General Information about Organic Food (Part I)
The quality of food, in terms of the nutrients it contain, forms the basis for a healthy living and it is mainly for this vital reason that organic food is gaining popularity these days. Even in the human history, the type of agricultural practice was highly organic, but with the advent of synthetic chemicals in the modern era, there had been a gradual decrease in the popularity of these foods.
Organic food usually refers to the food that is being produced without the use of agricultural pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers that are conventionally being used for crop growth. Their processing does not involve the use of additives or preservatives. It is therefore, by far, one of the best ways to adopt a healthy diet schedule. A non-organic fruit, on an average, contains more than twenty pesticides.
The organic foods get certification only, when they meet certain legal standards set in the respective countries, where they are being sold. This makes it mandatory for the products to be grown or manufactured according to the said standards. The chemicals and pesticides that are permissible to be used in the production of organic foods are also being prescribed by these set standards.
The concept of organic farming practices helps to conserve soil and water. These farms do not take in or release harmful pesticides, which may get into water and thereby cause a threat to the aquatic life. The practice also effectively contributes in controlling air pollution and soil contamination, hence maintaining the proper life of the soil. The waste production is comparatively lesser. Thus, in a nutshell, it can be said that it helps in preserving the ecosystem.
The taste of these foods is much better than that of the non-organic food. These fruits and vegetables are absolutely juice and full of flavor. Thus, they do not always need to be cooked and can be easily eaten raw. More nutrients can be retained if a food is consumed in raw state.
Choosing an organic food is also the most practical method of avoiding the consumption of the genetically modified (GM) food. The genetically modified food is the ones derived from the genetically modified organisms. The DNA structure of these organisms is genetically engineered to cause modifications so that it can be utilized for the betterment of soil. These crops lead to certain health problems in human beings which include the development of harmful micro-organisms which build up a resistance against antibiotics.
The regular intensive farming method often tends to degrade the farmer’s health conditions, posing a greater risk of respiratory problems and other major farm diseases. This has been observed in developing countries, especially in the agrochemical farms. Thus, it again indicates that organic food consumption should be encouraged.
Though the organic food has some disadvantages, still a continuous research is going on all over the world to improve the ability to produce organic food, which could be easily affordable for all strata of society so that its disadvantages do not overcome the advantages.
