Are Organic Foods More Nutritious?

Organic foods have gained quite a reputation as healthy but expensive food alternatives. And despite the high cost of maintaining an organic food diet, the demand for it continues to increase. What is so special about organic foods that make them worth paying more for?

Sources of Organic Foods

Organic foods are more nutritious foods because of the way they are grown, processed, and packaged. Organic foods grow from crops that are grown in safe soil, and the fertilizers used are natural manure or compost instead of synthetic or chemical-based ones. They are not exposed to synthetic pesticides and herbicides, petroleum fertilizers, and bioengineered modifications or GMOs. Natural weed control techniques such as crop rotation, mulching, tilling, and hand weeding are also used, as well as natural insect control methods. Thus, they are safer and do not cause allergies even to allergy-prone eaters because they are completely free from chemicals and preservatives.

Organic livestock are also cared for in a very natural way or are pasture grazed. They are not given any growth hormones, animal by-products, or antibiotics to maintain their most natural state. According to experts, when animals are given antibiotics, these actually create antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains that can make people sick and can make them resistant to the healing effects of antibiotics. As for animal by-products, feeding these to other live animals increases the risk of spreading mad cow disease. These are just some of the dangers of conventional farming and agriculture, which you will be completely protected from by organic foods. And all these make a huge difference.

Health Benefits of Organic Foods

1. Organic foods help prevent cancer.

According to the EPA, 60% of herbicides, 90% of fungicides, and 30% of insecticides have the potential to cause cancer. Organic farming, which use none of these chemicals, make sure the foods and beverages you consume are free from these and from their cancer-causing components, thus helping reduce the risk of having cancer.

2. Organic foods have more antioxidants that can prevent heart disease and other illnesses.

Based on pretty strong evidence, organic foods are indeed more nutritious than non-organic foods. Although both have vitamins and minerals, organic foods contain higher levels of vitamin C, omega 3, CLA, and other trace minerals. They also have naturally occurring antioxidant phytonutrients. In fact, a 10-year study showed that organic tomatoes have 79% higher levels of quercetin and 97% higher levels of kaempferol, two known antioxidants that help reduce the risk of heart disease.

3. Organic foods are delicious and healthy.

There is no need to feel guilty about eating too much processed foods or fast foods. They may taste great, but they are not beneficial to the body. Now, with organic foods offering the excellent alternatives, you can eat a lot of delicious foods without feeling guilty about what it can do to your body. It doesn’t take a genius to see that safe and healthy soil will also grow safe and healthy plants. This is also why some people say organic foods do not just give more nutrition but they taste better as well.