The way our food is raised or grown can have a significant impact on our physical, emotional and mental health as well as our environment. Food raised organically tends to have a higher amount of beneficial nutrients, such as antioxidants, as compared to their conventionally-grown counterparts. People who suffer from food allergies, as well as allergies to preservatives and chemicals may find their manifestations go away or reduce when they consume organic food. The choice of the consumption of organic food has found its way in the growing trend globally as people have realized lately the needs of healthy self-improvement.
The word "organic" refers to the manner in which agricultural products are grown, handled and processed. While the guidelines differ from one country to another, in the United States, organic products are required to be grown without the utilization of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, or genes that have been bioengineered (GMOs). Domesticated animals and livestock that are raised for eggs, meat, and dairy items should be raised in natural environments obliging their characteristic practices (like the ability to graze on pasture) and fed organic forage and feed. They generally should not be given antibiotics, animal by-products, or any growth hormones.
Health Benefits of Consuming Organic Food
• Healthier Immune System
The industrial or traditional practices of farming target upgrading production and farm yield by all necessary means. For instance, the idea of delivering more grains, more meat and bigger sized fruits and vegetables through modifications at the genetic level and use of chemicals and growth hormones appears to address a portion of the world's food instability concerns. The impacts are not yet visible, but in the long run, the outcomes are sensitivity to allergens and a significantly reduced strength of the immune system. On the other hand, organic foods have quality and higher mineral and vitamin content that further helps in strengthening the immune system.
• Improved Cardiovascular Health
Grazing on natural grass builds the amount of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) found in products obtained from animals. The sun’s energy is readily absorbed by natural grass via photosynthesis and is changed over into organic CLA by herbivores feeding on it. CLA is a fatty acid which is heart-healthy with the capability of supporting cardiovascular protection and is found in greater amounts in milk and meat products of livestock that have been pastured in free-range.
• Less Chances of Antibiotic Resistance
While consuming non-organic food products, humans indirectly consume antibiotics, vaccines, growth hormones which are responsible for weakening the immune system due to overdose of these byproducts. This may further render humans unable to defend themselves against infectious diseases. This problem is not faced when consuming organic food as their production does not involve any of these products.
• Cutback on Pesticides
Synthetic pesticides’ consumption is connected to a number of disorders and diseases, specifically cancers, stomach related dysfunctions, cerebral disorder, ADHD, defects in reproductive system, and even premature death. Organic food sources are free of such pesticides and that is the main reason they are ideal for achieving a superior overall health and wellbeing.
• Non-Genetically Modified
Organic products are mostly GMO-free. The current era is facing a huge concern over the genetic engineering of food products. It is believed by advocates that GMOs are responsible for a leading cause of internal organ damage, slowed brain growth, thickening of the digestive tract and gastrointestinal disorder.
• Environment-Friendly
Almost negligible interference is posed by organic foods to the environmental resources as they are grown locally, supporting healthy living. Since harmful preservatives and chemicals are strictly forbidden in natural farming, there is least water, soil and air pollution, subsequently guaranteeing a better and more secure climate. To be exact, organic farming decreases the drawn-out human health implications brought about via air, water, and soil pollution.
• Certainty of Consuming Fresh and Tasteful Food
Organically raised food items are guided by exacting guidelines of production, handling and planning. Also, organic food is mostly fresher and loaded with flavor since it does not make use of additives and preservatives for extending the shelf life. Greater part of organically grown food are sold or availed locally close to where they are produced. Aside from being nutritious, the sugar structures in organic food are more flavorful on the grounds that these yields are given much more time to develop and mature naturally.
Apples, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, kale, peaches, spinach, strawberries, hot peppers are some of the vegetables and fruits where the label of “organic” matters the most. These food products are best to buy organic as they have been found to have the highest level of pesticide. On the other hand, there are certain fruits and vegetables such as onion, papaya, mushrooms, cabbage, sweetcorn, sweet potatoes, avocado, cantaloupe which are not required to be bought organic, as these are conventionally-grown items and mostly low in pesticides.