With more and more attention being given to the effect diet can have on our bodies, it is inevitable that the question should arise as to whether or not there is a particular advantage of organic food. Organic food enthusiasts will report – without hesitation – of their increased energy and overall health and vitality. As we explore the correlation between our diets and our longevity and health, it stands to reason that we must also explore the possible advantage of organic food.

Differences between conventional farming and organic farming:

Conventional farmers	Organic farmers
Apply chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth.	Apply natural fertilizers, such as manure or compost, to feed soil and plants.
Spray insecticides to reduce pests and disease.	Use beneficial insects and birds, mating disruption or traps to reduce pests and disease.
Use chemical herbicides to manage weeds.	Rotate crops, till, hand weed or mulch to manage weeds.
Give animals antibiotics, growth hormones and medications to prevent disease and spur growth.	Give animals organic feed and allow them access to the outdoors. Use preventive measures — such as rotational grazing, a balanced diet and clean housing — to help minimize disease.

Taken from MayoClinic.com – Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious?

However, the high cost of organic food often turns into a barrier for regular consumption. Organic food costs more simply because it costs more money and time to prepare. For example certain types of apples can be sprayed up to 16 times with 36 different pesticides and 350 chemicals are regularly used in conventional farming.

Even though this might be the case careful inspection into the food labelled ‘organic’ can open up another can of worms. There are a few classes of organic product on the shelves which break down as follows:

1. Made with organic ingredients – Only 70% of the ingredients must be organic
2. Organic – At least 95 percent of ingredients are produced organically
3. 100% organic – No synthetic ingredients are allowed by law

However, there are 2 types of organic food:

• Fresh organic food.

Most of the organic food sold in the markets and various outlets is in the fresh form. Fruits, vegetables, meat, egg and dairy products fall under this category.

• Processed organic food.

Processed food are widely popular and covers a huge range in any super market the world over. Various products such as canned foods, frozen vegetables and other ready-to-eat foods are labeled ‘organic’, if the production and processing of these foods have not involved the use of any chemicals and if they conform to the required standards. Needless to say these foods are usually more expensive than the non-organic ones.

Have you ever wonder why organic vegetables and fruits seem to spoil so much faster than produce from normal supermarkets? The reason is that many foods are irradiated. Irradiation kills bacteria and extends food life. But, it also alters the molecular structure and life force of the food. Some irradiation methods use radio active substances, others high energy electrons or X-rays. One of the advantages of raw organic foods is that it still has life force. Raw organic seeds grow – cooked while irradiated seeds don’t.

Below is a 2 minute video clip given by Gabriel Cousens interviewed by Taken from The Best of Raw Food. Gabriel highlights the benefits of organic raw food with very reasonable facts!

In conclusion, eating organic food that is high and fiber, low in fat and free of chemicals and toxins is one way to limit the number of toxins being produced to your body. Good diet foods include fruits,vegetables, fish, legumes, nuts, olive oil and grains. Keep in mind that food manufacturers often inject the foods their sell with chemicals in order to keep them fresh and tasty. Eating these types of produce might no be as healthy as you think. One can maintain these diet for lifetime since they encourage healthy eating habits that can become a lifestyle for healthy weight loss. This also involves the burning of calories for effective weight loss.

Related links:
Organic Kitchen: Foods A-Z
Wikipedia: List of countries with organic agriculture regulation
OrganicFoodee: Recipies