Organic food benefits

Organic Food: Is it Really Worth it?

Media and social networks are no strangers to the fact that more and more people are opting for veganism and / or organic food. We are bombarded with distressing news about the environment. And we know more and more how certain animals are treated on factory farms: hens fattened with hormones to grow bigger, faster, crammed into henhouses that are often too small. Oxen whose growth is accelerated with feed enriched with antibiotics, which are intended to increase the profitability of industrial farms, without regard to animal welfare. The antibiotics and products these animals consume end up in the meat and eggs that we eat. Fruits and vegetables sprayed with fertilizers and chemical pesticides cannot help but retain some of these products once they reach our plate. Most people who buy organic products want assurance that food production is healthier, safer for the environment, purer and more natural.

What is organic food? According to the commonly accepted definition, ”organic” foods are defined as foods that are not treated with pesticides, sewage sludge, ionizing radiation, or bioengineering (GMOs, or genetically modified organisms). However, food manufacturers can use pesticides derived from a natural source in organic foods. There are terms to be careful of, such as ’hormone free’ or ’natural’, which are often not regulated by law in some countries.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has created an “organic” certification. Foods bearing the seal must be harvested, grown, and processed in accordance with national standards that include restrictions on the amounts of hormones, pesticide residues and antibiotics. These standards can be viewed here: https://www.usda.gov/topics/organic. In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency also applies criteria to the use of names such as ”Organic”, ”Without hormones or antibiotics”, ”Natural”, ”Kosher” and others designations intended to inform the consumer. This information can be found here: https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-label-requirements/labelling/industry/method-of-production-claims-on-food-labels/eng/1389379565794/1389380926083?chap = 0

Organic products: reality

A misconception about organic farming is that it does not use fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides. This is not always the case and even organic foods contain some form of fertilizer and pesticides (which are derived from natural products). Plant fertilizers, whether natural or chemical, are made up of the same three elements: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and these three elements are used in both organic and regular agriculture. Fertilizer is essentially a chemical nutrient, and the organic version of fertilizer (manure) provides the same load of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as synthetic to grow plants. Some argue that organic produce tastes better than regular produce. They are also said to contain more nutrients. What is it really? So, is organic REALLY healthier?

The organization Quality Low Input Food (QLIF) conducted a five-year study on this topic and concluded that organically grown foods generally contain a higher level of nutrients than conventionally grown foods. They also found that organic foods contain less “bad” levels of pesticides, but QLIF says more studies need to be done before conclusive and conclusive evidence can be provided. A 2007 study by the University of Newcastle in the UK reported that organic produce contained up to 40 percent higher levels of certain nutrients (vitamin C, iron, and zinc) than conventional foods. Another study, conducted in 2003 by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, found that organically grown corn and berries contained 58% more antioxidants, known to help prevent heart disease. Organic fruits contained up to 52% higher levels of vitamin C compared to those grown conventionally.

So, is organic food worth it?

Some experts say that if you can afford them, why do without it? Whether or not to eat organic is really a personal choice. But when it comes to non-organic processed foods, how can anyone say that substances like chemical pesticides, capable of killing insects, can be good for us? Others argue that there is little or no evidence that organic foods are superior to traditional foods. They go on to say that food does not have to be organic to be safe and environmentally friendly and recommend that people focus on eating food close to home, rather than on it. ‘they are from organic farming or not. Food can be organic, but if it has traveled half the planet before it reaches us, it leaves a much larger carbon footprint than traditional food that comes from next door. If people buy food from local farmers’ market, whether organic or not, there is much less impact on the environment. The ultimate is therefore to consume organic food from nearby farms.

However, many people simply cannot afford to buy organic foods because of the higher cost. What is important is to eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Always wash your fruits and vegetables well before eating them, regardless of whether they are organic or not, as this will help remove any residue. He even sells soaps specially designed for washing fruits and vegetables. The health benefits of eating healthy foods usually outweigh the disadvantages of pesticides if they are not organic fruits or vegetables. But when you have the choice, it is better to choose what is best for your health and the planet: organic!

Taking Care of the Earth is Good for the Soul!

By Laindha

Organic food does not only have a physical effect on the health of the body. It also has a strong mental and emotional impact. Eating a natural diet, free of chemicals, brings you closer to nature. When you choose to eat foods that are produced with the least possible damage to the environment, it says a lot about you. This underlines a certain sensitivity to nature, to animals, and to the sustainability of the human species.

Eating organic can bring some peace of mind, knowing that you are trying to harm the planet as little as possible. You are at peace with Mother Nature because you do not encourage those who abuse her. As a thank you, she will keep you healthy with the organic foods she gives you. Because the reverse is true: by eating conventional foods, obtained from chemical fertilizers and pesticides, it cannot help but find a little of it in your diet. Fruits and vegetables obtained through industrial agriculture are often accompanied by toxic residues that are hazardous to health. Especially if the intake accumulates with age.

