Organic Foods (Essay Sample)

Name Professor Title Date Organic Foods The term organic refers to the means or method employed by farmers in the growing of agricultural products such as fruits, grains and vegetables or the processing of meat and dairy products. Organic farming is dependent on crop rotations, animal manures, legumes and some aspects of biological pests control, just to name a few. It is prevalent in developing countries for economic reasons and lack of effective agricultural chemicals. However, organic farming is gaining prominence in developed countries due to the comparable benefits that it comes with. Some of the advantages of organic farming include promotion of biodiversity, reduces toxic substances in the air, reduces farm pollution, and leads to soil conservation. To this regard Organic foods, therefore, are agricultural products that are produced through organic farming with limited modern artificial agricultural inputs such as chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides or use of bioengineered genes (GMOs). There has always been debate as to whether organic foods are healthier, tastier, or nutritious as compared to other foods produced conventionally. This paper focuses on the benefits of organic foods for the human body as compared to conventional foods. Making a commitment to a healthier living can be considered as one of the best choices one can make in life. Human health is greatly influenced by what goes into the stomach and hence the great concern on the eating habits. The food we eat influences, to a greater extent, the well-being of an individual. In fact, poor eating habits have led to increased obesity in America (Staff N.p). Organic foods have been considered to be healthier than other classes of foods such as those produced through genetic modification or conventionally through synthetic processes. The rewards of having a healthy meal are worth the effort (Ronald and Adamchak 90). Studies have shown that 80% and 90% of heart disease and diabetes respectively have been attributed to poor lifestyles and eating habits (Ronald and Adamchak 102). In fact, avoiding refined foods reduces the occurrence of type 2 diabetes (Ronald and Adamchak 113). Stringent standards have been set to ensure that organic foods devoid of chemicals and synthetic fibers are produced. For example, in United States, the federal government is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that organic foods are handled and processed in accordance with strict laid-out guidelines and procedures. Organic foods, therefore, reduce chemical build up in the body which might cause dreaded diseases such as cancer. Despite the enormous health benefits of organic foods, most people are reluctant to take this simple health opportunity. According to Lipson (78), if one wants to get lousy about in a quicker way, then they should just eat what they feel like whether it is meat, fat, salt or sugar, but they should be wary of the effect this has on other people's health opinions such as doctors and family members. Additionally, Organic foods are also environmentally friendly since the farming methods adopted in their production reduce soil and water population, and increase soil fertility. Conventional farming involves the use of preservatives and waxes for protection against field diseases and to increase the shelf life of food products. These substances eventually find their way in the air causing both air and water pollution. The Presence of chemical pesticides in the air can also affect the reproductive system of birds and other small animals eventually leading to a population decrease or even death. Farming without the use of pesticides is also beneficial to food harvesters. Furthermore, organic farm-produce lacks toxic chemical residues. Most people have argued that since the arable land left for use on the planet may only be about 5%, we should forgo organic farming and adopt conventional methods that would increase food production from 50% to 100% (Williamson 72). However, those of counter opinions have suggested that in the US, running out of crop food is not yet a problem and that pesticides residues on vegetable and fruits should cause more worries than anything else (Williamson 75). In fact, washing and peeling is encouraged to reduce the amount of chemical residues if the food is not organic (Williamson 81). Another benefit that comes with organic foods is the taste and flavor. Organic foods are tastier than other conventional foods. This is due to their freshness that stems from their perishability and a shorter shelf life. Most people agree that a freakishly large, over engineered strawberry o...