There is a half-proven myth surrounding the idea of whether organic food is, in fact, healthier than conventional foods. More importantly, college students tend to believe organic food is unaffordable.
On the contrary, if you know where to look, you can have your kitchen stocked with organic goods.
In order for a product to be considered organic, non-organic pesticides, insecticides and herbicides must not be used. These chemicals have the potential to harm soil, water, local wildlife and aquatic life; traces of these chemicals are left on the products when consumers purchase them. Therefore, regular people like ourselves are frequently allowing these chemicals into our bodies. As for livestock, no antibiotics or growth hormones can be used, and they are usually fed a healthy diet. In most countries, organic produce cannot be genetically modified. Organic farms also tend to be small, family-run farms, one of the many reasons organic goods are frequently more expensive.
There are three main reasons organic food is seen as the healthier choice over conventional foods. The most prominent rationale deals with pesticides. Organic farms do not consume and do not release synthetic pesticides into the environment. This protects surrounding wildlife and consumers from ingesting chemicals into their body. The second main factor is that organic farms are able to sustain diverse ecosystems, meaning they can naturally sustain a population of plants, insects and animals that is substantially larger than the ecosystem of a conventional farm. The last factor is that organic farms use less energy and produce less waste in a calculated area than that of a conventional farm; organic farms are much more efficient.
Since 1993, discoveries have been made relating child exposure to pesticides to their diet. The National Research Council published a study in 1993 showing that infants and children were mostly exposed to pesticides through their diet.
In 2006, strict tests were performed to determine the levels of organophosphorus pesticide in 23 schoolchildren before and after their regular diet was replaced with organic food. The study discovered that the levels of pesticide dramatically dropped immediately when the students switched to an organic diet.
Smaller studies have shown that there are higher nutrient levels in organic fruit and vegetables as compared to products grown conventionally. They have also found that taste seems to be more pungent in non-organic produce. In a 2001 study done by Washington State University, a panel of judges determined that organic apples were sweeter.
So, with all these factors affecting your daily diet, there is nothing to lose. Not only will you be helping yourself, but you'll be helping the environment as well. But, this is where you may start to worry about cost. This may be true in some cases, but you just need to know where to look.
The latest food trends show that organic foods are in, so it is time for all of us to foster that trend. The best place to find organic goods is at a farmers' market. In fact, we have one here on campus during certain seasons. At farmers' markets, food is as fresh as you can get it, all-organic and frequently cheaper than at discount grocery stores. It is definitely a great bargain, and you get fresh taste every time.
The second option for finding cheap organic food is local grocery stores. Organic food is frequently expensive, especially at chain grocery stores that sometimes don't buy local. So go for the local stores. In fact, Eddie's is a small, local grocery store with two branches only blocks away from campus. One is located no more than a mile north of the FAC, and the other is on St. Paul Street. This is even closer than most of the larger grocery stores. And a huge reason to shop at Eddie's: Not only do they carry an abundance of organic goods, but they also deliver. What is there to lose?
Organic foods have slowly begun to take over the food industry, working their way into restaurant menus, the latest food trends and even college dorm rooms. Eating organic keeps your body pesticide-free, and you can help protect the environment simply by choosing the right apple, which will probably end up tasting better.
Americans love to eat. Why not protect the earth while eating?
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