Is Organic Food Really Better?

As you read in my last post, rules, terms and regulations for organic foods are black and white; however, other questions remain and their answers are not so definite. Are organic foods really better? Are they more nutritious and safer for your body? Let’s examine the evidence.

On a global level, organic farming and food production is truly better and may save our planet. Organic farming reduces pollutants in ground water and creates richer soil that aids plant growth while reducing erosion. It also decreases pesticides that can end up in your drinking water and ground water. In some cities, pesticides in tap water have been measured at unsafe levels for weeks at a time, according to an analysis performed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

Also, organic farms tend to use more eco-friendly methods like crop rotation and the use of compost. Organic farming thrives on the benefits obtained from recycling and the use of natural products. Green manure, biological pest control methods and special cultivation techniques are employed to maintain soil productivity, and their livestock consume no drugs or non-organic feed. Using less chemicals, a more natural crop and animal production is better for the environment.

From a nutritional standpoint, it would certainly seem that foods produced more naturally and with less chemicals would be better for you, and they certainly are. Organic foods have a higher nutritional value than conventional food, according to research.

Because of the absence of pesticides and fertilizers, plants boost their production of the phytochemicals (vitamins and antioxidants) that strengthen their resistance to bugs and weeds. Additionally, some studies have linked pesticides in our food to everything from headaches and cancer to birth defects. Even low level pesticide exposure can be significantly more toxic for fetuses and children (due to their less developed immune systems) and for pregnant women (it puts added strain on their already taxed organs), according to a report by the National Academy of Sciences.

Pesticide contamination isn’t as much of a concern in meats and animal products (animals may consume some pesticides, depending on their some pesticides, depending on their diet), but many scientists are concerned about the antibiotics being given to most non-organic farm animals: Many are the same antibiotics humans rely on, and overuse of these drugs has already enabled bacteria to develop resistance to them, rendering them less effective in fighting infection.

As a general rule concerning pesticides:  Veggies and fruits with thinner skins, like lettuces and strawberries, are more likely to absorb chemical residues directly; plants with thick skins, like oranges and bananas, not as much. However, (and this is something often overlooked by organic fruit "experts"), all of them can absorb chemicals used in the soil.

All in all, organically produced foods are better for you both from a nutritional standpoint and safety standpoint. Less toxic chemicals and better taste. Also, organic farming is good for the planet and is ecologically the best choice. From a spiritual and Ayurvedic standpoint, organic farming and food is in harmony with nature and the only way to go.

The bottom line:  Although organic food is better, the type and quantity of food you eat has more to do with your health than whether it is organic. Eating organic chocolate cake for your dinner is worse for your health than eating non-organic fruits and vegetables. Making proper food choices is the real key to good health and certainly what defines food that is “good for you.”