A recent study in ‘The journal of applied nutrition’ found that organic produce had twice the nutritional value of conventional produce, organic produce also contains more trace mineral and micronutrients.
Organic tastes better! That’s right organic produce tastes the way nature intended, it’s nutritious and delicious!By purchasing organic foods you can avoid genetically modified foods; a genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically engineered organism (GEO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. This DNA is then transferred into organism, giving it modified or novel genes. Transgenic organisms, a subset of GMOs, are organisms which have inserted DNA that originated in a different species. Some GMOs contain no DNA from other species and are therefore not transgenic but cisgenic.
Organic foods are much better for the environment; GMO’s can cause unintended harm to other organisms. Reduced effectiveness to pesticides, and an increased use of herbicides, Scientists estimate that plants Genetically engineered to be herbicide-resistant will greatly increase the amount of herbicide use(1) Farmers, knowing that their crops can tolerate the herbicides, will use them more liberally. Genetic engineering is like performing heart surgery with a shovel. Scientists do not yet understand living systems completely enough to perform DNA surgery without creating mutations which could be harmful to the environment and our health. They are experimenting with very delicate, yet powerful forces of nature, without full knowledge of the Repercussions(2). There are many more reasons to avoid GMO foods, for more information on these ‘Franken foods’ please visit www.truefoodnow.org check out this site for your ‘NON-GMO shopping guide; how to avoid genetically modified organisms (GMO).
Another reason to shop organically is to encourage growth in this market, we as consumers must make are voices heard by not just talking about these critical issues and understanding them, but actually making a change in our life. Now, I am not saying to run out and buy all organic foods all at once, I am simply trying to encourage you to spend your money in a market that cares about your health and the environment, changes take time, I don’t expect anyone to flip there kitch over night, but just to be more conscientious about what you are putting in your mouth.
*this is a great site to check out as well!
www.organicitsworthit.org
“Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food”
-Hippocrates.
References
1. Benbrook, C. “Evidence of the Magnitude and Consequences of the Roundup Ready Soybean Yield Drag from University-Based Varietal Trials in 1998.” Ag BioTech InfoNet. 13 Jul. 1999.
Benbrook Consulting Services. 3 Mar. 2005.
2. Schoofs, M. "The End of Nature - From Banana Vaccines to Fast-Growing Fish: DNA Lets Scientists Play God." The Village Voice. 10 Mar. 1998.