Overview
Up until recently, organic food was quite expensive and only available in a few health food stores.
Fortunately, this has changed. Today, you can find organic food in virtually every supermarket out there. The prices are also a lot more affordable.
Including organic foods in your diet will undoubtedly offer several benefits that concern most of your organs.
In this article, we will briefly define the nature of organic food, then switch gears to discuss the benefits of consuming these fruits and veggies.
What is organic food?
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) allows companies to put the label of organic food only if they strictly follow their standards.
Some of these standards include:
- Not using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides
- Not performing genetic engineering on crops
- Avoiding the chemical processing of these foods
Of course, the actual standards are much more intricate than this shortlist.
The benefits of organic food
Organic food optimizes your life in many ways. However, the underlying mechanisms all boil down to the following effects:
- Anti-inflammatory effect
- Antioxidative effect
- Detoxifying properties
Anti-inflammatory effect
Inflammation presents with the classic signs of redness, pain, warmth, and swelling.
This response is indispensable to eradicate foreign pathogens and maintain the sterility of your organs. When this process lasts too long, however, we start dealing with low-grade inflammation.
The metabolic state of inflammation is characterized by high levels of cytokines, interleukins, and other pro-inflammatory substances. Unfortunately, this will wreak havoc on all of your organs, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
The good news is that organic food is very effective at dampening inflammation due to its rich content in anti-inflammatory compounds.
Antioxidative effect
Organic foods are extremely rich in antioxidants. Examples include lutein and beta-carotene. Both substances lower the risk of diseases by restoring the balance of free radicals.
Here is how it works:
Organic foods contain molecules that bind to reactive oxygen species. This action regulates the performance of your immune system. Consequently, it lowers the concentrations of harmful substances and aid in dampening inflammation.
The final effect of these reactions helps with preventing cancer and high blood pressure.
Detoxifying effect
According to multiple studies, consuming leafy greens help the body cleanse itself by:
- Eradicating free radicals
- Modifying urine pH, which makes it easier to filter harmful substances
Regardless, if you integrate organic foods into your diet, you will notice that your digestion has improved. You will also feel energized and less bumped down.
Takeaway message
Organic food is an outstanding source of healthy nutrients that offer plenty of benefits. Make sure to shop for organic food every week to replenish your stores of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.
Here’s to your health!
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Dr. Kevin Crawford