You are what you eat, so the saying goes. But do you really know what you are putting into your body? We may look at our diet and see that yes, we are eating healthily with lots of fruits and vegetables and a fairly balanced diet.
However, did you know that due to soil depletion, most produce that is grown today has less nutritional value that they used in years ago? Modern agricultural methods have stripped the amount of nutrients from the soil which we grow our food.
While farmers have concentrated on growing crops that provide greater yields, pest resistance and climate adaptability, we have gotten larger crops, but their ability to uptake nutrients has not kept up to speed. There have been studies that show declines in nutrients, such as magnesium, zinc and vitamins B6 & E.
One way to go forward is to grow crops in healthier soil. Giving the land some time to restore in between growing seasons would be an important step. Another way is to look into organic farming methods which forego pesticides and fertilizers, leading to better soil and produce. Buying organic fruits and vegetables would probably result in more nutritious food.
What is Organic Food?
Organic foods are agricultural food products that have been grown on soil with no prohibited substances like synthetic fertilizers, GMOs and pesticides.
How can You Tell If it’s Organic?
The easiest way to tell if your food is organic is through organic food labelling. Organic farmers and retailers can become certified organic through independent organic associations that verify their processes as ‘organic’. From farming, processing to packaging and shipping, there is a set of stringent criteria that certified organic farmers have to follow.
While the criteria varies from one country to another, there are some general guidelines for being organically certified:
- avoidance of synthetic chemical inputs (eg. fertilizer, pesticides, antibiotics, food additives), irradiation, and the use of sewage sludge
- avoidance of genetically modified seed
- use of farmland that has been free from prohibited chemical inputs for a number of years
- for livestock, adhering to specific requirements for feed, housing, and breeding
- keeping detailed written production and sales records
- maintaining strict physical separation of organic products from non-certified products
- undergoing periodic on-site inspections
Once certified, suppliers can proudly display their logo marks on the product packaging to assure customers that they are organically certified. For consumers, this is helpful for their peace of mind when it comes to purchasing organic food.
Benefits of Eating Organic Food
We have already mentioned about how organic foods have more nutritional value than most non-organic foods, but there are other benefits of eating organic food:
Pesticide and chemical free
Most modern crops are now sprayed with pesticides and fungicides to keep pests and animals away. However, they may contain chemical residues even after washing and are ingested by us. Pesticides are harmful to our body and are linked to illnesses like Parkinson’s disease, asthma, depression, anxiety, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and cancer.
The best way to avoid this is to eat organic food.
GMO-free
Genetically modified organisms(GMO) are living organisms whose genetic material has been altered in the laboratory. While this is done to enhance crops to grow bigger and better, the consequences of us eating these GMO foods is still unknown. The most common crops that are genetically modified are corn, soy, canola and sugar beet.
No Antibiotics or Hormones
Antibiotics and hormones are used to prevent livestock like chicken, cattle, pigs and fish from falling ill on farms. However, these hormones have been linked to breast, prostate and other cancers in humans. Antibiotics can also cause resistant strains of bacteria to develop and attack our health.
Fresher and high quality produce
Organic food does not contain preservatives, last longer and taste better. For the consumer, this results in fresher and higher quality produce for their taste buds and health.
Better for the environment
Organic farming without pesticides reduces harmful runoff into the surrounding lakes and rivers, as well as for the wildlife living nearby. Farming techniques may also be more beneficial for the environment as there is less pollution and soil erosion of the farmland.
Get Your Organic Food from Nature’s Glory Malaysia
At Nature’s Glory, we ensure that our organic foods are certified organic by the National Association of Sustainable Agriculture Australia - one of Australia’s top certifying bodies. We are a NASAA certified organic operator (NCO) under the registration number 8131P in Singapore.
We have also been offering quality organic food since 1991 and one of the few grocers to have been certified from 2008. Our products are also non-GMO, microwave free, tested for radiation and sold at very affordable prices. We also do not fumigate our warehouses to keep pests away, ensuring that our produce is uncontaminated by chemicals. Each step of the process has been carefully monitored to ensure that our customers receive the best certified organic produce that is safe to eat.
You can find out about our Organic Quality Assurance here.
Now available in Malaysia through our online store for organic food, we hope to continue our health mission to improve the health of our customers through our organic produce and other health products.