Organic Food as a Way of a Healthy Life - Research Paper Example

Organic Food Organic Food Outline: Introduction Background Aims and Objectives Research Findings; Expert Interview Conclusion RecommendationIntroduction Recently, the organic food has been considered a secret of healthy life. The term organic is connected to green and environment-friendly activity. In simple words the organic food means the good that has been made through natural methods. The use of artificial methods and other greenhouse techniques is prohibited in the organic production. In addition, the techniques of preservation, fertilization and usage of other chemical materials are prohibited in growing the organic foods. The term organic food was first introduced by Lord Northbourne in 1939. He gave the concept of “farm as organism” in his book Look to the land (1940). He mentioned all the necessary approaches for farming in his book. He included all the factors about balanced farming and chemical farming to clear a concept of the organic food (Northbourne, 1940). In recent days, the utilization of greenhouses and chemicals in farming have captured the entire share of food farming. As the consumption level is increasing day by day, these modern techniques are used to meet the demand. On the other side, food, which is grown by these methods, contains many chemicals. According to some recent researches, these chemicals are harmful for the human health. That’s why organic foods are referred to as the ultimate source of healthy life. Farming of organic foods is done at small areas such as kitchen gardens or small farms. Organic foods are grown where people harvest the foods according to their demands. Organic foods have become popular in recent days and have a huge level of sales all over the world. Organic foods are also used to show a protest against agriculture industrialization, which have a major negative effect on both of human health and atmosphere. Background The world is adopting the modern health standard to for living a healthy life. Due to this, there is constant debate among the people of all age groups that what is better for human health. Organic food is one of the hot discussion topics nowadays. According to many agriculture reports, organic foods are not the food which has some organic material in it. It is bit different form the word organic. In science, the term organic referred to the element which contain carbon in it. But the concept of organic food is much different form this definition. The concept of organic food lies in the process of farming. There are also many procedures made by the countries to which guarantee the originality of organic food. For example, congress has passed an organic food production act in 1990 to increase the level of natural production. This organic food protection act prohibits the farmers to use the dangerous chemical and pesticides in harvesting of foods. Why Organic food Chemicals and pesticides are used to increase the production level of foods. Mostly, the farmers are forced to harvest the food by using the artificial techniques because they are more efficient than any other traditional methodology (Louise). On the other side, there are many disadvantages of these chemicals and pesticides. According to some medical research, foods that are harvested with using artificial techniques are harmful to human health and also cause many dangerous diseases such as cancer or birth defects. In addition, greenhouses are also the main part of artificial methodologies. Greenhouses have many negative effects on the environment. Nowadays human are using chemical based fertilizers in agriculture. Nitrogen is used as the main component of these fertilizers. Nitrogen oxides are 300 times more powerful and act as the heat stabilizer. These new techniques are also increasing the effect of global warming in the environment. According to David Douglass, who is a physicist, stated that greenhouse gases are the main reason of increase in the pollution level in the environment, and they produce wide effects on the global warming. Process involves in organic foods: As it was mentioned earlier, the organic farming prohibits the use of dangerous pesticides and chemical. There are lots of environment-friendly supplements that are used in organic farming. Some of the earth friendly methodologies, such as crop rotation and cover cropping, are used to protect the soil form any of material loss. These techniques help to preserve the soil healthy. People can get the healthy food by avoiding the chemicals in farming and can also avoid the chance of serious health problems. Aims and objectives As it was mentioned earlier, today there is a constant debate on the topic what is better for the human health and for a healthy life. The main question that people ask is “What is the difference between the organic food and other traditional food?” As it was mentioned in the background section that, organic food serve the community by reducing the chances of serious health problems such as cancer. Research For better understanding, I have carried out a research work that why people prefer to use the organic product over all other products. In addition, the research work also shows that, how the different countries have taken out certain steps for organic food. Some extract of my research has been mentioned below: High quality foods: Organic foods are referred as the source of high quality nutritionist. They are the outcomes of natural systems rather than any other artificial method. Effects on plants and animals: Organic foods are obtained through organic farming. And organic farming enhance the biological cycles in the farming systems. It focuses on the sustainability of micro-organisms, soil, plants and animals. It also increases the long term fertility of the soil. Avoid the pollution: Organic foods are helpful to avoid the pollution level in the environment. As it is mentioned earlier that, new agricultural techniques are increasing the pollution level in the environment, Greenhouse effect is one of the major example of this environmental pollution (Wikipedia). Legislation for organic food There are many legislation have set the countries on the production of organic foods. As it is mentioned earlier that American congress has passed the act about organic food that ensure the originality of organic foods and prohibit the use of dangerous chemicals and pesticides in food farming. There are some other legations about the organic foods has been mentioned below. In the year 2008, there were the presence of approximately forty seven countries those have fully adopted the rules and regulations for the production of organic foods. There are many other countries those are implanting the rules and regulations for the production of organic foods. There is also the presence of many countries those are designing the rules and regulation for this purpose. Some governments including the Mexican government has passed the law of the farming of organic foods. ("Report on eec," 2007) European Union has also set the rules of organic farming. These rules and regulations