Organic Food Is The Safer Option

By Virginia Louise

Products that are labeled as organic food must be grown according to certain standards. Studies have shown that this type of food is better for ones health than conventionally grown food.

Synthetic pesticides are not allowed to be used in growing organic food. Use of pesticides that are plant-based is allowable, but only when absolutely necessary. Organic foods do not contain artificial preservatives or other additives. Other processes that are used with conventional methods, such as irradiation, chemical ripening and genetic modification are also usually not part of organic farming methods.

There are different terms used to let you know just how organic the particular food is that you are considering buying. If it is 100% organic, that is exactly how it will be labeled. If the product just says organic, than it is at least 95% so. If the food has between 70% and 95%, it can be labeled made with organic ingredients.

Organic farming is believed to be less harmful to the environment as it does not use synthetic pesticides that can then be damaging to the water, the earth and surrounding animals. They encourage the health of the ecosystems, especially as they often rely on birds and insects for reducing populations of harmful pests. Organic farms also use less energy and produce fewer waste products.

Some critics argue that organic farming produces less with the same amount of land than conventional farming methods. However, further studies indicate that, worldwide this is not true. In developed countries such as the United States they do produce less. In other countries, however, they actually produce more. The implication is that if the world were using organic farming methods, there would be no concern over yield.

Though there is some conflicting evidence, there are definitely studies that prove soil farmed organically has more nutrients and therefore yields more nutritious foods. Part of this is the fact that no chemicals are used. Another factor is that organic farming normally uses the method of crop rotation which has been used throughout history to improve soil quality.

Conventional farming methods have resulted in food that contains less and less nutrients over the years. An apple grown today, by any method, does not contain the same level of nutrition as an apple grown 100 years ago. But there is evidence that you can increase your nutritive intake by eating organically grown foods as much as possible. As far as exposure to toxins, even if you wash conventionally grown produce, there are still chemicals that have been absorbed into the fruit or vegetable.

Studies regarding organic food are controversial. But it seems obvious that any amount of pesticide in food is not healthy. When you add the hormones that are often in conventionally grown meat, the argument for eating organic foods becomes even more compelling. - 31875

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here