The two common reasons people switch to rganic food are first and foremost for health and the environment. On the health side, products from organic farms have, according to some research, high levels of phytochemicals and antioxidants that are much higher than those found in traditional products. They are also free from the toxic elements and chemical residues that are common in products from industrial agriculture. We can therefore say that unrefined foods contain more vitamins and nutrients, and at the same time fewer heavy metals and harmful residues for health. The superiority of the nutrient content of organic foods comes from the use of natural fertilizers, such as manure. Chemicals commonly found in industrial fertilizers as well as in commercial pesticides dramatically dampen the ability of plants to produce phytochemicals as well as antioxidants. Industrial synthetics unfortunately reduce the need for plants to produce extracts that will help them absorb nutrients and fight pests and diseases. An organically grown plant therefore develops a better defense against these pests and diseases. Since industrial agriculture depletes the soil by destroying nutrients with chemicals, the consequence is that as plants grow in the soil, nutrients are depleted until the land becomes almost infertile. Sometimes the soil even becomes unsuitable for agriculture.

If you choose to eat organic, a great accomplishment is producing your own little garden. Growing your own organic food can bring you so much closer to nature. By gardening, we develop respect for the land, we try not to intoxicate it. We get great satisfaction from seeing what we have sown, watered, and maintained grow. You risk becoming attached to Mother Nature, by tilling the soil yourself, removing weeds manually, and using natural fertilizers like manure. Many people have only experienced buying fruits and vegetables in grocery stores. Growing your own vegetable garden with your children helps to teach toddlers where the food they eat comes from. They become much better citizens, who will not take nature for granted. When it is finally time to harvest, you will fully realize how nature provides for those who care for it. Some doctors and psychologists even consider gardening to be a calming activity for the mind. Gardening is a calming hobby that changes ideas and greatly reduces stress.

A saying goes: you are what you eat! To stay in shape and live a long, healthy life, it is therefore more than desirable to go organic! Not just for you, but for the earth too!

Are the Benefits of Organic Food Overrated?

By Laindha

The followers of organic food are convinced of the real superiority of organic food. On the other hand, there are those who find organic food overpriced and too expensive compared to food from modern and industrial agriculture. They claim that common foods are just as healthy as any other. Who is telling the truth? Since organic food is 10 to 30 percent more expensive than other foods, this issue has an impact on people’s wallets. Common people wonder why they should pay more if it turns out to be the same.

For a bit of history, it must be remembered that modern agriculture has evolved very rapidly over the past 40 years. Before the 1940s, non-organic food did not exist. Today, most of the food bought in supermarkets is not organic. Helping research and development technologies, new fertilizers, new insect control products, and new land management techniques have taken productivity leaps and bounds. One hectare of modern cultivated land produces much more than land of yesteryear. The difference is that organically grown food is produced using so-called ‘old-fashioned’ farming methods.

Here are the particularities of organic farming:

Organic farmers use natural fertilizers like manure. Non-organic farmers use chemical fertilizers, which are generally more efficient and less “odorous” to neighbors.

Organic farmers fight weeds by using more natural products, derived from compounds that are naturally found in the environment. Non-organic farmers use synthetic herbicides to get rid of weeds.

Organic and non-organic farmers must both rotate crops, and periodically plow the land.

The organic farmer can add mulch to cover the soil. This prevents wind erosion and the leaching of the land by runoff and rain.

Organic farmers use natural pesticides or ’pest’ predatory insects to control insects and disease. For growing corn, for example, we use trichogrammatid, small insects, to control the European corn borer, a pest worm that is not very pleasant to find on the cob. Non-organic farmers use synthetic insecticides.

Unlike non-organic foods, organic food products do not contain MSG, artificial additives and sweeteners, preservatives, processing aids, added colors and flavors. Be aware that colors and flavors are often added to non-organic mass-produced foods to make them look and taste better.

Environmental and health benefits

Environmentalists argue that organic farming benefits the environment. This type of agriculture preserves our water supply by not contaminating it with chemicals. It preserves our soil and reduces pollution.

Those who choose organic foods over non-organic foods say that these foods are not only more nutritious, but also tastier. Trying both is the best way to get a feel for it.

At the nutritional level, some studies indicate that foods produced in both ways are almost equivalent, with a slight advantage to organic products. Many factors can influence the nutritional value of food: the climate, the soil, the nutrients found there, the variety of the plant, the amount of sun and water received. It seems that these factors are even more important whether to grow organically.

Not surprisingly, lower levels of pesticides are found in organic foods. Even in the United States, the USDA (United State Department of Agriculture) admits that organically grown produce contains significantly less pesticide residue than regular produce. According to experts, however, the levels of residual pesticides in ordinary fruits and vegetables are found in such small amounts that it is negligible for health.

