Food produced using practices such as cycling resources, practicing ecological balance and conserving biodiversity is known to be organic food. Organic food is not genetically modified and restricts the use of pesticides and fertilizers and thus is not processed using synthetic food additives or irradiation.
Organic food has seen unprecedented growth over the last few years. People who can afford to do so are going organic as it is supposed to be healthier not only for oneself but also for the environment. However, there are two schools of thought as to the health factor of Organic Food and we have compiled for you a list of pros and cons of the same.
Pros
- Since organic food is friendlier to the environment it promotes greater diversity of plants and animals. It also reduces the risk of groundwater pollution and helps to prevent soil erosion.
- Organic food does not contain hydrogenated fat which is considered to be harmful to the heart. Organic food has higher levels of antioxidants which help in reducing cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease and even certain forms of cancer. Organic milk contains ample amounts of Omega-3 fatty acid which is very good for health. Thus consuming organic food is healthier.
- As far as animals are concerned, going organic is healthier as the animals are kept in free-range conditions, are fed a natural diet, and are antibiotic and hormone free.
- Though not completely chemical free, organic food contains much lower levels of pesticides, and the residue of chemicals when used is negligible, and are not genetically modified.
- Unlike non-organic food which loses the natural taste, organic food retains the original taste.
Cons
- Organic food is not cost effective and pinches the pocket. As per a survey conducted, organic food is 47% more expensive than conventionally grown food. The high cost is due to high demand but lower yield. Since it is labour intensive, organic food tends to be much more expensive.
- Organic food has a very short shelf-life. Since it is not waxed, does not contain any artificial preservatives, and is not irradiated, organic food tends to perish faster than the conventionally grown counterparts.
- Contrary to the popular belief that organic food is completely chemical free, a limited amount of chemicals are used in the production of organic food.
- Organic food is not completely risk-free and comes along with the risk of food-borne bacteria such as listeria, salmonella, and E.Coli, among others.
- There is no consensual reporting stating with certainty that organic food is healthier than its conventional counterpart. Some also believe that the nutritional value of organic food is the same as non-organic food.
Options
Some may get confused as to whether to eat only organic food or go in just for the cheaper and conventional options. To make matters clear for them here is a list of organic food that one should go in and which will help make life healthier:
- It is better to opt for organic spinach, cabbage, potatoes, and lettuce as they contain higher levels of healthy minerals such as magnesium, iron, and phosphorus.
- Non-organic apples are sprayed with 36 kinds of pesticides and thus are very harmful. Thus, it is safer to opt for the organic alternative.
- Organic meat is the best option as they are antibiotic free.
Eat healthily and stay safe!
