Why Organic is Healthy
We encourage everyone to live a healthier lifestyle by shopping for organic foods at their local farmer's market or organic grocery store, and by cooking organic meals at home that use fresh produce and dairy.
So what exactly makes organic food a healthier choice?
- No Harmful Herbicides and Pesticides. Organic food is grown without exposure to harmful herbicides, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers. These synthetic chemicals destroy the microbiotic activity in the soil, which ruins the farm's soil and overall ecosystem.
- No Nasty Toxic Residue. Did you know that the pesticides used to grow conventional food leaves a toxic residue that stays on the food, all the way to the grocery store? Yuck! These toxins are not only harmful to your health, but also to the health of farm workers.
- No Irradiation. Unlike organic fruits and vegetables, conventional produce has been irradiated, which kills bacteria and extends their shelf life by altering the molecular structure of the food. Irradiation also uses radioactive substances, high-energy electrons, or x-rays.
- No Genetic Modification. Genetically modified foods, or GMOs, are suspected to cause allergies and increase health risks.
- Ethical Animal Treatment. Organic meat, fish, and poultry are healthier, as organically farmed animals are raised without growth hormones, chemicals, or antibiotics that end up in your food. Factory farm animals, by contrast, are fed huge quantities of food that often contain unnatural compounds and pesticides, and are treated inhumanely without consideration of the animal's welfare.
- Higher Nutritional Values. Studies from the European Union have shown organic agriculture cultivates healthier, more nutritious food than conventional farms, since organically grown plants have more complex components and micronutrients that are important for human nutrition.
- Higher Levels of Vitamins and Minerals. Organic foods have been found to have higher levels of vitamin C, minerals like iron and zinc, antioxidants, flavanoids, carotenoids, and other phytochemicals that benefit your health by protecting against heart disease and cancer.
- Taste the Flavor. Many people strongly believe that organic food tastes better than conventionally grown food. Since organic food is grown in healthier soil, it has a mixture of complex molecules that brings out the best flavor in fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. Plus, organic food is sold locally, which means fresher produce you can taste!
- Save the Environment. Buying organic means you're supporting sustainable agriculture that results in less pollution in lakes, ponds, rivers, and groundwater, as well as farming methods that don't kill soil microbes or pass on long-term health effects of pesticide residue left on your food.
- Straight Up Food. Remember, organic food is pure and natural - no hydrogenated fats, growth hormones, residual antibiotics, additives, processing, preservatives, artificial colorings, flavors, or sweeteners. It's just good food, plain and simple.
- Feel Good About Your Food! Unlike processed foods that line supermarket shelves or fatty “food product” served at fast food restaurants, organic foods are a real pleasure to eat. Feel good about what you eat - your body and Mother Earth will thank you!
To learn more about the benefits of organic foods, read these research publications on the advantages of eating an organic diet:
- European Union Research on Organic Food
- National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) on the Benefits of Organic Food
- State of Science Review from The Organic Center: “New Evidence Confirms the Nutritional Superiority of Plant-Based Organic Foods”
Articles and References
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