Why Buy Organic?

So you’ve been to the stores, seen the certified organic labels on everything from food to makeup to clothing, and now you want to know if it’s really worth it to buy organic products. Well, the short answer is yes. And here’s why:

Written by Christine Conrad

Health Benefits of Buying Certified Organic Products

Certified organic products are regulated by the US Department of Agriculture, and in order to earn this label, products must be made without using antibiotics, growth hormones, feed made from animal parts, and most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. This is important because numerous studies by major research universities and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention have shown that the chemicals we ingest through our food and topically through contact with our skin linger in our bodies and in high enough doses can cause major harm.

The potential negative effects of these chemicals include impaired fetal growth, cancer in lab animals, and we all now know that eating feed made from animal parts is how mad cow disease spread from animal to animal and then on to humans. Buying certified organic products is the best way to ensure that you don’t have to worry about those concerns or other problems associated with chemically-laden, non-organic products.

Environmental Benefits of Buying Certified Organic Products

Buying organic is also better for the environment. Organic products are made using sustainable farming and production methods. Sustainable production methods cause less pollution than other methods, and always consider not just the final product, but how production affects the environment. For example, a sustainable farmer doesn’t just think about how to grow his product, but how he can do this and improve the quality of the soil, use less water, or use natural pest-control agents like lady bugs while growing his crops. Organic production looks at the big picture: how to create good and good-for-you products while improving the environment and ensuring more great products for years to come.