Organic Food Pros and Cons

It may seem rather odd given all the reports and articles about the benefits of going organic that there are negative aspects to purchasing natural food. After all, until recently all the meat, fruits and vegetables that were available would be considered “organic” in nature.

However, despite all the negative connotations, there are benefits to the artificially boosted food that we consume. Plus, the increased yields have allowed for farmers to produce more crops on the same amount of land as compared to fifty years ago. Given that, going organic does have its advantages that its many advocates will point out.

What Are the Pros of Organic Food?

Environmentally Friendly:
There is no doubt that arguably the best advantage the organic foods offer is how friendly they are to the environment. When visiting an organic farm, you will notice the diversity of plants beyond just the organic foods and the animals as well which makes up the eco-system of this type of farming.

No Hydrogenated Fat:
Arguably one of the biggest health issues is the hydrogenated fat that is developed in animals that are part of current non-organic farming techniques. This type of fat has been linked to heart disease and other cardiovascular issues. Organic foods do not contain this type of fat and they are healthier for your heart and body.

Fewer Pesticides:
It must be noted that organic foods are not necessarily free of pesticides, but there are generally a lesser amount that what you would find normally. In fact, even food that is treated with pesticides are generally washed and cleaned which makes most of the differences rather nominal.

What Are the Cons of Organic Food?

Expense:
There is little doubt that organic foods are more expensive than their non-organic counterparts. For many, the expense is such that going all-organic can be very difficult with their respective budgets. There are many people however who selectively purchase their favorite types of organic foods while buying typical grocery store foods as well.

Shorter Shelf Life:
Because they have fewer preservatives, organic foods will not last as long and will need to be consumed faster than their non-organic counterparts. This means that you will have to make more frequent purchases or find ways to preserve the organic foods at home.

Chemicals:
Despite the common belief to the contrary, organic foods do have chemicals involved in their productions which are normally pesticides. To qualify as organic, the amount of pesticides used must fall under a certain amount.

The studies are certainly mixed when it comes to whether eating all organic foods is healthier than consuming their non-organic counterparts. Put simply, there is yet to be any real scientific evidence that eating organic foods will make you healthier or better off than if you simply stick to the same food provided in the grocery stores.