However, the same could not be said of the impacts on the health of farmers. Modern farmers are exposed to greater doses of harmful products, and at much higher frequencies than consumers. Contact with pesticides for farmers is believed to be associated with health problems such as Parkinson’s disease, birth defects and miscarriages.

Antioxidants: As organic foods are not sprayed with chemical pesticides, some experts claim that these foods contain more antioxidants, to protect against pests.

Vitamin C: Studies also show that organic foods contain more vitamin C, necessary for human health. For example, organically grown oranges provide 30 percent more vitamin C than non-organic oranges, according to a study conducted by the University of Missouri.

Foods from organic farming are said to contain about 29 percent more magnesium, 21 percent more iron, 13 percent more phosphorus, and 18 percent more polyphenols. Polyphenols protect the body against allergies, arthritis, heart disease, and cancer, among others.

To resume, the major downside to switching to organically grown food is that you will spend 10-30% more on your grocery budget. However, these disadvantages may be outweighed by your health. And that of the people who produce your food! At the environmental level, organic farming respects the land and its resources more. Compared to traditional agriculture, organic agriculture pollutes water and soil less and produces less greenhouse gases. Considering the dire condition of the planet now, this alone would be enough to encourage organic production! Eating organic significantly reduces your ecological footprint, especially if you buy from local producers. If more and more people choose foods produced with respect for the planet, the health of the earth, and that of its inhabitants, will be better for it!

Live Longer With the Vegan Diet!

By Laindha

When we talk about veganism, we are talking about a diet that does not include any animal products (no meat, no fish, no egg, no milk, or any derivative of animal origin).

Among the questions that potential candidates for this way of life might ask themselves would certainly include: Why? Will I run out of nutrients and vitamins? What will this change in my diet bring to my health? Will I live longer or shorter? Will I still have so much energy to go about my daily business?

The vegan lifestyle could save your life

Several studies have been done on the impact of vegetarianism and veganism on health. However, their results are mixed. According to the website ” theconversation.com”, a study published in 2013, conducted in the United States between 2002 and 2009 on about 95 000 men and women, established that vegetarians saw their risk of dying prematurely drop by 12% (all causes), compared to non-vegetarians. Could the super foods that make up the majority of vegetarian and vegan diets explain these results?

According to other studies, such as the SAX Institute in Australia, the results would be similar between vegans / vegetarians and those who consume animal products. Beyond simple eating, what makes vegans look healthier than others? The secret is that in most studies, vegans report being more attentive to everything that surrounds a healthy lifestyle. They do not just eat better, they also smoke less than others, and are not heavy drinkers in general. They exercise more, and their lifestyle is healthier than the average person. Few are obese or overweight. All these factors reduce the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and various types of cancer. Being a vegan obviously does not guarantee that you can not suffer from these diseases. Because genetics and the environment also play a role in the appearance of different diseases but say that vegans and vegetarians put all the chances on their side!

The secret of a successful vegan diet

The secret when adopting an essentially vegan diet is the variety of foods that go into the composition of the recipes. Make sure you get all the minerals and vitamins the body needs. The proteins, vitamins and minerals found in meat can be also found in certain legumes, grains, nuts, and peanuts. Vitamin D is more difficult to find, but it can be taken as a dietary supplement. Exposure to the sun for 30 minutes a day would also provide the recommended daily dose of vitamin D.

A vegan diet will lead you to eat more fruits and vegetables. Most people on a meat diet do not eat the recommended number of servings of fruits and vegetables each day. The vegan diet does not give you the choice to eat it, as these foods form the basis of the diet. Eating vegan gives more energy and provides an irreplaceable general well-being. This lifestyle also saves the lives of thousands of innocent animals. Everybody wins!

The key? Check the labels!

Finding vegan food at your favorite supermarket you find difficult? Read the labels! Of course, grocery shopping at a health food store is easier. But nowadays, supermarkets understand people are looking for organic, vegan, and sometimes gluten-free products. They will not let this clientele slip by! Most supermarkets offer in each row a dedicated section specifically for niche products (organic, vegan, gluten-free). A vegan product can also be found on standard supermarket shelves next to other products. When reading the label, make sure that the product does not contain any added elements for storage, for example lard or gelatin.

Vegans and vegetarians who want to simplify their lives and make a real environmental difference can also get their favorite products directly from the producer. Buying local avoids truck transportation, encourages small farming businesses that produce organic fruits and vegetables, and gives the chance to consume fresh and delicious products! Some producers even offer a weekly, biweekly, or monthly subscription, where seasonal fruits and vegetables are delivered to you periodically. This method often allows you to discover fruits and vegetables that you would probably never have tasted otherwise! Your next culinary crush may be in a surprise box delivered to your home by your favorite farmer! To dare to try is to broaden your horizons!

Enjoy your meal!