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We all want to eat healthy, and eat right. Nutritious and safe foods are the need of the hour, what with the several counts of adulterated, processed and GMO foods making rounds into the markets. In this light, organic foods seem like the popular way forward, due to their clean farming and rearing practices; organic foods are definitely safer for consumption and naturally more beneficial in terms of nutritive value. While we are slowly incorporating organic foods into our diet, shouldn’t the little ones benefit too?

As parents, we all want the best for our little ones – from the best clothes and education to the best foods. The latter is especially true when it comes to babies; parents are always concerned about their baby’s nutrition and if they are getting the right food. In this regard, organic baby food delivers the best in terms of nutrition, safety and wholesome goodness for babies. Here is why organic baby food is so much better for your baby than conventional baby foods.

1. The safer the food, the better
“Organic food’ is defined as produce and ingredients cultivated minus the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms, sewage sludge or radiation; in case of animals and livestock that produce meat, eggs or dairy, they are classified as organically reared when not given antibiotics or growth hormones. Absence of any forms of chemical additives simply means that organic baby foods are safe for babies, especially since infants and toddlers are more susceptible to the harmful effects of chemical and synthetic additives. Choosing organic baby food translates to reduced level of food-driven pesticide ingestion by babies and reduced instances of chemical-induced infections and illnesses.

2. Your baby is safe from harmful hormones and agents
Babies are highly susceptible to chemicals and hormones present in conventionally produced or grown food – prolonged exposure in low or high concentrations can result in damaging effects that could manifest in terms of slower mental and physical development, neural problems, learning disabilities and so on. Organic baby foods, being devoid of any artificial or synthetic additives and hormones, keep your baby safe from exposure to such harmful agents, therefore enabling normal development.

3. Keep neurological disorders at bay!
Several studies have shown that switching from conventional baby foods to organic baby foods reduces baby’s exposure levels to organophosphates, a group of pesticides that include toxic chemicals such as chlorpyrifos and malathion. These harmful chemicals are widely known to have an adverse or negative impact on the nervous system, thus hampering nervous system development in infants and children. Organic baby foods do not contain organophosphates, thus ensuring that your baby’s nervous system develops in a normal and healthy way.
Organic foods are excellent for the whole family, and especially for young children. Babies and children, being naturally more susceptible to both ingesting toxic chemicals through food and the harmful effects of chemical additives, fertilizers and agents, require organic food so that they receive wholesome and safe nutrition that ensures their health and development. This is especially true for babies; organic baby foods are now available in a variety of forms such as pureed baby food, blends, puffs and so on, that are developed for various baby stages.

Eating healthy and eating right are key pillars of a healthy life; it is essential that we make the right nutritional choices for ourselves and our families. That is why organic foods have been gaining tremendous popularity, primarily because of their clean farming and rearing practices, making them safer for consumption than conventionally produced foods.

They command a premium in the market. However, the advantages they bring to the table more than make up for the price premium. In light of the nutritional requirements of children, organic foods are better and safer for their overall health and development.

1. Organic is a safer bet
“Organic” refers to produce and ingredients cultivated minus the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms, sewage sludge or radiation. In case of animals and livestock that produce meat, eggs or dairy, they are not given antibiotics or growth hormones. In short, organic foods are a great choice for kids, considering their increased susceptibility to the negative effects of chemical and synthetic additives. Switching to organic foods reduces the level of food-driven pesticide ingestion by kids. Moreover, organic food consumption significantly reduces ingestion of chemicals that have been linked to cause certain types of cancer.
2. Reduces your kids’ exposure to harmful hormones
Prolonged exposure to chemicals and hormones in food, be it in low or high concentrations, can result in damaging effects in children. Typically, non-organic meats are injected with hormones and endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as oestrogen to aid quicker development of the animal. These artificially induced hormones and chemicals can result in early onset of puberty in children, thus hampering their natural development. Organic foods are devoid of any artificial or synthetic additives, thus reducing such risks by a significant margin.
3. Prevents chemical induced neurological disorders
It has been observed that a switch from conventional foods to an organic diet reduces kids’ exposure levels to organophosphates. These are a group of pesticides that include toxic chemicals such as chlorpyrifos and malathion. These chemicals are known to negatively impact nervous system and hamper nervous system development in children. Switching to a diet consisting of organic food results in a drastic drop in organophosphate levels, thus fostering normal development of the brain and nervous system.
4. A conscious choice to make kids more conscious!
Besides the obvious health advantages that organic foods have on your kids’ health, it is important that children know where their food is coming from. Informing them about the right foods and why organic is right for them creates a consciousness in them towards a healthier meal choice. Moreover, organic farming and rearing practices are ecological and environment friendly. Inculcating eco-friendly practices in children at an early age fosters their appreciation for and acceptance of clean and green practices, thus ensuring that they will opt for organic foods when it comes to them making a choice over what foods they would like to eat.
Organic foods are the right choice for your whole family, if you seek wholesome, safe and chemical free options at your meal table. While they do cost more than conventionally grown foods, they more than compensate it through safety and nutrition. This factor is particularly vital for children, as they are more susceptible to the negative effects and potential dangers that chemical and synthetic additives and hormones present. Going organic is safe, healthy and kid-friendly!

