SHOULD YOU GO ORGANIC

That is the question many have raised in recent years and more and more you will find organically grown/raised products at your local supermarket. An even bigger question is what exactly is organic? What does it mean?

Organically grown fruits and vegetables means that the land has not been treated with herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers for a period of at least three years and the produce is not subjected to harmful toxins. It means the produce you buy is unprocessed or very little process has taken place. Studies have shown that nutritional qualities is based on how the produce is grown; without the chemicals, the soil is more nutrient rich leading to more nutritious products. When they are not treated, they become more robust and capable of fighting off disease and these components are passed on to you.

For non-organic meat and eggs, it means the animals are given hormones for quicker growth and faster yield. They are given antibiotics to prevent disease. Again, these chemicals are passed on to you, the consumer. It has been found that these antibiotically-charged products have led to our immunity to antibiotics. Animals that are given treated grain can store these chemicals in their fat cells. When you consume animal fat, you are consuming these chemicals. When buying lean meat, you lower that risk but the risk is still there.

With organically produced milk, the animals are kept in a more confined area that is kept chemical-free and their feed is a key element. No chemicals for them means no chemicals for you.

So when asking yourself if you should go organic, think about what the product has been treated with and if you want to be treated with the same and remember, the more you receive these harmful additives, the more you will require them. Become chemical-free and take the plunge, go organic, you will be glad you did.