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Organic and Non-organic Food

Over the last two decades, the demand from consumers for organic foods has increased tremendously. In fact, the popularity of organic foods has exploded significantly with consumers, spending a considerably higher amount of money on them as compared to the amount spent on inorganic foods. The US market noted an increase in sales of more than 10% between 2014 and 2015. The increase is in line with the views of many consumers that organic foods are safer, tastier, and healthier compared to inorganic foods. Furthermore, considering the environmental effects of foods, organic foods present less risk of environmental pollution compared to inorganic foods. By definition, organic foods are those that are grown without any artificial chemical treatment or treatment by the use of other substances that have been modified genetically, such as hormones and/or antibiotics.

A food product will only be labeled as organic if it is free of any additives that were made artificially, such as preservatives, flavoring, sweeteners, as well as colorings. On the other hand, inorganic foods are those that are grown using artificial chemicals. Inorganic food products are those that have been treated with artificial additives, such as preservatives, sweeteners, and flavoring. Organic and inorganic foods possess a number of significant differences. This paper is a comparison between organic and non-organic foods in terms of their properties, including their nutrient contents and effects on the health of consumers and the environment.

Various studies that have compared the nutritional contents of organic and non-organic foods have produced mixed results. Whereas some claim that the nutritional contents are comparable, others have found organic foods to be more nutritious due to the high content of antioxidants present. A number of studies have indicated that the levels of antioxidants are higher in organic foods, as compared to inorganic foods, and so are the levels of certain types of micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamin C. Antioxidant levels in organic foods are as high as 69%, while the levels are lower in non-organic foods. According to a study conducted on corns and berries grown organically, the antioxidant levels were found to be at 58%, while those that were not organic were found to be 52%. The higher levels of antioxidants are attributed to the fact that organic foods have no dependence on chemical pesticide sprays for protection against the pesticides, but instead produce antioxidants, which act as the protection. Therefore, a shift from conventionally grown cereals, vegetables, and fruits to organic ones has the benefit of providing extra amounts of antioxidants into the diets.

Antioxidants are beneficial to the body due to their role in reducing the risk of developing chronic illnesses, such as some types of cancers, diseases that degenerate the neural system, as well as cardiovascular disease.

Also, while pesticide use is absent in organic foods, non-organic foods have been found to have some toxic pesticides, such as cadmium—whose accumulation can be harmful to the health of their consumers. According to a research study conducted on the two types of foods, non-organic foods were found to contain higher amounts of pesticides, four times more than in organic foods (Carrington and Arnett, n.p). While the levels of cadmium may not be as high as regulatory agencies may find harmful, there is a risk of progressive accumulation of the chemical in the bodies of consumers. Although cadmium may be not harmful in small amounts, accumulation into the body over time can reach harmful levels. Therefore, the consumption of organic foods will help consumers avoid the risks of the accumulation of pesticide residue altogether.

Another important factor in organic foods are the nitrates levels. Non-organic foods rely heavily on artificial fertilizers, which are basically nitrate compounds. They, therefore, have higher levels of nitrates compared to organic foods. The levels of nitrates in organic foods are lower than in non-organic foods by about 30% (Brown, n.p). The higher the levels of nitrate intake, the higher the chance of associated health risks, such as cancer. Additionally, high nitrate levels in infants have been associated with a condition that has a negative effect on their blood capacity to transport oxygen.

Organic animal food products also have some significant differences in their nutritional constitution. For instance, while the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in organic dairy products, such as milk, are higher than in non-organic products, the levels of other minerals with health significance, such as iodine and selenium, are lower in organic dairy products than in non-organic ones. Also, the level of omega-3 fatty acids in organic meat is higher than in conventional meat, while the level of saturated fats in organic meat is lower. Many health benefits are associated with omega-3 fatty acids, such as a lower risk of suffering from heart disease. Therefore, it is expected that a higher intake of organic animal food products will contribute to higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids—and therefore translating into associated health benefits.

Physically, there also exists a considerable contrast between organic and non-organic foods in appearance. For instance, when a person goes shopping for fruits, he or she almost instantaneously notices the differences in appearance between the two types of food products. Organic products such as fruits will always be variable sizes and shapes, presenting some form of physical imperfection compared to their non-organic counterparts.

On the other hand, non-organic foods will always appear to have a relatively similar appearance in accordance with their various types. The differences arise from the treatments given to the products during growth. Non-organic products, some of which have undergone minimal processing or are generally unprocessed, are usually subjected to treatment by the use of artificially processed substances for growth enhancement, which is not the case for organically produced products. These substances are responsible for giving the products an almost perfect shape. That way, they will always appear similar. Contrarily, the organic foods, whose growth is under the influence of substances naturally produced by the plant, will not achieve the same kind of perfection in non-organic products due to the variations in supply of these growth substances to different parts of the plants. The same situation applies to animal products. Growth-enhancing substances used in the production of non-organic meat ensure they have larger cuts.

