Is Organic Food Better for You?
There has been a major shift in our food habits and lifestyles. The society on the whole has become more conscious of their eating habits, what to consume, when and how much. And with that has also come about a drive of health foods. The tendency towards discarding processed and fast foods and opting for organic and raw food is more. With so much happening so fast, many people are left skeptical about the fact whether organic food is better than regular food. Or are we harming ourselves by eating only raw food. If you have ever wondered whether organic food is better for you, the following article will try to solve all your queries about the same.
Is Organic Food Better for Your Health?
It's not wrong to be skeptical. One must know what a particular food is all about before making the switch from regular food to organic and raw food. So in keeping with that, a little information on this kind of food is imperative.
Organic food is food that has been produced without the use of chemicals, pesticides and other synthetic formulas so that the natural goodness of them is maintained. If pesticides need to be used, then only natural mechanisms are used. Similarly, if it is the question of livestock, then the animals are not fed any growth hormones or such, but instead are bred and reared on a healthy and natural diet.
Benefits of Organic Food
There are several benefits of organic and raw food that override the benefits of regular or conventional food. The question about organic food vs non organic food is something that needs to be tackled, and the following pointers should help you draw the conclusion about 'Is organic food better for you'.
No Pesticides
This kind of food is grown without the use of synthetic chemicals, and even if chemicals are used, it is made sure that they are of the natural kind. Therefore, organic food is free of any harmful pesticides. As a result, one can avail the full benefits of food and take all its nutrients. Regular food has been shown to have traces of harmful pesticides which can affect the normal neurological development, especially among kids. So also poultry and livestock which have been fed with growth hormones or antibiotics, have shown to make humans resistant to certain beneficial results of medicines which fight against harmful bacteria.
No Processing
Organic food does not go through any stages of processing and therefore the harmful effects of those do not affect the food. On the other hand, conventional food is known to have hidden fats, salts and sugars. These by themselves lead to all the health complications in humans.
Better Taste
The addition of chemical fertilizers and the onset of hybrid quality plants or the growth spurt hormones in animals, means that they are not allowed to grow in their natural manner. This directly affects the taste of the plant/animal. In addition to the fact that organic food is healthy, it is also more tasty because it is allowed to grow in the natural way without altering the growth process.
Prevents Diseases
There has been some research done which indicates that the presence of pesticides leads to several health risks and problems like headaches, cancer and birth defects. Organic food which has no pesticides helps to control the onset of all these diseases and complications. It keeps the body healthy and fit and thus affects our general health.
Better Nutrition
It has been proven that organic food has more nutrients, especially, protein and vitamins than regular food. It also leads to the growth of the phytochemicals and antioxidants, which are essential for a healthy body. So also, livestock that is used for consumption, when fed with organic food were more healthy than those that were fed regular feed.
Environment Friendly
Organic farming is done with the intention of looking after the norms of wildlife and other conservation programs. Organic farming focuses on water, soil and resource management and conservation. Thereby, reducing pollution and thus safeguarding the environment.
More Humane
The livestock that is grown by using organic methods is allowed to grow naturally. Thus they are allowed to grow like normal animals - with plenty of sunlight, good feeds, hen coops etc. This has a direct effect on their good health.
Even though organic food costs more than regular food (because it takes more resources to grow and there are no subsidies given to organic farms), more and more people are switching over to organic food with an affirmative to the question 'Is organic food better for you?'. Who wouldn't want to when it leads to the assurance of a better and healthy lifestyle? So all that remains to be asked now is - When are you making the switch?
