Can organic food help me lose weight faster?

The basics of organic food explained…

Organic foods are becoming more popular again as people realize that our bodies don't need the extra burden of harmful chemicals. There are now a number of nutritionists and dieticians that believe that buying organic foods from sources that you can trust is the best way to promote healthy foods.

What is organic food?

Everyone ate organic food until chemical pesticides and herbicides were invented in the last hundred years or so. The label "organic" is a bit of a misnomer, since all food is chemically organic because it is carbon-based. But organic in the context of food now means it is produced without the use of conventional pesticides and artificial fertilizers, is free from contamination by human or industrial waste, is processed without ionizing radiation or artificial food additives, and does not contain genetically modified organisms (GMO). Also, in the context of livestock, use of antibiotics or growth hormones is not allowed.

Defining organic food

Certified organic food is most commonly described as food grown and packaged without the use of chemicals, preservatives or additives. In other words, food that is either completely or at least 70% all natural can be called as organic food.

Another way to explain it, from a bigger picture standpoint is:

"Organic food is produced through a system that is based on ecological balance and humane care for the plants, animals and people that make up the farm environment."

But is organic food more nutritious?

In 2001, nutrition specialist Virginia Worthington published her review of 41 published studies comparing the nutritional values of organic and conventionally grown fruits, vegetables and grains. What she found was that organically grown crops provided 17 percent more vitamin C, 21 percent more iron, 29 percent more magnesium, and 13.6 percent more phosphorus than conventionally grown products. She noted that five servings of organic vegetables provided the recommended daily intake of vitamin C for men and women, while their conventional counterparts did not. Today there are more studies that show the same results that Ms. Worthington concluded.

Beware, there are also studies stating that there is no difference. Again, the nutritional content is not in question; it’s the large amounts of harmful pesticides, insecticides and potential toxins they spray on the crops that makes the difference.

Last but not least, considering the health benefits of eating organic foods, along with the knowledge of how conventionally grown and raised food is impacting the planet should be enough to consider paying greater attention to eating organic, today. Since most people buy their food in local supermarkets, it is good news that more and more markets are providing natural and organic foods in their stores. However, you must remember the fact at all times that there is no single key to successful weight loss. It is rather a combination of multiple factors that lead to progressive yet permanent weight loss such as:

1-    Eating a well-balanced (preferably organic) food diet that rich in nutrients and mineral.

2-    Keeping a healthy, physically active lifestyle.