Health Benefits of Organic Lifestyle

There’s an increasing number of people switching from their usual, not-so-healthy lifestyle to healthier, organic alternatives. The reasons behind this are fairly simple: the soil we use to grow our crops is filled with pesticides that seep into our food and water sources, while the animals we use for food are littered with hormones and antibiotics. Even the fast food industry relies heavily on various chemicals and preservatives in order to keep the food from spoiling over prolonged periods of time.

Not to mention that our everyday diets have become so unbalanced that the modern world is experiencing epidemics of obesity , which has an enormous toll on our health. This can be seen in the increased number of people suffering from high blood-pressure, heart disease , stroke and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, going organic is not a statement but a real and practical necessity if we truly wish to leave the world a better place. Here are some of the most important benefits gained by leading an organic lifestyle.

Organic Clothing

Most of our clothing is produced either by using polyester, which is a synthetic material that hardly allows our skin to breathe, or by using industrial cotton that has been grown and refined with industrial chemicals. Organic cotton contains no chemicals at all and produces strong, resilient fibers, making it last significantly longer and feel better against the skin. Besides cotton, organic clothing can be made of organic hemp, linen and there’s even an organically produced bamboo clothing line for those who wish to embrace all the alternatives that come with living an organic lifestyle.

Organic farming

Traditional farming methods rely heavily on the use of herbicides and pesticides. This erodes the soil and decreases its fertility, making it increasingly more difficult to use for agriculture. Also, most farms are built near rivers so the pesticides and insecticides often seep through the soil and find their way into the local stream, poisoning the local wildlife such as fish, birds, and animals. Organic farming , on the other hand, reduces soil erosion, increases its fertility, and also uses less energy, less water and reduces the overall pollution levels associated with agriculture.

Organic food

Factory raised farm animals are often fed various animal byproducts and given large amounts of antibiotics and growth hormones. This greatly increases the risk of those animals developing mad cow disease, while the increased use of antibiotics leads to the creation of superbugs – strains of bacteria that are resistant to the vast majority of antibiotics we currently use. Additionally, traditionally raised cattle are given outdoor access and have significantly more room to move around in order to stay healthy.

A research done by Newcastle University experts has reviewed more than 250 papers on milk and meat and have found stark differences between conventionally produced and organically produced milk and meat. The organic meat and dairy contain a higher level (up to 50%) of specific nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids than their conventionally produced counterparts. Finally, organic food is free of GMOs.

Locally grown food also improves the local economy and cuts down the transportation costs. The average distance that produce travels (from a farm to the average dinner plate in the US) is more than 1,500 miles. This means that it has to be picked while it’s still far from being ripe and later gassed in order for it to “ripen” during or after the transport. The alternative is to overprocess the food using various, often inadequately researched preservatives just to prevent it from spoiling during the transport. Locally grown produce, however, is picked only when ripe in order to ensure maximum freshness.

As you can see, going organic has more advantages than limitations. It preserves the environment, ensures that our foods, rivers, and soil aren’t being drenched in various chemicals, herbicides and pesticides, and keeps antibiotics and hormones away from our food sources. There are even organic makeup and skincare products, which is ideal for those looking for an alternative to the usual lines of chemically saturated beauty products. An organic lifestyle is not a simple statement or a trendy topic, but rather, a preservation of our well-being as well as the well-being of our children, our environment, and our future.