People are concerned with the quality of the food they eat more than ever before. Words like “organic” and “natural” get tossed around a lot these days, especially when people talk about food. Organic is one of the fastest growing agricultural markets in the world.

What is Organic Food?

In simple words, food that is grown or raised without chemical pesticides or chemical fertilizers is called “organic”. Organic food is produced without using synthetic pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge, bioengineering or ionizing radiation (Genetically modified organisms - GMOs). If livestock are involved, they must have access to the outdoors and be given organic feed. They should not be given antibiotics or growth hormones.

As the world faced a huge food crunch, a large supply of synthetic chemicals was introduced to the food supply and genetically modified food was produced to cope with the increasing demand (referred to as conventional produce). Virtually all conventionally produced foods contain residues of pesticides and other chemicals. Children are far more susceptible to harm from pesticide residue on food because of their developing bodies and different diets. Some experts believe that these pesticides may possibly lead to problems impeding with normal neurological development. Therefore, organic food was developed to ensure that people could trust that the food they were eating was grown under the most healthful and natural conditions.

Why is organic food more expensive?

Organic food is generally more expensive because organic farming requires more manual labor and attention. Also very often the yields of an organic produce is significantly lower than that grown under non-organic conditions. The choice to add organic foods to your diet may cost a bit more money, but for that price, you are buying the reassurance that you’re making healthy decisions for your own health and your family’s health.

Is organic food more nutritious than non-organic food?

Organic food advocates claim that organic foods are more nutritious than conventionally grown foods. Some studies suggest that some organically grown fruits and vegetables may contain more vitamin C, trace minerals, and antioxidants. However, other studies have found no evidence to show that organic foods contain any more nutrients than non-organic foods.

Which food can be called “Organic”?

Foods that are labeled as “100% Organic” must contain all organically grown ingredients except for added salt and water. Foods that are labeled as “Organic” need to contain at least 95% organic ingredients, except for added salt and water. They must not also contain sulfites added as a preservative.

What are the benefits of eating Organic?

There are numerous benefits to eating organic such as:

• Organically grown foods are natural, without any sprayed chemical.
• Organic foods can be more nutritious, richer in minerals and essential fatty acids. Fruits and vegetables grown in organic farms are found to have more antioxidants as compared to those grown by the conventional method of agriculture.
• Organic foods are often fresher and tastes better as they do not contain preservatives.
• Because the natural process of growth is honored with organic foods, organic foods often look more “alive” than conventional foods.
• Organic foods put less burden on environment. Organic farms use less energy, conserve water, increase soil fertility, reduce soil erosion and produce less waste, such as packaging materials for chemicals.
• Organically raised animals are not given antibiotics or growth hormones. These substances - used on conventionally grown farm animals - pass from the dairy products and meat we eat into our bodies. The use of antibiotics in conventional meat production may be one of the causes of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.

What are its limitations?

However good it may be, it does have a few limitations like:

• Organic foods are more expensive to grow than conventionally grown foods.
• It has a lower shelf life as it does not contain artificial preservatives.
• Some studies say that they are not that different to their conventional counter part.
• It requires more land under cultivation.

Once you’ve started making the change to organic food, you’ll soon appreciate the many advantages of eating organic foods, and you won’t want to switch back!

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