Non-organic foods contain chemical fertilizer to encourage plant growth, farmers also spray insecticides to reduce pests and disease, use chemical herbicides to manage w**ds, and give animals hormones, drugs, etc., to prevent disease. I personally would not consider this food to be healthy. I’d rather stick with organic foods because I feel more comfortable and its more healthy. Not only that, but it is also more safe. Nowadays non-organic foods can’t be trusted because you don’t know what they’re really doing.

People feel more drawn to buy non-organic foods because they’re reasonable prices. Buyers of non-organic foods have ate these products their whole lives so it’s what they’re used to. We like familiarity so of course it’s easier for us to chose groceries we’ve ate our whole lives versus groceries that we’re just learning about. Non-organic foods tend to be consistent in taste, texture, and quality.

Fast food falls under the category of non-organic food. The thing about restaurant food is that restaurants are not required to reveal everything their food contains. So technically we don’t really know what we’re eating. For example, the meat that most restaurant chains sell contains antibiotics. Although now you can buy a salad at a fast food place, there are still much more unhealthy things on the menu. Obesity, High Cholesterol, and so much more are leading causes to deaths.
In summary, some studies have revealed some similarities in the nutritional contents between organic and non-organic food substances. However, others have revealed a number of considerable differences in the amount of antioxidants, as well as other minerals, present in organic and non-organic foods. Generally, organic foods have higher levels of antioxidants than non-organic foods and are therefore more important in the prevention of chronic illnesses. Additionally, the levels of nitrates are lower in organic foods than in non-organic foods, and so are the levels of pesticide residues, such as cadmium, that are harmful to people's health in high levels. Moreover, the levels of omega-3 fatty acids are higher in organic foods than non-organic foods—resulting in more health benefits. Finally, the two types of foods vary in physical appearance, such as shape and size. Whereas the variation is much more substantial in organic food products such as fruits, the levels of uniformity are higher in non-organic foods.

CROSSING THE BAR SUMMARY
The poem is about the approaching death of a human. The poet initiates the poem by narrating about the setting sun and the evening star. He feels that someone is calling him. It implies that he is thinking about his demise. He wonders about the sea and his journey. He does not want to hear the mournful noise of the sea. He wishes that the sea was bloated and unable to produce any sound.
The speaker announces that the time for his departure has arrived, as the day has turned dark. He does not want his farewell to be sad. He is only thinking about what he will find once he reaches his destination by crossing the bar. He hopes to meet the pilot there. By pilot, the poet implies his expected meeting with God.

THEMES IN CROSSING THE BAR
DEATH AND ACCEPTANCE

Death and its acceptance are the major subjects considered in this poem. The poet talks about his looming death. However, the tone of the poem is not sad and morbid. The poet is merely wondering about his death. He does not fear death. It seems that he has accepted his fate. He says that we must not fear death as it is an ultimate reality. Every human has to cross over to the next world. Therefore, we must not be sad about our departure and accept it unflinchingly. At the end of the poem, the speaker hopes to meet the pilot. This implies that the speaker is happily accepting death because he is eager to meet the pilot. By pilot, the speaker means God.
COURAGE
The poem delivers a message of courage and manly honor. The poem implies that a man should be honorable and dauntless in order to face the various ups and downs in his life. The poem encourages us to bravely accept death as it is inevitable.
AFTERLIFE
The poet talks about the concept of life after death in the poem. He implies that after death, he will cross over to the next world and meet the pilot. The location and nature of the place is not explicitly explained, however, according to Christian belief, it can be assumed that he is referring to heaven.
TIME
The poet through various examples wants the reader to understand that time is an important factor in life. There is a specific time for birth and a certain time for death. Similarly, when the time for death approaches, we must make peace with the fact that our time has come. The poem also implies that every happening in our life is governed by time. Therefore, we must understand that if we are dealing with bad times now, our good times will eventually come.
OLD AGE
The poet talks about old age through his references for sunset and evening. Mostly people die because of old age. However, the positive aspect of old age is that it brings wisdom. People become wise enough to accept the reality of death. They believe that death is the beginning of another life. The notion of twilight in the poem denotes rebirth.

THE HOME
The poem specifies that the true home for a soul is not in this world but the otherworld. Therefore, an individual must accept his death in order to reach his true home or destination.