Reasons to eat organic
Why eat organic when it tends to be so much more expensive?
It is often financially difficult to eat organically and even more so if the benefits of doing so are not completely understood.
For food to be classed as organic, it has to go through a rigorous organic control body (such as The Soil Association) to be certified. Typical organic farming practices includes strict limits on chemical synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, antibiotic use, food additives and GM. Renewable resources and wide crop rotation is encouraged and livestock are raised in free-range, open-air systems and provided with organic feed. So, what does this mean for our own health?
Better nutrient status
Organic produce has to fight for its own survival against insects, weather, other plants etc and as such have a far higher level of phytochemicals compared to non-organic produce. Phytochemicals have a range of benefits on our body as antioxidants and many are also anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-biotic, anti-cancerous to name a few.
Reduced health risks
There is far reduced use of chemical synthetic pesticides and fertilisers in organic food, including restrictions on artificial food colours and preservatives. Pesticides are
- linked to a range of health issues from headaches through to cancer.
- contain endocrine disrupting chemicals that mimic or block our natural hormones that can disrupt fertility, thyroid and contribute to hormone driven cancers.
- disruptive to gut health. Pesticides are sprayed to kill off insects and mites, so what are they doing to our delicate friendly bacteria in our own gut microbiome?
Animal welfare
Organic meat is reared to a far higher standard, considering the welfare of the animals and avoiding the use of drugs, antibiotics and wormers. Whilst we are in the EU, we are protected against the use of hormones in animal production, however, this could easily change.
Anti-inflammatory benefits
Organic milk, butter and eggs are from cows and chickens that can roam free and eat grass that is nutrient dense rather than fed grains/corn/soy which is often GM and always sprayed with pesticides. There are far higher levels of anti-inflammatory omega 3 in organic dairy products.
Non-GM
Organic food prohibits genetically modified organisms. Animals that are organic are not fed GM feed compared to non-organic livestock.
Sustainable
Organic food production focuses on sustainability. There are tight controls that ensures food production reduces impact to wildlife, uses less energy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and makes use of the farm’s onsite resources such as livestock manure.
Tips for eating organic food on a budget:
¨ Eat in season and find a local farmer’s market for organic produce
¨ Consider your own veggie patch in your garden or pots on a balcony or sign up for an allotment near to you.
¨ Prioritise buying organic foods where non-organic versions have the highest amount of pesticides. There is a list called the ‘Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen’ which highlights which fruits and vegetables are most ‘clean’ and which are most heavily sprayed and ‘dirty’. https://www.pan-uk.org/dirty-dozen-and-clean-fifteen/. Be mindful that fruits that don’t have a tough outer skin (e.g. apples, pears, grapes, berries) and delicate greens (e.g. spinach and salad leaves) for protection will be more sensitive to pesticide exposure.
¨ Reduce intake of animal products and only eat better quality (organic) but less frequently.
¨ Don’t miss out on fruit and vegetables! If you feel that you can’t afford to buy organic, then wash non-organic fruit and vegetables thoroughly to minimise the impact of pesticides.
Resources:
The Soil Association – www.soilassociation.org
Pesticide Action Network UK – www.pan-uk.org
Happyhormonesforlife.com
College of Naturopathic Medicine