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5 Reasons You Should Be Buying Organic

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We all love a good bargain, so when we come across organic produce at the supermarket, it can be easy to turn away in favor of non-organic goods simply due to pricing.

However, with more Americans buying organic than ever before, it has us reconsidering. Should we buy organic?

From improving our health and helping the environment to simply taste much better, buying organic produce seems a no-brainer. Here are five evidence-backed reasons for going organic.

Free from Chemicals

More often than not, regular produce is sprayed with synthetic chemicals to help protect crops from insects and other hazardous environmental factors. Unfortunately, pesticide residue can stick to produce, even after it has been washed, resulting in human consumption.

By eating organic produce you’ll be immediately reducing the number of food additives you consume, with studies finding the average person to consume up to 35 ounces of additives every year. These additives can lead to health issues such as reactions, headaches, and asthma. 

Superior Taste

When you’re eating organic, you’re consuming foods that are pure in taste and flavor, which is why many choose to purchase organic over non-organic.

More Nutritious

While there is plenty of debate over whether or not organic produce contains a higher nutritional value, studies have found certain organic products to be nutritionally superior to their regular counterparts.

For example, organic milk has been shown to contain more antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, CLA and vitamins than non-organic milk. And thanks to the omission of nitrogen-rich chemical fertilizers in its growing process, organic tomatoes have shown to have a greater antioxidant content.

Whether our fresh food is organic or not, the nutritional quality of our fresh food varies widely, even when picked from the same tree or crop. However, we can conclude that when buying organic, we’re buying closer to the source and eliminating any food that’s been frozen in storage for long periods of time or sprayed with chemicals that jeopardize our foods’ nutritional value.

Supports Wildlife

Scientists have carried out studies that all conclude that organic farming supports biodiversity, with up to 50 percent more plant, insect, and birdlife found on organic farms. 

When it rains, residue and runoff from pesticides, chemicals, and fertilizers used on regular crops infiltrate waterways and cause harm to the health of the native wildlife. With synthetic pesticides banned from organic crops, our wildlife is greater protected.

In animal production, organic farming aims to provide a natural environment for animals and foster natural behaviors. Research by the RSPCA shows that practices such as battery hen farming inflict continuous intense suffering on animals throughout their confinement leading to acute physical and behavioral problems.

Helps the Environment

Want to do your part for Mother Earth? Buy organic produce. Agriculture is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gases in the United States. Synthetic fertilizers require fossil fuels to make, which then releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Before buying produce, look at how much fertilizer is applied to crops, and use this as a guideline when making your decision.

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Now to Love.

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