Why Make the Switch to Organic?
In case you are still wondering whether or not the organic lifestyle can make a difference to your health, think again! Two recent studies published in the British Journal of Nutrition have shown that there is no doubt about it: organic foods can help prevent disease and keep our skin looking younger. In this post, we briefly highlight a few relevant findings.
How Organics Promote Better Health
The first of the two studies looked into the antioxidant content of produce of all kinds; everything from blueberries to broccoli, with findings showing that organic produce contains significantly higher levels of antioxidants than conventionally grown produce. Organic produce also contained much lower levels of heavy metal, cadmium.
Antioxidants are vital to health because research has shown that they promote better heart health, lower the likelihood of developing infections and some types of cancer, and battle free radicals, which wreak havoc on living cells and tissues in a process called ‘oxidative stress’. Some of the biggest causes of free radical products are poor diet, pollution, and the consumption of fried or charcoal broiled meats.
Organic Produce for More Youthful Skin
When skin is exposed to UV light from the sun, photo-oxidative damage occurs from the production of different reactive oxygen species, including peroxide radicals. These oxygen species attack proteins, DNA and cellular lipids in cells, and have been linked to skin cancer, premature skin ageing, and a plethora of skin problems.
Two antioxidants which are particularly powerful when it comes to keep skin youthful, are astaxanthin and beta-carotene.
Astaxanthin is found in high concentrations in specific fish and seafood, including red trout, red seabream, lobster, shrimp, krill, and crabs.
Beta-carotene, meanwhile, is an important precursor of Vitamin A; that is, it breaks down foods in Vitamin A in the liver. Some of the best sources of beta-carotene include carrots, spinach, kale, and broccoli.
Organic Meat and Dairy
Don’t be reticent to take your passion for organics further. The second of the above mentioned studies showed that organic meat and dairy foods contain 50% more Omega-3 essential fatty acids, including the prevention of cancer, heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, and even mental conditions such as anxiety and depression.
The findings indicate that children in particular (who tend to consume more dairy than adults) can benefit from consuming organic baby formula, milk, cheese, and other products that are rich in Omega-3s. Studies have shown that infants who are fed formulas enriched in these essential fatty acids show improvements in hand-eye coordination, intelligence test scores, and attention span. Omega-3s can also lower the risk of asthma and preterm labour, and promote growth and brain development.
There is little reason left to doubt the benefit of going organic. More antioxidants and Omega-3s and zero pesticides are two excellent reasons for kids and adults alike to avail of the very best that nature and careful cultivation, can offer.
Jennifer Ellis
