Should one splash out and buy organic?  According to the British Organic Governing Body, the ‘Soil Association’, we definitely should.  Organic Food has…

-    More Nutrients, Less Water…Artificial fertilisers increase the water content of food.  This produces a bigger yield but dilutes the nutrient content.  One study showed a 90% mineral increase in organic food compared to non-organic.  Plants take about 60 different minerals out of the soil and in commercial farming only 3 are put back in.  There is a higher ratio of polyunsaturated fats to saturated fats in organically reared meat.

-    More Phytonutrients…These are the 5,000 –10,000 naturally occurring compounds that protect both the plant from pests and diseases and also protect us from illnesses.

-    Fewer Additives…Organic food processors cannot use many of the 500 additives available to non-organic food processors e.g. hydrogenated fats, monosodium glutamate, colourings, aspartame.

-    No BSE…Organically born and reared animals have had no BSE cases.

-    No GMO’s…Their long term effect on our health is unknown.

-    Less Antibiotics…Their use in animal farming has increased 1500% in the last 30 years.  Non-organic animals are often given routine antibiotics to promote growth and to prevent disease in overcrowded farms.  Organic animals are only given antibiotics when absolutely necessary.

-    Less chance of food poisoning…Organic farming practices reduce the risk of food poisoning.

-    Healthier Soil…1 gram of soil has 10 billion micro-organisms.  Organically managed soil can have 85% more healthy soil life than non-organic.  Much of this ‘soil-life’ works with the plants to increase plant nutrient content.

-    Improved Environment…Less fossil fuel usage results in less carbon dioxide emissions.  Organic practices encourage biodiversity, bird-life and wildlife in hedgerows.  Local water has reduced nitrate content where in flows near organic land.

Many use the argument that organic food is too expensive to buy, but did you know - we spend more on alcohol than on junk food, and more on junk food than fruit and vegetables, and almost as much on cigarettes as on fruit and vegetables?  So can this argument really be substantiated?  Also is conventional food actually cheaper?  Perhaps you pay once at the check out, twice to clean up the environment and three times for your health?