial additives.

It is farming the natural way and concentrates on producing a fertile soil.

Animals reared on organic farms are housed properly they have room to move about and behave like animals.

They are fed healthy food sources and not those laden with drugs and other chemicals.

So in summary the answer to what is organic food is.…crops and animals produced and fed with natural food and without the use of chemical additives.

What is organic food: How can it benefit me?

The most common benefit is that of taste. The example I always remember is that of comparing conventionally grown sweetcorn to the organically produced version.

The taste of the organic version was amazing and re-awoke memories of how it used to taste when I was a child. It seems the taste has been leeched out of conventional sweetcorn, along with the quality of its nutrients presumably.

Besides the obvious benefit of taste there are also environmental aspects such as fewer chemicals in the soil leading to less erosion of the countryside and pollution of our rivers with nitrates.

Besides the pleasurable benefits to your senses there are also environmental reasons to finding out what is organic food. There are also benefits to the animals and people who live and work on the farms.

Organic farms grow a mix of crops and therefore encourage a balanced Ecosystem.

Pest reducing insects are encouraged back to farms and help to protect crops.

Worms and other micro-organisms thrive in the naturally fertilized soil that can be otherwise sterile on intensive, chemically enhanced farms.