Following a primarily raw, plant-based diet is a move in the right direction, but it's only the first step in your journey to optimal health. Have you ever consider buying and consuming only organic foods? Someone who is not familiar with the difference between organic and non-organic products may be confused - does the label make them safer? Are they the more nutritionally dense option? What exactly sets organic and non-organic foods apart?
If you're more interested in learning about the difference between organic and non-organic foods, use this tool as a guide to help you make the right decision:
What Makes Food Organic?
The term "organic" refers to the practice in which an agricultural product is grown and processed. According to the Mayo Clinic, growing plant-based foods organically enriches the soil and water quality, reduces pollution, provides safe livestock habitats and promotes a self-sustaining resource cycle for farmers. Most importantly, it keeps fruits and vegetables as natural and healthful as possible. Instead of using synthetic fertilizers to add nutrients to food, farmers rely on natural matter to reserve and improve soil quality, thus keeping the plants exactly how God created them.
Are Organic Foods Safer?
Because conventionally-grown products are created with chemical fertilizers and weeds and pests are controlled with synthetic pesticides, many see non-organic foods as the more harmful option. As for organic foods, they're grown with natural fertilizers - such as manure and compost - and the weeds and pests are controlled naturally. This method ensures the soil is as natural, nutrient-dense and as free of chemical abuse as possible, which in turn, keeps your fruits, vegetables and whole grains as healthy as can be. Some of the main benefits of organic foods include, according to Helpguide:
- Limited pesticides - Organic foods will not contain harmful chemical residue.
- Optimal freshness - Because foods don't contain preservatives, you can count on choosing the freshest option from your market when it's labeled organic.
- Environmental friendliness - Organic farming conserves water, reduces soil erosion, increases soil fertility and reduces pollution.