You’ve probably wandered down the organic lane at the supermarket, wondering what were those differently packaged, rather more expensive products. Are they really health foods? Or maybe just a fad? In this article, we review the benefits of eating organic food, weigh the pros and cons, and give you all the information you need to know to make your own choices.
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What Does Organic Mean?
At its root, organic means a product that is respectful of the environment. People often say that it is not only a method of farming, but actually a whole life philosophy. On an organic farm, you won’t find any pesticides or chemicals, synthetic solvents or dyes. You will find machines that are made of sustainable material, and are for the most part ecologically-responsible. Moreover, organic farming also involves thinking of the impact of one’s actions on biodiversity. Finally, organic food are certified as non-GMO, which have been a growing concern over recent years.
Why Is Organic More Expensive
Organic doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive, but most of the time, it costs about a third more than ‘normal products‘. The reason is that organic farmers are subjected to harsh regulations. First of all, they must pay in order to get one of the official organic labels. They don’t employ chemicals, which means that if their field becomes invaded by pests, they might simply have to give up on the crop. Furthermore, using more traditional farming methods means that farmers have to spend more time in the fields. As a result, they might own much smaller farms, producing a smaller crop. It’s easy to criticize organic products as being unfairly expensive. But the truth is, they are usually expensive for a reason, which has to do with all the hard work and expertise that is involved producing them.
Is Eating Organic Really Better For Your Health?
Organic products are often presented as health products. You are more likely to find them in the healthy section of the supermarket, and all health gurus claim to eat all-organic. However, the organic label is absolutely not a sign that the product is ‘healthy’—you can buy organic french fries and donuts after all! But even then, are organic products at least healthier than their non-organic counterparts? Let’s find out!
Many reports have claimed that organic products were more valuable to the human body in terms of their nutrient content. It is now well-accepted by doctors and nutritionists that organic products indeed have more vitamins and minerals. To be fair, some studies also seemed to suggest otherwise, and the benefit may not be all that big. What seems like a big difference in the level of vitamins and minerals may be of incidental importance for your body’s health.
More importantly, eating organic means that you are not consuming pesticides. As a general rule, pesticides’ effects on the human body are under-researched, but it seems clear that they usually contain carcinogenic ingredients, that is elements that are known to cause cancer. As a general rule, chemicals of the kind that are used on non-organic farms are completely unfit for human consumption. The problem is that they can be difficult to wash off from a fruit or vegetable, and that they sometimes penetrate the product itself. In fact, there is a list known as the ‘dirty dozen’ which is released each year. This list contains all the ingredients that are really worth buying organic. That is, the products that have been found having the most chemicals and harmful substances in their non-organic version. These products include spinach, grapes, and peaches. Be careful, non-organic products can sometimes be pretty toxic!
What about manufactured organic products? Well, most of the time, they tend to be healthier too. For example, a pack of organic biscuits will usually contain less sugar than its non-organic counterparts, it could also use wholemeal flour, and is less likely to contain palm oil. Of course, there is nothing that forces organic products to do that. But it does seem that, as protecting the human body is part of the organic ethos, organic products tend to be better for your health.
Is Eating Organic Really Better For The Planet?
Organic farming prides itself in being a lot more sustainable, and ecologically friendly than non-organic farming. On many counts, it is right. Organic farms don’t use harmful chemicals, which as well as being harmful for people also damage animals, and the quality of the air. These products will be in our rivers, lakes, atmosphere and soils for long. When being mindful of the environment, doing everything to minimize the use of those products should be of high priority.
On the other hand, there is definitely a problematic trend of organic products being imported from very far-away countries. The organic products you’re buying in the United States could have been produced in Europe or in Latin America. Chances are, you could have found a non-organic, locally sourced equivalent for that product. While it is not always the case that organic is all about exotic Brazil nuts, chia seeds, and avocados, it does often seem that organic products involve high-impact transportation systems. If you want your organic shopping to really do something for the planet, go ahead and check where the product you’re buying is produced!
Another common problem is that organic products are over-packaged. Have you ever seen organic apples, served in a plastic-covered Styrofoam box? We have too, and we’re amazed. After all, isn’t organic supposed to be a force for good in the struggle to keep our planet alive? Isn’t ‘sustainability’ a key principle o organic farming? Again, it’s something to be aware of when shopping for organic products. Does its use of plastic counteract its impact on the environment?
How Organic Farming Helps The Community
Some say that organic farming is a holistic practice. By that they that within society, organic farming has benefits on many levels. It betters people’s health, it protects the environment and wild animals, and it is even better for the communities in which it becomes prevalent. For starters, organic farmers are not exposed to nearly as many toxic chemicals as non-organic farmers. They tend to be in a much better condition than their ‘traditional farming’ colleagues. Secondly, although this is not always the case, organic, especially produced in Western countries, is fair trade. Organic farmers are more likely to receive a fair wage, and a fair price for their products. Many of them work in cooperatives, non-corporate institutions that redistributes a very decent pay to workers. In the rural of communities of poorer country, organic farming is usually welcomed as being of great benefit to the local people. It means farm workers will stop developing skin conditions because of pesticides, will stop suffering of lung disease after breathing in so much toxic gas, and will be paid a much better wage. Without a doubt, organic farming is of real benefit to the communities where it is done.
Is It Worth It To Shop Organic?
Now that we’ve had a look at the benefits of organic farming on human health, the planet, and farming communities, let’s have a think about whether buying organic is the right choice for you.
The first think to ask yourself, is how much your budget is? If shopping organic would mean finding it very difficult to pay rent, it is clearly not for you. On the other hand, even people with a small budget can strive to buy organic only whenever it is not more expensive than non-organic. In many cases, you’ll find that some products such as lentils or pasta can actually be cheaper, bought in bulk in the organic section.
Another consideration is where the product which you are buying is coming from. If your farmer’s market is full of products that were produced only a few miles away but the organic stand only has green beans from Kenya, be careful. A lot of the time, the benefits of buying local can override the benefits of buying organic.
Finally, you’ll have to ask yourself how toxic the non-organic product which you would be replacing is. If you eat a lot of apples and you like them with the skin left on, for example, you may well want to switch to organic, as that product is known for its high-toxicity due to the use of pesticides and artificial waxes. Other products like bananas have a strong skin protecting the fruit, which you can peel of. In that case, you may well want to stick to non-organic banana.
In general, your question shouldn’t be ‘should I eat organic’, but ‘what should I eat organic?’ Have a think about which products are worth buying organic for you. It may be the cheapest ones, the more local ones, or fruit that is known for its chemical content. In any case, you’ll want to retain a critical mind. Don’t just think about the label, but really ask yourself whether buying that product is making the world (and your own body) a better place.
