Many people choose to buy organic foods for a variety of reasons. Some do so to reduce their exposure to pesticides, while others believe that organic foods are healthier overall.
However, the evidence supporting these claims is mixed. Whether or not buying organic is right for you depends on your individual needs and budget.
Consuming Organic Food Increases Your Body’s Ability to Absorb Nutrients
When you eat, your digestion begins in the mouth, where enzymes begin to break down your food. From there, your meal makes its way through the stomach and small intestine, where most nutrients are absorbed. Eating organic foods can help boost your nutrient absorption because they’re often fresher and contain more of the good stuff.
In fact, a study found that organic fruits and vegetables are richer in antioxidants than their conventional counterparts. This is because they’re not sprayed with synthetic fungicides, herbicides, or insecticides that can leave residue on and in your produce.
If you’re shopping on a budget, try to include organic options in your diet as much as possible. However, if buying organic isn’t feasible for your lifestyle, make sure you’re including a variety of nutritious foods in your diet. For example, if you’re eating lots of tomatoes—which are high in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant—try to eat some that are grown using conventional methods and some that are organic.
Organic Food Increases Your Body’s Ability to Digestion Nutrients
When you choose to eat organic food, you’re avoiding consuming a wide array of harmful chemicals that are present in conventional non-organic foods. These chemicals include neurotoxins that have been linked to ADHD, autism, and decreased cognitive skills and memory, as well as organophosphates, which were used as a nerve agent during World War I.
Additionally, organic food is free of pesticides and preservatives. These can have a negative impact on your overall health and lead to allergies, inflammation and other health conditions.
Organic food is often more expensive, but it can be worth the extra cost if you can afford it. If you’re unable to purchase all of your meals organically, make sure to prioritize the fruits and vegetables on the Dirty Dozen list and opt for organic meats, dairy and eggs. You can also find a variety of healthy snacks and treats that are made with organic ingredients from local vendors at your nearest farmers market.
Organic Food Increases Your Body’s Ability to Assimilate Nutrients
While organic foods are free from chemicals that may harm health, they can also cost more. This makes them a luxury many can’t afford.
Nevertheless, some research indicates that organic food is healthier than conventionally grown foods. It has fewer pesticides and more antioxidants, which reduce the risk of certain cancers and other chronic cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. It also contains more heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
In addition, many studies show that consuming organic foods helps lower inflammation levels in the body. They also help to strengthen the immune system, which is essential for long-term health.
While consuming organic foods is beneficial for all, it’s especially important for vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and children. Registered dietitians recommend that you prioritize organic produce on the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list, and eat organic meat and dairy when possible.
Consuming Organic Food Increases Your Body’s Ability to Store Nutrients
If you eat organic foods, it can help to balance your hormones, improve gut health and minimize inflammation. In addition, organic meat and produce are usually more nutritious than conventional varieties.
Moreover, organic farming avoids the use of antibiotics and other synthetic substances that can negatively impact the health of livestock and people eating the animals’ milk or meat. Organic meat and dairy are also free of growth hormones.
Studies show that organic foods have higher levels of some nutrients, such as vitamin C, iron, magnesium and phosphorus, than nonorganic foods. They are lower in nitrates and pesticide residues, as well.
The best way to maximize the nutrient content of your diet is to choose a variety of fruits and vegetables, and always buy organic when possible. However, if you’re on a tight budget, prioritize the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list of foods that are most important to buy organic and stick with those.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are organic beauty products?
Organic Beauty Products don't contain synthetic chemicals such as parabens. These ingredients are common in cosmetics such as shampoos, perfumes, and cosmetics.
Organic beauty products are also free from animal testing and do not contain any genetically modified organisms (GMO).
The USDA defines organic as "a system for production that fosters recycling of resources". It has been used over the years to describe foods grown without pesticides.
The harmful effects of chemical compounds on our bodies have led to an increase in the demand for ecofriendly beauty products.
These include cancer, allergies, skin irritation, hormonal imbalance, and premature aging.
Organic beauty businesses are committed to providing safe, healthy products that consumers can use while protecting the environment.
What are some organic skin products?
Organic skincare products don't contain any synthetic chemicals such as parabens or phthalates.
Organic skincare products don't contain artificial colours or fragrances.
They also help to preserve healthy skin and prevent premature aging.
These are some terms that you might see when looking for organic products
- Paraben Free- These are chemicals that help to keep certain cosmetics stable. But, they can also be toxic if taken in large quantities.
