Should you be eating all organic foods? What does the word "organic" really mean? Are organic fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy products really better for you, and worth the usually higher price tag, than their non-organic counterparts? Let 's take a closer look at the organic industry and see if we can answer these questions.
Defining Organic
Not all countries appoint an organization or group to enforce organic compliance. Some countries don 't even have a clear definition of the term. In the United States, The Agricultural Marketing Service of the US Department Of Agriculture (USDA) is in charge of running the National Organic Program (NOP). They consider agriculture producing food products using environmentally friendly methods, while avoiding …show more content…
The Environmental Working Group in the US publishes Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists every year. These lists show which foods have the most and least pesticide residues. The EWG recommends eating organic whenever possible, because of the guarantee of little to no presence of fertilizers, pesticides and other contaminants. These are compounds and chemicals you certainly don 't want in your body.
As far as nutrition value, organic foods are not significantly better than non-organic foods. The Mayo Clinic reports that 50 years worth of scientific research on the difference between conventional and organic foods showed no real difference in nutrient content. People who enjoy organic foods are eating cleaner and safer food products. Preferring organic food also means you are supporting a less invasive environmental impact, which is good for everyone.
Pesticides and Chemicals to Look Out For
Farmers and other growers that make organic food have a minimally negative impact on the planet. They use natural fertilizers and pesticides rather than man-made varieties. The food produced is safer for you to eat than conventional food, even if it isn 't significantly higher in
Defining Organic
Not all countries appoint an organization or group to enforce organic compliance. Some countries don 't even have a clear definition of the term. In the United States, The Agricultural Marketing Service of the US Department Of Agriculture (USDA) is in charge of running the National Organic Program (NOP). They consider agriculture producing food products using environmentally friendly methods, while avoiding …show more content…
The Environmental Working Group in the US publishes Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists every year. These lists show which foods have the most and least pesticide residues. The EWG recommends eating organic whenever possible, because of the guarantee of little to no presence of fertilizers, pesticides and other contaminants. These are compounds and chemicals you certainly don 't want in your body.
As far as nutrition value, organic foods are not significantly better than non-organic foods. The Mayo Clinic reports that 50 years worth of scientific research on the difference between conventional and organic foods showed no real difference in nutrient content. People who enjoy organic foods are eating cleaner and safer food products. Preferring organic food also means you are supporting a less invasive environmental impact, which is good for everyone.
Pesticides and Chemicals to Look Out For
Farmers and other growers that make organic food have a minimally negative impact on the planet. They use natural fertilizers and pesticides rather than man-made varieties. The food produced is safer for you to eat than conventional food, even if it isn 't significantly higher in