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Healthy Foods: Benefits Eating Organic
7 Reasons to Go Organic
Research shows that you can improve your health and the environment by supporting organic practices
By
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Organic Eating 101
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1
Organic fruits and veggies are nutritionally rich
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2
Organic agriculture reduces our exposure to harmful pesticides
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3
Organic meat and dairy may contain more healthy fats
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4
Organic farming protects the environment
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5
Organic products are processed without hormones or antibiotics
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6
Organic foods don’t contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
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7
Organic practices support animal welfare
Organic foods don’t contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
A GMO is an organism injected with genetic material from another species to create a version of itself that doesn’t occur in nature and can’t be produced with typical modes of crossbreeding. In the case of crops, GMOs are most frequently created to form herbicide-tolerant or insect-resistant plants, so they can withstand pests and powerful chemicals, allowing farmers to harvest more crops. The use of GMOs in American crops is widespread and grows every year. In 2011, about 94 percent of soy, 75 percent of cotton, and 72 percent of corn was genetically modified, according to the USDA. The California Department of Food and Agriculture reported that as many as 70 percent of processed supermarket foods may contain genetically modified substances. Currently there is no law requiring that foods containing GMOs be labeled accordingly.
How to Avoid Sneaky Supermarket Tricks
While GMOs are still legal in the United States, 30 other countries have implemented restrictions or outright bans on GMOs, because they aren’t proven to be safe. Right now the potential negative effects are mostly unknown, but some research indicates that GMOs may be harmful to our health. Several studies with laboratory animals have linked genetically modified foods with a variety of health problems, including allergic reactions and disturbances in the liver, kidneys, and heart. The use of GMOs may have also created the rise of super-weeds—herbicide-resistant weeds—and super-bugs—insects that have become immune to pesticides—both of which can threaten crops, according to a report from the National Research Council.
Because organic foods are produced without GMOs, they’re your best bet for avoiding these mystery organisms.
How to Avoid Sneaky Supermarket Tricks
While GMOs are still legal in the United States, 30 other countries have implemented restrictions or outright bans on GMOs, because they aren’t proven to be safe. Right now the potential negative effects are mostly unknown, but some research indicates that GMOs may be harmful to our health. Several studies with laboratory animals have linked genetically modified foods with a variety of health problems, including allergic reactions and disturbances in the liver, kidneys, and heart. The use of GMOs may have also created the rise of super-weeds—herbicide-resistant weeds—and super-bugs—insects that have become immune to pesticides—both of which can threaten crops, according to a report from the National Research Council.
Because organic foods are produced without GMOs, they’re your best bet for avoiding these mystery organisms.
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