Contrasting of Organic and Inorganic Food - Research Paper Example

Organic Food: The Essence Of The Nature Introduction Living a healthy lifestyle has become a necessity for people living in the demanding working environment of today. Eating healthy and nutritious food is an essential aspect of a healthy lifestyle. Hence, the food products known as ‘organic’ foods have attracted huge attention of people. Many health conscious people make efforts to use organic products not only in preparing their food but also in other things like clothes, vehicles and home decoration (Dunn-Georgiou 8). Organic food has become extremely popular due to an understanding that eating organic food is healthy for body, mind and environment. Inorganic food items are those which are made with the help of artificial ingredients. The essence of the organic food is that it is made without adding any artificial ingredients or preservatives to it and hence, is very healthy for human beings. However, there are many more differences in organic food and inorganic food than just the addition of the artificial ingredients. The study of the whole process of making organic food reveals that organic food is not just good for health of human beings but is also good for environment, soil and the nature of the earth and hence, also has a spiritual value as it nourishes the nature and environment by adopting the natural process of producing food. Difference between Organic and Inorganic food It is quite difficult to distinguish organic food from inorganic food if it is not labeled (Stockdale, and Watson 1). For the food product to be labeled or certified as ‘organic’ not only the end product has to be free from the addition of artificial ingredients but the whole process of farming has to be done in an ‘organic’ way (Stockdale, and Watson 1). The food is called ‘organic’ when the components of the whole production system like the soil of farming, plants, animals, end product etc., are used according to the ‘organic’ standards set by the government bodies (Stockdale, and Watson 1). Initially, it was believed that organic foods are more expensive than the inorganic foods and hence, out of reach of people with average financial status (Fookes and Dalmeny 3). Also, it was believed that it is not possible to fulfill the demand of consumers if foods are produced in organic way (Fookes and Dalmeny 3). However, both these beliefs were proved wrong as it was found that the overall cost of organic foods is not only three times less than the inorganic foods but organic foods also provide richer environment to the soil which enhances the quality and the life of the soil (Fookes and Dalmeny 3). In this way, organic and inorganic food differs from each other in many ways. However, the essential difference in the organic and the inorganic food is in the quality and the effect of the foods on the health of human beings. These differences are described below: Nature of food The food that is prepared without using artificial chemicals, fertilizers or pesticides in making them is called as organic food (Dunn-Georgiou 10). Hence, the organic foods are ‘natural’ products. The method of farming and producing organic food is natural and “environment friendly” (Dunn-Georgiou 10). Organic foods are produced with the help of natural farming methods which are less harmful to the environment (Dunn-Georgiou 10). Hence, organic food has gained so much popularity in the world. On the other hand, inorganic food is that food which is prepared under the conventional farming methods which utilizes different types of chemicals while producing and growing fruits and vegetable (Dunn-Georgiou 10). Hence, the inorganic foods are ‘artificial’ in nature. The use of chemicals and fertilizers in making the inorganic foods makes the products lose its natural richness and nutrition and hence, the use of conventional methods proves disastrous for the quality and richness of the inorganic food. The artificial nature of the inorganic foods not only harms the health of human beings but also harms the environment as all the different components of farming are polluted due to the use of artificial chemicals and fertilizers in order to make the product ‘look’ better. Look of the food products Organic food is produced without any help of chemicals or added colors and preservatives and hence, is not attractive and colorful in looks (Dunn-Georgiou 9). In fact, they can have blemishes and different sizes and shapes as these are the part of the natural variations (Dunn-Georgiou 9). On the other hand, inorganic food items are very attractive and colorful in their looks (Dunn-Georgiou 9). The producers of the food add preservatives, artificial flavors and colors to make the food look attractive to the consumers. Hence, they also have similar sizes and shapes as they are manipulated to look good for