#Myth: Organic vs. Conventional

 
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Should you prioritize organic? Is there really a difference between organically-grown and conventionally-grown produce ? And is it worth the price ? 

Short answer: yes, there is a difference.  However, it might not be exactly what you think! It’s important to always properly educate ourselves on these topics in order to avoid having any possible misconceptions and to avoid jumping to conclusions.

Let’s dive into it.

What is Organic Farming ?

In short, organic farming is a food growing method that follows a strict list of national standards. Often associated with sustainable farming, it involves the maintenance of healthy soil through careful processing such as:

  • Crop rotation;

  • Compost;

  • Green manure;

  • Pesticide control;

  • Etc.

Organic animal agriculture is also subject to strict regulations, such as…

  1. Animals must only be fed organic feed;

  2. Animals must be kept away from growth hormones and antibiotics.

The Truth about Organic

Organic foods are better for the environment because they are grown with fewer pesticides and other dangerous chemicals. However, there is still very little to no evidence showing significant health benefits to eating organic foods. In truth, buying organically foods is more of an environment-related choice rather than a nutrition-related one. Choosing to buy organic comes down to your own lifestyle and budget. 

It’s important to look at the bigger picture! 

It’s WHAT you eat that matters! Whether you’re eating conventional gummy bears or organic gummy bears…they’re still gummy bears. Instead, try…

→ Making an effort to buy organic when you can;

→ Washing your produce more thoroughly when you can’t;

→ Shopping for fresh produce at a farmer’s market more often;

→ Making your healthy food choices based on their nutritional value rather than their fancy labels.

That’s all there is to it!

Source(s):

[1] https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/organic-food-no-more-nutritious-than-conventionally-grown-food-201209055264

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Laura Nguyen