Regardless of the diet you prefer, choosing organic can go a long way in terms of protecting your body and the environment. It is an effective choice that not only promotes your personal health but is also good for the environment. By opting for organic food choices, you are directly casting your vote for immediate health benefits and a safe future for the generations to come.
Organic farming recognizes the intricate balances in nature and aims to work with them rather than trying to dominate them. As we encourage wildlife biodiversity to act as natural pests and try to build up the nutrient levels in the soil, heavy dependence on synthetic chemicals can be avoided.
Intensive farming techniques have overshadowed natural farming procedures for several decades now. They have become responsible for the devastation of our wildlife’s only habitat and the eventual loss of species. The advantages of choosing organic as a way of life are many. If you have never considered opting for organic, here’s why you should.
5 Reasons Why You Should Opt for the Organic Lifestyle
1) Your Well-being
As per the Soil Association report, organic foods and ingredients contain higher levels of vitamin C and minerals like calcium, magnesium, chromium, iron, and other health-promoting oxidants. Since organic farming does not use harmful chemicals like pesticides, choosing organically produced foods ensures that pesticide contamination is kept at bay.
In fact, certified organic products, cosmetics, or foods do not contain any controversial additives like MSG, hydrogenated fats or aspartame, preservatives, or phosphates.
2) The Well-being of our Planet
Did you know that the food shopping basket contributes to nearly one-third of an average consumer’s carbon footprint? Yes, you read that right. This could significantly be lowered by opting for local, seasonal, and organic foods.
The best thing about organic farms is that they produce fewer emissions, and all processes involved are ethical and sustainable. That’s also one of the reasons why organic produce is pricier than conventionally grown produce.
Organic farming does not use chemicals that ruin the soil to grow crops. Moreover, it also helps in reducing the carbon dioxide levels present in the atmosphere by enriching the soil with ploughed-in plant matter.
Farmers and companies that own all-organic farms put in a lot of effort to ensure that these farms don’t give out much carbon footprint. They protect the water, the soil, and the air and do everything they can to reduce pollution. Instead of treating the environment as a prop for profit, organic farms ensure the place is still habitable and that future generations can benefit from the same place.
Once you have made sure the fresh produce you intake is free from chemicals inside out, all you get is a ton load of nutrients. Nutrients that would keep you satiated and provide the fuel to keep your body going.
Organically grown vegetables and fruits supply more nutrients than conventionally grown ones. So whether you consume them fresh or cook them as per your liking, organic foods give you a whole load of nutrition that you would be easily able to recognize the difference in your body after the switch.
3) Animal welfare
Organic farming does not destroy the habitats of our planetary fauna and ensures the well-being of all species. They are thus free to pursue natural behavior as they have plenty of space available on the planet to thrive. In fact, happy and unstressed animals are naturally healthy. This also develops their resistance to diseases. In addition, organic cosmetics and care products are never tested on animals.
Organic farmers depend on wildlife to control natural pests. Farms have wide field margins and hedgerows that allow bugs, bees, and birds to flourish. Unlike intensive farming, these animals and insects are not sprayed away using chemicals. The animals actively help in getting rid of such pests, without the need for harmful pesticides.
4) No chemical fertilizers
The foods you see on the rack of your local grocery store have layers of chemicals coated on them to make them look appealing and stay fresh for a long time. They are loaded with chemicals right when they were baby saplings, and the harmful fertilizers have already accumulated into the fruit. So when ingesting these fruits, you aren’t getting the nutrients you expect. Instead, a lot of chemicals find an easy way into your system.
So if after switching to a minimally processed food and more natural produce diet, you can’t stay away from diseases, it’s time to question the produce that says ‘natural’. Organic goods, on the other hand, don’t have any harmful chemical pesticides layered on or in them. It’s as fresh as it can get.
5) Tastes better
An organic apple tastes a thousand times better than the conventionally sourced one. The reason is simple. It’s free from all the chemicals, unlike the conventional ones, which are subjected to a variety of chemicals at their different stages.
How to tell if a product is organic?
The determining criteria for foods are very simple. Nothing can be marketed as organic unless the item really is. Nonetheless, you can check if the product is certified organic by an organic certification body like the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in India, the Soil Association in the UK, and the USDA in the US.
