Why Buy Organic

I didn’t always buy organic. In fact, I thought people that bought organic were foo foos. Well, after doing a little bit of research, I found that commercial farming was disgusting. I have just become a new mother, and let me tell you, my little baby is going to eat nothing but organic. If you aren’t already aware of why organic products are the way to go… please read this article, and you may also convert to the organic lifestyle as well.

Organic products have been produced due to the growing concern for food quality. Organic means grown or raised without toxic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, synthetic fertilizer, hormones, antibiotics, genetically modified ingredients, or irradiation. Thus, no artificial or chemical measures can be used during the growing process.

Today, the USDA regulates the organic food industry (the product must have the USDA organic food label for assurance). Here is the standard protocol for a certified organic product.

• The farm must be free from toxic synthetic pesticides and fertilizers for three years before a certified organic product can be grown.
• Sewage sludge is prohibited in the production of organic foods because of the toxic chemicals and heavy metals (yes, it is widely used by nonorganic farms in the growing process).
• Proper animal care and manure composting techniques are mandatory and require a waiting period between the application of raw manure and the harvest of any organic crops .
• Irradiation that is used to kill microorganisms is banned.
• All animals must be raised without the use of antibiotics, hormones, and are raised in a humane manner (free to roam and have comfortable resting areas).

After reading how organic food products are grown, do you wonder how most commercial products are grown? The honest truth is that you really don’t want to know. Commercial farmers are not worried about producing a healthy crop, they are more concerned about producing the most amount of something in the shortest duration. I refuse to believe that commercial farmers are purposely producing products that are unhealthy for the nation. I blame it on a lack of education or even the believe that they are producing a cheaper product for the consumer. Unfortunately, the reality is that they are hurting the environment and they are hurting their consumers.

Everything that is used to grow a product ends up in your body when it is consumed. Organic products shouldn’t leave room for concern; where as commercial products are controversial. The pesticides and synthetic fertilizers used in commercial farming cannot be rinsed off in the sink, they are often absorbed into the flesh of the product, and no amount of scrubbing is going to help. Also, commercially raised animals raise cause for concern. Their living quarters are breeding beds for disease so they must be fed antibiotics… and at the same time they are pumped full of hormones to either make bigger beasts or in the case to cows, produce more milk. Consuming commercial meats only promises the entry of unwanted antibiotics and hormones into your system.

Here’s the problem. Even though many people believe in purchasing organic foods, they often don’t due to the higher costs, or even lack of convenience to find. Here’s what I have to say about the matter. BUY ORGANIC AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE! Support your organic farmers. You are paying for your health. You may not be able to see the benefits today, but you will thank yourself tomorrow.