The growing popularity of organic foods has resulted in several households switching to organic produce and meats for their families, in a bid to live healthier and more conscientious lives. Not only are organic foods free of synthetic plant additives, they also educate the consumer about the cleaner cultivation and food rearing practices.

While it is a wise choice to switch to organic foods, it is also wise to know about any allergies or counter-actions that foods can have, so that you are sure about what you or your family consumes. Globally, there are several myths about organic foods, their nutritional value and their allergic nature, if any. Here are some of the most common myths about organic foods debunked.

Myth 1: Organic foods may not be the safest
Fact – By definition, “Organic” refers to produce and ingredients cultivated minus the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms, sewage sludge or radiation. In case of animals and livestock that produce meat, eggs or dairy, they are not given antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic produce, meats and products are grown or produced in environmentally friendly ways – soil and plants are not treated with toxic chemicals or persistent pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or sewage sludge are not used to promote growth, GMOs are not allowed, animals are provided outdoor access and are fed organic feeds, synthetic growth hormones and antibiotics are not used in animal rearing. These strict cultivation and rearing practices make organic food safer than conventional foods, and chemical-free, thereby ensuring safety for you and your family.

Myth 2: Organic foods do not cause allergies
Fact – While they are safer for consumption due to their cultivation and processing practices, organic foods contain allergens just like conventional foods. However, these allergies are limited to being caused due to food-related or inherent allergens present, and not due to the chemicals and synthetic additives, since organic foods are devoid of the latter. Therefore, if you are allergic to say, peanuts, both organic and inorganic peanuts can still cause an allergic reaction upon consumption.

Myth 3: Organic food isn’t healthier than conventional foods
Fact – Simply put, the fact that organic food is produced without the use of synthetic additives and hormones makes them a much healthier and safer alternative than conventionally grown and produced foods. Ask yourself this – would you rather consume a fruit A that has been sprayed with chemical-laced pesticides and insecticides, made to reach ripening prematurely by feeding the tree synthetic fertilizers, and given an unnatural sheen by polishing it with a waxy substance? Or would you rather consume a fruit B that you know has been grown without any of the above additives? Which sounds healthier, fruit A or fruit B?

Myth 4: Organic food is a wallet-drainer
Fact – Due to its stringent cultivation norms, labour and time intensive production, post-harvest procedures and certification fee, organic food can be expensive; yet, there are organic foods that are affordable and sometimes may even cost less than conventional foods. Besides, there are hidden costs of conventional food such as health costs related to issues caused by pesticide consumption and of course, environmental costs due to the rampant use of synthetic additives to the soil.

Myth 5: Natural and free-range foods are the same as organic, and just as good
Natural foods and free-range foods are not the same as organic foods; neither can they boast of the advantages of organic foods. Natural foods or ingredients refer to those foods that have undergone minimal processing, with no guarantee to its cultivation procedures and synthetic additives. Free-range refers primarily to animal husbandry where the animals are allowed to roam freely outdoors, as opposed to being enclosed within constricted spaces for twenty-four hours each day.

Organic foods are a safer and healthier alternative to conventionally produced foods, for you and your entire family, including the little ones. Given the numerous myths, false facts, and information overload regarding organic foods, it is best to get the facts straight so that you can make an informed and wise choice for the health and safety of your family.

Healthy eating is a habit that everyone should adopt. And for it, the best practice is to replace regular food products with organic food products in your regular meals. You can start buying organic food products for your family and witness the change in their health & life within a few weeks.