You might pay a few pence more, or in some cases, upwards of 50 percent more for organic foods, but are they healthier?
Experts continue to debate over the extent, but the consensus, is that yes, organic foods generally are better for you. Here at Myvitamins, we investigate why…
What makes a food organic?
Organic foods are generally foods which contain no artificial substances. With meat and dairy, that means the food comes from animals which were not fed on antibiotics or other hormones. For fruits and vegetables, organic means they’ve been grown without the use of chemical pesticides.
Why would producers use hormones and pesticides?
Pick up almost any random packet in the supermarket, and you’ll find some sort of E number, or other preservative. Manufacturers include them to both extend the product’s shelf life, and ensure consistency. It’s the same deal with hormones and pesticides. When producing food en masse, consistency is key. On a very large scale, regulating and protecting the consistency of crops and even animals, means you can walk into any supermarket in the country, and find apples, milk and eggs, that look the same as they do 200 miles away. The price for this, is potentially harmful chemicals and hormones, being introduced into your body.
Organic food doesn’t use chemicals or hormones to regulate consistency, which is why organic food often looks different to non-organic food. It’s why it even looks different compared to itself. A pack of organic apples might be slightly different shapes, sizes and colours, because the growing process was interfered with less.
Why is it more expensive?
Because organic food isn’t ‘protected’ by pesticides or hormones, it’s more labour-intensive. There’s also more potential for wastage, and in some ways, it’s riskier for producers (financially) when producing things in large quantities. That’s why it’s usually more expensive to buy organic.
Does it taste better?
That depends on your own preferences, and to some extent, what you choose to believe. Some people say that because organic food is unhindered by chemicals, that it tastes better. Others believe that if you think it tastes better, then it will.
So, is organic healthier?
In short, yes, it is. Organic food tends to have more nutrients and more antioxidants than non-organic food. It might cost a bit more, but for peace of mind, and a more nutritional plate, it usually does pay to go organic — in our opinion.
