Why Eat Organic

I have personally come across many people who cringe at the thought of eating organic food. I understand their feelings about the matter because I was once reluctant to eat organic food as well. Once I was exposed to organic food, I soon found out that my fears were merely due to the lack of understanding and knowledge of the organic meaning. Organic food can taste just as good as or better than the conventional food and I like the idea that I am not consuming all of the nasty chemicals and pesticides that I was before in conventional food. There are many reasons why organic is better. In my research, I have found that the benefits of eating organic are endless. What I want to do is describe what organic food is and why it is a better choice than conventional foods. Also, I have listed the top 10 reasons to eat organic food. I hope this information allows you to have a better understanding of what organic food is and why it is so important to our community and the environment.

Organic foods are produced without the use of chemicals, herbicides, fungicides, petroleum-, sewage- or sludge-based fertilizers or chemical pesticides. Organic food is not bio-engineered, genetically modified, nor is it irradiated. Poultry and beef are fed only organic feed, are grazed on organically maintained pastures, and are not given antibiotics, hormones or animal by-products. Organic farmers are leaders and innovators at protecting our environment while protecting the crops naturally. Conventional farmers use millions of pounds of pesticides each year, much of which ends up in our drinking water and oceans.

Pesticides and chemicals kill off living things – bugs and animals that may eat the food as well as parasites and microorganisms. Pesticides deplete the soil so more chemicals are needed to fertilize and so the cycle continues. Pesticides are poisons. Most have the potential of causing cancer and are endocrine disrupters that mimic or interfere with our hormones. Pesticides cannot always be washed off the food, even with soap, as they are “ingested” in the plant through the roots and are actually in the body of the food. Pesticides have a well documented and serious impact on our health. Among the many adverse effects, pesticides compromise our liver’s job of cleaning toxins from our body.

• Compromise each cell’s ability to produce energy and do their respective jobs in our body.

• Compromise our nerves and their job of sending important messages in our body.

In short, pesticides cause disease and death. That’s their goal, to kill off the bugs and pests. But they are having serious impacts on the lives of humans and especially children. This is particularly important in the amounts and combinations of these pesticides that the children are eating since they are such picky eaters. The long-term effect of these pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and chemicals and the effect of the ‘cocktail’ of pesticide combinations effect fertility, development, health, and longevity.

It’s obvious that there are people and business who want to prove that eating organic does not allow you any extra nutrients and there are no real reasons to make the change from conventional to organic. The topic is heavily debated but if you have the facts then it should make your decision an easy one to make the transition from conventional to organic.

Here are the top 10 reasons you should consider organic:

1. It is healthy. Organic food tends to contain higher levels of
vitamin C, cancer-fighting antioxidants, and essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and chromium.

2. No nasty additives. Organic food doesn’t contain food additives
that can cause health problems such as heart disease, osteoporosis, migraines and hyperactivity.

3. It avoids pesticides. More than 400 chemical pesticides are
routinely used in conventional farming and residues are often present in non-organic food.

4. No genetic modification. Under organic standards, genetically
modified (GM) crops and ingredients are not allowed.

5. There is not a reliance on drugs. Organic farming standards
prohibit the routine use of antibiotics and growth hormones in farm animals.

6. There are no hidden costs. As taxpayers, we pay for chemicals
to be removed from our drinking water – including the pesticide runoff from conventional farms.

7. There are high standards. Organic food comes from trusted
sources that are inspected to ensure compliance to organic standards.

8. Organic methods provide for animals. Animal welfare is taken
very seriously under organic standards.

9. It’s good for wildlife and the environment. The UK government
has said that organic farming is better for wildlife, causes lower pollution from sprays, produces less carbon dioxide – the main global warming gas – and less dangerous wastes.

10. It is flavorful. Many people prefer organic food because they
say it tastes better.

Michael