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It’s no secret that choosing organic produce can have many important benefits for your health and for the environment. By shopping organic, you can protect the earth while also providing your body with better-quality nutrition. Win-win!
At Jersey Girl Organics, we’ve always believed in the value of organic dairy farming. By working organically, we can ensure that our methods are eco-friendly and that our milk is good for the health of both our cows and our consumers.
If you’re interested in organic produce, it’s important that you understand how choosing organic can affect your health. Can consuming organic produce really influence your overall well-being?
To help you on your journey to a healthy and organic future, here are the top health benefits of organic farming!
What is Organic Farming?
By now, you’ve probably heard plenty about organic food, but you might still be a little unsure of what “organic” really means.
Organic agriculture is intended to keep farming processes natural and non-toxic, ensuring that produce remains free from chemicals, hormones, and other additives.
Organic farming methods don’t involve the use of harsh chemicals, pesticides, processed fertilisers, or raw sewage. This means that produce must be grown using only natural fertilisers and materials.
In meat and dairy farming, organic also means that animals cannot be exposed to artificial hormones or antibiotics. Organic farms are free from additives and genetic modification.
The aim is to keep milk and other produce as natural as possible so that additives don’t transfer to products intended for human consumption.
Truly organic farms can obtain organic certification by local authorities, passing regular checks to retain their organic status.
BioGro NZ (which is the certifying body we operate under), provides a more detailed view for what is organic, using 8 key principles that all farms must meet each year to retain their organic certification:
Traceability: understanding where all the inputs originate from, and what’s in them.
Animal welfare: maintain the highest level of animal welfare, this means happier and healthier animals. Provide them with plenty of space and a clean diet.
Climate change: work towards a green NZ by working with nature, avoiding synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, and promoting overall environmental health.
Biodiversity: organic farms provide a haven for local wildlife to flourish, in particular local bird populations and bees.
Packaging: packaging must be chosen to minimise environmental impact, such as recycled or reusable packaging.
Care for workers: organic standards will not allow for violation of human rights.
Health and wellbeing: As BioGro themselves state, “organic food is real food. It is not genetically engineered or altered in any way. It is made without synthetic colourings, preservatives or additives.”
Advertising: certified organic producers must get all packaging, labels and marketing materials approved before it is used. Strict rules are in place to ensure transparency and honesty in marketing.
Improved Nutritional Value
Often, organic foods contain more nutrients than non-organic options, allowing them to offer great nutritional value.
In 2014, an analysis of over 300 organic and conventionally grown plant foods showed that organic options included more flavanones, anthocyanins, stilbenes and more. These nutrients act as antioxidants, reducing inflammation and guarding against some diseases.
Organic milk has been shown to contain up to 68 percent more omega-3s than regular milk, along with high quantities of calcium, protein, vitamin E, and beta-carotene.
Choosing foods with high nutritional value allows you to ensure that you’re getting the most out of every meal. By consuming a nutrient-rich diet, you offer your body the fuel it needs while reducing your risk of some illnesses and health problems.
No Pesticide Contamination
Avoiding pesticides and chemical fertilisers is part of keeping produce organic. This means that harmful chemicals aren’t present, so they can’t pass into the food you eat.
The use of pesticides in farming has been shown to have negative effects on human health, especially on the gastrointestinal, neurological, and endocrine systems. Some pesticides may even increase susceptibility to certain cancers.
One of the most important benefits of organic produce is that it is free from hormones and antibiotics, meaning that these things can’t influence your immune system or hormones.
While genetically modified foods can weaken your immune system, the nutrients in organic produce can actually make it stronger. By choosing organic produce, you can ensure that your meals are chemical-free, eliminating the health risks of pesticide exposure.
Organic products are farmed using natural, ethical processes and are never exposed to chemicals that could be detrimental to your health.
Fresh, Natural Produce
There’s nothing quite like the knowledge that your meal is made using fresh, natural, and ethically farmed produce. Organic farming focuses on consumer and environmental well-being, avoiding chemicals that can cause more harm than good.
Organic farming methods rely on natural fertilisers and materials, so you can enjoy the benefits of healthy food without worrying about the presence of toxic additives.
Organic produce isn’t exposed to preservatives, and this means that you can be confident that you’re consuming fresh food without artificial chemicals or flavours. This is especially important if you experience chemical sensitivity or are allergic to certain preservatives.
Shopping organic is also an ethical choice. Organic farmers prioritise animal welfare and environmental sustainability, ensuring that products stay healthy all the way from farm to plate.
At Jersey Girl Organics, we are committed to organic dairy farming. We steer clear of harmful chemicals, ensuring that our Jersey herd produces only the highest-quality organic milk.
Looking to make the switch to organic and unsure of where to start? Find out more about our delicious organic dairy!
