Are there health benefits to consuming organic foods?
Last Wednesday, Sun Harvest Market opened in the Kingsgate Center in Lubbock and I decided to go and see what the new store had to offer. As I perused the aisles, I noticed the wide range of items labeled “organic” or “all natural.” Based on this observation and the throngs of customers waiting in the checkout line with stacks of groceries, I began to wonder what exactly are the health benefits of “natural” foods. According to the USDA, organic food is “produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water…organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides or fertilizers.” Based on this definition, I could see how organic foods might appeal to individuals with certain political convictions- ie, those involved in environmental activism. However, I wanted to see if consuming only organic or natural foods con
