What Does It Mean To Be Organic?

How seriously do you take your health?

Since COVID-19 occurred, at least 7 in 10 adults in the U.K. are motivated to become healthier.

But on the quest to become healthy, we can often get easily fooled and thrown off by clever marketing and the use of health buzzwords like “organic.”

Nowadays, many companies nationwide and internationally are trying their best to get people like you to purchase their products. This means they might claim verbally, in writing or on their packaging that they’re healthy and organic.

When reality is, only a small percentage of their final product might be organic.

Therefore to stop you from being deceived and to know exactly what you’re buying, we’re going to break down fully what it means to be organic and what to look for.

What is organic?

Well, organic is a word that means food that is grown without artificial chemicals such as man-made fertilisers and pesticides. In particular, food should not have been pumped with the following:

• Antibiotics
• Chemicals
• Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s)
• Hormones

In addition to this, it also has higher quality and more ethical levels for animal farming. Most importantly, they prevent regular antibiotic use in plants and livestock to stop antibiotic resistance.

How to know if a product is organic?

If you’re looking to check if a product is organic, the factors to check for can vary based on the type of product you’re buying. For instance:

• Produce: Only natural fertilisers should be used.
• Livestock: Should be raised without the use of growth hormones. They should also be allowed to roam freely.

Check the label

In the U.K., certain food labelling rules mean a product can only be classed as organic if at least 95% of the agricultural ingredients are organic. Plus, they must have a good label based on the origin, i.e. if it’s the U.K., it will have the following code ‘GB-ORG-XX’, whereas if it’s from a non-English speaking country, it will have a 3 letter code like ‘bio’, ‘öko’ or ‘eko.

If they are produced in the U.K., their label must also have a statement of agricultural origin. Plus, most products will have a certified Soil Association Organic logo with a green leaf to show it’s organic.

What are the benefits of organic food?

There’s a reason that the word organic is thrown out a lot in the food industry due to its abundance of benefits. In particular organic food helps:

Reduced nitrate levels

High nitrate levels can contribute to cancers of your kidney, colon and stomach. Research has shown that organically cultivated vegetables have significantly lower nitrates, reducing the risk of such cancers. In addition to this, they also have no pesticides in them, which can stop birth disorders, skin irritation, blood disorders, endocrine disruption, comas and more.

Higher healthy fats

Organic meat and dairy products have been shown to have 50% more omega-3 fatty acids in them. They have higher levels because livestock is raised in a natural environment and not under stress from living in a closed encounter.

If you’re not familiar with Omega 3 they’re healthy and unsaturated fats that are good for your body. They also help reduce your blood pressure, lower the likelihood of stroke and heart attack, slow down abnormal heart rhythm and more.

Good for the environment

In addition to the wonderful health benefits, organic food provides a vast amount for the environment. If you choose to buy organic food, you’re helping contribute to fewer chemicals and pesticides in the atmosphere. As a result, there’s less air pollution which can benefit people living in the local area and animals in the surroundings.

In addition to this, natural fertilisers help the quality of soil and fertility; they also stop soil from being eroded easily. Plus, it also involves less vital natural resources like water and energy. Organic farming also keeps the local ecosystems safe and healthy.

Organic supplements

In addition to food, supplements can also be organic, especially those that involve natural spices, herbs, and fungi grown in the right way. If you’re interested in taking some organic supplements, here are a few good ones:

Turmeric Supplement

Turmeric is a bright orange supplement regularly taken orally and placed in foods by many people worldwide. This supplement is often deemed one of the healthiest due to regular scientific research showing that it can help with anxiety, support healthy joints, healthy digestive system, reduce inflammation and more! In addition to it being organic, it’s also vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, allergen-free, has no fillers, colours and flavourings.

Ashwagandha Root KSM-66 Extract

Ashwagandha is a root that derives from a green shrub commonly found in India, Africa and areas of the middle east. This supplement is also commonly used in ayurvedic medicine to help promote fertility and vitality.

In particular, this plant is known to help with energy levels, enhance brain function, immune function and increase stress resistance. It’s also vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, allergen-free, has no fillers, colours and flavourings.

Conclusion

Overall, if you plan to buy food, drink or supplements online or from your supermarket, you should definitely take the time to choose organic ones. Generally, organic products are much better for your health and the environment.

If you’re based in the U.K. and want to check what’s organic, you can usually tell as the product will have a stamp from the Soil Association on it, which looks like a leaf. Take your time to also read the label carefully to make sure the ingredients are natural and has a barcode on them.

Do note that organic products may be slightly more expensive than non-organic ones as they contain no chemicals, hormones, synthetic additives, antibiotics, pesticides and GMO’s. However, the price difference is only a small price for greater health and quality of life.