What is organic food and what benefits does it bring?
Have you ever wondered if the so-called organic food is really healthy, or if it is worth buying directly from the farmer, or in places that are not the big chains that offer hyper-processed products?
In this article you will learn much more about this type of diet and its health benefits.
What does it mean that the food is organic?
Organic foods are those that respect the production chain in an ecological and friendly way with the environment and the health of the people who work for it and the consumers. When we buy organic food, has been produced, processed, prepared, packaged and transported without the use of chemicals, pesticides, artificial fertilizers, polluting packaging, harm to people or animals.
In addition, all processes require certifications, granted by community, municipal, regional, national and international organizations.
What must a food meet to be considered organic?
Ecological or organic foods, depending on the country, must comply with the following basic aspects:
Producers must respect quality standards
Detail the processes of how food is grown, harvested, processed, stored, and transported. This includes the substances that are used to cultivate the land where the food originates, and to preserve it once it is prepared.
Obtain certification from a certifying agent
This ensures that all regulations in the standards are met. It involves inspection of the operation’s facilities, soil analysis, use of equipment, testing of water systems and more, depending on the type of food to be produced.
The certifying agent evaluates if the inspection provides the expected results and the required quality levels. If this is so, organic status is granted. Then, each year an inspection is carried out to ensure that the regulations continue to be met, before renewal.
The benefits of organic food
You do not consume pesticide residues
When I buy non-organic products, I know that they are used to control pests and insects, although many of them are also harmful to health. Despite its treatment, residues always remain.
Organic products use natural products, which guarantees that no harmful chemicals will reach your body.
Always fresh food
Thanks to its condition of not using chemical products for conservation, organic food is always fresh. That is why the best option is to resort to local markets, in organic food store, online stores of organic products, or buy directly from the farmer.
Environmentally friendly farms
The type of agricultural processes used by organic food products reduces the use of water, controls soil erosion, increasing its fertility, consumes less energy and does not use pesticides that can affect the environment, both other plants and animals and humans.
They are not transgenic foods
No genetically modified organisms are used in any of the organic fruit and vegetable production processes.
Higher amount of antioxidants and nutrients
This is ideal for good health, improving the positive impact on heart care, vision, premature aging and cognitive functions.
Now that you have a better understanding of the types of food available, modify your shopping list for one that is much healthier and friendlier to your own body and the environment.
By consuming organic products you will not only change your diet and your physical health, but you will also contribute to caring for the environment. A more responsible consumption with the social and natural environment with a view to a healthier and more balanced future.
Organic foods are those that have developed all their growth stages in nature without artificial intervention, taking advantage of natural conditions for their development without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. When we talk about livestock production, organic production raises the animals in pollution-free areas, with organic food and without the intervention of growth hormones.
Organic products are usually more expensive than conventional ones because their production is normally on a reduced scale and production times are longer, since they do not use fertilizers or growth accelerators. In addition, these foods follow the economic chain of supply and demand, so low production raises their cost.
Organic products are more nutritious: They contain higher proportions of vitamins, proteins, antioxidants, natural sugars and minerals than conventional products. They have better flavor, color and aroma: Since the methods used in their production are natural and do not alter their nutritional quality, which allows rediscovering the true taste of unaltered foods.
They are healthier: because they are free of toxic residues from chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers or synthetic additives. They protect the health of the consumer and the farmer.
They help maintain the biochemical balance of our body: Because they do not contain traces of anabolics or hormones.
More energy: The procedures used by traditional agriculture consume enormous amounts of energy. Organic agriculture is based on the practice of intensive manual labor.
They rescue and promote biodiversity: Because the production methods used do not generate ecological problems. A shared social responsibility from the producer to the consumer.
Agroecological foods do not have a negative impact on our metabolism because, as they do not have synthetic traces, they are better assimilated. In addition, they have more nutrients, thanks to the use of natural fertilizers, with more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants; and a higher quality in carbohydrates and proteins, in the case of meat.
For this reason, organic foods are healthier, since they mostly help strengthen the immune system, improve sleep quality and reduce the chances of developing diseases.
By consuming organic products you will not only change your diet and your physical health, but you will also contribute to caring for the environment. A more responsible consumption with the social and natural environment with a view to a healthier and more balanced future.
Organic foods are those that are made without the use of chemical substances such as pesticides or herbicides at the time of planting and cultivation and that, in addition, have not been genetically modified.
In the case of meat and fish, they are those that come from animals that have been fed organic food. On the other hand, the organic production system uses agricultural methods that respect nature and the environment.