14 Far-Reaching Pros and Cons of Organic Food

A lot of people choose organic food because they think it tastes better compared to non-organic produce. Likewise, they believe that it may be a lot safer and more nutritional to consume. At the same time, it will be a lot better for the environment and for the animals. However, people are having misconceptions regarding the consumption of organic food as a better alternative for consumers.

The increase of sales of organic food each year has been thought of as a response to increasing public concerns in the use of pesticides. This is also thought of as a result to the increasing awareness of the production of food and the distance being traveled. The decision on whether or not it is essential for people can be easily done without prior knowledge regarding the benefits of eating organic. Here are some pros and cons of organic food to begin with.

List of Pros of Organic Food

1. Environment-Friendly
According to sources, the concept of organic farming can be friendly to the environment. This is because there is great diversity of plants and animals. Likewise, the Organic Trade Association said that it will help in the reduction of soil erosion as it creates richer soil aiding in plant growth and reduces groundwater pollutants.

2. Hydrogenated Fat-Free
Compared to non-organic food, organic food does not contain hydrogenated fat. Accordingly, hydrogenated fat can lead to heart diseases. Therefore, it is always good for the heart to patronize organic food.

3. Animal-Friendly
Those who are concerned about the welfare of livestock should make this concept a way of treating animals fairly. The application of organic farming will ensure that animals are given a free-range condition and provided with natural diet.

4. Lower Levels of Pesticides
Organic food will ensure people of lower levels of pesticides as only a low amount of chemicals are used for the production of organic food. But it is also possible for the production of conventionally-grown vegetables and fruits with fewer residues. Accordingly, residues could not be detected in almost seventy percent of sampled produce.

5. Healthier Alternative to Conventional Food
Research say that organic food could have nutritional value compared to conventional food. This might be due to the absence of fertilizers and pesticides in which plants will be able to produce phytochemicals to boost resistance against weeds and bugs.

6. It Tastes Better
There are only two options when it comes to organic foods, either it tastes the same as non-organic products or better. Moreover, food producers have ensured that certain types of meat should taste just like how they should on the basis of different taste test experiments. On the other hand, genetically modifying food products should make them produce more and make them last long. However, it can often lead to the loss of its natural taste in the process.

List of Cons of Organic Food

1. Easily Goes Bad
Compared to non-organic food, organic produce has the possibility of going off a lot quicker. This is due to the fact that it does not contain any form of preservatives. Likewise, it does not undergo any irradiation procedures.

2. More Expensive
Another concern for organic products is the cost which is a bit higher than non-organic food. Perhaps the cost of producing such products is the main reason why organic food is not the favorite choice of many consumers.

3. Minimal Chemicals Allowed
A lot of people believe that the production of organic food will not allow the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. However, organic food production still allows a minimal amount of chemicals in order to develop a reasonable amount of produce.

4. No Health Benefits
It is often a popular belief that organic food has a lot of health benefits compared to non-organic products. However, there are no consensual reports that link organic food to health benefits. Hence, there is no reason believing that it will provide a healthier alternative to non-organic food.

5. No Nutritional Proof
Research made by the British and Swedish food agencies has found that organic food has not been considered safer compared to food produced via conventional means. For this reason, it is safe to say that organic food is just as nutritional as non-organic products.

6. Even Low-Level Pesticides Can be Harmful
According to the National Academy of Sciences, exposure to low-level pesticides can be harmful to children and fetuses because of their vulnerable immune systems. Likewise, it can be a disadvantage to pregnant women as it will put added strain particularly on their taxed organs.

7. Pesticide Contamination
The reduction of pesticides from the plant might end up going into your drinking water. If pesticides are present in tap water, it can lead to unsafe levels in a matter of weeks, according to the Environmental Working Group.

8. High Bacterial Levels
The levels of bacteria have been found in the production of organic foods. For this reason, the consumption of organic foods has been linked to the risk of ingesting e-coli bacteria into the digestive system of a person. Thus, it will be harmful for children as well as pregnant women as they have vulnerable immune systems.

Final Thoughts

Balance in the diet must be considered by people prior to buying organic foods. Consumption of fruit and vegetables as well as starchy carbohydrate foods should be consumed more by people. Likewise, it is best to limit up to 2 servings of protein-rich foods daily and 2 servings of dairy foods with low-fat content. Doing this will mean that you are consuming lesser sugary and fatty foods. Once you have ensured that you have consumed the right diet for your daily consumption, you can incorporate some organic foods along the way.

Nevertheless, making the right choices to achieve a healthy lifestyle can be difficult to make. Getting a lot of information can often mean that it will be more challenging to figure out what needs to be done. With organic food on the line, perhaps reviewing a few pros and cons of organic food will make the choices a lot easier.