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Are organic foods better off in terms of nutrition than conventional foods? Organic food seems to be a fad among today’s health conscious generation. Everywhere from health clubs to gyms, the topic of discussion seems to be about whether organic foods are better in terms of nutrition, as compared to conventional foods. The fact that the market for organic foods rose by over 700 percent in just one decade in the US from 1997 is proof of its increasing level of their consumption. Many in the Third World countries too seem to be getting influenced by this trend. What are organic foods? We first need to understand the idea of organic foods. This will help us get a better idea of whether they are actually better in terms of nutrition. Organic foods are those that are produced without the use of chemicals that boost growth unnaturally. They are also generally free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) stipulates two categories of organic foods: those that are 100 percent organic, and those that are 95 percent organic. An agricultural product is organic when it has made use of biological methods rather and synthetic ones that induce artificial growth. Organic foods are thus produced using methods that are more natural and in sync with nature. They are produced making use of substances that do little or no damage to the ecosystem. An agricultural product that is organic helps promote biodiversity and conserve the ecological balance by rejecting harsh methods of cultivation. Appear to be healthy On the face of it; organic foods seem to have good intent and purpose. Foods that are organic appear healthier to their consumers since they do not contain chemical residues, an inevitable byproduct of conventional methods of agriculture. This naturally finds favor among the health-conscious, since the ingestion of many toxins into the body is pre-empted. No clarity yet Yet, one needs to examine whether these foods are any more nutritious than non-organically produced ones. Because organic food has lesser or no toxins; they may be safer. But being safer is not the same as being more nutritious, at least not conclusively. The basis for this fact is that many studies conducted to specifically examine of organic foods are more nutritious as opposed to being safer, have not thrown up clear, scientifically validated data. As of now, it is not absolutely clear if chemicals and pesticides necessarily deprive foods of their nutritional value. Till such a conclusion is reached; consumers should weigh the pros and cons of continuing to eat organic foods. Considerations while buying organic foods: Some of the points they need to consider while switching to organic foods are: High cost: Organic food costs anywhere between twice and 10 times that of nonorganic foods. Consumers have to weigh this factor and make a cost-benefit analysis of its continued use. Availability: Organic foods are not as widely available as nonorganic foods. They are usually sold in designated shops that are far fewer in number compared to regular stores. Low shelf life: It is difficult to keep these foods for long after they have been plucked, because they don’t contain preservatives.
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