Tag non-organic food

Most consumers really do not understand why organic food is important, and many of them really do not even knows what an organic label implies. All that most shoppers know is that organic food costs more in the grocery store, and they may pass it up because they hope to stretch their grocery budgets. Since food prices have been rising lately, this is easy to understand. However, eating organic food may be important for your health.

What Is Organic Food?

Of course, all food is really organic. That means that it comes from living things, and that is exactly what our meat, dairy products, produce, and grain come from. However, an organic label means something else.

This label implies that the food has been grown or raised with organic farming practices. That means that food has been either fed or fertilized with organic materials too. No harsh chemicals, artificial hormones, or antibiotics have been used to either keep away pests or make livestock grow faster and avoid diseases.

Is Organic Food Healthier?

Nobody debates that the price of organic food is higher. However, a debate rages about the health benefits of organic vs. non-organic food.

According to an article in Psychology Today, eating organic food may substantially lower the risk of many types of cancer. For example, hormones given to livestock may not increase their risk of cancer because they do not live long enough to develop it. An average chicken raised for meat only lives a few months.

However, you probably expect to keep your body for many decades. An analysis of the research strongly suggests that an organic diet will reduce exposure to pesticide residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria as well as artificial hormones.

Most people would rather not ingest excess chemicals that are designed to kill insects. They also don’t want to consume extra antibiotics or hormones in their food. A lot of people would probably tell you that is simply common sense, but they still won’t buy organic food.

Critics say that there is absolutely no evidence that organic food has significantly more nutritional value than non-organic food. However, that argument misses the point. The argument should not be about what organic meat, poultry, or grains contain, but it should be about what they do not contain. They do not contain chemical pesticides, artificial hormones, and additional antibiotics.

Some organic food advocates say that organic food is also healthier, and they would like the conservative scientists to explain what they mean by “significantly.” Analysis has demonstrated that organic food has an average of a 12 percent higher level of nutrients than non-organically grown or raised food. Spread over multiple servings a day, this might be significant.

Additionally, organic produce has higher levels of natural antioxidants. These nutrients help human cells protect themselves from cancer and problems of aging.

Is Organic Food Better?

There is no doubt that organic food costs more. Advocates of chemicals, hormones, and multiple antibiotics say that their practices help keep food prices lower. However, advocates of organic farming insist that non-organic food is not really cheaper if it risks consumer’s health.

Organic foods taste better than the non-organic foods. This is because they are treated in a more hands-off way. By not treating animals and plants with toxic chemical products and putting a little more work in, organic farmers can produce great tasting products.

You will notice that organic food will start to go bad far more quickly than non-organic food. This is because the food producers use preservative sprays on the fruits and vegetables before they are transported and meat is injected with preservatives and other chemicals to ensure that it is the ‘right’ color for the customer. Because people have become so used to buying bright red meat, they have actually become prejudice against meat that is fresher, which usually has a grey tinge to it. Vegetables and fruit that have been treated with preservatives can be dangerous if they are not washed properly. If you have ever bought a non-organic apple, you will notice that they are covered with a waxy layer. This layer is easily removed by washing it, and if you rub the apple you will notice it becomes shiny. This layer is actually a preservative that can be harmful if consumed in large quantities.

Organic meat that is raised in a free range way can offer great benefits. The animals are able to roam around wherever they like and so they have the ability to develop muscles and graze on healthy grass. Non-organic animals do not have the same luxury. The non-organic animals are kept in small confined spaces so that they put on weight quickly. They are fed on substandard feed and are given chemical medication to help them to put on weight and muscle. The chemicals present in the non-organic animals can make you very ill. If you choose the organic meats, you have less chance of getting diseases that can be passed on through animals, and you will not be consuming the chemicals which can cause cancer and heart problems.