Effects of Organic Food on Your Health and the Environment
What is good for the environment is good for you too and one of the best proofs is organic food. Unlike the conventionally grown food, organic food is produced by the use of strictly organic methods which means that no chemicals and artificial substances are used at any step of its production. By replacing the conventionally grown food with the organic one, you will help reduce the use of a wide variety of chemicals which are harmful for both your health and the environment directly and indirectly. After all, food loaded with chemicals cannot be good for your health and it is no secret that the diet has a major influence on human health. It can help you preserve your health but it can also seriously ruin your health if not paying enough attention to what you eat. Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables is, of course, very healthy but only if they are really fresh and are not loaded with all those hazardous chemicals.
Organically and conventionally grown food may not look any different. In fact, conventionally grown food may look even better, while many people do not notice any difference in the taste between organic and conventionally grown food. However, there is a major difference between both types of food. As already mentioned earlier, the first one does not use any artificial substances, while the conventionally grown food does. But the difference does not end in presence and absence of chemicals. Organic food is also more nutritious because it is not treated with preservatives to extend its shelf-life. It is important to be aware that all types of food, especially fruits and vegetables start losing nutritional value as soon as they are harvested. And since organic food is not treated with any chemicals to extend its shelf-life, it needs to be eaten earlier because it deteriorates sooner than conventional food which means that it has a higher nutritional value when eaten. It may be true that conventionally grown food is considered safe and that the chemicals used are supposed to be within safe levels but we do not know what are the effects of these chemicals on human health in the long run. For that reason many people do not want to take any chances and choose organic over conventional food even if it is slightly more expensive.
Not only is organic food better for your health but it is better for the environment as well. Just think on all the chemicals that are used to grow conventional food from artificial fertilizers that pollute the groundwater which is in many parts of the world the only source of drinking water, to tons of pesticides which seriously pollute the soil, water and air making countryside more unhealthy place to live in than major cities. By eating organic, you will help reduce the use of all these harmful chemicals and help save your own as well as other people’s health, in the first place those who are unwittingly exposed to these chemicals. The Earth would be undoubtedly a healthier and friendlier planet without agricultural chemicals which are toxic to both the environment and humans.