Food is the key to survival for human beings in this world, and it seems like everyone has certain criteria for the food they eat. Among the different types of foods available all around us, two main subcategories are organic food and inorganic food.
If you’ve wondered what is organic food? its benefits, and drawbacks, then keep pursuing this insightful article!
What is Organic Food?
Over time, centuries over centuries, Human Beings have constantly evolved. Food has also been a part of this evolution. I think this evolution of food has had its benefits and drawbacks.
The Department for Agriculture and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) UK states that:
‘Organic food is the product of a farming system which avoids the use of man-made fertilizers, pesticides; growth regulators and livestock feed additives. Irradiation and the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or products produced from or by GMOs are generally prohibited by organic legislation. ‘
Reference: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/organic
What is organic food and why it’s better?
You have possibly heard about the use of pesticides on crops. Controversies regarding feed of animals, specifically poultry animals, are also not unheard of. This is all the result of inorganic farming.
When we use the term organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products, it means these things are coming from animals that haven’t been fed antibiotics or growth hormones, etc.
Similarly, organic crops are grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, GMOs, sewage-based fertilizers, and petroleum-based fertilizers. Instead, they use natural manure or other natural fertilizers for growth.
Sometimes you might come across foods such as sauces or other condiments etc., which are labeled organic. That simply means that such foods are free of artificial food additives such as artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors, preservatives, and MSG.
I hope you can now see why such chemical and hormone free food will be good for our bodies.
Benefits of Organic Food
We all know how harmful pesticides and growth accelerating hormones can be on our health. That is why organic food possess many benefits, both for our health and our environment.
1. Antibiotic Resistance
I always find it unsettling how animals are fed a diet that is full of growth accelerating hormones and antibiotics. When we consume that meat, we also indirectly consume those antibiotics.
There’s a chance that over time, our body will become immune to them and when we fall sick and need antibiotics, they might not work so well on us, ultimately compromising our recovery process.
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2. Organic Food is Healthier than Inorganic food
If you want to eat healthily then you might want to switch to eating organic food.
Research has found that organic food is better for our health as it is rich in nutrients, vitamin C, antioxidants, and minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, chromium, etc. which promote human health.
3. It’s Better for the Environment
As of now, planet Earth is the only place where we can survive, so it’s a good idea that we take care of it, right? Organic farming does exactly that!
It reduces pollution, soil erosion, and energy and water usage while promoting soil fertility and hence it’s better for the environment.
4. Better for our Immune System
Since consuming genetically modified food is a relatively new concept, we still don’t know its long-lasting effects on the human body. But in animal testing, it was found out that consuming such foods causes a reduction in the immune system and natural resistance to diseases.
It also causes an increase in birth mortality, sensitivity to allergens and sexual dysfunctions. This is one of the main reasons that pushed me to switch to organic food.
5. You get to eat Fresh Food!
The use of preservatives isn’t allowed during the production and processing of organic food so you can always be sure that what you consume is fresh, flavorful, and free from chemicals, and preservatives.
Organic vs Natural Food
Next time you go to the supermarket, make a mental note of how many items displayed claim to be natural! You might think that natural and organic foods are one and the same, but that’s not the case.
For food to claim it’s organic, it has to be grown, produced and processed as per the organic methods defined by certain certifying bodies, such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
On the other hand, for an item to claim its “natural”, it doesn’t need the approval of any regulating body. As a result, food manufacturers often place the word natural on products made of heavily processed ingredients.
Be sure that you check the ingredient list before buying an item claiming to be natural. Natural does not mean its organic!
Conclusion
Eating healthy food is crucial towards achieving better health, immunity, and fitness.
With the rising use of hormones and pesticides in conventional food production, many people are wondering what is organic food? Once they find out its benefits they switch to it to promote health and fitness.
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