Going organic?

29 Apr 2013

There’s been plenty of hype about why you should go organic. But is it really necessary and is it for you?

A healthy diet is not just about portion control and avoiding junk food.

It’s about ensuring that what you put into your body is natural with loads of nutritional value.

An organic product is one grown without using synthetic fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides, antibiotics or hormones.

Why go organic?

According to studies, organic fruit and vegetables are more nutritious than food produced using chemicals. Some people also say that organic food helps fight off infection, although this is yet to be proven.

However, there have also been some studies that show there is no difference between organic and non-organic food when it comes to nutritional value. It’s also important to remember that while organic foods are free of synthetic pesticides, they can pick up traces from pesticides in the air so they’re not fully pesticide-free.

Others go organic for environmental reasons. Organic farmers use sustainable and environmentally friendly farming techniques, causing soil to erode at a much slower pace than in conventional farming. Also, organic farming goes back to basics – using labour-intensive practices that care for the earth – whereas conventional farms tend to rely on fossil fuels.

Some people also choose organic foods because it supposedly tastes better, it makes them feel better emotionally and physically, and they feel like their environmental footprint is lighter.

The cons

Organic food can sometimes be more expensive than conventional foods so this tends to deter some people. Organic crops may also mean additional set up costs. Plus the food needs to be certified and transport costs more because organic food needs to be separated from normal produce. However, this is not always the case.

If you’re making the decision to go organic purely for a nutritional reason, remember there is no real evidence that you’re gaining any advantage over conventional food.

The alternatives

If you’d like to go organic, but price is a factor, you can go selectively organic.

You can buy conventional foods that are infrequently sprayed or whose skin is going to be removed. Fruits and vegetables that are infrequently sprayed include broccoli, zucchini, leeks and spring onions. In terms of what you take the peel off, it’s rare that you’ll have to worry about fruits such as bananas, melons and oranges.

Do you only buy organic produce? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.