Running head: HEALTH OR ILLNESS
Organic Versus Fast Food
Karla Gomez
College
ENG122
December 6, 2012
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Running head: HEALTH OR ILLNESS
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Fast Food versus Organic food
We all love fast food and it’s so easy and convenient but let’s be realistic it’s
really bad for our health. Eating junk food hurts your health and your pocket but that
doesn’t stop anyone from eating the food. Organic food is pricey but has many positive
reasons for our health to purchase them and consume them. Most of us have the benefits
of growing them in our backyards but we choose not too. Knowing all the ingredients that
keeps a beef patty to last forever among other food should be more then enough to start
an organic diet. In 2003 a study found in the Journal of Agriculture, stated that the grown
berries and corn contained 58 percent more polyphenols, antioxidants that help prevent
cardiovascular disease and up to 52 percent higher levels of vitamin C than those
conventionally grown, (Lippert, 2012). This example mentioned above is one good
reason to eat organic, in America we have a high rate of obesity that leads to
cardiovascular diseases. Although we are aware of the harm junk food can cause to our
health we keep indulging that so called food. There are many reasons to eat organically
grown food, free from chemicals and pesticides, healthy raised livestock, and it’s safe for
our environment.
The word “organic” refers to the way agriculture products are grown and
processed, there are specific requirements to maintain the fruit or vegetables. Organic
crops must be grown in a safe soil, have no modification and must remain separate from
conventional products. The farmers that help grow these products, do not allow any
synthetic pesticides, bioengineer genes, petroleum based fertilizers and sewage sludge
based fertilizer. Conventional food that have pesticides have been studied in the past, and
have shown to cause developmental delays, behavioral disorders, and motor dysfunction.
Running head: HEALTH OR ILLNESS
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Accumulated build up is caused due to many years of consuming pesticides and can lead
to health issues such as headaches, birth defects, and added strain on weakened immune
systems, (O'Brien, 2012).
Organic food is also healthy for our environment because it practices the
reduction on pollution which includes air, water and soil, conserves water, reduced soil
erosion, increases soil fertility and uses less energy then the conventional food farming.
Are animals are also safer with organic farming, as chemicals pesticides can make it
harder for creatures to reproduce and can even kill them. Organic food also consists of
grains, meats, dairy, eggs, and fiber. No organic food is grown with any hormones,
antibiotic or medication on their livestock. The extra additives that are used to grow
conventional food and fast food are known to cause disease such as cancer, tumors, and
many other illnesses.
Animals that are raised organically are not given antibiotics, growth hormones or
animal byproducts. The use of antibiotics in conventional meats contributes to help create
antibiotic resistant strains bacteria which in turn causing less responsive to antibiotic
treatment. Organically raised animals are not fed animal byproducts and this helps
prevent mad cow disease. You can be sure that any organic food does not contain high
fructose corn syrup, artificial dyes, artificial sweeteners derived from chemicals,
synthetically created chemicals pesticides and fertilizers.
Fast food is raised and grown the complete opposite of organic food, containing
chemicals and pesticides that are harmful for our bodies. Many of the factory farm
Running head: HEALTH OR ILLNESS
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animals are kept in small spaces were they are forced to stand in their own feces causing
them to get sick and for that reason they are pumped full of antibiotics and it ends up in
our food, ( Gallam,2012). A bit of specific information for those that love chicken
nuggets, they are preserved with a chemical called tertiary butylhydroquinone, and its
derived from petroleum. Many of the fast food ingredients are persevered with loads of
chemicals, artificial coloring, monosodium and more. Food safety should be a major
concern for everyone because a majority of fast food workers don’t have the necessary
training or food training education, not health for us.
The little information I have provided regarding the positives of organic food
should encourage you to start consuming healthy food. We should all look at the benefits
organic food provides for us, others and the environment. Consuming fast food can very
well kills us due to the chemical, food safety, low food quality, and food safety. Yes fast
food is inexpensive and organic pricier but we will invest to keep our bodies healthy and
going strong. We all enjoy a big mack but in the long run we will pay the consequences
of its chemicals and pesticides. Now that we’re aware of all the benefits of organic food,
having to pay a higher price for the product is well worth it. Having a health family is
also well worth it, so chose organic meals for the family not fast food.
Reference
Gallem. C. (2012) Top 10 Reasons not to Eat Fast Food. Retrieved from
http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/961233/top-10-reasons-not-to-eatfast-food
Running head: HEALTH OR ILLNESS
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Lippert.M (2011) Organic or Not? Retrieved from
http://www.eatingwell.com/food_news_origins/green_sustainable/organic_or_not
_is_organic_produce_healthier_than_conventional
O'Brien. R.(2012) Organic Food vs. Conventional. Retrieved from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robyn-o/organic-food-vsconventio_b_1857802.html