Ten Reasons to Eat Organic Food

Shopping and eating organic foods and products promote sustainability and offer a great number of healthy living benefits compared to traditional consumer products. Enjoy this article by Joan Ullyett BA, RHN and learn why eating organic makes sense for you, your family, and your community.  Source: greengrocerchicago.com 

Organic food is healthier & safer.  60% of herbicides, 90% of fungicides and 30% of insecticides that are commonly used in non-organic farming are endocrine disruptors, carcinogens and/or xenoestrogens. Non-organic farm workers have unusually high rates of multiple myeloma (a cancer of the immune system), stomach, prostate and testicular cancer. None of these chemicals are used in organic farming.

Organic food contains more nutrients.  A study done by the Journal of American Nutrition revealed that organic food contains from 10-250% more vitamins and minerals than non-organic food. In 2001 the American Chemical Society reported that organic oranges contained up to 30% more vitamin C than non-organic oranges, even though they are half the size.

Organic food is GMO free.  Organic certification standards prohibit the use of genetically modified organisms.

Organic food tastes better.  Healthy soil + Organic seed = Healthy, organic food that naturally contains flavor-enhancing essential vitamins and minerals. Do a taste test and compare non-organic carrots to organic carrots. Organic carrots taste like they were just pulled from the garden and non-organic carrots taste, well…….you decide.

Organic farming works in harmony with nature.  Britain’s Soil Association reported that organic farms have five times as many wild plants with 57% more species, 44% more birds and twice as many butterflies as non-organic farms.

Organic farming is better for the soil.  Non-organic farming techniques focus on chemical-intensive, mono-crop methods which have led to ever-increasing topsoil erosion. Organic farming techniques help to build soil on an ongoing basis thereby preventing topsoil erosion and organic soil contains up to twice as many beneficial microbes, earthworms and insects as non-organic soil.

Buying locally grown food is fodder for a wonderful story.  A 2002 Greenpeace report showed that organic farms in Ethiopia produced 3-5 times more food than non-organic farms; corn production increased by 20–250% on Brazilian organic farms and in Peru organic crop yields increased by 150%. The report noted that overall, organic farms in southern hemisphere countries showed marked increases in crop yields when compared to non-organic farms.

Certified organic food carries a guarantee.  Any food product that bears an organic certification label is your guarantee that it has been grown and handled according to strict organic production standards and that absolutely no toxic chemicals have been used.

Organic farming is climate-friendly.  Organic soil contains up to twice as many beneficial microbes, earthworms and insects as non-organic soil; all of which naturally store carbon. Studies have shown that organic soil stores up to 33% more carbon than non-organic soil, which directly helps in the fight against global warming.

Organic food increases fertility rates.  Animal studies have consistently demonstrated that organic diets result in 30–100% increases in ovum (egg) production. On the flip side, animals that eat a non-organic diet show a decline in fertility with each successive generation. The animals in these studies are mammals. Humans are mammals. You do the math.

Originally published by Joan Ullyett BA, RHN for thehealthnerd.com