Understanding Organics

Food is a major part of our lives. If we are not eating it, we are thinking about it, smelling it, or even just looking at it. Yet, not many people give much thought to how food is produced. Mastering nutrition, however, my main focus is food and how different foods can affect our performance, health, mood and behavior. How food is produced also has an impact - directly and indirectly affecting health and wellness - making it vital that we inform ourselves on farming practices.

Organic farming clearly differs from conventional farming. Still, many people aren't familiar with what organic farming is exactly. So let's get to the root of the subject and look at both the benefits and drawbacks of organic farming.

Organic farming, which originated in the 1940s, prohibits the use of pesticides, unnatural fertilizers, sewage sludge, feed additives, drugs, growth hormones and antibiotics unlike conventional farming which has fewer restrictions.

Soil preservation, a primary concern of organic farmers, can be accomplished through crop rotation, using plants that are nitrogen-fixating, and using manure rather than synthetic fertilizers.

The USDA's National Organic Program originated from the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. The National Organic Program enforces the standards for farmers who want to sell organic agricultural products. This ensures the customer that the product they are buying is truly organic if it contains the "Certified Organic"logo.

Applying the definition of organic food to our daily lives can have many benefits, stemming from healthy soil, which affects the food grown in this soil and thereafter affects our health. The online spring 2008 issue of Pesticide Action Network-North America magazine noted that the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization found organic farming to be less energetically demanding by 200 percent, because less fuel is used and synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are not present.
The absence of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, which damage the nutrients in the soil, in addition to crop rotation keep the soil rich in nutrients.

Research published in 2003 showed that organically grown food had higher levels of micro-nutrients such as Vitamin C, iron, magnesium and phosphorus, although some research has shown the differences are not statistically significant.
In 2006, researchers found organically grown red-oranges also had a higher antioxidant levels than conventionally grown oranges. Again a year later, studies cultivated knowledge that antioxidant capacity flourishes higher in many organically grown fruits and vegetables.

The USDA mandated in 2001 that organic poultry farming must provide poultry with access to the outdoors, which helps increase normal reproduction, exercise,and allows normal behaviors. In fact, just as with the humans who eat them, participation in healthy activity by chickens alleviates some stress, increases immune function and ultimately reduces risk of illness. Similarly, animals that consumed an organic diet had stronger immune systems, lower rates of illness and less mortality. Furthermore, researchers found that animals simply preferred consuming organic food.

While there are many positive aspects to organic farming, there are also some drawbacks associated with the practice.
Organic farming is generally more expensive to produce; therefore, organic food is sold at a higher price to the consumer. The high cost of organic feed, which is pesticide free, is another factor that drives up the retail price of organic milk and organic meats.

Although cost is a major deterrent for many consumers, there are many ways to reduce how much of our budget we, the consumers, spend on organic food, such as buying locally grown produce and foods that are in season, buying from farmers markets, use coupons to shop for deals and cook meals at home.

Another way to cut costs at the grocery store when buying organic products, is to buy the products that are most affected by pesticide residues, hormones, drugs and other chemicals.

Also, eating meat that is free of hormones and antibiotics is better for our bodies.

If your resolution is to live healthier in the New Year, next time you take a trip to the grocery store, resolve to look for two organic foods that are locally grown and two that are not. Take note that those locally grown are probably also in season. It is important to ask whether we are grasping a complete picture of how food, which is an integral part of our lives, truly affects our health-especially when it comes to farming practices. In order to decrease our risk of disease, decrease the toxins we consume and bolster our health, please consider the overwhelming ben- efits of eating organic food in 2012..