Are the Benefits of Organic Food Overrated?
Skeptics say that organic food is not much different than non-organic and that this is simply a trend which people are following just to be cool and hip. Organic food advocates swear that organic food is not only the bets for your health, but also for the environment. Before you decide which side you are on and whether or not to eat organic, let’s take a look at some studies:
1. Recent studies showed that men who eat organic food have a much higher sperm count, which increases their fertility. Guys who are on organic diets have a sperm count of between 99 and 127 million/ml. Men who don’t eat organic food, have the average of 66 million/ml.
2. Studies show that children who eat organic food show a much lower level of pesticides in their bodies (six times lower!), than kids who eat conventionally-grown and non-organic foods.
3. Other studies proved that chemicals in conventional foods are much more dangerous for children due to their smaller sizes and much faster metabolisms. The Consumers Union and Environmental Working Group released studies which confirmed that kids are overexposed to chemicals and pesticides in foods even if their exposure is within legal limits.
4. Did you know that many hormones and chemicals which were introduced post World War II are not proven to be safe in a long-term. Many parents, who are freaked out by allergy, obesity and cancer rates going up, decide not to take risks and buy organic.
5. Did you know that European Union banned imports of U.S. beef because of the rBGH hormone, which is given to cows in the U.S. and forbidden in pretty much the rest of the world (including Canada). According to the WTO agreement, European Union (or any other country) can only base a ban on scientifically proved health hazards, not on fear of consumer reactions. So what does it tell us about USA? Are we a wallet-driven country, in which big bucks are more important than people’s health and lives?
What do you think?
