Foods that You Should Buy Organic
Foods that You Should Buy Organic
The decades-old debate of whether consumers should opt for organically or conventionally grown foods has left many confused. Consumers continue to wonder whether investing in expensive organically produced and raised foods is worth the money.
There are numerous benefits associated with organic food, as the use of natural plant and livestock feed. Inorganically or conventionally produced crops often contain pesticide residuebut are easier to grow in large quantities. Meanwhile, organic foods are generally better for the environment as they use less energy and do cause produce pollution, but you can’t produce as much of it.
However, you can’t go organic with all food items because it can be quite impractical and expensive. In this post, we will discuss what foods you should buy organic and why.
What Does ‘Organic’ Mean?
When we talk about organic, we refer to a certain way of growing and processing agricultural products. This is done by following set rules and regulations that may very well differ from country to country. For instance, organic crops in the US grow without the use of synthetic herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides, and bioengineered genes or GMOs.
As for the livestock, it must be raised in an environment that mimics the animals’ natural behaviors. For example, there must be a pasture for the cattle to graze on. Let’s learn more about how organic products differ from inorganic ones.
What Foods Should You Buy Organic?
It is essential to consider how the food you consume is grown or raised. These agricultural methods may have a greater impact on your mental and physical health than you can imagine. Oftentimes, organic fruits and vegetables or meat contain more beneficial nutrients than inorganic ones.
A 2016 study reveals that organic milk and meat contain 50% more omega-3 fatty acids than their conventional counterparts. Organic foods are especially good for people with allergies to certain chemicals and preservatives. Here are some food items that you should always buy organic.
Non-organic farming often involves the use of growth and sex hormones such as estrogen or testosterone to speed up growth. These hormone-grown livestock may be unhealthy as they tend to trigger early puberty in girls. A few studies also suggest that organic beef contains more of certain nutrients.
Livestock farming is free of synthetic pesticides and fertilizer feed. These animals do not consume any chemicals, allowing them to stay healthier. Organic poultry and pigs don’t receiveany antibiotics or medications for disease prevention and treatment. Rather, farmers use natural methods like a healthy diet.
Various surveys reveal that 90% of conventionally-grown appleshad detectable pesticide residue. You may consume these harmful chemicals and others when you consume inorganic apples. Not only this, but 80% of these samples also contained a relatively more harmful pesticide, diphenylamine. Apples are at a greater risk of containing pesticides as they have thinner skin that allows chemicals to pass through to fruit flesh.
Studies and surveys show that inorganic tomatoes test positive for four different types of harmful pesticides. A few samples also show signs of 15 various chemicals that may be dangerous to consume. Organic tomatoes are free of such risks as organically-grown vegetables do not contain any pesticides at all.
Bottom Line
Various organic foods are way better than their conventionally grown or raised counterparts in numerous ways. So, make sure you only buy organic beef, pork, and poultry, along with fruits and vegetables like apples and tomatoes. Other foods that you should consider buying organic include rice, oats, wheat, cereal bars, strawberries, etc.
