What does “Organic Food” means?

The term organic food basically refers to the way how agricultural products are grown. If the products are grown by following the traditional and natural method of growing crops without adding harmful chemicals and fertilizers then the products made from those crops are considered organic food. The policies, rules, and regulations for organic farming vary from country to country. The content of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and bioengineered genes (GMOs) plays an important in distinguishing the organic and synthetic nature of the crops. 

The non-organic or we can say synthetic products have a high level of bioengineered genes (GMOs) which are very harmful and severely damage disturb the hormones of our body. These are mostly spread by consuming dairy products, milk, eggs, the meat of the livestock raised by non-organic practices. For example, the cows from which we take milk and meat are injected with growth hormones, antibiotics or other animal by-products to increase the quantity of milk and to make them fat to get more meat from them. Apparently, it is profitable for them but very harmful for human consumption. Same like this the hens are feed on by-products of other animals and injected with the growth hormones and they are fully mature and healthy enough to eat within a month. These products are not healthy and defiantly not organic food. The livestock must be raised in living conditions compliant with their natural behavior.

Organic food VS. Non-Organic food

Organic food	Non-organic food
Grown with natural fertilizers	Grown with synthetic fertilizers and chemicals
Pests are controlled using the natural method and naturally-derived pesticides	Pest are controlled with synthetic pesticides
Livestock are given all organic feed free from growth hormones and GMOs	Livestock is injected with growth hormones and GMO feed
Diseases are prevented with natural methods such as clean housing and a healthy diet	Diseases are prevented by antibodies and medication
Livestock have access to outdoors	Livestock may or may not have access to the outdoors

Benefits of organic food

Organic food is very important for a healthy diet for this you should try to buy organic food. Some of the benefits that you can get only from organic food products are explained below.

1. Organic food is free from harmful and toxic chemicals.
2. Organic food is free from additional growth hormones which can affect the balance of the natural hormone of our body.
3. Fresh organic food like vegetables and fruits are healthy and nutritious for our diet.
4. Fresh organic food doesn’t contain any preservative. 
5. Organic food is ecofriendly because doesn’t disturb the natural balance of the soil and water bodies.
6. Organic farming practices reduce water, air, and soil pollution.
7. Organic food is free from genetically modified organisms (GMO) and genetically engineered plant DNA which are specially modified to reduce the risk of pesticides in them.
8. We can grow organic food in our homes as well.
9. Organic food is free from cancer-causing substances such as lymphoma, brain tumors, breast cancers, leukemia, and prostate cancer, etc. 

Fruits and vegetables where the organic label matters the most

According to different environmental studies and analysis of certain factors, the results have been deduced that the following fruits and vegetables are at the highest risks to be full of pesticides and it is best to buy them organically:

1. Apples
2. Cucumbers
3. Celery 
4. Grapes
5. Potato’s
6. Spinach
7. Peaches
8. Cherry tomatoes
9. Bell peppers
10. Kale
11. Strawberry

Fruits and vegetables you don’t need to buy organic

According to some environmental studies, it is proved that some of the fruits and vegetables are less likely to be affected by pesticides and it is fine to use them even if they are not organic. Following is the list of those fruits and vegetables:

1. Onions
2. Cabbage
3. Avocado
4. Eggplant
5. Corn
6. Kiwi
7. Papaya
8. Sweet peas
9. Grapefruit
10. Mushrooms
11. Mango
12. Pineapple
13. Asparagus 
14. Sweet potatoes

Organic food tips

The best way to have organic food is to buy them in their season. In their season they are cheap and there is more probability of them to be organic. And don’t be fooled by the labels of junk food being organic is always healthy. Fresh organic food is healthy but organic junk food is not always healthy so this should be always kept in your mind when you go for shopping.