What You Should Know About Organic Food
The words organic and natural don’t seem to go together often, but these terms actually mean the same thing. Organic food, or naturally grown food produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, is a growing trend in today’s society. For years, consumers have been weary about the effects of modern farming on our health and the environment. Thanks to people like Oprah, who have raised awareness with their shows, more people are becoming aware of what they’re consuming each day.
When you hear someone talk about “organic food”, this generally means fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables, preferably grown without the help of pesticides or other chemicals. In the past, organic food was limited to fruits and vegetables grown within the United States, with the rest coming from other countries. But, the technology of modern farming allows for organic food to be grown in virtually every country around the world.
One of the benefits of organic food is that it has higher levels of antioxidant vitamins and minerals than traditionally grown foods. One of the most common foods that Americans eat that has higher levels of antioxidants than traditionally grown fruits and vegetables is peanut butter. Unrefined peanut butter is high in healthy fats, but many companies use oils that do not have any antioxidants at all, which can be damaging to your health. For example, hydrogenated vegetable oils, which are commonly used in the production of peanut butter, increase your LDL or bad cholesterol levels while decreasing your good cholesterol or good fat levels.
If you want to eat organic food, it’s important to avoid pesticides and fertilisers whenever possible. Although some conventional farmers use natural pesticides, many other types of pesticides, including those found in many commercial pesticides, are considered harmful or even deadly to humans. These pesticides are commonly sprayed onto crops before harvest, with traces of toxic chemicals remaining in the soil where they are sprayed. The chemicals leech into the water supply and eventually make their way into local streams and lakes, causing an array of serious health problems, some of which may be irreversible.
Another reason to avoid non-organic foods is because they are grown on land that is leased by the state, which allows for the planting of non-native species. Unfortunately, many farmers that grow fruits and vegetables for this reason will not allow any native birds to live in or on their property, which can be extremely detrimental to the state’s wildlife. Many birds who become accustomed to the crops will take up all the food supply, which will spell disaster for the state’s wildlife population. On the other hand, non-organic farmers will use only native plants and flowers to grow their fruits and vegetables, which creates an even more sustainable crop.
Many consumers believe that organic foods are grown in unspoiled conditions. However, this is actually not the case, as the majority of organic foods are still grown in soil that is heavily polluted with toxins. The farms do not use modern farming techniques, such as chemical fertilization and pesticides, which greatly reduces pollution in the soil. However, some farms will still use these practices because they are required by law.
There is also a question of how organic food is produced. The way that food is produced has a large impact on whether or not it is safe to eat. For example, many farmers use chemical fertilizers and pesticides in order to increase the production of their crops. These harmful products eventually make their way into local waterways, which threaten to poison fish and wildlife habitat. While some organic crops do not use chemicals during production, most produce will have traces of them, as well as dangerous pollutants in the soil during harvest time.
Organic vegetables and fruits are produced without the use of pesticides and herbicides, which pose a number of health risks for humans. Additionally, organic foods are not as abundant as traditional farming practices. This limits the number of crops that can be produced, limiting the number and variety of vegetables and fruits that you can enjoy. Fortunately, there are many ways to purchase organically produced foods.