- Fragrance-Free: The product is free of essential oils or fragrances.
- Cruelty-Free - No animals were harmed during the manufacturing process.
- Natural Ingredients: The ingredient is naturally derived form the animal or plant.
- Vegan/Vegetarian – The ingredients can either be vegetarian or vegan.
- Gluten-Free - This means that gluten has been removed from the formulation.
- Non-Toxic -- The product doesn’t contain toxic substances, carcinogens, harmful compounds, or any other dangerous chemicals that could pose a threat to your health.
- Biodegradable - the product will break down into harmless components when discarded.
- Pesticide Free – There were no pesticides used during the harvesting or growing process.
- GMO-Free means that no ingredient in the product contains genetically modified organisms.
- Certified Organic is a certification that the ingredients of the recipe were grown using sustainable methods.
How can I tell if my produce has been certified organic?
These are the labels you should look for to ensure you are purchasing organic produce
USDA Organic Certified – This certification is issued by USDA to ensure that the product is 100% organic.
Certified Naturally Grown is produce that has met strict organic requirements but not yet been certified by the USDA.
Pastured/Free Range - Produce from animals who live outdoors and graze freely on grass and herbs.
These labels signify that the product meets a specific set of criteria.
- There are no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers
- No genetically modified organisms
- The animal is never given antibiotics
- Animals are never given hormones.
- No growth-promoting drugs
- No feed additives
- No artificial ingredients
- No irradiation
- No sewage sludge
- GMOs banned
- No antibiotics ever given
- No hormones ever given
- No growth-promoting medications
- No feed-additives
- No artificial ingredients
- No sewage effluent (if it isn't a GMO).
- No irradiation
I hope you found this article helpful.
Is organic food better for us?
According to the Environmental Working Group's recent report on pesticide residues within foods, organic fruits & vegetables contained nearly half of the pesticides that non-organic varieties. The Environmental Working Group found that organic apples contained eight-times less pesticides than other non-organic fruits, and organic strawberries had fourfold more than their conventional counterparts.
Studies have also shown that organic foods reduce the risk of mercury and lead poisoning. For instance, one study showed that children who consumed organic meat had 33% less blood lead levels than children who did not. Another study concluded that pregnant mothers should avoid eating conventional fish because of the high levels mercury.
Organic food is generally safer than non-organic. Experts recommend eating fresh fruits and veggies whenever possible to reduce the chance of developing cancer.
Is organic meat healthier?
If you've been paying any attention, you likely already know the answer. Here's the problem: Organic food is becoming more sought-after, while traditional food continues to decline in popularity.
Organic foods are more appealing because they are healthier. In addition to being safer for our health, organic products also help the environment by reducing pollution and waste.
However, there are also two sides to this coin. Organic produce takes longer to grow, and it requires more resources. Organic food is generally more expensive than nonorganic.
Organic meats will typically be more expensive than those that are raised in conventional conditions. There are however ways to lower these costs without sacrificing the quality of organic meats.
Buy locally to save money. Buy locally grown vegetables and fruits to help keep prices low. Farmers receive incentives to grow healthier crops.
You can also look for deals to reduce costs. Organics often come with discounts.
Another way to save money? Eat less meat. Feeding livestock can be very expensive.
There are many reasons that organic food is better than regular food for our bodies, and also for the planet. However, it is important to remember the price.
What is organic meat?
Organic meat is real food grown without pesticides, artificial fertilizers, or hormones. It also means that the animals weren't fed any genetically modified feed. The meat is safe to consume because it contains no harmful chemicals.
Organic meats are also healthier for the environment. The pollution levels in our environment are reduced when we eat organic foods. Organic farmers generally don't use toxic chemicals that kill birds and insects. We help to protect wildlife.
It is best to buy organic meats locally as much as possible. Local shopping helps keep more money in your community than it does out of state. Local businesses often pass along savings to customers when shopping locally. Local businesses are more likely to keep jobs here than export them abroad.
What are my top priorities when buying organic products
USDA-certified organic labels are recommended. This certifies that the product has met certain standards set by USDA. Look for the "USDA Organic" seal on packages, boxes, cartons, cans, and jars.
When shopping for meat ensure it comes only from cows that are fed 100% organic feed. Ruminants are cattle that chew their cud. Ruminant cattle are divided into four stomach compartments, the rumen and reticulum as well as the omasum and abmasum. If the cow is to be labeled "100% organic", all of its parts must have been organically fed.
