Organic Foods Offer Superior Nutrition and Many Health Benefits

by Pankaj Kotak, M.Sc., N.D.


Organic foods offer superior nutrition and many health benefits. Organic foods are becoming more and more popular due to their huge health benefits. They contain more nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants as compared to the conventional (non-organic) foods. Also, they are chemical free, natural and not genetically modified.

Organic vegetables, fruits and other farm produce are grown with the use of natural farming methods such as bio-dynamic farming which employ a holistic approach and make use of organic fertilizers. It completely avoids the use of any chemical fertilizers, insecticides or pesticides. It also uses natural seeds and plants to grow the crop.Conventional produce is typically grown with the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, therefore, these foods contain residues of chemicals which are often toxic to the human body. Pesticides cause harm environmental damage and injury to human health as well. The effects can be detrimental and damaging to the nervous system and cause lung damage, dysfunction of the immune and endocrine systems, injury to the reproductive organs, birth defects and cancer.

Another problem with conventionally grown foods is that it can be a genetically modified (GM) food and its label may not tell you this fact. More and more GM crops are being produced every year. Scientific studies have indicated that GM foods are dangerous to human health. The advantage of organic foods is that they are GM free.

Conventionally raised animals are confined in small areas and routinely administered antibiotics to keep them healthy. They are also injected with Human Growth Hormone (HGH) to obtain better yield. Food products from such animals are inferior and tainted with chemicals injected in them.

Conventional produce also tends to have fewer nutrients than organic produce. Studies have found that nutrients such as vitamin C, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus are significantly higher and toxic nitrates are significantly lower in organic crops.

A study done at UC Davis compared the total antioxidants that were present in foods like strawberries, corn, and marion berries that had been grown organically, sustainably and conventionally (using synthetic chemicals). It found that the antioxidant levels in both organically and sustainably grown corn and marion berries was 50-58% higher than those grown conventionally, while 19% higher in strawberries.

It is very well known that foods with high levels of antioxidants protect our body and help in maintaining good health.

If you wish to buy organic animal products, make sure that they come from animals that are humanely raised in a free-range (cage free) environment. Also, read the product label to make sure that the product is certified as organic.

References

  1. Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children. National Research Council. Washington: National Academy Press, 1993.
  2. Asami DK., and others. Comparison of the total phenolic and ascorbic acid content of freeze-dried and air-dried marionberry, strawberry, and corn grown using conventional, organic, and sustainable agricultural practices. Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry. 2003 Feb 26;51(5):1237-41.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.


Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.
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