The Advantages of Organic Food are Obvious, Aren’t They?The advantages of organic food are numerous, but if it’s not available or too expensive, non organic food that’s plant based is much better for your health than organic meat or dairy. Consuming animal products leads to heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, and early aging. Sure, it may be cleaner (less contaminated with pesticides and added hormones, etc.) than nonorganic meal and dairy, but it’s still dangerous for human health and well being, whether organic or nonorganic. 
I’m certainly in favor of choosing organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible, but the most important thing people can do to improve their health is to eliminate animal products and focus on a whole foods, plant-based diet of vegetables, fruits, grains, beans, seeds and nuts.
Is there an Environmental Advantage?One of the much-touted advantages of organic food is that it’s also better for the health of the planet. That’s obvious, because organic farming produces less waste and uses less energy. In addition, synthetic chemicals aren’t being released into the environment. However, raising livestock is a serious environmental problem. Cattle (both dairy and beef), chickens, and pigs generate 18% of the world’s greenhouse gases through belching, flatus, and manure. This is true even for organically raised animals. Large amounts of land are required for grazing and raising feed crops for these animals. The largest savings in fossil fuels would come from giving up meat and dairy foods. To produce 1 Calorie of animal protein, 25 Calories of fossil fuels are needed. Compare this to the amount of fossil fuels necessary to produce 1 Calorie of grain: just 2.2 Calories. For meat and dairy, 11 times more fossil fuels are needed. A plant-based diet is healthier for you, your family, your neighbors, and the entire world’s population. It’s healthier for Mother Earth. Last but not least, it’s more compassionate. Return from Advantages of Organic Food to Vegetarianism. |
