We have all heard that organic foods are safer to consume due to the lack of pesticides and toxins utilized during the growing process. If you research organic foods, you will quickly see that the health benefits and the benefits to our environment are abundant. You will also notice that the cost for organic foods is generally much higher than their non-organic counterparts, and being committed to your health and the environment alike, you will nonetheless worry about the financial pain that buying organic foods will cause.
Organic Food Decreases Exposure to Toxic Chemicals
Purchasing organic foods not only decreases our exposure to all things toxic when it comes to farming, but it also lessens the incidence of toxins that our circulating in our environment as well. Certified organic products are put through rigorous testing and are required to follow strict guidelines in order to ensure that all of the products have been grown and harvested without the use of pesticides and other toxic chemicals.
Organic Foods Lower Your Risk of Developing Cancer
Every year researchers show dangerous links between chemical products and several types of cancers. Many farm workers and people who live near non-organic farms have displayed health problems that are related to pesticide poisoning. These effects become more pronounced over time. If you eliminate the toxins in the food that you eat buy purchasing organic, you also lessen your chances of developing a toxic, pesticide- related illness, such as asthma, auto-immune diseases and many types of cancer.
Organic Foods Feature No Added Hormones or Antibiotics
Strict organic guidelines prohibit the use of growth hormones or antibiotics in the raising of animals for human consumption. Conventional farming allows the addition of both hormones and antibiotics to the animal feed and the animals themselves. These chemicals and additives remain in the meat and are then passed on to the humans who consume those meats.
Many natural health professionals have come to believe that these hormones can be detrimental to humans, especially children and pregnant women. According to 2 studies conducted at Harvard University by Ganmaa Davaasambuu, a physician, Ph.D and working scientist, the estrogen that is present in cow’s milk and other non-organic dairy products is a largely suspected factor in the development of hormone-dependent cancers such as breast cancer.
Organic Food Is Better for the Environment
The pollution that occurs as a result of conventional farming and industrial agriculture not only affects the farmland and workers, but also the surrounding areas and the environment. Pollution and residue from chemical pesticides can invade our water supply, the surrounding soil and the air. These effects are long lasting. Buying organic food promotes a healthy environment and when we chose organic, we are benefiting all families and living things, not just now but also in the future.
Organic Food Improves Soil Quality
Chemical fertilizers have devastated the quality of soil and have caused a loss of nutrients in the foods that we eat. Organic farming helps to preserve our soil. Without the added chemicals, the vitamins and nutrients in the foods that we consume are not compromised. Healthy soil is the foundation of our food source and it needs to be well protected.
Organic Food Tastes Better
When food is raised in harmony with nature it simply tastes better. Because the crops are grown without the use of pesticides, organic produce is free from the chemical after-taste that is present in many conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. Many individuals who prefer organic foods do so for the taste as well as the health benefits. Fruits that are grown organically often taste sweeter and are juicier. When food is grown in well-balanced soil that is free from chemicals, the result is a better product overall, and you can expect a richer taste.
Of course, buying organic whenever possible makes good sense. Organic farming benefits not only us as individuals, but also the environment as a whole. Organic produce and foods can be quite expensive. For families that are on a budget, it is best to look for produce that is considered safe to eat when conventionally grown. Limit organic foods to those that would have a high pesticide concentration if grown conventionally. As with any produce, cleanse thoroughly before eating or adding to recipes.
Foods You Don't Need to Buy Organic
Nonetheless, in this day and age, you need to be well off to be able to buy organic products 100 percent of the time. Save your money by not buying these products which do not need additional action organic:
- Onions
- Sweet corn
- Avocado
- Asparagus
- Pineapple
- Mango
- Kiwi
- Eggplant
- Papaya
- Broccoli
Sources & Links
- www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02984/Foods-You-Dont-Have-to-Buy-Organic.html
- www.eatingwell.com/food_news_origins/organic_natural/15_foods_you_dont_need_to_buy_organic
- articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/08/16/12-foods-you-don-t-have-to-buy-organic.aspx
- http://www.nrdc.org/health/farming/forg101.asp
- news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/12.07/11-dairy.html
- Photo courtesy of ugardener on Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/ugardener/4948120460
- Photo courtesy of williamismael on Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/williamismael/5538607121