5 Reasons You’re Better Off Eating Organic Food to Stay Healthy

By Korie Cantor –

Organic eating seems to be the rage these days. Just about every health or nutrition related publication – from health journals to fitness blogs, are covering topics related to organic eating. Apparently it’s good for us, though the costs sometimes can seem prohibitive.

But how exactly does eating organic affect us? And do the health benefits of organic eating imply that non-organic food, our staple fare for decades, does not give us the nutrition we need?

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If you are unsure about what eating organic means, this post seeks to demystify the matter. We don’t aim to convert you, only to get your mind jogging on the path where organic rules supreme. (And we sign off with a recipe you are bound to love!)

So let’s get started.

What is organic food?

Organic food is any food that is produced by using organic methods of farming.

“…in general organic farming responds to site-specific farming and crop conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.”

Organic food

A lack of chemical fertilizers and the use of animal and environment-friendly farming measures render the organically produced food safer to eat, more nutritious, as well as more ethical than mass produced items.

Here are five ways in which consuming organic food can make a difference for the better in your life.

  1. You’ll Consume Lesser amount of Chemicals

This is arguably the biggest advantage of eating organic.

In order to keep the rodents and pests at bay in farms, farmers use pesticides, antibiotics, and other chemicals to keep their produce safe and make it grow more abundant. The soil is also prepped with chemical-based fertilizers to aid food production.

While the pesticides and fertilizers do achieve their goal, a lot of that stuff also settles on the produce itself, thereby making its way to our plate and eventually our bodies.

Since organic farming does away with the use of these chemicals, and relies on natural or organically-approved fertilizers to control weeds, pests, and insects, you consume lesser chemicals on the whole if you eat organically-produced food on a daily basis.

  1. Organic Food is Richer in Antioxidants

We pay for antioxidant supplements on top of eating healthy because antioxidants fight free radicals and slow down the ageing process. They also boost our overall immunity and impart a healthy glow to our skin.

If you want to have more of that good stuff, you might want to consider eating organic produce more often. As per one study published in British Journal of Nutrition, organically farmed food contains “as much as 70% more antioxidants than non-organic produce.”

Also available in the market are organic supplements, and they are not any more expensive than the regular supplements. Yet, to be on the safer side, try out freebies or free samples before ordering any.

  1. Organic Food is More Nutritious

The same study mentioned above, which in turn is a review of 343 studies on the matter, found a number of benefits to organic food over non-organic food, which renders it more nutritious on the whole: “…organically grown fruits, vegetables and grains deliver tangible nutrition and food safety benefits.”

Does this settle the debate once and for all regarding which is better, organic or non-organic food? No. But it does present a compelling case. If you are interested in getting up to speed on the matter, we recommend you give the study a read.

  1. Organic Food is Environment-Friendly

It’s not just the food that we eat but also the water that we drink and the air that we breathe that contribute towards our overall well-being.

Because organic farming is kinder to nature than conventional farming, it is a much lesser contributor to soil and air pollution. It also helps reduce soil erosion and preserve the ecological balance of the area surrounding the farms.

You won’t be doing just your body a favor by eating fresh, natural, and organic, but will also be doing your bit for Mother Nature.

  1. Organic Meat is Healthier

Organic meat sounds like an oxymoron but it only refers to meat from animals raised the humane and organic way.

While we all love a juicy steak, do you know what it took to get it to that level of plumpness? What if it were just growth hormones that did that?

You are free to YouTube how animals are treated in farms all over this country and decide for yourself if you would want to consume poultry and meat produced that way.

Certified organic meat on the other hand ensures that the livestock were not given any growth injections or fed anything that you would ideally not want to make its way to your body. The animals themselves are fed organic food and raised in humane conditions with minimum exposure to chemicals. The happier and healthier the animals, the better their meat. (It may sound gross and oddly dehumanizing, but that’s how it goes.)

We hope the above has cleared some of the confusion in your mind about what eating organic means and how it can contribute to your health.

To help you get started along the path, here’s a mouthwatering and yet easy peasy sandwich made of organic ingredients.

Basil Pesto Grilled Cheese

You will need:

  • 2 ounces of organic cream cheese
  • 1 tbsp organic butter
  • 1 tbsp pesto sauce
  • 4 slices of whole wheat bread
  • 1 medium-sized tomato (organically grown)
  • Fresh organic basil leaves

The method:

  • Spread out the slices.
  • Apply a thin layer of pesto sauce on two of them.
  • Spread cream cheese on those two slices, on top of the pesto sauce.
  • Lay out tomato slices on the cream cheese and top with basil leaves.
  • Cover with a slice of bread each to make two sandwiches.
  • Grease a skillet with butter and fry the sandwiches on both sides until they are crispy and golden-brown.
  • Serve with ketchup or a dip of your choice.

(Adapted from: www.simplyorganic.com)

You can introduce a number of variations to the above. Instead of pesto you can opt for a mint or cilantro sauce. And you could accompany the tomatoes with avocadoes or whichever fruit or vegetable takes your fancy.

The key to eating organic really is to insist on buying organic produce and consuming it fresh. It’s as simple as that!

 

 

Korie Cantor has been working as a freelance writer for a long time. She has a diverse background in health and fitness. She loves sharing her opinions on the latest issues affecting women and also recommends to use healthy product.

 

 

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5 Reasons You’re Better Off Eating Organic Food to Stay Healthy
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