What is Organic And What Are The Benefits?

Organic… what does that actually mean? Is it the latest fad, or does it sound like something that should be healthy, yet we don’t really know why? Organic seems to be making the news a lot lately, we don’t know if we can trust a label when it says “Organic”, and there are questions about where our US Organic foods actually come from. With consumer demand so high, some companies are admitting to acquiring Organic foods from outside of the US, leaving us unsure about exactly what “their” standards are and if they’re the same as ours. In addition, organic farmers with the best intentions have found that their crops to be contaminated with Genetically Modified seeds that have been wind blown onto their farms from the conventional farm close by.

Organic Foods are those fruits, vegetables and other plants that are grown without the use of pesticides and herbicides. In organic meat and poultry, there is no use of antibiotics or hormones. No Genetically Modified (GM) foods, no irradiation and no sewer sludge in the products are allowed. Organically grown foods are good for the environment because the farming methods keep the environment healthy. Organic methods of building soil fertility do more than just increase yields; they also build up minerals and micronutrients for robust, nutritious plants. Organic farmers protect their soil and local waterways through a variety of methods. The soil from organically grown food is full of vitamins and minerals from previously grown crops which are rotated to keep the minerals in the soil.

A group called the NOP (National Organic Program) implements the Organic Standards. When you buy a food labeled Organic, you can be sure you are getting a product that is both healthy for the environment and healthy for you and your family.

Buying food from your local farmer insures getting the freshest produce possible; however, it doesn’t mean they grow according to organic standards. In other words, pesticides and herbicides may still be used; you can check with your local farmers as to their methods.

So is organic the healthier choice? Recent studies on organic vs. non-organic foods have shown more nutrient content in the organic vs. the non-organic foods. One contributing reason might be because conventionally farmed use of pesticides and herbicides disrupt the plants ability to produce the protective compounds that in turn are the very same compounds that are cancer protective for us when we consume the plants. Without the use of pesticides, plants are able to produce those compounds. Other research studies have shown that the fruits and vegetables in the US now have ½ the vitamin content of their counterparts from 1963. These studies were based on a comparison of published USDA figures. Based on these studies, it appears that organic foods may be more beneficial than conventionally grown foods making them more in demand by consumers

Where can you find organic products?

- Local grocery stores almost always have an organic food section in the produce area and sometimes throughout the store.
- Local Farmer’s Market or Food Co Op. Check the specifics to see if they are practicing organic farming methods.
- Specialty Health, Grocery stores like Whole Foods Markets or Trader Joes. Look for the USDA certified organic label.

About the Author:
Maria Fill is a Registered Dietitian and Licensed Provider of Real Living Nutrition Services ®. To learn more about Maria visit http://www.reallivingnutrition.com/mariafill.aspx

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