What are organic foods: definition and examples

When we speak of something “ecological” we refer to the way in which a certain product has been obtained . Specifically, organic foods refer to those that have been obtained using environmentally friendly agricultural methods, that is, that respect natural cycles without artificially altering them.

The importance of nature-friendly practices is that they can improve the quality of soil and water, as well as lower the levels of pollution that can be generated during production and thus achieve a sustainable use of resources.

The main characteristic of organic food is that they have not been exposed to any type of pesticide or chemical substance that is not natural (artificial fertilizers so that the land has a greater amount of nutrients, herbicides, growth hormones and antibiotics for livestock …). Therefore, those genetically modified (transgenic) that better resist pests and improve crop yield are also excluded from this type of food.

Organic foods in the European Union are governed by specific production and labeling regulations, through which they are assigned the so-called “ euro-leaf ” as a mandatory distinctive symbol , which differentiates them from conventional foods. In addition, they have special legislation that, among other functions, controls possible fraud that may occur with other products in order to improve consumer confidence and the current situation of this type of products.

The use of these types of products provides a number of advantages. Among the advantages of organic food , its higher nutritional values ​​stand out. Following a diet based on an organic diet is considered healthier when eating foods that contain higher levels of certain beneficial nutrients such as:

• Vitamins in vegetables and fruits, such as vitamin C. Most of these nutrients are found in fruit peels, which in conventional fruits must be removed to avoid ingesting possible traces of chemical products.
• Iron and magnesium in some vegetables.
• Proteins (cereals).
• Omega3 in meat and dairy.

But, in addition, these products have another series of advantages, in addition to the nutritional ones, and that is:

• They require more labor, since the production process is slower and more expensive, which is why the price of these products is slightly higher.
• They respect the environment by preventing the spaces near the crops from being contaminated through chemicals or fertilizers.
• They promote and respect the welfare of animal species.
• They promote sustainable development.

Today, there is a wide variety of organic food available to everyone in supermarkets and large stores such as:

• Different varieties of vegetables: fruits, vegetables, spices and vegetables
• Cereals
• Flour
• Pasta
• Rice
• Chocolate
• Meat
• Fish
• Egg
• Milk and other dairy products, such as cheese or yogurts
• Wine
• Café
• Has

In addition to the wide variety of organic foods that we find today, other organic products have also been developed that we now have within our reach in a simple way, such as the following:

• Garments made with ecological materials, such as eco-cotton, wool, linen or silk.
• Products for cleaning the home, such as disinfectants and ecological detergents.
• Totally natural and ecological gardening products.
• Soaps and bath products.
• Ecological makeup .

Go ahead and include both organic food and other organic products in your day-to-day life in order to take better care of yourself and your loved ones while taking care of the environment. In addition, you will be helping the local economy of the area in which you reside, through buying the products in local businesses, which will be able to get ahead with a little more ease.

If you want to read more articles similar to What are organic foods: definition and examples , we recommend that you enter our Healthy Eating category .