Earth Day 2012: 10 Reasons Why you should choose Organic

The term ‘organic’ simple means foods that have not been exposed to pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, hormones, fertilizers and other harmful chemicals during their growing stages. More organic food in the diet means less toxins in our soil, air and water and less toxic material entering the body, therefore less work your body has to do to get rid of it and less damage to your body.

Choosing local reduces carbon emissions from planes, trains and automobiles and supports your local farmers. When these non-local foods ride in trucks for a few days they lose some of their nutritional quality and taste. You should also keep in mind that local produce for instance is harvested at its peak whereas non-local is picked when it’s not even fully ripe. This ensures the produce will not rot on its way to the supermarket.

Top 10 Reasons to Eat Organic

 

Healthier

Organic food contains higher levels of vitamin C and essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and chromium as well as cancer-fighting antioxidants.

Contains more nutrients

Organic farming practices create higher-quality soil that produces more nutritious crops. Organically grown crops are more nutrient dense and contain more antioxidants.

GMO free

Eighteen percent of all genetically-modified seeds are engineered to produce their own pesticides. Research shows that these seeds may continue producing pesticides inside your body once you’ve eaten the food grown from them! Organic certification standards prohibit the use of genetically modified organisms.

Tastes better

Organic farming starts with the nutrients of the soil which eventually leads to the nourishment of the plant and ultimately our palates.

Organic farming works in harmony with nature.

Britain's Soil Association reported that organic farms have five times as many wild plants with 57% more species, 44% more birds and twice as many butterflies as non-organic farms.

 

Organic farming is better for the soil.

Organic farming techniques help to build soil on an ongoing basis thereby preventing topsoil erosion and organic soil contains up to twice as many beneficial microbes, earthworms and insects as non-organic soil.

Organic farming can feed more people.

A 2002 Greenpeace report showed that organic farms in Ethiopia produced 3-5 times more food than non-organic farms; corn production increased by 20–250% on Brazilian organic farms and in Peru organic crop yields increased by 150%.

Certified organic food carries a guarantee

Any food product that bears an organic certification label is your guarantee that it has been grown and handled according to strict organic production standards and that absolutely no toxic chemicals have been used.

Organic farming is climate-friendly

Studies have shown that organic soil stores up to 33% more carbon than non-organic soil, which directly helps in the fight against global warming.

Organic foods are supportive of growing children’s brains and bodies 
Children’s growing brains and bodies are far more susceptible to toxins than adults. Choosing organic helps feed their bodies without the exposure to pesticides and genetically-modified organisms, both of which have a relatively short history of use (and therefore safety).

The Dirty Dozen: Top 12 Most Heavily Sprayed Crops

FDA and USDA research shows high levels of pesticide and chemical contamination in these common foods:

1) Beef, Pork and Poultry

2) Meat, Cheese and Butter

3) Strawberries, Raspberries  and Cherries

4) Apples and Pears

5) Tomatoes

6) Potatoes

7) Spinach and other greens

8) Coffee

9)  Peaches and Nectarines

10)  Grapes

11) Celery

12) Red and Green Bell Peppers