Pros And Cons Of Switching To Organic Farm Produce

Many of the people that “go organic” do so because they believe they are getting more natural nutrients; the foods are safer and taste better. Others will opt to eat vegetables exclusively because they are mindful of animal welfare. Some do so because they want to contribute to having aa better environment. However, not all these views are worth their weight in gold; some are a fallacy.

Be as it may, organic food sales keep rising with every passing year. The increase in sales is thought to be due to an increased concern about the production processes and nutritional quality of most processed foods. This is further backed by the increased awareness of how farm produce is cultivated and the far it must travel to reach our tables.

We have compiled the pros and cons of purchasing organic food and hope that this will help you decide if you should make the switch. We also have included a few suggestions on some of the best organic foods to buy.

Reasons For Buying Organic Food

Organic farming methods help significantly in having a better environment. As such, organic farms tend to have a greater diversity of crops and farm animals. The naturally farmed produce does not contain hydrogenated fat, which has been linked to heart disease. Therefore, organic foods can help promote heart-health.

And if you have concerns about animals and how they are treated, then decide to go for naturally farmed foods can be a fantastic idea. For the meat loves that want to enjoy organic produce, they should consider eating meats from animals fed on a natural diet and are reared in free-range systems or conditions.

Most of the organic farming methods do away the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers. They also limit the involvement of science that pushes for GM (Genetically Modified) farming. As a result, there are few amounts of chemicals used in organic farming.

Nevertheless, it is prudent to point out there are conventionally-grown farm products that have minimal residues. Ideally, the residues insignificant and often undetected in nearly 70% of the farm produce that the PRC (Pesticides Residue Committee) samples. The PRC mostly focuses on problem crops.

Why You Might Reconsider Buying Organic Food

The shelf-life of most organic foods is shorter than that of non-organic produce. Organic fruits and veggies are not treated with artificial preservatives. And the fact that organic produce is more expensive, then this might not be a sensible dietary option when you are on a tight budget.

Many organic farming enthusiasts think that it is a crop and animal production process that is devoid of the use of chemicals. But this is not entirely correct because natural food products do permit the use of limited and approved chemicals.

The French and UK Food Standards Agencies, as well as the Swedish National Food Administration, say that some of the studies suggest organic foods are not as safer or more nutritious as people would want to believe. The findings of the research are based on a comparison with food products using conventional methods.

Conversely, people that eat organic produce believe it is a safer and healthier alternative to non-organic food. UK’s Consumers Association hold a contrary belief since it finds no consensus in the reports that purport to organic foods offer significant health benefits.

Recommendations On Buying Organic Food

Irrespective of what it said, the best way to ensure that what you consume supports your health and wellbeing is by sticking to a balanced diet. Therefore, you must first examine your meal choices when purchasing organic foods.

Ensure that you have more fruits and vegetables and keep your carbs (pasta, bread, potatoes, rice, and breakfast cereals) at a reasonable level. Try to restrict your proteins to around two services, and the same goes for low-fat dairy products. The result will be fewer sugary and fats in your diet.

Once you have your balanced diet planned out, you then can consider including the following organic foods:

• Go for organic vegetables like cabbage, kale, lettuce, spinach, carrots, and potatoes. The veggies have a high amount of iron, vitamin C, phosphorus, and magnesium compared to their non-organic counterparts.
• Organic vegetable soup is an excellent choice since studies show it contains nearly six times more salicylic acid than what is in soups made from non-organic veggies. Salicylic acid helps prevent Arteriosclerosis (the hardening or narrowing of arteries) and fighting bowel cancer.
• Include more organic apples in your fruit basket because they fewer pesticides on them. Most of the non-organic apples are sprayed with nearly 36 kinds of pesticides almost 16 times during their development. Most of these chemicals are hard to remove, even when the apples are washed thoroughly.
• As for meat, go organic to benefit from more protein in your diet. According to a review done b the Soil Association, many of the standards and farm assurance schemes advocated by Compassion in World Farming promote the highest levels of animal welfare.