You may be wondering if organic food is worth the extra cost. Knowing the nutritional value of organic food can help you justify the investment you make in your body when you consider buying organic. Organic food can help you avoid certain toxins to lower your risk of health issues, according to the pesticide database organization, What's On My Food.
Introduction to Organic Food
Certified organic food is food that is made using ingredients that are not grown using synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and other toxic chemicals. They are also not grown using genetically modified seeds, which are potentially harmful for your body and the environment. The U.S. Department of Agriculture created a formal certification process to standardize regulations that qualify foods as organically grown. Organic food is legally bound to follow the non-toxic farming rules of the National Organics Program.
Nutritional Benefits of Organic Processed Food
According to the USDA, for processed food to obtain a certified organic status, its ingredients must include at least 95 percent organic ingredients. Organic processed food is not only made with ingredients that are grown in a non-toxic way, they tend to be made with ingredients that are chemically made, because that is what their health and environmental mission is and what appeals to their target market. Ingredients that you will most likely not find in certified organic food include partially hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors, colors and chemical preservatives.
Nutritional Benefits of Organic Produce
Organic farming practices keep the soil rich in nutrients, because they use methods like crop rotation that do not deplete the soil's natural minerals. The amount of nutrients in the soil determine the level of nutrients that are passed to the growing food. Therefore, organic food usually offers more trace minerals.
Unhealthy Effects of Genetically Modified Foods
Non-organic foods have a potential for being genetically modified, especially corn and soy. The World Health Organization has concerns about genetically modified seeds. The seeds can easily penetrate outside of the designated farming area and may cross-pollinate surrounding plants and affect the surrounding animals' health. Plus, when you ingest genetically modified food, you allow the altered genes to enter your body through your intestines and possibly affect your health in a negative way. The WHO suggests that it may make antibiotics less effective for you.
Member Comments