Go Organic

You are what you eat. Over the last few years, with so much stress on healthy and mindful eating, people have turned to organic food assuming that this is food at its healthiest best. But is it, really? The Week talked to Tina Gurung, nutritionist at Core Fitness Studio in Sanepa about organic food and what makes it so appealing.

Trishna

Tina Gurung, Nutritionist

Organic food is quite a new concept in Nepal and many people don't know how it's different from the food products we normally find in the market. "In that case, we have to be careful. People might just sell any food under the label of organic food. We need to be careful and only buy organic food from places you can trust," says Tina.

Why Organic Food?

Artificial Insecticide Margins

Most of the daily, agricultural products we consume use various insecticides and pesticides which can result in side effects such as headache, birth defects, cancer and many other health problems. But in organic farming, the use of fertilizers is limited to organic pesticides and conventional method of farming.

No Genetic Mutation

To meet the demands of the market, food products are genetically engineered. "It has become a common practice and you never know if the food you're eating is one such product," Tina says. Organic food strictly stays away from such practice. Organic livestock, like organic agricultural products, are usually free of byproducts, antibiotics, and growth hormones. They are grown naturally and that significantly reduces health risks.

Rich in Vitamins & Antioxidants

Reduction of antioxidants in plants increases the amount of vitamins and minerals in the products hence strengthening the fruits and vegetables. It's also said that decrease in use of antioxidants and chemicals enrich the fertility of the soil. There have been several experiments on organic livestock and farming that have resulted in increased amounts of natural minerals, vitamins, calcium, natural antioxidants, fatty acids, and nutrients that play a pivotal role in decreasing heart diseases and cancer.

Beneficial to child's health

To all the concerned parents, organic food could be good news, as it has decreased amount of chemicals, fertilizers, and preservatives. As children's immune system is delicate, their development could be at risk if they are exposed to harmful chemicals at a young age. Also consuming pesticide laden food by pregnant mothers is harmful for fetuses too. It could put them in potential danger of different disorders and dysfunctions.

Eco-Friendly Output

Organic farming is an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional agriculture. Organic farming decreases the chance of contamination in water and soil, and that's good news for the environment. Nitrogen compounds from fertilizers can enter the atmosphere and contribute to global warming and that risk is reduced in case of organic farming.

A different job prospect

The growing trend of consuming organic food in the country has made way for potential investors and farmers, who could use organic method to grow food. This provides additional job, business, trade and farming opportunities. As organic foods are priced slightly higher than regular food, it further encourages them to take it up.

Organic food markets in Kathmandu
Kheti Bazaar, Dillibazar
The Organic Village, Bakhundole
Farmer’s Market, Sanepa and 1905, Kantipath
Green Organic Cafe and Farmers Bar, Thamel