Understanding Organic Foods: A Simplified Overview

Understanding Organic Foods: A Simplified Overview

Understanding Organic Foods: A Simplified Overview

What does "organic" mean?

The term "organic" refers to how agricultural products are grown and processed. In the United States, for instance, organic crops are grown without using synthetic herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, or bioengineered genes (GMOs).

When it comes to animals raised for meat, eggs, and dairy, organic standards ensure they are kept in conditions that allow them to exhibit their natural behaviors, like grazing on pasture. These animals are fed organic feed and forage and are not given antibiotics, growth hormones, or animal by-products.

The advantages of organic food:

The way your food is grown or raised can significantly affect your mental, emotional health, and the environment. Organic foods tend to have more beneficial nutrients, such as antioxidants, compared to conventionally grown options. People with allergies to foods, chemicals, or preservatives might experience relief or a decrease in symptoms when they opt for organic foods.

Organic produce contains fewer pesticides. Common chemicals like synthetic fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides are frequently used in conventional agriculture, and traces of these chemicals linger on the food we consume.

Organic food is often fresher because it doesn't contain preservatives that artificially extend its shelf life. Organic produce is sometimes sourced from smaller farms located closer to where it's sold.

Organic farming is more environmentally friendly. This practice can help reduce pollution, conserve water, prevent soil erosion, enhance soil fertility, and use less energy. Not using synthetic pesticides is also beneficial for local wildlife, birds, and nearby residents.

Animals raised organically are not exposed to antibiotics, growth hormones, or animal byproducts. Feeding animals such byproducts increases the risk of diseases like mad cow disease (BSE), and the excessive use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Organically raised animals generally enjoy more space to move around and access to the outdoors, promoting their overall health.

Certain nutrients tend to be more abundant in organic meat and milk. A 2016 European study found that organic meat and milk had levels of specific nutrients, like omega-3 fatty acids, up to 50 percent higher compared to conventionally raised counterparts.

Organic food is free from GMOs. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) or genetically engineered (GE) foods are plants whose DNA has been altered in ways that don't occur naturally or through traditional crossbreeding. This is often done to make them resistant to pesticides or to produce their own insecticides.

Content Source Courtesy: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/organic-food