During the course of Our Green Year, we have changed many things in our life. We take navy showers every two days, we collect all our gray water, we wash clothes by hand and dry clothes without a dryer and we compost everything. However, few things have altered our lives as much as eating organic and local. With eating organic, we find we feel healthier and prouder about the minimal impact we are making on our planet.
However, just how good is organic? Is it like a placebo that we think is great for us, which makes us feel good?
The simple answer is that yes, organic food is good for you and can make you feel healthier, but the nutritional content depends on many factors, including the quality of the soil, the temperature during the growing season and even the seeds that are planted. Studies have shown that organic food is higher in vitamin C than non-organic items. It is the same when compared with non-organic items in terms of vitamin A, beta-carotene and vitamin B. Organic food is also higher in phytochemicals, which are compounds that are thought to be helpful to the body.
Many people wonder about the safety of organic food, and typically it is much better for you in terms of food safety than non-organic food. This is because it is grown without using pesticides or herbicides, not to mention no antibiotics or steroids. Organic produce is equal to the food safety of non-organic food, and even without pesticide use on them, you should still wash them off before using them.
One area to be a bit more cautious with organic is chicken. Organic chickens are not fed antibiotics, which can cause a greater chance of bacteria contamination. This can also cause Salmonella to come in higher concentrations in organic chickens, but by cooking chicken properly, you will not have to worry too much about it.
So, organic food is better for you in some ways, about the same in other ways and generally a good lifestyle choice for both you and the environment. Give it a try and see how well you feel after a steady diet of organic items.
