Healthful High Performance
Catherine Lai
High Performance Health Advisor & Social ESG Consultant - Creating energised, healthy, and dynamic workplace cultures
Should you eat organic? ?
Organic food has always been more expensive than conventional food. Moreover, the last few months have seen prices skyrocket, along with our overall living costs. So with less money to spend on food, is organic food worth the expense?
?What are the benefits of organic food?
There are many good reasons to reach for organic products. Health, sustainability, animal welfare, and the wish to support organic farming are part of our decision process.
Organic food and animal feed are grown without synthetic pesticides and herbicides, resulting in less chemical residue on the finished product.
It’s worth understanding that the chemical industry started developing agricultural chemicals after WWII to increase yields and resist pests and harsh weather conditions. They were used liberally for decades and were successful in their original intention. Gradually it became apparent that they can also harm human and animal health. Worse, they are persistent, i.e., virtually indestructible, and may pollute our soils for centuries to come. ?
Over time, some of the offending chemicals were banned in the US, the EU, and the UK, with Australia lagging and still allowing an alarming range of toxic substances (1). Whilst these persistent chemicals cannot be eradicated entirely from the environment, organic farming stops their use, reducing future pollution. The resulting produce and meat contain fewer harmful chemicals than conventional food. This is one reason why organic food is considered healthier. ?
Also, organically grown food is more likely to grow to full ripeness on the tree or in the field, particularly if it is destined for local shops rather than shipped worldwide. That way, it has more time to accumulate and develop nutrients – vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients – that contribute to the nutritional value of the end product. ?
Animals raised to produce organic meat, dairy or eggs must be fed organic animal feed. Their welfare has a much higher priority than conventional farming, resulting in more space for the animal to move around, more time spent outdoors and straw-covered surfaces rather than bare concrete or wire mesh to stand or lie on. The grass is the food cows evolved to eat, resulting in healthier animals and, consequently, more beneficial animal products. For example, unlike the grains or soya that conventional cattle are fed on, grass and herbs have a higher omega-3 content, affecting the fatty acid composition of the resulting meat and dairy products. ?
More and more people want to act responsibly for their nutrition, better taste, animal welfare, and the environment. They want a sustainable food system, and those who buy organic products support the goal of organic farming to create closed cycles between animals, humans and plants. But this comes at a price that is harder and harder to afford.
?Why is organic food more expensive?
Agricultural chemicals were once introduced to increase yields – which they did. Consequently, organic farming does not result in the same amount of food for the same or increased effort.
Natural pest control can be time-consuming. Ideally, you can group plants to protect each other, but sometimes organic farmers have to pluck pests off their plants or get down on the ground to pull weeds. Allowing indoor and outdoor space for the animals also reduces the number of animals a farm can raise.?
Also, unlike many mass-produced, cheap kinds of cheese, organic cheese has been given time to ripen and develop flavour. Organic sourdough bread is allowed to ferment and rise naturally rather than sped up with artificial rising agents. ?
So, all that effort, space and time put into producing organic food and the reduced yield that goes with that are, of course, reflected in the price but also in the flavour and nutritional value of the resulting food products. ?
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Top Tips for those on a budget…
Our conventional food is polluted to varying degrees. Hardy plants have effective self-defence, such as onions, carrots, beetroot, parsley, chicory and more. The phytonutrients they produce protect them from pests (and are also very beneficial for us). Consequently, such plants can be left to their own devices and allowed to grow without chemical interference. However, soft and delicate fruits and vegetables easily fall prey to pests: potatoes, berries, apples, and spinach are among the most sprayed foods, so these should be prioritised as organic purchases (don’t forget that leafy greens are easy to grow at home). ?
In the US, the Environmental Working Group publishes the “Dirty Dozen” (most polluted fruit and veg) and “Clean 15” (least polluted) to help customers prioritise their purchases. Whilst the laws on pesticide use vary significantly between countries, it is still a helpful guide. (Links: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php )?
*As a minimum, I would recommend reducing chemical residues by soaking the ‘Dirty Dozen’ in white vinegar and water for 20 mins before you refrigerate them
?Remember that the unhealthiest foods on the planet right now are ultra-processed industrial products. They are high in sugar, unhealthy fats and salt while being completely devoid of nutrients. Only the most cheaply produced agricultural products go into them, and animal welfare or the protection of the environment is not on the agenda.?
If you shun junk foods for the benefit of home-cooked meals and snacks from conventionally produced ingredients, you have already made a big step towards good health.
Also, not all food without the “organic” label is doused in chemicals. Many farmers grow their fruit and veg and sustainably raise their animals. It could be that pesticides and herbicides are used on a neighbouring farm or have been used on their property in the past, preventing them from obtaining the classification as organic, or the process of getting accredited is just too lengthy and expensive. As a result, their pricing is often lower, so It is worth checking out the farm shops and farmers’ markets in your area. Ask questions, read websites, and learn more about the food grown where you live. It might be just as good as organic.
Buying local and seasonal food also means that you will get fruit and vegetables that are still fresh by the time they reach your table, and it cuts the carbon footprint of your purchases. It’s worth considering that you may not need some of the pesticide-laden foods that you regularly buy. Grains are staples in the Western diet. Bread, pasta and rice grace our tables several times a day, so purchasing all that in organic quality can quickly add up to a high food bill. And yet, we don’t really need these foods at all. Such starchy carbohydrate foods mess with our blood sugar levels and are known to contribute to overweight and obesity. They are at the heart of type II diabetes, and many scientists consider them addictive. At the same time, starchy foods do not contain any nutrients we couldn’t get elsewhere. A diet of vegetables, low-sugar fruit, nuts, seeds, meat, fish, dairy and eggs provides everything we need. So, if you reduce your intake of bread, rice, pasta and baked goods, buying only organic – if any – your health will feel the benefits.
?All in all, it’s worth remembering that the nutritional content of our food is fundamental to our health and, therefore, our happiness. Buying organic food is an investment in our good health, animal welfare and the health of the planet.
For those of us on a budget, there is still a lot we can do to protect our health by choosing wisely and taking an interest in how, where and by whom our food is produced. I highly recommend cooking from scratch and ensuring that you prioritise and select your foods wisely.?
Because life should feel amazing!
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Recommended Reading?
James Fergusson – The Vitamin Murders
Joanna Blythman – What to eat?
Owner at Mogo Moringa LLC
2 年Well Said, We can prevent exposure to our crop by having Sesbania as crop in the border, serve as an extra layer to prevent any cross pesticide contamination.
? Founder | Organic Food Entrepreneur | Moringa & Superfoods Expert
2 年We can't practice Organic farming methods for couple of crops like Grapes, Cardamom,Cashew. The land where we produce organic food need to be in isolated area to protect from chemical residue and better pest management.