Organic foods can provide a number of benefits for your health, the well-being of the animals your food is coming from, and the protection of our global environment.
Health Benefits
Organic food can reduce your exposure to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. According to research published in the journal Foods, there are regulations on organic farming operations that food manufacturers and agricultural workers must follow. These rules have helped decrease the risk of allergic reactions, lung damage, nervous system problems, birth defects, and chronic health conditions such as cancer. More research is still needed to understand the comprehensive benefits of switching your current diet to an entirely organic one.
Organic farming rules also prohibit the use of antibiotics in animals. This regulation helps reduce the global threat of antimicrobial resistance that’s tied to conventional animal farming practices that use antibiotics, according to research published in Microorganisms. But why exactly is this important? Well, the World Health Organization (WHO) explains that antimicrobial resistance happens when pathogens like bacteria and viruses evolve and become ineffective in fighting infections. This results in an increased risk of illness and disease spread.
Instead of turning to antibiotics to keep their animals healthy, organic farmers are required by the USDA to use preventive measures, such as giving the animals appropriate space to roam, which in turn cuts down on the transmission of infections and other diseases they may be carrying or spreading to other animals near them.
Certified organic foods also exclude the use of genetic engineering practices. While research on genetically modified foods is limited and still being studied, some experts worry that genetic engineering may cause unexpected side effects that aren’t fully understood yet.
Animal Welfare
Many people who choose to eat organic meat and dairy do so to support better treatment standards of animals that ultimately serve as a food source. According to the USDA, organically farmed animals must be raised on organic land in ways that accommodate their health and natural behavior. Agricultural workers also need to feed animals 100 percent organic feed, allow year-round access to the outdoors, and raise them without antibiotics or growth hormones.
Environmental Sustainability
Research also explains that by prohibiting the use of pesticides, industrial solvents, and synthetic chemicals, organic farming practices help prevent additional environmental pollution. When farmers and ranchers follow sustainable farm management practices, they help preserve and improve the ecosystem’s health, promote biodiversity, support natural biological cycles, and encourage important biological activity in the soil, one study states.