Organic farming has been a part of our culture for the majority of our existence. It was only during the 1900’s that we started to produce and introduce foods that were not grown organically, so why all the drama about them now?
When people think of organic foods, they tend to think first of the cost. It is a well-known fact that organic foods cost more to purchase than your nonorganic foods, sometimes as much as 60% more expensive! Now, although the products will have been manufactured in a more natural way than processed foods, what we need to decide is if going organic is really worth the cost.
Foods that are produced organically typically cost more to produce as they need to adhere to the strict rules in place for advertising that they are organic. Firstly, the food must have been grown without the use of any synthetic fertilizers or pesticides or any other genetically modified organisms. If it is meat that is claiming to be organic then the animal it came from must have been reared in a natural environment, without being given any hormones or antibiotics and must have been fed using organic feed.
Regarding our health, it is still to be decided as to whether or not organic foods are actually better for us than non-organic foods. Although organic foods have been proved to have much higher levels of antioxidants, lower levels of toxic metals and a higher Omega-3 content does this really warrant the extra cost involved when buying the same groceries?
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Conventional farming methods do have the risk of pesticide traces present in the food, but the Environmental Protection Agency say the levels detected were almost always under the maximum amount allowed, and the risks of using non-synthetic pesticides in organic farming are yet to be determined.
Although not all areas of organic farming have been completely discovered, the good and the bad, the dangers of using antibiotics in animals in conventional farming methods are very apparent and can have a very bad impact on human health and can lead to the production of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
The cost of producing organic foods is also something to take into consideration. Although the produce may be a more natural source of food, there is typically more work involved in organic farming. But, on the flip-side, it is a much more sustainable way of farming and could help to solve major issues such as world hunger.
It is easy to be fooled into purchasing something that you believe to be organic, when it really isn’t, and if a product is genuinely 100% organic it will say exactly this on the label. Don’t be misled into buying semi-organic produce. If it just says organic or made with organic ingredients, then it is not a genuine organic product.
If you are looking to ‘go organic’, then be prepared for the extra cost of your weekly shop. However, there are still some things that you can do to keep costs down and still get good quality, organic foods. Firstly, if you are on a budget, then start by substituting just a few of your normal foods for organic, and always buy in season foods. Other ways to save on your organic shopping is to buy in bulk, stick to generic brands, and look out for coupons or sales. And lastly, if you are feeling ‘green-fingered,’ then why not give it a go yourself and start your own organic garden!
So, it appears that is still to be determined as to whether buying organic is better for you than buying non-organic foods and much of it will come down to your own personal preference. Whatever you decide, just stay safe and be healthy!
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