Caring for the soil is of the utmost importance in organic farming. This is because it forms the basis for health for all life forms. You may be asking, “Why is soil important?” Nutrients in soil strongly impact how healthy plants become, and subsequently, how healthy we are. Ultimately, soil and health are very closely linked.
Many people are now choosing organic as one way to help optimise their health and well-being. The vitamin and mineral content of fresh produce and other foods varies, and this can be due to a number of reasons. The type of food and how the soil is cared for are important considerations. Equally so are the growing environment and the processing method, among other things.
Soil and health are closely linked
Sophie Grigson and William Black explain the links between soil and health for plants. “Healthy soil encourages healthy plants, plants which are strong and disease resistant, which means there is less need for artificial pesticides in organic production”. Their book “Organic – a new way of eating” highlights the fact that if we feed the soil, the plants will look after themselves.[i]
Sally Fallon reiterates the links between soil and health in her book “Nourishing Traditions”. She explains that nitrogen fertilizers used in conventional (non-organic) farming produce high yields. This is partly due to pulling minerals from the soil. The food suffers because the vitamin and mineral contents are depleted. She explains that conventional and organic crops’ vitamin and mineral content can vary greatly. In fact, some commercially raised oranges have even been found to contain NO vitamin C![ii]
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You are what you eat
The old saying ‘you are what you eat’ really does ring true. Are you consuming food that was once a sickly animal fed routine courses of antibiotics? Did this animal live on a genetically engineered diet full of pesticide-sprayed grains? With an inability to properly digest grains and this onslaught of synthetic substances, how healthy do you think this animal was?
Are you eating food that has been sprayed copiously with a herbicide that has been engineered to kill EVERYTHING around it, except that particular crop? If so, how do you think this affects the soil’s health and your body’s subsequent health? Soil and health are closely related, so eating food grown under organic principles can be considered an excellent addition to a healthy lifestyle regime.
Yes, our bodies are amazing, and yes, they can process and eliminate a certain degree of ‘rubbish’. However, when they become overloaded, they have a limited ability to summon the resources required to neutralize the onslaught of poisons entering them. Therefore, it makes sense to limit our intake of toxins wherever we can do so, and choosing organic wherever possible is one way to achieve this.
Organic farming helps ensure you are receiving high-quality input for your body, thus allowing your cells to be as healthy and strong as possible. Growth hormones, protein-rich feeds, and the routine use of antibiotics are not allowed. Similarly, nor are synthetic chemical fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, or pesticides.
Where to get organic products
iHerb is a great ‘go-to’ online health shop for certified organic and natural products and they deliver all over the world.
They stock a massive range of groceries, household items, and personal care products. Not all the products are organic, but each item is clearly labeled with all information and ingredients. Therefore, it is easy to find organic if you want it. Try typing ‘certified organic’ into the search box, or search by brands that you know are certified organic. You can learn more about what I think of iHerb in this post.
Read more about the advantages of organic farming
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It’s more sustainable and it costs less!
[i] “Organic – a new way of eating”. Sophie Grigson and William Black. Headline Book Publishing 2001
[ii] “Nourishing Traditions. The Cookbook that challenges politically correct nutrition and the diet dictocrats. Revised second edition. Sally Fallon with Mary G. Enig. Ph.D. 1999, 2001 New trends Publishing Inc.
P.S. If you’re into food sustainability and conscious decisions, find out how to minimize wastage of food and make the most of your fresh produce.
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