Taking care of our food is fundamental to lead a healthy and balanced life. However, do we know the true meaning of natural?
From the EU legislation there is still no consensus on what are natural foods, although there is a strict regulation of labeling of organic, biological and organic products.
But what are they?
It is becoming more and more common to buy organic food, even if it means a somewhat higher investment. Consumers are willing to pay more if the quality is better and to make sure that this is the case it is necessary to know what is behind the ingredients indicated on the labels of the products in small print, and not so much of the advertisements of the brands.
Organic products are considered the healthiest of all because they involve little or no artificial intervention. To achieve the “organic” seal, fruits and vegetables must come from organic seeds and be grown on land free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Animals must be raised on organic feed, in uncontaminated areas and free of hormones and antibiotics.
On the other hand, it is also common to find in the market the seal of biological or bio product. In this case, the products are not genetically modified to improve their taste, harvest volume or appearance.
And finally, products classified as organic are those in which no chemical substances have been used in the production of the food. It is important to know that an organic product can be either organic or not.
The problem arises when concepts are confused. Organic products are often positioned as organic. To make sure you are buying an organic product it is best to look for the “organic” designation on the product packaging.
The benefits of organic products
The benefits of organic products are obvious:
- More intense flavor.
- Higher concentration of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
- Their production is much more environmentally friendly.
Chemicals and adverse effects on the body
The EU has tried to develop stricter legislation regarding the harmful effects of chemical substances used during food production. However, many toxic products are still allowed to be used in agriculture and animal husbandry.
The consequences for our health intensify with the passage of time, as the small residues of the pesticides we consume through food accumulate in our organism. This added to the use of plastics that come into contact with food from cosmetics increase the negative effects on our immune, hormonal and reproductive systems.
The use of pesticides is widespread and is not only limited to the consumption of fruits, vegetables or cereals. They are also frequently found in animal meat, milk and eggs when growth hormones are used to shorten the rearing period of animals.
In the EU, the use of growth hormones is prohibited, but there is no regulation on the use of other hormones, nor are the health consequences known.
Above all, we must be prudent when choosing the products we are going to consume. Even so, there are a number of tips that can help us make the right decision and avoid the consumption of toxic elements harmful to health:
- To reduce the consumption of meat, but to promote the one of organic denomination.
- Avoid consuming unhealthy processed products.
- Reduce consumption of processed meats, sausages and smoked meats that contain potentially carcinogenic nitrites.
- Wash vegetables and fruits well and peel those that are not organic.
- Choose seasonal products and inform ourselves about the origin of fruit and vegetables.