The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that coronary heart disease and lung cancer are the leading causes of death for people aged 45 and above from 2014 to 2016. While genes certainly play a role in the development of life-threatening diseases, lifestyle is a great deal-breaker.
Hence, the number of consumers going green in the last 10 years has soared high. Eating organic produce is now embraced by many for better health and better life.
1. Fewer Chemicals
Processed foods and drinks like canned goods, frozen meat, chips, and carbonated beverages contain carcinogenic chemicals, such as N-nitroso found in bacons that cause bowel cancer.
In fact, the World Health Organization enlists your favorite hotdogs, ham, and sausages under the Group 1 category for carcinogens (high evidence for cancer) and red meat like lamb, pork, and beef under Group 2A (probable cause for cancer).
Sticking to organic foods will evidently reduce the likelihood of developing serious diseases.
2. More Harmful Added Ingredients
Besides carcinogens, processed goods have high levels of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats that altogether contribute to lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.
While these are treatable, the symptoms are chronic and may worsen particularly when the consumption of sugar, salt, and unsaturated fats continues uncontrolled.
3. Higher Nutritional Content
Preparation and preservation processes affect the nutritional content of foods. Freezing, drying, storing, and re-heating expose the food to extreme heating, lighting and oxygenation that reduce the nutrients.
According to the 2003 USDA Retention Factor, Vitamin A, for example, decreases by 50% when dried, 25% when cooked, and 10% when reheated relative to their raw food. Imagine when all food processes were undertaken, what little vitamins and minerals are left for absorption.
Worse, food handling may leave traces of chemicals like arsenic and glyphosate from soil and mercury from water. In the case of mercury, however, experts argue that mercury content is abundant in natural fresh fish and is not altered by any food process.
Canned fish is not necessarily worse than fresh fish. This teaches people to educate themselves better about food across different classifications to avoid false assumptions.
4. Higher Antioxidants
Organic food not only prevents cancer but also helps fight the signs of aging, improve cardiovascular health, and strengthens the immune system. A research discovered that organic onions had 20% higher antioxidant content unlike the ordinary ones.
The same can be expected for the other produce. Furthermore, a truly green lifestyle also means using personal care and beauty products that contain natural ingredients. This practice adds greater health security and beauty benefit to the consumers.
5. Yields Mental Health Rewards
Organic products cost higher than their synthetic counterparts. Some people then prefer to plant herbs, crops, and other plants in the backyard for personal consumption.
Gardening has been scientifically proven to decrease the onset of depression, stress, anxiety, and even hypertension. It also promotes physical health.
Furthermore, genetically modified organisms use fertilizers and other chemicals that can contribute to brain developmental delays, such as ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a study showed.
Hormonal injections in livestock may also leave traces and disrupt the end-eater’s hormonal balance, causing abnormalities.
Note that the consumption of processed foods or absorption of synthetic products has to be done in large quantities, in high repetitions, or over prolonged periods before unwanted effects can be observed. Nonetheless, it’s still best to eat your food in their original form. Go organic and live healthily.
