Nutrigold Blog Why Eating Organic Helps The Environment

Why Eating Organic Helps The EnvironmentPerhaps you have heard of the term organic, especially as it applies to food. However, you may not know why eating organic is more than just an additional expense.Let's begin with a definition of what Organic Food is. According to the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture): "Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Additionally, Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewer sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation." Before a product can be labelled as organic, a government-approved certifier needs to inspect the farm where the food is grown to make sure that USDA organic standards are being met.We believe that knowledge is power, so here are the top three reasons why you should consider purchasing and eating food that is produced organically. The Environment Wins with Organic FarmingWhen farmers produce food organically, the environment benefits. Why? Because farmers who produce organic food stay away from pesticides and chemicals. Pesticides enable plants, weeds, and plant eating insects to build up disease resistance. Additionally, when they are sprayed, they contaminate our soil, water supply, and air. The Organic Trade Association believes that if all U.S. farmers produced food organically, that would eliminate 500 million pounds of pesticides from our soil, plants, and water.Farming organically is a big win for water, as it keeps water pollution to a minimum. When farmers choose to produce organically, they prevent rivers from getting filled with pesticides and toxic fertilizers, as they use compost and animal manure. These natural fertilizers actually enhance the structure of the soil and the water infiltration. In other words, our rivers don't get a pollution run-off. But the advantages of organic farming don't stop there. The USDA Agricultural Research Service did a nine year-study that showed that organic farming maintains the richness of the soil better than conventional farming. Dr. Elaine Ingham, an American microbiologist and soil biology researcher, claims that one teaspoon of compost rich organic soil has as many as 600 million to 1 billion helpful bacteria from up to 15,000 different species. Comparatively, soil that has been treated with pesticides and chemicals can have far less they have as little as 100 helpful bacteria. Aside from reducing our environment's exposure to chemicals, farming organically helps slow down global warming. Food that is produced organically is distributed more locally. This means that less energy is used in transporting the food, which reduces carbon dioxide emissions. The Nutritional Value of Organic Food is HigherSo now that we now know that organic farming is healthier for our soil, our water, and our planet, let's discuss how organic farming does increase the nutritional value of specific foods.A study published in 2014 found that organic carrots, broccoli, apples, and blueberries have about 50 percent more anthocyanins and flavonols when compared to their non-organic counterparts. This increase occurs because organic vegetables / fruits are exposed to higher levels of stress, and they create these compounds to fight it. Anthocyanins are compounds that give fruits and vegetables their color hues, and studies have found that consuming them can you more vitamins, antioxidants, and, naturally, more health benefits. Lastly, organic crops tend to grow more slowly than their conventional counterparts, and as a result, produce more secondary plant metabolites (compounds) as a self-defense mechanism. (i.e., some of these metabolites signal to other plants that danger is present). These compounds are said to be beneficial when we eat them, promoting heart health and supporting the body to adapt to oxidative stress. Organic Farming Preserves Our Diversity Research also found that there is more biodiversity in organic farms. A study by the University of Leeds and York found that organic farms had more plant diversity, greater floral diversity, more earthworms, more butterflies, as well as more insects.Organic Farming encourages crop diversity, as it believes that planting different vegetable crops in the same space support insects and soil microorganisms. This not only helps the farm to thrive, but it also protects species from going extinct.There are many benefits to buying and eating organic food. Perhaps you can think about a staple in your diet that you really enjoy. If you don't currently buy the organic version of this staple, give it a try. See how you feel emotionally and physically about the purchase. If you enjoy it, we encourage you to make another organic purchase.