Put simply, organic food contains more of the good stuff we need, and less of the bad stuff that we
don't!
Starting with the good stuff, no other food has
higher amounts of beneficial minerals, essential amino acids and vitamins than
organic food. Take organic milk ~ according to research carried out by
scientists in Britain and across Europe, organic milk has nearly 70% more
essential fatty acid omega-3 than its non-organic equivalent. Essential fatty
acids are essential for maintaining normal bodily functions.
Studies have also shown organic milk contains significantly more vitamin E and
beta-carotene, an antioxidant that our body converts to vitamin A. The
scientists say one of the reasons that milk from organic cows is so good is
because they eat a much more natural diet, grazing freely on fresh grass and
clover. In comparison, most non-organic cows eat a more grain-based diet
containing cereals, maize and protein supplements.
We all know the importance of getting our five-a-day, but eating five organic
fruit and vegetables a day is even better. A non-organic apple can be sprayed up
to 16 times with 36 different chemicals, many of which cannot simply be washed
off. The latest Government tests, carried out in 2005, found pesticides in 80%
of non-organic apple samples.
The British Medical Association say that some pesticides can be stored in our
body's fatty tissues for years, raising concern about them being carcinogenic
(cancer causing), mutagenic (causing birth defects) and neurotoxic (damaging to
our nervous system). As organic farmers predominantly use natural methods to
control pests, choosing organic is the best way to avoid pesticides in your
food.
5 easy ways to eat more organic
1.
Join our food club - log on to
www.whyorganic.org, it's free to register and every month there are new
competitions to win organic prizes and discounts from organic retailers and box
schemes in your area.
2. Tell your local school about Food for Life - the Soil
Association's practical programme of how to get more organic, local and
unprocessed food into your schools. For more information contact us on 0117 314
5000 or go to
www.soilassociation.org/foodforlife.
3. Buying direct from the producer is often cheaper and allows you to
ask questions about where your food comes from, and find out how it was grown
and
made - if you are rurally based then find out where your nearest farm shop
is on www.whyorganic.org, if you are an
urban dweller then check out your local farmers market at
www.farmersmarket.net
4. Box schemes are a great way to ensure you get your organic
five-a-day,
www.whyorganic.org has details of
your nearest, and many of them supply you with a wide variety of locally sourced
seasonal fruit and veg along with recipes so that you know how to prepare them.
5. Find out where your food comes from - over 70 Soil Association organic
farms in the UK are open to the public. Go to
www.soilassociation.org/farmvisits to find out more.
Many
of us don't have time to prepare our meals from scratch and rely on convenience
foods like pasta sauces, so it's good to know it can make a difference choosing
organic versions. Under Soil Association organic standards only 32 of the 290
food additives allowed by law are permitted in organic food carrying the Soil
Association symbol. So choosing organic convenience foods means avoiding
controversial additives like aspartame and tartrazine.
The health concerns relating to some additives are well documented, but research
normally focuses on individual additives. Recent research, presented by the Soil
Association, was carried out on combinations of additives that theoretically
reflect compounds entering the blood stream after a typical child's snack and
drink. Alarmingly, the research found the effects were up to four times worse
when additives E133, a blue food coloring, and E621, monosodium glutamate, were
combined than when tested individually. The additives interfered with nerve
signals and stopped nerve cells from growing normally.
So if you want food that contains more of what you need, and less of what you
don't need, isn't it time for you to go organic?
Want to find out more?
Read more
about the facts behind organic food