Thursday, November 25, 2010

Are Organic Foods Better for You?

By Leah Goldsmith


If you have visited the grocery store in the last while, you probably have noticed that some foods are marked as 100% organic. You might even be tempted to buy because you know that there is a better taste to these kinds of foods. Organic foods indeed are better because they are grown with the methods used by farmers in the past, with no pesticides and of course no genetic modifications.

In the 1950s, there was a growing trend to spray crops with pesticides in order to safeguard them from bugs that can destroy the crops. Without a doubt, this is also meant that individuals that bought these fruits and vegetables were now consuming these pesticides.

As well, a concern with meat and poultry is that much of the times these animals are given hormones to make them grow quicker. Actually, in the United States alone as much as two thirds of the cattle that is used for consumption is given growth hormones. In the end, there is residue that remains in meat when people eat it.

Organic Pasta

Ingredients like flours and other things used to make pasta used to all be organic once upon a time, and the packaging was not labeled organic, because in those days, there was no need for that distinction because everything was organic. Nowadays, however most of the pasta on the market is not organic. Whereas pastas that are organic will clearly label it on the front of their packaging. You may wonder if it tastes better than non-organic pastas? Several people think it certainly tastes much better and they can easily tell the difference.

Organic Poultry and Turkey

Organic chicken and turkey may only display the organic packaging is the bird was raised with no hormones and no antibiotics. The tastiest organic poultry are those that were free range instead of being raised in controlled spaces. There is certainly a huge distinction in the taste of meats containing hormones versus organic.

Organic Meat

Most cows that are consumed in the United States come from cows that were given growth hormones to plump them up faster. They are given six various hormones. Research has shown that people taking in these hormones that remain in meat can end up with health issues; however, these are generally independent studies. Grave health problems have not been reported, however one thing is definite, organic meat tastes better however, and it is significantly pricier than meets that are fed hormones.

Final Thoughts

Definitely, consuming organic foods is a decision that everyone must make for himself or herself, however there are some large distinctions in taste and possible health advantages gained from eating organic foods. Presently organic food is all the rage; however, the fad has not yet fully caught on because people do not yet understand the advantages of eating organic or the additional expense may be too much for them.

It is a personal choice and those that eat organic will continue to tell of their benefits, those that do not may soon turn to organics because of the many benefits that may be gained from not eating pesticide ridden foods or meats that have growth hormones.




About the Author: