FUNCTIONAL FOOD FOR AUTUMN
Functional food for fall
Christmas is getting closer… For most of us, Christmas is a time of a sumptuous table and family feasting. When preparing Christmas dishes, it is worth reaching for organic food. Vegetables, fruit and fish from farms with the characteristic green logo are becoming more and more popular every year. Why should you choose them?
Probably each of us has read articles saying that you should be careful with some vegetables, fruits and fish of conventional origin and choose only organic food that is richer in nutritional values and safer. It is worth knowing which of the dishes consumed during the holiday season is better to prepare from organic ingredients.
Conventional versus organic farming
In the conventional system, plant fertilization is carried out with the use of synthetic mineral fertilizers. They have easily soluble forms, which can easily lead to excessive uptake and accumulation of mineral compounds in the roots, and then in the leaves and other parts of the plant. Only natural organic fertilizers such as compost and manure are used in the ecological system. They are first decomposed in the soil with the participation of microorganisms, resulting in the formation of humus composed of organo-mineral compounds. This process allows plants to take up mineral compounds in the right amount and time, which significantly reduces the likelihood of excessive accumulation of, for example, nitrogen compounds, which transforming into nitrites and then nitrosamines can become dangerous for our body.
In conventional agriculture, fertilization is dominated by mineral fertilizers, the use of which may increase the risk of cadmium contamination of plants. This element has a strong toxic effect, and its consumption adversely affects the kidneys, may lead to bone demineralization and the formation of cancer. The main source of cadmium in conventional agriculture is phosphorus fertilizers.
Moreover, in organic farming, the use of synthetic pesticides and other synthetic plant protection products is strictly prohibited. Therefore, raw materials from organic farming contain their residues, which are harmful to health, much less frequently than those from conventional farming, which makes them safer for consumers.
Citrus
Orange and lemon peel is a popular addition to Christmas baking. It contains essential oils that give the dishes an attractive aroma, and thanks to the ability to neutralize free radicals and strong antioxidant properties, it is beneficial in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. It strengthens the body’s immunity through its antibacterial and antiviral properties. However, you must remember not to provide our body with harmful residues of synthetic pesticides, preservatives or fungicides when eating citrus fruits. Citrus fruits available in our stores come mainly from conventional crops, where it is possible to use synthetic pesticides and herbicides. Harvested fruits are prepared for a long journey using preservatives (e.g. imazalil, thiabendazole) and fungicides (e.g. sodium orthophenylphenate). In the end, the fruit is usually shiny and waxed. As a result, the surface of an orange, lemon, mandarin or grapefruit is home to several different chemicals.
Fortunately, citrus fruits are thick-skinned. Scientific research shows that the substances used are stored in the peel and hardly ever reach the fruit itself. And although high concentrations of preservatives were detected on the surface of the orange, they did not penetrate inside.
The inside of the fruit can be contaminated with chemicals from the peel if we prepare it for consumption improperly. First of all, citruses should be washed thoroughly before peeling, not forgetting to clean your hands.
Organic pesticides and herbicides are not used in the organic cultivation of citrus. Synthetics are also not used when storing fruit. After all, let’s not forget to clean even citrus fruits marked as organic before eating them from bacteria and other dirt that arose during storage and transport.