Organic Food Benefits

Organic Food Benefits by Scott Canipe

The foods and liquids that we consume give us the necessary fuel to carry on our daily activities and the rigors of life. The old adage "you are what you eat" could not be more brazenly true. Regrettably, many have little or no clue as to what they are putting in their bodies and the affects that it has on them. The effects are either in a positive way or could be destructive.

The intent of this article is to illustrate the veracity of organic food benefits and how they triumph over the produce stemming from commercial farming. The harmful effects of non-organic food are far-reaching. Although this is a vast subject to delve into, the following article will endeavor to point out some of the key elements regarding organic food benefits versus non-organic food disfavor.

Is non-organic food products really bad for your health? Well, consider that the air and water in industrialized countries are dreadfully polluted. In the United States alone, 2 million pounds of pesticides are sprayed every year on crops as a result of poor farming practices. Most people when they shop in a grocery store are looking for the cheapest eggs, produce, meats, and other food items. Little value is placed upon choosing the best UN-POISONED produce so that one can receive organic food benefits. Most people do not think in this capacity when grocery shopping.

Your body is somewhat like an automobile. Ask yourself a question, “how would your car operate if you put contaminated gas and oil in it?” The answer is quite simple, “your vehicle would malfunction and not operate properly.” That is what most people are doing to their bodies by eating non-organic food that is a product of most commercial farms.

Remember the old adage, “you are what you eat.” There are many toxic dangers of how modern crops are grown and eventually sent to the marketplace.

Susan's Potato Project

Non-Organic Food

In 1900, 1 out of every 30 people had a chance of getting cancer. However, that statistic has risen dramatically unto the present time. These stats are as follows in the United States:

1985-1 out of 5
1990-1 out of 4
1995-1 out of 3
2000-1 out of 2

Why are these chances increasing in light of the fact that we have more "sophisticated" healthcare and greater understanding of nutrition? Healthcare expenditures were approximately $2.6 trillion in 2010, over 10 times the $256 billion spent in 1980. This is a 916% increase over 20 years which is a staggering amount of money. Many people will explain this with a population increase during this time frame and therefore those numbers are justified. This is not true.

In 1980, the population of the United States of America was approximately 230 million and in 2010 the number rose to around 310 million. This is only a 35% population increase compared to a 916% increase in health care spending. The ratios are grossly uneven. The US population is not improving their health, rather destroying it.

Personally, I feel, one of the culprits is a result of the populace not understanding the validity of organic food benefits and how they can have healthier bodies by consuming such. Most of the "food” sold in grocery stores is poisoned and has little nutritional value. When approximately 5 companies control nearly 90% of the food consumption in the United States and the world, something is wrong.

Corporations such as Continental Grain Company, Andre Maggi Group, Conti-Group Co, Cargill Inc., Bunge limited, and Louis Dreyfus supply the greater majority of the world with non-organic food.

The problem with their business modalities concerns the use of non-organic farming techniques that simplify and destroy ecosystems. They grow and process their food products disseminating them to the masses worldwide.

These corporate entities are extremely powerful and have solidified their objectives by having backing from the political spectrum. It boils down to the almighty dollar!

Why is commercial farming so terrible?

Starts with the soil – Commercial farming processes incorporate herbicides to kill weeds, fertilizers to feed crops, pesticides to control insect pests, fungicides to maintain fungal diseases, and specific soil fumigants to "sterilize" the soil. But in reality, these chemicals are actually doing more harm than good.

The soil in which crops are grown lays the foundation for the nutritional value or lack of it for produce. Furthermore, if the produce is not nutritionally sound this carries over into human consumption and, as well, the farm animals that eat the produce such as grass, wheat, corn, etc. Consequently, humans eat the contaminated farm animals. If the crop's nutritional integrity is compromised by the exposure to harmful chemicals then the consumers, be it animal or humans, will not receive organic food benefits.

Another interesting fact is that our deserts are growing at an alarming rate throughout the world, therefore encroaching upon qualitative farming soil that is rich with nutrients and microorganisms. Along with global warming and growing populations, commercial farming is a big part of the culprit. Misuse of irrigation, overgrazing, poisonous chemicals, and other methods by which commercial farms are facilitated contribute to this environmental degradation.

Commercial farming destroys approximately 85% of healthy microorganisms and many valuable nutrients and minerals. This is done by the above-mentioned chemicals that are absorbed by farming vegetation. In essence, these chemicals are literally obliterating nutrient rich soils that produce the best crops. Ultimately, healthy soil is replaced with barren deserts.

Organic Food Benefits

Organic produce is grown in a very controlled environment that is carried out through a high level of strictness ensuring that crops are cultivated with maximum nutrient rich density. The organic food standards are set very high on these farms. Crops are not exposed to harmful chemicals. They are also rich in healthy microorganisms that eat up poisonous bacteria and carrying nutrients throughout the soil ensuring that the roots of the crops can absorb them with the greatest and most efficient effect.

Before a farm can achieve an organic certification, its fields must be cleaned out for a minimum of three years under stringent guidelines that have been implemented by competent organic committees. This gives the farming fields enough time for microorganisms to eliminate and digest chemical residues that could have been left in the soil from previous exposure to typical commercial farming. This process guarantees that maximum organic food standards.

In an unbiased study, nutrition expert, Dr. Virginia Worthington reviewed 1,230 published comparisons between organically and commercially grown crops. Her findings indicated that organic produce possessed lower levels of toxicity and higher levels of nutrient concentrations as much as a 56% difference.

Macronutrients and micronutrients

Some other organic food benefits is the makeup of macro and micro nutrients. Macronutrients are typically regarded as proteins, carbohydrates and fats. These are drastically reduced in non-organic food. However, the nutritional quality of these crops plummet even further when one considers the depletion of micronutrients. There are estimates of approximately 7,500 micronutrients in plants. Vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, phenolic compounds, and a host of antioxidants make up these micronutrients. These particular nutrients are superrich in organic crops since they have not been destroyed by any synthetic chemicals.

Organic –Better for the Environment

Organic farming is much more conducive for a stable environment starting from the soil up. Through thousands of years, humanity has survived on organically grown foods. However, the Industrial Revolution and mass production in farming have destroyed our soils through the vehicles of toxic chemicals. The result is a horrible reaction to plants, animals and ultimately human beings who consume both products.

Organic produce is definitely a little bit more expensive to acquire. However, when you consider the organic food benefits that it provides for your health and the environment, it is worth the extra expense. There are scores of other literary sources and research substantiating that organic is the way to go. Spend a little extra, save yourself and the environment!

What are your thoughts on organic foods

Organic foods are becoming popular in market places. Many claim that organically grown food is the best sources of nutrition.

What do you think?

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