Buy chicken from only organic chickens that have been fed 100% organic food and are not given antibiotics. Omnivore chickens can eat both plants as well as animals. Omnivorous chickens have a digestive system that includes a crop (proventriculus), gizzard and small intestine.
Buy only dairy products from cows that have been fed organically grown feed. Just like ruminants, dairy cows also have four stomachs. The fourth stomach, or the udder is where you get milk.
When purchasing other types of livestock, check the label to see what percentage of the diet the animals were fed. Pork may be labeled "95% Organic" which means that 95 percent of its feed was organic.
Statistics
- Cosmetic brands such as Laurel and Rose Mira are 100 percent organic and have a wide array of skincare products. (en.wikipedia.org)
- According to a study performed by consumerreports.org, organic products, compared to non-organic products, ranged anywhere from 13 percent cheaper to 303 percent more expensive. (en.wikipedia.org)
- As for organic meat, regulations require that animals be raised in living conditions that accommodate their natural behaviours (like the ability to graze on pasture), fed 100% organic feed and forage, and not administered antibiotics or hormones. (usda.gov)
- Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids were up to 50 percent higher in organic meats and milk than in conventionally raised products.[3] (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
[TAG37]
- EWG's 2022 Buyer's Guide to Pesticides In Produce
- Clean Fifteen(tm) Conventional Produce with the Least Pesticides
[TAG40]
- A Review of Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health: Cancer Risk and Occupational Pesticide Expositions: Part B: Vol 15, Number 4
- Genetically modified foods: safety, risks and public concerns--a review - Journal of Food Science and Technology
[TAG43]
- PubMed: Evaluation of the micronutrient content of plant foods grown using conventional and organic agricultural methods.
- Comparison of the total amount of phenolic and/or ascorbic acids in freeze-dried and dried marionberry, strawberry, or corn grown using conventional and organic agricultural practices - PubMed
[TAG46]
- The impact of organic food on human health: Assessment of the status quo, prospects for research - ScienceDirect
- Technical note: Simultaneous analysis of vitamin and carotenoid content in milk from cows fed total mixed rations. Xanthophyll detection is possible - ScienceDirect
How To
Organic foods: Are they healthier and more nutritious than conventional food?
Organic foods are produced without the use of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. They are grown in natural environments without artificial inputs (fungicides/herbicides/hormones, antibiotics or genetic engineering). Organic farming methods include crop rotation, cover, composting animal manure and recycling wastewater.
The USDA National Organic Program (NOP), established in 2002 to regulate production, handling and processing of organic products sold in the United States. Organic agricultural products must be produced in accordance with federal standards as set out by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The NOP regulations also require that organic products are free of prohibited substances such as pesticide residues and genetically modified organisms.
Two types of certification programs are available in the United States for producers who wish to have their products labeled organic. One is for farmers and ranchers; one is for manufacturers. Both programs require an annual audit of the operations in order to confirm compliance with stringent standards. Many certifying agents offer this service, including CCOF Certified Organic Farmers & Ranchers (QA International), American Grassfed Association, and Quality Assurance International. All three organizations provide third-party verification of farms' adherence to strict guidelines regarding environmental stewardship, labour practices, and livestock care.
According to USDA's Economic Research Service in 2013, organic agriculture generated $4.7 billion in revenue. In 2013, organic agriculture accounted for $4.7 billion in sales. This represents a 23-percent increase over 2009. This period saw a 12 percent increase in grocery store sales. Spending on organic produce directly increased by 29.9%, while meat, poultry eggs, and seafood spending grew only by 1%.
While organic food costs more, consumers say its quality justifies the added expense. Consumer Reports' 2015 survey found that 88% of respondents would spend more on organic food if it had higher nutritional values. Health Affairs published another study that found organic food eaters are less likely than those who consume conventional foods to have health problems such diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
There is no evidence to suggest eating organic foods can treat or prevent any diseases. However, some studies have suggested that they might be beneficial for your health as they may reduce your exposure of pesticides and contaminants. One example is the conclusion reached by a review of 31 studies, published in 2010, that organically reared beef was significantly less toxic than conventionally-raised beef. Similar conclusions were reached in a separate analysis of 11 other studies published in 2012.
The Environmental Working Group released a report in 2014 that analyzed data from USDA's Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. They found that there was a decrease in foodborne illness due to E.coli, salmonella, listeria moncytogenes or campylobacter. The group also observed that E.coliO157 is a less prevalent cause of illness in humans among children than adults. This was because the USDA has imposed stricter organic standards on animals raised for human consumption.
Resources:
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