It’s no secret that organic farming has proven to be more eco-friendly as compared to modern farming methods. Organic farming helps in reducing global warming and is more energy-efficient. All these are benefits of organic farming to the world around us. What direct impact does organic farming have on our health as humans?
To set the ball rolling, organic farming helps in the reduction of some chronic diseases as compared to its conventional counterpart which actually does the opposite. Organic crops have been known to have higher antioxidant activity and between 18 and 69%, higher concentrations of a range of individual antioxidants; increased intakes of polyphenolics and antioxidants have been linked to a reduced risk of certain chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and certain cancers. It’s therefore vital for each and everyone to reduce their intake of conventional crops which are four times more likely to contain detectable pesticide residues which may have potential negative health impacts on the body.
Also, organic meat, milk, and dairy products have approximately higher concentrations of nutritionally-desirable omega-3 fatty acids. The analogy is quite simple. The feeding requirements for organic livestock usually cause higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. These include feeding cattle grass and alfalfa. Omega-3 fatty acids — a kind of fat — are more heart-healthy than other fats. An article published by the Harvard School of Public Health suggested omega-3 fats have been shown to help prevent heart disease and stroke, may help control lupus, eczema, and rheumatoid arthritis, and may play protective roles in cancer and other conditions.
Lastly, organic farming is a good step in the right direction against global warming and depletion which have great effects on our quality of life as humans. Ozone depletion has been linked to increased U.V radiations. U.V radiation can be very damaging. Studies have shown that increased exposure to U.V radiation causes Skin cancer, premature aging and other skin damage, Cataracts and other eye damage and
Immune system suppression.
The key thing to note is that Conventional agriculture relies on nitrogen fertilizers, produced through a process involving gushing amounts of ammonia and methane. Nitrogen fertilizers, in turn, release some degree of nitrous oxide, an extremely potent greenhouse gas, with a much greater warming potential per unit released than even carbon but organic farming reduces all these negative effects by huge percentages. So, organic farming contributes a greater part to the reduction of global warming which in turn helps the planet we live in hence increasing our general health and wellbeing as humans.
To wrap things up, organic farming helps our health by reducing ozone depletion, improving nutrition, and helping in the fight against cancer and some chronic diseases.
