Everyone should be able to eat healthy food that is not tainted with dangerous pesticides, herbicides, or heavy metals. Organic food nourishes your body without the baggage of inadequately tested genetic modification, chemicals meant to kill insects or fungus, or heavy metals from sewage sludge used as fertilizer. Because organic farming practices rely on nurturing the soil to grow crops, you also get more nutrition from organic food. It fact, research shows organic food is so nutritious that it’s wildly affordable:
Overall, organic crops had 18 to 69 percent higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds. The team concludes that consumers who switch to organic fruit, vegetables and cereals would get 20 to 40 percent more antioxidants. That’s the equivalent of about two extra portions of fruit and vegetables a day, with no increase in caloric intake.
No increase in caloric intake and no increase in your grocery bill! Organic food costs about 30% more than conventional food, but you get roughly the same value in antioxidants for $10 worth of organic or industrial food. Antioxidants protect your body from damage by free radicals, reducing your risk of cancer, heart disease, and problems with your eyes, memory, and mood.
On the other hand, it’s healthier to eat any fruits, vegetables, and whole grains–organic or not–than to skip them. If you can’t find or afford organic food, then eat more fruits and vegetables to up your antioxidant levels and boost your health in many ways. Organic farming is healthier for farmers and wildlife too.
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