Natural Food Vs Organic Food Essay

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“Organic” and “natural foods” are a part of a trend that is growing quickly, but how much do we consumers really know about the difference between natural food and non-organic foods? Food that is considered organic can be defined as being produced without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial agents. Processed foods are defined as foods that are packaged in bags, boxes or cans. Authors like Pollan and Foer, in their essays “Escape from the Western Diet” and “Against Meat” respectively, argue that organic food and a vegetarian diet are better for humans and the environment. Contrastingly, others like Shapin, author of “What Are You Buying When You Buy Organic” believe that we are too fixated on whether or not to buy …show more content…

Foods that are produced organically are better for the environment, healthier for your body because they do not contain toxic chemicals, and are more cost efficient than commonly known. Chemical farming has become such a cultural norm that humans have turned a blind eye to what is really happening behind the scenes and have come to accept what the big manufacturing companies have told us. What these companies don’t want us to know is that when you produce food on a conventional farm you are producing food that is harmful to the environment. Conventional farms use fossil fuel derivative fertilizers to help add nutrients to the soil, but “these are the reason the earth is experiencing dangerous climate changes” (Sustainable Table). Also, the quality and consistency in the crops are lowered when they are planted on a chemical farm because many companies use artificial manure that leads to “artificial nutrition, artificial food, artificial animals and finally artificial …show more content…

He believes we need to find a common ground between the way our ancestors ate, hunting and gathering, and the way we currently eat, primarily processed foods. Pollan’s solution to this problem is to “simply avoid any food that has been processed to such an extent that it is more the product of industry than of nature” because of the damage the food is doing to our body (Pollan, 424). Since we consume the Western Diet we are “more prone to a complex of chronic diseases that seldom strike people eating more traditional diets” (Pollan, 421). When eating organic foods, you can almost eliminate GMO’s, pesticides, and herbicides from your body while also reducing your risk of contracting cancer as well as having neurological and reproductive problems (Sustainable Table). Also, organic foods contain essential vitamins and antioxidants that help your immune system fight off diseases (Sustainable Table). Buying organic food also means you are buying higher quality products that have ingredients that are better for your

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