What Is Organic Food?

Organic food refers to crops that are grown without the use of harmful pesticides, irradiation, fertilizers, and other synthetic materials. Even the animals under organic farming are fed with organic supply devoid of synthetic growth hormones or antibiotics. Today, you can find store shelves stacked with organic snacks and cereals along with usual vegetables, fruits, milk, and meat (1), (2). 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. As it does not go by the principle of increasing crop size, it has 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). Taste in food develops with the amount of its sugar content. With better nutritional inputs, organic farms increase this taste considerably. 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 placenta to harm unborn babies. The toxins in such food can cause serious health issues for them. In fact, lower birth weight, autism, 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!

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). [ Read: Organic Food Brands Available In Market ]

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 is not safe from 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 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 diet can 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.

Sources

10 Pros And Cons Of Eating Organic Foods Top 10 Websites For You To Buy Organic Food Top 10 Organic Food Brands Available In Market