Is eating organic food better for the environment?
471677
In general, yes.  In order to farm organically, the farmer needs to make sure that the soil remains healthy.  Intensive chemical farming (the alternative) does not need to worry so much about the soil itself, or about the environment.  Organic farming also releases less toxic chemicals into the environment.\n\n"Organic farming helps provide a safer, more healthy environment by: 1) not polluting our groundwater, rivers, lakes, and oceans with pesticides and chemical fertilizers; 2) reducing soil erosion; 3) improving soil quality; 4) increasing the diversity of wildlife on and near farms; and 5) providing safer working conditions for farm laborers (no exposure to pesticides)."  (Small Planet Foods)\n\nHowever, it can be argued that *just*  eating organic food, without also becoming vegetarian, is an exercise in futility.   \n\n"Organic crop farming cannot support conventional meat and dairy production, nor can it support the production of organic animal products. Substituting organic animal products for conventional ones, without a drastic reduction in consumption, clearly is not a reasonable large-scale plan."  (Vegetarian Site)\n\nPersonally, I would think that even a small step is a good step.\n\nEating organic fruits, vegetables and animal products (if you're not vegan) is also healthier *for* you, as it reduces your exposure to pesticides and other poisons.
828518
Yes I rarely eat out and care about my health when planning meals. I eat balanced meals, no processed/box stuff, almost 90% organic...
316910
amen to that.  people everywhere around the world need to realize that instead of picking up that bigmac or w/e is the best fast food or the best car, and getting on a bike and eating more healthy food.\n\nyes, there are ways to diet w/o excersise and all that, but really once you have a surgery or go on a huge diet, there's usually the person that will go right back to the diet of Twinkies and Cream Puffs.\n\nLung cancer, also, as you probably know is also caused by people smoking and from others taking in 2nd Hand smoke.  Air pollution, in our day and age, needs to be dealt with along the line with becoming less dependent on gases and becoming more dependent with renewable energy sources that can also make or air cleaner.
248083
For the record, I do not consider the white potato a healthy food but eat the sweet (orange) potato or yam myself.  If you do not buy organic, washing the skin of your fruits and vegetables with a good vegetable wash or with a vinegar and water solution is a good idea to get rid of residue pesticides.  If you buy organic, the bulk of the nutrition in potatoes, fruits, and vegetables lies in the skin and the adjoining tissue and less concentrated in the food itself, decreasing to about 50% as you get to the core.
277088
many chemicals in processed foods are carcinogenic so avoid them if you can. however its all about the amount you eat. particularly dangerous are artificial sweeteners, so dont drink diet fizzy drinks. eating lots of organic fresh fruit and vegetables will protect you from cancer.
755113
Probably mostly positive. The soil would be richer so plants would grow better making more food for all creatures locally. That would result in greater biodiversity.
867813
I agree with you 100% . When I shop, I always try to buy organic. There is so much crap in food and people have no idea. I don't eat beef or pork anymore.  I buy cage free organic eggs and hormone free organic chicken. I am sure It will be better for me in the long run.
920929
Very Unhealthy.  A good diet is a well balance diet, which means a good variety.  Eating samething no matter how healthy the food is runs the risk of missing certain nutrients.  The new standard for eating includes eating a variety of fruits and vegetable of varying colors.  The second suggestion is better, but still isn't healthy.  Synthetic foods often contains undesirable chemicals and probably does not have all the micronutrients the body craves.  If you eat salads, remember that lettuce has very little vitamins.  Their only value is in fiber.
593067
organic all natural food is more expensive because it is organic and all natural (sounds stupid but true).  people want it, so the price goes up.  the reason the other food is cheap is because nobody really cares and wants it.
301333
it`s new........like any other new THING these foods may be better than normal ones.......may be worse..it needs time to be proven.\ni my self wouldn`t try them coz i can have any thing i want in normal and organic food market.
28235
Ahh, another Nature vs Nurture discussion.  Of course it is both.  If we didn't have the genetic component, our early anscestors would have eaten non-healthy food and the human race would have died out.  For the environmental aspect, we learn to like what is around us and is easy to get.  If pig farmers couldn't get used to the stench, then no one would be pig farmers.
749163
yes as long as it is organic it can form humus.
424667
yes. If the garbage is bio-degradable(it is natural, not man made e.g  plastic) it does not cause any harm. If the garbage is natural, like old leaves etc. it enriches the soil and helps the plant grow.\n\nIf the garbage is plastic etc. it can harm the plant
463041
In rather indirect ways, yes.\nRecycling paper helps save trees (recycle a little bit, save "part" of a tree) which convert carbon dioxide into oxygen.  (Carbon dioxide contributes to the greenhouse affect)\nMy driving style is geared around saving gas.  Mostly to save myself money, but even if I become very wealthy, I'm still going to be a bit conservative in my driving- still gonna get a hybrid, albeit a more powerful one.  Save gas, less emissions into atmosphere that contribute to global warming.\nOne person can't stop global warming alone.  However, each person can help a little bit, and it'll all add up.
1000303
The flavonoid quercetin, a plant-based phytonutrient found most abundantly in apples, is the most health-promoting antioxidant.\nIt reduces the risk of many chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, type 2 diabetes and asthma.\n\nORGANIC apples, simply have a higher concentration of nutrients and vitamins than regular apples. Sometimes as high as 80% more. So you get more bang for your buck, nutrient-wise, by eating a single organic apple. You will need to eat more regular apples for the same benefits.\n\nThere are other reasons to choose organic apples, including their better taste/flavour, and the avoidance of pesticides which are harmful to both you and the environment.\n\nFruits and veggies all have unique benefits, so VARIETY is important to make sure you get everything you need to be and stay healthy. When organic produce is not readily available or affordable, eat regularly farmed fruits and veggies.
671475
Yes, because I have pets and their health is valuable to me, along with my own health and safety.  Not only that, we need more products that don't hurt the environment.  We don't need to be breathing chemicals in our houses.  I'm a cancer survivor and I'm a firm believer that environmental hazardous products cause about 90% of cancers, whether it be aluminium in deoderant to ammonia in cleaners.  I feel it breaks down the body's natural defenses to illness.
787405
The human digestion tract is not built to digest animal protein constantly.  More people should go vegetarian.  Not only is it better for the environment, it is better for your health.  It takes much less toll on the land to grow plants than it takes to have a pasture of cattle.  Your risks for so many diseases are drastically reduced if you include primarily vegetarian protein sources (heart disease, certain cancers).  Hunting should only be done if it is a necessity to survive.  This should not be done simply for sport.  There are so many alternatives to leather and fur these days that are fashionable and less costly and less barbaric than wearing dead animal skins.