4 Smart Reasons to Eat Organic

Here’s why “organic” doesn’t necessarily mean “healthy,” and how to make smarter food choices in general when shopping organic to get the full benefits.

These days, just about everything seems to have an “organic” version. But just because it’s organic, does that mean it’s a healthy food?  Not necessarily.

Just as “gluten-free” or “Vegan” doesn’t make a food good for you, neither does the organic label. Soda pop is still death in a bottle, organic or not. Organic chips fried in trans-fats are still junk food. And an organic candy bar will still skyrocket your blood sugar.

However, organic food does have some healthy benefits over their industrially-farmed chemical-laced counterparts. Just be sure you are making smart food choices in general, and not buying whatever unhealthy foods you want, and thinking that being “organic” makes them healthy!

When shopping for any type of food, look at its inherent healthfulness first. Does it contain healthy vitamins and antioxidants? Will it provide other valuable nutrients? Does it contain ingredients that may have harmful effects on your health? (E.g. trans-fats, sugar, etc.)

Once you have determined that a particular food will help you meet your health goals, choosing organic can make it even better for you.

Here are 4 reasons to eat organically grown/raised foods instead of conventional:

1. Nutritional Value

Some studies have shown that organic foods contain 19 – 69 % higher amounts of antioxidants than their conventional counterparts. This makes perfect sense since they haven’t been treated with or protected by any pesticides or herbicides and, therefore, need to be much more resilient. This is the exact feature that helps our bodies become more resilient as well and fight off disease!

2. Taste

This is of course a subjective matter, but it goes to show that more and more gourmet chefs start to choose organic because of the superior taste and quality. And many customers agree! One of the top reasons for buying organic is the perceived better taste. This is especially true for produce that was derived from local farms close to where it’s sold – so it has had the chance to ripen properly and reveal its full flavor.

3. Chemical exposure

When you minimize the intake of disease-causing pesticides, you can do your health a great favor. The chemicals we’re exposed to when consuming conventional food are linked to headaches, nausea, even cancer and nerve damage! Even though we might not be able to avoid all toxins that surround us, we can at least look out for those that are obvious and easy to get rid of….

4. Sustainability

Organic farming aims to reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy. This means it’s far better for the environment and can produce healthier food for a longer time without depleting the soil. Since no artificial pesticides are used, this technique is also better for all animals as well as humans living nearby or even working on the farms.
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Even if you’re on a tight budget, you can improve your diet and decrease your chemical exposure by opting for organic foods when it comes to apples, potatoes, spinach, or tomatoes. Some other produce isn’t as contaminated, like avocado, cauliflower, mangoes, or onions. (See this blog post for more details.)

Read more at http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/4-reasons-start-buying-organic/#ZupliAfOe8pCyKdF.99