Organic food is fast becoming a trend with a growing number of followers every single day. This clearly shows the growing awareness of the consuming public of the need to safeguard one’s health and actively seek for better alternatives to what is currently being consumed. And this is something that is fully understood by the people of Melbourne Essential Health Foods Store.
What is Organic?
The term ‘organic’ is often used to describe a certain characteristic of a product – usually food – that has been grown without the use of artificial products or other synthetic methods. What it entails is that the production processes involved are all-natural, using whatever resources is currently available in the environment.
Organic Farming
Since organics are more closely related to food products, when used in agriculture, organic processes describe a method of farming or the growing of vegetables, flowers, fruits, and other plant life through the effective use of the land itself.
Organic farmers can use crop rotation to maximize the yield of their farm by planting various seasonal crops. This ensures that the land is continuously being used and replenished of its valuable nutrients particularly nitrogen. To aid the organic farmer in this process, animal wastes and composts are used to make the soil as fertile as possible.
Controlling pests such as ant hoppers and farm bugs, organic farmers employ what is called biological pest control. They use the natural predators of these farm pests. Using spiders and frogs are just two of the more common biological pest control methods.
Organic Livestock
The principles of organic farming are not only confined to plant life. Growing chicken, swine, cattle and other farm animals can also benefit from organic methods. By giving food items that are naturally, and organically, found in the farm, these farm animals are grown without the use of artificial, commercially-prepared feed such as growers, fatteners, and finishers.
Is It a Novel Concept?
Organic farming is not something entirely new. Before the advent of fertilizers and pesticides, farmers and livestock growers have naturally depended on their surroundings to produce greater farm yield as well as get rid of farm pests. They maximized the land by composting animal manure, turning them into a rich source of nitrogen for the land. Other animals were also employed to help control the growth of pests such as ant hoppers and aphids.
However, with the coming of technology and supposed breakthroughs in commercial pesticide control, these unique organic farming methods of old have been slowly drifting away. In its place came the convenience and ease of using commercially-prepared agricultural products.
And now, it is making a comeback because of the increasing awareness of the public on the many health issues posed by indiscriminate use of pesticides and other agricultural products.
Bringing the Benefits of Organic Methods to Your Table
When the products of organic farming – both plant life and livestock – finally reach your table, you and your family are on the right track to healthier lives.
- Organic foods slow down the effects of premature aging
- Organic foods boost the ability of the body to fight infections
- Organic foods reduce the likelihood of having heart problems
- Organic foods reduce the likelihood of certain cancers from developing
Furthermore, organic foods are also instrumental in reducing the environmental footprint of agricultural processes by reducing the need to use artificial fertilizers and harmful pesticides. It also promotes the welfare of animals by giving them only food that is available from the farm. All in all, organic foods have the best intention of ensuring the safety and health of future world generations.
Because organic foods do not contain pesticide residue, your health is guaranteed. Not only that, it definitely tastes better, too. The anti-oxidant properties of organic food are incomparable, primarily because the vitamins and minerals and other nutrients that are found in organic food is not contaminated with harmful chemicals coming from pesticides.
Where to Get Organic Food?
The best source of organic food products will be from organic farmers themselves. If you know someone who is an organic farmer, then he is the best person who can supply your organic food needs. However, the number of organic farmers is still not that great. So the next best thing for you is to look elsewhere.
Natural health food stores are abundant all over the world. These stores provide a wide array of organic food items that should give you convenience as well as the peace of mind related to your health.
Being healthy and staying that way takes more than just eating the correct diet. You also need to make sure that the food you eat does not give you additional problems. Going organic is surely the best way to achieve this.