Why We Should All Eat More
Organic Food
Organic
Food is More Nutritious
Organic foods, especially raw or
non-processed, contain higher levels of beta carotene, vitamins C, D and E,
health-promoting polyphenols, cancer-fighting antioxidants, flavonoids that
help ward off heart disease, essential fatty acids, and essential minerals.
On the average, organic food is
25% more nutritious in terms of vitamins and minerals than products derived
from industrial agriculture. Since on the average, organic food's shelf
price is only 20% higher than chemical food, this makes it actually cheaper,
gram for gram, than chemical food, even ignoring the astronomical hidden
costs (damage to health, climate, environment, and government subsidies) of
industrial food production. Levels of antioxidants in milk from organic
cattle are between 50% and 80% higher than normal milk. Organic wheat,
tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, onions and lettuce have between 20% and 40%
more nutrients than non-organic foods.
Organic food contains
qualitatively higher levels of essential minerals (such as calcium,
magnesium, iron and chromium), that are severely depleted in chemical foods
grown on pesticide and nitrate fertilizer-abused soil. UK and US government
statistics indicate that levels of trace minerals in (non-organic) fruit and
vegetables fell by up to 76% between 1940 and 1991.
Organic Food is Pure Food, Free
of Chemical Additives
Organic food doesn't contain food
additives, flavor enhancers (like MSG), artificial sweeteners (like
aspartame and high-fructose corn syrup), contaminants (like mercury) or
preservatives (like sodium nitrate), that can cause health problems.
Eating organic has the potential
to lower the incidence of autism, learning disorders, diabetes, cancer,
coronary heart disease, allergies, osteoporosis, migraines, dementia, and
hyperactivity.
Organic
Food Is Safer
Organic food doesn't contain
pesticides. More than 400 chemical pesticides are routinely used in
conventional farming and residues remain on non-organic food even after
washing. Children are especially vulnerable to pesticide exposure. One class
of pesticides, endocrine disruptors, are likely responsible for early
puberty and breast cancer. Pesticides are linked to asthma and cancer.
Organic food isn't genetically
modified. Under organic standards, genetically modified (GM) crops and
ingredients are prohibited.
Organic animals aren't given
drugs. Organic farming standards prohibit the use of antibiotics, growth
hormones and genetically modified vaccines in farm animals. Hormone-laced
beef and dairy consumption is correlated with increased rates of breast,
testis and prostate cancers.
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Organic animals aren't fed
animal remains or slaughterhouse waste, blood, or manure. Eating organic
reduces the risks of CJD, the human version of mad cow disease, as well
as Alzheimer's.
-
Organic animals aren't fed
arsenic.
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Organic animals aren't fed
byproducts of corn ethanol production (which increases the rate of E.
coli contamination).
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Organic crops aren't
fertilized with toxic sewage sludge or coal waste, or irrigated with E.
coli contaminated sewage water.
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Organic food isn't
irradiated. Cats fed a diet of irradiated food got multiple sclerosis
within 3-4 months.
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Organic food contains less
illness-inducing bacteria. Organic chicken is free of salmonella and has
a reduced incidence of campylobacter.
Organic Food Contains No Hidden Costs
As taxpayers, we pay
for the hidden health and environmental costs of industrial
agricultural. These include the pollution of our drinking water
with pesticides, fertilizer and animal waste from conventional
farms.
Organic Food Is Certified to High Standards
Organic food comes
from trusted sources that are inspected to ensure compliance
with the rigorous organic standards.
Organic Food Protects Animal Welfare
Organic methods
provide for animals. Animal welfare is taken very seriously
under organic standards.
Organic Food Is Good for the Planet
Organic food is good
for wildlife and the environment. Organic farming is better for
wildlife, causes less pollution and waste, and produces fewer
global warming gases.
Organic Food Tastes Better
Organic food is
more flavorful. Many people prefer organic food because they say
it tastes better.
How
to Identify Real Organic Food
Look
for the USDA Organic Seal or the Words "Made With Organic
Ingredients"
When you see the USDA Organic
seal, you know that the food is at least 95% organic, does not
contain genetically modified organisms, was not irradiated, and
comes from a farm that:
- Employs positive soil building, conservation, manure
management and crop rotation practices.
- Provides outdoor access and pasture for livestock.
- Refrains from antibiotic and hormone use in animals.
- Sustains animals on 100% organic feed.
- Keeps records of all operations.
- Is inspected annually by an accredited Third-Party
Organic Certifier.
If it is a multi-ingredient product, it was made at a
certified organic processing plant that takes strict measures to
avoid contamination of organic products.
Products that are "Made With Organic Ingredients" are at
least 70% organic and are also free of genetically modified
organisms and food irradiation.
Organic Food On a Budget
When comparing
prices in the grocery aisles, the organic version of particular
items is often 20% on the average more expensive, but if you
make a pledge to eat more organic, you'll likely save money
overall by eating out at restaurants less often, packing your
lunch, and cooking from scratch.