focus to reduce the use seeds form the conventional sources in organic food farming. There is also the presence of some organic revisions. The main purpose of these revisions is to support the European Union Commission in the future developments in the field of organic foods. In the United Kingdom, DEFRA has issued a document which contains the guidance on European Union organic standards. It set all the regulation about the regulatory bodies those are attached with organic farming (DEFRA). Why the world is moving towards organic foods: According to a poll that was conducted by the Engineering Corporation in 1997, approximately 54% of the United States customers want to see the organic food in their markets and prefer organic agriculture as a predominant form of food farming. Another survey that was conducted in June 2000 by the national health center for the public policy shoes that, over 68% American people prefer organic foods as a only source of healthy life. On the other side, one survey result showed that people consume approximately over 12-15 million dollars on organic food every year. (Organic Consumer Association) Organic Food; Statics It is mentioned earlier that most of the countries have taken material steps to promote organic farming. There are also many countries those are adopting the procedure for organic farming in efficient manner. For example, over 8% of Welsh land was fully organic. Statics shows that more than 50% area has increased under the organic management in the years 2006-2010. (Welsh organic farming, 2010) Findings In relation with the above research, it is clear that organic food is necessary for human health. Experts also state that, organic food has taken a primary portion of health life. There are some extract taken from the expert’s interviews mentioned below Harmful effects of non-organic foods?: According to organic food expert, non-organic foods have many harmful effects on both of human body and environment. On the other hand, organic foods promote the factor of health and make the environment clean. Why do non-organic foods look more appealing? Expert state that the non-organic foods look more appealing because they have almost all the portion of artificial elements. That’s why organic foods are attractive by look but many contain many negative effects with them. Why Organic food is better? According to the organic food expert, organic foods are beneficial because they do not contain any kind of chemical in them and referred as an ultimate source of purity. That’s why organic foods have many positive effects on the human health. On the other side of coin, prohibition of using chemical and pesticides in the farming of organic foods also ensure the maximum safety for environment. What evidence is there to prove that organic food is healthy? Expert state that, there are lots of different variables that proves the organic foods healthy. In addition, the organic food has large portion of vitamin C, Trace minerals and antioxidants (Reduce the chance of cancer). There are lots of other factors those ensure that the organic foods are more beneficial for human health such as organic foods have some minerals those cannot be created by human body. Why organic foods have more taste? Expert state that, the main reason for the taste in the organic food is their normal production period. They are not forced to grow early with the help of chemicals and pesticides. Is there are artificial coloring and flavoring in organic foods? No Not at all. Experts state that, there is no any existence of artificial coloring and flavoring in organic foods. Why organic foods are more expensive? Organic foods are expensive because their farming involves lots of standards such as it requires more land, more labor, higher animal welfare cost, expensive raw material, and expensive certification process. Where can we buy organic food? Expert state that, the best place to buy organic food is your local area. In addition, there are also many other websites on the internet which offer you to provide quality of organic food at your home. Conclusion Over the last few decades, Organic food and their production are the major debate topic. In practice, there are two types of thoughts are prevailing in the society. One is pro-organic side and the second is anti-organic side. The pro-organic side argues that the use of chemicals and pesticides in the farming of fruits and vegetables have many harmful effects on human lives and health. They also state that organic foods contain major portion of ingredients and minerals those are necessary for a healthy life. On the other side of coin, anti-organic side states that there is not any side-effect of non-organic foods. They state that, non-organic methods are much useful for the welfare for human lives. Non-organic methods are contributing to meet the high level of demand with their increased production level. This research work contains all the information to protect anti-organic arguments. It is clear that the non-organic foods are much harmful for the human health and can create many serious ambiguities and health issues. Non-organic methods are also harmful for the plants and animals. They are also the main reason of environmental pollution. The major example of this can be seen in greenhouse effects. This problem has noticed on the world level. Many countries have taken lots of material steps to protect the environment from the effects of non-organic forming. Some countries have introduced the legal rules for organic farming. There is also the presence of many non-profit organizations whose primary function is to make awareness in the people for the organic foods. For example, The Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance is the non-profit organization which works to enhance the awareness in the public about the benefits of organic foods. (Michigan Organic Food Alliance, 2010) Recommendations In the light of above research work, it is recommended that people should prefer organic foods for healthy lives. In addition, governments of the countries should take some major steps to promote the awareness of organic food among the people. There is also a need for the regulatory bodies to make the more effective legislation on agriculture farming to reduce the negative effects of non-organic farming. References: Northbourne, . (1940). Look to the land. London: Dent. Louise. (n.d.). The advantages of organic food. Retrieved from http://www.organicfoodinfo.net/ Wikipedia. (n.d.). Green house effect. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect Report on eec regulation. (2007, Dec.). Retrieved from http://www.organic-revision.org/ Organic Consumer Association. (n.d.). Organic consumer association reports. Retrieved from http://www.organicconsumers.org/ Welsh organic farming. (2010). Organic food statics. Retrieved from http://www.organiccentrewales.org.uk/stats2011-wales.php?menuopt=2.1 Michigan Organic Food. (2010). Michigan organic food alliance. Retrieved from http://www.moffa.org/ DEFRA. (n.d.). Uk organic food laws. Retrieved from http://www.defra.gov.uk/ Read More