No chemicals
Organic food is free of chemicals such as pesticide residues, artificial colourings, preservatives, flavourings, trans-fats, enhancers, stabilizers, fillers, sweeteners and other food additives that could have cumulative health effects.
Healthier Kids
Feeding our kids with organic food will significantly reduce their exposure to pesticide residues. Infants and children are more susceptible to the effects of chemicals due to their larger intake of food per kilo of body weight, narrower range of food consumed, increased intake of fruit and vegetable, and the reduced ability of their developing vital organs in eliminating toxins.
No Antibiotics, Hormones or Pathogens
Organic farming does not allow livestock to be routinely given antibiotics or feeds that contain animal by-products which could have been contaminated with pathogens. Organic livestock have lower levels of pathogens due to high animal welfare standards. If you are eating organic meat, you are much less likely to be eating food that contains antibiotic residues or pathogens.
Better Nutrition
Organic farming produces healthier plants as they are grown on nutrient rich soil, which in turn produce healthier foods that give our bodies the nourishment to function at an optimum level. In contrast, the use of synthetic fertilisation of soil, early picking, over-processing and extended storage of food in conventional farming depletes their nutritional value.
No Genetic Modification
The only way to be sure you are not eating genetically modified food is to buy certified organic food. Genetically modified food has not been independently tested for their long term effects on our health.
No Irradiation
Organic food cannot be irradiated. Irradiation causes changes to both macro and micronutrients in foods and creates free radicals. These free radicals can combine with existing chemicals such as pesticide residues in food to form new chemicals called unique radiolytic products. There are limited scientific studies on the long term effects of these new chemicals, especially on babies and children.
Better Taste
Higher soil nutrients, healthier plants grown in season, fewer early pickings, reduced time in storage, lack of over-processing, higher natural sugar content and happier animals raised in a natural environment, all contribute to a better quality and flavour in organic food.
Safer Home
By choosing organic, you will live in a safer home where indoor pollution and toxic chemicals play little part in your daily life. The garden will be a safer place for your children and pets to play in.
Better Future
Buying organic products increases the demand which in turn, encourages farmers and food processors to produce more organic products. This will make organic products more readily available, less expensive and therefore more affordable to all. Increasing demand will also lead to the reversal of conventional farming practices and the harmful effects they are having on our health and environment.
Healthier Ecosystems
Organic farming practices reduce the amount of toxic chemicals used and help to eliminate chemical leaching, thus protecting and conserving our environment and water resources. Organic farmers also create healthier habitats for native animals which in turn, help to promote the re-establishment and balance of the native ecosystems that have been lost through decades of conventional farming practices.
Sustainable Future
Organic farming practices are considered to be highly sustainable and are based on the principal of building and nurturing the natural biodiversity and structure within the soils and the surrounding environment.
Biodiversity
Conventional farming is about killing everything that poses a threat to the maximum yield of the crop being produced. Organic farming is about preserving and nurturing life and promoting diversity within the environment. It encourages natural biodiversity and preservation of the natural genetic variety of plants, insects and animal species.
Animal Welfare
Organic livestock practices are more humane and allow livestock to grow in a natural environment with free access to fields or outdoor areas, natural bedding and plenty of indoor areas. They are not mutilated, confined or caged. They graze on organic pasture and are fed organic feedstuff that has not been contaminated with chemicals, animal by-products or genetically modified foods.
Farmer Wellbeing
Conventional farmers and their families are exposed to toxic chemicals and pesticides. In this world of chemical-driven mass agricultural production, organic farming is a survival means for small, independently owned family farms. Every time you purchase organic food, you are investing in the future of our country, and its hard working and caring farmers and their families.
This is a future we can ill afford not to invest in and we have the power in our own hands every single day of our lives to make this difference. If it is one thing we actively and positively do every day of our lives, it can be this simple act of asking for and purchasing organic products.
Source: www.gardening101.net