Jesslyn Metta Tjoa
Study Skills
Title: Organic for Better
People used to consider organic food as a luxury and hence often ask others why do we eat organic food despite the extreme difference in the selling price compared to normal farmed food. An article from Times Magazine states that normal farmed food contains potent pesticides, excessive hormones and even genetically modified to give a greater yield. These artifacts have proven to force the growth of cancer cells. Hence, going organic is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.
Insects are hindrances and often cause headaches to farmers as they harmfully affect the harvest, in terms of both the quantity and quality. Hence they need to spend some cash to exterminate these pests, which is by investing on pesticides. Pesticides are toxic in nature and they can take out the pests in a single spray. However, they will stay on the crops for a long period of time. When the fresh-looking crops are appealing to the eyes of the shoppers, its poison will accumulate in our bodies, as the pesticides are indigestible. When the accumulation grows to a certain limit, our body will deteriorate and the worst-case scenario is die of poisoning. This applies to all living things.
Because of its harmfulness, some pesticides, such as the DDT, have been banned by the US. However, growing organic vegetables is indeed expensive. Therefore, as there are less organic farms, pesticides are still used a lot these days by farmers throughout the world, mostly the less-developed countries.
Organic food is safer to consume. They are free of the synthetic pesticides and growth hormones that can cause cancer or birth defects. Getting exposed to the chemicals used in the conventionally produced food are said to be damaging to the neurological development of children. ‘The harmful pesticides known as Malathion and Chlorpyrifos are widely used in agriculture and said to be damaging to neurological development of children’, stated in an organic food blog. That was the issue of Environmental Health Perspectives published in September 2005. The chemicals were proven to be a negative effect after using urine samples of children.
Some non-organic milk is unsafe. “I went to a naturopathic physician and she told me that nonorganic milk can cause hormonal imbalances in women, and also can lead to other female problems not conducive to pregnancy,” said Charlotte.
Organic products are indeed expensive, they can cost 50% to 100% percent more than normal products. People think that aside from the costly price, organic life doesn’t make much improvement in their health and there are no extra vitamins in organic products. The truth is, proven by the Quality Low Input Food (QLIF), there are ‘higher levels of nutritionally desirable compounds (e.g., vitamins/antioxidants and poly-unsaturated fatty acids such as omega-3 and CLA)’.
Organic products are less appealing compared to the non-organic ones in terms of their appearances. Organic vegetables are commonly smaller that the normal on es. Sometimes there are small holes on the surface. “There are a lot of worms, most of the time, the vegetable contains worms. There was once when I found a leech inside,” said Lily, a mother of two, who has been living in organic life for 5 years.
However, many people still bought organic products despite them being pricey and their less appealing appearance. Why is this? Here are some testimonials regarding how are organic products better:
“Organic vegetables taste sweeter compared to non-organic ones, there are more fibers and it is softer,” said Lily. “Organic vegetables taste better as it is more sweet and fresh”, said Sumarty.
“We drink raw organic milk at $4/gallon. We get it from a local farmer. It is wonderful! Tastes so much better and doesn’t have that nasty smell,” said Marla, “It has also done wonders for my kids asthma and allergies. They actually get sick when they drink regular milk now.”
“When my son was 2 years old he got 3 ear infections in quick succession. I asked a naturopath who helps out at the local health food store for advice. He said to give my son only organic milk, as it’s really the things that are added to milk that create problems. He didn’t have another ear infection for 5 years,” said Jocelyn.
As I said before, going organic is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Staying fit is becoming more and more crucial. Want some tips? Here are some tips from an organic website: Take the process slowly, ‘pick up one or two organic items every time you shop’, ‘don’t feel that you must buy everything organic. Even switching to a few organic regulars makes a difference’.
Aside from being healthy alone, going organic also saves Earth. By putting the end of the usage of toxic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, the air, water and soil will hence become healthier. Why not start going organic, to improve your wellbeing and contribute to Earth.
