Organic foods may have higher nutritional value than conventional food, according to some research. The reason: In the absence of pesticides and fertilizers, plants boost their production of the phytochemicals (vitamins and antioxidants) that strengthen their resistance to bugs and weeds.

Benefits of eating organic food:

1. Avoid chemicals. Eating organically grown foods is the only way to avoid the cocktail of chemical poisons present in commercially grown food.

2. Benefit from more nutrients. Organically grown foods have more nutrients—vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and micronutrients—than commercially grown foods because the soil is managed and nourished with sustainable practices by responsible standards.

3. Organic farming is better for the environment. Organic farming practices reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy. Farming without pesticides is also better for nearby birds and animals as well as people who live close to farms.

4.  Organically raised animals are NOT given antibiotics, growth hormones, or fed animal byproducts. Feeding livestock animal byproducts increases the risk of mad cow disease (BSE) and the use of antibiotics can create antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Organically-raised animals are given more space to move around and access to the outdoors, which help to keep them healthy.

5. Organic meat and milk are richer in certain nutrients. Results of a 2016 European study show that levels of certain nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, were up to 50 percent higher in organic meat and milk than in conventionally raised versions.

6. Organic food is GMO-free. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) or genetically engineered (GE) foods are plants whose DNA has been altered in ways that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding, most commonly in order to be resistant to pesticides or produce an insecticide.

Did you know?

• Eating organic fruits and vegetables could increase your antioxidant intake by 20-40%.
• Organic strawberries have more nutrients and antioxidants than their conventional counterparts.
• Organic tomatoes are 50% higher in vitamin C content than conventional tomatoes.

Antioxidants pack a bigger punch in organic fruit and vegetables.

So, now you know: make sure you eat all your fruits and veggies and make sure they are organic for the biggest nutritional bang for your buck. If you’re on a budget and can’t stretch to organic, don’t panic. It’s better to eat non- organic fruit and vegetables than no fruit and veg at all. Just remember to wash the produce thoroughly.

I am a big supporter of organic produce.  A big chunk of our grocery bills are on organic vegetables and meat. And I am only partially organic. If we go fully organic, this would bust our budget for sure.

One of the activities on my bucket list for the next school holidays is to bring the girls to the Zenxin Organic Park in Kluang, Johor.  I have read positive reviews on Zenxin’s commitment to organic farming and would love  to visit the farm to see how organic farming is carried out. After our nightmarish 12-hour bumper to bumper horrendous jam from Singapore to KL during the December school holidays last year, I vowed never to do a road trip down south again during the school holidays. This time, I will be hopping over to Traveloka to check out the cheapest flights to Johor Bahru!  Air Asia flights listed on Traveloka are something that are really worth checking out.

Traveloka has loads of deals on promotions on their already low-fare flights.  I especially like Traveloka’s Best Price Guarantee where, if you have booked through Traveloka and found a cheaper price for the same exact booking at another website, you can claim your compensation. Traveloka will reward you with a discount coupon of at least twice the difference up to RM500 for your next transaction. Do check them out and see what deals you can get!