Stay healthy and shop organic

Amanda Jung/ Staff Writer

You have probably heard once or twice in your life that it’s important to eat purely organic food. And a few people might have mentioned that although it may cost a few bucks more, it’s definitely worth it in the long run.

But I am here to investigate whether or not organic is worth all the hype. It’s important to know, not only for human beings and for our health, but for the environment and for the sustainability of Planet Earth.

According to The Balance, there are countless benefits when it comes to organic farming and eating. To begin with, it discourages the exposure to pesticides and chemicals. This is something we have probably all heard before.

Every time you go to the grocery store, you pass countless fruits and vegetables, and there are usually some that are labeled organic and others that aren’t.Maybe you’re one of the people who avoid the organic foods simply because they’re a bit more expensive than the regular fruits and vegetables. But maybe you hopped on the bandwagon of those who think spending a few extra dollars for some pesticide free produce is worth it.

The Balance made it clear that organic farming is something that’s extremely positive for the environment because it combats the effects of global warming. According to The Balance, a “trial, running since 1981, has shown that a healthy organic agriculture system can actually reduce carbon dioxide and help slow climate change.”

On top of that, it’s also something that supports water conservation and animal welfare. So with the long list of pros that organic farming and eating has presented us with, why isn’t everyone eating an organic diet?

According to Scientific American, “organic agriculture delivers just 5 percent less yield in rain-watered legume crops, such as alfalfa or beans, and in perennial crops, such as fruit trees. But when it comes to major cereal crops such as corn or wheat, and vegetables, such as broccoli, conventional methods delivered more than 25 percent more yield.”

The first problem is that organic farming doesn’t produce as much crops as traditional farming. But it gets even more complicated. Not only do farmers need to have the knowledge on how to grow organic crops properly, but they “must learn to manage an entire ecosystem geared to producing food — controlling pests through biological means, using the waste from animals to fertilize fields and even growing one crop amidst another.”

Personally, I am not someone who goes out of my way to purchase organic food. With time though, I have realized how important it is to eat a clean diet and that means eating food that is not covered in chemicals and pesticides.

I think it’s important to shop organic when possible. Not only is it beneficial for the environment, but for our health as well.

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The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of Panther Press Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

Photo from Flickr.