Organic foods refer to the ways adopted for cleaner foods without pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, and the use of manure and natural ways to prevent pests, diseases and a way for organically raised meat animals to have access to green pastures. What we put in our bodies can have a major impact on both our emotional and mental health. Organic food always have more nutrients and antioxidants than the conventionally- grown foods. As conventionally grown foods have chemicals and/or preservatives that lessen the nutrients in them.
The overall difference between Organic and Conventional Foods are as follows:
- Organic Foods are usually fresh with no preservatives that can keep them on the shelf for longer times. Smaller farms or organically certified farms produce organic foods.
- Organic foods do not contain chemicals like fungicides, herbicides and insecticides which are used in conventional farming. And when we eat conventional farmed foods, then we also eat these chemicals that are in these foods.
- Organic meats are more nutrient rich, where studies have shown that organic meats and milk have 50% more Omega-3 fatty acids than conventional meats and milk.
- Organic meat animals are not given antibiotics or growth hormones. Also, they are not fed animal by-products which can eventually increase the risk of diseases like Mad Cow Disease and other risks include antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.
- Organically raised farm animals are given more area or space to move around, especially outdoors. This keeps them healthy and hence produces meat that is healthy.
- Farming organically uses no chemicals like pesticides. Hence, they help reduce pollution, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, use less energy and conserve water.
- Organic Food is GMO Free. This means that Genetically Modified Organisms whose DNA has been altered in order to be produced in a certain way and/or be resistant to pesticides are not a part of organic farming.