Introduction
It is worth paying extra for organic food because it tastes better, it’s more nutritious and it’s better for your health, the environment and animals but comparatively it seems a luxury thing to a lot of people. More people tend to buy organic product as they don’t see organic food as a luxury purchase since they know conventional food is not healthy, therefore they are willing to pay more to buy organic products.
Here are a few points which shows organic food is worth paying extra for.
1. Organic food tastes better than conventional food: Conventional farms use the chemicals in the soil, making a number of produce draw more water out of the soil and become diluted in the process. Therefore tomatoes have less flavour, organic tomatoes taste just like tomatoes but sweeter.Organic food has a longer shelf life and better storability than conventional food. This is because organic food has a higher level of antioxidant which helps to preserve the integrity of cells and natural antibiotic and lower nitrates which affect the food spoilage. Therefore both affect the taste. Most organic farms are small operations and sell products locally, therefore the food will be fresh and taste better without the preservation added on as conventional food is.
2. More nutrients and safer : The result of The Integrated Project QualityLowInput Food research in 2009 showed that organic fruit and vegetable have 40 per cent more antioxidants and milk 60 per cent more antioxidants than non-organic. The research also pointed out that organic food is not only more nutrition but also more safer, hygienic, and free of chemical and artificial ingredients.
3. Less toxic: Organic products have less pesticide which contains neurotoxins and organophosphates. The former could damage brain and nerve cells. The latter was developed as a toxic weapon during World War I. Both now are adapted to kill pests on food. Conventional farming uses pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers in the soil. These ingredients either destroy the goodness of soil or pesticide residue on food. When we eat these food, the toxins would stay in our body, may develop long term illness! To enable to keep products looking fresh and nice, conventional farms tend to put the preservation into the products and packaging to preserve the products life.
4. Keep earth environment and earth healthy and clean: Organic farms are using crop rotation, green manure and the fertilizers to maintain the soil health and preserve the natural habitats. Conventional farming uses mass chemical fertilizers to produce cheaper products which destroy the fertility of land. And also chemical fertilizers and pesticides run into lake, rivers and streams, destroying the natural habitats and polluting the environment. Plus the workers who work on the conventional farms have a greater health risk working on the conventional farm.
5. Benefit for animals and for our health: Grass fed animals are better for animals and our health. Organic farms do not use antibiotic or hormones on their animals. Animals live freely in the outdoor, feeding on natural diet. They produce more nutrient food. The animals on the conventional farms are often kept in crowded and filthy places eg, chicken farms. Conventional farms use antibiotics and hormones to make their animals grow faster and fatter. The animals store these chemicals in their bodies. When we eat these meats, we don’t know these chemicals are store in our body. Intensive indoor systems have 2 or 3 times higher Salmonella level and therefore pose a greater risk of diseases transferring into the human food chain.
Conclusion
Overall, I think it is worth to pay a bit extra to get the better taste, more nutritious food. It is a good impact on environment and animals. Conventional farms produce cheaper and unhealthy products to make profit but we have a choice to buy the healthy products. Organic food is better for the planet and it is also better for us.
