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3 Reasons to Consider Going Organic


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3 Reasons to Consider Going Organic

 

Go Organic!

There’s a famous saying that goes, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

In a world where harmful chemicals can be found almost everywhere and in everything around us, it’s important to try to make changes that can positively affect our bodies and our environment whenever we can. One of the simplest, but most impactful, changes we can make to improve the health of our families and our planet is to choose to go organic.

Here’s why:

1. Demand for organic foods and products can help others.

By now, you can walk into most grocery stores and find a section dedicated to organic foods and products. The reason for this is because a demand was created by consumers, like you, who are looking for a healthier alternative to produce grown with harmful pesticides and products containing chemicals that are toxic to our health.

Higher demands for healthy, organic foods and products can create a higher supply for all consumers and can help lower prices, making it an accessible option for more people. As an added bonus, an increased demand for organic food also supports local farmers, boosting the economy in your community.

2. Going organic can help you avoid harmful chemicals.

Much of the food that we consume is grown or produced with an enormous amount of chemicals. Research shows that many of the chemicals in our foods aren’t even tested for long-term health effects before they are considered “safe.”

Not only that, the growth hormones given to cattle in order to artificially increase the amount of meat and milk they produce can also have negative effects on our health. These hormones remain in their original form as they do not break down, even in high temperatures, and are subsequently transferred to your body after consumption.

By choosing certified organic or grass-fed products, you can reduce your exposure to these artificial hormones, which are known to increase the risk of cancer in humans. In addition, purchasing organic milk and grass-fed beef can help you reduce your exposure to toxic pesticides that can accumulate in animal fat.

In addition, much of the produce we eat is treated with chemicals, unless it is grown organically. See the EWG’s “Dirty Dozen” to know which ones have the highest pesticide load.

Learn more about how to avoid consuming harmful chemicals here: Ten Ways to Make Sure You’re Not Eating Chemicals

3. It can help save bees.

As I’ve mentioned in a previous blog, entitled How Your Long Commute to Work Is Affecting the Food You Eat, many species of insects and animals that pollinate plants are being threatened with extinction.

“Over 1,300 types of plants are grown worldwide for food, medicine, fabric and many other uses, and more than 87% of these plants are pollinated by insects like the honeybee, as well as various other animals.”

One major reason for the decline of pollinators (such as the honeybee) is the use of broad-spectrum pesticides in agriculture, which has led to the disruption or destruction of countless pollinator habitats.

If pollinators begin to disappear, “The number and diversity of wild plants will decline, and many ecosystems will become unstable and unable to thrive.”

By switching to produce grown organically and free of toxic chemicals, you can avoid ingesting substances that affect your health negatively, prevent the pollution of our groundwater through the use of synthetic fertilizers and dangerous pesticides, and help save our pollinator friends who are responsible for pollinating roughly one in three bites of food that we eat!

Can you think of any other reasons to go organic? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Resources:
Care2: Why Organic Matters
FAO: What are the environmental benefits of organic agriculture?
EWG: Why Go Organic, Grass-Fed and Pasture-Raised?
EWG’s 2015 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™

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Hope Beach
Hope Beach
8 years ago

I am slowly starting to switch to organic foods. It’s taking a conscious effort on my part (and money) but I’m trying.

Jenn Dyck
8 years ago

Many of the statements you’ve made in this article are misinformed and some are just plain wrong. As a company that prides its self in scientific knowledge I would have expected better from you. As a Norwex consultant who also works in the agriculture industry I find this article distasteful and hurtful to an industry working hard to grow safe, affordable food for families locally and globally. Get your facts straight, hire an expert and share a balanced article if you want to talk about food and agriculture.

TK - Admin
8 years ago
Reply to  Jenn Dyck

Thank you for your comments, Jenn. We strive to ensure that only well-vetted, accurate options and facts regarding healthier living are presented, particularly when it relates to the Norwex Mission of improving quality of life by radically reducing chemicals in our homes. While we recognize that many good and ethical practices are followed by the agricultural industry in general, our research based on the resources listed at the end of this blog and others suggests that organically grown food may indeed offer environmental and health benefits. For further information, you may find some of the information presented at this site interesting as well: http://infohub.ifoam.bio/sites/default/files/page/files/misconceptions_compiled.pdf

Kristin B
Kristin B
8 years ago
Reply to  TK - Admin

While I love your products, I’m very disappointed by the lack of credibility and large amount of fear-mongering in this article. Point 1: Organic does not mean local in most grocery stores as you suggest. Sometimes, sure; however, usually the organic food you find in a grocery store has traveled just as far as regular food. Not all foods grow well in all locations, for the mass-produced organic food, it is generally raised in the same areas as conventional foods. Point 2: Only beef and sheep are allowed to use growth hormones and, unlike this piece suggests, they have been studied; only safe levels that do not have an effect on people are used http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ProductSafetyInformation/ucm055436.htm. You get more hormones from many types of produces than you do from beef, a great visual is included in this article http://beefmagazine.com/blog/visual-add-your-arsenal-about-hormones-beef. As far as crops are concerned, organic crops do not mean grown without chemicals. In fact, to be certified organic, they only have to stay away from a few synthetically-derived products, and in special cases exemptions can be made. Also, many of… Read more »

TK - Admin
8 years ago
Reply to  Kristin B

Thank you, Kristin, for your feedback. We appreciate your taking the time to send your comments, and sharing with our community of like-minded people.

We truly value all points of view as we strive always to be open and transparent with each other in support of our Mission of reducing chemicals in our homes.

Amy Hepfner
Amy Hepfner
8 years ago

My family and I have been eating organic for quite a while now…it was a slow transition as the natural food co-ops evolved since I moved away from where I grew up with organically and naturally raised foods as a child. We are now moving into the non-GMO foods. Thank you for this article….I hope it helps many others to see the health benefits of organic and also that the more demand the more farmers will start growing and raising organic/naturally raised foods and then the lower the prices.

campsuz
campsuz
8 years ago

My family grows and preserves in the spring and summer and buys organic and non gmo whenever possible. Thank you for all you do to help others.

Sylvie Laporte
Sylvie Laporte
7 years ago

Learning more about how important it is to buy organic and non GMO made a difference in our lifes… it taste so much better 🙂

Gingi Freeman
Gingi Freeman
6 years ago

Great post, we try to eat 100% organic when possible!

Lauren Rogers
Lauren Rogers
2 years ago

EWG’s “Dirty Dozen” Link isn’t working anymore.

Moderator
Admin
Moderator
2 years ago
Reply to  Lauren Rogers

Lauren, thanks for letting us know. We’ve updated this link to go to EWG’s Dirty Dozen 2021 listing.