What Is Organic Food?
Organic food refers to crops that are grown pesticide-free, irradiation-free, fertilizer-free, GMO-free and without the use of other harmful synthetic materials. Even the animals under organic farming are fed with organic supply devoid of synthetic growth hormones or antibioticsi A substance or medication used to destroy or prevent the growth and spreading of bacterial infection. . Today, you can find store shelves stacked with organic snacks and cereals along with usual vegetables, fruits, milk, and meat (1), (2). Stephanie Cerins, a blogger, shared her positive experience with eating organic food. She decided to switch to a 99% organic food diet when she learnt that some foods were being modified and grown, giving an example of how some scientists added cod fish genes to a tomato plant so it would grow in cold climates. She writes, “My heart was so uncomfortable with the idea of eating genetically modified food I made a commitment to eat only organic food that has the genes Universal Love put in there (i).” She also emphasized the importance of choosing organic food to protect her body from chemicals and how it tastes better. Let’s have a look at the various pros of eating organic food:
1. No Chemicals
Unlike conventional farming, organic farmers are restrained from using synthetic fertilizers, chemical additives, or preservatives in their produces. As such, the food you eat has no chemical residues to harm your body. And you are also safe from poisonous pesticides posing serious health issues (3).
2. Eco-Friendliness
Organic farming is a boon to our deteriorating environment and can promote animal welfare and sustainable farming practices. As it does not go by the principle of increasing crop size, it has a better environmental impact and lesser complications for the soil and atmosphere. They also conserve water for our future. In organic farms, there is increased diversity of crops (4).
3. High Nutritional Values
As compared to conventional farming, organic products are rich store houses of minerals. Organic farming increases the potency and benefits of soil. As such, these benefits are passed on to you whenever you eat these products (3).
4. Better Taste
Organic farming induces better taste in your food (5). With better nutritional inputs and reduced usage of pesticides and chemicals, organic farms increase this taste considerably. You can enjoy naturally sweet apples and berries. You can enjoy naturally sweet apples and berries.
5. Zero Hydrogenated Fat
Eat organic and forget about heart disease! Yes, organic produce is devoid of any hydrogenated fat. This, in turn, reduces your risk of heart-related ailments. It also readies you to take on the challenges of hectic life schedules easily – thanks to its high antioxidant content (3).
6. Organic Is Healthy For Unborn As Well
Research has proved that pesticides and harmful fertilizers of non-organic food may traverse the placentai A temporary organ that connects the baby to the uterus and provides oxygen and nutrients essential for a healthy pregnancy. to harm unborn babies. The toxins in such food can cause serious health issues for them. In fact, lower birth weight, autismi A serious developmental disorder caused by differences in the brain that impairs the ability to communicate and socially interact. , and birth defects in some cases are attributed to these chemicals. So, with organic food, your unborn baby is protected from such disorders (6). And we have a healthier generation ready! A French cohort study was done on 33,256 participants, from 2014 to 2019 to study the correlation between organic food consumption and the risk of type-2 diabetes. The diet was observed in 5% increments as quintiles, using multivariable hazard ratios. Those with higher organic food consumption showed a 35% lower risk of type-2 diabetes. Additionally, each increment of 5% showed a 3% lower risk.
Cons Of Organic Food:
Let’s have a look at the various cons of organic food:
7. High Price Levels
In organic farming, the produce is usually lower due to the lack of synthetic fertilizers. As such, they tend to be more pricey than non-organic food. Even the overhead costs are higher in organic farming. All these factors make them heavier for your pocket (7).
8. Spoils Quickly
This is the most alarming fact related to organic food. It goes off the shelves rather quickly. Actually, organic food is produced without artificial preservatives or irradiation. Hence, they tend to be spoiled faster than processed non-organic food (8).
9. Contamination By E. Coli
This bacteria found in the intestinal tract of animals is a threat to human health. It has been revealed that even organic food safety is in jeopardy due to the contamination caused by it. Some alarming revelations have been made in recent studies that organic food is not actually better than conventional food on the counts of health benefits and nutrition (8).
10. Hard To Find
Sometimes, you may not be able to find organic food at a store near you. This limited availability is basically due to the non-feasibility of organic farming in every region. Also, because organic food has a lower shelf life, you cannot always expect to procure it from far-flung areas where organic farming is done (9). With these pros and cons of organic foods, whether you should choose organic food or not, depends on your personal choice anyways! Do you live longer if you eat organic? There is no scientific evidence to prove that organic food can increase life expectancy. However, consuming a healthy, plant-based diet may help maintain your overall health and reduce the risk of diseases. How does organic food affect your body? Organic foods have comparatively higher antioxidant levels than conventionally grown foods. Studies found that antioxidants could reduce the risk of a few cancers and certain types of chronic cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases (10). Can you lose weight by eating organic? Yes. Organic foods are high in fiber and nutrients – they will keep your appetite in check by keeping you full. Therefore having organic foods in your meals can help you lose weight healthily.
Illustration: Pros And Cons Of Eating Organic Foods
Discover the truth behind the organic food hype and its potential health benefits. Watch this video and uncover the facts about organic vs. conventional produce. Don’t miss out!
