Health Benefits of Organic Foods
Eat Better: Organic Foods' Health Advantages
Organic foods have become increasingly accessible in recent years. Nonetheless, many consumers question whether this type of food is healthy enough to justify the often-expensive price tag. Many of the advantages of organic foods have been communicated to consumers through word of mouth and promotions organized by proponents of organic eating. Fortunately, there has been research and several compelling arguments in favor of using organic foods in everyday cooking.
Several recent studies on organic farms found that organic farms do not release synthetic pesticides into the ground, air, or, most importantly, the water table. Some inorganic, chemical pesticides have been shown to be toxic to wildlife and other animals.
Organic farms are also superior to conventional farms in terms of preserving natural ecosystems. This includes preserving the health of natural plant, insect, and animal populations. They also rotate crops more frequently to keep the soil healthy.
When researchers calculated the energy use per unit area or yield of organic food-producing farms, they discovered that organic farms used less energy and produced less packaging and chemical waste than conventional produce farms.
Organic produce farms have a 20% lower yield than conventional farms because they use half the fertilizer and 97 percent less pesticide. Others believe that organically grown soil is of higher quality and retains more water than conventionally grown produce. This factor may increase the yield of organic farms during years with lower-than-average rainfall.
In one study on organic farming techniques, the yields of soybeans were between 50 and 90 percent higher on an organic farm than on a conventional farm during a drought season.
Organic corn yields varied, but on average, the farms outperformed conventional farms.
Consider the dangers of pesticides to farm workers. Farm workers on organic farms are not exposed to pesticides, which pose significant health risks even when used correctly. Pesticides containing organophosphates, in particular, can cause serious acute health problems if used excessively. Unfortunately, long-term exposure has been linked to breathing problems, memory problems, skin conditions, cancer, miscarriages, and birth defects.
To make matters worse, those who consume food that has not been grown organically may be exposed to pesticides and herbicides that remain on the food. As a result, all conventional farm produce should be thoroughly washed. Even in low doses, certain herbicides are known to cause birth defects.
Unfortunately, a recent study found that the most common source of pesticides in babies is dietary consumption of food that was not grown organically.
On a brighter note, another study discovered that switching a group of children from a regular diet to an organic diet significantly reduced their levels of organophosphate pesticide exposure. Furthermore, studies have shown that organic food tastes better than conventional food in taste tests.
Consider switching to organic foods if you want to keep your family as healthy as possible. The benefits to the environment and, most likely, your family's health are substantial.