Ahead of this year’s festival, we asked The College of Naturopathic Medicine to give us some insight on why they recommend organic produce as part of a healthy diet.
You can see CNM at the Vegan and Wellbeing Market on Monday 11th June, where they’ll be discussing the benefits of an organic diet, along with some tips on how best to implement it.
Making the choice to eat organic produce may not always be easy, but here are four reasons why CNM recommend that eating organic is worth it:
Nutritional value
Eating fresh, organic, unprocessed food delivers superior nutritional value - see The Soil Association’s website for relevant reports.
Understanding nutrition as the cornerstone of health is the basis of what we teach at CNM. At our student clinics and later as practitioners, students witness time and again how eating unadulterated food is a fundamental step on the path to increasing wellness and vitality.
Eating organic food can help decrease the burden on our livers, made to work harder to reduce our toxic load when we consume pesticides and other potentially harmful substances that can be found in non-organic produce. (See an article on the subject on Harvard’s School of Public Health website)
Health impact
Our intestinal microflora is a complex ecosystem, vital for the correct functioning of our digestion and immune system. Pesticides, herbicides, and genetic modification can have the ability to disrupt the delicate balance within our digestive system.
There are some studies which suggest links between the health of our intestinal microflora with various cancers, autoimmune conditions and even dementia. Research into causes is always controversial, but it’s safe to say that our gut health affects everything from our mood to our weight, so it pays to take care of it.
- Hear more about the positive affects of fermentation on gut health with Caroline Gilmartin PhD, or get practical tips on fermenting your own foods from The Pickled Brisket at their cider & fermentation event.
Freshness and quality
With a shorter trip from farm to plate, organic produce is one way to protect not only the vitamin and mineral content of our food, but the flavour too.
Some of our students train to become CNM Natural Chefs so they can create delicious gourmet meals appropriate to the health of the diner. They quickly learn the importance of establishing relations with suppliers and growers who aren’t constrained by issues such as shelf life qualities.
- Pick up some food direct from local suppliers during festival week at the Vegan and Wellbeing Market
Caring for the planet
We need to give our bodies the best chance of thriving or healing by harnessing the power of nature. This goes beyond food to encompass everything from the water we drink, to the air we breathe.
A healthy environment is key, so we keenly support the lower levels of toxins in our environment, sustainable management of land, and the ecological diversity which organic farming can deliver.
- Learn more about food & farming’s impact on the environment at the screening of In Our Hands
This blog post is based on an article by Tegan Philp, Nutritional Therapist. The College of Naturopathic Medicine trains students for careers in natural therapies, including short courses. For more information, visit www.naturopathy-uk.com
