Reasons To Eat Organic Food

Eating Organic has been an increasingly popular trend over the past several years.  Previously, organic foods could only be found in specialty grocery stores and farmer’s markets, but now they are showing up in most supermarkets.  Becoming readily available is one step towards getting people interested in organic foods.  Here are five reasons why you should pick up that organic produce or meat at the supermarket and give it a try…

1.  Less Chemicals and More Nutrients:  Pesticides, fertilizers, and genetically modified material are used in most conventional food production.  Non-organic produce is sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides which are toxins for the human body.  They are also produced with the help of fertilizers.  These chemicals were approved prior to the knowledge that a large percentage of them are carcinogenic.  The big problem with meat is the use antibiotics and growth hormones.  Everything that is fed to an animal is passed along to the person consuming the meat.  The emergence of MRSA and other “Super Bugs” are a result of the overuse of antibiotics in the populations.  Organic products are held to strict guidelines that prohibit the use of additives, fertilizers and pesticides, antibiotics and growth hormones, and genetically modified materials.  In addition to fewer chemicals, they contain more nutrients.  Your body is designed to use organic nutrients to maintain a healthy weight, activity level, and prevent disease.  Research shows that organically grown produce contains more nutrients (specifically, vitamin C, antioxidants, and the minerals calcium, iron, chromium, and magnesium) than conventionally grown produce, which can mean feeling full longer, more energy, increased cognitive ability, better digestion, and less disease.

2.  Help the Environment:  The toxic chemicals that are used in conventional food production are not just toxic to the person eating the food.  These chemicals have a significant effect on the environment as well.  Water sources have been and can be contaminated from the chemical run-off of farms.  The majority of non-organic farming is focused on high-yield monoculture, essentially to produce a lot of one item in order to make more money.  Organic methods of fertilization (which, by the way, use less energy) increase the long-term soil quality and diversify the wildlife found in those areas.  Bio-diversity is important to sustaining life on this planet.

3.  Support Local and Small Farmers:  It was thought that high-yield monoculture was a more efficient and cheaper way to produce food for the increasing populations of the world but now that thought process is changing.  A large percentage of the organic farms are smaller farms which have been found to be more productive per square unit.  This is because small farms tend to plants several different crops and use their space more efficiently.  Supporting these systems is not only beneficial for your health and the environment, but it supports the economy of your community as well.

4. Your Children’s Health:  Children are more susceptible to toxins and the negative aspects of a poor diet than adults.  Nutrients are essential for children to develop properly physically and mentally.  There is a huge increase in the incidence of diabetes, cancer, heart disease and obesity at increasingly younger ages.  A healthy start is vital to maintaining long lasting health and quality of life.

5.  Taste:  Okay, let’s assume that you don’t care about your health, preserving the environment, supporting local farmers, or your children’s health.  One reason to eat organic foods is the taste.  The increase in certain nutrients and lack of mind-numbing chemicals in organically produced foods increases the quality of the taste.  The difference in taste has been found in tomatoes, carrots, leafy greens, fruits, meats, dairy products and more.  Perhaps there is a reason that many chefs use organic foods.

This article is a guest post by Mandi Titus of @ Vermont and Mandi Munches. To keep up with Mandi, follow her on Twitter @ATVermont.