Essay on Organic Foods

Avery Willis, a young girl from Oregon, was constantly sick. Her immune system was very weak. These illnesses were not a huge concern, but were still, very unfortunate. When asking doctors, they never really had anything to say other than “it’s a virus, rest up”. Avery’s mom did some research on changing diets. She found organic eating a common topic that showed up. For a month, she kept Avery on a pretty strict organic diet. Throughout that month, Avery was a lot more active and overall healthier. It took a bit of time to kick in, as most things do, but throughout that month, no new sicknesses came to Avery. Organic foods were giving Avery antioxidants like never before. These antioxidants supported her immune system and improved a lot of her body's functions. Eventually, the whole Willis family went on a mostly organic diet and all found a new way of living healthy. Organic foods are extra expensive, so they found a way to grow them in their own garden and save money. Close observation of the effects of organic eating have led to reduced risk of cancer and diseases, healthier lifestyles, and a rise in food prices.

Organic foods are regular foods created by following the standards of organic farming. People often choose organic foods because they are known as “healthier” and “safer”. Although the food can not actually be proven as “safer,” they are made without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, growth hormones, or animal by-products are given to the produce. By-products are an animal product that is derived from the body of an animal, such as food and products used for care. Society is concerned about the price of organic foods. Is it worth it? In the end, they aren't just paying for the food they will be eating. They are paying for labor. Organic farming is much more labor-intensive than conventional farming. It is often mainly rich countries that produce organic foods, but sometimes less wealthy countries will grow organic foods to export to wealthy countries. Not everyone believes that going organic is worth the extra money, but there is still research going on to tell what is really worth it.

Organic foods have been around for a very long time. Organic farming was once the only type of farming. Just before the second world war, organic farming was all that the world had. Fertilizers and chemicals became popular only after the war. The movement started in the early 1900s, but became popular in the more recent years. Back in the day there were not as many debates as to if the organic lifestyle was correct, the majority of people did it and did not question it.

The United Stated Department of Agricululture (USDA) has a set of standards that organic farmers need for foods. Without the rules, the food is no longer considered organic. Eating locally is not eating organic, which is a common misconception. Organic foods are made with no synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. Another common misconception is that natural and organic foods are the same. In order for food to be considered 'organic' it must meet the regulations and rules, but also will have proper certification. Some examples are the Organic Farmers and Growers CIC, the Social Association Certification and the Organic Trust Limited. There are more, but these are just a few. Oftentimes, stores will have a certain section for organic foods, but people should still check the label to be sure when buying organic produce.

Organic foods have been proven to help prevent cancer. Based on the research of around 69,000 who ate non-organic food, 459 had breast cancer, 180 had prostate, 135 had skin cancers, 99 colorectal cancers, 47 Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and 15 other lymphomas. If these people ate organic, around 25 percent of them would not have cancers. Organic foods help with many other diseases as well. They contain lower levels of toxic metals and pesticides. This triggers subtle changes in health problems like ADHD, autism and obesity. Organic foods have up to 69 percent higher concentrations of health-protective antioxidants compared to conventionally grown foods which is why they have such a big impact on so many common diseases.

Organic foods have a huge impact on the environment. Organic foods can help reverse pollution. Organic agriculture creates healthier soil that is naturally rich in bacteria and other organisms. Scientists think that if all farms started using this tactic, then the soil would absorb all the carbon that the world currently emits. A huge part of organic farming is the soil, because soil is the base of ‘organic’. Farmers want a soil that stays healthy, and that is rich in nutrients and organic matter. A soil where farmers don't have to use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, like conventional farming does. Some things farmers use in their soil for organic farming are compost and manure. They rotate their plants and grow lots of different kinds. Despite most people saying organic farming is complete without pesticides, they do use pesticides, but only non-synthetic ones. Organic farming has lots of benefit, but it takes around two years to convert to organic farming. There are lots of registration and certification processes and the land needs to be approved. After the whole process, more jobs are available, more money is made and there are never-ending opportunities given from organic farming.

Organic is more than just produce. Foods like rice, wheat, sugars, oils, tea, and coffee can also all be found organic. Even clothes and products can all be made organic. It is possible to live a completely organic life. Organic is overall a lot more pricey, but the products are often found fresher because they don't have preservatives in them to make them last longer. They are better for the environment because they take less energy, and soil and reduce pollution. They don't use any harmful chemicals to kill bugs. Overall, all of this information makes the price worth it. People do understand that not everyone can afford organic foods so Carolina Sánchez-Hervás, founder of Carolina Sanchez Food & Lifestyle Consulting said “I always recommend to people to just eat more fruits and vegetables and not get so hung up on if it’s organic or not.” “Most people don’t eat enough produce as it is, so by worrying about if it’s organic or not, many people limit themselves even further” So, although eating organic does benefit people in many ways, what’s more important is just eating produce. There are certain foods that it is recommended that people buy organic, but there are also certain foods that it is okay to buy non-organic. Strawberries, greens, apples, grapes, cherries, parches, tomatoes, peppers, nectarines, and potatoes are all worth paying for according to a consumer analyst at Deal news. Most citrus fruits, melons, and avocados are all okay to buy non-organic because they are exposed to fewer pesticides when growing.

Organic foods have so many benefits for everyone. It is best for children and infants to eat organic as they are growing. It has also been said that when fetuses are growing, it benefits the mother and growing child's health. They are most vulnerable to harmful pesticides and can end up with diseases like autism, developmental delays, immune system harm, and motor dysfunction. According to co-author, Charles Benbrook, a sustainability expert at Washington State University "Smart lifestyle choices, like eating organic, are the best way to deal with all the stresses, strains, and pathogens of modern-day life," People have mixed feelings about organic foods, but based on so many tests that have been done, organic foods and products are worth the extra cost and can provide so many opportunities for people. Not only do they benefit those who eat them and the environment, but they also provide lots of jobs and learning opportunities.