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Explore the Facts about Organic Food & How it Benefits Your Well-being and the Sustainability of Our Planet

What is Organic?

• The organic word refers to food that is grown naturally without any use of artificial preservatives, artificial sweeteners, artificial coloring, artificial flavoring, antibiotics, pesticides, or any type of inorganic fertilizers.
• Organic means commodities that are related to nature. It means anything raw and made from natural substances.

Its Bifurcations:

• Organic has many practices or bifurcations and can be applied in various aspects of life, like Organic food, Organic Gardening, Organic skin-care and Personal care products, Organic clothing, Organic home-care products, Sustainable and Organic farming practices, Organic beauty products, organic toys which are made from wood, Organic colors.
• If we talk about Organic food, it involves Organic fruits and vegetables, Organic pulses & cereals, Organic dairy products, Organic dairy products, etc.
• Pulses, cereals, organic powders, organic jaggery, leaves, flour, seasoning, seeds, and dates, are a rich source of proteins and vitamins.

Importance of Organic food.

• The type of food we eat or consume can have a great impact on our mental, physical, and emotional health or well-being. 
• Organic food is produced using traditional farming techniques that have sustainability and is grown using natural inputs. 
• Organic food has many nutritive values, like carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins, and lipids which give energy to the body. 
• Organic food is grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, whereas conventional food often involves the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers to maximize yields and control pests.

1. Reduced use of harmful chemicals : 

• Organic food is in a clean and pure form. 
• Organic farming is done without the use of harmful chemicals, synthetic pesticides, and fertilizers. 
• Choosing organic food may reduce the risk of exposure to potentially harmful chemicals commonly found in conventional produce. 
• For reducing the use of harmful chemicals, organic farming can be beneficial to biodiversity (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity) and environmental protection (source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_protection).

2. Impact on the environment :

• Organic farming is the most effective technique to minimize pollution since it relies on fewer ingredients and rich soils.
• Organic food or organic farms generally host approximately 30% more biodiversity. 
• Organic farming promotes soil health and reduces pollution from synthetic chemicals. 
• Organic farming or food reduces greenhouse gases as organic farming uses approximately 45% less energy compared to conventional farming.

3. Taste and Quality:

• The perception of the taste and quality of organic food may vary from person to person. 
• The taste of organic food is much better than conventional food because when any product grows organically without any pesticides its taste tends to improve. 
• The quality of organic food is way better than conventional food as organic produce has much lower, as much as approximately 81% lower levels of pesticide residue than conventional food. 
• Soil quality is also an important factor as organic farming emphasizes soil health through the use of organic substances.
• If healthier soil is used, then the nutritive value of plants can be improved.
• Organic farming generally avoids artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors. Consequently, quality and taste will be enhanced.

4.  Enhanced nutritive content:

• Organic fruits and vegetables may contain higher levels of antioxidants, which reduce the risk of diseases. 
• Organic food contains a rich source of vitamins and minerals. 
• Organic fruits and vegetables have more concentrations of vitamin C, iron, and magnesium, which are essential for physical activities, mental health, and leading a healthy life.

5. Organic varieties of food products:

• The organic varieties of organic products are available in abundance in the market. 
• These products are rich in proteins & fiber as they are grown without the use of harmful pesticides, or chemicals. 
• Mainly, organic pulses such as lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans, and black gram are a rich source of proteins and vitamins. 
• These are rich in fiber and help digestive health. 
• Organic cereals, especially whole grains like brown rice, and oats, provide nutrients, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Benefits of consuming organic food:

• Consuming organic food has gained popularity as individuals increasingly seek healthier and environmentally sustainable lifestyle choices. 
• The standards of organic food are enhanced by improving organic farming methods. Thus, consuming such improved quality food can benefit in various parameters.
• Organic farming practices emphasize the use of natural fertilizers, thereby giving quality organic food products. 
• By consuming organic food there will be ecological balance and it will promote biodiversity. 
• Organic choices lie in the potential benefits for both personal well-being and environmental conservation.
• Organic food lowers the level of pesticide residues, while conventional food has more levels of pesticide residues. 
• Organic food is enriched with nutrients like vitamin C, iron, magnesium, etc. while conventional food has a low level of nutritive value. 
• Organic food is healthier and nutritious, while comparatively conventional food is considered to be less healthy and less nutritive. 
• Organic food reduces the effect of greenhouse gases as it uses less energy, while comparatively conventional food causes more greenhouse gas emissions.

1. Free from harmful chemicals:

• Organic farming forbids the use of harmful pesticides or herbicides. 
• It forbids the use of synthetic chemicals for pest control. 
• Organic farming has the increased use of natural fertilizers such as compost and manure, which minimizes the use of harmful residues in the soil. 
• Organic food generally avoids additives, colors, or any type of preservatives, thereby reducing the intake of inorganic substances that may harm our health.

2. Organic food reduces health risks:

• Consumers throughout the world are becoming more conscious of their health and worried about the purity of the food they consume.
• Organic food may reduce health risks by avoiding synthetic pesticides and herbicides and minimizing exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. 
• Organic farming practices prioritize natural fertilizers and sustainable methods, contributing to higher nutrient content in crops. 
• Organic farming methods are such that the use of artificial fertilizers, additives, and preservatives is much less. 
• The absence of synthetic additives in organic processed foods may reduce the intake of artificial substances linked to certain health issues.

3.  Reduced risk of exposure to Antibiotics :

• The intake of organic food reduces the risk of exposure to antibiotics as organic practices reduce the use of antibiotics for the purpose of stimulating the growth of animal husbandry. 
• By reducing the use of antibiotics in organic food, it can slow down the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and this will consequently safeguard the health of both humans and animals.

4.  Organic food reduces the risk of allergies :

• Organic food consumption is often associated with a potential reduction in the risk of allergies due to limited pesticide exposure. 
• Organic farming avoids the use of synthetic pesticides, which may lead to allergies. 
• The inclusion of preservatives, artificial colors, etc. may lead to allergies, so opting for the use of organic food may help in reducing the exposure to allergies. 
• Organic food helps boost the immune system, which helps to reduce the risk of allergies.

5.  Organic food helps in weight loss :

• Organic food may help in weight loss depending on the way we tend to consume it. 
• Organic food contains healthy nutrients like zinc, magnesium, and omega-3 fats and our bodies need these nutrients for functioning. 
• Although non-organic food also contains these nutrients, in lower quantities. 
• Organic foods may have a better nutrient content due to the presence of extra vitamins and antioxidant substances, resulting in a weight reduction.

6.  Organic food is helpful for animal welfare:

• It is useful for animals as organic food does not contain any by-products. 
• Organic farming emphasizes providing animals with suitable and spacious living conditions that promote their well-being. 
• Animals are typically fed organic food, which ensures that the animals are fed food which is free from synthetic pesticides and herbicides. 
• Organic farming reduces the use of antibiotics for disease prevention in animals. 
• Organic farming adopts a holistic approach that helps in the overall balance of the ecosystem.

Conclusion:

Lastly, organic food has several health and environmental benefits. By selecting organic, you are supporting sustainable farming techniques that promote soil health and biodiversity, avoiding exposure to toxic chemicals, and promoting nutrient-dense produce. Embrace the organic food revolution not just for your benefit but also for future generations and the earth as a whole.