Why shop at organic food stores?

There have been many reports of the benefits of organic foods on not only your diet, health & well-being, but also of the environmental benefits to the earth. In this article we'll examine the arguments for pursuing an organic diet and the impacts that it can have on the health and well-being of you and your family.

Health benefits

Advantages for health
Despite the fact that an organic food diet is more expensive, many people are prepared to pay a little more for the piece of mind that the food they are ingesting is healthier. According the the Soil Association of Great Britain, the body responsible for promoting an organic lifestyle, organic food prohibits the use of artificial additives and flavourings.
These have been linked to ADHD in children and a range of cancers. Additionally, organic farms do not use antibiotics in their animals and control illness and disease through other more natural methods.
As a result of the high antibiotic use, resistant forms of MRSA are developing in farm animals and there has already been evidence of transfer to humans. Independent testing has shown that on average, organic foods contain way more vitamins and minerals, less drugs and less additives than their non organic counterparts.
Despite the higher costs involved in shopping for organic products, there is evidence that this can be offset by reducing the need to buy food supplements and nutritional products from separate health shops.

Ethical choice

Ethics
Not only does organic foods provide benefits to the consumer but it also supports sustainable farming practices and small local businesses.
To keep products fresh, they are sourced locally which means less food miles and also that you are supporting local farmers. Many organic stores are small co-operatives which means that you are bypassing large supermarkets and their questionable business practices.
Organic farming control illness and disease by having smaller stock sizes in farm animals and consequently, the lives of the animals are much improved. Organic farming usually goes hand in hand with schemes like fair trade.
With this in mind, you can be sure that the products you are buying are not taking advantage of third world countries and contributing towards unacceptable working conditions. The lower use of drugs, pesticides and other chemicals means that organic farming is less reliant on the petro-chemical industry.
By choosing organic food you are reducing the amount of carbon dioxide and other global warming gasses that are created in the production of your food.
Final word
If you are interested in pursuing an organic lifestyle, but don't know where to start, then try visiting the Soil Association website for the latest research an news, shopping tips and recipes.