Eating and Drinking Organically – What is it all about?

The organic food industry is booming and is expected to grow even larger in the very near future. With the increasing focus on a healthier lifestyle, many people prefer health-boosting food and beverages. So, what’s all the buzz about and what does organic mean??

Organic farming and cultivation of crops ensure that no synthetic herbicides, pesticides, fertilisers or GMOs are used. The organic process varies from country to country; insect traps such as  pheromones are used instead of insecticide sprays, which are also bad for the environment. Organic farming does use pesticides but the difference is that they are naturally derived pesticides which are less toxic to the body.  

An accumulation of pesticides built-up over numerous years can lead to health issues and weaken the immune system. According to the Mayo Clinic, some studies have indicated that the use of pesticides even at low doses can increase the risk of certain cancers, such as leukaemia, lymphoma, brain tumours, breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Why are organic food and beverages so expensive?

Organic food is costly because of expensive farming practices and tougher government regulations. Organic farming uses intensive manual labour to ensure the soil and crops are always healthy.

Health benefits of eating and drinking organically

Studies have shown a small increase in some nutrients in organic produce compared to conventional foods. For example, certain foods like organic onions contained 20% higher antioxidant content than conventional ones. Further studies are being carried out but here is what we know so far:

Healthy Fat

According to a 2016 study in the British Journal of Nutrition, feeding requirements for organic farm animals produced 50% more omega-3 fatty acids in organic meats, dairy and eggs than in conventionally produced products.

Heavy Metals

Another study carried out in 2014 in the British Journal of Nutrition, found that organically grown crops were not only less likely to contain detectable levels of pesticides, but because of differences in fertilization techniques, they were also 48% less likely to test positive for cadmium, a toxic heavy metal that accumulates in the liver and kidneys.

Pesticides

According to the Mayo Clinic, organically grown produce has lower levels of pesticide residue. Organic produce may have residue because of pesticides approved for organic farming or because of airborne pesticides from conventional farms.

Antibiotics

Farming practices may vary, but generally, organic produce does not contain antibiotics or growth hormones.

The demand for organic food and therapeutic beverages

With busy lives, people look for an easy healthy fix either by sourcing readymade organic meals, healthy snacks, fruit juices and even herbal  teas that offer all the health-promoting properties.

Organic herbal therapeutic teas  go through similar organic production techniques where natural methods are employed to grow healthy and nourishing crops. Certified organic cultivators are required to meet strict standards of production to obtain accreditation. Their facilities are regulated by third-party institutions to retain their license and certifications.

Drinking organically sourced herbal teas is beneficial to health as they help boost the antioxidant levels in the body. Antioxidants are essential to help repair cellular damage and some herbal ingredients, such as hibiscus, rose or ginger contain compounds that are high in antioxidant levels with the addition of other health-promoting properties that help fight inflammation, aid digestive issues, cardiovascular diseases, and in some cases help fight cancer.

Recovering from Illness

Drinking organic herbal tea is ideal when recovering from an illness, especially if under heavy medication. Camellia’s Tea House has organically sourced ingredients backed by scientific evidence for their health-promoting properties to produce a range of Dosaged Therapy Teas designed to help alleviate symptoms of chronic disease.

The ingredients have been sourced by certified organic partners to produce a range of teas that not only help with recovery but also maintain good health when drunk daily.  Relax and Recover, a delicate floral infusion is ideal to combat stress, anxiety and insomnia and contains hibiscus and rose as its main active ingredients.  Digest and Energise have been designed to target the digestive system and release energy into the body. The main active ingredients are ginger and burdock.  Refresh and Rebuild, has been created to help fight inflammation (the root cause of many diseases) and gently support the body through a detoxifying process. The key ingredients are rosemary and turmeric both known for their anti-inflammation properties.

The conclusion

Organic products are more expensive and you may or may not be interested in going organic as it’s a matter of choice. The bottom line is that most of us would at least like to lead healthier lives. Keeping our bodies at their optimum health can be costly when you consider the price of gyms, medical insurance, costly diet plans and more. 

To achieve a long-term health goal is to live and eat as naturally as possible and for some of us, this means keeping synthetic pesticides, herbicides and other artificial chemicals away.

Disclaimer: This website contains general information about traditional use of herbal teas.  The information is not advice and should not be treated as such.  If you have any specific questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare providers.