If you’re reading this article, chances are that you have some interest in organic foods. That’s probably because you’ve heard all of the hype since the 1990’s or so about how chemically treated foods are bad and organics are good. How do they really stack up against each other, though?
Organics
Well, studies have indicated, for one thing, that there are many helpful components that are found in higher quantities in organic foods. For example, organics often contain more antioxidants, which fight disease-causing free radicals in the body. Organic foods also often contain more calcium, vitamin C and Magnesium, all of which help the body and build up the immune system.
As more research is done, more is being discovered about the beneficial properties of organic foods. The list keeps getting longer and longer. So, it’s clear that organics have their benefits.
Traditionally Grown Foods
On the traditionally grown foods side, what you need to understand is that there haven’t always been the strictest of rules. In fact, many chemicals started out being used in farming before anyone fully understood the effects of those chemicals on the human body, animal life or the environment, in general. These days, though, studies clearly show that many non-organics contain cancer-causing agents and chemicals that have been linked to higher risks of such things as heart disease, strokes, migraine headaches and Alzheimer’s Disease, to name a few.
Like the list for organics, the list for traditional chemically-treated foods also keeps growing. That’s because modern technology and studies keep improving. The harmful additives list is getting alarmingly long and so is the list of potential medical problems caused by those additives.
Chemical Bans
Chemical bans for food products do occur. In fact, they occur quite frequently. However, that doesn’t really help, at least not in the short-term. That’s because some chemicals can stay in the soil for several decades. So, a person who starts a farm on a certain property may not even realize that the soil on that property is contaminated.
The Problems With Organics
It may sound like organics are perfect foods, but they aren’t. One big problem is that they are a lot more expensive. Another is that they aren’t always a hundred percent organic. Labels can be very deceiving, so you really need to pay attention to what you’re buying. Also, there are still some risks of diseases, such as e coli, when you buy organic foods.
Even with all of those issues, though, it’s clear which food comes out on top. Organic farmers do their very best to put safe food on our plates. They also do their best to protect the environment and take care of natural resources so that organic, healthy living can continue for many generations to come.