Why is an organic food diet important?

Seasonal foods available during the off-season are a result of nature’s pattern being manipulated.

The concept of organic farming, as well as the market for it, has recently grown in popularity. Because it is less dependent on external factors, it is regarded as a solution for sustaining sustainable agriculture.

What Exactly are Organic Foods?

Organic foods are the results of holistic agricultural practises that emphasise bio-diversity, soil health, chemical-free inputs, and other environmentally and socially responsible practises, and are produced in accordance with organic production standards.

Interesting Facts About India’s Organic Agriculture

-Sikkim has been designated as India’s first completely organic state.
-The total area certified as organic is 5.71 million hectares.
-India has the highest number of organic producers.
-India ranks ninth in terms of organic agriculture area.
-Around 1.35 million MTs of certified organic foods are exported from India.

Organic Food Advantages

GMOs, synthetic pesticides, and fertilisers are used in conventional farming. Organic foods, on the other hand, are grown without the use of most synthetic pesticides or fertilisers. Although such chemicals have been deemed safe in conventional farming quantities, and pesticides are only present in food at trace levels, their negative impact on health is well documented. Pesticides are chemicals used to kill pests; imagine how they would act on the human body.

However, the common misconception about the term organic is that it is pesticide-free. In some cases, this is correct, but not in all. GMOs are not present in organic foods and barnyard millet. This makes the plants/foods less resistant to pests, necessitating the use of more pesticides, organic pesticides included. Organic pesticides are derived from natural sources and are not processed, but it was discovered that they contain some of the same chemicals as non-organic pesticides.

Also Check: 5 Health Advantages of Millet Food

The majority of consumers choose organic food under the assumption that it does not contain pesticides, but it does! As a result, choosing organic should be done with complete and correct knowledge. Going local is the key to avoiding pesticides in organic food.

Organic meat is another reason to go organic. Organic meat is free of antibiotics and synthetic hormones. Conventional livestock, on the other hand, can be fed antibiotics to protect against animal illness, allowing farmers to raise animals in crowded or unsanitary conditions.

Conventionally raised animals can also be injected with synthetic growth/sex hormones to help them gain weight faster or to make the product more appealing (E.g.: Milk). These hormones are thermostable, and it has been established that traces of these substances can reach consumers. These drug residues are thought to contribute to widespread antibiotic resistance, the onset of early puberty, tumour growth, increased cancer risk, the risk of autoimmune conditions, and genetic issues. Organic foods (particularly meat) produced without antibiotics are inherently safer in this regard.

Though it is a healthier alternative to conventional foods, false claims about its nutritional value have misled consumers. Over the years, studies have found no significant difference in the nutritional quality of organic versus conventional foods. However, some studies have found that bajra flakes organic foods have higher antioxidant levels, higher levels of vitamins and minerals, and lower saturated fat [(milk)] than their conventional counterparts.

Organic farming helps to preserve our ecosystems because it is farming in harmony with nature. Soil crops and rotations are extremely important, and chemical abstinence helps to preserve the ecosystem. It benefits wildlife such as insects, birds, and soil organisms that cannot thrive under conventional farming practises. Growing organic agriculture reduces soil and water pollution and contamination.

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