Organic 101 · 

4 Health Benefits of Eating Organic Food

Let us first define Organic Food.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), “Organic Food is grown and processed according to federal guidelines addressing, among many factors, soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and use of additives. Organic producers rely on natural substances and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods to the fullest extent possible.”

But wait, how can we know if the product is truly organic?

The USDA states that it should NOT have the following:

  • Toxic and synthetic pesticides or fertilizers
  • GMO ingredients
  • Antibiotics or synthetic growth hormones
  • Artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
  • Sewage sludge or irradiation

In today’s modern times, we have so many preservatives and other things put into our food or even in the soil in which the ingredients grow in. Moreover, because of the changing world, we now have different lifestyles compared to many decades ago.

But, why do we need to consider – or rather – to change to an organic lifestyle?

There is still much debate on whether organically grown food is indeed healthier, but from certain studies, there are a lot of benefits that we can get from it.

First, organic food contains more nutrients.

According to research, organic food like fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, Calcium, vitamin C, Magnesium and Chromium.

Second, organic food is pesticide-free.

Organic farming doesn’t use any kind of pesticides to keep away any diseases and pests. Therefore, organic food products are free from contamination that may cause harm to consumers. Additionally, organic farmers go for natural farming methods like crop rotation and the use of manure for organic fertilizer.

Third, it contains more antioxidants.

This is because organic food is free from chemicals that react with the vitamins that it has. Antioxidants are known to help prevent heart diseases, premature aging, vision problems, cancer, and other illnesses.

Fourth, organic food is good for you and the environment.

Organic agriculture considers the long-term impact of growing food through natural means. Organic farmers work to produce food while keeping the nutrients of the soil for future years. Also, they don’t use pesticides that are bad for us consumers and the soil. Moreover, pesticides can kill other insects that help in pollination.

We can’t deny that organic food is more expensive than the usual ones. This is because farmers do not use pesticides and any other artificial substances or hormones to make them look good. Plus, it’s more hard work to manage organic farms because according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), organic agricultural practices undertake a lengthy process. But we do know that non-organic methods may be potentially harmful to our environment and for our health.

Healthy food means healthy people. Let us practice mindfulness on how our food was grown, value our health, and take care of our bodies as well as our environment.

Sources:

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_food
  • https://universityhealthnews.com/daily/nutrition/benefits-of-organic-food/
  • https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2012/03/22/organic-101-what-usda-organic-label-means
  • https://www.greenmatters.com/p/why-is-organic-food-more-expensive