5 Major Benefits of Organic Food

Nowadays organic food is getting a lot of popularity. Is organic food really healthier than non-organic foods or it’s just a hype or fad? Let’s see.

What is Organic Food?

The word “organic” shows how an agricultural product has been grown and processed. The rules and regulations about organic food vary among countries. For example, in the US, organic produce should be grown with no bioengineered genes (GMOs), sewage-sludge-based or petroleum-based fertilizers and synthetic pesticides.

When it comes to livestock raised for eggs, meat and dairy products, they should be raised with an access to outdoors and should be given organic food. They should not be given any growth hormones, animal by-products or antibiotics.

Benefits of Organic Food

The way your food is grown or raised can have a great impact on your physical and mental health as well as on the environment. Organic foods usually are higher in beneficial nutrients like antioxidants than the conventionally grown foods. People having allergies to foods, preservatives or chemicals typically find their symptoms reduced or disappeared upon eating organic food.

1. Fewer Pesticides

In conventional agriculture, chemicals are widely used in the form of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. Naturally they are left in the foods in the form of residues and ultimately end up entering our body when we eat those foods. In organic foods, there is no such risk.

2. Fresher Food

Since organic food doesn’t contain preservatives that make them last longer, organic foods are generally grown on smaller farms near the marketplace where it can be sold as soon as possible. So, it’s often fresher as compared to non-organic foods. However, this may not be always the case; so, you should check where it has come from.

3. Better for the Environment

Since organic foods are produced absolutely using natural methods and supplies, their farming reduces pollution and soil erosion, uses less energy, increases soil fertility and conserves water. Farming without chemicals is also better for the local flora and fauna, as well as humans living near the farms.

4. Pure Animal Products

Meat, poultry products and dairy products from organically raised animals and birds are purer than conventionally grown animals and birds because they don’t contain any artificial antibiotics, growth hormones and animal byproducts which increases the risk of mad cow disease (BSE). Antibiotics can go on creating antibiotic-resistant strains of pathogens. Since organically raised animals and birds are given access to the outdoors and more space to move around, they are healthier than conventionally raised animals and birds.

5. More Nutrients

A 2016 European study showed that levels of particular nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids are around 50% higher in organic milk and meat than that in conventionally raised milk and meat.

So, have you decided to turn to organic foods?