Since the last two decades, people have become more conscious about their food choices and the quality of their food. This has boosted the market of organic products, fruits and vegetables.
The adulteration and overuse of pesticides and chemicals are one of the major reasons for the shift of organic foods and products.
In 2015, the consumption of organic products in the United States was 39.1 billion dollars.
And these numbers are increasing because of the rising demand for organic products. The reason behind this demand is better quality food and products, but is it really worth it? Have you ever thought about why organic food and products are better than non-organic food and products?
And, therefore today we will discuss the difference between organic and non-organic foods and products. We will also discuss the effects of these food products.
You must be aware of organic farming if not, we will enlighten you. Organic farming is based on cultivation process without the usage of pesticides, chemicals, antibiotics,
It is important to consider a product as an organic product, if it is free from chemicals, artificial food additives and grown without causing damage to the soil.
However, using natural fertilizers like cow dung and other manure to grow crops is also a part of organic farming.
When we talk about organic farming, we also talk about the fertility of the soil and not doing the overconsumption of the groundwater.
Some of the popular organic foods and products that are consumed on a big level are dairy, vegetables, grains, meat and fruits.
Today you can see that there are so many skincare products that are coming up with organic cosmetic products like lipsticks, tints, blushes and kajal.
Does Organic Foods have more Nutrients?
According to the studies, the nutrients found in organic foods compared to non-organic foods are not too different.
But as per some studies, organically grown foods might contain more nutrition compared to non-organic foods.
Also, in various other studies, it is found that foods that are grown organically contain more vitamins and contain more antioxidants (up to 69%) like zinc, vitamin C, iron and some micronutrients.
Some studies show positive results of having organic fruits and vegetables instead of non-organic fruits and vegetables. Having organic food provides more antioxidants compared to non-organic foods.
Why do organic foods contain more antioxidants?
The reason organically grown foods contain more antioxidants than non-organic foods because organic foods are grown without any harmful pesticides and chemicals. Hence, organic foods protect themselves by producing more antioxidants.
Organic foods contain 30% less nitrate level compared to non-organic foods. A higher percentage of nitrate level in your food can increase the chances of developing cancer and methemoglobinemia.
Methemoglobinemia is a condition that can affect infants ability to carry oxygen or say to breathe properly
However, the benefits you get from eating vegetables makes you neglect the danger and risks we just discussed. But, it is better to understand the pros and cons to get the best quality food on your table.
What about organic dairy products?
Organic dairy products like milk have slightly more levels of vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, iron and other nutrients.
On the other side, non-organic milk contains higher levels of iodine and selenium. And both these are important for your body.
Still, there is no sufficient evidence that organic foods have more nutrients than non-organic foods.
As per some studies, people having organic foods are getting slightly more benefits in the form of nutrients, but this also seems to be the effect of having more green vegetables.
However, if we review the 55 studies on organic foods benefits vs regular foods, organic foods benefit people when it comes to nitrate levels. Organic foods are low in nitrate level.
And based on some 233 studies, it is not completely accurate to say that organic foods benefit you more than non-organic foods.
The quality of the food or say the nutritional value of food also depends on various other factors like the fertility of the soil, season, time, quality of the seeds and cultivation process or technique.
Other organic foods benefit; they can reduce the exposure and consumption of harmful chemicals and pesticides into your body. This will further prevent you from health problems caused by bad quality food.
According to a study, organic foods are 48% safer from some dangerous substances like cadmium. Cadmium is a harmful toxic metal that is four times more likely to be found in non-organic foods.
However, the pesticides residue and cadmium levels in the non-organic foods were below the safety limits.
It is good to wash vegetables and fruits properly, the process of cooking like washing, peeling, boiling or cooking also reduces harmful chemicals, but this may not completely remove all the chemicals.
At last, we would say that buying organic foods benefits your system by reducing the consumption of harmful chemicals that have been found in non-organic fruits and vegetables.