The many benefits of organic foods.
A wise man once said that you should never judge a book by its cover. This advice finds relevance in almost all areas of our life but nowhere does it hold more true than when it concerns the food we eat.
Most supermarkets present consumers with a riot of colour and fancy packaging. Rows of shelves flash attractive, juicy and colourful vegetables and fruit, while shiny bottled condiments battle for supremacy with tinned produce.
However attractive processed food may look, it's not always the best option. Processed food has an army of preservatives, additives, flavourings and colours that make the food more appealing. More than 300 synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers are used in conventional farming, which is the primary source of fruits and vegetables. Modern practices in the meat and poultry industry involve the use of growth promoters and antibiotics. Experts are still debating the impact a cocktail of these pesticides and chemicals could have on our health.
To be fair, it's not that consumers aren't aware of the benefits of eating a 'balanced diet,' it's just that we need to consider the fact that the nutritional quality of our food is affected by the way crops are grown or animals are reared. We also need to worry about how all of this affects the environment as well. A simple way to avoid pesticide residue in your food is to go organic.
"Organic food is produced according to a set of standards that disallows the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides. The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and irradiation is also prohibited. Processed organic food doesn't have tranfats and synthetic additives, colourings and flavourings," says Nils El- Accad, Founder and CEO, Organic Foods and Café in Dubai.
The use of antibiotics and growth promoters are also prohibited in organic beef, dairy products and poultry. Produce and dairy products, poultry or meat must be certified to be sold as organic. Requirements include stringent production standards for growing, storage, processing, packaging and shipping. Producers of organic food and other agricultural products, farmers, food processors, retailers and restaurants can be certified as organic.
The certification, though, doesn't mean much for consumers who aren't aware of the benefits that organic food provides. Belinda Rennie, a Dubai-based nutritionist, says, "Today we are bombarded by toxicity through water, food and air. This puts immense pressure on our systems. We need to detoxify our systems and switching to an organic diet is a good way to start."
Rennie says that studies have found that organic food has a higher concentration of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, beta-carotene and selenium. "It even tastes better because the fruit or vegetable is allowed to ripen naturally before it is plucked compared to conventionally grown produce, which is often plucked before it fully ripens, as it has to survive the long journey from the farm to the point of sale."
Rennie says that organically grown produce also has a higher level of antioxidants. "This happens because when a plant is allowed to grow naturally, it develops a strong immune system to protect itself against pests and insects and competing plant species. It produces phytonutrients, which act as a natural safeguard against these elements. These compounds are also antioxidants. With the high use of pesticides and herbicides on conventionally grown plants, it takes away the need for plants to create their own defence mechanisms."
This, according to Accad, also makes the plant weak and susceptible to bugs and weeds. Thus, arises the need for more pesticides, which find their way into the vegetables and our bodies ultimately.
"Conventional farming employs the use of agrochemicals to increase the yield and quicken the growth cycle. These vegetables tend to absorb a lot of water (which explains their 'plump' appearance). Organically grown produce that uses organic compost or manure doesn't absorb as much water but has a higher density of nutrients in it," says Rennie.
While the nutrient value of organic food has great appeal, it's the taste that gets people hooked on it. Rennie says her children love the taste of organic food, especially green veggies. She says that since they started eating organic food they rarely get sick.
Erica Lisci, a Dubai-based yoga teacher, has also found that her children love organic food. "They are particularly partial to organic chocolate soy milk."
Children benefit the most from organic food, as they have a higher intake of food and water for their body weight than adults and have a relatively weaker immune system.
A recent study conducted by a research team from Emory University in Atlanta analysed the urine samples from children (aged between three to 11), who were on organic diets. Their urine samples showed virtually no traces of two common pesticides, malathion and chlorpyrifos. However, once the children returned to eating conventionally grown foods, the traces of pesticides reached very high levels.
It's not just children who experience the benefits of organic food. Adults experience positive changes, too. Lisci, who's been eating organic food for the past four years, says that its benefits are numerous. "Incorporating organic food into my lifestyle was a natural progression since I practiced yoga, didn't smoke or drink and wanted to eat food that was natural and nutrient-rich. Since I have been eating organic food, I am feeling more energetic and enjoying a greater sense of wellbeing.
Rennie believes that the progression to an organic diet can be gradual. She advises buying food items that you use more often to begin with. "You can prioritise the food by the density of chemicals in them. Start with buying organic dairy products, meat, fish, poultry and eggs. You can then add organic grains and bread to the list. Fruit and vegetables that are more frequently used including greens, broccoli, grapes and apples, can be substituted with organic produce. However, if you do make a choice to buy non-organic food, make sure you read the labels to understand and be aware of what you are consuming."
While going organic definitely has an impact on human health, it also helps the environment and local economies. "Organic farming is labour intensive and employs people from the local population, thus helping the local economy grow as well," says Accad.
"Organic farming also uses less energy compared to conventional farming. It promotes biodiversity and ensures that hazardous chemicals don't infiltrate our groundwater," says Accad.
