Organic Foods Weight Loss Diet Nutrition Tips Guide

Organic Foods In A Healthy Diet

By Tracy Kerr-Walshe

Organic foods are regulated by the USDA and feature crops that are grown without pesticides, artificial fertilizers, irradiation or biotechnology. The animals are raised on a healthy diet of organic food, without being confined 100% of the time, or "free range," and they are not given antibiotics or synthetic growth hormones.

About 70% of Americans find it worthwhile to pay a little extra to encourage farmers to adhere to these more ethical standards. Research suggests that these healthy foods that are grown organically have more nutrients and that livestock raised organically is more ethical.

Differences Between Organic And Other Foods

Many people are often confounded when standing in the produce section, looking at the organic foods, conventional foods and healthy snack foods. For instance, both tomatoes may look plump, juicy and red but one is labeled "organic" and the other is not. They both provide vitamins, antioxidants and nutrition, but what are the differences?

Conventional farmers use chemical pesticides to keep pests and plagues away from their vegetables. They use chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth, and manage weeds using chemical herbicides. They may also give their animals antibiotics, growth hormones or medications to prevent illnesses and encourage growth.

Processing, Handling And Production Of Organic Foods

The main difference between conventional and organic foods lies in how it is processed, handled and produced. There has been no irrefutable evidence claiming that organic food products are more nutritious or safer. The risk from pesticides has never substantially been proven. Organic fruits and vegetables may spoil much more quickly or look less-than-perfect.

However, organic farming has been linked to improved water and soil conservation, as well as to reduced pollution levels. Due to stricter government regulations, smaller crop yields and more labor intensive farming practices, the price for organic raw foods is often higher. Some advocates say that organic foods taste much better, but that is really a personal consideration.

Pesticide And Hormone Free Diet

In many ways, organic foods are more of a lifestyle choice than an actual safety concern. The huge shift toward environmentally-conscious practices is driving consumer trends toward this pesticide and hormone-free diet.

Yet there is also a movement toward buying from local farmers, rather than overseas products or from corporate super-farms. Certainly, there are many points to consider when grocery shopping and buying your favorite foods for meals and snacking, so it’s important to research and identify which issues are most pressing.

This Article was about Organic Foods.

About the Author:
Tracy Kerr-Walshe is an author of dieting articles including Effective Weight Loss, Full Body Detox, Juice Fasting.
Keep a lookout for more of her articles coming soon.