Canada
By Alyssa Rimmer, Simply Quinoa
Organic used to be something that I bought because I’ve always heard it’s healthier. It wasn’t something I chose to purchase all the time, but I’d say about 90% of the food I was buying was organic.
But it wasn’t until a few months ago that I really dug into the reasons why organic is better. And it gave me a whole new perspective when I went to the grocery store.
Why choose organic food vs. conventional? Because I’ve realized over the year that organic food is better. Not just better for my own health, but better for our farmers, better for their families and better for our planet.
—Alyssa Rimmer, Simply Quinoa
In October of 2018 I went on a trip to the Salinas Valley in California with Earthbound Farm. I came away with some incredible knowledge and a newfound appreciation for what goes into the food I eat.
And it solidified my desire to eat organic food!
What Does “Organic” Mean?
Organic refers to the way in which agriculture products (produce, meat, dairy, etc.) are grown and processed. Companies that produce, process and sell organic products must adhere to very strict guidelines. Unlike the words “natural” or “non-toxic” or “healthy”, the word “organic” is regulated by the FDA. That means any time that a product says “organic” on the label it follows these strict standards.
Benefits of Organic Food & Farming
There are a huge amount of benefits to organic farming and eating organic food, so I want to just highlight the ones that I feel are most impactful. We’ll talk about the health benefits of organic food, but also touch on how organic farming impacts the farmers, their communities and our planet.
These are just some of the reasons why to choose organic produce over conventional:
1. Organic Food Is Better for Our Health
There have been multiple studies done to determine if organic food is healthier for you and the answer is YES. In addition to you not consuming any of those harmful and toxic substances as I mentioned above (pesticides, synthetic hormones, artificial colors, and preservatives, etc.), organic food has also been found to have:
- 69% higher levels of antioxidants in fruits and vegetables
- 50% higher levels of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids in meat and dairy
- 48% lower levels of the toxic metal cadmium
Conventional crops contain 4X more pesticide residue than organic. So here’s my recommendation: do whatever you can to buy organic.
While I know it’s not always possible, it’s getting easier and more accessible. So if you have the option, try to purchase organic so you can support your own health and the health of everyone else on this planet.
See Alyssa’s full blog post with her 5 Reasons to choose organic here »
