How Much Healthier is Organic and is It worth the $
Well, yes and no. Confused? I'll try to take the mystery out of the question "organic or non-organic?" by covering the pros and cons. Pro: Organic farming is sustainable farming. Put simply, it uses natural organic methods without poisoning the earth and underground water sources. It's good for the environment Organic farmers do not use chemical fertilizers that can leech through the soil to poison underground aquifers or flow into the ocean killing sea life for thousands of miles. I've read with horror how pollution and fertilizer runoff from farming along the Mississippi River have flowed into the Gulf of Mexico creating a vast dead zone where virtually nothing lives! There are no fish, shrimp, crabs or any other form of sea life in this zone. In July, 2008 The Washington Post reported this dead zone to be about 8,000 square miles and would probably be larger if Hurricane Dolly had not churned the waters. That is 1,000 square miles larger than what was reported by National Geographic in 1999! Fully 52% of commercial agriculture in the US is farmed along the Mississippi. Pro: Organic fruits and vegetables have higher amounts of antioxidants and phytonutrients that are essential to fight disease and premature aging. This results in less illness which equals better health for you and your family. Pro: Organic farming does not include the use of poisonous pesticides that leave cancer causing residue in produce. Con: Organic foods are more expensive that commercially grown foods. This is actually not a con if better health reduces the need for even more expensive medical care! It is not imperative that ALL produce be organic. For a list of which are the safest and which are the worst and to read more about the dangers of pesticides click the link below (opens a new window).
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