Eat Organic to Live Longer

The American diet is made up of animal products. Americans believe animal products are a healthy food source because of the protein in meat, dairy, and eggs. Young children are taught to drink their milk because they need to grow and have strong bones. The USDA has a food pyramid showing two to three servings of dairy, eggs, and meat a day, that is almost every meal. As well as taste and appearance, animal products are packaged so they are easy to cook at home. But what Americans are not aware of is the way these animal products are made so they taste good. Cows, pigs, chickens, and all other animals that are farmed to be eaten are pumped up with antibiotics and hormones in order for them to appear more appetizing. Consuming these antibiotics and hormones leads to health problems such as resisting antibiotics prescribed by your doctor, as well as early puberty development in girls. However, there was a time before the industrial era when all food was made naturally, or organically. And today, there are many farms and grocery stores that provide organic animal products. If Americans start buying more organic products, eventually there will be less animal products processed with hormones and antibiotics. Then one day, everything will be made organically. Antibiotics and hormones would only be used in doctor’s offices and hospitals. The American people will be more natural and healthy again.

The consuming of antibiotics from animal products is creating an ever-growing health problem, a resistance to antibiotics. Because of this, resistance has become genetic. It has actually changed the DNA structures of the human body, so it will continue to be passed down generation to generation. If one gets the flu or a more serious bacterial infection and their body is resistant to the antibiotics their doctor prescribes them, it will become harder for their bodies to fight the bacteria and recover. Hormones are also pumped into cows and chickens. Hormones make them and their products bigger and more appetizing for people. These hormones are the same hormones given to women who are having trouble becoming pregnant or had a miscarriage. Now, girls are more prone to cancer and early puberty because of the hormones in the milk, meat, and eggs they consume. Based on a study of 1,200 seven-year-old girls done in 2011, 33% had early puberty development. In a study of eight-year-old girls, 61% of girls had early puberty development. It is not natural for girls to go into puberty this early in life because it can cause health problems later in life.

When I was younger I would catch terrible coughs I needed antibiotics to fight the infection. One time I was five or six, and I took my antibiotics prescribed by my doctor. I vomited. I became sicker than I was before. Four years later, I had the cough again and I took antibiotics. I woke up in the middle of the night with hives. After that, my family started buying everything organically. Now, we rarely get sick, and we rarely need antibiotics. Based on a survey administered to teenagers and adults, 40% reported that they were resistant to one antibiotic. Eating organically is the answer. Americans need to be educated and realize what they are consuming and start buying organic foods. They need to know the importance of eating organic foods. They need to know how it will affect their bodies.

Organic farming came about in post-war 1940s, after a significant change in industrial farming. Organic means the food is not genetically modified with any antibiotics or hormones. But why is it more expensive? The government has made it very expensive for food to be certified organic. That is why many farms and customers go the unnatural route because it is cheaper. There are ways around this expense. Start replacing small things in your kitchen, like milk, butter, eggs, as well as produce. You will start to notice a difference. There are stores like Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, and even stores like Target and Walmart that have low prices for organic food. Even Costo is a great store because you get a lot of product for a good price (Leamy par. 8). Your local farmer’s market would be a good place to start too. The price difference will be worth it. Americans need to start buying more organic animal products in order to show the FDA and USDA we do not want anymore unnatural animal products in our grocery stores. Eventually, you will no longer have health problems relating to chemicals you are consuming. You will no longer be prone to cancer. The long-term effects of organic food will become less expensive than buying regular, unnatural animal products.

For this to work, Americans need to take action to make sure the next generation does not have resistance to antibiotics. Parents need to take control of their consumption of organic foods. So their children stay healthy and continue the promotion of eating organically. It will be expensive. If fewer people buy non-organic animal products, the government will subsidize organic farming. In turn, the money you spend on your healthcare will lower because you will be living healthier lives, with less possibilities of getting sick. Eating organically may even help you live a longer life.