Organic food refers to aliments that are free of pesticides, chemicals, preservatives and all the other unsafe substances commonly found in processed food. While for an adult who eats mostly processed and fast food, the side effects and other health problems will appear in time to come, for children the same effects could be devastating. Essentially, as their bodies are just developing, a high intake of harmful substances could and will lead to the development of chronic conditions and cancer. Following is a list of advantages your children could also enjoy if you include extra organic food in their diet.
1. Less toxins to enter their bodies
While in the US, it’s impossible to get the necessary funds for researching the connection between GMOs and health problems, it is necessary to mention that similar studies have been conducted in Europe. As you would expect, scientists stumbled across what every person conscious about his health and diet feared the most: the chemicals present in these foods – and more worrisome in the seeds the crops grow from – are causing fertility problems and are the main cause of cancer and tumors in animals. Even though the studies have not been carried on humans yet, frankly I don’t think the result will be very different.
2. A significantly reduced chance of developing leukemia
Shocking as it may sound, a few studies have proved the connection between lawn chemicals and child leukemia. Essentially, due to the high demand of products, some corporations have tainted the soil and groundwater in certain areas. Simply put, even if you don’t use chemicals for your lawn, there are high chances that the soil and water near your home have been contaminated. Socially responsible practices that emphasize on growing crops organically could reduce the level of chemical contamination in your community.
3. Fewer situations when the antibiotics are inefficient on them
With the numerous videos of corporate grown animal farms released on the internet lately, the world learned a very disturbing truth: it is essentially cheaper for such companies to feed animals antibiotics and grow them fat faster than with regular food. Obviously, people who eat the meat of animals that have been stuffed with chemicals will eventually develop resistance to antibiotics. This could prove lethal if your child develops a condition (MRSA) that medicine typically treats with antibiotics.
4. Organic food ensures a healthy development of the reproductive system
As previously mentioned, studies carried out in Europe indicate that pesticides and chemicals utilized in agriculture these days affect the animals’ hormonal and endocrine systems. In all honesty, if you do a little research on the web, you will come across an abundance of cases of children who are experienced development abnormalities, such as boys growing breasts at an early age, diabetes and obesity in toddlers. The morbid examples could go on.
5. Your children will learn from an early age how to select their food
If you are responsible when you are going shopping and only purchase products with the USDA organic tag, your child will also learn about the importance of reading the label of the products that he/she buys. Since kids will be kids and that chocolate frosting cake in the window will always be a temptation, you should turn the family grocery shopping experience into a game. Your child might not appreciate it at first, but in the end even the sweets with the USDA label are better than nothing.
6. It tastes better
The fact that organic food tastes better is not confirmed only by children, but by adults as well. In spite of the fact that the items you normally see at the supermarket look amazing, the truth is that they lack the taste. In fact, many people who have decided to grow their own organic food concluded that once you get a taste of the real thing, you will no longer be tempted by the vast assortments of “natural” juice found in the local supermarkets.
7. It could teach your children to love vegetables
Allowing your child to plant a seed, watch it grow and eventually, harvest and eat it raw rather than convince him to eat some strange plant you placed on his plate is good method of teaching him to love vegetables. Overall, this activity gives your kids a taste of the satisfaction of seeing the results and working hard to achieve them.
8. It teaches kids about the importance of their decisions
True enough, cutting fast foods and sweets altogether from the family meals is not going to be taken very lightly by your little ones. However, in time and with a little bit of education, they will come to understand that each of their decision has an impact on the world around him. On a side note, while I admit that teaching children responsibility is not the easiest thing in the world, it is also the most important value a parent could pass onto his kids in my opinion.
9. Organic food contains more nutrients
Due to the prolonged processing of non-organic products and because of the added preservatives, these aliments lack a critical nutrient known for its force in fighting free radicals and keeping the immune system strong. I’m talking about antioxidants and the crucial role these nutrients play in maintaining your health and ensuring all body function are performed at optimal levels. In addition to “oiling” up the organism, the antioxidants cleanse it from toxins, thus making room for the absorption of vitamins and minerals it desperately needs.
10. Pesticides and IQ reduction in children
Despite the fact that the link between IQ reduction and pesticides is not as clear as the one between lawn chemicals and leukemia, several recent studies suggest that this connection is real. Considering that some pesticides and chemicals act like neurotoxins for the living creatures, you should take action now rather than wait for the research to confirm this dreadful hypothesis. As a side note, even if you don’t have time to take care of an organic garden, the produce with the organic tag are still better than the conventional food in supermarkets.
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