commercial purpose (Dunn-Georgiou 9). Taste According to the people who consume organic food regularly, organic food is fresh and tastes better (Dunn-Georgiou 11). Inorganic food does not taste as good as organic food as people find the flavors of artificial color, scent and preservatives mixed in the natural taste of the product (Dunn-Georgiou 11). Also, as inorganic food is stored in refrigerators for a long time, it is not fresh in nature (Dunn-Georgiou 11). Environment friendly The farmers, who grow food in organic way, work with nature and its different elements to produce food (Roseboro 3). They take the support of the different aspects of nature like soil, insects, domestic animals etc., to produce food that is good not only for human beings but also for the environments (Roseboro 3). Instead of polluting the soil with chemicals, the organic farmers enhance the fertility of the soil by using “compost, cover crops, and manures” (Roseboro 3). By using these natural ingredients, the farmers strengthen and build a natural ability of the plants to withstand the attack from pests and weeds (Roseboro 3). The organic farmers limit the pests with the help of beneficial insects and environmentally safe methods (Roseboro 3). The organic farmers take great efforts to preserve the natural strength and richness of the soil while producing organic food by using techniques like using mulch to limit weeds, yearly alternate crop planting to preserve the soil, adding nutrients, breaking weeds, insect lifecycles etc (Roseboro 3). Hence, organic food is completely free from the harmful chemicals and fertilizers. The inorganic farmers, on the contrary, use number of different chemicals, fertilizers and artificial ingredients to produce the food (Roseboro 3). They overwhelm the nature with chemicals and artificial fertilizers in hope of producing more food in less time and with less use of energy (Roseboro 3). In doing so, they harm the quality of the soil and the crops in long term. The overuse of chemicals not only affects the soil but also affects the quality of the food negatively (Roseboro 3). The inorganic farmers go against the nature in producing the food. The health aspect As the organic food is prepared with natural methods, it is very healthy for the body. The lack of pesticides and added preservatives make it nourishing and harmless for the body as they are pure, safe and healthy (Roseboro 2). On the other hand, inorganic foods are produced with the help of chemicals, fertilizers, artificial hormones, antibiotics and genetically engineered ingredients (Roseboro 2). A research conducted in UK found that half of the inorganic fresh fruits and vegetables contained residues of pesticides in it (Fookes and Dalmeny 7). Even a small amount of harmful chemicals and pesticides generate a risk of life threatening diseases in human beings. Hence, inorganic foods are unhealthy, unsafe and dangerous for the health of human beings. The strict quality standard For the food to be labeled as ‘organic’, the product has to follow strict quality guidelines set by the government bodies. A civil penalty up to $10,000 is applicable for anyone who labels the product as ‘organic’ without following the National Organic Program’s regulations (Lipson 47). In fact, it is the adherence to these strict standards that has made organic products so popular and trustworthy (Roseboro 8). For inorganic foods, there are no strict quality guidelines, standards or regulations set by the government body. Conclusion The differences between the organic and inorganic foods show that consuming organic foods not only ensures healthy lifestyle but also minimizes the future health risks which are developed due to the consumption of artificial flavors, pesticides and chemicals through inorganic foods, and its long storage life. To lead a healthy lifestyle and to tackle the demanding nature of today’s working conditions, it is extremely important for people to choose foods that ensure health, safety and fulfillment of the nutritious needs of the body. Hence, organic foods have proved to be a boon for a modern man. Works Cited Dunn-Georgiou, Elisha. Everything you Need to Know About Organic Food. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc, 2002. Print. Lipson, Elaine. The Organic Foods Sourcebook. New York : Contemporary Books, 2001. Print. Roseboro, Ken. The Organic Food Handbook: A Consumer’s Guide to Buying and Eating Organic Food. Laguna Beach: Basic Health Publications, Inc., 2006. Print. Stockdale, Elizabeth, and Christine Watson. Health Benefits of Organic Food: Effects of the Environment. Ed. Ian Givens, Samantha Baxter, Anne Minihane and Elizabeth Shaw. Oxfordshire: CAB International, 2008. Print. Fookes, Catherine and Kath Dalmeny. Myth and Reality: Organic Vs. Non-organic. Bristol: The Soil Association, 2001. Web. 14 March 2011. Read More