Organic Food: The Health Benefits of Organic Nutrition
In our modern world, the advantages of most supermarket foods are highly questionable for consumers. “Industrial” methods of growing fruits and vegetables, mushrooms, meat, and poultry do not always meet the standards.
Not surprisingly, natural products called organic food are gaining more and more popularity. Nutritionists favor nuclear food, consider it natural and safe.
Many people wonder if there are reasons to buy organic foods, if they contain enough nutrients, and are they healthy? This article will give you all the details about the health benefits of organic nutrition. Stay tuned to find out more.
What Are Organic Foods?
According to the standards, synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, hormones and antibiotics cannot be used on farms producing organic food. Livestock must also graze on natural pastures.
However, many farms ignore these rules and use harmful products when growing plants and animals despite these standards. Therefore, it is impossible to say that this product is 100% organic without reliable analysis.
Perhaps today, only those vegetables, fruits, meat, and milk sold at organic food markets can be called entirely organic. Farmers grow them for themselves, bargaining for only a small surplus. These products can be identified by their not very presentable appearance – a completely natural potato will not have a smooth round shape and pale pink color.
What Foods Can’t Be Organic?
The food industry goes to all sorts of tricks to attract customers, and this is where organic food vs. GMO starts. For example, packed candies absolutely in no way can be organic. The concept of “organic” already excludes culinary processing with the addition of various food agents, such as flavorings, emulsifiers, stabilizers, etc. Organic mayonnaise cannot be organic per se, even if the producer used milk and eggs from local farms. You should learn more from the food labels and pay attention to the menu of organic food restaurants you choose.
Why Is It Worth Giving Preference to Such Products?
- Organic products’ advantages are that certification organizations and the farms themselves control the entire production process.
- These are completely organic products. They do not use colorants, hormones, antibiotics, stabilizers, and other harmful additives.
- Eco-products do not cause gastrointestinal upset or allergies.
- It is an exceptionally natural taste.
- The health benefits of organic nutrition of such products are that they contain more nutrients, vitamins, micro-, and macroelements. It means that their use improves overall health, skin, and increases immunity.
- After all, with a varied choice on store shelves, you can find not only organic milk, meat, vegetables, fruits, but also organic baby food, dried fruits, honey, and organic freeze-dried food.
According to Fortune Business Insights™, the global honey market size was USD 7.19 billion in 2019. The global impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented and staggering, with sweet liquid witnessing a positive demand shock across all regions amid the pandemic. Based on our analysis, the global market will exhibit a steady growth of 9.0% in 2020.
Organic Food Is More Nutritious
Scientists have proven that food produced without chemicals and made following all environmental standards strengthens human immunity, helping to maintain beauty and health.
Organic milk contains about one and a half times more beneficial omega-3 fatty acids than regular milk. It contains 40% more linoleic acid, which helps to effectively burn fat and increase muscle tone.
The concentration of iron, vitamin E, and some carotenoids in organic milk is higher, while selenium and mineral iodine is lower. The shift from traditional milk to organic milk will increase the human consumption of omega-3 fatty acids without increasing the diet’s total calorie intake. For example, half a liter of organic milk provides 16% of the daily recommended Omega-3 intake, compared with only 11% of regular milk.
According to research, it was found that 30% of traditional products contain pesticides, while harmful organic substances are found in only 7%. For example, organic chicken and pork contain fewer bacteria. Also, organic meat, for example, has a lower fat content due to a special technology for feeding animals on farms.
Organic food is easier and better absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract and is much less likely to provoke allergies. Organic products contain 50% more nutrients, vitamins, and minerals and have a higher nutritional value than industrial products. Eco-friendly foods are recommended for children from the first months of life because children are more sensitive to the environment.
Organic Food and Disease Prevention
So, is organic food healthier? There are many improvements in organic nutrition for various diseases. For example, organic foods are more effective in fighting cancer. The level of cancer-preventing antioxidants in fruits and vegetables that were grown without chemicals is significantly higher than in the same fruits grown with pesticides and herbicides.
The French study by NutriNet-Sante, which involved 8,000 people, noted a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome in those who prefer organic foods. In this case, the impact endured even after taking into account lifestyle, social and demographic factors, and diet.
Organic tomatoes contain more lycopene (an antioxidant that reduces the risk of prostate cancer and protects the skin from the harmful effects of the sun), while natural apples have more flavonoids, which also bind free radicals and have anti-tumor effects. And this is just a small part of the positive impact of organic products.
Are Farm, Organic, and Bio Products the Same?
When it comes to food, the prefixes “bio,” “farm,” or “organic” are essentially the same thing. “Organic” does not speak of the quality of the food itself but indicates the method and process of its production, which give the products certain qualities. In the laws of different countries, it is allowed to use specific designations. In English-speaking countries- organic, in German countries- bio and some European countries “eco.” All this means the products are certified according to organic standards in accordance with the laws of the countries where they are produced.
The difference between farm and the health benefits of organic nutrition is actually great. Many people believe that farm products are very clean and environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, it is not always true. “Farming” means the production of products in farm territory. And what about organic food vs. conventional one? A farmer can grow his products in better conditions than normal industrial farms.
Does Organic Nutrition Have Disadvantages?
There are also disadvantages, but they are minor:
- Price. You will have to pay more for such nutrition. Why is organic food more expensive? The high cost is due to additional costs for certification, logistics, and manual labor. However, you can also choose cheaper organic food among many organic food brands available in your region.
- Short shelf life. Such products quickly deteriorate, as they lack preservatives and antibiotics.
Conclusion
In the future, environmentally friendly products will take even stronger positions, and soon it will be a common experience for the whole society. If you follow a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, always want to be in shape, and love the taste of natural food, then you cannot do without organic food. After all, it’s like trying food again and experiencing the first impression of taste.
Remember that healthy food is the key to good health, so choose only quality meals for your nutrition. When choosing them, analyze the information indicated on the labels, be careful. Then you definitely won’t make the wrong choice.
Do you consume the health benefits of organic nutrition? What benefits have you already discover for your health? Please share your experience in the comments below.
Author’s Bio
Alex Green is a copywriter with 3 years of experience. He is fond of healthy living and knows pretty much about cooking. In his spare time, Alex likes walking with his golden retriever, meeting with friends, and attending the gym. He is also a contributing author on mykitchenadvisor.com.