Why Organic Farming?

As we have already discussed, there are many reasons to not eat traditionally farmed produce. But why does that mean you should eat organic produce? What makes organic produce so different from traditionally grown? If you’re like many consumers, you’ve probably noticed that organic produce isn’t usually as readily available as traditionally grown produce and worse yet, when it is, it’s usually more expensive. With so many families today facing economic hardships, it can be hard to justify the added expense. After all, it’s already more expensive to eat healthfully than to not. So what is it about organics? Are they really worth it?

Organic produce has more nutrients than traditionally grown produce.

The chemicals found in synthetic fertilizers tend to plump-up traditionally grown produce with lots of water and less nutrients. In contrast, organic produce treated without synthetic fertilizers has more fiber, nutrients, and up to 50% more antioxidant vitamins (also called phytonutrients) than traditionally grown produce. This means you’ll actually need to consume less organic produce to receive your minimum daily requirements of essential vitamins and minerals than you would if you were to eat only traditionally grown produce.

Organic produce contains fewer chemicals and lower levels of pesticide residue than traditionally grown produce.

Organic produce is also treated with fewer preservatives, dyes, and artificial sweeteners, all of which have been proven to cause hyperactivity in toddlers and pre-school aged children. It has also been proven to boost immunity, and studies have shown that teens who consumed organic produce got fewer colds and acne outbreaks. They also had stronger, denser bones. Better still, organic produce is not treated with cancer-causing pesticides, thus reducing the risk of pesticide related cancers.

Environment

Organic farming is much better for the environment than traditional farming, because it uses only natural fertilizers and utilizes composting as a means of soil enrichment. This not only reduces the need for the soil to be replaced due to nutrient breakdowns, but prevents chemicals from leaching into healthy soil and traveling to nearby watersheds where it can cause immeasurable damage to local wildlife populations. Also, because there are no pesticides, native vegetation is not killed off, providing nourishment for nearby wildlife.

Flavor and Quality of the Food

While non-organically engineered processes may yield larger, more brilliant looking produce, the fact is that the taste of organic food is so much more pleasant than that of its counterparts. Organic produce doesn’t come with any pesticide residues or sprays; it is fresh and straight from the ground or tree. In addition, the liquid content in organic produce is less of a factor because the fruit and vegetables don’t grow to be as big, so the flavor has a better chance of developing. The farms that harvest only organic produce are also inspected thoroughly and are held to high agricultural standards. Although organic produce is a bit more expensive than regular, pesticide-treated food, for many people it is definitely worth it to buy organic. The quality of the food is never compromised with organics.

Illnesses

Close to 10,000 people die each year due to food related illnesses. This is a staggering number given the care and caution many people put into their own diets. However, there are still some who are unconvinced by the value of eating organic food. Although pesticides may not be the direct catalyst of these dangerous illnesses, they certainly are not beneficial to our population’s overall health. We can’t really know just how damaging the chemicals that are used in treating crops are, but we do know that they are a significant contributor to the weakening of the immune system. In fact, a large percentage of the chemicals used to kill bugs in crops are known to cause certain types of cancer. Eating organically ensures you aren’t putting unknown substances in your body and putting yourself at risk for sickness.

Genetically Modified Meat is Highly Dangerous

Much of the meat that is consumed in America today is genetically modified. This means that the poultry and livestock are often injected with certain types of hormones in order to grow as large as possible. This process may in fact yield higher amounts of meat per animal, but it is highly detrimental to both the animals’ and humans’ health. When an animal is injected with hormones, the humans who consume it also ingest those hormones. Many times these are dangerous substances that can cause serious health defects. In addition, the animals that receive these injections are often kept in inhumane conditions, caged in tiny cells with almost no room to move. These animals don’t get exercise, don’t often see the light of day, and sometimes are even left to eat their own feces. Organically raised, farm fresh meat means that the animals are not kept in inhumane conditions and that they aren’t injected with harmful steroids. When shopping for meats and poultry, look for the farm-raised and organic labels.

Energy Conservation

Organic ways of farming are generally more environmentally sustainable than regular, more conventional farming techniques that use pesticides. The use of chemicals to treat crops involves complex processes that often require the operation of larger machinery. These machines contribute to carbon emissions since most of them need oil products in order to operate. Much of organic farming is done by hand and through manual labor. Since there are no chemicals involved, no planes or other pesticide dispensing vehicles are needed.