Organic vs. Non-Organic

Are organic choices healthier for you? The debate between whether or not this is true is something that has been passed around for some time now. While many claim they are, there are also many who claim that there are absolutely no differences between the two. As organic products become more widely available, more consumers are being left wondering what the real truth is between organic and non-organic choices.

What is Organic?

In order to properly analyze the difference between these two it is important to know exactly what is meant when something is labeled as organic. Organic labels usually mean that the produce is completely natural, there was no use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers in the growth of plants involved. For livestock, it means that they were not given antibiotics and that their feed was fully organic as well. Farmers that grow and raise produce organically focus on conservation of water and soil rather than traditional methods that farmers include which lead to degeneration of the soil and chemical run off. Also, rather than use chemical pesticides, organic farmers find natural methods to deter bugs and other pests.

The Negative Effects of Pesticides and Chemicals

The chemicals, fungicides, pesticides, and hormones that traditional farmers make use of may help on some levels, but they can cause problems in other areas over time. With the passing of time a lot of pests may develop resistance to these chemicals requiring the use of stronger and higher quantities of chemicals to have the same desired effect. Chemical fertilizers also deplete the soil which has an effect of approximately $40 billion dollars a year in the United States alone. Chemical run off in the water can travel in our streams and out into the ocean causing further harm to the ecosystem. Animals that are grown organically are allowed to grow at their own pace rather than being rushed by hormone and chemical additives in their feed. In the long run, organic farming has less of a negative effect on our environment and it costs our farmers less since they don’t have to continuously buy hundreds of pounds of chemicals every year to manage their farms and produce.

The Difference

Although there are some that claim that organic food is healthier for you, this is really based on preference more than anything else. One visible difference between the two however is that organic choices have a better effect on our environment in the long run. They ensure the health of our ecosystem and inevitably our health as well. Although organic choices often do cost a little more, they actually end up saving us money in the long run when you look at the damages caused by traditional farming methods. For this reason, these factors may definitely be worth considering next time you are trying to decide between the two.