Editorial

Know What You Bite: Is Organic Food Better Than Conventional Produced Food?

“Farming is not a way of producing crops to make money. It is a way of living, and a way of living that is possible even in the 21st century.” -G Nammalvar

We humans, put our energy into work to provide us proper food, shelter, and life. It’s a natural instinct to take care of ourselves and doing it effectively will make your life healthy. Our major source of energy is food and what if I say we are eating nothing but starch in the name of food. From shining red tomatoes or the everlasting yellowness of banana, everything has been fed with so much poison in the name of fertilizers and preservatives. Nothing artificial lasts, if we need to focus on long-term benefits organic and natural ways of producing the product are always top-notch. Because it’s all about the quality, not quantity.

The basic misconception of Natural and organic:

When you ask people, what is organic and natural, most of them would reply as they’re somewhat the same. Little did they know that there’s a vast difference between these terms.

When you shop groceries, you might have noticed the label reading as natural; which has really a different meaning than organic produced. Naturally produced products mean it has no added artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It does not refer to the methods or materials used to produce the food ingredients. This clearly states that these are not interchangeable terms.

Here are few ingredients found in everyday foods that can affect our health:

Emulsifiers: are a type of food additive that is used to improve food texture and extend shelf life. It is found commonly in many food products, from bread to ice creams. They can cause gut bacteria which is often associated with Crohn’s disease and also inflammatory bowel diseases.

GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms): in this process, the DNA of raw materials (vegetables, fruits, etc) are altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating or natural recombination.

Additive substances: are used to change the food in some way to make its life lasting for more than its natural expiry. Antibiotics, pesticides, and hormones are also being put into the body when consuming processed foods.

Things to look out for when you shop next time:

Organic labels: you should look for a government certification such as USDA. Moreover, food labeled as organic might not be organic. Do check for these certified labels on organic products.

Organic percentage: You might not be aware of this fact but there are categories of packaged organic foods and they come in 100, 95 and 70 percent organic. White color indicates the percentage categories in-between 100 and 90.

Go local: Shop from the farmer's market, this is the most convenient and easiest way to get fresh, local produce foods. Regardless of their appearance, they are full of nutrition and free of fertilizers.

Organic food is the best for you, and I’m eating the best, a lot of fresh vegetables. I also keep myself hydrated. It’s all made a big difference to my performance in the gym. - Amir Khan

One common concern with organic food is cost. Organic foods typically cost more than their conventional counterparts. Higher prices are due, in part, to more expensive farming practices. Ultimately our health is our top priority and no one would be okay with buying poison just because it cost less than medicine. Adapting to organic means of life will always have positive effects on both us and the environment. Let’s go green!