WEB EXCLUSIVE

One word that often slips off millennials’ tongues is “organic.” This generation is becoming one of the most informed generations when it comes to health and well-being, which means that, with all the information presented, it’s easy to get lost in a pool of statistics. So, what does “organic” really mean, and how is it better for health than conventional products?

When it comes to the look, there are very few visible differences between conventional and organic food. Fruits and vegetables make up the majority of the readily available organic food and can be easily mistaken for their conventional counterparts if not identified correctly. But why should buying organic produce be of the utmost importance? The answer is simple: chemicals.

Dozens of chemicals are laced in the American food system, some more prominently than others. One of the most infamous killers is called Roundup, an herbicide marketed to be environmentally and human friendly. Ironically, this is the cause of hundreds of cases of kidney cancer and extreme irritation of the skin, lungs and intentional track, not to mention that it is detrimental to bodies of water, beneficial insects and the Earth itself.

There should not be anything appealing about putting a proven cancer-causing substance into an individual’s body, especially out of free will. Around one billion pounds of food every year are sprayed with this fertilizer, the equivalent of 4,000 Olympic swimming pools, meaning humans ingest Roundup multiple times per day.

Without the intrusion of harmful and potentially deadly chemicals into an individual’s diet, it leaves room for their bodies to heal naturally and to return to the state in which our ancestors were living. It’s hard to consider someone “healthy” when the food that’s meant to be good for them is actually planting seeds of demise in their bodies.

When buying organic produce marked with the correct USDA label, at least 95 percent of the product is certified organic. This means no artificial pesticides or additives. Simply produce, the way it was always intended to be enjoyed: naturally.

So, when someone asks if it’s worth it to pay a little more for organic produce, the answer is always yes. If an individual has the means to buy organic, it is in their best intentions to purchase the food which won’t poison their body.

This also isn’t meant to scary; it’s meant to ensure the wellbeing of all living things. Knowledge is power and, with the correct information, everyone prospers!